The Wire Troll: Alley-oop to Martavis Bryant
Can Michael Vick get the Jets going? (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Good things happen to those that exude patience. As the pulp of the season slowly pours out of its half empty glass, you are probably in need of patience and wisdom as you attempt to step into the playoffs picture. Let us be your guide as we present to you our Wire Troll picks for Week Nine.
Bye weeks: Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Tennessee
QUARTERBACKS
Michael Vick, New York Jets: You could’ve signed Geno Smith, we know you had your chance. Now the turnover machine that inspired Smith as a youth is at the helm (see video below). Vick has shown flashes of brilliance in his career and unless Eli Manning is available in your league, chances are Vick has way more experience than any other free agent QB. You could start Mike Glennon vs. Joe Haden or Brian Hoyer vs. Alterraun Verner and while we realize Vick at Arrowhead isn’t ideal, we believe there is still a little magic left in those legs. Facing his former Head Coach Andy Reid could be extra motivation for Vick. A full slate of first team snaps should fix some of the kinks and maybe an upset for the ages could go down in K.C. Trust Vick as a bye week filler for Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan or Matthew Stafford then cut him loose for someone in next week’s Troll.
Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings: Home sweet home may be the early moniker of Bridgewater’s career. Now with a road win under his belt he will return home to face an overhyped Redskin team, which will probably be sluggish and possibly still hungover from Monday’s monumental win at Dallas. Bridgewater, who threw to 10 receivers in Sunday’s win at Tampa, understands the importance of checking down. Expect Washington to attack him all game like it did to Tony Romo on Monday. Bridgewater will lean on Cordarrelle Patterson and Jerick McKinnon with short passes to keep the defense from bum-rushing him constantly. We smell bye week filler/future dynasty stud.
RUNNING BACKS
Travaris Cadet, New Orleans Saints: This is clearly a one and done situation for Matt Forte and Eddie Lacy owners. Cadet is filling the third down RB role with Pierre Thomas on the shelf. PPR Alert: Cadet has 20 receptions on the season and 10 of those in the last two weeks since he took over Thomas’s role. Cadet even scored a TD earlier in the season while Mark Ingram was out. The former Appalachian State Mountaineer has clearly gained the trust of Drew Brees in the short-term. We know it’s hard to play a guy on Thursday but this is a sneaky play that could make others in your league panic.
Charles Sims, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The multi-purpose Sims will find open an open window in which he can glide through a la Bo or Luke Duke. As the tragic Doug Martin story continues to gain very little yards and Bobby Rainey lacks consistency on this non-playoff team, Sims can show why we were so excited about him post-draft. After a devastating ankle injury, Sims appears to be boiling for his first NFL action. He can do it all and with the season essentially lost, the Bucs have nothing to lose by giving him the rock!
WIDE RECEIVERS
Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremy Maclin is proving he is a pretty amazing player and Matthews has taken notice. Nick Foles has noticed Matthews and that compels us. In fact it was Matthews (not Maclin) who Foles threw to on the last play with the game on the line Sunday. As Philly attempts to fill Darren Sproles’s role, Matthews — who has clearly out played veteran Riley Cooper — stands to see an uptick in targets.
Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers: The sleek Bryant has made some slick moves over the last two weeks as he has found the end zone in both games. We were glowing with our heads on fire this preseason about Bryant’s future. Bryant has finally worked his way into the mix and Ben Roethlisberger is appreciative of his alley-oop ability. Twelve targets and three TDs in the last two games = grab him now.
TIGHT END
Clay Harbor, Jacksonville Jaguars: Some of you probably like to carry just one TE. We get that — what’s the sense of frustrating yourself by playing the match-up game every week? We also know byes can be a burden on your FAAB purse as well as the heart. We now would like you to meet Harbor. He is a quintessential backup TE who scores a couple of goal-line TDs per season. Now, thanks to an injury, he is the starter with a rookie QB (Blake Bortles) running the show. After a pair of pick-sixes in Sunday’s loss to Miami, you can bet the film room session will involve some freeze frames on Harbor as a check down option. With 22 receptions in five games of legitimate action, Harbor has scored once. As Bortles understands the importance of the spreading the ball around, Harbor can only benefit.
Now it’s your turn. Let us know in the comments below who your favourite Fantasy football waiver wire pick of the week is.
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