Since week seven will be known as the Black Sunday of the 2013 season, we’re going to break format with the avoids this week and focus on the plethora of adds that may swing your fake football season. Whether you were the owner of one of the fallen soldiers, you need bodies, or you just want to prevent another owner from licking their wounds, the waiver wire may never be this hot again all season. With 16 teams going on bye over the next three Sundays, this is the stretch that can make or break your fake football ambitions for the season.
Mike James (1 percent ownership per CBS)
With Doug Martin suffering a serious shoulder injury, James filled in with 45 yards on 14 carries, adding three receptions for another eight yards. Martin is anticipated to miss several weeks, meaning James is in line for starter snaps. The immediate outlook may be bleak for James’ fantasy prospects as he gets a stingy Carolina front that has only allowed one runner to top 62 yards rushing, followed by a trip to Seattle in week 9. If Martin remains out longer, things get a little better as Tampa Bay gets Miami, Atlanta and Detroit.
Roy Helu (45 percent ownership)
Mike Shanahan hates you and your fantasy team. He always has. 2013 is no different as this past Sunday Helu snagged three scores from Alfred Morris owners in a victory versus Chicago. The touchdowns may be a bit of a surprise, but Helu was already making his way into the lineup for nearly half of the Washington offensive snaps. He had played more snaps than Morris over the two weeks prior, totaling 207 yards now over the past three, and has been on the field for just 13 fewer plays (213) than Morris has on the season. A big time receiving upgrade over Morris, Helu can turn this into a near 50/50 split and become a weekly PPR flex down the stretch with Washington’s favorable schedule.
Darrius Heyward-Bey (16 percent)
Fantasy owners can stop groaning over the fact that DHB was playing ahead of lightning bug, T.Y. Hilton. Now that Reggie Wayne is expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, Hilton will surely find the field more, but Heyward-Bey is the grab off of waivers this week. He’s not exactly the vagabond he’s made out to be either, totaling 1,500 receiving yards and nine scores over his 30 previous games prior to 2013. Being attached to a top fantasy quarterback on a playoff team won’t hurt his stock either, he’ll be a top priority in claims this week.
Jarrett Boykin (38 percent)
Even with the injuries to Randall Cobb and James Jones, Boykin was hardly added in enough leagues last week. Taking advantage of his opportunity, he grabbed eight of ten targets for 103 yards and a score. Now the Packers will likely be without Jermichael Finley, who suffered a scary neck injury. Aaron Rodgers has always elevated the fantasy potential of all of his receivers in the past and their schedule is fantastic for the passing prospects of fantasy gold. Green Bay still has games against the Vikings, Eagles, Falcons, Cowboys and Giants.
Chris Ivory (36 percent)
After totaling only 34 touches through five games, Ivory accumulated 35 touches for 104 yards on Sunday. Although the efficiency wasn’t there, that kind of volume can’t be ignored. He played 53 snaps to only 22 from a unimpressive Bilal Powell. The Jets have tough games against the Bengals and Saints before a week 10 bye, but finish the fantasy regular season with Buffalo, Baltimore and Miami, three teams that have had recent struggles stopping the run.
Brandon Gibson (Seven percent)
Chasing the two touchdowns from last Sunday is a fool’s errand, but Gibson is turning in a very consistent 2013 season. He has been targeted eight or more times in four of Miami’s six games, with at least four receptions in five. He has six or more receptions in three games and has reached double digits in scoring every week but one. The ceiling isn’t very high, but the floor appears to be stable on an offense built to throw more than run.
Andre Brown (34 percent)
Brown began practicing last week and is eligible to come off of the injured reserve in week 10. With the Giants backfield in shambles on what seems to be a week to week basis now, Brown could assume a massive workload upon his return, regardless of whether David Wilson returns or not. If you have a roster spot available for a stash, scoop Brown up before his return.
Kenny Britt (24 percent)
Britt is purely a speculative add if you have an open roster spot at the end of your bench. Tennessee is on bye this week and the trade deadline is October 29. If he is ever going to be dealt, this is the opportune time for the Titans to move him out of town to a receiver needy team.
Bye Bye Bye
Teams on Bye for week 8: Indianapolis, San Diego, Chicago, Tennessee, Baltimore, Houston
Waiver Wire QB with Favorable matchups: Carson Palmer (ATL), Ben Roethlisberger (@OAK), Alex Smith (CLE)
WR: Riley Cooper (NYG), Jeremy Kerley (@CIN), Jarret Boykin (@MIN)
TE: Jeff Cumberland (@CIN), Sean McGrath (CLE)
*Stats for this article were provided by Pro-Football-Reference, ProFootballFocus, and NFL.Com
