It’s one thing to read our fantasy football advice pieces, it’s another to see the XN fantasy football analysts put their smarts into action. After another fun-filled week of injuries, breakouts, and regression, the XN writers hit the waiver wire looking for their weekly fix. We even had a big five-player trade this week involving two of the best quarterbacks in the league. Let’s take a look at who your favorite XNers are picking up and who they’re dropping to get them.
Keepin Heads Ringin (Michael Clifford) added Chargers D/ST, dropped Saints D/ST
The Jags have given opposing defenses double-digit points in five of the first six weeks and the Chargers sure look like a good bet against them after taking it to Andrew Luck on Monday night. If you’re looking for fantasy points off the waiver wire, each week’s matchup against the Jags is a good place to start.
Blurred Goal Lines (Tony Consiglio) added Jarrett Boykin, dropped Randall Cobb
With Randall Cobb out for as long as two months, Jarrett Boykin figures to see a big bump in production. With James Jones iffy for Sunday, he may even get the start alongside Jordy Nelson. There was a time when Cobb and Jones were nobodies behind Donald Driver and Greg Jennings too, Boykin could very well be that guy now, ready for a breakout.
Fifty Shades of Cats (Felipe Melecio) added Joseph Randle, dropped Robert Woods
With DeMarco Murray injured, Randle will likely get the start against the Eagles on Sunday, another great team for piling up fantasy points against. Meanwhile, Woods has been the most frustrating receiver to own. With Stevie Johnson out, he managed just nine reception yards as the Bills’ number one receiver. He’s caught just 18 of his 46 targets, that’s not even close to passable.
Fantasy Foundation (Rich Hribar) added Ravens D/ST, dropped Broncos D/ST
Prior to a solid effort against the Jets on Sunday, the Steelers gave up an average 14.25 fantasy points to opposing defenses over the first four games and the Ravens D has looked strong.
Keepin Heads Ringin (Michael Clifford) added Riley Cooper, dropped Michael Bush
In Nick Foles’ first game as the starting quarterback, Cooper caught for 120 yards and a touchdown, more than he had through the first five games combined. With Foles starting once again this week, perhaps Cooper can put up another big game against the Cowboys. Michael Bush has gotten all of 24 touches this season for a 1.8 YPC. If any number two running back is droppable, it’s him.
Blurred Goal Lines (Tony Consiglio) added Jordan Reed
Reed returned from an injury and put up four receptions for 58 yards in his first game back against the Cowboys. More importantly, he got 56 offensive snaps while Fred Davis got just 19 so he’s clearly the new number one tight end option for Robert Griffin.
The Winter Classics (Chris Blanchard) added Case Keenum, dropped Tavon Austin
Keenum will get the start over injured Matt Schaub on Sunday and while his matchup against Kansas City couldn’t be less attractive, who’s to say he doesn’t get another chance to start after their week eight bye. It’s a 2QB league so you just have to take that chance. Austin was clearly overhyped coming out of the draft, with most people forgetting how unreliable rookie wide receivers are. He’s caught just six catches on 15 targets for 41 yards over his last three games.
Make It Wayne (Igor Derysh) added Chris Ivory, dropped Kellen Winslow
I’ve been trying to get rid of Winslow for weeks but missing out on all of my waiver claims. With everyone I wanted gone, I’ll take a stab at Ivory. Mike Goodson is out for the season and Bilal Powell is banged up and hasn’t surpassed 40 rushing yards in back-to-back games. Ivory hasn’t been touching the ball much since Goodson came back but has looked much stronger than he did early in the season and has a 5.4 YPC over his last two games.
Make It Wayne (Igor Derysh) added Jacoby Jones, dropped Jeremy Kerley
It’s easy to forget about a guy who was sidelined in the very first week of the season but I think Jones will have a big role in the Ravens’ passing game. He only caught two passes on Sunday but still walked away with 42 yards and a score. His role should increase as his knee gets closer to 100 percent. With no one on my bench, I’m just cycling through leftovers looking for anyone on my bench to have any starting value.
Blurred Goal Lines (Tony Consiglio) added Mason Crosby, dropped Garrett Hartley
Crosby has put up double-digit points in three straight games while Hartley’s on a bye week. Few kickers aren’t droppable in bye weeks.
Blurred Goal Lines (Tony Consiglio) added Dolphins D/ST, dropped Texans D/ST
Not one defense has walked away with more than seven fantasy points against the conservative Chiefs offense and the Texans aren’t likely to either. On the other hand, Miami is facing a rough Thad Lewis-led Buffalo offense.
Blurred Goal Lines (Tony Consiglio) added Chris Ogbonnaya, dropped Brandon Bolden
Not only has Ogbonnaya rushed for five yards per carry over his last two games, he’s caught 12 passes on 17 targets for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Don’t look now but Ogbonnaya has quickly become Weeden’s favorite target out of the backfield and will likely continue to take touches away from McGahee.
My Buddy and Me (Dave Major) added Joseph Fauria, dropped LeGarrette Blount
Fauria caught three passes on Sunday, all for touchdowns. He now has five on the season and isn’t a bad sneaky play with Calvin Johnson still limited. On the other hand, Blount ran seven times for a mere nine yards against the Saints and Stevan Ridley certainly looks back in full form. In case you’re counting, that’s two non-Ridley backs dropped this week.
Studfeldsville (Salvatore Stefanile) added Tim Wright, dropped Bernard Pierce
With Mike Glennon at the helm, Wright has suddenly become a legitimate target, catching 12 passes on 15 targets for 132 yards over the last two weeks. Their matchup against Atlanta looks pretty good too. Meanwhile, Pierce, despite getting 73 rush attempts behind Ray Rice this year, is averaging just 2.8 YPC.
The Winter Classics (Chris Blanchard) traded Aaron Rodgers and Maurice Jones-Drew to Blurred Goal Lines (Tony Consiglio) for Colin Kaepernick, Danny Woodhead, and Andre Ellington
Stuck in 11th place, Chris needs all the help he can get, even if it means giving up a top three quarterback. Kaepernick has been hurt by some very tough defenses early on but should be a top 12 starter the rest of the way. In return for the downgrade, he gets a great upgrade in Woodhead and Ellington over MJD. He needs it since his other running backs are Ridley and Jacquizz Rodgers. Getting rid of MJD is a good move in itself, he’s been very tough to start with the Jags behind all the time.
It’s a good move for Tony as well. He gets a top three quarterback and now has a fearsome duo of Rodgers and Matt Stafford on a weekly basis. MJD isn’t as good as Woodhead but Tony already has LeSean McCoy and Gio Bernard so Jones-Drew will be a flex option for him, along with Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Ogbonnaya, and Stevie Johnson.
