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News-Herald Assistant Sports Editor Kevin Kleps doesn’t just write headlines and stories. He also checks on his fantasy sports teams. A lot. See if the moves and news from the world of sports affect your fantasy teams.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Fantasy football: Week 11 waiver-wire picks

A quick disclaimer before our latest edition of the waiver-wire picks: We wrote about quarterback replacement options late Monday night (sadly, Carson Palmer was the best of the bunch).

As usual, we select players who are available in more than half of the leagues on ESPN.com. This week's group is available in more than 68 percent of the ESPN formats.

1. Laurent Robinson, WR, Cowboys (owned in 13.1 percent of the ESPN leagues): He is Dallas' No. 2 wideout with Miles Austin out, and Robinson has responded by catching 13 passes for 208 yard and four touchdowns in his last three contests. He has scored at least one TD in three consecutive games, and the Cowboys' schedule the next three weeks is very favorable. Sunday, Dallas will play at Washington (No. 9 vs. the pass), followed by games against Miami (No. 25 vs. the pass) at home and at Arizona (No. 24). Austin is expected to miss at least another week, and Robinson should be considered a No. 3 fantasy receiver with Austin out and a decent option even when Austin returns.

2. Dexter McCluster, RB, Chiefs (owned in 19.2 percent of the ESPN leagues): Last week against the Broncos, McCluster had eight rushes for 45 yards and six receptions for 48 yards -- his most work since he received 14 touches in Week 3. He is much more valuable in point-per-reception leagues (29 catches on the year), but is still a worthwhile option in standard leagues for owners who are desperate for help at running back. The Chiefs have slowly phased out Thomas Jones, who has had a combined 12 carries the last three weeks, and their schedule the next six weeks features four teams that rank 25th or worse in total defense (No. 32 New England this week, No. 25 Chicago in Week 13, No. 28 Green Bay in Week 15 and No. 26 Oakland in Week 16).

3. Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers (owned in 5.4 percent of the ESPN leagues): On the season, Hunter has 335 yards on 59 touches (5.7), and last week he had six carries for 40 yards and a touchdown in a game in which Frank Gore left early with an injury. Gore says his bruised knee is fine and he expects to play Sunday against Arizona. If so, Hunter should be a fantasy reserve. If Gore is out, Hunter is a decent No. 2 back in fantasy. Regardless, he should be on your roster if you are depending on Gore to get you to the postseason.

4. Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders (owned in 31.7 percent of the ESPN leagues): Moore had five catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns last Thursday at San Diego, and he had four receptions for 61 yards the week before. As we have learned with Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford, it's difficult to depend on a Raiders receiver from week to week, but maybe Moore (five total TDs) is the best of the bunch. Oakland's schedule the next four weeks certainly should help -- at Minnesota (No. 31 vs. the pass), Chicago (No. 29) at home, at Miami (No. 25) and at Green Bay (No. 31). Moore shouldn't be a starter unless you need help because of bye weeks (this is the last week to worry about that) or injuries.

5. Titus Young, WR, Lions (owned in 2.9 percent of the ESPN leagues): Young has 11 receptions for 140 yards and a TD in his last two games. Last week, he had seven catches for 74 yards, totals that obviously were helped by Matthew Stafford's 63 attempts in a blowout loss at Chicago. Young, depending on your view of Nate Burleson, is Detroit's second- or third-best receiver. Sunday, the Lions will face Carolina (No. 14 vs. the pass), then have favorable matchups against Green Bay (No. 31), New Orleans (No. 18), Minnesota (No. 30) and Oakland (No. 22). Like Moore, he should be a fantasy reserve. Like Moore, many owners will be forced to start him at some point.

Others to watch: Steve Smith, WR, Eagles (owned in 1.8 percent of the ESPN leagues); Harry Douglas, WR, Falcons (0.3); Vincent Brown, WR, Chargers (0.2); Ed Dickson, TE, Ravens (5.7).

Past waiver-wire picks who remain undervalued: Donald Brown, RB, Colts (11.0 percent); Maurice Morris, RB, Lions (12.5); Chris Ogbonnaya, RB, Browns (14.0); Greg Little, WR, Browns (4.6); David Nelson, WR, Bills (27.5); Early Doucet, WR, Cardinals (18.7); Brent Celek, TE, Eagles (16.0); Heath Miller, TE, Steelers (41.4); Jake Ballard, TE, Giants (3.5).

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