Blogs > N-H Fantasy Sports

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, December 11, 2012

Fantasy football: Week 15 waiver-wire picks

Browns rookie receiver Josh Gordon is averaging 17.4 yards per catch.

In his last two games, he has 14 receptions for 202 yards and one touchdown.

He has five TDs in his last nine contests.

In the latter span, he has 35 catches for 639 yards and five TDs -- a 16-game pace of 62 receptions for 1,136 yards and nine scores.

All of which isn't to hammer home the point Tom Heckert shouldn't lose his job to Mike Lombardi (of course he shouldn't), but to say Josh Gordon is a fantasy starter.

Yes, your Cleveland Browns have a fantasy starter other than Trent Richardson and Phil Dawson.

On draft day, you would be elated if I told you your No. 3 fantasy receiver would finish the season with more than 60 catches, more than 1,100 yards and end the campaign with nine TDs.

That's how productive Gordon has been since Week 5, which makes it puzzling he is available in more than 62 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com.

If you play in a league in Northeast Ohio, there is very little chance Gordon is available on the waiver wire.

If you were fortunate enough to claim him in past weeks, play him as your third receiver.

If you're reading this in Pennsylvania, New York or somewhere else -- I hear this blog is huge in Australia -- put in a claim on Gordon today.

On to our rankings for the week.

As always, we rank players who are available in more than half of the ESPN leagues, and we usually aim for 40 percent ownership or lower.

Note: We analyzed the value of Giants running back and most-coveted pickup of the week David Wilson on Monday.

QUARTERBACKS
1. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (owned in 22.0 percent of the ESPN leagues)
2. Nick Foles, Eagles (3.9)
3. Chad Henne, Jaguars (7.0)
4. Brandon Weeden, Browns (8.1)
5. Sam Bradford, Rams (38.6)
Dropped out: None
Just missed the cut: Jake Locker, Titans (7.6 percent)

RUNNING BACKS
1. David Wilson, Giants (41.1 percent)
2. Montell Owens, Jaguars (8.8)
3. Alex Green, Packers (31.9)
4. Marcel Reece, Raiders (38.6)
5. Joique Bell, Lions (10.2)
Dropped out: James Starks, Packers; Jacquizz Rogers, Falcons
Just missed the cut: Rogers (28.4); Bilal Powell, Jets (3.1)

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Danario Alexander, Chargers (27.2 percent)
2. Josh Gordon, Browns (37.9)
3. Jason Avant, Eagles (0.5)
4. Golden Tate, Seahawks (17.0)
5. Kendall Wright, Titans (14.8) 
Dropped out: T.Y. Hilton, Colts (now owned in 56.7 percent of the ESPN leagues); Chris Givens, Rams
Just missed the cut: Givens (17.3); Davone Bess, Dolphins (16.9); Santana Moss, Redskins (37.5); Donnie Avery, Colts (16.3); Brandon Gibson, Rams (12.3)

TIGHT ENDS
1. Brandon Myers, Raiders (35.1 percent)
2. Dennis Pitta, Ravens (29.5)
3. Joel Dreessen, Broncos (7.2)
4. Clay Harbor, Eagles (0.1)
5. Dallas Clark, Buccaneers (5.3)
Dropped out: Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars; Benjamin Watson, Browns; Tony Moeaki, Chiefs
Just missed the cut: Lewis (20.5); Watson (4.2)

Past waiver-wire picks: Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 13, Week 14

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Fantasy football: Week 14 waiver-wire picks

Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck get the accolades, and deservedly so, for their phenomenal, somewhat unprecedented rookie seasons.

Often lost in the discussion is Seahawks rookie QB Russell Wilson, whose 95 rating is better than Luck's 76. Wilson also has thrown for more touchdowns than Luck (19 to 17) and has been picked off eight fewer times (eight, to Luck's 16).

I'm not saying Wilson is better than Luck, who is on pace to throw for 4,795 yards and has added five TDs on the ground.

I'm saying Wilson should be owned in far more than 17.8 percent of the ESPN leagues, and he is a decent starting option in deeper leagues.

If you've made your league's postseason, which likely begins this week, you probably don't need a QB.

If you do and Wilson is available, here are two numbers to consider: nine and zero, as in the number of touchdown passes and interceptions for the Seattle QB in his last four games.

In his last five contests, Wilson has thrown for 1,114 yards, 11 TDs and one interception.

This week, the Seahawks will play the Cardinals, who rank third against the pass and have more interceptions (18) than TD passes allowed (16). On paper, or your iPhone, the matchup might not look great, but I wouldn't worry about Wilson suddenly turning into Seneca Wallace.

In Week 15, Seattle will play at Buffalo, which is No. 13 vs. the pass but has given up 21 TD tosses, compared to 10 picks.

There are two more rookies in our top five at QB this week -- the Browns' Brandon Weeden and the Eagles' Nick Foles -- but Wilson is clearly the best option.

On to our rankings for the week.

As always, we rank players who are available in more than half of the ESPN leagues, and we usually aim for 40 percent ownership or lower.

QUARTERBACKS
1. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (owned in 17.5 percent of the ESPN leagues)
2. Chad Henne, Jaguars (8.5)
3. Brandon Weeden, Browns (7.5)
4. Sam Bradford, Rams (38.8)
5. Nick Foles, Eagles (3.5)
Dropped out: Colin Kaepernick, 49ers (owned in 45.7 percent of the ESPN leagues, which makes him too obvious of a choice for this list); Christian Ponder, Vikings
Just missed the cut: Jake Locker, Titans; Ponder; Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins

RUNNING BACKS
1.James Starks, Packers (7.0 percent)
2. Montell Owens, Jaguars (0.0)
3. Joique Bell, Lions (9.5)
4. Jacquizz Rogers, Falcons (32.9)
5. Alex Green, Packers (23.9)
Dropped out: Bryce Brown, Eagles (68.8 percent, which is too obvious); Knowshon Moreno, Broncos (48.8 percent, see Jennings); Jonathan Dwyer, Steelers (41.2, see Brown and Moreno); Rashad Jennings, Jaguars
Just missed the cut: Bilal Powell, Jets (1.8); Justin Forsett, Texans (0.8)

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. T.Y. Hilton, Colts (33.6 percent)
2. Danario Alexander, Chargers (26.8)
3. Josh Gordon, Browns (25.6)
4. Golden Tate, Seahawks (10.0)
5. Chris Givens, Rams (3.1) 
Dropped out: Jeremy Kerley, Jets; Andre Roberts, Cardinals; Davone Bess, Dolphins
Just missed the cut: Emmanuel Sanders, Steelers (3.7 percent); Kendall Wright, Titans (13.4); Bess (19.8); Brandon LaFell, Panthers (18.0); Donnie Avery, Colts (8.4); Kerley (37.1)

TIGHT ENDS
1. Brandon Myers, Raiders (22.1 percent)
2. Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars (18.7)
3. Benjamin Watson, Browns (5.6)
4. Dallas Clark, Buccaneers (5.2)
5. Tony Moeaki, Chiefs (0.7)
Dropped out: Dustin Keller, Jets; Dennis Pitta, Ravens; Dwayne Allen, Colts
Just missed the cut: Coby Fleener, Colts (12.2 percent); Pitta (30.4); Allen (2.8)

Past waiver-wire picks: Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 13

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,