Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Green Bay's Brandon Jackson Will be a Popular Week 1 Pickup
By Jason Lisk
QUARTERBACK
Many of the quarterbacks who were drafted in the 20-25 range for QB’s put up dreadful performances in week 1, but a few unexciting veterans like David Garrard and Matt Hasselbeck may be out there. If so, they are worth a roster spot while healthy and maintaining their jobs. In a redraft league, it’s likely that Sam Bradford is available. He looks legit and doesn’t look like he will be a Captain Checkdown, so if you can stomach the interceptions that come with a young quarterback, he is a good bye week option, because he is not in danger of getting benched by the time you may actually need that bye week fill in. If you are in the unenviable position of needing an immediate starter for this week and are in a deeper league, Michael Vick looks like the play. We do not have official word on Kolb’s status yet, but the Eagles draw the Lions, and Vick should have opportunities against a defense that gave up passing yards to the Bears.
RUNNING BACK
I had Brandon Jackson on my radar in the preseason, and rostered him in a survivor contest, because I felt he was a back who was in a positive situation if he got an opportunity this year. Ryan Grant had played in all 16 games each of the last two years, and so people were overlooking Jackson as the clear #2 on a great offense. He’s likely available in your league, unless the Grant owner was smart enough to insure his investment, and he is a good start right out of the gate. I don’t think that Jackson is going to be electric (but then again, Grant was more solid than electric also), but he will put up solid numbers while Grant is out. If you are in a PPR league, Jackson will be more involved in the passing game than Grant was. The first matchup is against Buffalo, and that’s a green light to start if you get him.
If you miss out on Jackson and need a flex start, Peyton Hillis was getting work splitting time with Jerome Harrison in the preseason, especially after Hardesty’s knee injury. He also got as many touches as Harrison in the opener and scored a touchdown. The staff likes Hillis, and he should get enough touches to justify a spot as a flex in deep leagues, based on matchup (Kansas City at home this week). Fred Taylor got by far the most carries for the Patriots in week 1, and is worth a bench spot and spot start if he is going to consistently get over 12 carries. If you want to plan ahead, I like a guy like Bernard Scott in Cincinnati. He’s a more versatile player in the passing game than Benson, and if Benson gets hurt this year, will be a great start. If you are a Chris Johnson owner, you should have Javon Ringer as a backup, and if you are not, he is the type of home run play that could pay dividends if Johnson were to miss a game.
WIDE RECEIVER
If Mike Williams of Tampa Bay is somehow available in your league, get him . . . now. His numbers from week 1 won’t jump off the page, but he was clearly the top target in the passing game, just as he was in the preseason, and he gets to play Carolina this week, who just gave up 3 touchdowns to Hakeem Nicks. Speaking of guys named Mike Williams, there is a good chance that Mike Williams of Seattle is available in your league if you haven’t had transactions since the Houshmandzadeh release. He would be an amazing story considering he was out of football, and right now, he is the top targeted receiver on the team based on week 1 and the preseason. He was tackled on the 1 after a catch in last Sunday’s game, and a line of 4-65-1 would have had people scrambling for him more. That non-TD may give you a chance to get him if others are sleeping. The matchup this week, though, is less ideal, facing Champ Bailey.
Mark Clayton was traded to Saint Louis and immediately got a whopping 16 targets. He will be worth a pickup, though a date with Asomugha looms this week. Devin Aromashadu was the most targeted Bears receiver (while Hester only had 1 catch), so if he is out there, grab him. Sometimes you have to look ahead, and Jacoby Jones presents that opportunity this year. The reports on Jones have been glowing, and he looked good in the preseason, but the Texans did not pass very much in game one. They won’t do that every week, and Jones will draw some good matchups opposite Johnson. In a deep league, I think he is startable this week at Washington. I’m not sold on Brandon Lloyd, who put up good numbers last week. Mike Thomas of Jacksonville is a solid pickup, but keep in mind that Sims-Walker was being covered by Champ Bailey last week. If you need to roll the dice on a pickup to immediately start in a deep league this week, Louis Murphy is playing against the Rams. In leagues that give return points, get Dexter McCluster, as he’ll get a mix of returns, a couple of runs, and some catches.
TIGHT END
People are going to overreact and pick up Marcedes Lewis because he scored two TD’s. He also had two catches, and has never played consistently despite the opportunity. Pass. If you are desperate at tight end this week, I would look to Ben Watson or Tony Moeaki, who play on teams where the receivers are not getting huge targets, and who get to play against each other this week. The New England duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are worth rostering for bye weeks. Favor Gronkowski in touchdown heavy formats and Hernandez in those that favor receptions.
KICKERS
Graham Gano and Billy Cundiff may be available since they are either not established names or were not given the job until late. Sorry, one sentence is enough on kicker.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
If you are like me and prefer to play matchups at defense rather than spend early, then there are always going to be some options on the wire. If you watched the CHIEFS last night, you know they have two dynamic return men that are going to score a few more times this year, got a better pass rush, and draw the Hot Tub Interception Machine this week. The BROWNS are also an option in the same matchup, unless you get penalized for long runs given up. You can also look to both defenses in the RAIDERS versus RAMS matchup.