Top five fantasy waiver-wire pickups of the year
Most owners still playing in Week 16 will likely be battling it out in their fantasy title games. While a good draft is one of the ways championship teams are built, grabbing the right guys off the waiver wire is another.
Here are five of the top free-agent pickups from the 2012 season:
WR James Jones, Green Bay Packers: There were talks of Jones being traded during the summer but rather than leaving Green Bay, Jones became one of the Packers' top receivers. With both Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson battling injuries, Jones has caught a league-leading 12 touchdown passes through 14 games. He has also scored double-digit fantasy points 10 times, so owners have certainly gotten their money's worth.
QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks: Wilson was expected to be a game-manager in his first year as a starter. He was anything but that, eclipsing 20 fantasy points in seven of 14 fantasy starts. Wilson has gotten better as the year has progressed too, averaging 25 fantasy points since Week 8. He has outscored bigger name quarterbacks such as Eli Manning, Jay Cutler, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers.
RB Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos: Moreno was a late addition to fantasy teams, but he has paid off handsomely for those who were able to pick him up. Since Moreno started against Kansas City four weeks ago, he has averaged 19 points in PPR formats. Even more important, Moreno has done most of his damage during fantasy playoffs -- rushing for 237 yards and two scores over the last two weeks. Moreno may not be done yet. He gets the Browns and their 18th-ranked rush defense in Week 16.
WR Cecil Shorts, Jacksonville Jaguars: On draft day Jacksonville receivers Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson were selected, but Shorts came off the waiver wire to easily outproduce both of them. Shorts has topped 15 fantasy points in PPR leagues nine times this year, including in each of the last five games he's played. With 925 yards and seven scores in 13 games, Shorts was easily one of the top waiver wire pickups of the year.
TE Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers: Miller was not drafted in a majority of leagues but he is going to finish the year as a top-10 fantasy tight end, despite QB Ben Roethlisberger missing three games. Miller was a revelation in PPR formats, scoring double-digit fantasy points 10 times. Miller also emerged as a top red zone target, scoring eight touchdowns in 14 games. After years of being known as a blocker, Miller finally broke out as a top-flight receiving tight end.
Most owners still playing in Week 16 will likely be battling it out in their fantasy title games. While a good draft is one of the ways championship teams are built, grabbing the right guys off the waiver wire is another.
Here are five of the top free-agent pickups from the 2012 season:
WR James Jones, Green Bay Packers: There were talks of Jones being traded during the summer but rather than leaving Green Bay, Jones became one of the Packers' top receivers. With both Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson battling injuries, Jones has caught a league-leading 12 touchdown passes through 14 games. He has also scored double-digit fantasy points 10 times, so owners have certainly gotten their money's worth.
QB Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks: Wilson was expected to be a game-manager in his first year as a starter. He was anything but that, eclipsing 20 fantasy points in seven of 14 fantasy starts. Wilson has gotten better as the year has progressed too, averaging 25 fantasy points since Week 8. He has outscored bigger name quarterbacks such as Eli Manning, Jay Cutler, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers.
RB Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos: Moreno was a late addition to fantasy teams, but he has paid off handsomely for those who were able to pick him up. Since Moreno started against Kansas City four weeks ago, he has averaged 19 points in PPR formats. Even more important, Moreno has done most of his damage during fantasy playoffs -- rushing for 237 yards and two scores over the last two weeks. Moreno may not be done yet. He gets the Browns and their 18th-ranked rush defense in Week 16.
WR Cecil Shorts, Jacksonville Jaguars: On draft day Jacksonville receivers Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson were selected, but Shorts came off the waiver wire to easily outproduce both of them. Shorts has topped 15 fantasy points in PPR leagues nine times this year, including in each of the last five games he's played. With 925 yards and seven scores in 13 games, Shorts was easily one of the top waiver wire pickups of the year.
TE Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers: Miller was not drafted in a majority of leagues but he is going to finish the year as a top-10 fantasy tight end, despite QB Ben Roethlisberger missing three games. Miller was a revelation in PPR formats, scoring double-digit fantasy points 10 times. Miller also emerged as a top red zone target, scoring eight touchdowns in 14 games. After years of being known as a blocker, Miller finally broke out as a top-flight receiving tight end.
