Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 2: Brandon Jackson, Michael Vick & More
I never want to put too much stock in Week One, but there were a few things of which you should definitely take note. Injured players and surprise performances are just a few of the factors to consider when scouring the waiver wires. Here are the most crucial waiver pickups of this young 2010 season:
Our first fantasy stud injury of the 2010 season is in the books with Ryan Grant suffering severe ligament damage in his ankle that may require surgery. As of today Grant has officially been declared lost for the season, so Brandon Jackson, the only other RB on the Packers’ roster, is going to have to pick up nearly the entire workload. Coach Mike McCarthy has given Jackson plenty of praise this preseason and that should continue as Green Bay has a soft schedule over the next three weeks (Buffalo, @ Chicago, Detroit). He is the top RB and player to target this week, so go get him!
Andy Reid has proven time and time again a loyal coach to his starting QB, but he’s never been in his current position. He just dumped his previous QB (Donovan McNabb) to division rival Washington, who then led his new team to a victory over offseason favorite Dallas. Meanwhile, his new man, Kevin Kolb, looked ineffective before being crushed and concussed by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. Nothing is official as of now, but given the hailstorm of media coverage that accompanied the Eagles’ decision to let two concussed players return to the field on Sunday, I would be surprised to see Kolb back under center for Week Two. With the Eagles visiting Detroit this weekend, Michael Vick is suddenly a legitimate QB1, at least for one game. If Kolb misses any more time, Vick has shown flashes that he can still be a dynamic dual threat both between the lines and in fantasy.
With Montario Hardesty out for the season, it looked like Hillis was in line for an increased workload in Cleveland, but I don’t think anyone expected a 50-50 split of carries between him and Jerome Harrison. As a bonus, Hillis got to put it in for the points after a long run by Harrison. Hillis has carried the load before when the Denver backfield imploded in 2008, so it isn’t a stretch to imagine him playing the bruiser to Harrison’s speed back. He’s available in almost all leagues and could be a nice consolation prize if you miss out on the aforementioned Mr. Jackson.
The Chargers offense is not as damaged as it appears since conditions in Kansas City were not conducive to their typical aerial assault. In the first quarter, before the rains set in, Rivers led a brilliant march down the field culminating in a Rivers-Gates TD. All the offseason hype, both out of Chargers camp and fantasy circles, surrounded Malcom Floyd but at first glance, Naane appears to be the better fantasy weapon. He was targeted “only” eight times (to Floyd’s 12), but reined in five passes (to Floyd’s three) and seemed to be the mark on most of the deep routes. Naane won’t post 100+ yards and a score every week, but looks to have found a solid role with Jackson on the sidelines.
That didn’t take long at all. Less than a week after the Rams signed Clayton he was targeted 16 times, pulling in 10 balls to lead the team with 119 yards. With Donnie Avery sidelined for the year, it appears that the Bradford has found his go-to receiver. The Rams are not a good team, and teams with semi-competent quarterbacks (read: not Derek Anderson) should put up points, so there’s a decent chance Bradford could best his 55 pass attempts from this weekend by season’s end. If Sunday was any indication, a significant number of those looks will be in Clayton’s direction.
Tony Moeaki, TE – KC (Owned in one percent of leagues)
Tight End is a rich position this year, so unless the Kansas City Patriots 2.0 start putting up Patriots 1.0 numbers, Moeaki is nothing more than a bye week replacement. But he’s a name to remember as the season goes on, so keep an eye on him to see how offensive coordinator Charlie Weis uses him in the red zone (that play action at the goal line embarrassed the Chargers). He’s a nice bye week replacement right now but his week to week value is tied to the Chiefs offensive production.
Note: Ownership percentages are from Yahoo!
Got any other Waiver Wire Gems?
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Written by Chris Sheehan exclusively for the www.thefantasyfix.com. Chris is an avid football fan and has been playing fantasy football for over ten years. Check back for more great articles from him weekly.
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 2, Michael Vick, Brandon Jackson, Peyton Hillis, Legedu Naane, Mark Clayton, Tony Moeaki, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs
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