The Forgotten Element of a Super Bowl Champion: Defence

The NFL is often called a quarterback-driven league. To win in the pros, as the great Vince Lombardi once said, “you needed a quarterback who could be a coach on the field, someone who was intelligent, rational, unflappable and occasionally daring, as well as a gifted passer”.

And there is no denying that there’s some truth in these statements.

Both Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers) and Carson Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) will face off this weekend for the NFC Championship. The pair was so impressive this season that analysts are predicting they’ll finish first and second in voting for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award.

While the AFC Championship features a match-up of titans and innovators at the position: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) and Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos).

The problem is fans, analysts, and just about anyone involved in the conversation about Super Bowl 50 are neglecting the bigger and more important element: defence.

Each team remaining in the hunt for this year’s title possesses a top-10 defence: Broncos (first), Cardinals (fifth), Panthers (sixth) and Patriots (ninth). And most of them will have the tough task of shutting down the three highest-scoring offences in Carolina (500 points), Arizona (489 points) and New England (465).

Thus, these upcoming championship games shouldn’t be discussed in the context of which quarterback will prevail, rather how each team will prepare and execute defensively to stop these elite-level passers.

That will be the difference this weekend, and in Super Bowl 50.

Yet, it won’t be what grabs the headlines, the same way it didn’t following the Divisional or Wild Card weekends. But then again, that shouldn’t have been the case, for many reasons.

Think carefully back to that Cardinals-Packers game for starters. Sure, you probably remember the incredible “game-saving” passes by Aaron Rodgers, before Palmer basically iced the game in overtime thanks to a Larry Fitzgerald 75-yard catch and run.

But Packers’ defensive back Sam Shields could have done the same late in the fourth quarter for Green Bay. He dropped a would-be interception that likely would have given the Packers victory.

The same is true for Denver. Manning wasn’t that great. Yes, he did complete an important 3rd-and-12 that led to the eventual C.J. Anderson go-ahead score. But lest we forget that the Broncos’ D forced Steelers’ running back Fitzgerald Toussaint to fumble. The turnover is what led to the points and prevented Pittsburgh from adding to their lead.

And let’s not even get started on Carolina. Newton and the Panthers’ offence had a solid first-half, followed by what can only be described as atrocious. Newton finished 16-of-22 for 162 yards, with a score and a passer rating of 108.3. Meanwhile, his pal and All-Pro teammate, Luke Kuechly, held Russell Wilson to a passer rating of 0, when Wilson targeted him.

Bet you didn’t know that one.

Kuechly also intercepted a pass by Wilson, and took it to the house, scoring Carolina’s first-ever postseason defensive touchdown in franchise history. A feat most have either dismissed completely, or presented as an aside. However, Kuechly’s play was a major factor, given that those seven points were the difference in a 31-24 game.

But what is often the case with great defensive plays: they are forgotten. Like James Harrison’s 100-yard interception touchdown for Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII, we neglect them. Instead remembering the plays that ultimately decided the game, like Santonio Holmes’ incredible catch that won the Steelers that same Super Bowl.

The thing people forget is Holmes’ play is not possible without Harrison’s. Nor does it reach the same magnitude without it.

And, similarly, each team remaining will not reach higher magnitudes without their oft-forgotten, best asset: their defence.

NFL Fantasy: 2015 Draft Preview on Tight-Ends (TE)

Here…we…go…again. NFL training camps have begun opening across America and with it means another fantasy football season approaches. Thus, over the next four weeks, I plan on previewing every position in order to get you prepared for your fantasy draft.

Today, I begin with tight-ends (TE) and although the position might lack some depth, there is still some serious value that can be found later in your draft. Some of these guys have moved on elsewhere (Jimmy Graham, Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron to name a few), while others seemed to poise to break out (Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz and Josh Hill…again to name a few).

So let’s sort through the mess that is the tight-end position and breakdown the best and worst choices at the position for this upcoming fantasy season.

*ADP = Average Draft Position (were all obtained from NFL.com)

My Predicted TOP 25 Fantasy TEs for 2015

#1. Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots (ADP: 13.54 – 2^nd Round)
#2. Martellus Bennett – Chicago Bears (ADP: 79.64 – 8^th Round)
#3. Greg Olsen – Carolina Panthers (ADP: 53.98 – 6^th Round)
#4. Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs (ADP: 60.21 – 7^th Round)
#5. Julius Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: 60.71 – 7^th Round)
#6. Jimmy Graham – Seattle Seahawks (ADP: 30.67 – 4^th Round)
#7. Kyle Rudolph – Minnesota Vikings (ADP: 149.57 – 15^th Round)
#8. Jason Witten – Dallas Cowboys (ADP: 121.91 – 13^th Round)
#9. Jordan Cameron – Miami Dolphins (ADP: 126.44 – 13^th Round)
#10. Zach Ertz – Philadelphia Eagles (ADP: 144.76 – 15^th Round)
#11. Dwayne Allen – Indianapolis Colts (ADP: 68.89 – 7^th Round)
#12. Austin Seferian-Jenkins – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ADP: 150.22 – 16^th Round)
#13. Josh Hill – New Orleans Saints (ADP: 149.63 – 15^th Round)
#14. Owen Daniels – Denver Broncos (ADP: 138.22 – 14^th Round)
#15. Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers (ADP: 83.14 – 9^th Round)
#16. Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers (ADP: 131.83 – 14^th Round)
#17. Tyler Eifert – Cincinnati Bengals (ADP: 150.13 – 16^th Round)
#18. Heath Miller – Pittsburgh Steelers (ADP: 146.04 – 15^th Round)
#19. Jordan Reed – Washington Redskins (ADP: 150.68 – 16^th Round)
#20. Charles Clay – Buffalo Bills (ADP: 114.76 – 12^th Round)

Speaking of the Top 5…

#1. Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots (ADP: 13.54 – 2^nd Round)
This is literally the easiest decision. I don’t care who is throwing Gronk the ball this year. It could be JaMarcus Russell or Johnny Manziel for all I cared. As long as you got Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator (OC) in New England calling the plays (plus Bill Belicheck roaming the sidelines), this Patriots’ offence/team will remain a force in the AFC East. Thus (and I say this with an empathic Gronk-like spike) Rob Gronkowski is the undisputed #1 TE in fantasy football. He remains the King of Westeros, even without Tywin Lannister to back him up.

And who is Tywin in this analogy? None other than Tom Brady of course.

Yes, it cannot be understated that the suspension to Tom Brady (which was recently upheld by the NFL at 4 games) will have some kind of negative impact on Gronk. But potential fantasy owners should not be swayed by Brady’s “likely” suspension as it relates to Gronk. This is the same Gronk who posted 30.30 more fantasy points than the next leading TE last season (about 2.0 pts per game more than any other TE). This is the same Gronk who has has caught more TDs than anyone else (except Dez Bryant) over the last 5 seasons, despite missing 15 out of a possible 80 games over that stretch.

Moreover, its worth reminding fantasy owners that when Brady was last out of the starting lineup in 2008, Matt Cassel stepped in admirably, leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record. Cassel also finished 8th in passing yards amongst QBs that season (thanks in part to the tutelage of Josh McDaniels, who was the OC at the time). More importantly, Wes Welker didn’t miss a beat as the Pats #1 inside option as the slot receiver (Welker was 2nd in the league in receptions that year). And although Gronk is not a slot receiver, in many ways he has filled that void in McDaniels’ offence once occupied by Welker inside. So don’t worry about Jimmy Garoppolo tossing the rock in New England. He will find plenty of Gronk.

My only real concern for Gronkowski (aside from his health) is his ADP of 13.54. A high 2nd round pick is a bit rich for me to draft a guy that finished 39th overall in fantasy points in 2014. I would recommend you try and wait to grab this guy either late in the 2nd or preferably in the 3rd, given that players like Dez Bryant, Jeremy Hill, CJ Anderson and Jordy Nelson all have a tendency to be available at this point…and they should each outscore Gronk this season.  

#2. Martellus Bennett – Chicago Bears (ADP: 79.64 – 8^th Round)
Call it the first surprise of my list, but Martellus Bennett is not only coming off a year where he set career-highs in catches (90), yards (916) and touchdowns (six); he also sees the arrival of John Fox and co. fresh from their Denver excursion. Coming with Fox as the Bears’ new offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who is coming off helping another tight-end named Julius Thomas become an elite-level tight-end.

Now part of that will of course have been because of Peyton Manning, but I refuse to believe that Gase didn’t play a part in Thomas’ development. And knowing what Gase now has in Chicago, you would have to expect him to get Bennett frequently involved in the offence (especially in the red-zone, where Thomas caught 24 TDs in 27 games over the last two seasons). There is also no more Brandon Marshall to fight for targets with in Chi-Town. The Bears traded Jay Cutler‘s best bud Marshall to the loveable New York Jets. So I would expect plenty targets geared in Bennett’s and Alshon Jeffery‘s direction, despite the Bears’ new first round pick Kevin White and the newly-acquired Eddie Royal.

It also helps that Bennett has been unhappy with his current four-year, $20.4 million deal. Despite the fear of a hold out, Bennett showed up to training camp reportedly “not worried about his contract“. If he wants to up his dough, he will have to (and be motivated to) produce big numbers in order to merit a raise. So keep an eye on Bennett. He is well worth jumping up to grab either in the 6th or 7th round. This is also a guy who has finished amongst the top-12 TEs in fantasy over the last three seasons. That’s what I like to call a safe bet.

#3. Greg Olsen – Carolina Panthers (ADP: 53.98 – 6^th Round)
You got me. I’ll admit, I have never been a big fan of the big man originally from the “U”, but it’s hard not to fall in love with what Greg Olsen did last season, and his potential for this upcoming year.

For starters, let’s take you back to the end of the 2014 season, when Olsen quietly set career-highs in catches (84), targets (122) and yards (1008) all while tacking on six TDs. No other tight-end, aside from Rob Gronkowski, tallied more yards. No other tight-end (NOT even Gronk) drew a larger percentage of his team’s targets than Olsen’s 22.4 percent. Olsen was targeted early and often. I would expect more of the same this year.

Yes, there are some who will point to the addition of second-round pick WR David Funchess out of Michigan as a reason why Olsen’s stock might decline. And it might be with reason, but consider this: for the 2nd consecutive year Olsen led the Panthers in receptions (this despite the presence of Steve Smith Sr. in 2013 and the emergence of then-rookie Kelvin Benjamin in 2014), he has finished amongst the top-7 TEs in fantasy for the last three seasons and he hasn’t missed a game since 2007.

So I wouldn’t worry. Olsen is as consistent as they come, not too mention clearly one of Cam Newton‘s favourite targets (do I need to remind you that 22.4 percent of Newton’s pass attempts were headed in Olsen’s direction?). Newton is also healthy. Olsen is also in a contract year, fighting to prove he is worth the dollars. Put all of that together and Olsen is well worth taking in the 6th round. I would even suggest grabbing him in the 5th round, if you can, given the lack of depth at the TE position and the fact that the man is that consistent.

#4. Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs (ADP: 60.21 – 7^th Round)
You can call Travis Kelce the next big thing at the TE position. The man’s stock is rising faster than Apple’s stock in the mid 2000s. And trust me when I say it is rightfully deserved.

Kelce’s playing time was often limited during the first 10 weeks of the season. It was Week 10 where things began to change, specifically when Anthony Fasano got hurt. Just to give you an idea of what I mean: between Weeks 6-9 Kelce played only 54.9 percent of the snaps (when Fasano was healthy) but against the Bills in Week 10 that increased to 66.1 percent. And only grew over the course of the season. During those final seven weeks, Kelce upped his snaps to 86.6 percent of all the Chiefs’ offensive snaps.

Now, why is this at all important or significant? Well, Kelce finished as the #8 TE in fantasy last season despite not becoming a true full-time player until closer to season’s end. Imagine what the kid could do if he played every snap?

Well that appears to be the plan in KC. Andy Reid has asked his young TE to bulk up and gain 15 pounds, and play at 265, which was his weight at the University of Cincinnati (it was last reported in June that he was at 255 lbs). And although the gain in weight might be solely for protection (aka to make him a more effective blocker) and might even make him a touch slower, being on the field more frequently should hypothetically lead to more opportunities for Kelce.

In addition, Kelce was a model of efficiency. According to Pro Football Focus, Kelce caught 66-of-71 catchable passes last season. QB Alex Smith threw in Kelce’s direction 80 times, with 71 of them being on-target. I would expect that number to increase this season, despite the addition of WR Jeremy Maclin from the Eagles. Smith twice helped Vernon Davis finish within the top-three fantasy tight-ends, and he could very well end up doing it again with Kelce. As a short-yardage specialist, I doubt Smith will take many more chances down the field with Maclin. If anything, Maclin should help open up the middle of the field for Kelce (given that the Chiefs will finally have a wideout that defences have to respect, and one that might actually catch a touchdown pass for the Chiefs). All in all, Kelce is gaining confidence (and demanding the football in camp). With Fasano gone, Kelce is the undisputed number one TE in KC. And you should feel confident drafting him. I would jump up and get this guy in the 6th round if you can, before someone else can snags him.

#5. Julius Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: 60.71 – 7^th Round)
Alright, alright, I know. I like a Jaguar player to fit somewhere in my top-5 and not Jimmy Graham. It’s not that I don’t think Jimmy Graham isn’t a talent, but I do take issue with the fact that he is playing on a team whose identity is to RUN THE FOOTBALL. In Jacksonville, however, Julius Thomas is the man and arguably the team’s best player. The Jags are a team still searching their identity on both sides of the ball, and I think a major part of that on offence will undoubtedly run through Thomas (I mean they just payed the guy $46 million over the next 5 years, $24 million guaranteed…I think he’ll catch a pass or two to justify it).

Reports out of Jags’ camp says Jacksonville will feature several two-tight end formations. It seems as if OC Greg Olson has no intention of putting Thomas in a three-point stance to hold the edge (the latter will be a job for Mercedes Lewis). Rather, it seems Olson wants to play to Thomas’ strengths and split him off the formation, the same way things were done in Denver with Peyton Manning. I wouldn’t also be surprised if Thomas became QB Blake Bortles‘ favourite target. Sure the Jags have a promising young receiver in Allen Robinson, but he hasn’t developed the same kind of success that Thomas has as a pass-catcher.

Over the past two seasons, Thomas has caught the 4th most touchdown passes (24 TDs) and his 12 TDs last season were the best amongst all starting TEs (tied with Gronkowski and Antonio Gates). I would bet my money that he won’t hit that mark again this season, but I still think he produces more than most of the other TEs, including Graham. It’s not that I think Jimmy Graham isn’t capable, I think he will be a top-10 TE, but he won’t match his production in New Orleans. Graham has also been on the record saying he will be blocking “75 percent of the time”.

This is definitely a hyperbole. An exaggeration. But the point that is being driven home is the Seahawks’ love to run the football and will continue to. He is also still reportedly working out the “chemistry kinks” with his new QB Russell Wilson. Put all of that together, I’ll take the chance on Thomas before I do with Graham. Graham is currently going in the 4th round, which is WAY too high for my liking. He might have a higher ceiling than Thomas but he is too much of a risk (need I remind you that Graham often plays at less than 100%). I’d take Thomas in the 6th round. I believe his current ADP in the 7th round accurately represents his value.

Best Value Picks
#7. Kyle Rudolph – Minnesota Vikings (ADP: 149.57 – 15^th Round) and #10. Zach Ertz – Philadelphia Eagles (ADP: 144.76 – 15^th Round)

If you saw my list from last season, this is going to look familiar.

Well if I’m actually being honest with myself, it is identical. But it’s hard not to love two TEs that have massive upside that are currently going in the 15th round.

First, Kyle Rudolph, the ex-Notre Dame star who doesn’t seem capable of staying healthy. Yes, he has missed 16 games over the last four seasons with the Vikings. But he has also scored on 12.8 percent of his career receptions, a rate that would have topped Jimmy Graham last season. His OC Norv Turner has a history of turning TE and into stars (including Antonio Gates and Jordan Cameron) and as long as Rudolph stays healthy I can’t see why he wouldn’t be able to follow in their footsteps. Rudolph is incredibly athletic and has great hands. Furthermore, Teddy Bridgewater is by-far the most efficient quarterback Rudolph has ever played with (remember Christian Ponder or Matt Cassel in those beautiful purple Vikings’ jerseys…I mean at least they looked good throwing INTs). To illustrate my point, during last night’s 1st preseason game, Bridgewater completed 5-of-6 for 44 yards. He targeted Rudolph twice, both of which he caught for 22 yards, the most amongst WRs and TEs taking snaps with the first team.

With consistency at the QB position and Rudolph making changes to his off-season routine to try and stay healthy, I’ll take a chance on a guy that I can get as late as the 15th round. My recommendation is to try and grab him sooner (like the 12th or 13th round). He is a huge bargain that late in the draft, given his TE1 upside.

The second TE I like at a bargain is Zach Ertz from the Eagles. Full disclaimer though, this is one guy you’ll have to monitor over the preseason to evaluate his snaps. Ertz’s biggest problem over the last few seasons has been staying on the field, not because he hasn’t been healthy but due to his inefficiencies as a blocker (and his teammate TE Brent Celek‘s success blocking). During his rookie campaign in 2013, Ertz caught 36 passes for 469 yards (including 4 TDs) while playing only 41 percent of the offensive snaps. Last season, Ertz increased those numbers to 58 receptions for 702 yards (including 3 TDs). The reason for the uptick? Well he frankly played more offensive snaps last year, up 9% from 2013. So to make this as simple as possible, if Ertz plays more snaps he should catch more passes. He graded out as sixth amongst tight-ends in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades. He spent his offseason increasing his power, working with Hall of Fame line coach Hudson Houck in San Diego, and has even done some MMA to try and improve his understanding of leverage and how to use his hands while blocking.

All in all, it seems like he should have done enough to merit additional snaps, but Chip Kelly doesn’t seem to agree. So far Ertz has been constantly working with the second-team offence at training camp. Either way, I would monitor this during the preseason. If Ertz can get plenty of first-team snaps during the preseason, that would be a positive sign. He is an incredibly talented pass-catching TE. With the loss of Jeremy Maclin, those targets will have to go elsewhere and Ertz should help in that department. Currently going in the 15th round, there is huge value in trying to grab Ertz anywhere between the 12th and 13th rounds. Along with Rudolph, he has massive TE1 upside.

Buyers Beware:
#11. Dwayne Allen – Indianapolis Colts (ADP: 68.89 – 7^th Round) and #15. Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers (ADP: 83.14 – 9^th Round)

Both of these TEs were top-10 guys last season, hell Antonio Gates even caught the most TDs passes amongst TEs (tied with Thomas and Gronk at 12 TDs). But 2014 is now in our rear-view mirror, and unfortunately for Gates, he will begin this season with a four-game suspension for violating the league’s Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) policy. Gates will have you believe that he never “knowingly” ingested any PED. But I don’t find it a coincidence that at the age of 35, Gates had one of this best years statistically and tested positive for a banned substance. It’s way to ironic that the two should happen at the same time. Furthermore, even before Gates got suspended, there was plenty of talk about Gates’ snaps being further reduced. Even by Gates himself. He did eventually clarify that he still wants the ball and that he wants less time on the field blocking and more time on the field catching passes.

But who doesn’t want that Antonio? Fact is the team has been pumping Ladarius Green‘s tires all summer, even before Gates’ suspension. Coach Mike McCoy went as far as to suggest “we need to use him more“. Green was limited to only 21.1 snaps per game or 30.9 percent of the offensive snaps. This was despite Gates seeing over 200 fewer snaps himself last season. Nevertheless, there are big plans for Green. OC Frank Reich has even gone on the record saying this should be Green’s “most productive year” (again, this was said BEFORE Gates was suspended). He has been pegged as Gates’ replacement since Day 1. He will fill in for Gates, while the future Hall of Famer serves his month-long suspension. When he comes back, who knows what will happen. But keep in mind that both Gates and Green are in contract years. And if Green truly is the future, the team will not only want to test him out over those first four weeks, but if he succeeds, expect him to cut him into Gates’ playing time and this to be Gates’ swan song in San Diego. I’d rather wait for a Rudolph or Ertz in later rounds, than take a chance on Gates in the seventh round. If you do draft him though, I would recommend hand-cuffing him with Green.

Meanwhile, Dwayne Allen was no slouch himself last year in Indianapolis (he finished 13th amongst TE in fantasy). With the help of Andrew Luck, the big man seemed only capable of catching touchdown passes (as he finished with 8 TDs). But I would expect that number to decline from last season. Not only is Allen have to fight for love at the TE position with teammate Coby Fleener (Luck’s teammate from Stanford who finished 6th amongst fantasy TEs), but the team has gone out of it’s way to add plenty of weapons that will negatively effect Allen’s fantasy stock. I mean where should I begin? At the wideout position, they added Andre Johnson (yes, the same Andre Johnson from the Houston Texans) and drafted the speedy, Phillip Dorsett (who is drawing rave reviews). They also brought in Frank Gore from the 49ers to run the football. All of which, might I add, are former players from the “U” (Colts’ Coach Chuck Pagano clearly loves Miami University).

But moving past Pagano’s affection for the “U”, the addition of these weapons to the already embarrassing list of riches Luck already had (T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, etc.) means there are too many mouths to feed for me to like Allen’s chances at having a career year. I mean Allen already has had his fair share of struggles thus far in his career. In 34 pro games, including the post-season, Allen has caught more than four passes ONLY THREE TIMES. Do the math. That means less than 10% of the time he catches the ball more than four times in a game. And with all the weapons the Colts’ have added this offseason, do you honestly think that is going to change? No. Neither do I. Don’t take the chance on Allen in the 7th round, it isn’t worth it.

Rookie Watch:
#27. Maxx Williams  – Baltimore Ravens (ADP: 150.09 – 16^th Round)
Although he didn’t crack my top-20, there are some reasons to be optimistic about rookie Maxx Williams. For starters, the former starting TE in Baltimore, Dennis Pitta, hasn’t even been cleared to practice yet (he has been watching practice in shorts and a T-shirt). Pitta had his second major-hip surgery last season, which led some to question whether he would ever come back. And given Pitta’s uncertain status, it was no surprise that Baltimore elected to jump ahead of Pittsburgh in the second-round to get their guy Williams. Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said he expected the rookie to have an immediate impact in the redzone and on third downs. It also helps that Flacco has always loved throwing to TEs (just ask Pitta) and new Ravens’ offensive coordinator Marc Trestman is coming off making Martellus Bennett look pretty good in Chicago (Bennett posted career-numbers under Trestman).

My concern, however, is no rookie TE ever seems to have an impact in their first year (need I remind you of Eric Ebron last season). To my point, it has already been reported that Williams has struggled to digest Trestman’s playbook. He hasn’t gotten off to a “fast start” at training camp causing writers in Baltimore to suggest that fans should temper their expectations. There is no doubt the kid is uber-talented. He regularly hurdled opponents while at the University of Minnesota (I wasn’t kidding, check it out). He averaged 16.2 yards per catch over his career there. He has the skill-set to be a great pass-catching TE. But there remains too much risk right now. I would recommend sitting back, watch him over preseason. If he can shows signs that he is capable of being an every-day starter, he could become a serious deep-sleeper in drafts. All of this of course is also assuming Pitta doesn’t regain his starting role in the Ravens’ offence.

The Profit-Driven NCAA Should Return the Favour

Make no mistake about it. College athletics in the United States is “all about the Benjamins”, with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (commonly referred to as the NCAA) reaping the benefits.

Every year since 2001 – despite the dot-com bust, the Great Recession and the economic stimulus plan – the NCAA has still managed to increase its profit margins. Every year, they have also set aside more money for investments, amassing approximately $627 million (according to a report written by the Indy Star). And now, they are poised to top an astonishing mark of $11 billion dollars in revenue – more than the estimated total league revenues of both the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League.

But who are the people the NCAA can thank for driving this profit train to new heights? Well, the so-called “student-athletes” of course. They are the labourers that create the product. A product the NCAA then sells for hundreds of millions of dollars.

But fact is, the idea of amateurism is an illusion and the concept of “student-athlete” was built to be deliberately ambiguous. It was created as a defense mechanism for the NCAA. A legalistic defense that has helped the NCAA collect plenty of victories in liability cases.

Walter Byers, a former executive director of the NCAA, is considered the architect of the term. The same man who once said “amateurism is not a moral issue; it is an economic camouflage for monopoly practice”. Thus, people should not be disillusioned by the nobility of amateurism, nor the idea of a “student-athlete”. It does not exist in the NCAA.

If the NCAA felt the academic side of student-athletics was of such importance, then why do they schedule the NCAA Division I football championship on the first day of spring classes? Why do they schedule the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in a way that affects more than six days of classes? And why do they give a substantial portion of their sports’ revenue to “a select few administrators, athletic directors and coaches” and not put more of it in the classroom?

The reason is simple. The NCAA is driven by profits, just like any business. But this type of monopoly practice has created a system of control over the lives of collegiate athletes that should inspire us to push for changes.

NCAA athletes are often forced to manipulate their class schedules to accommodate their sport and it is estimated than they will spend an average of 40 hours per week of labour (the typical American work week) on their sport alone. That is about 10 hours more than they would spend on academics.

But how could you blame them? Approximately 98% of these athletes won’t go pro. They are fighting to keep their “full” scholarships (which can often be lost if they are injured) that don’t even cover the full cost of attendance: leaving an average shortfall of $3,222 to be covered by the athletes themselves.

These athletes should be compensated for their efforts in creating this multibillion-dollar business. Or at the very least, colleges should support their players’ education by increasing full scholarships to equal the true cost of attendance. That would amount to an affordable $95 million per year. Seems like a small demand when you consider the fact that the NCAA will strip football and men’s basketball players of $6 billion of their fair market value between 2011-2015.

Something has got to give. And for once, it should be the NCAA returning the favour.

Scanning the Waiver Wire Following Week 8

Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Week 8 came and went, and the NFL season now officially moves into its final half. This weekend saw plenty of record-breaking performances and “Madden-like” numbers. The hard part then becomes deciphering which players on these teams who recorded astronomical offensive numbers (such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots) are worth owning or investing in from a fantasy football perspective. Don’t get trapped with a player (like Markus Wheaton or Donte Moncrief) whose production was likely a one-time thing. You don’t want to waste a precious waiver claim, especially if you are bring up the rear in your league. Be selective about who you pick up. Do your research. Or read the research below that I have done for you. Either one works.

Again, some of you know the drill by now: I have ranked the players in their order of priority. Those at the top I believe are worth investing in before anyone else because they appear to have a better chance at long-term success. While those players found lower are still worth taking a chance on given their chance at short-term success and potential down the road. It should go without saying that you should only add these players if you should have the space or dead weight on your roster.

1. Brandon LaFell (WR) – New England Patriots  (owned in only 14.4% of NFL.com leagues): Now I am not going to say I told you so, but after losing my first week in fantasy football I feel like I will give myself this one. Brandon LaFell cracked this list last week and he made sure to show you why he is worth your attention if you haven’t given it to him yet. LaFell went off against the Chicago Bears in Week 8 (as many Patriots players did) catching all 11 of his targets (most on the team) for 124 yards and a touchdown. If that wasn’t convincing enough, he led all Patriots receivers in snaps this weekend (61-of-74 snaps). That was more than Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski (not that I think he will produce more than Gronk, but it says something). But this isn’t that surprising. LaFell’s snaps have been steadily increasing as he has grown more comfortable with the Pats’ offence and Tom Brady. Over the last five games, LaFell has been on for 86.1 percent of the Patriots’ snaps. This has led to LaFell hauling in at least 4 catches in 4 of those games, and scoring 4 touchdowns in three of those games. He is becoming a legitimate option. I wouldn’t say a WR2 but certainly WR3 and great flex play depending on the week. He does have a few tough match-ups down the road against Denver (allows 23rd most fantasy pts. to WRs), Indianapolis (allows 23rd most fantasy pts. to WRs), Detroit (allows 30th most fantasy pts. to WRs) and Miami (allows 23rd most fantasy pts. to WRs) which does make him a bit of a risk. But if Bill Belichick can trust him (and Tom Brady for that matter) then so should you. He has games lined up late against the Jets and Bills towards playoffs and championship week. He could be just what you need to get you that title. Pick him up.

2. Denard Robinson (RB) – Jacksonville Jaguars  (owned in only 15.0% of NFL.com leagues): Surprise, surprise: Denard Robinson has scaled up my list of waiver wire picks after a big week against the Miami Dolphins. The kid they call “Shoelace” ran the ball 18 times for 108 yards and added one catch for an additional 10 yards. What was most impressive is the fact that it came against a stingy defence in Miami  (allowed 26th most fantasy pts. to RBs after Week 7). Now this is still a bit of shock despite the Robinson’s unique talent. On Saturday, there was a report fro ESPN that coaches weren’t “sure if [Denard] Robinson would be capable of handling a heavy workload each week”. Robinson responded by eclipsing the 100 yards mark for the second consecutive week as the lead back in Jacksonville. It worth noting that the week before he thrashed the leaky run D in Cleveland (allows 8th most fantasy pts. to RBs) for 127 yards and a touchdown. That’s what makes his performance against Miami so impressive, that it came against a stout run D. I still have some reservations about Robinson though. He is not built like your prototypical running back. That would explain why he played quarterback in college for the University of Michigan. And although he has been always been renowned for his running prowess (just check my blurb on him last week), he will carry risk, especially running the ball in a “less than prolific” offence in Jacksonville. That being said there isn’t much else out there RB wise and he is the undisputed starter in Jacksonville. He has a great matchup this week against Cincinnati (allows 6th most fantasy pts. to RBs). If he can thrash Cleveland, he should be able to do the same against the Bengals. He also has a decent schedule moving forward, with matchups against the Giants  (allows 2nd most fantasy pts. to RBs), Houston two times (allows 14th most fantasy pts. to RBs) and Tennessee (allows 7th most fantasy pts. to RBs). Grab him if you can. Even if you don’t think you have use for a player like Robinson. You will want to make sure your competitors don’t get their hands on him.

3. Josh Gordon (WR) – Cleveland Browns  (owned in only 34.5% of NFL.com leagues): I am not going to go on about Josh Gordon and tell you why you should grab him if he is available in your league. Gordon is expected back in the Cleveland Browns’ lineup Week 12. Consider this your weekly reminder to grab him if available. If you want more information on why, you can read why here (#5).

4. Anthony Dixon/Bryce Brown (RB) – Buffalo Bills  (owned in only ~10.1% of NFL.com leagues): The hope was that a game against the New York Jets would help clear the air and situation in the Buffalo Bills‘ backfield. Well, it didn’t. And we still remain nearly as confused about who is going to win the job than we did about a week ago. One thing we do know is Anthony Dixon appears to have the first crack at the job. He ran the ball 22 times for 44 yards against the Jets (allows 26th most fantasy pts. to RBs) and played the majority of the snaps over the other RB Bryce Brown. But I still worry about what Dixon will be able to accomplish down the road. Again, I talked about this last week,  Brown was brought in for a reason. He is the better talent between the two backs. Brown did only have 7 carries for 15 yards against the Jets, but you have to like his upside. Following Week 7 and the Bills contest against the Vikings, head coach (HC) Doug Marrone threw support behind Brown and Fred Jackson emphasized Brown is an “every down back”. No disrespect to Dixon, but I didn’t hear the same level of support coming from teammates and coaches on the team. I still would expect Brown to win the job down the line. C.J. Spiller is definitely out for the rest of the season, while Jackson timetable/situation has actually gotten much better. He hasn’t ruled himself out for a Week 10 return (which would be shocking given the nature of his injury). Jackson is ideally going to be back between Week 11, 12 or 13. This means Dixon and Brown will carry plenty of value until then. But I am still backing Brown long-term. Get either one if you can. There are worth stashing. Also have a look and see if Fred Jackson is available. He should be the lead back when he gets back from injury. The Bills have a bye this week so we won’t get further clarity on the Bills’ RB situation until Week 10. That being said, keep a close eye on the situation. It will be interesting to see if Brown’s role does grow as is expected amongst experts.

5. Odell Beckham Jr. (WR) – New York Giants  (owned in only 22.3% of NFL.com leagues): Another player who I have had on my list for FOUR weeks in a row. He currently holds the record and I am hopeful that he doesn’t return on this list. I understand why some might have had reservations to pick up Odell Beckham Jr. He did have a bye last week. But that is done, he will be in the lineup for the Giants this week and the rest of the way (pending an injury). And Victor Cruz still won’t be. The 2014 12th overall pick is now in a major role in the New York Giants’ offence. During his last game he played every snap on offence and was utilized all over the formation in OC Ben McAdoo‘s pass-friendly offence. He is quickly becoming one of Eli Manning‘s favourite targets. He is supremely talented and looks like a solid WR2/3 moving forward. He does have some tough match ups coming up against Indianapolis (allows 32nd most fantasy pts. to WRs) and Seattle (allows 25th most fantasy pts. to WRs). But the damage he inflicted in his last contest against the Dallas Cowboys, who ranked 31st in fantasy pts allowed to WRs. Not saying Beckham is matchup proof, but I am suggesting he appears talented enough to succeed in spite of them.  Grab him if he is still available and roster him now. You won’t regret it. I can assure.

6. Andrew Hawkins (WR) – Cleveland Browns  (owned in only 10.8% of NFL.com leagues): I might not be in love with his situation, but it is becoming difficult to question the legitimacy of Andrew Hawkins in fantasy football. He is undoubtedly the best option in the Browns’ passing game (besides Jordan Cameron). The problem for Cameron is his status for the next two games is in doubt because of a concussion. That leaves Brian Hoyer with one “real” or reliable option in the passing to throw to. Hawkins should what can happen when given the attention. He secured 7-of-9 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in the Browns’ Week 8 victory over the Raiders. Even with Cameron in the lineup the week before, he went off for for 122 yards on 5 catches (on 9 targets). The amounts of targets he has seen isn’t anything new. Over Cleveland’s first 7 games, Hawkins has easily led the team with 49 targets (on average 7 per game). He should continue to see looks from Hoyer. For that reason he has some value (especially in PPR leagues). My only major concern for Hawkins is the imminent return of Josh Gordon. To me, his value will immediately plummet upon the return of the Browns’ star WR Week 12. He does have great matchups still lined up down the road against Tampa Bay (allows 2nd most fantasy pts. to WRs), Houston (allows 6th most fantasy pts. to WRs), Atlanta (allows 11th most fantasy pts. to WRs), Carolina (allows 5th most fantasy pts. to WRs) and Baltimore (allows 8th most fantasy pts. to WRs). Tampa and Houston are games before Gordon comes back. And even there it is impossible to guarantee Gordon’s success upon his return (although we would like to given his pedigree, it isn’t necessarily a certainty). So I would stash Hawkins if you are in need of a WR. He represents a great flex option for the weeks ahead and a nice bye-replacement at the very least. Scoop him up if you can afford it.

7. Allen Robinson (WR) – Jacksonville Jaguars (owned in only 0.9% of NFL.com leagues): Again, another WR whose situation is hard to love (who is there to love in Jacksonville, honestly) but again Allen Robinson is making it difficult for fantasy owners not to take a flier on him and stash him. This past week, he caught 5-of-10 targets for 82 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins. His 48-yard score came in garbage time on a busted play. But that doesn’t matter. Call Robinson the “King of Garbage” time. He still manages to find ways to tally fantasy points. His role has grown since the first two weeks where he only saw a total of 50 snaps. That number grew Week 3, where he was on for 42-of-60 offensive snaps during the Jags’ game against the Colts. This increase in snaps also explains his increased usage.  Over the last 6 games, he has seen 54 targets (on average 9 targets per game).  He has caught at least 4 passes for 60 yards since Week 2. And over the weeks he has only gotten better. This is the second consecutive week he found the end zone. I would take a chance on him if you can. He has a ton of potential (some suggest at a WR2 level) but he remains a reliable WR3 option. Stash him if you can.

8. Heath Miller (TE) – Pittsburgh Steelers  (owned in only 17.5% of NFL.com leagues): Okay, I understand, every Steeler had quite the game on Sunday. Particularly the one they call “Big Ben”. But fantasy owners shouldn’t sleep on Heath Miller, especially if they are in need of a plug-and-play TE1. Currently ranked as the 11th highest scoring TE, Miller caught 7-of-8 targets for 112 yards and a touchdown this past weekend against the Colts. The problem with Miller is his inconsistency. Only 2 weeks out of 8 has he produced over 5.1 fantasy points in standard leagues. The bigger concern, however, is good TEs are hard to find in this league and for fantasy purposes. If you are in desperate need of a TE, he should be the first option you look for on your waiver wire given his availability in most leagues. I know he might not be the best TE, but it should speak volumes about the TE situation that he is currently near the top-10. Stash him if you can or pick him up if you need a new TE or a bye-week flier.

9. Tim Wright (TE) – New England Patriots  (owned in only 3.3% of NFL.com leagues): Has the second coming of Aaron Hernandez touchdown in New England? Not really, but you get the sense that Tim Wright is building into something special. It just might not come together right away or maybe this season. But I think there has been enough flashes to take a flier on him. Last week, Wright caught 7-of-7 targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in New England’s beat down of the Chicago Bears. The problem is the great performances he has had are few and far between. I still think he is worth the flier though if you can afford it and want to take a chance on a TE not named Heath Miller or Austin Seferian-Jenkins (who is also available in most leagues). He has room to grow in that offence (especially as he gains Belichick and Brady) and could become a bigger piece to compliment Rob Gronkowski.

10. Theo Riddick (RB) – Detroit Lions  (owned in only 0.3% of NFL.com leagues): After two weeks of success, it now becomes time to consider Detroit Lions‘ RB Theo Riddick as a viable fantasy option moving forward. Across the pond, in the United Kingdom, Riddick did most of his damage as a pass-catching back in the Lions’ offence (an offence similar to that of the New Orleans Saints because of OC Joe Lombardi‘s history with the Saints). He caught 8-of-12 targets for 74 yards and a touchdown this past week against the Atlanta Falcons. This followed a Week 6 performance that saw him catch 5 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Now, yes, both were arguably because of the absence of Reggie Bush, who has been out with an ankle injury. It is difficult to know what Bush’s status will be Week 10 (the Lions have a bye week during this week, Week 9). But should he be unable to go, expect Riddick to continue playing in a “Sproles-like” role in the Lions’ offence. Moreover, his performance appears to have been enough to impress the Lions’ brass. They have emphasized that they plan on using both Riddick and Bush going forward. I’ll wait on that promise. But if you know anything about the Saints, they have a history of using three-back committees (last year they had Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram). So don’t be surprised if Joe Lombardi applies the same principle with his new team, the Detroit Lions. For that reason, I would take a chance on Theo Riddick.  Who knows, he might just be the next Darren Sproles.

Scanning the Waiver Wire Following Week 7

Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Week 7 is through. With a few injuries to report (especially in Buffalo), a major trade that included the reigning Super Bowl Champs and players whose stocks are rising (including one in Cleveland you should check on), there is plenty on the waiver wire for fantasy owners to exploit.

Once again, as per usual, I have ranked the players in their order of priority. Those at the top I believe are worth investing in before anyone else because they appear to have a better chance at long-term success. While those players found lower are still worth taking a chance on given their chance at short-term success and potential down the road. It should go without saying that you should only add these players if you should have the space or dead weight on your roster.

1. Doug Baldwin (WR) – Seattle Seahawks (owned in only 30.9% of NFL.com leagues): Move aside Percy Harvin. The headaches/migraines that you have not only bestowed upon yourself and the Seattle Seahawks, but fantasy owners, has grown tired. And now, you are gone.

The Seahawks have shipped Harvin to the New York Jets.

Stepping in to replace him is Doug Baldwin. Baldwin has been on “the up and up” in Seattle since this summer, when he not only signed a three-year $13 million contract, but he also saw his role grow (especially because of the departure of Golden Tate). This type of move and the Harvin trade should highlight one particular fact: the confidence the Seahawks’ organization has in Doug Baldwin. Given the opportunity, Baldwin made sure not to disappoint in his new gig. Baldwin carved up the St. Louis Rams‘ secondary this weekend, catching 7-of-11 targets for 123 yards and one TD. Safe to say, he was easily Russell Wilson‘s favourite target as the new clear number one receiver. That should not come as a surprise when you look at the other WRs on the Seahawks’ depth chart, which include Jermaine Kearse, Ricardo Lockette and Brian Walters. Baldwin is the guy. Wilson appears to continue to grow as a QB and will need to rely heavily on Baldwin moving forward. I would scoop up this guy now if you can. If his stock has already skyrocketed, it will continue to rise over the next few weeks.

2. Jerick McKinnon (RB) – Minnesota Vikings (owned in 14.0% of NFL.com leagues): Not sure why the message didn’t get through the first time for some. But let me repeat. Jerick McKinnon must be owned in all formats of fantasy football. Last week I highlighted that McKinnon is a special breed of athlete, so much so that he is often called a “freak”. He has stepped in for the missing Adrian Peterson (who is likely gone for the entire season) and has easily surpassed Matt Asiata as the lead back in Minnesota. After out-snapping Asiata 45-17 in Week 6, he out-touched Asiata 21-7 this past weekend against the Buffalo Bills. And this came despite a cry from Vikings Head Coach (HC) Mike Zimmer to give Asiata a bigger role in Week 7. It did not happen. It won’t likely happen (unfortunately nothing is certain in the NFL or in sports). McKinnon ran 19 times for 103 yards against the Buffalo Bills this weekend. The Bills are the 4th ranked rush defense in the NFL (allow 80.4 yes/game). If that wasn’t impressive enough, last week he managed to carry the ball 11 times for 40 yards (avg. 3.63 yards per carry) and catch 6 passes for 42 yards against arguably the best defence in the league, the Detroit Lions (#1 in Total Defence, #2 in Rushing and #7 in Passing). He also met the ridiculously high standard set by Zimmer when asked to get 3 yds after contact per rush against Buffalo. He netted 57 yards after contact on his 19 carries (exactly 3.0 yds after contact per carry). Another amazing stat. This kid has become a borderline RB2. If he is still available, with all the conviction in the world, I plead to you to grab him. You won’t see me do that again. He shouldn’t be on this list after next week. So don’t miss out.

3. Bryce Brown/Anthony Dixon (RBs) – Buffalo Bills (both are owned in only 0.1% of NFL.com leagues): What a roller coaster ride it must have been to be a Buffalo Bills’ fan this weekend. You get the win in dramatic fashion. With one second left. But you lose not one, but two starting RBs. But not to fret Bills’ fans. Here comes the calvary. Bryce Brown and Anthony Dixon are both about to be relied upon to step up and fill the shoes of Fred Jackson (gone for the season) and C.J. Spiller (who is likely out until Week 16 with a broken collarbone). The biggest question is what back do you invest in? Well, that is the million dollar question and one that is quite difficult to answer. Back the wrong horse and you could miss out on a great opportunity.

But I personally like Brown over Dixon, and the Bills seem to agree with that notion. Following Sunday’s game, Bills HC Doug Marrone immediately threw support behind Brown and said he had “no problem bringing him up”. Many believe he was brought in the offseason for this very reason. Brown was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional 4th round pick because Bills’ general manager Doug Whaley believed Brown could be a star. With Jackson arguably on his last legs at 34 years of age and Spiller likely on his way out after this season (amidst all the speculation), Brown has been seen as the future. He played great during the preseason, rushing the ball 34 times for 152 yards (averaged 4.5 yds per carry) while adding 8 catches for 68 yards. That is much better than Dixon, who totalled 151 yards (69 less than Brown) and averaged nearly a yard less per carry. If that wasn’t enough, Jackson (one of the team’s captains) also said Brown is “an every-down back”. So that is the horse I am backing. It is worth highlighting that Dixon has mentioned this week that “this is the opportunity he has been waiting for” and is under the impression he will get the start. It remains a fluid situation. But Brown is arguably the better back, as he is the more versatile, explosive and talented back. I would grab Brown first. If you can’t get him, Dixon is worth rostering in case. Either way this is a situation worth keeping a close eye over the next few weeks. But I would grab one now so you don’t miss out on their production moving forward.

4. Ronnie Hillman (RB) – Denver Broncos (owned in only 36.7% of NFL.com leagues): Again, another RB who has no business on this list anymore because he should have been grabbed already. Yet somehow he remains available in 63.3% of NFL.com leagues. Again. One last time. Peyton Manning‘s offences = huge gaping holes for RBs to run through. Hillman has made the most of his opportunity as the lead back in Denver. He carried the ball 14 times for 74 yards and two TDs against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night. Montee Ball isn’t expected to play again this week, which means Hillman continues to hold a monopoly in the Broncos’ backfield. Even when Ball comes back, the Denver Post‘s Mike Klis has suggested that Ball’s groin injury “will make it difficult for him to regain his featured back role this year”. The statement isn’t particularly all that surprising given the success Hillman has had in Ball’s absence and Ball’s poor play over the course of the games that he has played in. Hillman will undoubtedly be an RB2 this week on Thursday Night against the Chargers. But there is the possibility that he becomes a weekly starter if he keeps up the success that he is having.

5. Josh Gordon (WR) – Cleveland Browns (owned in only 32.3% of NFL.com leagues): It’s almost that time Cleveland Browns‘ fans and fantasy football fans. And although I would have made this recommendation every week. I am putting this in before the hype starts to build. Gordon was initially suspended by the league for the entire 2014 season and had his appeal fail. That meant he went widely undrafted in many leagues. And although some might have picked him up upon hearing of his imminent return Week 12, there are some that likely dropped him because of bye week dilemmas or injuries. So go check to see if he is free. Gordon was the #2 WR in fantasy football in 2013 – he accomplished this feat in spite of the fact he missed 2 games because of a suspension. Don’t be the one who misses out on his return in 2014, he will be a stud. 

6. Odell Beckham Jr. (WR) – Jacksonville Jaguars (owned in only 14.9% of NFL.com leagues): Again, another player who is widely not owned who should be. Odell Beckham Jr. cracked the list the last three weeks and for good reason. The 2014 12th overall pick is now in a major role in the New York Giants’ offence. With Victor Cruz sidelined for the season, in stepped Beckham and in a big way against the Dallas Cowboys this weekend. Beckham caught 4 passes for 34 yards and 2 TDs. He played every snap on offence and was utilized all over the formation in OC Ben McAdoo‘s pass-friendly offence. He is quickly becoming one of Eli Manning‘s favourite targets. He is supremely talented and looks like a solid WR2/3 moving forward. He does have some tough match ups coming up against Indianapolis (allows 32nd most fantasy pts. to WRs) and Seattle (allows 25th most fantasy pts. to WRs). But the damage he did this weekend happened to be against the Dallas Cowboys, who ranked 31st in fantasy pts allowed to WRs. Not saying Beckham is matchup proof, but I am suggesting he appears talented enough to succeed in spite of them.  Grab him if he is still available and roster him.

7. Tre Mason (RB) – St. Louis Rams (owned in only 1.5% of NFL.com leagues): Welcome to the St. Louis Rams RB carousel of 2014. A true hot hand approach is being taken in St.Louis and the current leader of the pack is 2014 3rd round pick Tre Mason. There is no doubt that the Auburn product is talented. He is a patient, physical, down-hill runner. But the expectation was that he would not push either Zac Stacy or Benny Cunningham for the starting job. Mason wasn’t asked to protect the quarterback at Auburn and he also came from a spread-offense. Thus, there was skepticism about how much the rookie could accomplish in pass-protection and in learning a pro-style offence over the summer in preparation for the 2014 season. But clearly he has done enough in the eyes of Rams HC Jeff Fisher and OC Brian Shottenheimer to earn the starting job in St. Louis for the time being. Mason made his debut in the Rams’ Monday Night tilt against the 49ers in Week 7, rushing for 40 yards on 5 carries (8 yds per carry) and adding one catch for 15 yards. That was enough for the Rams to start him the week after, where again he was equally impressive against a tough team in the Seattle Seahawks. Against the 6th ranked rush D, Mason mustered 85 yards and one TD on 18 carries (4.7 yes per carry). He did only play 27-of-51 snaps in Sunday’s win because he is “a zero in the passing game”. This should come as no surprise given the liability he could potentially be in pass blocking situations. However, those 27 snaps were more than any other Rams’ RB. Cunningham played 19 snaps and Stacy only got one. Thus, Mason is without a doubt the guy for now…”for now” being the operative words here. I would worry about Mason holding on to the job in St. Louis. If he has one slip up or bad performance, he could get the hook from Fisher and Shottenheimer in favour of Cunningham or Stacy. But he also has the potential to be at the very least a “season-long” solution for the Rams at RB. For that reason, because of his potential, you should go out and roster Mason if you have the space.

8. Denard Robinson (RB) – Jacksonville Jaguars (owned in only 0.4% of NFL.com leagues): Believe it or not, but once upon a time Denard Robinson was a quarterback at the University of Michigan. He was often in the Heisman discussion throughout his career. But it wasn’t because he could throw the ball, it was more about his talent running the ball. Robinson set the single-season Division 1 FBS record for rushing yards by a quarterback as a sophomore. He is now applying that skill-set in the NFL no longer as quarterback, but as a running back. And the experiment, which has been building up since he got drafted in the 5th round last season, seems to have come together. If at least for a week. Last week against the Cleveland Browns, Denard “Shoelace” Robinson ran the ball 22 times for 127 yards and a TD. He looked like the explosive player we had come to know in college, moving the chains with explosive runs. He also definitely seems to have grabbed a hold of the RB situation in Jacksonville for the time being. He out touched RB Storm Johnson 22-6, and Jordan Todman only saw one. With Toby Gerhart on the shelf (out with a sprained foot) and doubtful to start again, Robinson is poised to start this week. Whether he can replicate Sunday’s performance will be the big question. My concern is that he has never been seen by scouts/analysts as an every-down back, so count me as skeptical of his potential moving forward. That being said he should be a workhorse next week in a tough matchup against Miami (allows 26th most fantasy pts. to RBs). I would pick him up if you are needy for an RB and can’t get any of the RBs listed above. Who knows, you might just get lucky with this guy.

9. Brandon LeFell (WR) – New England Patriots (owned in only 12.0% of NFL.com leagues): Although last week was a bit of a down week for Brandon LaFell, he does seem to be growing into an important role with the New England Patriots. Against the New York Jets, caught 4-of-5 targets for 55 yards, which might seem like a small stat line, but people should think about how far LaFell has come along since the beginning of the season. Following Week 2, LaFell said he was “frustrated as hell” with his role in the Patriots’ offence. He had been called to block on 37-of-77 snaps and emphasized that all he wanted to do was “catch passes like every other guy here”. Well, someone was listening in New England, as LaFell went on to post 19 catches for 339 yards and 3 TDs over the next 5 games. He still appears to be behind Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski in the passing game (not surprisingly) but he also seems to have finally developed a rapport with Tom Brady. He is seeing the field much more and should remain the vertical option in the offence. I would take a flier on him if you can afford it. I wouldn’t go on expecting consistent production but he could very well grow into something bigger (much like Deion Branch did way back when in New England).

10. Indianapolis Colts’ Defence (D/ST) – (owned in only 12.2% of NFL.com leagues): Last but not least, a defence that appears widely available that shouldn’t be. The Indianapolis Colts are looking scary good. And I am not only referring to what Andrew Luck and the offence is doing. The Colts’ D is currently ranked 4th in standard fantasy football leagues. They are coming off an impressive shutout of the Cincinnati Bengals and have really caught the league by surprise. One player that hasn’t though is cornerback Vontae Davis, who is a legitimate shutdown corner. Coming into the week, quarterbacks had completed only 40% of passes thrown in his direction and a passer rating of 12.3. That is scary good. The defence has generated a total of 12 turnovers (6 INTs and 6 Fumble Recoveries) over the first 7 weeks and there is no reason why we shouldn’t expect more. It also helps that the Colts have match ups against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans following their Week 10 bye. Perfect for playoff time. So I don’t care if you are in a 10-, 12- or even 6-team league, I guarantee (minus a few exceptions like Detroit) that this defence is better than the one you own. So pick them up. Now.

Scanning the Waiver Wire Following Week 6

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Entering the halfway point of the NFL Fantasy Regular Season, the window of opportunity to bring your team out of the gutter as you attempt to either grab or hold a playoff spot is closing. The good news is with some of the injuries this week and the rise of some players’ stock, there are many players that you can grab off the waiver wire that could help change your fortunes. So have a look below. As always I have ranked the players in their order of priority. Those at the top I believe are worth investing in before anyone else because they appear to have a better chance at long-term success. While those players found lower are still worth taking a chance on given their chance at short-term success and potential down the road. It should go without saying that you should only add these players if you should have the space or dead weight on your roster.

1. Jerick McKinnon (RB) – Minnesota Vikings (owned in 4.8% of NFL.com leagues): Prior to the season, there was no reason to even think about rostering the 3rd round rookie, Jerick McKinnon from Georgia Southern. Hell, even a few weeks ago Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer didn’t believe McKinnon would be an every-down back until next season. But after being presented the opportunity, McKinnon is making sure he convinces his coach otherwise. McKinnon not only out snapped Matt Asiata 48-15 this weekend, but he managed to carry the ball 11 times for 40 yards (avg. 3.63 yards per carry) and caught 6 passes for 42 yards against arguably the best defence in the league, the Detroit Lions (#1 in Total Defence, #2 in Rushing and #2 in Passing). Safe to say the kid was impressive especially when you consider the matchup. Moreover, there is a lot like about the 22-year old. He is easily one of the most athletic players in the NFL: his combined speed, lower-body explosiveness and upper-body strength are truly unique to any other RB in the NFL. This helps to give McKinnon a high-ceiling in terms of fantasy purposes. He does have a difficult matchup coming up in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills, but after that things really do open up with games against Tampa (allows 7th most fantasy pts to RBs), Green Bay (allows 11th most fantasy pts to RBs) and Carolina (allows 2nd most fantasy pts. to RBs). It also helps that Adrian Peterson is highly likely not to return this season due to his legal troubles (his trial date is still set for Dec. 1st). Thus, McKinnon is a great option. Should he be available, make sure you don’t miss the chance to scoop him up. It might be just what you need to help turn around your season.

2. Odell Beckham Jr. (WR) – New York Giants (owned in 11.5% of NFL.com leagues): He might not have wowed you this week with his performance, mind you no New York Giant did, but there is a lot to like about Odell Beckham Jr. in the weeks’ ahead. Much of it is because an injury to superstar Victor Cruz on Sunday Night. With Cruz being sidelined, Beckham now becomes the starting WR across from Rueben Randle. Despite being held to only 2 catches for 28 yards this weekend against Philadelphia, people shouldn’t forget that he posted 4 catches (on 5 targets) for 44 yards and a touchdown while only playing 50% of the snaps the week before against the Atlanta Falcons. Moreover, there was a belief (prior to Cruz going down) that Beckham could become one of Eli Manning‘s favourite targets. This is now far more likely with Beckham’s opportunity to start on a weekly basis. In addition, there is no dying that Beckham is a talented receiver playing in a pass-friendly offence (as I discussed in much detail last week). My only major concern for Beckham would be his consistency moving forward. Cruz has only managed to score one TD so far in his 6 starts and only topped 100 yards receiving in only 2 of those games. The same could happen to Beckham as he now slides into Cruz’s role. That being said, Beckham is still worth the risk given his talent and the boost in targets he is bound to see in his new gig. So pick him up if you can, Beckham has a high-ceiling and worth a roster spot in your lineup.

3. Malcom Floyd (WR) – San Diego Chargers (owned in 6.7% of NFL.com leagues): Head Coach Mike McCoy has been a revelation for many in San Diego, as players such as Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews have seen their careers rejuvenated under the offensive-minded coach. But unfortunately for Malcom Floyd he didn’t get to reap the benefits immediately like Rivers and Mathews did last season. Floyd suffered a scary neck injury during Week 2 of 2013, which not only ended his season then and there, but it also put his career in jeopardy. Thankfully Floyd was able to recover and be cleared medically to play in May. And oh boy has he made the most of it since. Over the summer, Floyd was easily one of the best players at Chargers’ camp and was even named it’s MVP (this even includes OTAs and mini-camp in May). It certainly helped that he was Rivers’ most consistent target (and arguably his favourite target) over the course of training camp and preseason, but still Floyd flew under the radar for obvious reasons: the skepticism about his health and the emergence of Keenan Allen. But both of these concerns are things of the past. Floyd put together quite a performance this weekend against Oakland, catching 5 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown (his 3rd on the season). Now it was the 1st time this season he did crack 100 yards receiving, but given the decline in the play of Allen, you have to like Floyd’s chances of having continued success with Rivers (especially since the two players have had chemistry together for a long time given that both players have played together for their entire careers). My only concern for Floyd moving forward is consistency. It still remains hard to trust him unless the matchup is good (like it was this weekend against Oakland). Still, he remains a player worth rostering if you can afford it. As he could become a real surprise this year and put together top-30 or top-40 like numbers. Add him if you have the space.

4. Antone Smith (RB) – Atlanta Falcons (owned in 18.8% of NFL.com leagues): Take it to the bank. I guarantee it. Antone Smith will score another touchdown this week. Okay…maybe I shall retract that given the claim might be a bit bold for a second-string running back who only seems to get about 4 touches a game. But the dude scores every week. And we aren’t talking about chump change here. Each of his 5 TDs (in 6 games) have come from at least 39 yards out (equating to about a minimum of 10 fantasy points per score). Safe to say the kid is explosive and quite the playmaker. The problem remains his usage. For a guy who seems to thrive in that Falcons’ offence, he has only seen about 4 touches per game (he has seen 23 touches TOTAL all season in 6 games). To give you an idea of how small that is, Cowboys‘ RB DeMarco Murray saw 37 touches this weekend alone. To make matters worst, his 6 touches this week came after head coach Mike Smith specified Smith deserved more touches. Yes, the 6 touches were a whopping 2 more than his average (so Smith hypothetically made good on that promise) but it still remains an incredibly low number for a player well-deserving of more. Either way, Smith should be owned in all 12-man and 14-man leagues. He is the clear #2 behind Steven Jackson, who always remains an injury-risk. Thus make sure you stash Smith if you have room on your roster, given that he seems like a safe bet for a score per week and still has the potential to start should Jackson go down.

5. Ronnie Hillman (RB) – Denver Broncos (owned in 22.2% of NFL.com leagues): For good reason, Denver Broncos’ RB Ronnie Hillman saw a 22% boost in ownership over the course of the week. He is now the proud owner of a monopoly in the Broncos’ backfield, which is a particularly good thing to have ownership of as a RB (any Peyton Manning offence = gaping holes to run through). As I highlighted last week, Hillman has been given the opportunity to start thanks to an injury to Montee Ball. And boy did he ever make the most of it. Despite facing a tough matchup against the New York Jets (allows the 26th most fantasy pts to RBs), Hillman rushed the ball 24 times for 100 yards and added 3 receptions for an additional 16 yards. It was also easily the most productive rushing performance by any Bronco all season (Ball rushed for a season-high 67 yards Week 1 vs. Indianapolis), which is worth highlighting because there remains a chance Hillman be used more frequently even upon Ball’s return. Now this still remains a bit of a stretch but a possibility nonetheless. Ball has been particularly ineffective when in the lineup and healthy. Should Hillman continue to show success (minus mistakes that he has been known for like his 3rd quarter fumble this past weekend), there is no reason to think why he might not earn himself more of a role in that offence. Either way, for the time being, Ball is expected to sit out until Week 8 – a Thursday Night game against the San Diego Chargers. Thus, given the early game Week 8, it is quite possible that Ball doesn’t even hit the field until Week 9. That means there is still another couple weeks for fantasy owners to reap the benefits of the current situation in Denver. Pick up Hillman again if you can afford the roster spot. Despite not possesing the physical attributes of an every-down back (lacks size and power), he is in a great situation playing with Peyton Manning and should continue to produce at an RB2 level.

6. Andre Holmes (WR) – Oakland Raiders (owned in 0.2% of NFL.com leagues): There is no doubt that it is hard to trust any Oakland Raiders player from a fantasy perspective. And to be honest it has been like that for a while now. But in spite of the label, this year has a bit different thanks to players like James Jones and Andre Holmes. Holmes in particular has been a surprise over the last few weeks. Jones was one of the more flashy acquisitions for the Raiders’ offence this offseason, but Holmes did carry some buzz over the offseason because of his combined speed and size. He was even listed ahead of Jones on the depth chart over the summer, but that obviously changed given Jones’ skill and pedigree. What has enabled Holmes’ current success has been the opportunity that he has been given thanks to an injury to Rod Streater. With the additional playing time, Holmes has showcased his skill set. Over that 2-game stretch in the new role, he has caught 9 passes for 195 yards and 3 TDs. He has led all Oakland WRs in targets with 20 and this past weekend, he also saw more snaps than any other Raiders’ WR. This suggests that Holmes is growing into a bigger role in Oakland and believe it or not, but it should be fantasy relevant. Obviously the concern with Holmes will be consistency, but given that the Raiders are expected to be playing behind in most games, Holmes should be a safe bet to score some serious points in garbage time. Take a chance on him if you can afford it.

7. Carson Palmer (QB) – Arizona Cardinals (owned in 10.0% of NFL.com leagues): Count as one of the skeptics when it came to Carson Palmer‘s return to the Cardinals’ lineup this weekend. With all the reports concerned about his shoulder and nervier regeneration, the 34-year-old came out blazing and throwing the football without any glaring concern about his arm strength. Palmer finished 28-of-44 for 250 yards and 2 TDs. He kept the offence moving, making the necessary intermediate throws and those along the boundaries. Now the team seems to still think that he is at about 80% right now, but that didn’t stop them from using his arm 44 times in last week’s contest. Consequently I wouldn’t expect the Cardinals to shy away from using Palmer moving forward. Moreover, Palmer has got some great match ups coming up against Oakland (allows 17th most fantasy pts. to QBs), Philadelphia (allows 4th most fantasy pts. to QBs) and St.Louis (allows 9th most fantasy pts. to QBs). If you are in desperate need of a QB, Palmer should do you good, as he should flirt with QB1-like numbers over the next 4 weeks.

8. Storm Johnson (RB) – Jacksonville Jaguars (owned in 1.3% of NFL.com leagues): Despite being relatively unknown to most, RB Storm Johnson might be someone you might want to become familiar with sooner rather than later. Last week I highlighted how Johnson was on the rise in Jacksonville, a discussion that only seemed to grow bigger as the Sunday Kickoffs grew nearer. Early on Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Caplan reported that the Jaguars had been high on Johnson for a while, wanting to move him up ahead of Toby Gerhart for weeks but couldn’t because of Johnson’s lingering ankle injury. This was then followed by an announcement that Johnson would start ahead of Denard Robinson and Jordan Todman against the Titans (Gerhart is currently out with a sprained foot). Safe to say there was plenty of hype building for a player who only saw 8 snaps the week before. Unfortunately though, Johnson’s performance on Sunday didn’t meet what maybe some were hoping for. He ran the ball only 10 times (only once in the second half) for 21 yards and a TD.

Now that isn’t to say all is lost. Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch relied on plenty of screen passes in the second half and elected to do without the running game. Moreover, head coach Gus Bradley emphasized that their intent was to only give Johnson 10 carries. This would explain the lack of production and touches from Johnson, especially after he was labelled the starter. For all that this still doesn’t absolve Johnson of concerns going forward. Gerhart could still keep his starting gig if Johnson doesn’t show something that inspires the coaches to start him instead. Johnson’s usage also has to be a concern given that despite the report that the Jaguars were high on Johnson, he was barely used against the Titans. Hopefully the same won’t be repeated when Jacksonville faces off against Cleveland. It will likely be impossible to be sure of anything given the fluidity of the situation right now. But I would take a chance on Johnson, if you can afford to take a flier on him, who knows you might just get lucky.

9. Mohamed Sanu (WR) – Cincinnati Bengals (owned in 33.5% of NFL.com leagues): No A.J. Green in Cincinnati. No problem. Due to a toe injury (that doesn’t appear to be too serious) Green was forced to sit out on Sunday. That opened up the door for Mohamed Sanu to step up and he made sure to take advantage of it. In Green’s absence this week, Sanu caught 11 passes (from a whopping 15 targets) for 120 yards and a TD against Carolina (collecting 18 fantasy pts in the process – good enough for the 6th best WR total of the week). More of this should be expected in Green’s absence, as Sanu then remains the #1 option in the Bengals’ passing game. It also helps that other talented Bengal pass-catchers such as Marvin Jones (ankle) and Tyler Eifert (elbow) remain sidelined with their own respective injuries. Either way the opportunity should be there again this week against the Colts. Green is expected to be out again, which should mean plenty of targets in Sanu’s direction again this week. It is worth noting that this matchup is favourable for Sanu as he will likely see plenty of Vontae Davis (the Colts’ rank 26th in fantasy pts. allowed to WRs, while the passer rating of QBs who target Davis is 12.3). Thus I would avoid starting Sanu this week despite his favourable situation, but he is still worth rostering. Although Green is likely to return soon, thereby hurting Sanu’s fantasy stock, Sanu remains a great add if you can get him because he can still represent a great matchup based start with Green in the lineup. He has put up some great numbers in Green’s presence and should continue to do so over the course of the season (he currently sits 13th overall amongst all WRs this season in fantasy points).

10. Matt Prater (K) – Detroit Lions (owned in 30.7% of NFL.com leagues): To make this short and sweet: Matt Prater is a Pro Bowl kicker who was released from the Broncos after they decided to stick with Brandon McManus, who had been filling in for Prater while he was suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. That meant a team needy for a kicker (Hello Detroit) scooped him up pretty quickly. And although his first week with the Lions didn’t go as planned (he was 1-of-3) but he did manage to make a 52-yarder. I would chalk it up to rust. Prater was arguably the NFL’s best kicker last season, going 25-of-26 on field goals. He also remains a lifetime 21-of-27 from 50 yards or more. With the Lions playing indoors this week at Ford Field, fantasy owners should expect a better day from a quality kicker like Prater. If you can get him I would scoop him up. Prater was the #2 kicker in fantasy football last season, and there is no reason to think why he won’t regain that form this season with Detroit. I know you might not want to waste your time worrying about a kicker but they do come in handy when you need them. Plus hey, kickers are people too.

Scanning the Waiver Wire Following Week 5

Credit: Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Week 5 is officially in the books and as the weeks have gone on, some of the best players worth grabbing that went undrafted are gone. That being said there are still many players worth putting a waiver claim in for, especially if you have a need because of an injury or due to players’ bye weeks.

Below I have ranked the players in their order of priority. Those at the top I believe are worth investing in before anyone else because they appear to have a better chance at long-term success. While those players found lower are still worth taking a chance on given their chance at short-term success and potential down the road. It should go without saying that you should only add these players if you should have the space or dead weight on your roster.

1. Andre Williams (RB) – New York Giants (owned in 37.5% of NFL.com leagues): Over the course of the summer, there was a lot to like about Andre Williams in New York. It seemed like he was going to be the bell cow in the red zone and to help his cause, Williams put together a quality preseason (38 rushes for 195 yards and 2 TDs). But unfortunately prior to Week 1, the Giants reportedly felt the rookie out of Boston College was too raw and decided to rely heavily on the newly-acquired Rashad Jennings instead. Well, 5 weeks later and circumstances have changed. Jennings is out with a sprained MCL and is fully expected to miss Week 6 (and possibly more). That means Williams is in. And he should excel in that role. Last week in Jennings’ absence, Williams totalled 83 yards and notched a TD against the Atlanta Falcons; and given his success in the preseason he has the potential to flirt with RB1 like numbers (as he should be given a heavy workload in Jennings’ absence). With match-ups coming up against the Eagles and Cowboys over the next few weeks, there is a lot to like about Williams chances of having a couple of big games. Plus should he play week enough, he could very well earn himself an opportunity for more touches in a Giants’ offence that ranks 8th in scoring (26.6 pts/game).

2. Brian Quick (WR) – St. Louis Rams (owned in 25.5% of NFL.com leagues): He might be available in your league. But he really shouldn’t. And if he is, you need to go out and get him. Yes, Brian Quick plays for the Rams. I know that might be a concern for some of you. It shouldn’t. In standard leagues, Quick has more points than Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall and A.J. Green. And this is in spite of the fact that Quick has been on bye week. Let that sink in for a second. Now go put the waiver claim in for Quick if you haven’t. His production hasn’t wavered despite the changes at QB (no Bradford, no problem) and the fact that third-stringer Austin Davis has been throwing him the rock. It won’t change. Don’t miss out on the chance to have him if he is still available in your league.

3. Ronnie Hillman (RB) – Denver Broncos (owned in 1.3% of NFL.com leagues): Ronnie Hillman was a popular choice in fantasy last season as a potential sleeper. But sadly that never came to fruition, as Knowshon Moreno took the reigns of the Broncos backfield and Montee Ball was anointed its future.

But a door has opened for Hillman in 2014. Ball has struggled so far this season and to make matters worst, he is expected to be out 2-3 weeks because of a groin injury suffered this weekend. That’s good news for Hillman though, as he is expected to move into the lead role in Ball’s absence. Hillman came off the bench last week in Arizona, carrying the ball 15 times for 64 yards. Don’t get me wrong, Hillman is probably best-served as a change-of-pace back. He isn’t a prototypical feature back given that he lacks power, but he is reliable in the passing game which is an essential component for any RB in Denver. Just ask Knowshon Moreno. Either way, I would expect Hillman to produce at an RB1/2 level in Ball’s absence. When you are working with Peyton Manning as your QB, let’s just say the running lanes are bigger than usual, and that should be no different with Hillman taking most of the snaps at RB. If you need a back over the next few weeks he is certainly worth taking a chance on.  Plus should he excel, he could see a growth in his role; as Ball has struggled on the field, and to stay on it.

4. Branden Oliver (RB) – San Diego Chargers (owned in 0.4% of NFL.com leagues): No one likely caught the league more by surprise this weekend than undrafted rookie Branden Oliver, as he totalled 182 yards and 2 TDs and finished with the 3rd highest total in fantasy football this week (32.20 fantasy points). Now I wouldn’t go on expecting that kind of production again. But he does have another great matchup this week lined up against the Oakland Raiders. The only question mark surrounding Oliver’s upcoming potential this week will be the status of Donald Brown. Brown was diagnosed with a concussion and is hoping to be cleared this week. Should that happen, Brown could eat into Oliver’s touches this week. That being said, Oliver should still likely see the majority of the touches in the offence. He has earned that right after this week. Plus Brown has struggled this season, averaging a mere 2.1 yards per carry. So expect the Chargers to stick with plenty of Oliver in the foreseeable future. Though fantasy owners hopeful that Oliver could be a long-term option should temper expectations. Ryan Mathews is likely to only remain on the sidelines for another week or two because of a sprained MCL, and when he gets back, he will be the lead back. Thus, get Oliver if you can (especially for this week vs. Oakland), just don’t expect this kind of production to continue over the course of the entire season.

5. Dwayne Allen (TE) – Indianapolis Colts (owned in 31.0% of NFL.com leagues): Another player who similar to Quick has been on everyone’s waiver wire list for weeks is Dwayne Allen. And yet for some reason, he is still remains widely available in most leagues (in 69% of NFL.com leagues). Allen is currently the #9 tight-end in fantasy football and on the team with the most prolific offence (1st in scoring with 31.2 pts/game and 1st in passing averaging 321.8yds/game) and one of the game’s best QBs in Andrew Luck. Despite a low number of targets (about 3-6 targets per game), he does seem to score all the time: tallying a TD in 4 of the Colts’ first 5 games (the exception being against Philadelphia). The targets not being there remain a concern, but the fact that he remains a favourite red-zone target of Luck’s is something to like and worth investing in. If you have a need at TE or need some depth on your roster, I would pick up Allen.

6. Justin Hunter (WR) – Tennessee Titans (owned in 46.6% of NFL.com leagues): Another player who came into the season with a lot of hype and the proverbial sleeper tag was Justin Hunter. But like many kids in the league, Hunter has been trying to come into his own. Well things seem to finally be shaping up in Tennessee, as a changing-of-the-guard seems to be happening at the wide receiver position. A report from Adam Caplan, prior to the Titans’ Week 5 matchup vs. Cleveland, suggested Hunter would replace Nate Washington as the X-receiver in the Titans’ offence. The new role translated nicely for Hunter, as he caught 3 catches on 5 targets for 99 yards and a TD this weekend in his new gig. Those concerned that the report wasn’t accurate should know that Hunter led all Titans WRs in snaps (for a reason) — playing 68-of-70 snaps. That’s more than both Kendall Wright (57 snaps) and Nate Washington (48 snaps). Thus, given the expanded duties for Hunter and his promising talents, bigger days should be ahead for the young WR from the University of Tennessee. So don’t miss out on him if he is available. Make sure you put in a waiver claim if you have the space.

7. Antone Smith (RB) – Atlanta Falcons (owned in 4.9% of NFL.com leagues): Earlier on Monday, Atlanta Falcons‘ head coach Mike Smith spoke candidly to the media. He specified that running back Antone Smith deserved more touches. You think Mike? All Smith has done is average 16.3 yards on the mere 17 touches he has gotten, while scoring 4 TDs (that’s 1 TD for about every 4 touches). That’s amazing. Now despite his success, fantasy owners should temper expectations. It will be hard to know how many more touches that will translate too. I think everyone can see that Smith is the more explosive (and better option) over current RB Steven Jackson. He has also undoutedly beaten out Devonta Freeman for the #2 job behind Jackson. But what that will mean is the big question. I would stash Smith if you can. With room to grow, he could very well become the #1 RB in Atlanta. Jackson is also known for being injury prone. Should he get hurt, Smith could become a great option. Grab him if you can and stash him on your roster.

8. San Diego Defense (D/ST) – (owned in 29.3% of NFL.com leagues): I don’t often include defences, but it is becoming difficult to dispute or look past the success that the San Diego Chargers‘ defence is having. Coming off their shutout of the New York Jets this past weekend, the Chargers currently sit 5th in fantasy football amongst defences/special teams. This has been a surprise to say the least. But the addition of Brandon Flowers at CB and the rejuvenation of Dwight Freeney have helped propel this defence to new limits. They currently remain widely available in many leagues for some reason. They got another juicy matchup this week as they face off against the Oakland Raiders. Don’t miss out the chance to take advantage of this matchup. Moreover, the Chargers’ D could become a play every week. They have that potential. So I guarantee they are likely better than your D, make some room for them on your roster, they are well worth the waiver claim.

9. Odell Beckham Jr. (WR) – New York (owned in 3.0% of NFL.com leagues): New York Giants’ fans have been waiting. But it was well worth the wait. Wide receiver Odell Beckham made his NFL debut on Sunday against the Falcons, catching four passes on five targets for 44 yards and a TD. That was enough for head coach Tom Coughlin to see. Coughlin has identified that they will “push Beckham along further” now that he appears passed his hamstring issue. This should mean a bigger role for Beckham going forward. He did only play 50 percent of the snaps against the Falcons. but this was likely because they were monitoring his snaps to prevent any setback. He does have two favourable match ups coming up against the Eagles and Cowboys over the next two weeks. That being said, fantasy owners should proceed with caution. With Rueben Randle and Victor Cruz set as the top-2 options in the Giants’ passing game, Beckham will likely battle with tight-end Larry Donnell for targets. Beckham is talented, there is no doubt about it, but the rookie might be difficult to rely on a weekly basis. The Giants seem to be thriving in their new pass-friendly offence under the new OC Ben McAdoo, which could bode for Beckham. Only time will tell. I would stash Beckham if you have the space or dead weight on your roster.

10. Storm Johnson (RB) – Jacksonville Jaguars (owned in 1.3% of NFL.com leagues): I will be the first to admit this. Running back Storm Johnson’ chances are more of a stretch than any other player I listed here. But call him a deep sleeper moving forward, because I think he could take the starting job away from the struggling Toby Gerhart. Coming into 2014, there was plenty of optimism about Gerhart being a great fantasy option, but that has died faster than Chad Henne’s days as the starting quarterback in Jacksonville (no surprises there). Additionally, to make matters worst for Gerhart, he sprained his foot in last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That leaves an opening at the top of the depth chart at running back for the Jaguars. You can likely expect Denard Robinson and Jordan Todman to have the first crack at the gig, but Johnson should get also be given a chance. In his only 8 snaps (which were fourth on the Jags’ this weekend at RB) he did manage 27 yards (on 4 carries) — the most by any Jaguars’ player. Yes, it was that bad. But it does leave to the imagination what more he can do. Moreover, head coach Gus Bradley called Johnson’s Week 5 running “very impressive”. There is a chance he grows into something bigger. I would stash him if you can. You might just win the lottery with this kid.