On The Radar–Week 13

Derek Anderson, QB, Cleveland Browns. With the injury that will send Brady Quinn to the sideline for the rest of the season, Anderson will go back to being the starter for the rest of the season. Obviously since he was benched, Anderson wasn’t having a great season, but he did have a few great games.

Perhaps now that he doesn’t have Quinn looking over his shoulder, plus the fact that he wants to be the starter next year, Anderson might be motivated to have a nice finish to the season. If you are in desperate need of a QB, which a lot of us are this year, Anderson could be a nice pick up off the wire.

Devone Bess, WR, Miami Dolphins. With the season ending injury to emerging receiver Greg Camarillo, Devone Bess now looks to be the number two option behind Ted Ginn in Miami. Even before Camarillo went out, Bess was getting a good number of looks.

In Week 12 against the Patriots, Bess had five catches for 87 yards. He didn’t score, but he could be a decent sleeper in the last few weeks of the season if you are in serious need of a wide receiver.

Dominique Hixon, WR, New York Giants. Hixon had quite an impact in the Giants last game against the Arizona Cardinals in many facets of the game. His main contribution was his over 200 yards in the return game, while he also had one carry for 11 yards, and six catches for 87 yards.

He may not have scored, but he has another chance to put up a good fantasy day in Week 13 against the Redskins because Plaxico Burress has been ruled out of the game. This means that the Giants will have to count on their other receivers more than usual. And if you remember the last time that Plax missed a game, Hixon had four catches for 105 yards and his only touchdown of the season.

Leon Washington, RB, New York Jets. Washington is the kind of player that every successful football team needs. He is great at special teams, he is fast, and he knows how to make the big plays. Washington had a great game in Week 12 when the Jets whupped up on the Titans, as he carried the ball only eight times but it went for 82 yards and scored twice.

Leon is a risky guy to have to start every week because he is the definite backup to Thomas Jones, but if the Jets get a favorable matchup, he is someone you can plug into your lineup in an emergency.

Maurice Morris, RB, Seattle Seahawks. Ok, so the Seattle offense is still a trainwreck even with Matt Hasselbeck back. Morris had a great game in Week 12, but was back to second on the depth chart behind Julius Jones.

However, Morris was supposed to be the starter at the beginning of the year but went down with injury and Julius Jones hasn’t had a decent game in weeks, oh wait, make that months. Morris is there if you are really desperate, and if he gets back to the top spot on the depth chart.

Josh Reed, WR, Buffalo Bills. Look the guy scored his first touchdown of the season and is only averaging four catches for just over 30 yards a game. However, he is back from injury and is a decent second receiver to Lee Evans. If Trent Edwards can get his head out of his ass and learn to throw to the right team, perhaps Reed can have some value down the stretch.

Billy Miller, TE, New Orleans Saints. While all the press was about Jeremy Shockey, it is Billy Miller who is really the better tight end in New Orleans. Miller has had either 50 yards receiving or a touchdown in every game since Week 5. After you get through the five or six reliable tight end options, Miller isn’t a bad choice.

Ashely Lelie, WR, Oakland Raiders. Lelie has been in the league for quite a while and with all the potential that he had, he never really has even had a decent season. With the state of the Raiders, someone has to be on that field, and last week it was Lelie who made an impact. Lelie had four catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Honestly, it was the best game he had since 2005 so I don’t have high hopes that this production could possibly continue, but given the fact that the Raiders are a mess and have even released some of their quality players, Lelie COULD POSSIBLY do something in the last few weeks.

Jerome Harrison, RB, Cleveland Browns. Ok, this might be a real stretch, but when you are trying to find possible free agents in Week 13 there are going to have to be some reaches. Harrison could actually have some value if it wasn’t for Jamal Lewis. He is quick, is a decent pass receiver out of the backfield, and is capable of taking any carry to the house. However, as long as Jamal Lewis is healthy, Harrison has only limited fantasy value.

As always, your comments and questions (adds/drops, lineup advice, etc.) are welcome at [e-mail]. I guarantee a response within 18 hours.