Brian Leonard

All posts tagged Brian Leonard

Fantasy Football 2013: A 6-Pack of Waiver Wire Pickups for Week #11

Posted by fantasyfurnace on November 12, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 6 Comments

This season will long be remembered for the “year of the back up” especially at the quarterback position. Because of the nature of the physicality at running back, every year is a year for back ups! Here are this week’s Waiver Wire Pickups; none of which are owned in more than  28% of leagues as of Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. We’re getting close to playoff time in fantasy, so tweak now before the season is over.

1. Rishard Matthews-WR-Dolphins- 5% Owned- Miami faces a Chargers team this week that gives up the 7th most fantasy points to wide receivers. Matthews had 11 receptions last Sunday, good for 120 yards and two touchdowns and has become QB Ryan Tannehill’s favorite receiver.

#86 WR Rishard Matthews scores against Tampa Bay on a 19 yard touchdown throw from Ryan Tannehill. Photo:AP Photo/Brian Blanco)v

#86 WR Rishard Matthews scores against Tampa Bay on a 19 yard touchdown throw from Ryan Tannehill on MNF. Photo:AP Photo/Brian Blanco

2. Carson Palmer-QB-Cardinals- 28% Owned- Over the last two weeks, Palmer  has thrown for 413 yards, with 4 touchdowns and only two interceptions. His quarterback rating over those games is 104.1. The Cardinals will go up against the lowly Jaguars this week, who have given up the 4th most fantasy points to QBs this season.

3. Brian Leonard-RB-Bucs- 7% Owned- After Mike James went down early in the first quarter on Monday Night, Leonard came in and had 22 touches. His O-line didn’t open up too many holes for the veteran ex-Ram back, but he’ll get the bulk of the carries again this Sunday. Use him as a Flex play and as a RB3 until he shows a jump in his productivity.

4. Ryan Fitzpatrick-QB-Titans- 2% Owned- With Jake Locker (foot) getting injured in last week’s game (and out for the remainder of the season), Fitzpatrick came off the bench and orchestrated two touchdown drives including one rushing touchdown of his own. His problem is, and has always been, turnovers. Use him in two QB leagues or very deep leagues only.

5. Bills-DST- 23% Owned- Very quietly, the Bills have put together some serviceable numbers on defense. They are tied for the most interceptions (13) in the league and have the 2nd most sacks (33) just three behind the first-place K.C. Chiefs. They are home this week against the Jets who have a quarterback (Geno Smith) who has been sacked 30 times this season and has thrown 13 picks (2 against the Bills back on Sept. 22).

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Jerry Hughes (55) during the first half of a game in New Orleans, Sunday. The Bills are 2nd in the league in sacks (Bill Haber/AP)

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Jerry Hughes (55) during the last month’s game in New Orleans. The Bills are currently 2nd in the league in sacks (Bill Haber/AP)

6. John Carlson-TE-Vikings- 2% Owned- With the Vikings number one starting TE Kyle Rudolph out for 4-6 weeks, Carlson had a team high seven receptions last week for 98 yards and two touchdowns. We don’t think he will do that every Sunday going forward, but if you are in need of a TE2, we do recommend Carlson.

Advertisement

Fantasy Football 2013: Waiver Wire Pickups for Week #8

Posted by fantasyfurnace on October 22, 2013
Posted in: NFL. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

Can you recall a season when there were so many injuries? And those of the season-ending variety no less! The only good news that comes out of these players going down are the opportunities that are available to fantasy owners on the waiver wire. Here are some of those players, none of which is owned in more than 23% of leagues as of Tuesday, Octobber 22, 2013.

1. Mike James-RB-Buccaneers- 11% Owned- Doug Martin, Tampa Bay’s prolific running back, has been sidelined indefinitely with a torn labrum and thus has opened the door for the Buccaneer’s 6th round rookie out of Miami, Mike James. He is also a serviceable receiver  which bodes well for current quarterback Mike Glenn. Although the 3rd down carries will continue to belong to Brian Leonard another sneaky pickup in deeper leagues, James will be the featured back for the foreseeable future.  A must add in most leagues and formats.

#25 RB Mike James will take over the featured back duties in Tampa Bay with Doug Martin out indefinitely. Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

#25 RB Mike James will take over the featured back duties for Tampa Bay with Doug Martin out indefinitely. Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2. Darrius Heyward-Bey-WR-Colts- 22% Owned- Another major injury this past week was to standout wide receiver Reggie Wayne (knee). Reports say that not only is this season ending, but it could possibly be career ending as well. Heyward-Bey will make for an excellent WR2 in his place. In the Colts’ stunning win over the Broncos on Sunday night, DHB had 4 catches for 44 yards and one touchdown. He also added one carry good for 30 more yards. DHB’s seven targets just emphasizes that he is in line for a much larger role going forward.

3. Jeremy Kerley-WR-Jets- 9% Owned- Kerley is forming a close bond with rookie quarterback Geno Smith as Sunday’s game against the Patriots bears out. He led the team with 10 targets and posted 97 receiving yards and a touchdown. Only one of his receptions didn’t go for a first down! Kerley, with more faith and confidence from Geno Smith, will see more opportunities and hopefully be less inconsistent going forward. He will make a serviceable WR3 this week.

#11 WR Jeremy Kerley almost hit the century mark in receiving yards vs the Patriots last Sunday & is a capable WR3. Photo: USA Today Sports

#11 WR Jeremy Kerley almost hit the century mark in receiving yards vs the Patriots last Sunday & is a capable WR3. Photo: USA Today Sports

4. Saints-DST-23% Owned- The ninth ranked defense in the league goes up against a rookie quarterback, Thaddeus Lewis, and the Buffalo Bills this week. The Saints are a team that’s angry and hungry for a win in the hopes of erasing the memories of the debacle against the Patriots last Sunday night in that ugly 30-27 loss in the waning moments of that game. The Saints will be at home at the noisy confines of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. In leagues of 12 or more, there probably isn’t a better team on the wire to select for Week 8.

5. Joseph Fauria-TE-Lions- 18% Owned- We have touted Fauria before, but not many took advantage of his availability last week and so we think another shout-out for Fauria is in order. Oddly enough, he was targeted more times in last week’s game than he has been all season but he did not see the endzone. This week the Lions take on a Cowboy team that has given up the 3rd most fantasy points to Tight Ends this season. With Tony Scheffler remaining out (concussion), the undrafted rookie should  have a 1-2 touchdown day. ForMartellus Bennett owners and those leary about whether or not Jimmy Graham will be on the field this week, Fauria makes an adequate pickup.