Examining Waiver Priority

Tight Ends

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings - Rotoworld had been pushing Rudolph since late July, but he’s still unowned in 60 percent of Yahoo leagues. Christian Ponder’s favorite red-zone target is sixth in fantasy points and his 67-yard opener stands as his worst fantasy output of the young season. His schedule couldn’t set up more beautifully for the next three weeks, as the Lions, Titans and Redskins are the three most generous defenses against fantasy tight ends so far.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Fred Davis, Redskins - Dropped in many leagues after a pair of two-catch outings to start the season, Davis rebounded with seven receptions and 90 yards versus the Bengals. If Pierre Garcon (foot) misses this week’s game at Tampa Bay, Davis is once again a good bet to lead the team in targets. For now, his value will have to be revisited on a weekly basis.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Heath Miller, Steelers - Through three games, only Tony Gonzalez and Vernon Davis have more fantasy points than Miller. Although Miller’s production is heavily dependent on touchdowns, his 20 targets are tied for 10th among tight ends. Ben Roethlisberger has stated that he wants his tight end in the Pro Bowl this year, and the early results are promising.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Dustin Keller, Jets - Keller’s ownership has dropped to 31 percent after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury. There’s no guarantee that he will play in tough matchups versus the 49ers and Texans the next two weeks, but he’s worth stashing as a bye-week plug for Weeks 6-8 against the Colts, Pats and Dolphins.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Watch List: Brandon Myers, Dwayne Allen, Jordan Cameron

Myers has caught all 15 of his targets this year, but he’s coming off a concussion in Week 3. …
Allen had five catches while Coby Fleener was shut out against the Jags. … Cameron led the Browns with 45 receiving yards while playing for Alex Smith (concussion). Keep an eye on him to see if that performance merits more playing time going forward.

Cut Bait: Dallas Clark

The majority of Clark’s snaps have come in the two-minute drill. He doesn’t play in most base packages.

Team Defense

Cardinals - Ray Horton’s unit is second only to the Seahawks in scoring defense, having harassed Tom Brady and Michael Vick in back-to-back games. They have also been a top-five fantasy defense in most formats. The Cardinals should be owned in all leagues even before considering the tasty home matchup with the Dolphins in Week 4.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

Cowboys - Dallas’ defense is owned in just 36 percent of Yahoo leagues. After completely shutting down the Bucs offense in Week 3, they square off against a struggling Jay Cutler at home this week. DaMarcus Ware is licking his chops in preparation for a matchup with overwhelmed blindside protector J’Marcus Webb.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

Bengals - Cincinnati’s secondary isn’t ready to stop any legit aerial attacks, but the pass rush finally started bringing heat on the quarterback with Pro Bowl-caliber defensive end Carlos Dunlap back in the lineup. They draw a reeling Blaine Gabbert in Week 4.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.

In typical 12-team fantasy leagues, there is no Andre Brown, Dennis Pitta or Martellus Bennett plug-and-play starter available this week.

While there are plenty of young QB2 options in shallower leagues with Christian Ponder, Andy Dalton and Jake Locker available, the window on running-back value closed with the injury updates on Monday. Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller and Reggie Bush got better news than expected, and the backfields of the Broncos and Jets are cloudy at best.

At wide receiver, Leonard Hankerson and Donnie Avery should be rostered but are hardly burgeoning fantasy stars. The tight end picture is fine in shallow leagues with Kyle Rudolph, Heath Miller and perhaps Fred Davis available, but the pickings are slim in most formats.

If your league is one that uses a Waiver Priority system, it’s a good week to stand on the sidelines and let another owner fall behind you in the order for the coming bye-week crunch.  

On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players at each position as we head into Week 4. Full write-ups 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.

Quarterbacks
Christian Ponder
Andy Dalton
Jake Locker
Shaun Hill
Kevin Kolb

Running Backs
Ryan Williams
Jacquizz Rodgers
Lamar Miller
Daniel Thomas
Ronnie Hillman
Bilal Powell
Tashard Choice
Lance Ball

Wide Receivers
Leonard Hankerson
Donnie Avery
Jerome Simpson
Ramses Barden
Jon Baldwin
Andrew Hawkins
Alshon Jeffery
Golden Tate

Tight Ends
Kyle Rudolph
Fred Davis
Heath Miller
Dustin Keller

Team Defense
Cardinals
Cowboys
Bengals

Quarterbacks

Christian Ponder, Vikings - Outside of Matt Ryan and perhaps Robert Griffin III or Ben Roethlisberger, Ponder has played as well as any quarterback in the league in September. Lacking a true vertical threat, though, Ponder is just 14th in fantasy points. With Jerome Simpson due back from suspension this week, Ponder’s fantasy arrow is pointing up. This offense is more dangerous than commonly believed and Ponder is proving to be a high-end QB2 option.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Jake Locker, Titans - Bouncing back with his second strong game in three outings, Locker exploded for 378 yards and 30 fantasy points in Week 3. There will be inconsistency because Locker doesn’t always play under control, but his upside is QB1 territory with Kenny Britt returning to form. Britt was inches away from a breakout game versus the Lions. With the Titans’ passing-game talent and running-game struggles, Locker should be owned in more than 38 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Andy Dalton, Bengals - We recommended bailing on Dalton after a disappointing Week 1 performance, but he’s now cleared 300 yards with three scores apiece in each of his past two games. The Bengals offensive line has protected better than expected, and Andrew Hawkins and Armon Binns have stepped up as legit options beyond A.J. Green. Dalton is owned in only half of Yahoo leagues. That number should be higher for the No. 7 fantasy quarterback.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Shaun Hill, Lions - Coach Jim Schwartz revealed only that a decision would be made on Matthew Stafford’s (hamstring) status by Friday. CBS Sports reported the Lions are “unsure” of Stafford’s availability versus the Vikings, although Profootballtalk hears the “expectation is that he should be OK.” Stafford owners can protect themselves from a game-time decision by picking up his reliable backup. Hill threw for 16 touchdowns and averaged 260 yards per game in 10 starts as an injury fill-in two years ago.

Recommendation: Worth a look as an injury fill-in.

Kevin Kolb, Cardinals - John Skelton admitted that his ankle is still two weeks from being game-ready, but it doesn’t matter at this point. With vastly improved pocket presence in back-to-back wins versus the Pats and Eagles, Kolb finally has a relatively firm grip on the starting job. He would have cleared the 300-yard mark in Week 3 had Andre Roberts’ 79-yard pass play not been called back on a holding penalty. The shaky offensive line will continue to lead to inconsistency, but Kolb has earned a roster spot in the deepest of fantasy leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Cut Bait: Josh Freeman, Blaine Gabbert, Russell Wilson

Freeman is coming off the worst game of his career, and the Bucs play-calling and scheme lack creativity. … Gabbert has had back-to-back debacles after a promising opener. … Wilson is 32nd in the league in yards per attempt.

Running Backs

Ryan Williams, Cardinals - Beanie Wells suggested after Sunday’s game that he may be dealing with the dreaded turf toe injury that kills running-back production. Williams took over as the feature back, effectively killing the clock with a series of key first downs against a stout Eagles defense. He finally showed the burst we expected coming out of Virginia Tech and could have this backfield to himself for a few games. This week’s matchup is a tough one against the Dolphins’ shut-down run defense.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

Jacquizz Rodgers, Falcons - Don’t let Michael Turner’s garbage-time inflated snaps fool you. He struggled early on while Rodgers rotated in on early downs. Quizz actually led the backfield in snaps at San Diego, perhaps a sign of things to come. Inarguably a better fit for this pass-heavy offense, Rodgers could turn this backfield into a full-blown timeshare going forward. He’s still unowned in more than half of Yahoo leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Lamar Miller, Dolphins - The MRI on Reggie Bush’s left knee was negative, but it’s far from a certainty that he will be ready to play at Arizona this week. Miller isn’t trusted in pass protection and is still picking up Mike Sherman’s offense, but he’s clearly a superior runner to Daniel Thomas. The two would likely split touches if Bush does miss time, and Miller is the better bet for a big play or two.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Daniel Thomas, Dolphins - With Reggie Bush sidelined by a knee injury, Thomas played 42 snaps in Week 3 compared to just 17 for Lamar Miller. Thomas was outplayed by the rookie, however, losing a fumble and showing no elusiveness while averaging just 3.9 yards per carry. If Bush’s knee keeps him this week, Thomas would be no more than a flex play against the Cardinals’ stingy defense.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Bilal Powell, Jets - Powell took over for a struggling Shonn Greene on several key plays in Week 3, and coach Rex Ryan acknowledged that this could be a committee going forward. Powell isn’t that much better than Greene, though, and the schedule is brutal with matchups against the 49ers and Texans the next two weeks. With a chance to take over on early downs, Powell should be rostered in 12-team leagues. Just don’t get carried away with high expectations.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Ronnie Hillman, Broncos - Knowshon Moreno was a healthy scratch in Week 3, allowing Hillman to make his debut with just two carries for seven yards. With Willis McGahee banged up, the Broncos opted for Lance Ball as the primary ball carrier in the second half. Much like fellow rookies Lamar Miller and David Wilson, Hillman isn’t yet trusted in playbook and pass protection to earn a major offensive role. While he does offer more long-term upside than Ball and Moreno, expectations should be limited for Week 4 even if McGahee sit out versus the Raiders.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Tashard Choice, Bills - After taking over as the clear-cut feature back once C.J. Spiller went down with a shoulder injury, Choice now has the look of an iffy waiver pickup. Fred Jackson is giving himself a 70-75 percent chance of playing this week, and ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that the veteran will “probably” suit up versus the Patriots. Jackson is expected to practice Wednesday, leaving Choice as more of a change-of-pace option for Week 4.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Lance Ball, Broncos - The tight-lipped Broncos are calling Willis McGahee “day to day” after the starter was unable to return to Sunday’s game with a rib cartilage injury. If McGahee ends up missing Week 4 versus the Raiders, Ball could end up leading a committee attack with Knowshon Moreno and Ronnie Hillman. His value won’t clarify until later in the week, if at all.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper PPR leagues.

Watch List: Bryce Brown, Shaun Draughn, Javon Ringer

The Eagles are high on Brown’s running and receiving ability. He would be the primary beneficiary if LeSean McCoy misses time this season. … Draughn will see an uptick in touches if Peyton Hillis (ankle) sits out this week. … Hold off Ringer. Chris Johnson played better in Week 3, and Ringer is a mediocre talent.

Cut Bait: David Wilson, Jonathan Dwyer, Ronnie Brown, Curtis Brinkley, Dion Lewis

Wilson saw just two touches for one yard with Ahmad Bradshaw out of the lineup. Bradshaw has been cleared to resume practicing. … Dwyer is heading into a bye week with Rashard Mendenhall expected back in Week 5. … Brown was a healthy scratch last week. … Lewis has been a healthy scratch all season.

Wide Receivers

Leonard Hankerson, Redskins - Coach Mike Shanahan stated Monday that Hankerson has “played well enough to earn a starting job.” Hank is expected to remain the “X” receiver for as long as Pierre Garcon’s foot keeps him out of the lineup. The inference is that Hankerson will then move to the “Z” spot once Garcon is healthy, although he could lose a few snaps to Josh Morgan at that point. Either way, Hankerson is worthy of a roster spot in 12-team leagues this week.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Donnie Avery, Colts - Avery started over Austin Collie and played more snaps than Reggie Wayne in Week 3. With Collie now out for the season, Avery is locked in as the every-down starter opposite Wayne. Although he had just two catches versus the Jaguars, Avery has been targeted at least eight times in all three games thus far.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Jerome Simpson, Vikings - We’ve been calling the Vikings offense a fantasy sleeper since the preseason. The one thing holding them back early this season has been the lack of a legit vertical threat. Simpson figures to step in as the every-down “X” receiver with Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin and Kyle Rudolph all drawing defensive attention toward the middle of the field. Simpson will likely fall short of WR3 consistency, but his talent is worthy of a flier.   

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Ramses Barden, Giants - Pat yourself on the back if you had the foresight to plug Barden in for his 138-yard coming out party last Thursday. If he’s still available in your league, however, you may have missed your window. Hakeem Nicks is scheduled to resume practicing this week and “definitely anticipates” playing against the Eagles. Barden may have bypassed Domenik Hixon on the totem pole, but he’s far less attractive fantasy option if Nicks rejoins the lineup.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Jon Baldwin, Chiefs - Baldwin’s snap count has been on the rise for three consecutive weeks, and he finally bypassed both Dexter McCluster and Steve Breaston in Week 3. With McCluster (elbow) potentially sidelined for multiple weeks, Baldwin should be second in the passing-game pecking order behind only Dwayne Bowe. The question is whether Matt Cassel’s offense can support two fantasy receivers on a weekly basis.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Andrew Hawkins, Bengals - We love what we’ve seen from Hawkins with the ball in his hands. With a punt returner’s skill-set, he’s among the most dangerous after-catch slot receivers in the league. The dilemma for fantasy leagues is that the Bengals don’t go three-wide as much as most teams, leaving Hawkins’ snap count hovering around 50 percent. Among the top-15 fantasy receivers, Hawkins has the fewest targets (16) through three games. He’s been targeted just seven times the past two weeks.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.

Alshon Jeffery, Bears - Have the Bears finally conceded that Devin Hester isn’t a starting receiver? Jeffery played 53-of-72 snaps in Week 3 compared to Hester’s 13. The rookie also tied Brandon Marshall for the team lead with five receptions. Just beware that there’s a tough matchup looming at Dallas before the Jaguars and then a bye week.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Golden Tate, Seahawks - Tate’s 18 fantasy points trailed only A.J. Green, Torrey Smith and Calvin Johnson in Week 3, but we know they come with a giant blown-call asterisk. Tate has just three catches apiece in his two games, and Russell Wilson is bringing up the rear in yards per attempt. Tate is best left for those in deep leagues.

Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues

Watch List: Michael Floyd, T.Y. Hilton, Rod Streater, Derek Hagan, Jacoby Jones, Armon Binns

Keep an eye on Floyd’s snap count. He had 13 more snaps than Early Doucet and only 10 fewer than Andre Roberts versus the Eagles. … Hilton played half the snaps of Donnie Avery. While his Week 3 performance was excellent, it will likely go down as his best of the season. … Darrius Heyward-Bey is likely looking at a multi-week absence, but there’s no clear replacement between Streater and Hagan. … Binns saw just three targets and took advantage of a weak secondary. Hold off for now.

Hold Off: Damaris Johnson

Jeremy Maclin (hip) is expected back for Week 4, and Riley Cooper (collarbone) expects to be cleared for a return to game action.

Cut Bait: Greg Little, Dexter McCluster, Austin Collie, Stephen Hill

Coach Pat Shurmur hinted that Little’s drops could end up leading to a benching. He’s averaging just 25 yards per game. … McCluster had his arm in his sling Monday after it appeared that his elbow was dislocated during the Saints game. … Collie is done for the year. … Hill is likely to miss Week 4.

Tight Ends

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings - Rotoworld had been pushing Rudolph since late July, but he’s still unowned in 60 percent of Yahoo leagues. Christian Ponder’s favorite red-zone target is sixth in fantasy points and his 67-yard opener stands as his worst fantasy output of the young season. His schedule couldn’t set up more beautifully for the next three weeks, as the Lions, Titans and Redskins are the three most generous defenses against fantasy tight ends so far.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Fred Davis, Redskins - Dropped in many leagues after a pair of two-catch outings to start the season, Davis rebounded with seven receptions and 90 yards versus the Bengals. If Pierre Garcon (foot) misses this week’s game at Tampa Bay, Davis is once again a good bet to lead the team in targets. For now, his value will have to be revisited on a weekly basis.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.

Heath Miller, Steelers - Through three games, only Tony Gonzalez and Vernon Davis have more fantasy points than Miller. Although Miller’s production is heavily dependent on touchdowns, his 20 targets are tied for 10th among tight ends. Ben Roethlisberger has stated that he wants his tight end in the Pro Bowl this year, and the early results are promising.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Dustin Keller, Jets - Keller’s ownership has dropped to 31 percent after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury. There’s no guarantee that he will play in tough matchups versus the 49ers and Texans the next two weeks, but he’s worth stashing as a bye-week plug for Weeks 6-8 against the Colts, Pats and Dolphins.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Watch List: Brandon Myers, Dwayne Allen, Jordan Cameron

Myers has caught all 15 of his targets this year, but he’s coming off a concussion in Week 3. …
Allen had five catches while Coby Fleener was shut out against the Jags. … Cameron led the Browns with 45 receiving yards while playing for Alex Smith (concussion). Keep an eye on him to see if that performance merits more playing time going forward.

Cut Bait: Dallas Clark

The majority of Clark’s snaps have come in the two-minute drill. He doesn’t play in most base packages.

Team Defense

Cardinals - Ray Horton’s unit is second only to the Seahawks in scoring defense, having harassed Tom Brady and Michael Vick in back-to-back games. They have also been a top-five fantasy defense in most formats. The Cardinals should be owned in all leagues even before considering the tasty home matchup with the Dolphins in Week 4.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

Cowboys - Dallas’ defense is owned in just 36 percent of Yahoo leagues. After completely shutting down the Bucs offense in Week 3, they square off against a struggling Jay Cutler at home this week. DaMarcus Ware is licking his chops in preparation for a matchup with overwhelmed blindside protector J’Marcus Webb.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.

Bengals - Cincinnati’s secondary isn’t ready to stop any legit aerial attacks, but the pass rush finally started bringing heat on the quarterback with Pro Bowl-caliber defensive end Carlos Dunlap back in the lineup. They draw a reeling Blaine Gabbert in Week 4.

Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.