Week eight in the NFL was pretty ugly for fantasy football players. A few guys went off, like Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew and Brett Favre.
But, they were only a frustrating few of the players who did.
After so many stars had a disappointing Sunday, you may be looking for some extra help. Now that we are deeper into the season, the useful players available on the waiver wires are dwindling. However, there are still some out there.
I’ll also list a few tight ends. As an Owen Daniels owner, I know the heartache it caused when news came out he is done for the season, so we’ll look at some replacement options at the end.
Mark Sanchez QB/NYJ – He’s been in the pickups column before, but he is frustrating to own and hard to predict. However, there is something to be said for having a good Sunday when everyone else was disappointing. Before Monday night’s game, Sanchez had the third-most fantasy points of all quarterbacks after passing for 265 yards and two touchdowns. He’s a crapshoot, but worth a look.
Matt Hasselbeck QB/SEA– Similar to the Sanchize, Hasselbeck can be frustrating if you’re depending on him week in and week out. However, he can be a great matchups play. Against the Cowboys Sunday, he passed for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Against Jacksonville a few weeks ago, he passed for 241 yards and four touchdowns. Finally, against St. Louis early in the season, he passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
Ryan Moats RB/HOU – As a Steve Slaton owner, I’m hoping with everything inside of me that his game Sunday (23 carries, 126 yards and three touchdowns) was a fluke. But I have to admit, despite the fact it was against the Bills, Moats looked really good. You may have to give it a week to see what the Texans will do going forward, but if this becomes a time-share, Moats could have real value.
Jonathan Stewart RB/CAR – He’s not as widely available as others, but if you can get him, please do. He rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns against a strong Cardinals rush defense and now has TDs in three of his last four games. Carolina coach John Fox is returning to a game plan of heavy running, and Stewart is one of the prime benefactors of the decision.
Jeremy Maclin WR/PHI – I keep telling people to pick him up, and he’s still available in a good bit of leagues. He caught four passes for 47 yards and one touchdown Sunday, and the speedster has potential for even bigger games when opposing defenses focus on stopping fellow Eagle DeSean Jackson. Against the Bucs two weeks ago, Maclin racked up 142 yards and two touchdowns. He’s a bit boom-or-bust but very worth a pickup.
Malcom Floyd WR/SD – Floyd is probably only worth a pickup in deeper leagues, but he bears watching in leagues of any size. He replaced Chris Chambers in the starting lineup as the No. 2 receiver Sunday and caught two passes for 64 yards in a game where Philip Rivers was not asked to throw as much as he usually does.
Visanthe Shiancoe TE/MIN – I’ve been touting him as an underrated guy since the preseason, and he’s been making me proud. He has become Brett Favre’s favorite end zone target, as he has five touchdowns in his last five games. He won’t rack up the yardage, but he’s got the locals in Minnesota thinking this could be the last of many tight ends Ole’ Greybeard has made famous.
Spencer Havner TE/GB – He’s actually a linebacker, but, like Shiancoe, is becoming a reliable red zone threat. Havner does the same thing Mike Vrabel does for the Chiefs and used to do for the Patriots. Against the Vikings Sunday, Havner caught two passes, both for touchdowns. In the last two games, he only has four receptions but has turned three of them into touchdowns. As the Packers continue to struggle running the ball, Havner will be a legitimate threat.
Bo Scaife TE/TEN – Vince Young returning to the starting lineup is great news for Scaife, who played at the University of Texas with him. Young makes a good bit of short passes to his tight ends, and Scaife led the Titans in receptions last year with 58. He had four more receptions versus the Jaguars Sunday for 27 yards.