Fantasy Football

2012 Fantasy Football, Week 5 Waiver Wire: Rashard Mendenhall Back In The Fold

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Rashard Mendenhall

Welcome to week five’s waiver wire. All recommendations are given with a standard 12-team head-to-head league in mind. If you want more specific suggestions for your league format, use our Quick Fix or shoot me a message on Twitter.

Kevin Kolb (QB | Arizona Cardinals | 12 percent owned in Y!) Kolb appeared in week two’s waiver wire column to be considered in two-quarterback leagues, but I didn’t anticipate he would produce enough fantasy points to be a potential standard league starter. However, in the last three weeks against New England, Philadelphia and Miami — who aren’t exactly pushovers — Kolb put up 17, 21 and 26 points respectively in standard leagues with six point passing touchdowns. It seems as if the chip on his shoulder has propelled him into consideration in single quarterback leagues, 12-team and deeper.  

Rashard Mendenhall (RB | Pittsburgh Steelers | 67 percent owned in Y!) Mendenhall is set to return to the field for the Steelers in week five, and boy could they use some help. Isaac Redman and Jon Dwyer have combined for 56 carries yielding an abysmal 142 yards. Look for Mendenhall to take over the lead role in the Steelers’ backfield and get the lion’s share of carries against a tough Eagles rush defense. He needs to be owned in all formats and I would burn a top waiver priority trying to acquire his services.

Brandon Bolden ( RB | New England Patriots | 10 percent owned in Y!) Brandon Bolden busted onto the scene in week four against a Buffalo Bills squad who gives up the 16th most fantasy points to opposing running backs. He carried the rock 16 times for 137 yards and a score, while adding one reception for 11 yards. Of all NFL running backs receiving a minimum of 15 carries in week four, Bolden sported the highest yards per carry with 8.6. Despite all of this, three different running backs experienced success for the Patriots in the past three weeks, so there’s no way we can call Bolden a sure thing going forward. However, running backs are hard to find at this point in the season, so whether you’re a Stevan Ridley owner, a victim of bye weeks or injuries, Bolden could provide some decent bench depth.

Brian Hartline (WR | Miami Dolphins | 29 percent owned in Y!) Kevin gave Brian Hartline some love in yesterday’s Gold Mine, so I will remain brief here. Tannehill targeted Hartline 17 times in week four and has made the former Buckeye the third-most targeted pass catcher in the NFL, behind just Dwayne Bowe and Victor Cruz. He should be a PPR monster going forward and a fine WR3 option in standard leagues.

Andre Roberts (WR | Arizona Cardinals | 18 percent owned in Y!) Roberts was the second most targeted pass catcher for the Cardinals in week four with nine, just five behind Larry Fitzgerald. He caught six of those targets for 118 yards and two scores. Roberts deserves deeper league consideration for those who need a bye week fill-in.  

Davone Bess (WR | Miami Dolphins | 17 percent owned Y!) Ryan Tannehill looked Bess’ way 12 times — and he hauled in seven of those targets for 113 yards. Bess hasn’t got into the endzone yet, but with the amount of targets he’s getting, parlayed with the amount of yards after the catch (5.2), Bess is bound to find the endzone sooner than later. I like Bess a bit more in PPR leagues, but would be willing to add him in deeper standard leagues as well.

Minnesota (D/ST | 14 percent owned Y!) Will face off against the Titans in week five, who gave up 24 fantasy points to Houston's defense in week four. Mind you, Houston’s defense is far superior to Minnesota’s, but still think this is a good bye week plug-and-play for those in need.

Written by Alan Harrison for TheFantasyFix.com. Follow Alan's rants on Twitter @TheFantasyFix .


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