Jones is a tasty treat to pick-up for week 17. (Icon SMI)

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 and starts September 7, 2011.

Truism of fantasy football: every year there are players that will not be drafted in a fantasy football draft 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 in the free agent market 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."

Note: This advice is intended for redraft leagues only.

Felix Jones, RB, DAL - Don't let the stat line for Jones fool you from week 16. Once it was clear the Giants had won, the Cowboys pulled Jones to rest him and not risk injury for the critical week 17 match-up. Jones is healthy and will be the key for Dallas to get into the playoffs with their one game "play-in" game for the NFC East Division against the G-men.

Kahlil Bell, RB, CHI - Bell is getting it done and has ramped up his play over the last two weeks. On Sunday Night against the Packers, he popped them for 121 rushing yards and 4 receptions for 38 yards. Marion Barber still lurks, and it will be key for him to be out once again for Bell to capitalize on his full fantasy potential in week 17.

Evan Royster, RB, WAS - Wow, talk about making the most of your opportunity. With the entire backfield in Washington injured, the 6th round rookie from Penn State got the call and delivered with 132 rushing yards and 2 receptions for 15 yards. It remains to be seen how the health of Roy Helu will look for week 17, but now is the time to get Royster while you can and see what develops as the week unfolds.

Kyle Orton, QB, KC - If you are a big believer in revenge being a major motivator, then Orton is your guy this week. He gets to face the team that kicked him off it in favor of Tebow with a shot to knock them out of the playoffs. Orton has played admirably the past two weeks throwing for 299 yards in week 15 and 300 yards in week 16. The reason he is flying a little low on the fantasy radar is that he hasn't tossed many TDs during that stretch (single TD in two games). Orton will come out gunning this week, and if you need a QB to pick-up and toss in the line-up, he gives you a scenario to hope for a good game.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, OAK - Palmer has had a complete attitude change towards Heyward-Bey and considers him as the best weapon to toss the rock to in OAK. This started in week 14 and has continued ever since. During that stretch, Heyward-Bey has caught over 300 yards (303) and 17 receptions. A critical game against the Chargers is on the horizon in week 17, which means Heyward-Bey makes a nice target on the waiver wire as he and his team have plenty to play for in the always tricky week 17 of the NFL.

Malcom Floyd, WR, SDG - Floyd has ramped up his game and has quietly posted approximately 100 yards and a TD in 3 of his last 4 games. Time to jump on that bandwagon if you already haven’t and have the chance and pick him up for a week 17 start.

Jared Cook, TE, TEN - Is there any receiver in the NFL has hot as Cook right now? Cook followed his big Week 15 performance (9 receptions for 103 yards) with an even bigger Week 16 performance (8 receptions for 169 yards and a TD). The Titans passing attack is locked and loaded on Cook, and Cook is happy to deliver. Pick him up and let him deliver for your fantasy team too.

Graham Gano, PK, WAS - With the Redskins ground game getting a shot in the arm from Roy Helu and Evan Royster, the offense has moved the ball giving Gano plenty of opportunities to score points. Over the last four weeks, Gano has been a different player and proven to be one of the better options to use as your fantasy kicker.

Note: This advice is intended for redraft leagues only.

Jake Ballard, TE, NYG - Ballard suffered a knee injury in week 15 that should finish his fantasy production for the 2011 fantasy season.

Johnny Knox, WR, CHI - Knox took a big hit in week 15, so he isn't going to be back this regular NFL season.

JJason Campbell, QB, OAK - Campbell broke his collarbone in week 6 and is out for at least 6 weeks.

Matt Cassel, QB, KC - Cassel injured his hand and required surgery to repair it. It is unknown when he will return, but he will miss significant time. In the meantime, your fantasy roster needs has precious few slots available and needs to be adjusted to account for the injury.

David Garrard, QB, JAX - In a surprise move, the Jaguars cut Garrard just before the start of the season. You should too.

Chad Henne, QB, MIA - Henne is dinged up and that is more than enough reason to drop him. He wasn't all that impressive prior to his injury, but now he just isn't worth the hassel.

Peyton Manning, QB, IND - Unless you are in some sort of keeper league, you should give up hope that Manning will return. It's over! You just have to come to grips with that.

Matt Schaub, QB, HOU - Schaub has a foot injury that is going to sideline him for most, if not all, of the season. Unless you have a huge roster space, best to let him go.

Jahvid Best, RB, DET - Best was placed on season ending injured reserved in week 12.

Jamaal Charles, RB, KC - Charles' season is done no thanks to a season ending knee injury suffered in week 2.

Earnest Graham, RB, TAM - It was a very brief fantasy ride with Graham, but unfortunately he tore his Achilles in week 7 and is out for the rest of the year.

Jamie Harper, RB, TEN - Give this up. Harper just isn't going to pay off at this point.

Jerome Harrison, RB, DET- Jahvid Best can only hold out so long before he succumbs to injury, but Harrison won't be the answer. You have better be in a very deep league if you are hanging onto Harrison.

Fred Jackson, RB, BUF - Jackson was having a tremendous season, but he is now lost for the remainder of the year due to injury.

Dexter McCluster, RB, KC - The Dexter McCluster experiment at RB is failing. Despite being given plenty of opportunity with the season ending injury to Jamaal Charles, this situation is just not working out.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, DEN - Moreno has a torn ACL and is done for the season.

DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL - The rookie was sensational when on the field, but a broken ankle suffered in week 14 has brought his season to a close.
Isaac Redman, RB, PIT - Redman blew his chance to shine in week 5 as the show was stolen by Jonathan Dwyer. With Dwyer in the mix and Mendenhall set to return, Redman's fantasy value has tanked.

Derrick Ward, RB, HOU - Foster is back and playing well, and Ben Tate has proven that he can carry the load for Houston when Foster is limited by injury. Ward doesn't have a lot of opportunity at this point. You can let him go.

Carnell Williams, RB, STL - The shelf-life on Williams was short, and his usefulness fantasywise has expired. Unless you own Steven Jackson, it is best to let Williams go at this point.

Danny Amendola, WR, STL - Amendola is out for the year with a torn tricep.

Kenny Britt, WR, TEN - The music Britt and his fantasy owners were making has come to an abrupt stop no thanks to a season ending knee injury suffered in week 3.

Austin Collie, WR, IND - Without Peyton Manning, Collie is just another WR that you don't need to bother with.

Braylon Edwards, WR, SF - Edwards has struggled and is now out due to meniscus surgery. He isn't expected back until mid-season at the earliest, and it will take time to ramp back up to the speed and timing of the NFL. Use your valuable roster spot on someone else with better upside.

Donald Jones, WR, BUF - We know that Jones had his first career 100 yard game in Week 3, but we think you should put him back out there on the waivers unless you have a better option.

David Nelson, WR, BUF - It is hard to believe in Nelson. He had some nice games when the Bills were on fire, but we just don't see Nelson being a consistent threat. We also don't see the Bills offense as being prolific enough to support more than one fantasy WR. Cut Nelson loose.

Chad Ochocinco, WR, NE- Tom Brady has been throwing for a bazillion yards every week, but hardly any of it gets to Ochocinco. Cut him loose please.

Mike Sims-Walker, WR, JAX - Sims-Walker has had plenty of opportunities, and none of them worked out. Now he is on IR.

Hines Ward, WR, PIT - Time has passed Ward by and the team has way too many great options at WR to use Ward on a consistent basis. You should look for a better option.

Roy Williams, WR, CHI - In most leagues, you can find a better option.

Chris Cooley, TE, WAS - Cooley has been surpassed by Fred Davis. Cooley has little value in almost all formats.

Jeff King, TE, ARZ - We didn't realize that anyone owned this guy.

Marcedes Lewis, TE, JAX - Lewis was primed for a great season until the team stuck him with a rookie QB and a journeyman to start the season. The departure of David Garrard marked the end of Lewis' fantasy prospects in 2011.

Tony Moeaki, TE, KC - Moeaki is out of the year with a season ending injury.

Garrett Hartley, K, NO - Hartley is done for the season with an injury.

Nate Kaeding, K, SDG - Kaeding is out of the season with an ACL tear to his left knee.

Rian Lindell, K, BUF - Lindell broke his shoulder in week 9 and has been placed on injured reserve.

Note: This advice is intended for redraft leagues only.