Waiver Wire Sleepers
With plenty of injuries across the board to several key players in the league, it’s time to take a look at who could possibly be available on your waiver wire that might be of interest or value to your team. Owners are scrambling, or at the very worst, stressing over who to pick-up or trade for to replace injured running backs such as Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, and Michael Turner, while there is also question as to the availability of Kyle Orton and a few others.
Even aside from injury, now is the time in the season where a team hovering around .500 really needs to stack up on gems that are just entering their 2009 prime.
The following players are available in over 50 percent of leagues, and would make fine additions to any roster decimated by injuries or poor play:
Brady Quinn, QB, Cleveland Browns (Available in 96% of leagues)
The nice thing about Quinn is that he has nowhere to go but up from here on out. The Cleveland Browns did a cruel thing to bring him back against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense, and I like him to respond well to a Detroit Lions pass defense that gets killed by the quarterback. There’s a very real possibiliy that their inept ability to defend the pass ends this week, but if Quinn is ever going to make himself into anything, it will start with a shockingly great performance in Week 11.
This is purely a match-up call, however, and Quinn is nowhere close to a long-term solution.
Other notable QB’s available in over 50% of leagues: Alex Smith, Vince Young, Mark Sanchez
Justin Forsett, RB, Seattle Seahawks (82%)
Forsett took over for an injured Julius Jones in Week 10 and never looked back, rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown, while hauling in five receptions for 26 yards. Forsett is an extremely quick and athletic back that should benefit immensely from Jones going down with an injury, and is slated to start in Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings. It’s a tough match-up, but there aren’t many better options available.
Ladell Betts, RB, Washington Redskins (71%)
Despite rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown in relief of Clinton Portis two weeks ago, and 114 yards and another score in Week 10, Betts is still getting very little respect. Portis is still suffering from post-concussion issues, and despite Betts’ semi-difficult match-up with the Dallas Cowboys, he still figures to be a solid start this week, and as long as Portis remains out.
Jason Snelling, RB, Atlanta Falcons (86%)
Snelling picked up where Michael Turner left off due to an ankle injury, as he rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while catching three passes for 32 yards. Michael Turner is expected to miss Week 10, and possibly longer, with an unspecified ankle injury, which vaults