Fantasy Football Week 7: Claim These Waiver Gems

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Picking fantasy football waiver wire players is an inexact science to say the least.

I steered you right with Ryan Torain, but there was no way to know that Deion Branch was coming to New England to mess up my Brandon Tate prediction.

So with the trade deadline coming up, All I can say is this info is only good unless your team makes a drastic move by Tuesday.

Here are ten guys to keep an eye on and if they don't work out, we'll come up with something else out next week.

But some of them are guaranteed to produce so you have to be quick picking them up.

And if they do work and you win your league, just email me for my paypal account number.

Straight Cash, Homie!

10. Garrett Hartley

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I don't usually rate kickers because if you don't have a prolific offense that gets to the opponent's 30-yard line consistently, one kicker is as good as any other of the top 20.

But Hartley has upside. He got the bejesus scared out of him when he thought he was being replaced. But now that he has his job back and the Saints offense is going to be getting healthier, he is probably someone you might want to scoop up for the second half of the season.

9. Derrick Ward

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This is one of those stash him and see what happens picks, if you've got room on your roster.

Everyone knows Houston coach Gary Kubiak is as faithful to his running backs as Don Draper is to his women.

Ask Steve Slaton.(About Kubiak, not Draper).

So the worst thing Arian Foster could have heard was how enamored Kubiak was with Ward's effort after the game.

In just three carries Ward put up twelve fantasy points. He was in the running a few years ago for carries with the Giants but fell out of favor with Tampa Bay.

I'm not saying Arian Foster is going anywhere, but just keep an eye on Ward.

8. Fred Davis

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I don't get the Washington Redskins.

Fred Davis should be starting in the league as a featured tight end. If they are committed to Chris Cooley, they should trade him and get something back.

His numbers were crazy last year when he replaced Cooley and now that the star Washington tight end has suffered another concussion, he might be out for a while.

I like Cooley and start him in one of my leagues, but if he is out, I am going to go get Fred Davis.

7. Danny Woodhead

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You should want him on your team just for his name. And just because he won the Division II Heisman. And because he was tossed on the scrap heap.

But mostly because he does for the Pats what Kevin Faulk used to do for them: run draw plays, catch the ball on third down and move the chains.

If that doesn't seem like much just check the box score at the end of the game.

If you need a flex because of injury or bye weeks, get some Woodhead in your life.

6. Mike Williams

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Not that one, the one in Seattle. Yeah, he's back on the waiver wire as well. I know what you're thinking, he has fooled you before, like a few weeks ago.

But two things have changed: A) he seems to be over his injuries and B) Deion Branch is in New England so he is now the undisputed number one guy for Matt Hasselbeck.

Don't expect his gaudy numbers from this week on a regular basis, but he can be a bye week start and give you a solid amount of points.

5. Marcedes Lewis

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I swear by the guy. I drafted him late after Brent Celek and haven't played Celek after week one.

Lewis will be on the national stage tonight on Monday Night Football so everybody is going to rush to get him after he scores two more times.

Just remember where you heard it first.

4. LeGarrette Blount

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I am going to keep listing "Punchy" until he is picked up in all leagues. Two reasons why Tampa will eventually funnel all carries to LGB:

A) Cadillac Williams is either injured or in the doghouse seventy-five percent of each season. B) Kareem Huggins is most likely out for the year so that eliminates another back that could have taken carries from Blount.

Now only Earnest Graham stands in his way, and we have seen what Blount does to people who stand too close. It doesn't matter if you are from Idaho or his own team, you will get a quick jab.

Duck, Earnest!

3. Patrick Crayton

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The one thing that the San Diego Chargers will always find a way to do is pass the ball. So what does Philip Rivers do when he loses Legedu Naanee, Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd to injury?

He tosses the pill to former fourth string Dallas receiver Patrick Crayton six times for 117 yards.

The Chargers catchers are the walking wounded right now and Crayton has always been an opportunist, so expect him to take advantage of this situation.

With Vincent Jackson inevitably coming back, the Crayton numbers might not last long, but they look good for the immediate future.

2. Johnny Knox

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Johnny Knox is one of those guys who was drafted in most leagues but he still hasn't scored in double digits this season in non PPR leagues.

Aand even after a decent game against the Seahawks this week, he still hasn't found the end zone.

All this means that you can get him for cheap or someone has given up on him and tossed him on the waiver wire.

Pick him up. The numbers are much better and he is a different receiver when Jay Cutler is starting.

1. Willis McGahee

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This one is stealth and all I can do is hope the guy I offered the trade to doesn't read this.

In my other leagues I just grabbed Willis McGahee off of waivers but in my scavenger league someone has him, deep on their bench.

McGahee didn't play a down against the Pats, so if you didn't know better you would say that the Ravens have decided to make Ray Rice their every down back as well as their goal line guy.

Which means McGahee has absolutely no value and should be waived.

OR...

You could look at it as the Ravens sat him to keep him from getting injured because he is going to be traded either to either the Green Bay Packers or the New Orleans Saints where he will become a featured back.

I am a gambler.

The trade deadline is tomorrow.