We will do something a little different this week.
Considering that you are probably either entering the playoffs or crying with the stall door closed in the men’s (or women’s) restroom, we are just going to take a look at the players that could replace your injured starters.
Of those players that are starting, just look back through previous week’s waiver pick ups to see who you might have missed, but I would assume the names are probably familiar to you if you have been doing your research all season. These guys might not be on your radar.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Bryant Johnson, WR ARI
Everyone is hurting in Arizona WR group. Watch the injury reports, but Johnson should be one of the two starters come Sunday. He has already been involved in the offense and should continue to be.
Arnaz Battle, WR SF
Battle has a TD in his last two games and headsinto some nice match ups with the Vikings and Bengals in weeks 14 and 15.
Sidney Rice, WR MIN
He did it again. Rice has a TD in his last two games as well. Even though the Vikings passing game hasn’t been a highlight this season, Rice has the big play ability. Take a risk on him only if you have a receiver not playing up to their potential here at the end of the season, but I mentioned him last week as well.
Mike Furrey/Shaun McDonald, WR DET
If the rumor that Roy Williams is out for the rest of the season is true, these two should clean up catching passes from Kitna in his absence. They definitely won’t have much luck running the ball in the fantasy playoffs against Dallas, San Diego and Kansas City.
RUNNING BACKS
Chris Brown, RB TEN
LenDale White’s injury is not too serious–just a finger–but he will probably continue to split time. If you are desperate, he breaths and runs with a football. The Titnas don’t have a great match up until week 16 against the Jets, but by then, they will probably have all three running backs taking carries against the weak Jets run defense.
Ladell Betts, RB WAS
If you have Portis, it is a must to have Betts on your roster. This week especially since Portis was hurt in the game and may/may not start this next week.
Reuben Droughns, RB NYG
Droughns could be the starter for a few games with Jacobs out and Ward breaking his leg this past Sunday. Watch the injury reports on Jacobs. If Droughns finishes the regular season, he will have a nice match up against Buffalo behind the strong Giants line in week 16.
Fred Jackson, RB BUF
He just might be the starter for Buffalo agianst Miami this weekend, but Marshawn Lynch might also return this week and make things difficult to call. He looked good starting this past week and broke 150 yards with his rushing and reception yards. Check Lynch at practice this week.
QUARTERBACKS
Sage Rosenfels, QB HOU
Word is that Schaub might be out for the season with his dislocated shoulder. Rosenfels would finish out the season against Tampa Bay, Denver and Indy. Not promising, but if you need a QB, he might now be the starter.
Gus Frerotte, QB STL
He’s only valuable for a few games until Marc Bulger comes back for the Rams, which might be this week, but he has a miraculous match up against Cincinnati in week 14 if Bulger does sit before it gets darker from there with Green Bay and Pittsburgh. He is prone to throw INTs, but he also likey the touchdowns.
Vinny Testaverde, QB CAR
Vinny might be the starter now in Carolina, and even though they aren’t utilizing Steve Smith lately, they are still scoring TDs. They play the Jags this week, so you know they are going to have to throw. Follow that with a Seattle and Dallas match up that are decent but not great for the old guy.
Dangerous plays at QB: Rex Grossman, Brodie Croyle, Trent Edwards, John Beck
Use them at your own risk. They have no good match ups and could leave you with more turnovers than TDs in the playoffs. A quarterback is one of the positions that can make or break your week–especially this year.
