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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."

Quinton Ganther, RB, WAS - With Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts put on the shelf for the rest of 2009, Ganther capitalized with his first start of the year toasting the Raiders to the tune of 93 total yards of offense and 2 TDs. He is a patient runner that once he finds a hole, he explodes through it.

Maurice Morris, RB, DET - The news keeps getting worse for Detroit. Rising star Kevin Smith is done for the year no thanks to a knee injury. In his place, Morris should pick-up the bulk of the carries. It is hard to get too excited about a RB in Detroit, but Morris at least presents an option to consider for those teams playing in very deep leagues and hurting at the tailback slot.

Chris Jennings, RB, CLE - After sticking it to the #1 ranked run defense in the league last week to the tune of 73 yards and a TD on 20 attempts, Jennings gets to face the Chiefs in Week 15. For those backed in a corner playing in a deep league, Jennings could be worth the gamble.

Kenneth Darby, RB, STL - Steven Jackson continues to play with an injured back and gets the NFL toughness award for 2009; however, it probably isn't a bad idea for those Steven Jackson owners who haven't already to go ahead and pick-up Darby for insurance just in case Jackson's troublesome back gets worse and prevents him from playing for you down the stretch.

Greg Camarillo, WR, MIA - The Dolphins are in a dogfight for the AFC East, and with their leading receiver Davone Bess blanketed all day, Camarillo rose to the occasion pulling in 7 receptions for 110 yards. Camarillo is a player whose stock is on the rise, particularly for those in leagues that reward points for receptions.

Devin Aromashodu, WR, CHI - With Devin Hester sidelined with an injury, Aromashodu rose to the occasion nailing 8 receptions for 76 yards and a TD. This was far and away his best day as a Pro. Picking up Aromashodu is a real gamble, but sometimes a little chemistry with a QB can go a long way.

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.

Brad Gradkowski, QB, OAK - The momentum Gradkowski was gaining at the QB slot ended in Week 14 with a partial tear of his MCL. Time to toss him back to the pond.

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!

Kevin Smith, RB, DET - Smith tore a ligament in his knee and is done for 2009.

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.