Hotmail
Top 10 waiver claims for Week 11
Fantasy Football
|
|
Injuries to some top fantasy starters at running back have left some owners scrambling for replacements. These injured running backs include Cedric Benson, Ronnie Brown, Julius Jones, Clinton Portis, Michael Turner and Brian Westbrook.
Past recommendations of mine have helped fantasy teams clinch victories with various upgrades. These include quarterbacks Joe Flacco, David Garrard and Kyle Orton; running backs Ladell Betts, Jamaal Charles, Justin Forsett, Laurence Maroney, LeSean McCoy, Ryan Moats, Chris Wells and Ricky Williams; wide receivers Michael Crabtree, Lee Evans, Devery Henderson, Jeremy Maclin, Robert Meachem, Hakeem Nicks, Sidney Rice, Eddie Royal and Mike Wallace; tight ends Vernon Davis, Spencer Havner, Todd Heap, Marcedes Lewis and Tony Scheffler; and defenses/special teams Arizona, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, New England, San Diego and Seattle.
Review these top 10 waiver claims of new and past suggestions to help improve fantasy squads, especially for those who need help at running back.
10. Larry Johnson, RB, Cincinnati
He could be Cincinnati's featured back if Benson misses any games with a hip injury, and, if Bernard Scott becomes injured or falters. However, Johnson failed to achieve a 100-yard rushing game or score during his first seven contests with Kansas City. He averaged only 2.7 yards per carry compared to last year's 4.5 average. His career could be revitalized with the more talented Cincinnati offense, though. The Bengals would provide more running room and scoring chances than Kansas City.
9. Nate Washington, WR, Tennessee
With Justin Gage nursing a back injury, Washington becomes Tennessee's most likely No. 1 wideout. He's scored during two of the past three contests. The Titans have several favorable matchups against shaky pass defenses. These are Arizona's third-worst pass defense in Week 12, St. Louis' eighth-worst pass defense in Week 14 and Miami's sixth-worst pass defense in Week 15.
8. Jason Avant, WR, Philadelphia
He recorded his second career 100-yard receiving game by clinching career highs of eight catches and 156 yards against San Diego last contest. He's serving as Philadelphia's No. 3 wideout in the slot position with Maclin and DeSean Jackson manning the outside spots.
Avant meets statistically favorable pass defenses for four of the next five opponents. Next, he faces Chicago that has permitted the fifth-most passing scores (16). He meets Atlanta's fifth-worst pass defense in Week 13, and San Francisco's fourth-worst pass defense in Week 15. In Week 14, he faces the New York Giants that have yielded the sixth-most passing scores (15).
7. Chris Chambers, WR, Kansas City
Kansas City star wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL's drug policy. If Bowe serves the suspension starting Week 11, he cannot return until Week 15 when many fantasy leagues have already started the playoffs or begin the postseason that week.
Recently acquired veteran Chambers is the most likely candidate to become the Chiefs' No. 1 wideout. He has the best combination of talent, skills, experience and past production of the remaining wideouts on the roster. The nine-year veteran posted his best fantasy season in 2005 when he caught 82 passes for 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns with Miami. Indicating his potential with the Chiefs, Chambers recorded 70 receiving yards and two scores against Jacksonville for his first game with Kansas City in Week 9.
Mark Bradley is another option for who could emerge as the Chiefs' best fantasy wideout during the next four contests. But he's never caught more than 30 passes, gained more than 380 yards or scored more than three touchdowns in his five-year career.
Also, Bowe's absence provides Lance Long with another chance to prove he is capable of more outings like Week 9 when he caught eight passes for 74 yards.
6. Jason Snelling, RB, Atlanta
If Turner misses any games with a high-ankle sprain, Snelling could be Atlanta's featured back again. With Jerious Norwood missing four straight games with a hip injury, Snelling remains the leading candidate to receive the majority of carries. He produced adequate fantasy stats last game when he replaced Turner against Carolina, rushing for 61 yards and a score. He also caught three passes for 32 yards, helping him total 93 yards. However, his 3.4 rushing average is a concern after Turner recorded 12.3 yards with nine carries in the same contest.
Moreover, if Norwood is available in fantasy leagues, claim him with the possibility that he could be featured. He may be healthy enough to return against the New York Giants.
Atlanta meets several favorable run defenses for its remaining schedule, including Tampa Bay's second-worst rushing defense in Weeks 12 and 17, and Buffalo's worst rushing defense in Week 16. It also meets the New York Giants (Week 11) and New Orleans (Week 14); both have permitted the third-most rushing scores (12).
5. Bernard Scott, RB, Cincinnati
If Benson misses any games with a hip injury, his backup Scott is likely to be Cincinnati's featured back. The rookie displayed his big-play ability when he returned a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He received the majority of carries when Benson left the game. He finished with 13 handoffs for 33 yards against Pittsburgh's No. 1 rush defense, and caught one pass for 21 yards.
Helping his cause, the Bengals have a very favorable schedule for running backs with the next three games. Cincinnati meets Oakland's fourth-worst run defense, Cleveland's third-worst run defense and Detroit's lower-half ranked run defense during Weeks 11-13. Scott will be more effective against weaker defenses.
4. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City
If Charles is still available, claim him with the expectation that he'll remain Kansas City's featured back. He offers excellent speed and the ability to produce a big play, such as his 44-yard touchdown run against Oakland proved last game. Charles finished with 103 rushing yards and a score, and caught four passes for 14 yards. He also averaged a strong 5.7 yards per carry. However, he'll have difficulty running against Pittsburgh's No. 1 run defense next contest.
3. Ladell Betts, RB, Washington
If Portis misses his second straight game, look for his backup Betts to be Washington's featured back again. Betts received the vast majority of carries (26) against Denver, rushing for his season's first 100-yard rushing game and scoring a touchdown. He averaged a solid 4.4 yards per carry, and added one catch for six yards. He will be aiming to score during his third straight contest against Dallas' top 10 run defense.
2. Justin Forsett, RB, Seattle
If Forsett is still available in leagues, claim him with the expectation that he'll be Seattle's featured back for the rest of the season. Forsett responded well against Arizona when Jones left in the first quarter with an injured chest. Forsett clinched his first career 100-yard game by rushing for 123 yards and one score with a superb 7.2 average. He also caught five passes for 26 yards.
Seattle faces several favorable run defenses for its remaining schedule, including St. Louis' fifth-worst run defense in Week 12 and Tampa Bay's second-worst run defense in Week 15. In Week 14, Seattle also meets Houston that has permitted the third-most rushing scores (12).
1. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia
With Westbrook battling another concussion, McCoy remains the leading candidate to be Philadelphia's featured back. As an indication of what he can accomplish, McCoy totaled 93 yards and a score against Kansas City in Week 3, totaled 92 yards and a touchdown against the New York Giants in Week 8, and totaled 115 yards against Dallas in Week 9.
He also meets several shaky run defenses for the remaining schedule, including Chicago's 12th-worst run defense next, Washington's ninth-worst run defense in Week 12, and Atlanta's seventh-worst run defense in Week 13. Philadelphia also faces the New York Giants that have permitted the third-most rushing scores (12).
Add a comment
advertisement
