Fantasy Football Week 11: Must-Haves Off The Waiver Wire
Week 10 in the NFL once again made way for some unpredictable moments. Anyone who saw the finish to the Jaguars-Texans game saw Mike Thomas make a once in a lifetime catch on a David Garrard Hail Mary pass to give the Jags a last-second victory.
Thomas has likely found a fantasy home in most leagues now but, if he is somehow still available in your league, put in a claim for him right now.
As wild and unexpected as that was, it is hard to ignore that the 1-7 Cowboys took down the 6-2 Giants in an NFC East showdown.
The hardest stat to believe would have to be that Jon Kitna won the quarterback duel with Eli Manning. Kitna had his first 300-yard, multiple-touchdown game in a Cowboys uniform.
Kitna finished the day 13 for 22 for 327 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. While Kitna did not throw often, when he did, he more often than not burned the Giants secondary with big plays.
While the young Manning did not have a poor game, going 33 for 48 for 373 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, his second interception in the red zone put the game on ice.
Eli’s first interception was returned 101 yards for a touchdown by rookie cornerback Bryan McCann, so both interceptions were very costly for True Blue.
Dez Bryant continued to look like the ‘Boys No. 1 receiver with Kitna at the helm, finishing the day with 104 yards and a touchdown on just three catches.
On the other side, wide receiver Mario Manningham had no problem stepping into the No. 2 receiver role in Steve Smith’s absence, reeling in an impressive 10 catches for 90 yards and a score.
Jason Garrett has to be excited about how the game turned out. If this is the same Dallas team that shows up for the rest of the season, Garrett would be just about guaranteed to remain the Dallas head coach in the 2011 season.
Finally, Jay Cutler out-dueled Brett Favre in an NFC North showdown that pitted the two gun-slinging quarterbacks against one another.
Favre tossed three interceptions that eventually doomed his team and, very likely, eliminated a team that was a preseason Super Bowl favorite from playoff contention.
In other news from this game, Cutler was sacked just once. So perhaps this offensive line has finally got its act together and fantasy owners can finally start Cutler week-to-week with confidence.
With the big stories of the week reviewed, let us check out the guys still on the waiver wire who can lead your team during a playoff run.
Jermaine Gresham, TE Cincinnati Bengals
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Due to the Bengals suffering a number of defensive injuries this season, they always seem to be in come-from-behind mode on offense.
This leads to quarterback Carson Palmer throwing at least 40 times a week, so anyone catching passes on this team can be a useful commodity from time to time.
While this passing offense is obviously all about the 'TO Show', it is hard to ignore when a tight end has nine catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.
That tight end is former Sooner, Jermaine Gresham. While the rookie is going to be tough to rely on as an every week starter with Chad Ochocinco and Jordan Shipley also in the mix, he is a solid matchup-based play for the remainder of the season.
The Bengals may not win many more games this season, but their pass-heavy offense can certainly lead players to the Promised Land in fantasy circles.
Gresham is a nice add for deeper leagues. But if you don’t have faith in him to produce, there are two other widely available tight ends that have potential for big stat lines on a regular basis.
Delanie Walker, TE San Francisco 49ers
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It is hard to imagine another tight end being productive on a team that already has All-Pro Vernon Davis. But Walker was actually just barely more productive than his better-known counterpart against the Rams in Week 10.
Walker accounted for four catches for 79 yards, while Walker managed 80 yards on four catches.
Since Troy Smith has been given the keys to this West Coast offense, Walker has nine catches for 165 yards (in two games).
It is quite common for young quarterbacks to rely on their tight ends as security blankets, and the 2006 Heisman winner appears to be no exception to the rule.
Even with a healthy Vernon Davis on the field, Walker still has potential to be effective. He could be the answer to your team’s tight-end needs.
Rob Gronkowski, TE New England Patriots
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For those who went to the waiver wire and grabbed Gronkowski as a desperation play in Week 10, they were likely rewarded beyond their wildest dreams.
Gronkowski reeled in five balls for 72 yards and caught all three of Tom Brady’s touchdown passes against the Steelers.
That was good for 25 points in standard-scoring leagues.
Bear in mind that there are a lot of mouths to feed within the New England passing game as Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Brandon Tate, and even fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez have the potential to go off on any given Sunday.
It would also be foolish to think that Brady will be throwing the ball 40-plus times on a regular basis for the rest of the season.
With that being said, Gronkowski has tremendous size (6’6", 265 pounds) and good hands, making him a preferred option for Brady in the red zone.
Gronkowski now has six touchdowns on his rookie season, so expecting him to break into the double-digits just seems downright logical.
Add Gronkowski if you want a reliable red-zone threat at the tight end position for the remainder of the season.
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Troy Smith, QB San Francisco 49ers
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After spending three forgettable seasons as Joe Flacco’s back up with the Baltimore Ravens, Smith was practically begging for a trade.
Smith felt that he had the talent to be an NFL starting quarterback, and he was not interested in anyone telling him otherwise.
He got his wish this offseason. He finally got his chance to start the past two games for the 49ers when Alex Smith injured his shoulder.
Troy Smith was electric in the Niners overtime win over their divisional rival the St. Louis Rams. Smith threw for 356 yards and a touchdown and, in his two starts, he has yet to turn the ball over. He has also rushed in for a score already as well.
Smith’s stat line in Week 10 would have been even more impressive had three of his touchdowns not been called back due to penalties.
If you have been working with an under-performing quarterback in recent weeks, say a Donovan McNabb or a Matt Schaub, Troy Smith could be the answer to your quarterback woes.
Mewelde Moore, RB Pittsburgh Steelers
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While Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall started off the season red hot, he has cooled off in recent weeks due to the emergence of Mewelde Moore.
Moore finished Week 10 against the New England Patriots with 93 yards from scrimmage on just nine touches, the bulk coming on five receptions for 79 yards.
While the second-string back is not going to see a ton of carries in the immediate future, he is a polished weapon in the passing game, making him a particularly attractive add in PPR leagues.
While gambling on Moore in 12 team leagues may be a bit overzealous, he can be added on the waiver wire in deeper leagues for next to nothing.
This is probably a good move if you are looking for a guy to stash on your bench, as he is slowly seeing more and more touches as the weeks go on. That means he could be particularly useful in the playoffs.
Furthermore, Moore is a must-have for Mendenhall owners, as Mendenhall has been a bit inconsistent in the Steelers' past four games.
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