FantasyFootballJungle.com
Waiver Wire Pickups
By Jake Thompson
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> </o>
**** = Fantasy starter
*** = Possible fantasy starter
** = Fantasy backup
* = Potential fantasy backup
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QB – Josh McCown, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Oakland</st1lace></st1:City> Raiders
WW Rating: *
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After throwing 40 times for 300+ yards last Sunday, you’d think McCown would receive a higher rating but there are a few things that may harm his season. Number one, rumors are going around he cracked his right index finger and may miss a game or two. Number two, Daunte Culpepper is waiting in the wings. Number three, Jamarcus Russell is signed and practicing now. It appears the Raiders want to throw the ball around this year and McCown should put up decent numbers if he holds the job. That being said, holding the job won’t be easy.
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QB – Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns
WW Rating: **
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Like McCown, <st1:City w:st="on">Anderson</st1:City> has a young QB in Brady Quinn just waiting in the wings but <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Anderson</st1lace></st1:City> should have an easier time holding onto the starting job until at least the halfway point. With Charlie Frye being traded to the Seahawks and Quinn holding out much of training camp, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Anderson</st1lace></st1:City> is the only QB on the roster (minus 3<sup>rd</sup> stringer Ken Dorsey) with a real knowledge of the offense. The Browns can’t run and will have to pass to catch-up in a lot of games and with weapons like Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow to throw to; <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Anderson</st1lace></st1:City> should have some nice stat-packing games in the upcoming weeks. He’ll throw his share of interceptions, but for the time being you could do worse for a backup fantasy QB.
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RB – Derrick Ward, NY Giants
WW Rating: ****
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With Brandon Jacobs out for 3-to-5 weeks with an MCL sprain, Ward jumps in as the feature back behind one of the league’s best hole-opening offensive lines. In limited action last Sunday, Ward gained 116 yards and a TD on only 17 rushes/catches and with his pass-catching ability, he has the potential to put up Tiki Barber type numbers until Jacobs is healthy.
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RB – <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Lendale White</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:State></st1lace> Titans
WW Rating: *
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Lost in Chris Brown’s huge day last Sunday was the fact that the Titans gave White 18 carries. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Tennessee</st1lace></st1:State> is not a team that can throw and seems intent on running as much as possible this year. Although Brown seems to be the favorite to get carries, White is also getting worked into the mix. If he keeps getting 15 carries a game, he’s going to be a decent backup for your fantasy bench just incase an injury occurs.
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WR – Ronald Curry, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Oakland</st1lace></st1:City> Raiders
WW Rating: ***
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I hate to read too much into a game against the Lions’ defense, but Curry’s 10 catches and 133 yards seem to indicate the athletic WR out of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">North Carolina</st1lace></st1:State> is finally ready to breakout and be the feature receiver he has shown flashes of becoming the last few years. With Randy Moss gone, there are plenty of balls to spread around and Curry seems to be McCown’s favorite target. This guy has always had the athletic talent to make the great catch and if he has finally put it all together, he has the potential to be an every week type of fantasy WR.
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WR – Brandon Marshall, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Denver</st1lace></st1:City> Broncos
WW Rating: *
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<st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Marshall</st1lace></st1:City> has some things going for him but he’s so young and inexperienced that inconsistency may be an issue. He’s a big target at 6’4” and should see a lot of work in the red zone. He did catch 5 passes in week one and Cutler appears to like him, but at the same time Denver is a run-first team and Marshall still has some learning to do. Still, it may be worth taking a chance on him to see if he can make a big jump this season.
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TE – Eric Johnson, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">New Orleans</st1lace></st1:City> Saints
WW Rating: ****
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Johnson was a forgotten man in a lot of fantasy drafts this year. After an outstanding 2004 campaign in which he caught 82 balls, Johnson has battled injuries the past two years and hasn’t gotten over 35 catches combined since that 82-catch season. Now healthy, he appears to be the favorite dump-off target of Drew Brees in a pass-happy offense which means that Johnson has a chance to be right behind Antonio Gates in the fantasy realm at TE. He had 8 catches for 57 yards in week one and I see no reason he won’t continue to get a lot of looks the entire year.
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DEFENSE – <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State> Vikings
WW Rating: ****
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The Vikings absolutely dominated the Falcons and their defensive line is putting insane pressure on the QB. Their issue last year was getting sacks and putting pressure on the tosser but that looks to be a thing of the past. With games coming up against some horrible pass-protecting teams in <st1:City w:st="on">Detroit</st1:City>, KC, and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Green Bay</st1lace></st1:City>, do not be surprised if the Vikings are the best fantasy defense in the land after week four.
Waiver Wire Pickups
By Jake Thompson
<o
> </o>**** = Fantasy starter
*** = Possible fantasy starter
** = Fantasy backup
* = Potential fantasy backup
<o
> </o>QB – Josh McCown, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Oakland</st1lace></st1:City> RaidersWW Rating: *
<o
> </o>After throwing 40 times for 300+ yards last Sunday, you’d think McCown would receive a higher rating but there are a few things that may harm his season. Number one, rumors are going around he cracked his right index finger and may miss a game or two. Number two, Daunte Culpepper is waiting in the wings. Number three, Jamarcus Russell is signed and practicing now. It appears the Raiders want to throw the ball around this year and McCown should put up decent numbers if he holds the job. That being said, holding the job won’t be easy.
<o
> </o>QB – Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns
WW Rating: **
<o
> </o>Like McCown, <st1:City w:st="on">Anderson</st1:City> has a young QB in Brady Quinn just waiting in the wings but <st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Anderson</st1lace></st1:City> should have an easier time holding onto the starting job until at least the halfway point. With Charlie Frye being traded to the Seahawks and Quinn holding out much of training camp, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Anderson</st1lace></st1:City> is the only QB on the roster (minus 3<sup>rd</sup> stringer Ken Dorsey) with a real knowledge of the offense. The Browns can’t run and will have to pass to catch-up in a lot of games and with weapons like Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow to throw to; <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Anderson</st1lace></st1:City> should have some nice stat-packing games in the upcoming weeks. He’ll throw his share of interceptions, but for the time being you could do worse for a backup fantasy QB. <o
> </o>RB – Derrick Ward, NY Giants
WW Rating: ****
<o
> </o>With Brandon Jacobs out for 3-to-5 weeks with an MCL sprain, Ward jumps in as the feature back behind one of the league’s best hole-opening offensive lines. In limited action last Sunday, Ward gained 116 yards and a TD on only 17 rushes/catches and with his pass-catching ability, he has the potential to put up Tiki Barber type numbers until Jacobs is healthy.
<o
> </o>RB – <st1
lace w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Lendale White</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:State></st1lace> TitansWW Rating: *
<o
> </o>Lost in Chris Brown’s huge day last Sunday was the fact that the Titans gave White 18 carries. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Tennessee</st1lace></st1:State> is not a team that can throw and seems intent on running as much as possible this year. Although Brown seems to be the favorite to get carries, White is also getting worked into the mix. If he keeps getting 15 carries a game, he’s going to be a decent backup for your fantasy bench just incase an injury occurs.<o
> </o>WR – Ronald Curry, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Oakland</st1lace></st1:City> RaidersWW Rating: ***
<o
> </o>I hate to read too much into a game against the Lions’ defense, but Curry’s 10 catches and 133 yards seem to indicate the athletic WR out of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">North Carolina</st1lace></st1:State> is finally ready to breakout and be the feature receiver he has shown flashes of becoming the last few years. With Randy Moss gone, there are plenty of balls to spread around and Curry seems to be McCown’s favorite target. This guy has always had the athletic talent to make the great catch and if he has finally put it all together, he has the potential to be an every week type of fantasy WR.<o
> </o>WR – Brandon Marshall, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Denver</st1lace></st1:City> BroncosWW Rating: *
<o
> </o><st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Marshall</st1lace></st1:City> has some things going for him but he’s so young and inexperienced that inconsistency may be an issue. He’s a big target at 6’4” and should see a lot of work in the red zone. He did catch 5 passes in week one and Cutler appears to like him, but at the same time Denver is a run-first team and Marshall still has some learning to do. Still, it may be worth taking a chance on him to see if he can make a big jump this season.<o
> </o>TE – Eric Johnson, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">New Orleans</st1lace></st1:City> SaintsWW Rating: ****
<o
> </o>Johnson was a forgotten man in a lot of fantasy drafts this year. After an outstanding 2004 campaign in which he caught 82 balls, Johnson has battled injuries the past two years and hasn’t gotten over 35 catches combined since that 82-catch season. Now healthy, he appears to be the favorite dump-off target of Drew Brees in a pass-happy offense which means that Johnson has a chance to be right behind Antonio Gates in the fantasy realm at TE. He had 8 catches for 57 yards in week one and I see no reason he won’t continue to get a lot of looks the entire year.
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> </o>DEFENSE – <st1:State w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Minnesota</st1lace></st1:State> VikingsWW Rating: ****
<o
> </o>The Vikings absolutely dominated the Falcons and their defensive line is putting insane pressure on the QB. Their issue last year was getting sacks and putting pressure on the tosser but that looks to be a thing of the past. With games coming up against some horrible pass-protecting teams in <st1:City w:st="on">Detroit</st1:City>, KC, and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Green Bay</st1lace></st1:City>, do not be surprised if the Vikings are the best fantasy defense in the land after week four.
