Fantasy Football Week 7: Claim These Waiver Gems

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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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Garrett Hartley #5 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after he kicked the game winning field goal against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw

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

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - OCTOBER 17: Running back Derrick Ward #32 runs for a 38 yard touchdown in the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Reliant Stadium on October 17, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 21: Fred Davis #86 of the Washington Redskins is tackled during the preseason game by Jason Phillips #58 of the Baltimore Ravens at FedExField on August 21, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

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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FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 17: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots is caught by Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens in the first second half at Gillette Stadium on October 17, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriot won 23-20 in overtime. (P

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

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - OCTOBER 17: Mike Williams #17 of the Seattle Seahawks runs for a first down while being grabbed by Charles Tillman #33 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on October 17, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 10: Marcedes Lewis #89 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is pulled out of bounds by Donte Whitner #20 of the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. Jacksonville won 36-26. (Photo by Rick S

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

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 10: LeGarrette Blount #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

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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ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 17: Patrick Crayton #12 of the San Diego Chargers leaps over Ronald Bartell #24 of the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on October 17, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams beat the Chargers 20-17. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Ge

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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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Wide receiver Johnny Knox #13 of the Chicago Bears catches the ball during warm ups prior to the Bears game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Ge

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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BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 10: Willis McGahee #23 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. Players wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Ravens

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.