This article is part of our NFL Waiver Wire series.
This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based upon both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. This column is posted every Tuesday to, hopefully, accommodate the various waiver schedule. I'll update it in the comments section during the week; please keep in mind a lot can change from Tuesday to Sunday.
Another week in the books and another wacky week in the NFL. Mark Sanchez had a great game, the Cleveland Browns are first place in the AFC North, the Bears are coming apart and the elite teams are showing why they are. The waiver wire stays pretty slim this week with a bevy of new but lower-tier quarterbacks available. As always, this column looks at players universally owned in less than 50 percent of leagues, and feel free to ask about anyone available in the comments section.
QUARTERBACK
Secondary Targets
Ryan Mallett, HOU - Apparently Andre Johnson's postgame interview may have helped shake things up for the Texans who will turn to Mallett over Ryan Fitzpatrick this week. Mallett is an intriguing player who has a big arm and is well versed in Bill O'Brien's offense. It says something that O'Brien brought him in from New England and is making the switch coming out of the bye week, which may have been the plan for the last few weeks. This can't hurt Andre Johnson's fantasy value and quietly DeAndre Hopkins (684 receiving yards, four touchdowns) is putting together a nice season. The run game is excellent with Arian Foster and should help set up a lot of play-action downfield passes for Mallett. And the schedule is pretty favorable considering the competition. FAAB: $3-6, Two-QB leagues: $18-24
Drew Stanton, ARI -Carson Palmer done for the season, Stanton will take over as the starter. He played well in relief of Palmer on Sunday and threw the game-winning touchdown to John Brown late on a perfectly thrown ball. He has weapons past Brown with Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd while Andre Ellington is a good pass-catching back. The schedule doesn't line up well for Stanton for the rest of the season, but he's familiar with the Bruce Arians offense after being together for a few seasons. FAAB: $2-4, Two-QB leagues: $15-$0
Hail Mary
Josh McCown, TB - Lovie Smith has the most coaching security in the league compared to his record and should be on the hook if Tampa Bay doesn't turn things around. He was brought aboard and given full control from the beginning with him having leverage to go south instead of Detroit. Inexplicably, he took Josh McCown away from the Bears (with a $10 million contract) and made the journeyman his starting quarterback. It's likely they cut McCown before next season to save some money and try to find a quarterback through free agency or the draft. While McCown went for more than 300 yards Sunday against a porous Atlanta defense, he hadn't surpassed 200 yards in any of the first three games he played. Still, quarterbacks can surprise and having two 6-foot-5 receivers at your disposal is a good thing. He's going to be worth something in deep or two-quarterback leagues. FAAB: $1 or FCFS, Two-QB leagues: $5-10
RUNNING BACK
Primary Targets
C.J. Anderson, Montee Ball, DEN - A foot sprain will sideline Ronnie Hillman who was already on a short leash after struggling in New England. Anderson looked fresh Sunday, turning in 163 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. The touchdown came on a beautiful catch-and-run where seven Raiders had a shot but couldn't bring him down. The tea leaves are a little hard to read this week with Montee Ball likely returning from a groin injury. The likely scenario this week is that both players get touches with Anderson the favorite to see a few more as the Broncos ease Ball back. If Anderson can produce and provide ample pass protection, it'll be hard for Denver to completely abandon using him the rest of the season. Ball should be back to full strength but wasn't producing (3.1 yard per carry) before his injury, which is something to consider. Practice this week is worth monitoring to see if the Broncos show their hand with who gets the most reps with the first team. FAAB: $20-25 on Anderson, $10-15 on Ball
Secondary Targets
Bryce Brown, BUF - It's not an easy matchup for Brown this week going into Miami on a short week. However, he looked fantastic Sunday catching swing passes out of the backfield and there isn't a linebacker in the league who can match his speed and agility. Fred Jackson still isn't 100 percent healthy, and it's a good sign the Bills went back to Brown even after he had a critical fumble at the Chiefs' 5-yard line. In any type of PPR format Brown is the guy to own over Boobie Dixon. FAAB: $4-8
Hail Mary
Isaiah Crowell, CLE - The backfield for the Browns is a nightmare, and it appears they want to make Terrance West the head of a three-back committee. Mike Pettine said the Browns may not use three running backs every week and Crowell had practically no role before his 12 carries for 41 yards and a score last Thursday night. The upside and yards-per-carry favor Crowell, yet the Browns seem set on using Terrance West for time being. There's upside here if eventually he takes over the lion's share of carries, but the floor is also extremely low until that scenario takes place. FAAB: $1 or FCFS
Joseph Randle, DAL - Granted, it was during garbage time, but Randle had a nifty 40-yard touchdown run and finished with seven rushes for 56 yards. He's the handcuff to DeMarco Murray, and it's possible the Cowboys go to more of a committee down the stretch with their eyes on keeping Murray fresh. He's one of the better guys to have on your bench as a high-upside play, especially with the offensive line he runs behind. FAAB: $1 or FCFS
WIDE RECEIVER
Primary Targets
Jordan Matthews, PHI - Mark Sanchez actually looks competent? The truth is Matthews is owned in less than half of fantasy leagues and has shown some consistency lately. He has at least 40 yards in each of his last four games and at least nine points in PPR formats, as well. This may be another case of a rookie having some rapport with Sanchez as the backup working together with the second team. Riley Cooper has been a big disappointment, and Matthews should be the second receiving option to Jeremy Maclin the rest of the season. FAAB: $6-10
Hail Mary
Preston Parker, NYG - Two weeks ago Parker couldn't catch a ball and seemed like he could be headed to the bench or worse, to the unemployment line. Instead the Giants stuck with him and he put together a nice game against a good Seattle defense in their stadium. Parker finished with 79 receiving yards and a score that came on a nice grab in the back of the end zone. Parker looked good playing in the slot and with the emergence of Odell Beckham Jr. he should see softer coverage. Parker could also benefit from the lack of production from Reuben Randle and see a healthy number of targets as a result. FAAB: $1 or FCFS
