NFL Fantasy Football Week 2: Waiver Wire Claims to Avoid

Fast starts in Week 1 and 2 are really important for football teams because the chance of making the playoffs with an 0-2 start is dismal.

The story is very different in fantasy football. 

I can't count how many times I've had on 0-2 start, picked up a key waiver, and made a strong playoff run. I also can't count the number of times I went undefeated until playoff time and ended up in third place. So those of you with a weak fantasy start, do not fret, you can persevere! 

Now you ask, how? 

Well, you've got to be lucky first, and smart second. What do I mean by lucky and smart?

Luck comes down to two things: 1) starting your guys on their best weeks, which there is a lot of advice out there on who to start and sit every week, but not the focus of this article, and 2) injuries, which are unpredictable. 

A little advice on injuries real quick: The injury bug bites and bites often. You need to be prepared to replace any starter at any time. The guys on your bench need to be players you think could start this week with maybe one or two players who are starter caliber, but are nursing injuries. 

Have more injuries than that? Yesh, better make a trade and fast. One of those injured guys must have some value to someone else in your league, right? 

Ok, know how to be smart...well, the best way is to do all the research to know what players are over-hyped, what players are undervalued, and what players have the best matchups.  

In this slide show, I'll describe five players who are on your waiver wire which I believe should stay there for another week.

Avoid Randall Cobb!

That Thursday night opener was fantastic, wasn't it? High scoring, exciting special teams plays, crucial nail biting downs and an un-timed play from at the goal line to decide the winner. But let's not let that excitement cloud our judgment. 

Randall Cobb was an exciting part of that game with two scores. Those two scores inflate his fantasy stats and make him appear like a good pick up, but let's look at reality. 

He is a rookie and fifth on the Packers wide receiver depth chart. He only had two catches. We are looking at a 30-catch season for Mr. Cobb if he is lucky. 

Unless you expect him to score touchdowns every week, then you should avoid falling into the trap this player has set. 

Avoid Chad Henne!

Another exciting night game with some gaudy numbers. 

If you were lucky enough to start Henne and benefit from his Week 1 performance, then you sir have more of a pair than I do. But for Week 2 and beyond, you may want to insert a more reliable quarterback. 

It is not likely that Henne will avoid throwing an absurd number of interceptions if the Dolphins coaching staff asks him to throw so many passes week in and out.  His offensive line is good and will give him time, but his accuracy and decision-making is subpar. 

If you took a chance on Freeman and your back up is Stafford, then you can consider Henne. Any other situation, avoid, avoid, avoid!

Avoid Rex Grossman!

Grossman had a good Week 1, but the Redskins are a running team so he's likely to have weeks with under 200 yards and zero touchdowns. 

He is also Rex Grossman. 

He'll build up his confidence and then start throwing picks whenever possible. He'll get sacked and fumble because he can't read a blitz or feel pressure. 

Don't be duped into this dope!

Avoid Deji Karim!

The Jaguars faced the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 who have one of the best pass defenses in the league. So the Jaguars in a close game kept the ball on the ground with more than 40 carries for Maurice Jones-Drew and Deji Karim. 

Do not expect Karim's workload to be 17 carries every week. Especially when Jacksonville meets the strong run defense of the NY Jets. He is a talented runner who MJD owners should handcuff, but others should avoid unless MJD and Karim are splitting carries 50-50 and Karim is seeing significant goal-line work.

Avoid Dexter McCluster!

Dexter McCluster is another popular choice, sighting that the Chiefs will be playing from behind a lot this season. Well, while playing from behind, McCluster only had nine touches. 

Sure, he racked up some yards, but don't expect the Chiefs to be in the same situation they were in Week 1. Teams do not get blown out every week. I would look at the Chiefs first week as a stumbling block. They weren't prepared because Cassel missed practice time and the Bills defense was much better than they expected. 

Defensively, they lost a critical piece which made the Chiefs go from mediocre defense to great defense in one season when Eric Berry left the game. McCluster will likely finish the season with 50 carries and 30 catches. 

Is that really what you want on your roster?