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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire

FREE weekly fantasy football pick-up / drop advice

Our weekly "Waiver Wire" column is part of FootballDocs In-season content. All of FootballDocs In-season content is 100% free.

Truism of fantasy football: every year there are players that will not be drafted but will emerge off the fantasy football waiver wire to be solid additions for a fantasy football team, sometimes exploding to stud status. Good work on the waiver wire involves knowing who is low on the radar just before their stock goes through the roof. But who has time for that? That answer is easy... the Docs. These are the geeks that live, breathe, and talk fantasy football 365 days a year. So just sit back, relax, and let the Docs do the work for you. Come check out FootballDocs Fantasy Football Pickup Drop Advice every Monday as the Docs boil it down for you nice and simple: who to watch, who to ignore, and most importantly... who to grab! Since each team's needs are unique, the Docs will suggest players to pick up based on the following significant positions: QB, RB, WR, TE, K, and D. Word of caution: While a quick trigger on the fantasy football waiver wire can make a bad team good, it can also make a good team bad. Before just adding the players listed below to your roster, here are a few guidelines to help ensure that the former happens rather than the latter.

1. Do not just randomly pick-up a player or drop a player solely based on the information given below - use some discretion - as the quality of the player varies from league to league due to the size and scoring system of each league. In addition, team needs vary from fantasy team to fantasy team, so some discretion can go a long way. The list posted below is to bring some players to your attention and give you a comment or two regarding their possibilities.

2. Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to drop any player you drafted in the first ten rounds of your draft in the first few weeks. Be patient, particularly with wide receivers as they are very inconsistent in most scoring systems, posting a horrible week one week and then backing it up with a good performance in the following week.

3. Be quick to grab running backs, especially as new starters are announced or as players emerge with huge games. This does not mean dropping a traditionally good player in order to pick up one of these running backs, but if you have an extra D, K, TE, or even a lower tier WR, it is probably in your best interest to drop one of them and take a chance.  RBs are in high demand and almost always carry value provided they are a primary back for a NFL team.

As always, thank you for visiting and welcome to FootballDocs Fantasy Football - "Where the geeks meet the gridiron."

Jerome Harrison, RB, CLE - With Jamal Lewis out for the remainder of the year, Harrison will get his shot to try to showcase what he can do. He flashed a fantasy pulse earlier in the year, and he did it again on Sunday rushing for 35 yards, grabbing 7 receptions for 62 yards, and pulling in two receiving TDs. After facing the Steelers next week, the Browns have a favorable schedule down the stretch, so Harrison should find more room to run than otherwise expected for Week 15 and beyond.

Chris Brown, RB, HOU - Steve Slaton did not play Sunday due to a neck injury. In his place started Brown, who did a little bit of everything. He rushed 6 times for 15 yards, which included a rushing TD. He pulled in 2 receptions for 11 yards. Last, he attempted a pass, but unfortunately it was picked off. With Slaton's injury being associated with his neck, it is still to be determined when he will be ready to go and take the punishing hits dished out by NFL LB's. It could be next week; it could not. With Ryan Moats still in the doghouse for fumbling issues, Chris Brown probably has the inside track to the starting job if Slaton is unable to go again next week.

Ryan Moats, RB, HOU - For those in very deep leagues, it is not a bad idea to try to scavenge Moats off the wire. As noted above, Slaton is having neck issues, which means who knows when he will be ready. Due to his upright running style, Chris Brown is no model for health either. While he is OK now, it is inevitable they day is coming he will get hurt like he always has. That leaves Moats, who did pop a huge 3 TD game earlier in the year. While Moats has been in the doghouse with his Head Coach for fumbling, he did nothing to worsen that on Sunday as he did not fumble. As such, his coach to feed him the ball a few more times to the tune of 12 carries for 41 yards. The nice thing about Moats is he brings a more explosive receiving weapon out of the backfield for the Texans, so if he can just hold onto the ball, he has fantasy upside. At any rate, the gamble here is that you grab Moats and wait for an injury to Brown to force the issue. Again, not advisable for most, as this advice only applies to those in very deep leagues.

Jamaal Charles, RB, KC - For those in shallower leagues, Charles has developed into a nice fantasy option since the Chiefs let Larry Johnson go. From a fantasy perspective, Charles seems to find a way to punch one in the endzone each and every week, regardless of how far behind the Chiefs are in their game or who they are playing. This week was no different as Charles nailed 56 rushing yards and a TD. It should be noted Charles did fumble, which is a rising concern as of late; however, he is pretty much all the Chiefs have at tailback, so he has a certain amount of added job security.

Santonio Holmes, WR, PIT - Here is another player for those in shallower leagues. In 2009, Holmes is on pace to have a career year, yet he isn't as high in the fantasy rankings as he should be. The only thing keeping him further down is his lack of TDs; however, given his play the past few weeks, that will change. Holmes has nailed a TD in consecutive weeks, and he is averaging nearly 7 receptions and 100 receiving yards per game over his last five contests.

Louis Murphy, WR, OAK - Murphy led all Raiders' receivers with 4 receptions for 128 yards and 2 TDs. With much improved play at the QB slot, the Raiders' receivers are starting to show a fantasy pulse.

Kenny Britt, WR, TEN - Britt continues to make in-roads with his QB, and he posted another decent fantasy day pulling in 3 receptions for 46 yards and a TD. Now it wasn't all roses, as there were a couple of plays Britt and Young were not on the same page, but after Nate Washington dropped a sure TD bomb from Young, Young resumed his developing chemistry with Britt.

Davone Bess, WR, MIA - Bess had his best day as a Pro and played a key role the Phins comeback win over the Pats. The second year player has risen from the depths to establish himself as Miami's #1 receiving option, and he torched New England to the tune of 10 receptions for 117 yards and a TD. When you watch Bess play, he seems to play at a different speed and desire level than your average NFL player. It is these gritty "Wes Welker type" players that feel they have something to prove that can blossom as the season progresses.

Bruce Gradkowski, QB, OAK - Wow, what a difference a new QB can make. Gradkowski has been slowly shaking off the rust and getting more comfortable as the signal caller for the Raiders. On Sunday he did the unthinkable: Beat the Steelers in front of their fans. Gradkowski ended the day with 308 passing yards, 3 TDs, and 20 rushing yards. He is extremely mobile and single handedly dodged what should have otherwise been several sacks to make some key plays for the Silver and Black. The Raiders should have no problem having to play from behind the rest of the season, so that means the opportunity will be there for Gradkowski to seize. The real question is: Can he do it again?

Brady Quinn, QB, CLE - We can't believe this any more than you, but like it or not, Quinn is proving to be a fantasy force as of late. Granted, he is complete feast or famine, but his Week 10, 304 passing yard, 4 TD, and 0 INT performance coupled to his most recent Week 12, 271 passing yard, 3 TD, and 0 INT performance is making him hard to ignore. No question the Browns are going to be down each and every week, meaning they will exhibit a passing flurry in the 3rd and 4th Quarters in an attempt to catch-up. If Quinn keeps playing well, many fantasy teams desperate at the QB slot will benefit from this passing flurry.

Fred Davis, TE, WAS - Davis is on this list again because according to league statistics folks refuse to pick him up despite the fact he continues to flash a growing fantasy pulse. Against the Saints, Davis pulled in 5 receptions for 53 yards and a TD. It is clear he has developed very nice chemistry with his QB. After a somewhat slow start filling in for the injured Chris Cooley, Davis is becoming a redzone threat.

Note: This advice is intended for redraft leagues only.

Ladell Betts, RB, WAS - Bett's sharp spike in fantasy value starting for the injured Clinton Portis was short lived after suffering a torn MCL in Week 11.

Ronnie Brown, RB, MIA - Brown injured his foot in Week 10 and is done for the season.

Tashard Choice, RB, DAL - For as long as Felix Jones and Marion Barber remain healthy, Choice will be too unreliable to count on week in and week out. Unless in a deep league and needing to secure the Cowboys starting RB situation in the event of injury, it is time to let Choice go and use that valuable roster slot on another player with better fantasy upside.

Chris Cooley, TE, WAS - Cooley broke his ankle under the bright lights of Monday Night during week 7. Things just got worse for a franchise already in a tailspin.

Kerry Collins, QB, TEN - The Titans are in a tailspin and Collins has lost his value as a manager of the game for their offense.

Owen Daniels, TE, HOU - Daniels is lost for the remainder of the season after going down with a knee injury in week 8.

James Davis, RB, CLE - This rookie looked great in the preseason and was set to take the job from Jamal Lewis this year, but a shoulder injury ambushed his chances and the Browns' have put him on the shelf for the rest of the season by officially placing him on injured reserve. Keep Davis in the back of your mind for 2010.

Trent Edwards, QB, BUF - Edwards is in trouble. If you own Edwards, you can drop him in most leagues. He refuses to take advantage of the weapons around him. It is sad.

Shaun Hill, QB, SF - Trouble in paradise. Alex Smith got a shot in week 7 and looked great. Now you have a mess on your hands, so best to wipe your hands clean of this.

Michael Jenkins, WR, ATL - There just aren't enough balls to go around in Atlanta to give Jenkins value.

Kevin Jones, RB, CHI - Jones is out for the year after tearing a ligament in his left ankle.

Jamal Lewis, RB, CLE - Lewis has officially been put on the shelf for the rest of the season due to post-concussion symptoms.

Le'Ron McClain, RB, BAL - McClain's TD Vulture status has been taken over by Willis McGahee. For as long as McGahee remains healthy and able to play, McClain brings no real fantasy value to the table.

Mewelde Moore, RB, PIT - If Moore cannot do it against the Lions, we have our doubts that he will do it anywhere else. In most leagues, Moore should be fine to drop.

Muhsin Muhammad, WR, CAR - If you are the guy in our league that still owns Muhammad, drop him. Yuck. You can do better.

Chad Pennington, QB, MIA - Pennington is out for the year after injuring his shoulder in week 3.

Laurent Robinson, WR, STL - Robinson broke his fibula in week 3 and is lost for the season. Prior to the injury he was the leading receiver for the Rams. An already paper-thin receiving corps just got thinner.

JaMarcus Russell, QB, OAK - Just a joke. We know that no one actually owns this guy... other than Al Davis that is!

Leon Washington, RB, NYJ - Washington broke his leg in week 7 and is most likely lost for the season. Even if he does come back prior to the end of the season, you could use that valuable roster spot on another player who could play and help your team make the playoffs.

Troy Williamson, WR, JAX - Williamson injured his arm in week 2 and will be out of action for most, if not all of the season. Even on the remote chance he is able to return later in the year, the emergence of Mike Sims-Walker means even less balls for Williamson.

Note: This advice is intended for redraft leagues only.