2012 Fantasy Football Waiver Pickups: Week 15

Posted by Ryan Hallam on 12/10/2012 | 0 Comments

Tags: David Wilson, LaMichael James, Kenny Britt, Rob Streater, Nick Foles, Kevin Ogletree, Alshon Jeffery, Bernard Pierce, Jason Avant, Clay Harbor

And…………DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!!!!!                  We are now coming to mid-December and there’s only three weeks left in the NFL season, and likely two weeks in your fantasy football season, and there could be a move or two you make from living and dying with a guy who is failing you and picking up a hot player that will take you to the title?  Who are those hot guys?  Is it One Direction?  No, below are the fantasy football guys who could help you down the stretch so enjoy Waiver Flavor. 

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Questions about your team or a waiver move?  Lineup decisions?  You can email me at ryan@fantasyalarm.com for answers to those questions.  You can also hit me up by following me on Twitter @ryanhallamFA or if you just want to read some of my incoherent babbling in 140 characters. 

David Wilson, RB, New York Giants. It has been an amazing rookie season for Wilson, and one FULL of ups and downs.  Wilson couldn’t get on the field in the beginning of the season because of an inability to pick up a blitz and questions about his ability to understand the playbook.  Wilson then did get a chance and he made the most of it with a couple of long runs and got himself kick returning duties which he is rocking at!  Well, Ahmad Bradshaw has been banged up and Wilson absolutely took advantage of his chance. He returned a kick back for 97 yards and then had two more touchdowns on running plays and ended up with exactly 100 yards. Bradshaw would have played more if the Giants weren’t beating the piss out of the Saints, but I absolutely see Wilson getting more carries, and in a league where you get return yards he is a must add, but likely not available.  Check out your waiver wire and if Wilson is there and you can afford to drop someone, get him on your team.

LaMichael James, RB, San Francisco 49ers. Kendall Hunter is done for the year, the Niners made Brandon Jacobs inactive then suspended him, and Frank Gore just isn’t going to carry the ball 20+ times a week at this point of the season.  All of this adds up to LaMichael James getting a shot down the stretch. I don’t see him getting the ball 20 times a game either, but if they are comfortably ahead in a game these last three weeks he could get extended carries.  If not, chances are you are running the gamble that he might make a big play in a game to reward you with some fantasy points.  James had a solid debut with 30 yards on eight carries, but I would be surprised to see him get more than 10 unless San Francisco is trying to run the clock out on a defeated opponent.  Larger leagues and those in desperate situations need only apply here. 

Kenny Britt, WR, Tennessee Titans.  When I saw Britt’s big game I was wondering just how much he is owned in fantasy football. I looked in ESPN and he was only available in 30% of leagues, but in Yahoo it was just over half.  I guess I can understand seeing that he has only broken 50 yards receiving four times all season long, and this was his first 100 yard game in 2012.  Britt has a world of talent but has battled inconsistency, injury, and his own self-destruction throughout his career.  However, I do have to say that if he is available in your league you have to roll with Britt or at least stop someone else from having him.  It is rare to find someone of his talent level available at this time of the season. 

Rod Streater, WR, Oakland Raiders.   I wrote a few weeks ago about the inconsistency of all Raider receivers, so it might be surprising to see Streater here.  However, I am not going to suggest you pick him up.  He did have a 100 yard game Sunday and he nearly broke the 100 yard barrier with a touchdown in Week 13, but I just can’t trust the guy. He’s kind of a big play or bust, a Devery Henderson from a few years ago type.  I really don’t like those kind of fantasy receivers, but if you are desperate there could be worse guys.  The Raiders are usually getting creamed and need a big play. 

Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles. In his first few starts after being given the job as quarterback, Foles looked like one of the worst QBs in the league.  I mean not Arizona Cardinal quarterback bad, but not good.  The worst part to me was the decision making in the red zone.  In the past two weeks, Foles looks like a new man and is suddenly leading the Eagles passing game with proficiency and effectiveness.  Of course you have to remember that the Bucs and the Cowboys are two of the weaker passing defenses, but if you are in a bind at this point of the season, or in a keeper league where you can pick someone up now for next year, Foles is looking more and more like a pretty decent option.  Grab him accordingly if you fit one of the above situations. 

Jason Avant, WR, Philadelphia Eagles.   DeSean Jackson is done for the season, Jeremy Maclin is hit or miss, Nick Foles looks like he’s coming around and Brent Celek is done.  Avant has had two straight good games and really blew up on Sunday.  He hauled in seven catches for 133 yards even though he failed to score a touchdown. The offense found a bit of a rhythm against the Bucs, although that isn’t saying much.  Stats against Tampa have to be taken with a grain of salt, but if the Eagles are going to be able to throw the ball their second receiver will catch some passes and that appears to be Avant.

Clay Harbor, TE, Philadelphia Eagles.  Holy @%@$, three Eagles in the same article?   Haven’t they quit?????  Well, as I stated above, Brent Celek will not play in Week 15 after sustaining a concussion on the game’s first play.  Harbor had six catches for 52 yards and his second touchdown of the season.  I would expect Celek to be done for the year considering the pathetic state of the Eagles and if you have Gates or Gronk, Harbor could be an angel in disguise down the stretch.  He’s big, he’s bulky, he’s white, he could be a decent tight end in the last three weeks of the season.

Kevin Ogletree, WR, Dallas Cowboys.  Dez Bryant could be in trouble with a tendon problem in his finger and there’s a chance that his season is in jeopardy.  If that is the case then either Dwayne Harris or Ogletree will have to pick up the slack.  Given his Week 1 performance, I’m going to bet on Ogletree who has been on the team longer and has had more success.  He has surprised a few times during the year and if Bryant is going to be out, I have some faith in Ogletree. 

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears.  Jeffery was able to return from injury (again) in Week 14 and (again) showed his big play ability against the Vikings. Jeffery had three catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.  Jeffery should have had an even better day if he was able to hang on to the 39 yard touchdown that he should have caught.  If the kid could stay on the field he could make an impact.  He is healthy at the moment, so if Jay Cutler could stay upright and stop getting crushed by opposing defenders, he could possibly get the ball to his phenomenal rookie.  Jeffery is a risk, but a high upside risk at that.

Bernard Pierce, RB, Baltimore Ravens.  With the ousting of Cam Cameron with just three weeks to go in the season, it appears that the Ravens aren’t happy with the amount of pass attempts the team is going with.  I look for the Ravens to try to get back to the accent on running the ball and while Ray Rice will always be the star, Pierce has been creeping in much more lately with eight to ten carries in four of the last five weeks.  He hasn’t broken out with a huge game or gotten involved in the passing game, but if you are in desperation mode, you can at least count on him touching the ball about ten times. 

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