Week 2 Waiver Wire

I promise to get this article written before Tuesday night as most leagues run waivers that night.  :)  As always, I'm speaking from the premise of a 12 team league that starts 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, and 1 TE.

QB:

Kyle Orton / Trent Edwards - These guys should have been drafted, but they didn't post huge numbers in week 1.  These guys have the weapons around them to contend for QB1 status should things break right.  They should be owned and on your bench.

Byron Leftwich - I question the weapons around him, especially since Antonio Bryant isn't 100%.  That said, he looked good in the 1st week, so if you don't have anything that resembles a QB2 on your roster, go ahead and grab him.  He's always been talented, but he's been held back by his lack of mobility and a slow release.  He isn't going to fix that, but he's a starting QB in the NFL assuming he has a solid line in front of him, which Tampa Bay has.

Mark Sanchez - He has a decent #1 target in Jerricho Cotchery and a good TE in Dustin Keller.  He will be protected by his running game and defense, so he's not going to throw a lot either.  That all being said, he's a decent QB2.  Think Flacco of last season, especially since the coaching staff and philosophy is very much the same as Baltimore.  I think he has more poise thank Flacco, however, more along the line of Matt Ryan thanks to the quality competition he faced last season in the college ranks.

Matt Leinart - Sleeper.  Kurt Warner looks bad, and some are predicting that Leinart will take over at some point this season.  His weapons speak for themselves, and he's a great stash if you have a roster spot you're not doing much with.  He could flirt with QB1 value should he take over at some point.  Warner owners are strongly encouraged to handcuff him, especially with the price paid in drafts to get Warner.

RB:

Michael Bush - He should have been drafted, but in case he's still out there, Monday night proved why.  He's my RB5 in all leagues.  He's a big, powerful back who has some wiggle and quickness, plus he was excellent catching passes in college.  He'll sit behind McFadden in per week touches, but he's still going to get 10+ carries, and he's favored at the goal line.  He would be a great RB2 should anything happen to McFadden.

Cadillac Williams - He also should have been picked up prior to week 1 after his big preseason week 4 performance and perch atop the final week 1 depth chart, but he backed it up with a big week 1 despite only 12 carries.  He's a good stash, but don't go throwing him into your yet lineup when he's only getting 10-12 carries, despite his week 1 numbers.

Mike Bell - He should have been picked up prior to week 1, especially by Pierre Thomas owners.  That being said, he's available in one of my leagues (I didn't like him better than Michael Bush, my "worst" RB), so he's probably still out there in some others.  If you have 4-5 RBs on your team that have a defined role, and you'd have to drop one of them to get him, pass.  Otherwise, he's definitely the best waiver option this week.  He might start again in week 2, and rumor has him forcing himself into a role even when Pierre Thomas gets healthy.

Kevin Faulk - He's worth a stash on the end of your bench as a RB4/5, but his upside is limited.  He's going to see plenty of time on the field, catch passes, and run a few draws...but he just doesn't get the ball enough to have RB2 upside.  That being said, depth is important, and he has a defined role.

Ladell Betts - Portis owners with a spot on their bench would be advised to grab Betts.

WR:

Louis Murphy - He's the best WR and the best deep threat Oakland has going for them.  Once Chaz Schillens returns, there's no question in my mind that he'll start opposite Schilens and DHB will move to the 3rd WR role.  He's probably better than a number of WR5s currently on a roster, so grab him.  he has some upside as a big play WR even though he's limited by Russell's continued accuracy problems.

Laurent Robinson - He proved it was no fluke that he won the job by posting a solid week 1 despite poor QB play.  His upside is dimmed by Bulger's steep decline, but he has more of the look of a top WR than Donnie Avery does thanks to his size/speed combination.  Good WR5 to toss on your bench with upside.

Nate Burleson - Burleson has apparently recovered from last season's torn ACL by posting a great week 1.  Given TJ Housh's inability to make plays down the field, Burleson could actually emerge as the guy to own in Seattle.  All bets are off if Hasselbeck has more issues with his back, but it's worth riding the hot streak in the mean time.

Brandon Stokley - His numbers obviously rank him among the best WRs on the waiver wire, but if you didn't know, he caught a ridiculously fluky 87 yard TD off of a tipped pass.  Don't add him.

Mark Clayton - He's always had the talent, and he's always had the injuries that have held him back.  I don't like him as much as Murphy, but much like Murphy, he's probably better than many WR5s currently owned.  Clayton will start as long as he's healthy.

Chansi Stuckey - He had a solid first game, and he got open for a TD on a blown coverage.  He's not a bad WR, but he's 3rd on the target list behind Cotchery and Keller for a run-first team, so I'd leave him on the waiver wire.

Mario Manningham - With Hakeem Nicks set to miss 2-3 weeks with a foot sprain, there will be more targets to go around for WRs playing opposite Steve Smith.  Manningham will be the biggest beneficiary here, and he could nail down a starting job for a while with a solid performance.  He's not a bad speculator add.

Devery Henderson/Robert Meachem - The Saints will mix-and-match these 2 deep threats while Colston, Moore, and Shockey dominate the targets.  They will be very high risk/reward WRs each and every week due to how the Saints use them, but they can be stashed and used to catch lightning in a bottle if you don't have other more solid options.

Michael Clayton - Remember him?  1193/7 his rookie year, and about that cumulatively over the last 4 years.  It's hard to say what happened, but I do know he's had knee problems since there.  The Bucs badly need someone to step up at WR while Bryant deals with his own knee issues, so he can be stashed.

Mark Bradley - The Chiefs also need a WR to step up opposite Dwayne Bowe, and Bradley certainly has the talent.  Much like Mark Clayton, injuries have constantly held him back.  He's also worth stashing as a WR5 to see how it shakes out.

Mike Sims-Walker - Deep sleeper here.  He did nothing in week 1, but the Jaguars badly need someone to step up opposite Torry Holt and provide big play potential.  Sims-Walker has the talent, but just like Clayton and Bradley, injuries have held him back.  When the Jaguars eventually tire of Troy Williamson, Sims-Walker will step up and produce while he's healthy.  Total speculatory stash.

TE:

Zach Miller - It boggles me that he's available in one of my leagues.  This guy should be starting for a team in every 12+ team league, and arguably in 10 team leagues as well.  I know the Raiders passing attack sucks, but he produced last year and will again this year.  He's a TE1.

Todd Heap - Rebound candidate?  He's likely available in all leagues, but he looked as good last Sunday as he's looked since 2006.  Odds are he'll get hurt again, but he's worth owning until then.  He could flirt with TE1 value if he can avoid all the nagging injuries.

Ben Watson - We've seen this before with his TD explosions, but he did catch 6 passes in all.  He's never lacked the talent, but he has lacked the instincts and hands.  The Patriots need someone other than Moss and Welker to threaten defenses, and Watson is most certainly a seam-buster.  Grab him as a TE2.

Robert Royal - 60 yards and a TD from a TE certainly warrants consideration, and he's produced in a limited sense of the word in Buffalo before.  I wouldn't waste a roster spot on him yet, but keep an eye to see if he repeats again in week 2.