Waiver Wire: Moore in store for Week 16?
The Dolphins will enter this offseason in another rebuilding mode, especially after coach Tony Sparano was fired. But you have to wonder what could have been in Miami if Matt Moore was the starter from Week 1.
Moore is 5-5 since replacing the injured Chad Henne (shoulder) as the starter in Week 6, including three losses by three points or less against Denver, the Giants and Dallas. But we're not here to talk about wins and losses. We're here to help you win a Fantasy title, and Moore could play a prominent role in Week 16.
He has an excellent matchup at New England and is worth starting ahead of standout Fantasy quarterbacks like Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning. You can make the same argument for Rex Grossman with his matchup against Minnesota.
As for Moore, he has four games with at least 18 Fantasy points in a standard league in his past seven outings, including two on the road. The Patriots have also allowed multiple touchdowns to their past three opposing quarterbacks in Dan Orlovsky, Rex Grossman and Tim Tebow, and New England is now without top pass rusher Andre Carter (quadriceps).
Moore, who is owned in 44 percent of leagues on CBSSports.com, is a risky starting option in all formats. But based on his recent level of play and his matchup, he could be useful for some owners in a potential Fantasy title game.
In case you haven't noticed ... The Colts are having a miserable season even after getting their first victory in Week 15 against Tennessee, but Donald Brown is trying to prove he deserves to be the starting running back in Indianapolis in 2012. Brown, who is owned in 59 percent of leagues on CBSSports.com, has three games with double digits in Fantasy points in his past four games. He had 16 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown against the Titans, and he could be a useful flex option against Houston this week. The Texans have allowed at least nine Fantasy points to three running backs in the past four games against Maurice Jones-Drew, Cedric Benson and DeAngelo Williams, and we can see Brown reaching that total in this matchup as well.
Each Tuesday we will highlight players who might be available in your league and whether you should consider picking them up off waivers based on their recent performances. The players chosen are based on the percentage of ownership in CBSSports.com leagues.
Quarterback
Add 'Em
Rex Grossman, Redskins
Owned: 36 percent of leagues
Week 15: Completed 15 of 24 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions vs. the Giants.
Analysis: This isn't so much about Grossman as it is the matchup for him in Week 16 against the Vikings. Minnesota has allowed the most touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks (33) with the fewest interceptions (six). The last time a quarterback did not have multiple touchdowns against the Vikings was in Week 5. It's hard to trust Grossman at this point in the season, but he does have three games with at least 18 Fantasy points in his past five outings, including two at home. Like Moore, I would start Grossman ahead of Roethlisberger and Manning this week.
Kyle Orton, Chiefs
Owned: 21 percent of leagues
Week 15: Completed 23 of 31 passes for 299 yards vs. Green Bay.
Analysis: Orton did the impossible by leading the Chiefs to a victory over the Packers in his first start for K.C. He now faces the Raiders in a favorable matchup in Week 16. Oakland has allowed multiple touchdowns to every opposing starting quarterback this season except two. Ironically, those two were Orton in Week 1 when he was the starter in Denver and Matt Cassel, the former Kansas City starter, in Week 7. Still, we expect Orton to have success this week, and he is worth adding and starting as a No. 2 quarterback in two-quarterback formats.
John Skelton, Cardinals
Owned: 21 percent of leagues
Week 15: Completed 28 of 46 passes for 313 yards, one touchdown and one interception vs. Cleveland.
Analysis: Skelton isn't guaranteed to start in Week 16 at Cincinnati since Kevin Kolb (concussion) could return. But we hope Skelton remains the starter since he has the better chance to succeed. He has three games with at least 17 Fantasy points in a standard league since getting extended playing time in Week 9. He faces Cincinnati in Week 16, and the Bengals have allowed multiple touchdowns to five of the past seven starting quarterbacks they have faced. Like Orton, Skelton would have value as a starting option in two-quarterback leagues.
Running back
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Lance Ball, Broncos
Owned: 34 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had 11 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown, two catches for 41 yards and lost a fumble vs. New England.
Analysis: Willis McGahee had trouble with his left hamstring against the Patriots, but he's expected to play in Week 16 at Buffalo. But you should be prepared in case McGahee is out, which means adding Ball now. Whoever starts against the Bills would have a favorable matchup. Buffalo has allowed each of the past three starting running backs it has faced to gain more than 100 rushing yards with Chris Johnson, Ryan Mathews and Reggie Bush all having outstanding performances.
Kahlil Bell, Bears
Owned: 15 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had 15 carries for 65 yards and five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown vs. Seattle.
Analysis: Bell, not Marion Barber, was the featured rusher against the Seahawks. Barber had just 11 carries for 33 yards, and you have to assume Bell will again get the majority of touches in Week 16 at Green Bay. The Packers have allowed either a touchdown or 100 total yards to an opposing running back in every game since Week 3. The last time a team failed to have a running back score or reach 100 total yards was against the Bears, but Matt Forte still managed 82 total yards. As long as Forte (knee) remains out, Bell would be worth adding and potentially starting as a flex option this week.
Chris Ivory, Saints
Owned: 6 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had 18 carries for 74 yards at Minnesota.
Analysis: Mark Ingram continues to miss time with a toe injury, and he will likely be out again in Week 16 against the Falcons. That should allow Ivory to remain in a prominent role for the Saints. He is still just the No. 3 Fantasy option in the backfield for New Orleans behind Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas, but Ivory does have 31 carries in his past two outings. He is still looking for his first rushing touchdown this year, but the Falcons have allowed three rushing touchdowns and four running backs to reach double digits in Fantasy points in the past four games. Ivory should be considered a sleeper running back in Week 16 if Ingram remains out.
Wide receiver
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Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders
Owned: 47 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had eight catches for 155 yards and a touchdown vs. Detroit.
Analysis: Heyward-Bey has been the best receiver for the Raiders the past three weeks with 34 Fantasy points over that span, including two touchdowns. He has helped Carson Palmer while Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford battled injuries, and he should remain the go-to target even with Moore returning in Week 15. Heyward-Bey doesn't have the best matchup in Week 16 at Kansas City, but he did have five catches for 89 yards in Week 7 when he first played the Chiefs this year.
Demaryius Thomas, Broncos
Owned: 45 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had seven catches for 116 yards vs. New England.
Analysis: Telling you to add Thomas should be obvious at this point, but we'll hammer home the point since he's been the best Fantasy receiver over the past three games. He has 50 Fantasy points over that span with 18 catches for 338 yards and three touchdowns, and he has a favorable matchup this week at Buffalo. The Bills have allowed 14 touchdowns to opposing receivers and 10 to reach double digits in Fantasy points. Consider Thomas a must-start Fantasy option if he's still out there on your waiver wire.
Titus Young, Lions
Owned: 16 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had five catches for 21 yards and a touchdown at Oakland.
Analysis: Young has been the model of consistency for the Lions of late with at least seven Fantasy points in six of his past seven games with three touchdowns over that span. He has supplanted Nate Burleson as the No. 2 Fantasy receiver for the Lions behind Calvin Johnson, although Burleson (55 percent ownership) is also worth adding after he had his third game with at least nine Fantasy points in his past five outings in Week 15. Young, however, has more upside and should be added in all formats for what should be an offensive showdown in Week 16 against San Diego.
Andre Roberts, Cardinals
Owned: 3 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown vs. Cleveland.
Analysis: Roberts has been on fire the past three weeks with 29 Fantasy points, including two touchdowns and one game with 111 receiving yards. He has established himself as the No. 2 Fantasy receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald, and he has developed a solid rapport with Skelton. We hope Skelton can remain the starter in Week 16 at Cincinnati since the Bengals have allowed eight touchdowns to opposing receivers in the past five games. This should be a good week for the Cardinals passing attack, and Roberts will make for a solid No. 3 receiver in the majority of leagues.
Tight end
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Brent Celek, Eagles
Owned: 70 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had five catches for 156 yards and a touchdown vs. the Jets.
Analysis: Celek should be owned in all leagues and is worth starting in all formats in Week 16 at Dallas. The Cowboys have allowed five touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season and four have reached double digits in Fantasy points, including Celek in Week 8 when he had seven catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. Celek had six targets from Michael Vick against the Jets, and he should remain heavily involved once again in Week 16 in a must-win game for the Eagles.
Anthony Fasano, Dolphins
Owned: 21 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had two catches for 28 yards and a touchdown at Buffalo.
Analysis: Fasano has done well since Moore took over for Henne, and he has at least six Fantasy points in five of his past seven games with four touchdowns over that span. Fasano has been the most consistent target for Moore behind Brandon Marshall, and you should consider using Fasano ahead of starting options like Greg Olsen, Owen Daniels and Brandon Pettigrew this week. Fasano had five catches for 82 yards against New England in Week 1.
Jared Cook, Titans
Owned: 22 percent of leagues
Week 15: Had nine catches for 103 yards and a fumble at Indianapolis.
Analysis: Finally, the Titans decided to involve Cook more in the gameplan, and he had 11 targets against the Colts. We hope this is a sign of things to come. He didn't do much against Jacksonville, his Week 16 opponent, in Week 1 with just one catch for 7 yards. But we hope he can see double digits in targets again in the rematch. The Jaguars have allowed six touchdowns to opposing tight ends, and Cook should be considered a potential starting option in deeper leagues.
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