Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 14

QUARTERBACKS

Luke McCown, TB, Slightly Recommended – McCown played well for starter Jeff Garcia (back) in Sunday’s comeback win at New Orleans. McCown finished with 313 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score to Jerramy Stevens with 17 seconds left, and added 34 yards on the ground. The fourth-year quarterback had not started since 2004, but made some nice deep throws to Joey Galloway and ran the offense effectively. It’s the start of the playoffs for many fantasy owners and with Garcia’s availability in doubt for this week’s favorable matchup at Houston, McCown is slightly recommended. Keep in mind, however, that as soon as Garcia is healthy, McCown will head back to the bench.

Sage Rosenfels, HOU, Slightly Recommended – Rosenfels replaced Matt Schaub, who injured his shoulder, early in Sunday’s loss at Tennessee. Rosenfels put up decent numbers, finishing with 185 yards, a touchdown and interception as well as contributing 25 yards rushing. Schaub has not been ruled out for this week’s game against Tampa Bay, but it appears unlikely that he’ll play which would give Rosenfels an opportunity to start. The Iowa State product is slightly recommended because he is a mad bomber and while he’ll make some mistakes, he can make some big plays too. Rosenfels is also fairly mobile so he might be able to help his fantasy numbers with rushing yards. Check the injury status of Schaub before starting Rosenfels, but he is at least worth a pickup in many leagues.

Chris Redman, ATL, Not Recommended – Redman took over in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss at St. Louis for an ineffective Joey Harrington and finished with 172 yards and two touchdowns. Redman had been out of football since 2004 so his performance on Sunday was impressive even if it came in garbage time. Atlanta’s Bobby Petrino was the offensive coordinator at Louisville when Redman put up gaudy numbers with the school so the coach and player have a history together and know one another well. There are whispers that Joey Harrington will be benched for next week’s game so Redman might get another start. However, it’s hard to recommend a quarterback that has been out of the NFL for so long and plays on such a bad team. With that said, if you’re desperate, Redman is more than likely available in your league.

Trent Edwards, BUF, Not Recommended – Edwards threw for 257 yards in Sunday’s upset win at Washington, but he did not lead the team to any touchdown drives. Edwards does not have a very strong arm and likes to dink and dunk a la Chad Pennington. Almost half of Edwards’ passing yardage on Sunday went to running backs and tight ends. The Bills do have a couple of playmakers at wide receiver (Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish), but neither Edwards nor former starter J.P. Losman has been able to properly utilize the speedy wideouts. The rookie quarterback is someone to keep an eye on in keeper/dynasty leagues because the team feels he could be their quarterback of the future, but avoid him for the rest of this season unless you are in a pinch.

RUNNING BACKS

Fred Jackson, BUF, Slightly Recommended – Jackson started for an injured Marshawn Lynch (ankle) and Anthony Thomas (calf) in Sunday’s win at Washington and had a productive game with 151 yards from scrimmage. Jackson also showed some big-play potential with a 22-yard run and 54-yard catch. The 26-year old Jackson was mainly a practice player with the Bills (he played in NFL Europe last year and was the second leading rusher in the league), but worked his way up the team’s depth chart after a strong pre-season. Lynch is iffy again for this week’s juicy matchup against Miami and Thomas is out for the year so Jackson is definitely worth a look. Jackson would actually be highly recommended if we knew Lynch was definitely out for Sunday’s game. Regardless, take a chance on Jackson especially if your playoffs start this week and you are in need of a running back.

Leon Washington, NYJ, Slightly Recommended – Washington might not even be available in your league, but he is worth a pickup because of his knack for big plays. In Sunday’s win at Miami, Washington received a season-high 10 carries for 68 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. The shifty and elusive Washington also had two receptions for 35 yards, an area where he has been underused by the team all season. Washington is already a stud in leagues that award points for kickoff yardage with over 1,000 yards in returns and three touchdowns, but has been a forgotten man on offense in many games. Thomas Jones is a fine runner, but he is getting up there in age and hasn’t made a lot of long runs this season. If the Jets are smart, which might not be the case - they’ll start getting Washington more involved in the offense.

Jerious Norwood, ATL, Slightly Recommended – Like Leon Washington, Norwood might already be on someone’s roster in your league, especially after Sunday’s performance at St. Louis. In that game, the speedy Norwood ran for a season-high 94 yards, including a 36-yard scamper, on just eight carries and added three receptions for 21 yards. Meanwhile, Warrick Dunn ran the ball only 10 times and was much less effective, totaling just 17 yards on the ground. We’re not ready to anoint Norwood the starter, coach Bobby Petrino still has some strange loyalty to Warrick Dunn, but Norwood’s upside is tremendous and he might see more touches of the ball moving forward. Although, you should probably proceed with caution because Norwood has never received more than 13 carries in a game during his two-year career and has a season high of just nine rushes.

Correll Buckhalter, PHI, Not Recommended – Buckhalter broke off a 30-yard touchdown in Sunday’s loss to Seattle and finished with 37 yards on four carries. The veteran runner is not recommended, however, for one simple reason – Brian Westbrook. Buckhalter just does not see the ball enough to warrant a roster spot because of the presence of Westbrook, who is perhaps the premier running back in 2007. Unless something significant happens to Westbrook, Buckhalter should be viewed as nothing more than a handcuff for the best fantasy back in football.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Amani Toomer, NYG - Recommended. Despite the fact that Eli Manning is a terrible QB, Toomer has been decent the past few weeks, with 14 catches, and an average of 60+ yards per game. Burress is clearly limited with the knee/ankle injuries, and Toomer has stepped up in his place. I wouldn't go nuts to get him, but he has a good matchup against Philly in Week 14 and is worth picking up as a #3/#4 depending on the size of the league...

Nate Burleson, SEA - Not Recommended. Yeah, he had 71 yards and a TD, but there's no way I can recommend Burleson, as he is not very consistent, and doesn't seem to be one of Hass's favorite targets. If your playoffs are starting this week and you are thinking of adding Nate to start for your team, better luck next year...

Bryant Johnson, ARI - Highly Recommended. Johnson seems to have the potential, but has never really had the opportunity to be "the man" in ARI, with Larry Fitzgerald/Anquan Boldin ahead of him on the depth chart. Well, if both guys are out this week, he finally gets his chance. He gets to face a SEA defense in Week 14 that doesn't allow a lot of TD's through the air, but considering that Warner's options may be limited, Johnson should put up solid #'s...

Sidney Rice, MIN - Recommended. I've already said enough about Rice, but if you just found the site by Googling "Waiver Wire", Rice is definitely a guy worth considering if you have an extra spot on your bench...

Brad Smith, NYJ - Slightly Recommended. It appears that Cotchery may be out for the rest of the year after having surgery on his right index finger, and although Kellen Clemens isn't exactly Peyton Manning, the opportunity will be there for Smith to solidify his chances as being NY's #3 WR going into 2008. In Week 13 he only had 1 catch, but it was for a TD, giving him 2 on the year, or double the number of starting RB Thomas Jones...

Mike Furrey, DET - Recommended. With Roy Williams out for the year, Furrey may have a chance to make up for what has been a disappointing season. After a 2006 season in which he had 98 catches, 1086 yards, and 6 TD's, Furrey is currently on pace for 61 catches and just under 700 yards, with only 1 TD on the season. It doesn't help that Kitna has been struggling lately, but considering that in 4 of his last 5 games last year, Furrey had 9+ catches, he's worth a look...

TIGHT ENDS

Zach Miller, OAK - Slightly Recommended. Can't say I'm completely surprised with the game Miller had against DEN on Sunday. Here's what I wrote in my rankings column:

"One sleeper to keep an eye on this week is rookie Zach Miller, who faces a DEN defense that is allowing almost 60 yards per game to TE's, 3rd worst behind GB and MINN. With Curry and Porter drawing Bly and Bailey, look for Miller to have a good game..."

Miller had 58 yards (tops on the team), and a TD in a winning effort. I would say to use him only when the matchups are right going forward, but keep an eye on him for next season...

Marcedes Lewis, JAX - Slightly Recommended. Keep an eye on Lewis, who now has 10 catches for 99 yards and a TD in his past two games. It appears that Garrard is looking the former first round pick from UCLA's way more often than usual, and like Miller, he may be a nice TE sleeper going into the 2008 season...

Alge Crumpler, ATL - Slightlyy Recommended. Former top ten TE Crumpler has probably been dropped in most leagues (and rightfully so), but when Redman came in to relieve Harrington yesterday, he targeted Crumpler 6 times in the 4th quarter, completing 4 of them. If he is named starter this week, Crumpler may be worth a flyer...