This week we are listing five waiver wire pickups as well as two drops to consider. Savvy owners are always searching the wire for an edge but for those of you who don’t, the halfway point of the season is upon us. This is the time to begin putting yourself in a better position to make the playoffs in your league!
Martavis Bryant-WR-Steelers- How could you not add a wide receiver who has scored three touchdowns in the last two games? Markus Wheaton has not met his expectations in Pittsburgh and QB Ben Roethlisberger has taken notice and has made Bryant his WR2 thus making him one of the most added pickups this week.
Theo Reddick-RB-Lions- If you are in a PPR league and looking for a running back who can catch multiple passes from a flame thrower like Matthew Stafford, then Reddick could make for a very serviceable replacement for Reggie Bush who’s been struggling with an ankle injury. Reddick totaled 79 yards and had eight receptions (11 touches) with a touchdown last week vs Atlanta. He should be available and picked up in most leagues.
#41 RB Theo Reddick, a 6th round pick in the 2013 draft out of Notre Dame, is Darren Sproles-like with his ability to rack up catches in the backfield; perfect for PPR leagues says The Furnace. Photo:Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)
Donte Moncrief-WR-Colts- Seven receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers! There, that should get your attention…Can’t say that Moncrief will give you these kinds of numbers every week, but Reggie Wayne surely isn’t so why not add the rookie from Ole Miss (especially in deeper leagues).
Latavius Murray-RB-Raiders/Jonas Gray-RB-Patriots- These two backs are similar in that they are our speculative pickups for those in deeper formats who can afford to roll the dice and/or stash one for safe-keeping. Gray had 17 rushes good for 86 yards in Week 8 while with Murray, it’s just a matter of time before his number is called after injury-prone Darren McFadden limps off to the sidelines.
TIME TO DUMP:
Julian Edelman-WR-Patriots- One touchdown- all season. Five catches in his last two games. You could do better.
Cecil Shorts III-WR-Jaguars- With the exception of his performace in week 6, we’re not sure if QB Blake Bortles even knows who this wideout is.
FANTASY FURNACE 
I heard Waste Management made a decent pickup ? The refuse of what has now become the New York Jets’ season .
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Pathetic. I know you think that Rex should be fired before the season is over but Al, you can’t tell me that 5 yards passing and three interceptions by Geno in the first quarter last Sunday was Rex’s fault, can you? Trust me, I am no Rex Ryan fan but I’m not sure what canning him now will do to save any semblance of the team’s season.
The team is deficient in every imaginable category and the reason for that is the team lacks talent. Woody and Idzik are culpable there, not Rex. What Rex IS guilty of is being too much of a “player’s coach”- too damn easy on them. The anti-Coughlin if you will. 9-10 penalties a game is the fault of Ryan and his band of undisciplined men. So since Woody can’t and won’t fire himself, the next logical firings should be Idzig and Ryan but you might as well finish out the season, go 2-14 or 3-13, get a high draft pick and move on.
Honestly, I never thought that Ryan should have returned this season, if you ask me…
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The New York Jets are deficient in every issue that matters with regard to being effective in the NFL . Their stats speaks volumes as to how bad this team just happens to be . Hard to believe Jets’ GM John Idzik was the architect of a Superbowl winning team as he held a senior position within Seattle Seahwaks’ front office in 2012 . He actually persuaded Pete Carroll to draft Russell Wilson , when the head coach sought to draft a defensive lineman that season and wasn’t high on the quarterback .
Rex Ryan should have been relieved of his coaching duties last season , along with the entire coaching staff and the signing of Michael Vick was simply asinine .
Mentioned your site in my most recent piece as a recommended read for all genuine sports’ fans .
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Very kind of you Al and very much appreciated!
Thank you!
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Not a problem at all .
Your thoughts on the these new college rankings for the FBS programs ? I know it’s skewers favoritism among the SEC teams but I doubt everyone will be satisfied until there is a real transparency to a playoff format , rather than this continued secrecy the pious belief this new format is what was needed .
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There hasn’t been a format that everyone has embraced since rankings were first instituted and frankly, there probably never will be. I clearly do not think this new format was necessary. It just makes the system even more convoluted (if that’s possible).
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It’s probably no more convoluted than the IRS tax code book . Not unlike reading Leo Tolstoy’s ” War and Peace ” .
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So true..
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I’m trying to understand the idiocy behind the Tampa Bay Rays’ front office and their intent to file tampering charges against the Chicago Cubs after it was revealed Joe Maddon was signing a five year deal with the NL Central franchise. Maddon chose not sign the contract extension offer from the Rays . The move doesn’t necessitate tampering charges unless it was proved the Cubs had been in contact with the Rays’ manager at the time . Rays’ owner Stuart Sternberg is a pompous @ss , given the fact he’s still angered by the departure of Andrew Friedman to the Los Angeles Dodgers and now Madddon leaving the organization .
Great win for San Francisco Giants in game seven . Madison Bumgarner was simply money throughout the series and worthy World Series’ MVP .
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Those charges against the Cubs are completely unfounded and without merit. However, I must admit I called it. I was telling my IT guy weeks ago that if Maddon & the Cubs announce a deal too quickly watch the fireworks begin! I said that if he interviewed with another team or two and then signed with the Chicago say in the end of December, then there shouldn’t be any legal ramifications to deal with.
In light of their intent to file charges, one would think that an organization, and one that’s not very lucrative at that, would have some hard proof regarding possible tampering on the part of the Cubs.
As for Madison Bumgarner, it was a postseason performace that was one for the ages!
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Joe Maddon and former GM Andrew Friedman were the only true assets the Rays had . Owner Stewart Sternberg remains a pompous and clueless @ss much like the fan base within the greater Tampa Bay area .
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The Cubs are well within their right to obtain a manager who has left an organization but far be it for me to suggest the fans and the front office of the Rays have a clue .
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Not for nothing, but I’m pretty sure I could have caught more than one TD pass from Tom Brady by now.
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Yep, if you have reasonably decent eyesight and a pulse, you sure could have.
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Boom!
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