Labor Day 2010’s waiver kickoff brought us Millen’s Last Laugh brought us fantasy MVP Michael Vick, weekly starter Kyle Orton, breakout star Josh Freeman, top-five running back Peyton Hillis, and rookie sensation Rob Gronkowski. This year's "Waiver Wired" debut features a host of QB2 candidates, a potential No. 1 receiver on one of the pass-heaviest offensive in the league, and a pair of talented tight ends still flying under the radar.
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This is the first Waiver Wired of the season, so let's review the rules:
Every Tuesday, I'll go over the best available pickups at every fantasy position except kicker. Every league setup is different, so I'll try to include players who may be available in shallow leagues, and lesser-known players that are worth trying in deep leagues. I give a recommendation for each player, such as "Should be owned in 12-team leagues." This doesn't mean you should own him, just that he's good enough to improve one of the rosters in your league. If I write, "Must be owned," or "Should be owned in all leagues," I'm recommending doing what you can to find a spot.
Most of my leagues have moved to sites which allow owners to place interesting free agents on a "watch list" for future consideration. As such, each week I will throw in a few long-term fliers that should be placed on watch lists for easy access when a quick decision is needed.
On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into the season opener. Full writeups of each player are below.
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Editor's Note: Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass. Also last-minute drafters can still get the latest projection updates in Rotoworld's draft guide.
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Quarterbacks
Rex Grossman
Matt Hasselbeck
Jason Campbell
Cam Newton
Kerry Collins
Vince Young
Shaun Hill
Tim Tebow
Running backs
Delone Carter
Kendall Hunter
Deji Karim
Derrick Ward
DeMarco Murray
Jerome Harrison
Montario Hardesty
Leon Washington
Bernard Scott
Wide Receivers
Brandon Gibson
Greg Little
Denarius Moore
Emmanuel Sanders
Donald Jones
Arrelious Benn
Jabar Gaffney
Steve Smith (PHI)
Nate Washington
Tight Ends
Lance Kendricks
Jared Cook
Evan Moore
Visanthe Shiancoe
Fred Davis
Julius Thomas
Defense/Special Teams
Texans
Rams
Browns
49ers
Kickers
John Kasay
Jason Hanson
Quarterbacks
Rex Grossman, Redskins - Owned in 7% of CBS Sports leagues.
Will he keep the job all year? Not bloody likely. But Grossman does have a few things going for him, not least of which is the most pass-heavy play-callers of the past three NFL seasons. Grossman also boasted an impressive 7.7 yards per attempt and 64.2 completion mark while moving the offense with nary a hiccup in three exhibition games. In this offense -- and perhaps this offense only -- Grossman has the look of a high-end QB2 until the inevitable face-plant comes later in the season.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Matt Hasselbeck, Titans - Owned in 32% of CBS Sports leagues.
Hasselbeck’s waning accuracy and 34:44 TD-to-INT ratio the past three seasons don’t inspire much faith, but he showed in last year’s playoffs that there’s still enough left in the tank. Brett Favre’s up-and-down play in the lean rebuilding years of 2005-06 showed that an aging QB is as only as good as his surrounding talent. Hasselbeck is going from a weapon-less Seattle team to one with Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt, and Jared Cook -- not to mention a much better offensive line. There’s potential for a renaissance season starting with a dream matchup against the league’s worst secondary (Jacksonville) in Week 1.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Cam Newton, Panthers - Owned in 41% of CBS Sports leagues.
Explosive running ability is the great equalizer for accuracy-challenged quarterbacks. Just ask last seasons fantasy playoff star Tim Tebow. Newton isn’t ready to lead an NFL offense, but his preseason performance included two of the longest scrambles in franchise history. Newton's rushing numbers could mirror the ones Vince Young put up as a rookie: 552 yards and seven touchdowns.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Jason Campbell, Raiders - Owned in 18% of CBS Sports leagues.
As you may have read by now, this is the first time in Campbell’s six-year NFL career that he will have the same offensive coordinator for a second season. Just how much that is worth in fantasy terms is debatable, but Campbell does have improved weaponry with Jacoby Ford moving into a starring role, Chaz Schilens getting back to full health, and Denarius Moore emerging as a viable weapon. Campbell should have little trouble moving the offense up and down the field this season.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Kerry Collins, Colts - Owned in 9% of CBS Sports leagues.
It rarely ends well when a QB is dragged off his couch, and Collins will be no different. Now 38, Collins has the statuesque mobility of a late-career Drew Bledsoe to go with an erratic throwing arm and questionable decision-making. You wouldn’t know from the free pass he’s been given by national analysts, but Collins has been brutal the past two years in Nashville. With Peyton Manning out Week 1 -- and likely longer -- the Colts are planning a more run-heavy attack. Collins has had just two weeks in Indy’s offense. Keep expectations low.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Long-Term Fliers: Vince Young, Shaun Hill, Tim Tebow
In previous editions of this column, we’ve suggested adding high-upside backups Michael Vick and Kurt Warner only to see them go on to perform as elite fantasy QBs. Young certainly has that potential in a loaded offense with an injury-risk under center. … Tebow led all NFL QBs in fantasy points over the final three games of last season. … Hill was a top-10 fantasy QB in games he started last season.
Labor Day 2010’s waiver kickoff brought us Millen’s Last Laugh brought us fantasy MVP Michael Vick, weekly starter Kyle Orton, breakout star Josh Freeman, top-five running back Peyton Hillis, and rookie sensation Rob Gronkowski. This year's "Waiver Wired" debut features a host of QB2 candidates, a potential No. 1 receiver on one of the pass-heaviest offensive in the league, and a pair of talented tight ends still flying under the radar.
***
This is the first Waiver Wired of the season, so let's review the rules:
Every Tuesday, I'll go over the best available pickups at every fantasy position except kicker. Every league setup is different, so I'll try to include players who may be available in shallow leagues, and lesser-known players that are worth trying in deep leagues. I give a recommendation for each player, such as "Should be owned in 12-team leagues." This doesn't mean you should own him, just that he's good enough to improve one of the rosters in your league. If I write, "Must be owned," or "Should be owned in all leagues," I'm recommending doing what you can to find a spot.
Most of my leagues have moved to sites which allow owners to place interesting free agents on a "watch list" for future consideration. As such, each week I will throw in a few long-term fliers that should be placed on watch lists for easy access when a quick decision is needed.
On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into the season opener. Full writeups of each player are below.
***
Editor's Note: Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass. Also last-minute drafters can still get the latest projection updates in Rotoworld's draft guide.
***
Quarterbacks
Rex Grossman
Matt Hasselbeck
Jason Campbell
Cam Newton
Kerry Collins
Vince Young
Shaun Hill
Tim Tebow
Running backs
Delone Carter
Kendall Hunter
Deji Karim
Derrick Ward
DeMarco Murray
Jerome Harrison
Montario Hardesty
Leon Washington
Bernard Scott
Wide Receivers
Brandon Gibson
Greg Little
Denarius Moore
Emmanuel Sanders
Donald Jones
Arrelious Benn
Jabar Gaffney
Steve Smith (PHI)
Nate Washington
Tight Ends
Lance Kendricks
Jared Cook
Evan Moore
Visanthe Shiancoe
Fred Davis
Julius Thomas
Defense/Special Teams
Texans
Rams
Browns
49ers
Kickers
John Kasay
Jason Hanson
Quarterbacks
Rex Grossman, Redskins - Owned in 7% of CBS Sports leagues.
Will he keep the job all year? Not bloody likely. But Grossman does have a few things going for him, not least of which is the most pass-heavy play-callers of the past three NFL seasons. Grossman also boasted an impressive 7.7 yards per attempt and 64.2 completion mark while moving the offense with nary a hiccup in three exhibition games. In this offense -- and perhaps this offense only -- Grossman has the look of a high-end QB2 until the inevitable face-plant comes later in the season.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Matt Hasselbeck, Titans - Owned in 32% of CBS Sports leagues.
Hasselbeck’s waning accuracy and 34:44 TD-to-INT ratio the past three seasons don’t inspire much faith, but he showed in last year’s playoffs that there’s still enough left in the tank. Brett Favre’s up-and-down play in the lean rebuilding years of 2005-06 showed that an aging QB is as only as good as his surrounding talent. Hasselbeck is going from a weapon-less Seattle team to one with Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt, and Jared Cook -- not to mention a much better offensive line. There’s potential for a renaissance season starting with a dream matchup against the league’s worst secondary (Jacksonville) in Week 1.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Cam Newton, Panthers - Owned in 41% of CBS Sports leagues.
Explosive running ability is the great equalizer for accuracy-challenged quarterbacks. Just ask last seasons fantasy playoff star Tim Tebow. Newton isn’t ready to lead an NFL offense, but his preseason performance included two of the longest scrambles in franchise history. Newton's rushing numbers could mirror the ones Vince Young put up as a rookie: 552 yards and seven touchdowns.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Jason Campbell, Raiders - Owned in 18% of CBS Sports leagues.
As you may have read by now, this is the first time in Campbell’s six-year NFL career that he will have the same offensive coordinator for a second season. Just how much that is worth in fantasy terms is debatable, but Campbell does have improved weaponry with Jacoby Ford moving into a starring role, Chaz Schilens getting back to full health, and Denarius Moore emerging as a viable weapon. Campbell should have little trouble moving the offense up and down the field this season.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Kerry Collins, Colts - Owned in 9% of CBS Sports leagues.
It rarely ends well when a QB is dragged off his couch, and Collins will be no different. Now 38, Collins has the statuesque mobility of a late-career Drew Bledsoe to go with an erratic throwing arm and questionable decision-making. You wouldn’t know from the free pass he’s been given by national analysts, but Collins has been brutal the past two years in Nashville. With Peyton Manning out Week 1 -- and likely longer -- the Colts are planning a more run-heavy attack. Collins has had just two weeks in Indy’s offense. Keep expectations low.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Long-Term Fliers: Vince Young, Shaun Hill, Tim Tebow
In previous editions of this column, we’ve suggested adding high-upside backups Michael Vick and Kurt Warner only to see them go on to perform as elite fantasy QBs. Young certainly has that potential in a loaded offense with an injury-risk under center. … Tebow led all NFL QBs in fantasy points over the final three games of last season. … Hill was a top-10 fantasy QB in games he started last season.
Running Backs
Delone Carter, Colts - Owned in 20% of CBS Sports leagues.
With Peyton Manning injured, the Colts are carrying four tailbacks and a fullback to open the season. It’s clear that they plan on running the ball with Kerry Collins under center. Joseph Addai is the textbook example of “just a guy” as an NFL talent. Hardly a picture of stability, he’s also missed 12 games over the past three seasons. Be it through performance or injury, the bull-dozing Carter will have a shot at fantasy value as a rookie. If he lands goal-line duties, there’s also potential for double-digit scores.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Kendall Hunter, 49ers - Owned in 17% of CBS Sports leagues.
Hunter's 231 yards on just 35 carries (6.6 YPC) led all running backs this preseason, vaulting him past Anthony Dixon on the depth chart. Drawing comparisons to Ray Rice, Hunter has game-breaking speed and elite receiving ability. Hunter is good enough -- and Frank Gore brittle enough -- that there’s RB2 potential in the right scenario.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Deji Karim, Jaguars - Owned in 14% of CBS Sports leagues.
Rashad Jennings was considered a top-40 fantasy back in many circles until going down with a season-ending knee injury. The majority of his responsibilities will now fall on the shoulders of Karim, a less complete but more explosive back. Coach Jack Del Rio still feels “great” about his backfield, due in large part to Karim’s “explosive element,” “great vision,” and improvement in all facets this year. If Maurice Jones-Drew (knee) goes down, Karim has immediate RB2 value.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Derrick Ward, Texans - Owned in 18% of CBS Sports leagues.
A surging Ben Tate is owned in over 60% of fantasy leagues, which makes plenty of sense considering his talent level and gaudy 7.4 YPC in preseason action. The only problem is that Ward remains higher on the depth chart and would likely start if Arian Foster experiences a setback with his hamstring injury.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
DeMarco Murray, Cowboys - Owned in 32% of CBS Sports leagues.
Murray is still battling Tashard Choice for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Felix Jones. The third-rounder showed better than expected speed, burst, and vision in the preseason finale, and the coaching staff is eager to see what he can do as a receiver out of the backfield. There’s flex potential here if he can leave Choice behind.
Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR leagues.
Jerome Harrison, Lions - Owned in 20% of CBS Sports leagues.
The Lions reportedly expect Keiland Williams to fill the Mikel Leshoure role, which is ambitious at best and unrealistic at worst. With veteran Maurice Morris also around, this backfield is muddled behind brittle starter Jahvid Best. Harrison’s preseason work (27 rushes, 131 yards) and career per-carry average of 4.8 yards suggest he’s the horse to gamble on as a roster stash.
Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Montario Hardesty, Browns - Owned in 29% of CBS Sports leagues.
Brandon Jackson (toe) is out for the season, leaving Hardesty as the No. 2 back and potential tandem partner to Peyton Hillis. Recent reports from Browns camp suggest Hardesty is finally making sharper cuts while turning the corner in his recovery from yet another knee surgery. Don’t expect a major early-season impact, but his role should expand by October.
Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Leon Washington, Seahawks - Owned in 4% of CBS Sports leagues.
Washington was eased back in as a special teams star coming off a compound leg fracture last season. Now two years removed from the gruesome injury, his offensive role is set to expand at the expense of Justin Forsett and Marshawn Lynch on passing downs. The most explosive back on Seattle’s roster, Washington could have flex appeal in PPR formats.
Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR leagues.
Bernard Scott, Bengals - Owned in 15% of CBS Sports leagues.
Coach Marvin Lewis has already accepted the blame for not using Cedric Benson’s explosive backup enough last season -- a sign that Scott’s role will grow in a more run-oriented attack this year. Benson is never more than one off-field mishap away from suspension or one on-field misstep away from injury.
Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Watch List: Steve Slaton, Roy Helu, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Alex Green, Isaac Redman, Cadillac Williams, Taiwan Jones, Jacquizz Rodgers
Slaton may be the most likely of any player to be traded before the mid-October deadline. He’s unlikely to land a feature back role, but worth carrying in deeper leagues to see what develops. … Helu, Ridley, Vereen, and Green have rookie sheen, but would likely be stuck in a timeshare situation if the starter goes down. … Redman and Caddy are purely handcuffs. … Jones and Rodgers have obvious play-making ability but questionable roles.
Wide Receivers
Brandon Gibson, Rams - Owned in 14% of CBS Sports leagues.
Gibson opened camp as the starting flanker and fought off all comers over the past five weeks to keep the job. Evidence from preseason alignments suggests Gibson also managed to hold off Mike Sims-Walker for the No. 1 receiver role, sticking on the field as the lone wideout in three-tight end formations. Whether that is still the case by October remains to be seen. Regardless, Sims-Walker went the price of a mid-round pick while Gibson is ripe for the plucking on this week’s waiver wire.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Greg Little, Browns - Owned in 32% of CBS Sports leagues.
Mohamed Massaquoi, owned in 9% of fantasy leagues, returned to take back his starting job, but we prefer Little as a fantasy prospect. Out of all Cleveland wideouts, Little is the one with the best chance of emerging as a true No. 1 receiver. At 6’3/231, the converted running back has the physicality and run-after-catch skills that helped a similar receiver in Anquan Boldin make an immediate impact at the NFL level. Little is a fine use of a roster stash.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Denarius Moore, Raiders - Owned in 9% of CBS Sports leagues.
A standout since the first day of training camp, the fifth-rounder has been unguardable in practices and often described as the best player on the field. The difference between Moore and previous rookie sensations Marques Colston and Mike Williams is that the latter two were announced as starters by the end of the exhibition season. Coach Hue Jackson did assure that he will find ways to get the ball in Moore’s hands, so there’s still plenty of upside here. Moore and Jacoby Ford are easily the most talented wideouts on Oakland’s roster.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Emmanuel Sanders, Steelers - Owned in 9% of CBS Sports leagues.
Thanks to a spectacular performance in training camp and preseason action, Antonio Brown is owned in over 50% of fantasy leagues. While Brown is a fine prospect in his own right, Sanders is a better route runner with a superior knowledge of Pittsburgh’s offense. Sanders is fully recovered from multiple foot operations as evidenced by his four-catch, 60-yard performance in the preseason finale. Even if Brown outproduces him in September, Sanders is the better bet over the long haul. Both young wideouts will eat into Hines Ward’s production.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Arrelious Benn, Bucaneers - Owned in 14% of CBS Sports leagues.
Last year’s second-rounder is flying under the fantasy radar because the Bucs took the conservative route in bringing him back from ACL surgery over the past month. By all accounts, Benn is back to full health and poised to enter the season as the starter opposite Mike Williams.
Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Nate Washington, Titans - Owned in 20% of CBS Sports leagues.
Tennessee’s No. 2 receiver won’t have much fantasy potential over the course of the season, but the Week 1 matchup is made to order. If, like me, you’re stuck bird-dogging the injury report for updates on Lance Moore (groin), Austin Collie (foot), or Sidney Rice (shoulder) this week, Washington could make for a fine one-game fill-in.
Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.
PPR League Specials
Steve Smith, Eagles - Owned in 28% of CBS Sports leagues.
No matter what he says, Smith is unlikely to contribute in Week 1. He’s barely even practiced coming off knee surgery. I have hard time seeing where Smith’s targets will come from once he joins the lineup, but his 155 receptions in 25 games the past two seasons can’t be ignored at the price of a waiver flier.
Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR leagues.
Donald Jones, Bills - Owned in 0% of CBS Sports leagues.
Jones’ absence from fantasy rosters speaks to the influence -- or lack thereof -- that SI.com’s Peter King has on the game. Jones is locked in as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s No. 2 target in a pass-heavy offense to enter the season. King has been advising fantasy owners to draft Jones in the 12th round because he’s a “he’s a favorite of the coaches and the quarterback.” You didn’t need to waste a draft pick on Jones, but he’s worth a look on the waiver wire.
Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR leagues.
Jabar Gaffney, Redskins - Owned in 14% of CBS Sports leagues.
Another favorite of King, who predicted Gaffney will catch more than 70 passes this season. That number is unrealistic, but Gaffney should break the 50 mark for a second straight season as the No. 2 receiver in coach Mike Shanahan’s decidedly pass-heavy offense. With Chris Cooley (knee) banged up to enter the season, Gaffney’s role could expand.
Recommendation: Worth a look in PPR leagues.
Watch List: Donnie Avery, Bernard Berrian, Jason Hill, Eric Decker, Chaz Schilens, Andre Roberts, Harry Douglas, Danario Alexander, Marcus Easley, Cecil Shorts, Taylor Price, Damian Williams
Keep an eye on Avery to see if he lands anywhere interesting. The injury-prone burner was finally drawing positive buzz over the last two weeks of training camp. … Schilens and Alexander are also brittle play-makers. … The rest are starters or near-starters with the potential to emerge or disappear early in the season.
Tight Ends
Lance Kendricks, Rams - Owned in 25% of CBS Sports leagues.
Think Aaron Hernandez because new OC Josh McDaniels -- a noted Bill Belichick acolyte -- is using the second-round rookie as a “move” tight end in an overgrown wideout’s body. Kendricks picked up the offensive quickly, emerging as the Rams’ top play-maker throughout the exhibition season. Don’t look for the next Brandon Lloyd in St. Louis. Kendricks is the primary beneficiary of the McDaniels hire among Sam Bradford’s targets.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Jared Cook, Titans - Owned in 29% of CBS Sports leagues.
Cook looked the second coming of perennial tease Ben Troupe until late last season when he emerged as a top-10 fantasy tight end over the final five games. Cook isn’t too far off from Jermichael Finley physically, and new OC Chris Palmer has made it clear that there’s a big role in store of him this season. Reliable beat writer Jim Wyatt has set the over/under on Cook’s receptions at 62 this season.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Evan Moore, Browns - Owned in 4% of CBS Sports leagues.
The MVP of Browns’ training camp has emerged as Gregg Rosenthal’s favorite deep sleeper at tight end. A developing former Stanford basketball player, Moore has been pegged by ClevelandBrowns.com’s Vic Carucci to lead the team in receiving this year. He’s already Colt McCoy’s favorite red-zone target.
Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.
Fred Davis, Redskins - Owned in 3% of CBS Sports leagues.
Chris Cooley is touch-and-go for the opener with a knee injury that has plagued him since the offseason began. With 48 receptions, 509 yards, and six scores in just nine starts as an injury fill-in two years ago, Davis has proven capable of TE1 production should Cooley miss time.
Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Julius Thomas, Broncos - Owned in 1% of CBS Sports leagues.
The fourth-rounder out of Portland State has drawn comparisons to Antonio Gates as a freakishly athletic converted basketball player. In the first week of camp, he went from backup to running with the first-team in pass-heavy situations, to drawing double coverage. Until he masters the blocking aspect of the game, though, Thomas’ snaps will be limited behind Daniel Fells. There’s breakout potential here if Thomas ascends to the starting role.
Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings - Owned in 32% of CBS Sports leagues.
Shiancoe just returned to practice after missing most of August with a hamstring injury. He may have been left for the dead with an unproven QB, but the Donovan McNabb has given him new life as a red-zone threat. It was McNabb who lifted Brent Celek to a 76/971/8 line two years ago.
Recommendation: Worth a look in touchdown-heavy leagues.
Watch List: Kyle Rudolph, Ed Dickson
Defense/Special Teams
Texans - Owned in 28% of CBS Sports leagues.
I’m all in on the Texans defense this year. Since 1988, every defense that coordinator Wade Phillips has taken over has shown immediate statistical improvement. Mario Williams, Connor Barwin, and Brooks Reed spent the preseason chasing QBs around the pocket while Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning provide stark upgrades in the secondary. This has the look of a surprise fantasy defense, beginning with Week 1 against Kerry Collins and the Colts.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Rams - Owned in 34% of CBS Sports leagues.
The Week 1 matchup is dicey for those leagues that penalize for points scored. Michael Vick giventh and taketh away to fantasy defenses. Over the course of the season, though, the Rams have top-10 potential with a pass rush that collapsed the pocket and harrassed QBs throughout the preseason.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Browns - Owned in 16% of CBS Sports leagues.
The Week 1 matchup against the Andy Dalton-led Bungles is juicy enough, but there’s also potential for at least a month’s worth of usage out of Cleveland’s defense. Next up on the docket: Kerry Collins’ Colts, Chad Henne’s Dolphins, and Matt Hasselbeck’s Titans.
Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.
49ers - Owned in 37% of CBS Sports leagues.
Seattle QB Tarvaris Jackson has struggled to move the offense all preseason behind a crumbling line playing as poorly as any unit in the league. Jackson managed an unfathomably low 3.77 yards per attempt on 48 exhibition passes.
Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.
Cardinals - Owned in 35% of CBS Sports leagues.
The No. 1 fantasy defense in many leagues last season thanks to an abnormally high touchdown total, Arizona gets Cam Newton in his first NFL start. The Cardinals typically play much stronger at home, and running QBs are often greater risks for sacks and fumbles. It’s worth noting that Arizona also gets turnover machine Rex Grossman and Tarvaris Jackson the next two weeks.
Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.
Kickers
John Kasay, Saints - I won’t do a list of kickers every week, but I wanted to point out two aging but fairly reliable veterans kicking indoors for offenses consistently in scoring position. Kasay will handle field-goal duties for the Saints in September and October while Garrett Hartley nurses a hip flexor injury. Kasay won’t drill many 50-yarders, but he’s been over 85 percent in three of the past four years.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
Jason Hanson, Lions - Any reliable kicker with a dome-field advantage in a potentially high-scoring offense should be owned in more than 31% of fantasy leagues.
Recommendation: Should be owned in 14-team leagues.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter.