Waiver Wire: The best pickups of '08

Senior Fantasy Writer

Dec. 22, 2008

All Antonio Bryant was looking for was a chance. All the Buccaneers were looking for was a productive wide receiver. It was the perfect match.

Bryant, who missed 2007 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, signed with Tampa Bay in the offseason. The Bucs had Joey Galloway at wide receiver and little else with Ike Hilliard, Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall.


Antonio Bryant is the latest example of a player posting huge stats in a contract year. (US Presswire)

When Galloway got hurt in Week 2, Bryant got the opportunity he was waiting for, and he didn't look back. Those of you who took advantage of Bryant's increased playing time in your Fantasy league benefitted, which is why Bryant earned the award for the best in-season addition.

Every Monday on CBSSports.com, we tried to help Fantasy owners with a column called Playing the Waiver Wire, which highlighted players to add, avoid and keep an eye on. The basis for finding players to mention was their ownership percentage in Fantasy leagues.

Bryant started the season at 8 percent but climbed to 53 percent in Week 4 and is at 96 percent heading into Week 17. His start percentage has climbed to 82 percent.

Bryant has helped Fantasy owners at the most important times. His first game without Galloway was Week 3 at Chicago, and Bryant had 10 catches for 138 yards.

He came on strong in October with 20 catches for 231 yards and a touchdown, but he turned into a star in November with another 20 catches for 285 yards and two touchdowns. And in crunch time, Bryant has been the best receiver in every Fantasy league.

Through three games in December heading into Week 17, Bryant has 23 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns. As a free agent this offseason, Bryant has earned himself a nice raise.

Heading into Week 17 against Oakland, Bryant has 80 catches for 1,171 yards and seven touchdowns, which are all career highs. Some team will sign him to a new contract hoping he can produce on this level, and he's played well with inconsistent quarterback production from Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese, so a stable quarterback could help his value in 2009.

When choosing candidates for the Waiver Wire awards, we looked at players who weren't drafted this season in the majority of leagues on CBSSports.com. That's why you won't see players like Kurt Warner, Steve Slaton, Eddie Royal or Dustin Keller since they were all drafted.

Fantasy Football - Waiver Wire: The best pickups of '08 : FantasyNews.CBSSports.com

But other players like Matt Cassel, Pierre Thomas, LeRon McClain and Lance Moore were standout Waiver Wire additions. All have been potential starters for Fantasy teams this year, and all were undrafted in the majority of leagues.

Bryant took the award over the rest of these players because he helped Fantasy owners over a longer period of time and has been crucial at the right time. There were weeks when you questioned starting Cassel, Thomas, McClain or Moore, but Bryant has been started in 60 percent or more of leagues from Week 11 on.

The key to a successful Fantasy season is not only drafting well but picking up the right free agents. Bryant, Thomas, McClain and Moore came out of nowhere this season, and Cassel started for an injured Tom Brady. If you added these players, you probably enhanced a good lineup and competed for the playoffs and a possible championship.

Making the right moves could be the difference between a Fantasy title or the first-overall draft pick next year. So hopefully you took some chances and chose wisely, like adding Bryant in Week 3 just when his impressive season got started.

Feel free to send me an e-mail with the waiver wire moves you made this year. Let me know when you picked up that player and what impact they made on your team.

Here are the best free agent pickups we suggested this year in Playing the Waiver Wire. We ranked them based on a standard Fantasy team.

First team

Quarterback

Matt Cassel, New England
We said to add him: Week 2
Comment: It took Cassel almost two months to prove he was a worthy replacement for the injured Tom Brady, but he has closed the season in November and December on a tear with 16 total touchdowns and five interceptions in his last eight games. He will finish as a top 10 Fantasy quarterback.

Running Backs

Pierre Thomas, New Orleans
We said to add him: Week 3
Comment: Thomas did a stellar job filling in for the injured Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush and Aaron Stecker and will finish as a top 20 Fantasy running back. He will head into next year as a sleeper since he's expected to start for the Saints and continue this role.

LeRon McClain, Baltimore
We said to add him: Week 4
Comment: McClain has been the most consistent running back in Baltimore with Willis McGahee and Ray Rice struggling with injuries and poor play all season. McClain went from a goal-line back to a featured option and will finish as a top 24 Fantasy running back this year.

Wide Receivers

Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay
We said to add him: Week 4
Comment: When Joey Galloway got hurt, Bryant took over and never looked back. He was consistent for most of the season but took off recently with 26 catches for 498 yards and five touchdowns in the four games prior to Week 17. Bryant has a chance to finish as a top 10 Fantasy wide receiver.

Lance Moore, New Orleans
We said to add him: Week 5
Comment: Moore was a nice replacement for owners who lost Marques Colston to a thumb injury. Moore had six touchdowns in a five-game stretch from the end of October into November. While Moore cooled off toward the end of the season, he was a great Fantasy receiver during the weeks he was hot.

Tight End

John Carlson, Seattle
We said to add him: Week 2
Comment: Despite Matt Hasselbeck missing most of the season with injuries, Carlson still finished as a top 10 Fantasy tight end this year. He had 10 games with either 50 yards receiving or a touchdown and should enter 2009 as a No. 1 Fantasy option at his position. Hopefully his quarterback situation will improve.

Flex

Derrick Ward, N.Y. Giants
We said to add him: Week 3
Comment: Ward has a chance to finish with 1,000 rushing yards and is already over 1,300 total yards, which is impressive for a true backup running back. Ward has done well as a complement to Brandon Jacobs and has been a solid flex option for many owners this season.

Second team

Quarterback

Tyler Thigpen, Kansas City
We said to add him: Week 10
Comment: The Chiefs were looking for a franchise quarterback and found one in Thigpen, who has a chance to finish as a top 12 Fantasy quarterback. Thigpen goes into Week 17 with more touchdowns than Matt Ryan in less starts, which is why he gets the nod over Ryan in this spot.

Running Backs

Kevin Faulk, New England
We said to add him: Week 9
Comment: With Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan all missing time with injuries, Faulk had one of his best seasons with the Patriots. He is a great receiver out of the backfield and played well when given increased carries. Faulk will finish as a top 30 Fantasy running back this year.

Mewelde Moore, Pittsburgh
We said to add him: Week 6
Comment: Moore was one of the best injury replacements this season when Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall got hurt. Moore is a good receiver out of the backfield and played well as a starter when given the chance. Moore has a chance to finish as a top 30 Fantasy running back this season.

Wide Receivers

Steve Breaston, Arizona
We said to add him: Week 5
Comment: The third receiver for the Cardinals turned into a No. 2 Fantasy wide receiver this year. Breaston took advantage of playing in a dynamic offense with Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Breaston will enter 2009 with the chance to be a third-year breakout, so he could be even better for Fantasy owners.

Matt Jones, Jacksonville
We said to add him: Week 5
Comment: Jones was expected to be suspended early in the year for an offseason incident, but he played most of the season and posted good stats. He was a good No. 3 Fantasy wide receiver and finally lived up to the hype. Jones could have finished as a top 30 Fantasy wide receiver, but he finally was suspended for the final three games.

Tight End

Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota
We said to add him: Week 11
Comment: Shiancoe has the chance to be a top 5 Fantasy option based on a breakout season. He has seven touchdowns heading into Week 17 and has done well with Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback. He could have made the First Team, but John Carlson was more consistent all season. Still, Shiancoe had a great year.

Flex

Sammy Morris, New England
We said to add him: Week 2
Comment: If Morris didn't miss three games with a knee injury he might have been a top 20 Fantasy running back this season. As it is he should crack the top 30 and has been a good goal-line option with seven touchdowns heading into Week 17. Injuries to Laurence Maroney and LaMont Jordan helped Morris play well this year.

Honorable mention

Donnie Avery, WR, St. Louis (We said to add him: Week 7); Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati (Week 6); Davone Bess, WR, Miami (Week 14) ; Deion Branch, WR, Seattle (Week 2); Greg Camarillo, WR, Miami (Week 5); Tashard Choice, RB, Dallas (Week 13); Anthony Fasano, TE, Miami (Week 2); Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore (Week 9); Devery Henderson, WR, New Orleans (Week 9); Shaun Hill, QB, San Francisco (Week 9); Domenik Hixon, WR, N.Y. Giants (Week 6); Kyle Orton, QB, Chicago (Week 6); Michael Pittman, RB, Denver (Week 3); Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta (Week 2); Bo Scaife, TE, Tennessee (Week 11)

Do you have a question for Jamey? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com and we'll get to as many as we can. Be sure to put Attn: Waiver Wire in the subject field. Include your name, hometown and state.

First Gronk's arm, now his back?!
Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE
5/17/2013

News: On the same day NFL Network reported Rob Gronkowski had a Monday, May 20 date set for his fourth surgery related to his left forearm, USA Today reports the tight end's back is "acting up" and might require surgery after undergoing an MRI for a disc issue. The report said this disc is different than the one that needed to be shaved down in a 2009 surgical procedure, forcing Gronk to miss that year of football while enrolled at Arizona. ESPN reports the back issue is considered minor and his long-term prognosis is good. Gronkowski will see noted spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins after his forearm surgery, which will replace a metal plate in his forearm. If Gronkowski needs back surgery the hope is that he can heal from that and his arm at the same time and be ready before the start of the season. Also, it bears repeating that a fifth arm surgery is still possible if there's an infection in his arm though ProFootballTalk.com reports doctors are confident that won't be the case.

Analysis: Before you hyperventilate and scratch Gronk off your rank lists, remember that it's only mid-May and there is still time to see how he heals up from whichever surgeries he ends up having. It goes without saying that his Fantasy draft stock will be affected negatively if he has all the procedures and isn't ready for training camp or preseason games. Count on us to keep you posted on the latest news on Gronkowski between now and when the season starts.

Manuel could start Week 1
EJ Manuel, QB, BUF
5/17/2013

News: The Bills official team website reports that new general manager Doug Whaley was asked in an appearance on the NFL Network about the chances of rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel being ready to start Week 1 of the regular season. Whaley didn’t rule out the possibility. “Time will tell,” said Whaley. ”He does have the work ethic and the leadership qualities that he’ll have a chance. But we believe competition brings out the best in everybody. Between him, Kevin Kolb, Tarvaris Jackson, even Jeff Tuel, we’re excited to see who comes out on top of that position battle.” Buffalo’s season opener is a home game against New England.

Analysis: We'd like to see Manuel start from Week 1 because he presents the most upside of the quarterback group in Buffalo. Keep an eye on Manuel's progress this offseason, and he has the chance to be a No. 2 Fantasy quarterback in standard leagues. In rookie-only drafts, Manuel should be considered a Top 15 overall selection.

Goodson arrested Friday
Mike Goodson, RB, NYJ
5/17/2013

News: Jets running back Mike Goodson was arrested on drug and weapon charges early on Friday morning, reports News 12 in New Jersey. According to the report, Goodson and another man were found intoxicated in a parked SUV along Route 80 in Denville, New Jersey, which is about 15 miles northwest of the Jets' headquarters in Florham Park. A loaded .45-caliber handgun with hollow-point bullets was found in the SUV and when the 25-year-old running back was transported to a hospital for evaluation, marijuana was discovered in his possession. The Jets signed Goodson to a three-year, $6 million contract on March 15 to compete for a starting job this season. Goodson's deal with the Jets included a $1.93 million guaranteed. CBSSports.com blogger Will Brinson researched that illegal possession of hollow point bullets is a "crime of the fourth degree" in New Jersey, which appears to be among the states with the strictest laws regarding the ammunition.

Analysis: Goodson could be headed to prison, not to mention an NFL suspension, if found guilty of this crime. Before this incident we expected him to be No. 2 on the depth chart behind Chris Ivory. Now there's no telling just how far he'll fall. For the time being there's no reason to spend anything more than a late-round flier on Goodson since his playing time was going to be fairly limited to begin with.

Irvin suspended four games
Bruce Irvin, LB, SEA
5/17/2013

News: Seattle defensive end Bruce Irvin has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2013 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances, the team reported Friday. Irvin will be eligible to return to the Seahawks' active roster on Monday, Sept. 30 following the team's Sept. 29 game against the Texans. Irvin is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. "I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption," Irvin said in a statement. "I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions. I will not appeal the discipline and instead will focus my energy on preparing for the season so I can begin earning your trust and respect again. I look forward to contributing to the team the moment I return."

Analysis: Irvin had a solid year in 2012 with eight sacks. He didn't provide much else with only 16 total tackles and one fumble recovery, but he now will miss the first four games of the season. He is only worth drafting with a late-round flier in IDP leagues.

Cribbs still not healthy
Josh Cribbs, WR, OAK
5/17/2013

News: The Raiders official team website reports that newly signed receiver Josh Cribbs hopes to have a role on offense as much as just being a return man. "Definitely. I feel like it’s a definite possibility for competition at that position," Cribbs said. "At this point, my job is to come in and be a special teams' guru to help solidify our special teams unit in the NFL and to raise our goals and our standards. If we do that, we will become an elite unit." Cribbs also addressed the health of his knee. "I’m doing well," Cribbs said. "If we were lining up to play football in June then it would be a hot topic. I will be ready to play football when it’s time to play football, and I think that is the important thing."

Analysis: It sounds like Cribbs is still dealing with his knee issue, but he should be ready for the start of training camp. He also could see time at receiver, but he'll have to prove himself first. He's not worth drafting in standard leagues, but he could be worth a late-round flier in leagues where you get points for return yardage.

Ryan speaks on O-line
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL
5/17/2013

News: Matt Ryan's receiving threats are well documented and the Falcons' run game got a strong upgrade in Steven Jackson. But the offensive line is undergoing some changes as center Todd McClure retired and Tyson Clabo was released. Ryan says not to worry about it. "We've got a guy in Peter Konz that played guard for us last year, but during practice, I got a lot of snaps with Peter. Joe Hawley has played a little bit for us when Todd’s been out for a series or two throughout games the last couple of years. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine with those guys in terms of the snap," Ryan told 790 The Zone in Atlanta. "It’s a little different and that takes some getting used to so it becomes something you don’t even think about. ... We've got Mike Johnson who has played a number of different roles for us. Then a young guy like Lamar Holmes, he’s a guy we drafted high last year that we feel really good about. He’s extremely talented and I think he’s beginning to learn the offense more and more and this offseason has been productive for him. I’m excited about those guys. I think they’re fully capable of coming in and playing good football for us. They just need to do it."

Analysis: The Falcons' offensive line is actually a significant factor for Ryan. Last season when he was not under pressure and not blitzed he completed over 70 percent of his passes. When he was blitzed or under pressure that completion percentage fell to under 62 percent according to Pro Football Focus. That's probably typical for most quarterbacks but we've seen passers' numbers completely decline when they're under duress (think of Arizona last year, Chicago and St. Louis in years past). Granted, Ryan's a very talented passer and the O-line shouldn't be what does him in, it's just something to watch in camp this summer. He remains a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback who will fall to Round 4 in drafts this summer.

Ryan speaks on O-line
Falcons, TQB ATL,
5/17/2013

Wright in better shape
Kendall Wright, WR, TEN
5/17/2013

News: The Titans official website reports that receiver Kendall Wright has never felt better physically. “I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been,” Wright said. The second-year receiver is tipping the scales around 187 pounds, approximately 14 pounds lighter than when he arrived last year. Wright attributed part of the transformation to workouts at Baylor after his rookie campaign ended. A bigger difference maker, however, may have been his routes through grocery stores that passed by junk food. “For the most part, it wasn’t about the running,” Wright said. “I just started taking care of my body and eating right. I wasn’t eating right at all. I was eating a lot of junk food because that’s what I like and that’s what I’d buy, but I cut down on that and just started eating right. When you don’t buy it, you’re not going to eat it, so I just stopped buying it.”

Analysis: Wright finished his rookie season with 64 catches for 626 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. He enters this season with the chance to start for the Titans, and we like him as a key reserve receiver with upside. Plan on drafting Wright with a mid-round pick.

Keiser rumbles to Bolts
Thomas Keiser, LB, CAR
5/17/2013

News: Days after his release from the Panthers, the Chargers have signed linebacker Thomas Keiser.

Analysis: Keiser played in four games last year before landing on IR with an elbow injury. He'll try and help replace Melvin Ingram in the team's pass rush. He's unlikely to be a relevant Fantasy option.

Browns ink QB Hoyer
Brian Hoyer, QB, ARI
5/17/2013

News: The Browns have signed quarterback Brian Hoyer, according to multiple reports.

Analysis: Hoyer is a dark horse candidate to start for the Browns and probably has a better chance to be their backup. He'll start camp behind Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell on the depth chart. Only Hoyer's relatives will draft him in Fantasy.

More Updates

1	Peyton Manning, DEN, QB
2	Drew Brees, NO, QB
3	Tony Romo, DAL, QB
4	Cam Newton, CAR, QB
5	Tom Brady, NE, QB
6	Aaron Rodgers, GB, QB
7	Robert Griffin III, WAS, QB
8	Russell Wilson, SEA, QB
9	Andrew Luck, IND, QB
10	Michael Vick, PHI, QB
All Rankings

1	Adrian Peterson, MIN, RB
2	C.J. Spiller, BUF, RB
3	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
4	Alfred Morris, WAS, RB
5	Frank Gore, SF, RB
6	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
7	DeMarco Murray, DAL, RB
8	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
9	Stevan Ridley, NE, RB
10	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
All Rankings

1	Calvin Johnson, DET, WR
2	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
3	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
4	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
5	Wes Welker, DEN, WR
6	Eric Decker, DEN, WR
7	Reggie Wayne, IND, WR
8	Steve Smith, CAR, WR
9	Victor Cruz, NYG, WR
10	Marques Colston, NO, WR
All Rankings

1	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
2	Antonio Gates, SD, TE
3	Aaron Hernandez, NE, TE
4	Jason Witten, DAL, TE
5	Greg Olsen, CAR, TE
6	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE
7	Tony Gonzalez, ATL, TE
8	Dwayne Allen, IND, TE
9	Kyle Rudolph, MIN, TE
10	Delanie Walker, TEN, TE
All Rankings

1	Matt Prater, DEN, K
2	Stephen Gostkowski, NE, K
3	Shaun Suisham, PIT, K
4	Adam Vinatieri, IND, K
5	Blair Walsh, MIN, K
6	Nick Novak, SD, K
7	Garrett Hartley, NO, K
8	Jason Hanson, DET, K
9	Mason Crosby, GB, K
10	Josh Brown, NYG, K
All Rankings

1	Steelers, DST
2	49ers, DST
3	Broncos, DST
4	Chargers, DST
5	Seahawks, DST
6	Bengals, DST
7	Bills, DST
8	Patriots, DST
9	Texans, DST
10	Packers, DST
All Rankings