Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Pickups

There are two kinds of people reading this article right now. Those lucky enough to be competing in their fantasy league Super Bowl. And my parents. It’s a grueling 16-week battle to make it this far. And while the number of fantasy enthusiasts still enthused is dwindling, those who do care are on hypersensitive fantasy mode. In fact, I recommend keeping your distance from anyone near a Stat Tracker on Sunday. Take it from me, we can be downright annoying.

Congratulations to those still in it! And for those who didn’t make it, why are you reading this?

Here are this week’s recommended waiver pickups:

Edwin Baker, RB, Cleveland Browns – The Browns reached way back to the practice squad for this young pup. Going against a stout Jets run defense, Baker rushed for 64 yards on 17 carries, plus a touchdown. Baker is projected to be the starter this week when the Browns take on the Steelers who are only average against the run. Available in 99 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars – A disappointing year for Lewis, but he’s beginning to become fantasy relevant right as the season ends. On Sunday, Lewis reeled in four catches for 50 yards and a score. Lewis has four touchdowns in the last five games. Available in 96 percent of Yahoo leagues.

LeGarrette Blount, RB, New England Patriots – Look, I can’t say this with absolute certainty, but it appears that just maybe Blount is the favorite back in New England. On Sunday, Blount rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns, and more importantly made me feel better about benching Shane Vereen. Available in 90 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Donald Brown, RB, Indianapolis Colts – No stranger to this list, Brown continues to improve over the course of the season. Brown rushed for 79 yards and a rushing touchdown, while adding another 31 in the air with another score. On Sunday, he faces a Jags defense that allows the 11^th most fantasy points to running backs. Available in 57 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Blitzen – Underrated reindeer, feared by most quarterbacks. 

Erin Skelley joins Texans Radio every week on SportsRadio 610. Follow her on Twitter @erinskelley. She’ll babble fantasy to anyone who will listen.

Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Pickups

If you have Jamaal Charles, congratulations on your Super Bowl berth. Oh yeah, I have him... and nearly - and should have - lost. Check out these waiver wire pickups and good luck, fantasy footballers!

Fantasy Football Week 15 Waiver Pickups

If every game were like the Vikings-Ravens showdown, I wouldn’t even need fake football. Fantasy nurtures my need for drama, glory and apparently anxiety. Turns out, all I need is two minutes of snow football, with two teams who don’t play defense in purple outfits.

If you haven’t heard by now, you must must must find the highlights. Six fourth-quarter lead changes. Four touchdowns in the final 125 seconds. And a lot of disheartened Vikings fans when Joe Flacco connected with Marlon Brown in the final 4 seconds for the win.

 I hope Minnesota has a sense of humor.

As if that weren’t enough, just minutes later, the poor Browns almost pulled off an upset but fell to the Patriots 27-26 after losing an onside kick that gave Brady the chance to do what he does best. Win. I was rooting for the Browns so I didn’t find that game as riveting. But wow. I’m sure Boston fans everywhere are toasting chowda, proclaiming how wicked awesome that was. 

So how did your fantasy teams do? Big disappointments for those who own Matt Stafford. And yikes, Adrian Peterson and Rob Gronkowski left early with injuries. Josh Gordon amazed. Again. I don’t have his stats at my fingertips, but I’m pretty sure he has 10,000 yards over the last four games. Or pretty close to it.

Congratulations to those still alive in the playoffs. Here are this week’s waiver pickups: 

Toby Gerhart, RB, Minnesota Vikings – Peterson’s injury may only be a mild sprain, but Gerhart is worth the gamble, as he becomes the hottest waiver add if Peterson doesn’t play. After Peterson exited early, Toby put together a respectable performance with 15 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown… and a fumble, but that’s ok. It was slippery. Available in 46 percent of Yahoo leagues. 

Daniel Thomas, RB, Miami Dolphins – Impressive performance for Thomas, who collected 105 yards on 16 carries in relief for Lamar Miller, who left the game early with a concussion. Thomas also added a 4-yard touchdown run. If Miller can’t go, Thomas is a solid replacement. Available in 89 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Marcel Reece, RB, Oakland Raiders – Reece became a hot waiver add just seconds before the early games began on Sunday. Once again, Reece looked good in relief with 123 yards on 19 carries. I don’t love the Kansas City matchup this week, plus Rashad Jennings will likely be back. Keep your eye on this one. So yeah, Reece is my list fave RB on the list. Available in 88 percent of Yahoo leagues. 

Joique Bell, RB, Detroit Lions – Argh. I would have lost anyway, but I choose to blame Reggie Bush’s pre-game calf injury. Bell stepped up with 69 yards on 23 attempts, plus a touchdown. Bush is day-to-day. Bell becomes a must-start if Reggie sits. Available in 34 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR Minnesota Vikings – I don’t care that the defenders were on a Slip’N Slide surface, Patterson blazed pass them with 141 yards on five receptions, including a touchdown. This week, the speedy wideout faces the Eagles who are weak against the pass. Available in 74 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Sunday Ticket – Thank you, Sunday Ticket. I don’t share my appreciation enough. But you earned your keep today in a single game. I will never ever question you again.

Erin Skelley joins Texans Radio every week on SportsRadio 610. Follow her on Twitter @erinskelley. She’ll babble fantasy to anyone who will listen.

Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Pickups

Should I congratulate or console you? Is it a high-five or a shoulder to cry on? I’m talking about fantasy playoffs, of course, as most of us in fantasyland learned our playoff fate this weekend. If you own Alshon Jeffery, Josh Gordon or Eric Decker, then I’m guessing you had a very good day… unless of course, your opponent also had one of those guys. Yikes, talk about cruel.  

If you’re lucky enough to have Peyton Manning at the helm, then talk about anticlimactic. You should have clinched weeks ago! In fact, if you have any losses this year – at all – you are a terrible, terrible game manager. No one with Peyton should ever lose. Ever. Ok, I’ll give you a pardon week 9, his bye week. But that’s it.

Congrats to the very lucky (and skillful) who clinched a playoff berth! Now let’s go shopping the waiver wire:

Donald Brown, RB, Indianapolis Colts – It’s about time, right? Brown delivered on Sunday with 14 carries for 54 yards, and a touchdown. By comparison, Trent Richardson only saw five carries. Count on Brown continuing as the favored back moving forward. Available in 56 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Ladarius Green, TE, San Diego Chargers – Unless you already own Antonio Gates (or bleed powder blue), then you may not be familiar with the second-string tight end. Meet Ladarius Green, the fairly anonymous Charger who is beginning to gain attention in the fantasy world after back-to-back-to-back weeks of fantasy goodness. Over the last three weeks, Green has posted 81, 80 and 45-yard performances, while also finding the end zone in weeks 12 and 13. Greener pastures ahead! Available in 92 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals – Ok. If you overlook his fumble and two interceptions, he had a great game. Really, not kidding about that. On Sunday, Palmer boasted 302 passing yards and three touchdowns. And yes, three turnovers. BUT, he still got a ton of fantasy points. I love, love, love his matchup this week against the Rams, who are vulnerable against the pass. Available in 54 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers – Yep, not a stellar performance. Add him to your bench, and watch him improve each week. Available in 52 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Jared Cook, TE, Tennessee Titans – If I had owned him, I would have dropped him months ago. But he’s showing promise. Cook mustered only 49 yards on Sunday, but look at his matchup this week. No team gives up more fantasy points to tight ends than the Arizona Cardinals. Available in 42 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Montee Ball, RB, Denver Broncos – You hate this if you own Knowshon Moreno. Ball has become fantasy relevant over the past few weeks, with 13 carries for 117 yards on Sunday. Moreno is still the starter, but if you coached the Broncos wouldn’t you also rest Moreno down the stretch? Available in 42 percent of Yahoo leagues.  

Erin Skelley joins Texans Radio every week on SportsRadio 610. Follow her on Twitter @erinskelley. She’ll babble fantasy to anyone who will listen.