Fantasy Football: The Wire Doth Provide

We're coming down the stretch here and every point counts. This week's news wire is particularly ripe with opportunities for fantasy football owners. There have been injuries at the running back position that should prove fruitful for the nimble player.

Normally I like to stay away from these sorts of predictions, but these pickups are too great for me to stay silent this week.

Warrick Dunn

Warrick Dunn is owned in a little over half of the leagues out there. Yesterday, Earnest Graham was placed on injured reserve. Cadillac Williams isn't all the way healthy yet, so Dunn should see the bulk of this week's carries. As if that weren't reason enough to add him to your lineup, the Buccaneers travel to Ford Field this weekend.

While the Ford family have been lobbying congress for a $25 billion bail out, things haven't been going well for the Detroit Lions either. Their run defense is hemorrhaging yards faster than GM is bleeding money. Allowing over 170 yards per game, they are dead last in the league.

Warrick Dunn should be the feature back this weekend against the league's worst run defense, let's pick him up and give him the start.

Peyton Hillis

The Denver Broncos running back carousel just keeps on spinning. Selvin Young is still out, rookie Ryan Torain knocked himself out for the season in his first start, and last week they signed Tatum Bell, but he hasn't been fully integrated into the offense yet.

Peyton Hillis is listed as a fullback and is owned in roughly 25% of leagues. Last week he got all of the goal line touches and produced two touchdowns.

The Broncos are hosting the Oakland Raiders this week. The Raiders come into town boasting the league's 30th-ranked run defense. They allow 164.5 yards per game and 4.7 yards per carry. The hard-running Hillis should have no problem running the ball against this team.

Derrick Ward

Brandon Jacobs, of the New York Giants, had an MRI on his injured knee Monday. Afterwards he indicated that while he is healthy enough to play, the team is deep enough at running back to win without him. With Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw on the roster I can't see the 9-1 Giants risking their offensive star.

The Ward situation is the one you should keep the closest eye on; if Jacobs does play Ward's value would be greatly diminished. The Giants face the Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium. While the Cardinals only allow 3.8 yards per carry, the Giants have one of the best run-blocking offensive lines in football.

Ward is my least favorite of the three pickups, but could still help you out if the other guys are taken in your league already.