Waiver Wire Pick-ups

With three weeks under our fantasy belts, it’s time to start adding and subtracting from rosters. Be it due to injuries, late-round flier picks not working out or addressing depth, there are players to be had out on the waiver wire. There are also those who just find themselves in the right situation, or what we call the “Ryan Grant phenomenon” (Others might call it “coming out of nowhere”, but that’s physically impossible). Point being, here are a few players worth considering as you look to upgrade your lineup.

RB Correll Buckhalter, Denver Broncos

(photo by espn.com/AP)

Even with the team turning more and more to rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, Buckhalter still received 14 carries against the Raiders this week totaling 108 yards. For the season he has averaged 77 yards rushing per contest and has scored one touchdown. We think those numbers will go down as the Broncos lean more on Moreno. But if you have the roster space, you might want to save a spot for Buckhalter as the team sorts out its running back position. Buckhalter is currently available in over 60 percent of leagues polled.

RB Glenn Coffee, San Francisco 49ers

Adam Schefter is reporting that although the team is denying that Frank Gore has a high ankle sprain, team sources are saying that he may need a week or two off. Coffee only averaged 2.2 yards per carry on his way to 54 yards against the Vikings, but even without Gore the 49ers still focused on running the ball. Should Gore sit, Coffee has a couple of decent match-ups against the Rams and Falcons over the next two weeks. He is currently available in over 70 percent of leagues polled. If you have the roster spot, he could be worth stashing while waiting on word about Gore’s injury.

RB Jerome Harrison, Cleveland Browns

Rookie James Davis was a sleeper pick among many fantasy experts, but with Jamal Lewis out against the Ravens the team turned to Harrison. His numbers weren’t overly impressive, 52 yards rushing and 33 yards receiving, but the Browns had to abandon the run early. Harrison is a decent receiver out of the backfield (second on the team in receptions) giving him additional value in PPR leagues. The extent of Lewis’s injury is unknown, but we think Lewis’s days as a starter are limited. Harrison makes a nice flex option and is currently available in virtually all leagues polled.

WR Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars

(photo by sportingnews.com)

Sims-Walker has been the Jaguars most targeted wide receiver over the last two weeks of the season while averaging 94 yards receiving and 0.5 touchdowns per contest during the same period of time. He is currently available in 90 percent of leagues polled. After two straight strong performances, that isn’t going to last much longer.

WR Steve Smith, New York Giants

He isn’t as popular a pick-up as Mario Manningham, but he probably should be. Steve Smith has averaged 10 targets, 92 yards receiving and 0.7 touchdowns per contest so far this season. He is only available in 33 percent of leagues polled. If one of those leagues is yours, shame on you.

WR Nate Burleson, Seattle Seahawks

T.J. Houshmandzadeh was the team’s big off-season signing, but his relationship with QB Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace has been slow to develop on the field. It’s been Burleson (fourth year in Seattle) who has been the team’s most productive receiver. He is currently averaging 11 targets, 76 yards receiving and 0.3 touchdowns per contest. He is available in 63 percent of leagues polled.

TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

Davis has come a long way since being booted off the field by HC Mike Singletary during the 2008 regular season. Early in training camp Davis got into a rumble with LB Marques Harris. Singletary, once a fiery player himself, made every player run 12 sprints across the width of the field but took pleasure in Davis’ competitive nature. Singletary then named the fourth-year tight end a co-captain. His contribution as an emotional and physical leader has also earned him a bigger role in the offense. While his seven receptions and 72 yards through the first two weeks were not the stuff pro-bowlers are made of, it was his most productive back-to-back weeks since 2007. Davis then logged in a career game on Sunday with seven receptions, 96 yards and two scores against the Vikings. Teams like the Vikings who sport a Cover-2 defense, or are just plain weak against the pass (See Week 4 match-up against the Rams) are sure to struggle against a force like Davis. We don’t expect career games every week, but Davis has finally shown ability to be a solid bye-week filler, and a potential starter if the match-up merits consideration.

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