Working the Wire- Week 12
@Hoover__26 November 24
This year seems to be the season of injuries. Of course, there are always injuries, and they always hurt people’s fantasy teams, but this year might be the hardest one in recent memory. However, it’s not all bad. You now have an opportunity to grab the next fantasy star for free. Don't waste that opportunity, check out these guys that are probably available in your league:
Javorius “Buck” Allen- 6.2% Owned
Last week, Justin Forsett broke his arm, and Joe Flacco tore his ACL. Just as we planned it, right? So now, the sputtering Ravens are going to have to turn to Matt Schaub and Buck Allen to run their offense, and control their slim (very, very slim) playoff hopes. While Matt Schaub might not be a top waiver wire add , we know Buck Allen can play. He had a very nice career at USC, and has shown spurts of talent so far this year. But, like with Charcandrick West a few weeks back, the sample size is tiny. We all know how Rick turned out, so if Buck can come in and have some successful runs, he could be a very nice add. I mean, it’s not like the defense will be selling out on the run with a rookie fourth rounder in the backfield.
Tevin Coleman- 26.1% Owned
Frankly, I’m shocked that Coleman isn’t owned in more leagues. He has had a few fumbling issues, but with Devonta Freeman probably out with a concussion, Coleman will be taking back his starting role. Freeman was the NFL’s leading rusher, so Coleman has the opportunity to play very well with Atlanta’s offensive line. Matt Ryan’s play has been above average, and he is always a threat to get hot, so the defense has to be mindful. Coleman has the potential to be a very good running back, as he was tremendous in college, but he will only get a real shot to play when Devonta Freeman is out. If Coleman wants to cement more carries, his time is now. If you want to cement Tevin Coleman in your fantasy league, your time is now.
Spencer Ware- 0.5% Owned
Charcandrick West was chugging along at a strong pace, when he injured his hamstring. Really, again? Another Chiefs running back down? With West’s condition and chance of playing a bit murky, fantasy owners must once again turn to a little-known backup for production. Spencer Ware was on the practice squad for much of this year, and wasn’t even in the NFL last season (after Seattle cut him in 2013). However, Ware came in and put up 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That game is pretty much all we have to go on here, besides his LSU days. But, if we base picks solely on sample size, Charcandrick West would never have been noticed. As much as I love metric stats, we sometimes have to throw those numbers (or lack thereof) away and just look. Spencer Ware has a shot to be the third fantasy star running back to play for Kansas City this year.
Crockett Gillmore- 17.0% Owned
I already spoke about the Ravens’ dire situation, so I will spare you of that sob story. What I will say, is Crockett Gillmore has played like a top tight end this year. He put up a hundred yard game last week against a generally strong Rams defense, and with Matt Schaub in as quarterback, Baltimore will need Gillmore to step up and use his big body to box out defenders and snatch some passes.
Leonard Hankerson- 15.0% Owned
Hankerson grabbed his third touchdown of the year last week, and could be a sneaky play as a secondary passing option to Julio Jones in the Atlanta offense. Hankerson has had a little problem with drops, as he only catches about 56% of his targets (sportingcharts.com), but he still manages to put up some good games. I would keep an eye on him, as he might not break out next week, but it looks like he has a chance to give you some very nice numbers.
Brent Celek- 0.9% Owned
The addition of Zach Ertz to the list of injuries last week creates a hole in the Eagles’ offense. The next best option at tight end is Celek, and he showed that he can take advantage of the opportunity, as he backed up his 134 yard week 10 with a 79 yard week 11. Brent is the second Celek I have featured in Working the Wire (Garrett Celek of San Francisco), and looks to be a bit less of a risk than his brother. I would give Brent some serious consideration, if you need to stream a tight end this week or you want to try a new starter.
Devin Funchess- 20.5% Owned
Funchess wasn’t really a big part of Carolina’s talented offense for the first half of the season. However, he has burst on to the scene in the last three weeks, with 176 combined yards and a pair of touchdowns. Cam Newton looks like he could be a frontrunner in the MVP race, and with all the touchdowns he’s tossing, Funchess is bound to have some nice games. Carolina is undefeated, and the combination of an offense that looks unbeatable and a defense that smothers opposing offenses (according to sportingcharts.com, the Panthers lead the league in Toxic Differential, which is a defense’s ability to force turnovers and stop big plays), they are in really good shape. Funchess certainly looks like he will be a key part of the Panthers’ success going forward, so pick him up now, while he’s still available.
Teddy Bridgewater- 20.5% Owned
Teddy Bridgewater has actually become a franchise quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings (obviously not the franchise player, Adrian Peterson has a strangle hold on that title). While Bridgewater has been dubbed a “game manager”, and hasn’t put up many fantasy points despite playing well, I think that’s bound to change. As a guy with good accuracy and and a nice arm, the only thing stopping him from becoming great is a lack of opportunity to make big throws. At some point, however, Bridgewater is going to take on a bigger role. The Vikings have some very exciting receivers, and Bridgewater is certainly ready to get them the ball. If you can grab him, I think it might be worth it to take a chance on him. It might just pay off big.
Javorius “Buck” Allen- 6.2% Owned
Last week, Justin Forsett broke his arm, and Joe Flacco tore his ACL. Just as we planned it, right? So now, the sputtering Ravens are going to have to turn to Matt Schaub and Buck Allen to run their offense, and control their slim (very, very slim) playoff hopes. While Matt Schaub might not be a top waiver wire add , we know Buck Allen can play. He had a very nice career at USC, and has shown spurts of talent so far this year. But, like with Charcandrick West a few weeks back, the sample size is tiny. We all know how Rick turned out, so if Buck can come in and have some successful runs, he could be a very nice add. I mean, it’s not like the defense will be selling out on the run with a rookie fourth rounder in the backfield.
Tevin Coleman- 26.1% Owned
Frankly, I’m shocked that Coleman isn’t owned in more leagues. He has had a few fumbling issues, but with Devonta Freeman probably out with a concussion, Coleman will be taking back his starting role. Freeman was the NFL’s leading rusher, so Coleman has the opportunity to play very well with Atlanta’s offensive line. Matt Ryan’s play has been above average, and he is always a threat to get hot, so the defense has to be mindful. Coleman has the potential to be a very good running back, as he was tremendous in college, but he will only get a real shot to play when Devonta Freeman is out. If Coleman wants to cement more carries, his time is now. If you want to cement Tevin Coleman in your fantasy league, your time is now.
Spencer Ware- 0.5% Owned
Charcandrick West was chugging along at a strong pace, when he injured his hamstring. Really, again? Another Chiefs running back down? With West’s condition and chance of playing a bit murky, fantasy owners must once again turn to a little-known backup for production. Spencer Ware was on the practice squad for much of this year, and wasn’t even in the NFL last season (after Seattle cut him in 2013). However, Ware came in and put up 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That game is pretty much all we have to go on here, besides his LSU days. But, if we base picks solely on sample size, Charcandrick West would never have been noticed. As much as I love metric stats, we sometimes have to throw those numbers (or lack thereof) away and just look. Spencer Ware has a shot to be the third fantasy star running back to play for Kansas City this year.
Crockett Gillmore- 17.0% Owned
I already spoke about the Ravens’ dire situation, so I will spare you of that sob story. What I will say, is Crockett Gillmore has played like a top tight end this year. He put up a hundred yard game last week against a generally strong Rams defense, and with Matt Schaub in as quarterback, Baltimore will need Gillmore to step up and use his big body to box out defenders and snatch some passes.
Leonard Hankerson- 15.0% Owned
Hankerson grabbed his third touchdown of the year last week, and could be a sneaky play as a secondary passing option to Julio Jones in the Atlanta offense. Hankerson has had a little problem with drops, as he only catches about 56% of his targets (sportingcharts.com), but he still manages to put up some good games. I would keep an eye on him, as he might not break out next week, but it looks like he has a chance to give you some very nice numbers.
Brent Celek- 0.9% Owned
The addition of Zach Ertz to the list of injuries last week creates a hole in the Eagles’ offense. The next best option at tight end is Celek, and he showed that he can take advantage of the opportunity, as he backed up his 134 yard week 10 with a 79 yard week 11. Brent is the second Celek I have featured in Working the Wire (Garrett Celek of San Francisco), and looks to be a bit less of a risk than his brother. I would give Brent some serious consideration, if you need to stream a tight end this week or you want to try a new starter.
Devin Funchess- 20.5% Owned
Funchess wasn’t really a big part of Carolina’s talented offense for the first half of the season. However, he has burst on to the scene in the last three weeks, with 176 combined yards and a pair of touchdowns. Cam Newton looks like he could be a frontrunner in the MVP race, and with all the touchdowns he’s tossing, Funchess is bound to have some nice games. Carolina is undefeated, and the combination of an offense that looks unbeatable and a defense that smothers opposing offenses (according to sportingcharts.com, the Panthers lead the league in Toxic Differential, which is a defense’s ability to force turnovers and stop big plays), they are in really good shape. Funchess certainly looks like he will be a key part of the Panthers’ success going forward, so pick him up now, while he’s still available.
Teddy Bridgewater- 20.5% Owned
Teddy Bridgewater has actually become a franchise quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings (obviously not the franchise player, Adrian Peterson has a strangle hold on that title). While Bridgewater has been dubbed a “game manager”, and hasn’t put up many fantasy points despite playing well, I think that’s bound to change. As a guy with good accuracy and and a nice arm, the only thing stopping him from becoming great is a lack of opportunity to make big throws. At some point, however, Bridgewater is going to take on a bigger role. The Vikings have some very exciting receivers, and Bridgewater is certainly ready to get them the ball. If you can grab him, I think it might be worth it to take a chance on him. It might just pay off big.