Week 15 Sleepers and Pickups

And the playoffs keep rolling along. Awkward week last week. Lots of stars putting up pretty awful performances. A handful of no-names came out of nowhere.

Overall, the pick-ups here are pretty simple. When we get into the playoffs, I am far less likely to count on sleepers, so I don’t have any pickups for that either.

Basically, if you want to get anyone off of free agency, you are looking for great matchups, or injury fill-ins.

Biggest injury of the week has to go to DeMarco Murray. Felix Jones filled in and had a decent day. But I think that, for the most part, that we because the Giants did not game plan for him. The Cowboys have another good matchup though as they face the Bucs, who just gave up four touchdowns to Maurice Jones-Drew.

If Felix is still floating in free agency, I think he is a must add. He will be a great play for the next two weeks, facing the poor run defenses of Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. He will also be working with fullback Fiammetta, who has been largely credited with Murray’s success. The Cowboys just signed ex-Patriot Sammy Morris to the team. He could get some runs, and steal the goal line work, but I would not add him unless you are in a mind-blowingly deep league.

Week 14 Fantasy Football Pickups

Before we get started on the Waiver Wire pickups... I feel the need for a bit of a pity party here.

I am in a league. 10-teams, IDP, weighted for tackles, competitive and for some cash.

I went into Week 13 at 11-1, I had locked a playoff spot four weeks ago. Locked first place two weeks ago. Untouchable. I mean it.

And in the past two week, my two starting running backs, Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte, both ranked in the top five in scoring, went down. To make matters worse, my two top linebackers, (again, both in the top five in linebacker scoring), Pat Angerer and Desmond Bishop went down with injury.

My four, FOUR, top performing players, all gone. A week before the playoffs begin.

So, now, more than ever, I am pouring my heart and soul into waiver wire pick-ups, because God knows that I need them too.

Week 13: Desperation Fantasy Football Pickups

This is it. Likely the final week of the fantasy football regular season. One more game to make it if you’re on the bubble. One more game to move up if you are fighting for that number one spot. One more week to ruin someone’s weekend by being the sleeper spoiler that knocks them out of contention.

It doesn’t matter which category you fall into. Week 13 is where everything is decided. I’m saying this mostly in part to my heartbreak in Week 12. Up by 30 points, I went into Monday night’s game with Darren Sproles remaining, facing a team with Drew Brees and Victor Cruz. Needless to say, I lost. Brees and Cruz combined for about 60 points.

Now for me to even make the top four and get a playoff spot, I need two tough competitors to lose their matchups. My fate is no longer in my hands. But I know that without a win in Week 13, I stand no chance. So, I pull together everything I’ve got for one last push.

In a late week like this, I tend to favor starting players I already have. While there is a certain need for a gamble sometimes, I would rather play a lock and know that I’m getting some points than go out on a limb and make a desperate reach. With that in mind, I will give you some sleeper pickups that you can insert into your starting roster if you are that desperate.

Week 11 Fantasy Football Pick-Ups

Michael Vick, Matt Schaub, Matt Cassel, Willis McGahee, Knowshon Moreno, Frank Gore, Jeremy Maclin. You guessed it, more injuries.

And you will find that most of these names will come into play when we list the fantasy football pickups of the week.

Along with the onslaught of injuries, we are facing the final bye week of the NFL season where we are seeing fantasy stars from New Orleans, Houston, Pittsburgh and (not really stars...) Indianapolis.

With some big names possibly wearing just hoodies and a cap on game day and more big names watching Week 11 from their couches, we once again are forced to go fishing in Free Agency. Let's take a look at who should be among the first to go.

2011 Week 8: Waiver Wire Pick-Ups

Just like every other week, we have all been hit hard by injuries. If you were fortunate enough to escape them before, you are most certainly reeling now.

I'm sure that you all have read about the injuries and replacements from other major fantasy football sites, but lets break it down a little bit more. GHL will do some research for you. Here's a list of your top pick-ups for Week 8.

Bernard Scott, Cincinnati Bengals

Not an injury to start with, but a suspension. Cedric Benson will serve his one-gamer. Scott could be the best of the backups here and is among the least owned, currently just 4% in ESPN leagues. Seattle is giving up 105 per game, which isn't too shabby considering that they are always playing from behind.

Scott has averaged roughly 4 yards per carry in his career. He only has 700 yards and two scores since starting his career in 2009, but he does have upside this week if you are in a pinch.

Alfonso Smith, Arizona Cardinals (0.1% owned)

Beanie Wells with a knee injury that will likely cost him a game or two. Really, it was just a matter of time. Arizona has been able to run the ball well this year, making his backup a pretty interesting grab. Alfonso Smith will be in front of Larod Stephens-Howling in the depth chart when the Cardinals go up against the Ravens.

Ravens are definitely a tough team to run on, and LSH had a great reception after Wells went down, so Smith, again is definitely on an "only if you desperately need him" status.

Roy Helu, Washington Redskins (15.3% owned)

We all know that Hightower is gone for the year, making the Mike Shanahan-induced running back roller coaster a bit more bearable. It is easy to imagine that most of the work will go to Ryan Torain, but if we can learn anything from the Redskins' past, we know that Helu has a chance for a couple big games this season.

So far this year, Helu is averaging nearly 5 yards per carry, the same as Torain. Making it even more interesting knowing that one of these guys is going to have a big statistical week every time the Skins touch the field. I like him as a pickup. Washington is a running team, and while he is still a risk, he has a great deal of upside.

Lance Ball, Denver Broncos (0.1% owned)

Willis McGahee suffered an injury as well this weekend. And Moreno will be getting the start. But, lets not forget that Moreno is pretty terrible. It is not too big a stretch to imagine that backup Lance Ball will get some work as well, and perhaps even take over most of the carries, much like McGahee did at the beginning of the year.

Ball has done very little in his career, but hasn't had much time to show what he can do. Definitely a reach here. I really just wanted to put him here to impress some people with my depth of knowledge of the Broncos rush offense. You like it, I know.


I'm going to avoid Leon Washington here. Marshawn Lynch has not been able to get the job done this year due to the lack of passing game and the terrible blocking on the Seahawks front. Chances of a breakout here are slim to none.

Also saying no to Kregg Lumpkin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Earnest Graham was having a great run with Blount out of the picture, but don't expect the same from Lumpkin. Bucs have a bye this week, and Blount could very well be returning by the time they hit the field again.

Michael Bush is a great play with McFadden's injury. His backup Taiwan Jones is a hell of a stretch as well. He has had little to no work so far. He will likely see a handful of carries as long as McFadden is missing, but Bush should be the star for the time being.


If you have not put a claim in for Jabar Gaffney, then now is the time to do so. I expect Fred Davis to be the big winner in Santana Moss's injury, but Gaffney has been playing well this season and his targets should be going way up as the number one receiver.

Second wide receiver pickup would be Michael Jenkins of the Minnesota Vikings. Percy Harvin reinjured his ribs and has not been putting up the numbers we have been expecting. Jenkins is coming off a great week and Ponder is performing very well.