Silva Week 10 Waiver Wire Report

Passing Fancy

Following Alex Smith's four-turnover performance that led directly to a Titans win in Week Nine, coach Mike Singletary did nothing but praise his starting quarterback. "Alex had only one play that was really on him," Singletary said Monday, pointing out that the other miscues were a result of the ball just taking "an unlucky bounce." Needless to say, Smith enjoys plenty of job security at the moment.

In another encouraging sign, the heretofore conservative 49ers rolled out 358 yards of offense while skewing toward the pass for the second straight week. "It was, unfortunately, one of the better offensive performances that I've seen since I've been here," Singletary said. "Take away the turnovers, and we have a chance to really have a good offensive game and have some excitement and momentum going forward." Since Smith and Michael Crabtree entered the starting lineup simultaneously, the Niners have shockingly morphed into a pass-first offense. With Vernon Davis emerging as a legit go-to receiver and Jason Hill now playing well in the slot, expect that trend to continue.

The Steelers took note of Arizona's pass-happy run through the playoffs last year, turning to their own uptempo attack early this season. Other teams besides San Francisco have taken notice. Matt Hasselbeck's 39 completions against the Lions were a team record, and coach Jim Mora indicated that he won't be stubborn about pushing the running game going forward. Seattle's best offensive players are in the passing game, and the injury-ravaged offensive line isn't opening any holes on the ground. Hasselbeck's gaudy pass attempt numbers could become the norm rather than the exception over the second half of the season.

The Chiefs showed their most successful passing attack of the season after moving to the no-huddle formation against the Jags in Week Nine. Just like in Seattle, the offensive line is getting dominated on the ground. With Larry Johnson out of the picture, the team can put its best aerial weapons on the field and attempt to stretch the defense. Chris Chambers' two-touchdown performance will help draw attention away from Dwayne Bowe, and Lance Long is emerging as a destitute man's Wes Welker in the slot. Throw in Jamaal Charles as a backfield playmaker, and Matt Cassel finally has a chance to succeed in Kansas City.

Alex Smith - 49ers, QB

Alex Smith - 49ers, QB

Smith attempted 45 passes against the Titans in Week 9, which is easily the most by a Niners quarterback this season. The week before, playing with the lead against the Colts, offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye called 36 pass plays versus just 18 running plays. With Michael Crabtree emerging as a reliable weapon and Vernon Davis playing the best football of his career, Smith has the weapons to take advantage of the switch in playcalling. He should be owned in all leagues as a high-upside QB2.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matt Cassel - Chiefs, QB

Matt Cassel - Chiefs, QB

The Chiefs finally moved the ball on offense when they went to the no-huddle in the second half against the Jags. While the offensive line remains an issue, Cassel finally has some weapons with which to work in the passing game. Dwayne Bowe is a viable go-to option, Chris Chambers emerged as a red-zone weapon, Lance Long is coming on as a reliable slot receiver, and Jamaal Charles is a major upgrade on Larry Johnson. Cassel's fantasy value is reliant on the Chiefs remaining in an uptempo offense. Will it happen? The Magic 8-Ball says "signs point to yes."

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Vince Young - Titans, QB

Vince Young - Titans, QB

Young has now quarterbacked the best two games of the season for the Titans, and they've gone over 30 points in both weeks. While his completion percentage dipped slightly, the marked increase in yards per attempt was a positive sign. He continues to make plays with his feet, as well, converting a perfectly executed delayed draw for a touchdown against the Niners. V.Y. should have QB2 value the rest of the way.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Josh Freeman - Buccaneers, QB

Josh Freeman - Buccaneers, QB

An inaccurate Freeman remains unprepared to start at the NFL level, but his ability is undeniable. He showed a nice pocket presence against the Packers while taking advantage of his ability to extend plays with his legs. The three touchdowns in the Bucs' first win of the season are a positive for his development, but expect him to take plenty of lumps in the next few weeks. He's only an option in two-quarterback leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in two-quarterback leagues

Darren McFadden - Raiders, RB

Darren McFadden - Raiders, RB

The meniscus injury and the Week Nine bye have McFadden owned in just over half of all leagues. The good news is that he returned to the practice field Monday, with an eye on returning to face the Chiefs this week. Starting left guard Robert Gallery and right tackle Cornell Green are also expected to return to game action, which represents a significant upgrade for the Raiders offensive line. With Chaz Schilens (foot) optimistic about returning as well, the Oakland offense will be in the best shape it's been all season. McFadden will likely return to a timeshare with Justin Fargas initially, but the upgrades on offense give him a shot at fantasy value down the stretch. Pick him up if he's out there.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Sammy Morris - Patriots, RB

Sammy Morris - Patriots, RB

Morris is expected to miss this week's game against Indy, but he's reportedly set to return against the Jets in Week 11. His role may ultimately be determined by Laurence Maroney's performance against the Colts. If Maroney appears hesitant and dances at the line, Morris should work his way into the mix immediately. If Maroney runs north and south decisively, he'd be the favorite for lead-back duties going into Weeks 11 and 12. Considering Maroney's history, Bill Belichick will be tempted to play Morris sooner rather than later.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Ladell Betts - Redskins, RB

Ladell Betts - Redskins, RB

Clinton Portis (concussion) is doubtful to play this week, so Betts is likely to break into the starting lineup. The revamped offensive line will struggle to open holes against the Broncos, however, which limits Betts to flex value. Pick him up, but keep expectations low for the next couple of weeks.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Larry Johnson - FA, RB

Larry Johnson - FA, RB

The Patriots and Steelers taught the rest of the teams a lesson during the Michael Vick saga over the summer. Why express or deny interest in an available player when you can avoid controversy simply by saying, "We perform our due diligence on all available players, and so and so fits that category."

There isn't a backfield situation in the league dire enough to the point where Johnson would represent an upgrade right now. Throw in his anti-social behavior, a lack of respect for authority, and an inability to make plays at this stage of his career, and there's no reason for any team to sign him in 2009. If a team like the Texans is desperate enough to give him a look, however, feel free to stash him with an available roster spot. LJ won't be worth grabbing if the Redskins sign him.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Kolby Smith - Chiefs, RB

Kolby Smith - Chiefs, RB

As discussed earlier, the Chiefs offense works best with Jamaal Charles on the field. Even if the coaches envision Smith as a better option between the tackles, the offensive line isn't opening holes. Running behind a similar line early in 2008, Smith averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on 35 attempts. While he may receive 8-10 touches per game going forward, a touch just isn't worth that much in this offense.

Recommendation: Worthy a look in deeper leagues

Ahman Green - Packers, RB

Ahman Green - Packers, RB

Green isn't a threat to Ryan Grant's starting job, but he can be the more effective player with 10-12 touches per game. Green averaged an impressive 7.5 yards on six carries against the Bucs in his second game since signing. He'll be a bigger part of the gameplan than Brandon Jackson or DeShawn Wynn ever were in a similar role.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Robert Meachem - Saints, WR

Robert Meachem - Saints, WR

Meachem was the best receiver on the field for the Saints in Week Nine, changing the game's momentum with a 54-yard catch-and-run touchdown and later adding a huge catch over the middle in crunch time. The Saints have shown a preference for a time share at No. 2 receiver, but if he can nudge Devery Henderson into a strict situational deep threat role, Meachem has a realistic shot at weekly value. The injury-prone Lance Moore may be a forgotten man if he can't get back on the field soon.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Jacoby Jones - Texans, WR

Jacoby Jones - Texans, WR

As NFL Network's Deion Sanders said after the Colts game, Jones isn't just a returner anymore, he's becoming a receiver. Jones has been making a highlight reel play at least once a game this season, and he saw his most extensive playing time at receiver in Week 9. With Owen Daniels out for the season, Jones fills the need for another playmaker in the passing game. He's an ideal stash because he has the talent to put up big numbers in a high-scoring offense if given the opportunity.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Justin Gage - Titans, WR

Justin Gage - Titans, WR

Gage is the only Titans receiver who has a history with Vince Young, and he's emerged as the preferred target in V.Y.'s first two starts. Gage has led the team in targets (13), receptions (7), and yards (138) the past two weeks while separating from rookie Kenny Britt. Expect that trend to continue with Titans playing more competitively under Young.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Laveranues Coles - Bengals, WR

Laveranues Coles - Bengals, WR

After finding the end zone in Weeks Six and Seven, Coles emerged from the Week Eight bye with his best game of the season (6-72-0) against the Ravens. His top three fantasy performances have come in the last three games, and Chris Henry's (broken arm) absence should lead to a couple more looks per game. Coles won't be a great option against the Steelers this week, but he's worth carrying as a WR5.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Davone Bess - Dolphins, WR

Davone Bess - Dolphins, WR

A pecking order was finally established among Dolphins receivers nine weeks into the season. Bess was targeted 14 times against the Patriots and Greg Camarillo saw seven passes while Brian Hartline and Ted Ginn were afterthoughts as situational role players. Expect Bess and Camarillo to remain Chad Henne's preferred options, lending them speculative value in PPR leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR leagues

Lance Long - Chiefs, WR

Lance Long - Chiefs, WR

A Todd Haley favorite going back to his days on the Cardinals practice squad, Long led the Chiefs in receptions (8), yards (74) and targets (11) in Week Nine. It's not just a fluke performance either. Long was emerging as Matt Cassel's favorite target in Week 7 against the Chargers before leaving the game with a concussion. Owners in TD-heavy leagues will want to kick the tires on Chris Chambers instead, but Long is the pick in PPR leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR leagues

Zach Miller - Raiders, TE

Zach Miller - Raiders, TE

As mentioned above, the Raiders offensive line is getting healthy. Miller is seventh among all tight ends in receiving yards this season. Even a slight improvement from JaMarcus Russell and the rest of the offense would make him a borderline Top-10 fantasy tight end.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Jermichael Finley - Packers, TE

Jermichael Finley - Packers, TE

Coach Mike McCarthy considers Finley (knee) and Jordy Nelson (knee) close to returning to practice. Finley was starting to emerge as a weekly option before sustaining the injury, so Chris Cooley and Owen Daniels owners should consider stashing him for Week 11 and beyond.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues

Brandon Pettigrew - Lions, TE

Brandon Pettigrew - Lions, TE

The rookie is coming off his best game of the season with seven receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown. Targeted inconsistently all season, he's more of a stash as opposed to a viable weekly starter.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Bengals D/ST

Bengals - Former first-round corners Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph are playing lights out, leading a Cincy defense that ranks fifth in the NFL and Top-12 in fantasy production. The Bengals are a viable weekly play going forward, but they're owned in less than half of all fantasy leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Dolphins D/ST

Dolphins - The Jason Taylor/Joey Porter pass-rushing tag-team is due for a bounceback this week at home against rookie Josh Freeman. Kickoff returner Ted Ginn is always a threat to take it to the house.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Check Out Girls! Girls! Girls! and My Week 10 Rankings...

Girls! Girls! Girls!: Silva Week 10 Picks and Predictions

I will be breaking down every single football game this week. Like on NFL Playbook they break down every single game, that's what I did, and my article is long, so be ready for a show.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/290005-girls-girls-girls-silva-week-10-picks-and-predictions

My Week 10 Rankings

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/290225-week-10-ranking