FANTASY FURNACE

The waiver wire is not chock full of ‘sexy’ pickups this week, however it could be a good time to reevaluate your roster and perhaps opt to ‘replace’ one or several on your team with some of this week’s pickups. What we’ll show you here is how some players that you might own have less fantasy points than the ones we’re asking you to consider, or are owned in half the leagues as those with similar value. Take a look…

Joel Dreesen-TE-Broncos- Back in August before the regular season began, we touted Dreesen, just 7% owned in leagues, as one of the tight ends to consider drafting should the top six be off the board. Had you drafted him you would have noticed (now that we’ve finished over 30% of the season), that other TE’s such as  88% owned Jason Witten, 60% owned fellow Bronos TE Jacob Tamme, and 96% owned Jermichael Finley ALL have less fantasy points than Dreesen. We’re not suggesting that at the end of the year Dreesen will be a better TE than Finley-what we’re saying is to at least take a flier out on him if you’re satisfied with who you own and watch how he does over the next game or two. He seems to be one of Matt Schaub’s  favorite red zone targets as he now has as many touchdowns as the three other TEs we mentioned… combined!

#85 TE Joel Dreesen runs in a fourth quarter touchdown against the N.Y. Jets on MNF. Photo: zimbio.com

Christian Ponder-QB-Vikings- We selected Ponder as a waiver wire pickup several weeks ago and yet he is still widely available. If not a permanent part of your roster, at the very least you might consider him someone you can’stream’or fill in when your starting QB is on a bye week. Ponder is owned in just 30% of most leagues and has the same fantasy points as the 72% owned Jay Cutler who, by the way, is on a bye this week. 99% owned Matthew Stafford, who was on a bye last week, has half the touchdowns and twice as many INTs as Ponder. (Just something to think about). Need some more convincing? Ponder has 77 rushing yards and a TD, has only thrown 2 picks in his first five games this season, and surprisingly enough, he’s on a team that’s 4-1. Just saying..

Santana Moss-WR-Redskins- We like Moss as someone you can use as a flex play in deeper leagues this week. He’s going up against a Vikings team that’s very stingy against the run giving up just 3.2 YPC this season, but a team that gives up an average of  225.6 passing yards a game. That’s where Moss can thrive this week if RGIII, who will be starting for the ‘Skins this Sunday, can elude Minnesota’s pass rushers. The 33% owned Moss has about the same fantasy points as the 95% owned Jeremy Maclin and  more FP than Pierre Garcon and Domenik Hixon.

Blair Walsh-K-Vikings- And while we are on the subject of the upstart Minnesota Vikings this week, why not consider their rookie kicker? The 22 year old 6th round draft pick out of Georgia is tied for the second most fantasy points in the league! He already has 3 field goals between 40-49 yards and 3 from 50+ yard range. Only missing one out of his 13 attempts this year, the 40% owned Walsh is tied in fantasy points with the 99% owned Stephen Gostowski and has 4 more fantasy points than the 99% owned David Akers, making Walsh a must add in every format.

#3 Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh puts a leg into one here. The rookie is a must add in all leagues and formats. Photo: Terry Holt Star Tribune