Quarterbacks

Add immediately, impact potential

It's hard to imagine these QBs being available in any competitive 12 team leagues, but for those of you in smaller leagues you'll want to scoop these gems up if/while you still can.

Drew Brees (SD) - Outside of weeks 13 vs Denver and 14 at Tampa Bay, the Chargers have a solid schedule in the 2nd half of the season. Brees looks better and better every week it seems. With Keenan McCardell and Bobby Shaw added to boost their WR corps, Brees now has a solid group of skilled players around him. Adding McCardell is the proverbial cherry on top for the Chargers suddenly explosive offense. Brees has 8 TDs, 1 INT and a 73% completion rate over the last four games and now ranks among the top 10 fantasy QBs for the season. Brees finishes the first half of the 2004 season with 1,597 yds, 14 TDs and 3 INTs.

Ben Roethlisberger (Pit) - Last week, we talked about how the coming weeks would be a litmus test for Big Ben going against the Patriots and Eagles in back to back weeks. The Patriots are in the rear view mirror and the Steelers added yet another "W" under Big Ben's watch. So, now it's time to bring on the blitz happy Eagles. Roethlisberger is playing superb football - even for a veteran QB. With a strong supporting case that includes Burress, Ward and Randle-El as WRs and Duce, Bettis and Haynes powering a strong running attack there's no reason to think Ben will suddenly flop. The kid's on a roll. After the Eagles this coming week the schedule gets easier.

Brian Griese (TB) - Griese had the week off as the Bucs were on the bye. However, he might be the most realistic free agent available amongst this grouping. Gruden proclaimed him the Bucs starter moving forward so the job is now his to lose even when Chris Simms is completely healthy and able to resume playing. There are two points to drive home here. 1 - The Bucs schedule is very favorable and 2 - Griese is playing his best football since he was a Bronco. In three games he's completed just over 70% of his passes for 643 yds with 4 TDs and 1 interception.

Joey Harrington (Det) - Harrington is actually playing some pretty good football but he's a bit more risky than the other three simply because he doesn't have all of his weapons around him. If/when Roy Williams returns to 100% you can expect Harrington's numbers to increase as well. Getting Kevin Jones back into the lineup the past couple weeks also helps, but he's still not producing the kind of running attack that will strike fear into defense and create more opportunities for Harrington. You can't argue with 12 TDs and 4 INTs though. Especially with half of the Lions skilled players being out most of the season. The schedule looks pretty good once they get past Washington and Jacksonville the next two weeks.

Add for depth, starter potential

The following group of QBs are more likely to be available in most leagues. Certainly, they don't bring the same feeling of excitement and should be viewed more as gambles or players who could help provide depth as opposed to anyone you might be lucky enough to start for the rest of the season. 

Craig Krenzel (Chi) - All this kid does is win football games. That's the popular stance on Krenzel this morning after he opened the game last night with 49 yard TD pass to fellow rookie Bernard Berrian. Granted, he still turned the ball over twice and didn't produce eye-popping yardage numbers or do anything outstanding. But he led the Bears to a win and showed good mobility and presence in the pocket, especially for a rookie. Whether he can develop consistency and produce on a regular basis remains to be seen. No matter how you slice it he fared much better than Jonathan Quinn and most likely he's one of the few free agent QBs left on the waiver wire in the most leagues.

Jay Fiedler (Mia) - Fiedler will be under the scrutiny of the MNF spotlight this evening, and like Krenzel, is likely one of the few low hanging fruits that remaining on the wire in most leagues. Some weeks Fiedler will tease you into thinking he just might be useful as a backup for the occasional spot start, or two. Other weeks he looks like he doesn't belong on an NFL roster. As such, the recommendation on Fiedler comes down to one simple honest look at your team. How desperate are you? If you have no other options and Fiedler looks like the best route to take, then go for it. Otherwise, let this sleeping dog lie. The Dolphins have some decent talent with Chambers, Booker and McMichael, but the remaining schedule includes games against Arizona, Seattle, Buffalo, Denver, New England and Baltimore - all of which rank among the bottom 12 in the league in terms of fantasy points allowed (meaning tougher matchups).

Carson Palmer (Cin) - If your league's scoring includes big deductions for turnovers, then you should probably keep on looking. If not, Palmer is a decent candidate to add for depth to secure your backup spots for the 2nd half of the season once the bye weeks are done. Palmer is producing solid yardage but still isn't reliable enough in terms of TDs or limiting turnovers. The 2nd half of the season is also filled with difficult matchups including Washington, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New England, Buffalo and Philly.

Josh McCown (Ari) - Let's look at McCown with the glass is half-full mentality. Over the last three games (SF, Sea and Buf) McCown has 5 TDs and 2 INTs with 544 passing yds. Not great, but not terrible either, considering two of the matchups were on the tougher end of the spectrum. Also on a positive note, Anquan Boldin returned to the starting lineup this week which is a definite boost to the Cardinals offense. The matchups in the 2nd half of the season are pretty middle of the road - a few good ones and a few bad ones. At this point, McCown is no longer the sleeper he was in the pre-season, though honestly he could begin to resemble that in the next two months with Boldin in the lineup and the team getting some experience with Denny Green.

Billy Volek (Ten) - If you have McNair then owning Volek is considered a pre-requisite. Volek's passing numbers aren't all that different than McNair's thus far except he won't provide the bonus rushing yards. Neither have been particularly useful from a fantasy stand point yet, but there's reason to think that could turn around. The Titans are on the bye this coming week then face a 2nd half schedule that looks promising with favorable matchups including Chicago, Jacksonville, Houston, Indy, KC, Oakland and Detroit. Denver is perhaps their only potentially bad matchup on paper. Since McNair is no longer the safe "game-time decision" starter he was in the past, you really need to add Volek if you haven't done so already. Other owners may consider adding him as a pre-emptive move against your rival but only if you feel like wasting a roster spot that could be put to better use if you have 2 or 3 solid QBs already.

Add for insurance, potential down the road

Patrick Ramsey (Was) - While Joe Gibbs isn't saying it, we're speculating it could happen sooner or later. The Redskins don't appear to be going anywhere this year and at some point you have to think they'll put Ramsey on the field. Brunell hasn't been totally awful, but he hasn't been impressive either. Barely completing 50% of his passes with just 7 TDs and 5 INTs in 7 games isn't cutting it. Ramsey's big arm could give the offense a boost, but not without added risk of turnovers and sacks allowed. He's not very mobile and has a tendency to throw balls that shouldn't be thrown, but if the Redskins don't start winning some football games soon the nation's capital will be calling for Ramsey.

Drew Henson (Dal) - Parcells declared that Henson won't see the field until the Cowboys are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. And while people are itching to see what Henson can do, it's not like Vinny is playing horribly. He's thrown for 1844 yards in 7 games with 9 TDs and 7 INTs. He even ran one in against the Lions yesterday. That said, Henson's obviously viewed as the future QB of the Cowboys. Who knows if he will be productive right away if thrown into the fire, but others have been in the past like Aaron Brooks - and this year - Ben Roethlisberger. It's a long shot, but the last few weeks of the season each year often produce some wild and wacky statistics.

Kyle Boller (Bal) - The only reason he's listed is that he's probably available in most leagues. Otherwise, Boller has done absolutely nothing up to this point to warrant a roster spot. In 7 games he's produced just 4 total TDs and below 150 passing yds/gm. Yet in deeper leagues, or perhaps those of you in dynasty leagues, Boller may have some value still. Not much, but we're being nice today. This is what you call bringing up the rear.

Running Backs

Add immediately, impact potential

Anthony Thomas (Chi) - Thomas draws the top spot on this week's waiver wire list for two reasons. First, he's more likely to be available (compared to McGahee or Brees). Second, he's a great bet to be very productive in the Bears offense if Thomas Jones isn't able to play for a few weeks. The Bears schedule doesn't look very difficult the rest of the way so add the A-Train if you can. Right now there's very little information available regarding TJ's sprained foot, but some reports indicate it's not serious. Either way, the A-Train stands alone in the crowd this week as the free agent that represents the most value at this point in the season.

Willis McGahee (Buf) - McGahee made his first start this week replacing Travis Henry, and judging from the results, it won't be his last. McGahee ran for over 100 yards and scored the Bills first 2 rushing TDs of the season (also the first rushing TDs allowed by Arizona). The schedule appears favorable in the 2nd half for the Bills running game so there's a very good chance McGahee could continue what he started this week. It certainly appears to be his job to lose now, so if you can still get him or trade for him at a reasonable price, you should consider doing so.

Tyrone Wheatley (Oak) - Wheatley was back on the field this week though far from 100%. He looks like a decent pickup moving forward. Expect him to pick up more carries at Amos Zereoue's expense because he's bigger and arguably more productive. Wheatley might be this week's best pick up and play option which is why he's listed amongst the top tier of free agent backs. The Panthers are up next on the schedule and enter this week as the #1 fantasy matchup for RBs. If you need a quick fix, Wheatley is worth a look. Just don't get any ideas about Wheatley becoming a savior for your lineup. He's got potential, but the Norv Turner approach thus far leaves a lot to be desired considering it's quite likely going to be remain a committee.

Michael Bennett (Min) - Bennett's window of opportunity could be closing fast. Then again, knowing Mike Tice, it might be just opening. Mewelde Moore sprained his ankle yesterday and Onterrio Smith has another game to serve on his suspension before returning to the lineup. That could open the door for Bennett, potentially, to make his biggest contribution in a couple years this coming week at Indianapolis. Beyond that, it's literally anyone's guess. Smith has a solid claim on the starting job and you could certainly make a case for Moore. How this situation unravels will be fun if not frustrating to watch depending on what goes down, but right now Bennett could be in the sweet spot if Moore's ankle is a problem this week and he's not able to go full speed. Not to be overlooked, Moe Williams remains in the picture as well. Even if Bennett gets the starting nod, Williams still figures to steal his thunder at the goal line and get on the field for 3rd downs. All in all, Bennett's upside makes him attractive, but from a production standpoint, he hasn't done anything for anyone in a long time. So the jury is out.

Playing the short term market

Dorsey Levens (Phi) - Levens was likely snatched off the waiver wire last week in most leagues. He had a brutal matchup in his first start against the Ravens, but it doesn't get a whole lot better this week against Pittsburgh either. He's strictly a "rent-a-back" for a few weeks to help you buy time before Brian Westbrook returns to the lineup. Considering the tough matchups with Pittsburgh and then Washington in week 11, the best chance you'll have to get something worthwhile from Levens might be in week 10 against Dallas. At this point, however, Levens is a starter and that's worth reaching for if you need someone for a few weeks. Otherwise, he's also a decent backup to secure production at RB if you're a Westbrook owner.

LaBrandon Toefield (Jac) - Fragile Fred gave his owners a scare this week suffering a hip pointer, but he's expected to be fine and available next week. That said, we all know Fred Taylor's history with injuries so if you can grab Toefield to backup Fred or simply if you feel like rolling the dice, it might not be a bad gamble. Toefield is a better receiver out of the backfield than Taylor and will get playing time regardless, but if Taylor misses any games or suffers a more serious injury, Toefield's playing time would certainly increase even though I suspect he would ultimately be sharing the rock with both Chris Fuamatu Ma'afala and rookie Greg Jones. One of these two would almost certainly have the goal-line duties.

Brad Hoover (Car) - To those of you who penciled Hoover into your lineup this week expecting something worthwhile.. My condolences. Joey Harris wound up getting the bulk of the carries and not Hoover (despite being the featured back a week ago). At this point, if Hoover's available, you might just leave him out there, but in deeper leagues you still might consider adding him - or Harris - to the mix.

Kevin Faulk (NE) - Dillon was inactive this week making Kevin Faulk the Patriots "featured back". Though with the Steelers jumping out to an early lead in convincing fashion, Faulk really filled more of the 3rd down role that he usually does with Dillon healthy. Dillon should be back in the lineup in short order,  but if he misses any more games Faulk would continue to start and produce some decent yardage if not a lot of catches. The real sleeper to watch here is rookie Cedric Cobbs. More on him in a bit. Faulk is strictly a 3rd down back with upside if he is forced into a larger role. Since Dillon isn't seriously hurt, don't expect him to be a consistent producer unless your league score pts for receptions and has 14 or more teams.

Add for depth, starter potential

Troy Hambrick (Ari) - Hambrick is consistently getting around 10 carries each week in relief of Emmitt Smith. While the Cardinals offense isn't blowing anyone away, he's still worth adding to your roster, especially if you lack RBs or have Emmitt Smith.

Mike Cloud (NYG) - It looks like Ron Dayne's resurgence is over. Cloud scored 2 TDs this week. Dayne has never been a very good option at the goal line despite his size and Cloud looks to have the upper hand in Tom Coughlin's depth chart now, too. If you are in TD only leagues, Cloud might be worth a look. Otherwise, he's merely window dressing for the Tiki Barber show.

Time to get a backup plan

Cedric Cobbs (NE) - Activated this week from the PUP list he carried the rock just once for one yard. However, make no mistake about it. Cobbs has good talent and could stand to be a 2nd half sleeper if Dillon suffers a major injury. In dynasty leagues I advocate picking up Cobbs if you can. If your fellow owners are of the shark variety than chances are he's long gone and rightfully so.

Jesse Chatman (SD) - At this point LT's owners shouldn't be tempting fate. If Chatman is available, secure your stud for the 2nd half of the season and playoff run. With the bye weeks almost over the need for depth at other positions will lessen allowing you to use those roster spots to secure the backups for your horses. Going it alone with LT and not Chatman might be foolish considering the situation with Tomlinson's groin. Right now it's not bad enough to be worried, but if he misses any games for any reason, Chatman will be long gone before you know it.

Maurice Morris (Sea) - Morris should be viewed as a good pickup from two vantage points. First, as Alexander's backup. He's the obvious guy to have for that purpose. The second notion being from a dynasty perspective. Alexander will be a free agent, Morris has another year left on his contract. Chances are, Alexander will be back. But what if he isn't? Morris could emerge as an NFL starting RB next season if Alexander moves on. While that's merely being speculative, it's worth a gamble. Otherwise, stash Morris away if you own Alexander and protect yourself.

Najeh Davenport (GB) - Like Morris above, Davenport is worth picking up on two fronts. Unlike Morris, Davenport will be a free agent at the end of the season. He's playing under a 1 year tender offer signed as a restricted free agent. If you are in a dynasty league, you need to know these things. Davenport could be starting (potentially, of course) for another NFL team next season. For re-draft leagues, Davenport is the guy you want to backup Ahman Green. Plug Davenport into the Packers offense behind that offensive line and you still have a strong fantasy back whether it's Green, Davenport or even Tony Fisher.

Dominic Rhodes (Ind) - Just like the previously mentioned backs, Rhodes is an excellent insurance policy with a two-pronged strategy. Rhodes will also be a UFA after the season is over as will Edgerrin James. Either you add Rhodes as the backup for Edge or you invest in the idea that he could be starting for the Colts or another NFL team potentially next year. Either way, he's worth a roster spot behind Edge to protect yourself down the stretch.

Lamont Jordan (NYJ) - Everyone knows that Herman Edwards keeps giving Jordan lip service about getting more carries to keep Curtis Martin healthy and fresh for a potential deep playoff push. Look for that to start taking place possibly as early as tonight against the Dolphins on MNF. The Miami run defense is soft without Tim Bowens at DT. Jordan could have an impact even with 4 to 6 touches. Worst case scenario? He's worth the roster spot to secure Curtis Martin.

Tatum Bell (Den) - Unlike the other backups listed above, Bell is currently hurt and he's viewed by many as somewhat of a disappointment given that he was a fairly high draft pick for the Broncos and Shanahan's string of success with rookie RBs in Denver. Despite the perceived lack of development and string of injuries and setbacks, Bell remains a good insurance policy - this time to Reuben Droughns. Garrison Hearst is also in the mix, but if Droughns goes down with an injury, look for Bell to get every opportunity to carry the load.

Antowain Smith (Ten) - Chris Brown is playing hurt and playing very well, but he continues to suffer from turf toe, sprained ankles and other injuries. The Titans like to run the ball and will need to keep leaning on their ground game while Steve McNair is hurt and their WRs and TEs are getting back to health. If Brown is forced to sit a game or two, Smith would get the call. Sure, he's not as talented nor is he quick through the hole. He's a lot like Eddie George, but he's also fairly reliable and capable of producing solid numbers behind the Titans offensive line.

Wide Receivers

Add immediately if you need a WR and they are available..

Anquan Boldin (Ari) - Honestly, there's probably a 0.1% chance he's a free agent in your league, but what can we say.. we cater to everyone's needs. If you're among that miniscule percentage be sure to close the gap and make it ZERO percent. If you can get him, do it immediately.

Keenan McCardell & Eric Parker (SD) - There's a good chance Eric Parker is available but a much smaller chance McCardell is out there. Either way, both players look like excellent pickups at this point. Both have very good fantasy upside for the 2nd half with McCardell once again being a very solid starter potentially. Drew Brees is playing very well and McCardell's addition to the Chargers is already paying benefits by opening up the field for others like Parker and TE Antonio Gates.

Joey Galloway (TB) - Galloway is expected to join the team following the bye week - or at least shortly there after. If he's really back to 100% or close, then he's definitely worth adding to your roster given the frequency which Tampa throws the ball combined with a soft schedule. Galloway could be an impact WR down the stretch and in the fantasy playoff weeks.

Deion Branch (NE) - If Branch didn't get hurt, he'd never be lingering around on the waiver wire. He's missed the majority of the season with a knee injury, but could be returning to the lineup in the next week or two. You know how these things play out. If you wait one week too long, you'll miss him completely. If you get him before he's back, then invariably he suffers a setback and your gamble doesn't pay off. Regardless, it's always better to roll the dice and play the optimist. If Branch returns to the lineup he'll likely be a solid #3 fantasy WR and potentially more depending on how close to 100% he really is.

Quincy Morgan (Dal) - With Terry Glenn out for the season, Morgan will get an immediate opportunity to produce in the Cowboys lineup. That is, once he's healthy enough to contribute himself. The Cowboys schedule is filled with several tough matchups, but the opportunity is there for Morgan to live up to his physical abilities. He's got the speed and size to be a very good NFL WR, but he lacks consistency and one of his biggest negatives is his toughness. He doesn't fight for the ball and isn't particularly effective going over the middle. That said, he remains a boom/bust player just as he's been since he entered the league. The only thing different in the equation is the uniform and timing.

Antonio Bryant (Cle) - Bryant could gain some touches with his new team considering Andre' Davis is limited by a turf toe injury at the present time. Bryant is expected to move into the starting slot Quincy Morgan previously occupied, but he might need to fend off Dennis Northcutt, too. The Browns are producing some decent numbers with Jeff Garcia finally getting into a little bit of a groove but the schedule isn't particularly soft or inviting. It's mixed with good/bad matchups. Either way, Bryant is a gamble on his new team, but he could be worth a look at this point in the season.

Bryant Johnson (Ari) - With Anquan Boldin back in the picture, Johnson's number might actually stay where they are... It might be Fitzgerald who stands to lose targets and receptions. The Cardinals will frequently utilize all three WRs but when they are in 2 WR sets it's likely going to be Boldin and Johnson. He's been targeted consistently the past several weeks and could be a decent 4th or 5th WR on your roster. Not exactly breakout material, but he's a former first round talent with good size/speed and more talent around him now with Fitz and Boldin both healthy. The end result could mean solid production, but he's clearly a gamble.

Productive rookies

This group of rookie receivers is bucking the trend. Generally, WRs take longer to develop, but every few years there's an exception like an Anquan Boldin that falls into the select few that are productive and sometimes very valuable despite their inexperience. This year brings a wealth of productive rookie WRs and a few that could possibly blossom in the 2nd half.

Michael Clayton (TB) - Clayton is already a solid if not strong option as a fantasy WR. He's probably not available in most leagues, but if he is - don't hesitate to grab him because he's a rookie. He plays like he's been in the league for 3 years and quickly endeared himself to Jon Gruden in training camp as an all-around good football player. When Galloway returns, his targets may decline slightly, but realistically his production should remain consistent if not slightly better than it is already.

Keary Colbert (Car) - Colbert is proving to be a big playmaker in his rookie season. When Steve Smith broke his leg in the season opener, the door swung wide open for Colbert and he hasn't disappointed anyone. He produced 100 yds this week on just 4 catches and narrowly missed scoring a TD. He's a strong bet to continue producing, so don't let him sit out there on the wire if he's available.

Darius Watts (Den) - Watts continues to emerge as a solid NFL WR despite his rookie status. He's worth a roster spot at this point despite the fact he's not yet starting for the Broncos. He exploded this week and was a big factor in Jake Plummer's 499 passing yards as he caught 7 passes for 86 yds and 1 TD. Granted, Plummer probably won't be throwing for 400+ yds again any time soon, but it's important to note that Watts is a quick study in the Broncos offense. If Smith or Lelie get hurt, Watts' value would soar. The Broncos have mostly good or favorable passing matchups in the 2nd half, so keep your eyes peeled for Watts as he continues to emerge into a solid NFL receiver.

Filling out the roster, going fishing

The following group of WRs are more likely to be available than the ones listed above, but for the most part, they are not consider impact players. Most of these guys have shown us what they can do. There's nothing new about their opportunity or role except they may be coming off an injury or have a better chance to produce in the coming weeks. Either way, these guys are solid players to add depth to your roster or roll the dice on and maybe you'll get lucky and one will catch a hot streak for a few weeks right when you need them.

Eddie Kennison (KC) - Nothing new here. Kennison is what he is. A solid, veteran WR with deep speed and an offense loaded with dangerous options which means defenses can't and won't double team him. Kennison is steady if not unspectacular, but he can be very useful as a 4th WR rotating into your lineup as needed. He's just not likely to suddenly become a #1 or #2 fantasy WR but could produce strong numbers any given week.

Bobby Wade & David Terrell (Chi) - Entering the Craig Krenzel era (for the rest of the season anyway), it's hard to say how productive the Bears passing offense will be in the 2nd half. Looking at the schedule it's possible that the Bears could easily surpass whatever measly expectations we have for them. Like Tampa, the Bears schedule looks quite favorable from a passing matchup perspective. Wade and Terrell are the two WRs most likely to make an impact. Wade is developing nicely into a possession/slot type of WR who also tends to get the occasional end around. Terrell is used in more of the deep threat role and his target numbers fluctuate wildly from week to week. He's produced two big games and a lot of stinkers, but with a series of good matchups perhaps he's good for a few more big games the rest of the way.

Jabar Gaffney (Hou) - Gaffney is finally developing a little more consistency, but nothing that would endear himself to us fantasy owners as a potential starter right now. He caught 5 passes for 88 yards this week and also carried the ball 2 times for 15 yards. The Texans offense is quickly becoming one of the better units in the league and Gaffney has a solid role within it. For now, he's worth a roster spot, but he's proving that he can produce starter quality numbers some weeks. So he might be worth the gamble as a spot-starter.

Travis Taylor (Bal) - Taylor is back from injury and produced a decent game this week catching 6 passes for 80 yards against the Eagles. Taylor won't sneak up on anyone. He's been a first round bust for a couple years now. You know the saying about 3rd year WRs, right? Well, if you're truly optimistic and see this glass as half full, then just tell people.. hey, you gotta love those 5th year WRs! Seriously, Taylor is what he is.. but that might be good enough some weeks, just not all of them, and more often then not - not enough of them. Pick and choose your spots wisely if you go after Taylor.

Troy Brown (NE) - Brown was back on the field and into the mix this week. He's missed almost all of the season due to injury thus far. He's not the player he was a few years ago and the Patriots have better players surrounding him now, too. Still, he may be worth a spot on the end of your bench considering the injuries that have plagued the Patriots WR corps all season. He's still a decent possession WR and 3rd down "move the chains" type of player, but that's about it.

Down on the farm

Clarence Moore (Bal) - I like this kid. He's big, fast, has serious hops and could have a place in the Ravens lineup as soon as next season. Travis Taylor and Kevin Johnson surely aren't the answer. Randy Hymes has talent, but Moore has the measurables and potential to develop into a playmaker if he improves his route running and continues to respond to coaching well. Click here for his scouting report.

Bernard Berrian (Chi) - Berrian made a splash early in the Sunday night game against the 49ers as he connected with Craig Krenzel on a 49 yd TD play in the opening drive. Berrian was once a top NFL prospect before tearing his ACL, among other injuries, while at Fresno State. He's got decent size, speed and toughness but probably won't reach his potential until he's got a year or two under his belt. Last night we all saw a glimpse of his upside. With David Terrell's future with team up in the air, it could be Berrian, Justin Gage and Bobby Wade as the new look Bears WR corps in 2005. Click here for his scouting report.

Jamaar Taylor (NYG) - Taylor had what appeared to be a golden opportunity this week with Toomer highly questionable and a great matchup against the Vikings. Then the Vikings laid a Giant-goose egg. The Giants didn't have to throw all that much and instead ran the ball with a big lead. So much for stats and analysis. Still, Taylor has the slot WR role all to himself and would move right into the lineup if Toomer or Hilliard go down. He's a talented rookie with good upside and he's worth keeping your eyes on if he's out there but you're hesitant make the move.

David Kircus (Det) - Don't bother adding Kircus, but it was nice to see the 2nd year WR hit pay dirt on a 50 yd TD pass from Joey Harrington this week. Kircus was activated last week because of the injuries to the Lions WR corps. He's a work in progress, but was incredibly productive in college and could have a spot on the Lions roster looking ahead to next year. He's got a long way to go, but don't get overzealous and expect too much on the basis of his big play this past week. That's all. Good kid, nice practice squad player to develop, but no real fantasy value.

Tight Ends

Add immediately, impact potential

Dallas Clark (Ind) - Clark appears to finally be "back" now. He's been off the injured list for a number of weeks now but he's been nearly invisible aside from his 1 catch for a TD showings of late. This week he showed why the Colts made him a top draft pick two years ago. From the TE position, he's a playmaker. He might still be available in some deeper leagues because of the injuries and drought he went through in the first half of the season. Don't let that fool you. He's a top talent and will probably finish the 2nd half with potentially top 10 TE numbers.

Doug Jolley (Oak) - With the Raiders WR corps slowed by injuries Jolley has gotten some increased targets and opportunity of late. Whether or not that continues is anyone's guess. Courtney Anderson appears to be the favored player amongst the coaching staff and front office in terms of who the team views as it's starter next year. But for now, Jolley can contribute and could be semi-useful for some fantasy teams as well. It's hard to expect consistency out of Jolley, but he's produced decent numbers as far as TEs go the past couple weeks.

Add for depth, starter potential

Shad Meier (Ten) - Meier returned to the lineup this week after under going an emergency appendectomy 2 weeks ago. He's still holding the fort down until Erron Kinney returns in the next few weeks, but he's a capable player who should get a decent number of targets for the short-term. As mentioned, Kinney will most likely resume his starting role and be the best bet when he's healthy and in the lineup, but for the interim, Meier is a solid player who is a good for depth and an occasional spot start if needed.

Stephen Alexander (Det) - With the Lions WR corps riddled by injuries, Alexander's receiving more attention from Joey Harrington. The Lions talked about getting their TE more involved this year but it hasn't panned out that way up until recent weeks. Once Roy Williams is healthy and in the lineup, you might as well slap his picture on a milk carton. In the interim, he's been getting enough targets of late that he could be useful as a spot starter or short-term pickup..

Add for insurance, potential down the road

Ben Troupe (Ten) - The Titans future at TE. Enough said. He's a first round talent with great pass catching skills. Once he catches onto the Titans offensive scheme and playbook Jeff Fisher will move him around the line of scrimmage to obtain favorable matchups. Think top 5 to top 10 fantasy TE numbers within 2 years. A dynasty special here.

Chris Cooley (Was) - Cooley is primarily playing the H-back position in Joe Gibbs offense. Robert Royal is now the team's starter at the more traditional TE spot. Both players have some promise in this offense, though neither are likely to develop into fantasy starters any time soon. Cooley is worth adding as a backup while Royal probably isn't even worth a roster spot at this point. Cooley has a solid future and good upside for dynasty leagues, but it's difficult to say where Royal belongs. He's missed almost all of his first two seasons in the NFL due to injury.

Kickers

Again, no need to split hairs when it comes to picking up free agent kickers. Most if not all of the best ones are long gone by now. However, there's always some that are worthwhile for a week or three. The best looking options available now - using several leagues as sort of a test bed for available kickers - include some of the usual suspects like Steve Christie (NYG), Paul Edinger (Chi) and Billy Cundiff (Dal). Others who have looked better recently and might be worth a look are Josh Scobee (Jac) and Shayne Graham (Cin).

Defense / Special Teams

The three defense/special teams units that I see available in most leagues that might have some redeeming qualities are as follows:

San Diego Chargers - The Chargers defense is quietly playing some good football right now. They lead the league in run defense (81.5 yds/gm) and have not allowed a run of 20 yards or longer this year. Their pass defense remains suspect, but they do appear to be improving under Wade Phillips and Marty Schottenheimer. They have a few decent matchups where they could have some sack potential and could be useful, but like most defenses available on the wire at this point in the season - they all have holes somewhere.

Chicago Bears - Not a great schedule in terms of offenses they'll be facing but they are getting more of a pass rush generated now than earlier in the season and Brian Urlacher looks like he's closest to 100% as he's been this year. Also, Jerry Azumah is back in the lineup helping the Bears secondary pick up their play a notch.

Top 20 Waiver Wire Pickups

Judging from the emails and feedback I've received a lot of you like to see a "top 20" list of free agents available. I'll try to add this periodically, though to be perfectly honest, it's very difficult to draw up such a list while covering the wide variety of leagues out there. So, here's this week's list. Keep in mind, most of these players won't be available in most leagues.

1. RB Willis McGahee, Buf
2. RB Anthony Thomas, Chi
3. WR Anquan Boldin, Ari
4. QB Drew Brees, SD
5. QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pit
6. QB Brian Griese, TB
7. WR Joey Galloway, TB
8. TE Dallas Clark, Ind
9. WR Eric Parker, SD
10. WR Deion Branch, NE
11. RB Tyrone Wheatley, Oak
12. WR Bryant Johnson, Ari
13. RB Dorsey Levens, Phi
14. WR Eddie Kennison, KC
15. RB Cedric Cobbs, NE
16. QB Craig Krenzel, Chi
17. WR Travis Taylor, Bal
18. TE Chris Cooley, Was
19. RB LaBrandon Toefield, Jac
20. RB Mike Cloud, NYG