Fantasy playoffs are here, so here is hoping you’re still playing, and even moreso, hopefully you’ve got guys trending up instead of trending down. There might be some waiver wire gems in here that can help you.
Moving Up
- All of your Saints – Looks like they’re going for a perfect season.
- Hakeem Nicks, Giants – Four catches for 110 yards and a touchdown looks nice but he could have doubled his production if not for a pair of drops on deep balls. He’s moved ahead of Mario Manningham into the starting line-up and it seems like he’s ready to flourish.
- Brandon Marshall, Broncos – I guess 21 receptions for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns will get you in the Moving Up category.
- Reggie Bush, Saints – Went from the doghouse in Week 13 to the penthouse in Week 14 with 79 total yards and a pair of touchdowns. What’s important is that head coach Sean Payton praised his play after the game.
- T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch, Seahawks – Looks like Nate Burleson is out with a high ankle sprain and with three games left, there is little point in keeping him on the active roster. Houshmandzadeh has struggled lately with 139 yards in his last four games but this might awaken him from his slumber. Branch becomes a desperation flex play, nothing more.
- Fred Davis, Redskins – Turns out this guy can play – double digit fantasy points in three straight games including four touchdowns over that stretch. This guy is definitely worth a spot in keeper leagues.
- Darren McFadden, Raiders – Had 21 yards rushing and 84 yards receving on 11 touches against the Redskins this week. Maybe the light has come on for him. It’s worth nothing that 74 of those yards came on two pass plays and consistency is a big problem for McFadden.
- Leonard Weaver, Eagles – Splitting the carries with LeSean McCoy and scored a touchdown this week. Good enough for nine fantasy points if you need help at running back.
- Kenneth Darby, Rams – It appears that at some point, Steven Jackson‘s bad back will cause him to miss time. If you haven’t handcuffed him yet, it’s time to jump on Darby. Of course, one bad carry and Samkon Gado may be the guy you wish you had.
Moving Down
- All of your Colts – Looks like they’re not going for a perfect season.
- Randy Moss, Patriots – Yikes! Just when the fantasy playoffs are starting, Moss goes AWOL. The good news is that the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady realized he needs to be coddled. The bad news is that nobody knows if it’s going to work.
- Marion Barber, Cowboys – Four carries from the one and no touchdown? Are you kididng me? That’s ugly but what’s worse is that he has double digit fantasy points in only five games this year. That’s RB3 territory, folks.
- Matt Ryan, Falcons – The Falcons aren’t mathematically eliminated but they might as well be which means there’s little point in risking the team’s franchise player to injury. Looks like he’s played his last snap of 2009.
- Jerricho Cotchery, Jets – With a banged up Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens under center, Cotchery has 106 yards receiving over his last three games.
- Carson Palmer, Bengals – Over the past three weeks, he’s had games of 110 and 94 yards passing. The Bengals offense is based on their ability to run the ball and Palmer’s a low end backup fantasy quarterback at this point.
- Joe Flacco, Ravens – Over the last seven weeks, he’s been more likely to throw for under 200 yards than for over 200 yards. Plus, he has only four touchdowns in those seven games.
- Matt Cassel, Chiefs – 308 yards passing and no touchdowns over the last two weeks. In leagues that take away points for interceptions, the six picks he’s thrown over that stretch means he’s right around zero fantasy points in each game.
- All of your Rams – Hopefully you were smart enough to avoid drafting any Rams players but Steven Jackson’s back held him back in Tennessee and now the offense is led by Craig Null. Here’s what you need to know about Null – 6th round pick, Division I-AA, five picks in his debut. Kyle Boller might return but hopefully you’re not counting on Kyle Boller’s return to help your fantasy squad.
Not Sold Yet
- Quinton Ganther, Redskins – 21 fantasy points on a pair of touchdowns, 50 yards rushing and 43 yards receiving is sweet, even if it was against the Raiders. What’s not sweet is having the Giants and Cowboys up next.
- Chris Jennings and Jerome Harrison, Browns – One week it’s Jennings, one week it’s Harrison. What’s nice is that the Chiefs and Raiders are up next. Good luck picking the right guy.
- Maurice Morris and Aaron Brown, Lions – Kevin Smith is out for the year but unfortunately the Lions have the Cardinals and 49ers up next. Neither of these guys is good enough to do much against those solid run defenses.
