The Waiver Wire is an interesting aspect to fantasy football. Each week there are many fantasy football players available that are not on a roster, not on the bench and not in a starting line up that are racking up big fantasy football points. These players can make up an entire team and compete with all the other teams in your fantasy football league. How many times have you looked at the Waiver Wire after a loss and said, “If only I had picked him up!!!?”
I will create a team of players that are not owned, not on a team roster, in over 80% of Yahoo Fantasy Football leagues that will outperform many teams of starters. This demonstrates that the knowledge, research and experience involved in fantasy football is somewhat meaningless. I am a veteran fantasy football player and have learned over many years that luck is probably the biggest variable in winning and losing. BUT, if you look at trends and think outside the box then you can pick up some available players that may get you that extra win or two and help you reach the playoffs of your fantasy football league.
Here is the 2011 Week 1 Waiver Wire Line Up.
Quarterback – Jason Campbell, OAK – 11% ownership – Campbell has shown some glimpses of fantasy proficiency in the past but is always disappointing in the end. He is working with the same offensive coordinator (head coach Hue Jackson) as last year, which for Campbell is an eternity. He has had more coordinators than the Raiders have had first round busts.
Running Back – Deji Karim, JAC – 10% ownership – Karim is now the back up to Maurice Jones-Drew in Jacksonville with the injury to Rashad Jennings (who probably would be in this waiver wire line up if not for his injury). Jacksonville released Garrard and will rely on the run to keep the game close. MJD is getting dinged up lately and will need some plays off. I can see Karim scamper for a long gainer to pick up some points or take a short screen pass to the house and pick up a quick 10 points.
Montario Hardesty, CLE – 14% ownership – Hardesty is the back up to Peyton Hillis, who had an incredible year last year. Can Hillis pick up where he left off? Maybe. But he will not have to this week against the Bengals. Hardesty will gain a game worth of yards and find the end zone at least once in the second half as the Browns wind down the clock.
Wide Receiver – Danario Alexander, STL – 6% ownership – Alexander is coming off a fifth knee surgery but made the last cut on a deep receiving core in St Louis. Bradford can throw and with Josh McDaniels calling the plays he is going to throw often. The first week match up may not be the best against the Eagles and their secondary but even the best defense can have a bad play or two. Alexander had 20 catches and over 300 yards in 6 games played last year. When he plays he catches the ball and scores fantasy points.
Danarius Moore, OAK – 14% ownership – I am not particularly fond of starting rookies but I will keep them on my bench in case they play well from the beginning. Moore has impressed during training camp and has made some plays during the pre-season. Denver will have a more ball control offense this year with coach John Fox so I would not expect a shootout. However, a division opponent game may bring out the best in Oakland as it did last year, winning all six division games, including putting up 59 against Denver on the road last year.
Tight End – Ed DIckson, BAL – 2% ownership – Dickson is replacing the perennial All-Pro Todd Heap in Baltimore. The Baltimore-Pittsburgh match up is always physical and typically low scoring. If the ball gets into the red zone then a big target like Dickson will be in Flacco’s sights. Do not be surprised with a 2 touchdown effort from Dickson in Week 1.
Kicker – Olindo Mare, CAR – 1% ownership – Mare scored over 15 points in both games against Arizona last year. Of course, being part of Carolina may make a difference with Cam Newton starting. Kevin Kolb is going to throw the ball and move the Cardinals up the field. I think this may turn into a shootout of sorts with lots of yards gained from 20 to 20 but not too many players reaching the endzone. Mare will have plenty of opportunities to continue his big scoring against the Cardinals.
Defense – Cleveland, 20% ownership – The Browns are playing a dismal Bengals organization with a rookie quarterback. I like Andy Dalton but a rookie is going to struggle on a team with talent and the Bengals are lacking in the talent category. I see the potential for 2 defensive scores via interception and/or fumble recovery.
There is the first waiver wire line up of the year. You have all drafted your teams and 8 out of 10 of you decided these players were not good enough to even sit on your bench. Good luck in week 1 and we will see if any of these players deserve to be on your team next week.