Derrick Ward The Lowdown: The Buccaneers released Ward at the end of the preseason, with Raheem Morris criticizing Ward's conditioning. The Texans signed him at the start of the season, and Ward has scored three touchdowns in three weeks as
Arian Foster's backup.
A Deeper Look: Ward had runs of 38, 16, and four yards against the Chiefs on Sunday. If he could surround those carries with another 10-12 rushes, he could do some fantasy damage, but that's not going to happen as long as Foster is healthy and motivated. On the other hand, Foster has already had some minor injuries and a brief suspension for missing a team meeting, so the "healthy and motivated" thing carries no guarantees. Ward rushed for just 50 yards on 21 carries in the preseason, so it's not clear where this suddenly spry big-play machine came from.
The Final Word: Ward is only valuable as Foster insurance or a Foster handcuff, but that still gives him some value. Gary Kubiak has a quick hook with running backs: remember that
Steve Slaton used to put up Foster-like numbers but is now relegated to kick returns. If Ward is still on waivers, consider signing him to "flip" him to the guy with Foster. If you are the guy with Foster, protect yourself.
Ladell Betts and Julius Jones The Lowdown: Since
Pierre Thomas and
Reggie Bush got hurt, the Saints have become a halfway house for running backs on their way out of the league. The team signed Betts in August, released him late in camp, then brought him back after Bush got injured. Jones started the season with the Seahawks, carrying 12 times for 30 yards before getting released at the start of October. But the Saints aren't picky.
A Deeper Look: Jones' longest carry of the year before Sunday's win against the Buccaneers was six yards. He had a 16-yard run in the second quarter against the Buccaneers, but most of his production – and there wasn't much of it – came when the Saints were coasting. Betts may look more appealing than Jones after carrying 23 times in two games and scoring against the Buccaneers, but he has been little more than a plodder. In one mind-boggling sequence against the Bucs,
Chris Ivory limped off the field with the Saints in the red zone, and Betts and Jones needed five carries and a penalty to travel 11 yards. If you really want to be part of this mess, knock yourself out.
The Final Word: The player you want is Ivory, who rushed for 146 yards in the preseason and has the size to earn some goal-line opportunities when Thomas returns. Betts is toast. Jones could maybe, possibly, sort-of have some PPR value, but you have to live with receiving stat lines like the gem he produced in Week 12 last year: five catches, minus-three yards.
Trent Edwards The Lowdown: David Garrard suffered a concussion on Monday Night for the Jaguars, leaving the Bills' Opening Day starter to come off the bench and throw for 140 yards and two interceptions.
Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass. A Deeper Look: You aren't really thinking of signing a guy who was cut by the Bills and just threw two interceptions during the garbage time of a 30-3 loss, are you?
The Final Word: If you are really scraping the dregs for quarterbacks, consider
Ryan Fitzpatrick, who replaced Edwards in Buffalo. Fitzpatrick can run, has a creative coach, knows how to get the ball to up-and-comer
Steve Johnson, and has made a career out of padding his stats in ugly games.
The
Randy Moss trade made national headlines two weeks ago, but you know the Moss story. If you want him, warm up your time machine, travel back to late August, and draft him.
Several lower-profile veterans resurfaced with new teams recently, some after trades, some after trips to the free agent market (a nice way of saying "unemployment.") Unlike Moss, these guys may be sitting on the waiver wire, and a few of them could help your fantasy team. Here's a breakdown of some of the old faces now appearing in new places:
Deion Branch The Lowdown: Tom Brady's go-to guy from 2002 through 2005 and one of the greatest Super Bowl performers ever (21 catches, 276 yards, one touchdown in two games) is back in New England after four disappointing seasons with the Seahawks. After a 9-98-1 performance against the Ravens, Branch is the early favorite to replace
Randy Moss as the big play threat in the Patriots offense.
A Deeper Look: Big play threat? Branch averaged 9.7 yards per catch in 2009 and was averaging 8.6 yards per catch before the trade. Even in his heyday, Branch was more of a possession receiver than a burner, averaging just 12.8 yards per catch and scoring only five touchdowns in 2008, his best season (78-998). Branch has never had a multi-touchdown game and has only had seven 100-plus yard regular-season receiving performances in his career. Seven of Branch's nine catches on Sunday came in the fourth quarter or overtime, suggesting that his performance had more to do with the situation than with some plan to replace Moss.
Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass. The Final Word: Branch is definitely worth a pickup for receiver depth if no one snatched him last week. Just know what you are getting: a guy who was part of a committee approach in his best seasons and will fill the same role this year. When it comes time for your playoff fantasy pool, though, grab Branch with both hands.
Marshawn Lynch The Lowdown: Lynch was trapped in a numbers game in Buffalo: the Bills had three good running backs but no opportunities to run the ball because they are always playing from behind. The Seahawks acquired Lynch for two late-round draft picks, and Lynch carried 14 times for 47 yards and a touchdown on Sunday against the Bears.
A Deeper Look: Not counting his one-yard touchdown, nine of Lynch' 14 carries netted no yards, one yard, or a loss.
Justin Forsett also had a touchdown against the Bears and had another red-zone carry, so while Lynch earned the start, he wasn't the designated goalline back. This is a crowded, confusing backfield committee, with
Michael Robinson in the mix as a Wildcat and
Leon Washington as a third-down back. Lynch is a tough runner who was playing well in Buffalo (64 and 79 yard games), but it's not clear how much use he'll get in Seattle.
The Final Word: Obviously, you need to take a long look at Lynch if you are having a running back crisis. He's officially a starter right now, which gives him a head up on the other guys in this article.
Derrick Ward The Lowdown: The Buccaneers released Ward at the end of the preseason, with Raheem Morris criticizing Ward's conditioning. The Texans signed him at the start of the season, and Ward has scored three touchdowns in three weeks as
Arian Foster's backup.
A Deeper Look: Ward had runs of 38, 16, and four yards against the Chiefs on Sunday. If he could surround those carries with another 10-12 rushes, he could do some fantasy damage, but that's not going to happen as long as Foster is healthy and motivated. On the other hand, Foster has already had some minor injuries and a brief suspension for missing a team meeting, so the "healthy and motivated" thing carries no guarantees. Ward rushed for just 50 yards on 21 carries in the preseason, so it's not clear where this suddenly spry big-play machine came from.
The Final Word: Ward is only valuable as Foster insurance or a Foster handcuff, but that still gives him some value. Gary Kubiak has a quick hook with running backs: remember that
Steve Slaton used to put up Foster-like numbers but is now relegated to kick returns. If Ward is still on waivers, consider signing him to "flip" him to the guy with Foster. If you are the guy with Foster, protect yourself.
Ladell Betts and Julius Jones The Lowdown: Since
Pierre Thomas and
Reggie Bush got hurt, the Saints have become a halfway house for running backs on their way out of the league. The team signed Betts in August, released him late in camp, then brought him back after Bush got injured. Jones started the season with the Seahawks, carrying 12 times for 30 yards before getting released at the start of October. But the Saints aren't picky.
A Deeper Look: Jones' longest carry of the year before Sunday's win against the Buccaneers was six yards. He had a 16-yard run in the second quarter against the Buccaneers, but most of his production – and there wasn't much of it – came when the Saints were coasting. Betts may look more appealing than Jones after carrying 23 times in two games and scoring against the Buccaneers, but he has been little more than a plodder. In one mind-boggling sequence against the Bucs,
Chris Ivory limped off the field with the Saints in the red zone, and Betts and Jones needed five carries and a penalty to travel 11 yards. If you really want to be part of this mess, knock yourself out.
The Final Word: The player you want is Ivory, who rushed for 146 yards in the preseason and has the size to earn some goal-line opportunities when Thomas returns. Betts is toast. Jones could maybe, possibly, sort-of have some PPR value, but you have to live with receiving stat lines like the gem he produced in Week 12 last year: five catches, minus-three yards.
Trent Edwards The Lowdown: David Garrard suffered a concussion on Monday Night for the Jaguars, leaving the Bills' Opening Day starter to come off the bench and throw for 140 yards and two interceptions.
Editor's Note: For early rankings every Tuesday morning, tons of exclusive columns, subscriber-only chats, full projections updated all week and much more, get our award-winning Season Pass. A Deeper Look: You aren't really thinking of signing a guy who was cut by the Bills and just threw two interceptions during the garbage time of a 30-3 loss, are you?
The Final Word: If you are really scraping the dregs for quarterbacks, consider
Ryan Fitzpatrick, who replaced Edwards in Buffalo. Fitzpatrick can run, has a creative coach, knows how to get the ball to up-and-comer
Steve Johnson, and has made a career out of padding his stats in ugly games.