Week 13 Waiver Grabs

We are down to the wire here and its becoming must-win time for a lot of people, so waiver moves are especially important. I've ranked the 3-5 best guys to pick up at each position. QBs are for this week only and the rest are a mix of overall and for this week only. Most of these rankings are for players 50% owned or less, but there is an exception or two. For example, I doubt Alex Smith is owned in every competitive league despite his higher %.

QBs: (Yahoo Ownership %)

1. Josh McCown (19%) @ Minnesota

2. Matt Flynn (2%) @ Lions

3. Alex Smith (61%) vs. Broncos

4. E.J. Manuel (8%) vs. Falcons

Josh McCown has been really impressive. After two tough matchups where he got a passable grade, he now faces a much easier defense and should play really well. Flynn is much riskier because we've only seen him play half a game, but its a great matchup and he knows the system well. I have high expectations. Next you have Alex Smith who has been pretty good lately, and has another great matchup. At the same time, I don't think its fair to continually expecting 20 points, so thats why he is lower. Lastly we have the forgotten Manuel in a great matchup as well. He can run a little, and he will potentially have all of his WRs. Its promising

WRs:

1. Michael Crabtree (31%)

2. Nate Burleson (25%)

3. Rod Streater (14%)

4. Robert Woods (7%)

5. Marvin Jones (40%)

Percy Harvin got a ton of hype in his return. Crabtree on the other hand has gotten some, but its way less than Harvin. I really think Crabtree can outperform Harvin going forward. His team needs him more. He is a must add now. Burleson will probably be the top add after last week, and he should definitely be a high priority, specifically in PPR leagues. With Calvin across from him, he should do very well. Streater is a guy that I think has taken over the #1 WR role for Oakland with McGloin in. Two straight good weeks and I like him. *If* Woods is back, he is one you want for this week only. Atlanta is a joke.

RBs:

1. Chris Ogbonnaya (29%)

2. Benny Cunningham (5% - a must for Stacy owners)

3. Donald Brown (41%)

4. Dennis Johnson (41%)

5. Jacquizz Rodgers (41%)

6. Bilal Powell (39%)

I really like the Silent G Ogbonnaya. Over his last two games he has 12 carries for 95 yards. That is a fantastic 7.91 YPC. Unfortunately he has also fumbled in both of those games. He is also their best receiving back. That kind of talent (vs. basically no talent at all in Whittaker/McGahee) wins out. He might not be great this upcoming week, but he is absolutely worth a speculative add for the owner in need of an RB. Next is Cunningham. He had a great game against a terrible defense, so take from that what you will. He is definitely talented. His upside is limited by whether he gets any time. If Stacy is fine, Cunningham will be used sparingly. But he is worth the add on the chance that Stacy is out. A lot of people will sour on Brown after he inexplicably got three carries, but in most games they won't be down by double digits, and Brown will see his time.

TEs:

1. Delanie Walker (49%)

2. Tim Wright (19%)

3. Owen Daniels (16%)

3. John Carlson (12%)

5. Rob Housler (15%)

Slim pickings at Tight End compared to the rest of the positions. The one guy that definitely isn't a streaming option is Walker. Fitzpatrick really likes him. His most recent game wasn't stellar, but it was better than a lot of other middling options. And with Fitz, I think that could be as bad as it gets. I'd take a floor of 4-5 points every week if you don't have a top 5 TE. Tim Wright is next. He won't always be a top option but he has 60-70 yard upside every week. Owen Daniels is an intriguing. His return has quietly crept closer. If you don't need a tight end right away, he is a great add.

Week 11 TE Rankings

1. Rob Gronkowski
2. Jimmy Graham
3. Jordan Cameron
4. Julius Thomas
5. Antonio Gates
6. Jordan Reed
7. Vernon Davis*
8. Tony Gonzalez*
9. Scott Chandler
10. Rob Housler
11. Greg Olsen
12. John Carlson
13. Brandon Pettigrew
14. Heath Miller
15. Charles Clay
16. Timothy Wright
17. Martellus Bennett
18. Garrett Graham
19. Tyler Eifert
20. Brandon Bostick
21. Jeff Cumberland
22. Marcedes Lewis
23. Anthony Fasano
24. Zach Ertz
25. Dallas Clark
26. Zach Miller
27. Levine Toilolo
28. Joseph Fauria
29. Brandon Myers
30. Brent Celek

#3 Jordan Cameron - (#7 on Fantasy Pros Consensus Rankings)
I've got a real good feeling on this one. Cameron is coming off two weeks in which he had a total of .4 points (4 yards and then a bye). His value is super low, a lot of people are out on him. He played very well against the Bengals in their first matchup and even though the last game was abysmal, I think Jason Campbell will use Cameron more often here.

#6 Jordan Reed - (#3 on Fantasy Pros)
Reed is pretty darn good, I'll give you that. I just traded for him in one league. The Eagles are surprisingly decent against Tight Ends, last week Brandon Bostick was the first tight end to score on them. Reed should have a good day, but if he doesn't find the endzone, this ranking is about right.

#9 Scott Chandler - (#15 on Fantasy Pros)
The wide receivers are in bad shape for the BIlls with both Stevie Johnson and Robert Woods ruled out. The 6'7" Chandler will serve as a great security blanket for EJ Manuel. In addition the Jets are surprisingly weak against tight ends, giving up the 4th most points to opposing TEs. This makes it a pretty good week for Chandler.

#10 Rob Housler - (#18 on Fantasy Pros)
Even as Tennessee struggled badly last week, Delanie Walker had a nice game. I don't expect Arizona to struggle as much and that should lead to Housler being a low-end TE1 and a pretty nice option if you are worried about Gonzo.

Deep Thoughts...After a disappointing week, I am pretty much out on Charles Clay and Timothy Wright. Neither have terrible matchups but there are better options out there. Also totally out on Martellus Bennett. His last time scoring over 5 points was the game where he had a touchdown. His only 7 yards of the game...If you're really desperate, Brandon Bostick is worth a flier. He is a much better receiving tight end than Andrew Quarless.

My Team is (X Wins)-(X Losses) - What should I be doing?

The season is winding down, most leagues have 3-4 matchups left before the playoffs. Its time to do whatever you can to make the playoffs, and then if you are feeling good about the playoffs, you need to secure the best possible starting lineup that you can get in order to maximize your chance to win.

Let's start from the bottom up:

If your team is a lost cause...

DO NOT be the guy that gives up and doesn't try, or even worse, trades/drops his best players for nothing. Even if its a casual league, if people are competitive, this absolutely ruins it and can have major playoff implications. You wouldn't like it if you suffered because your closest opponent got to pick up Jimmy Graham for nothing, so don't do it. If your league cares, they shouldn't invite you back. Best advice - put in your best lineup and compete every week. Maybe you can crush a friend's playoff hopes in the last week. That's pretty fun on its own!

If you are fairly unlikely to make the playoffs:

Even the best advice might not save you, but its worth a shot to try. Maybe you need to go 3-0 against some tough teams to make it. And even then you might need a couple losses from other guys. Its still possible though! What you need to do is give yourself the best possible chance to win every week, doing almost whatever it takes. Don't go too overboard. But if you are in this scenario and you have...Ray Rice, Trent Richardson, or even Steven Jackson on your bench hoping they will break out, and you are pretty depleted at wide receiver? Drop one for a flier on a guy with a great matchup and some explosive potential. You need something only just short of a miracle, don't be afraid to take it. At the same time, don't outright drop a guy like Andrew Luck because you don't like his Thursday Night matchup this week. Thats too far. But maybe on a hail mary, you start Alex Smith against Denver instead? Just be willing to cut the guys you've been waiting on for a rebound. Its time to stop waiting and start taking action.

If you are on the outside looking in, but close:

So there are 6 playoff spots, and you're in 7th overall right now. You don't want to sacrifice the long run, but you might want to make a few moves to help you out in the short-term too. First off, if you have injured guys, or guys coming off injury (always a gamble), trade them for a more sure thing. I'm referring to guys like Percy Harvin, Shane Vereen, and even Aaron Rodgers. With Rodgers you can probably convince another team that he is their key to victory in the playoffs, and hey, "look at my team, I can't afford to keep him, I need someone that can help me now." If its a league where there is a decent amount of communication, some team with a good number of wins will realize its a good point. Trade Rodgers for a WR or RB that you can immediately plug in to improve your team. Outside of that, if you've built a good team over the course of the season, there is not much you can do besides do your best to win every week.

If you are in a playoff spot but far from guaranteed:

This is the trickiest situation in my opinion. You have to play a little defense and be a little aggressive at the same time. Do you make a play for Aaron Rodgers? No, probably not. But this is a team that can give up its 4th or 5th RB/WR for the upside in a guy like Roddy White or Marques Colston, or buy Harvin at current value in hopes of a big boost. You don't want to make too many changes to this team, it did after all put you in playoff spot. But I definitely recommend adding a flier or two, or making a two for one trade for an upgrade at one position. Because you still need to win in the regular season, don't throw away your depth. At the same time depth isn't the most important thing either.

If you are in prime position to make the playoffs:

Well first off, congratulations! You are in the best possible spot to be in. You have a good team, you managed to avoid most of the injuries, and maybe its not a lock to make the playoffs, but a lot of things would have to go wrong for you to miss out of the playoffs. Your motto here should be "Good for Great". You want to deal your good players for great players, bringing yourself the most action packed lineup possible. Great players that are a must start even against tough teams. You want people to look at your team and say its "Matchup proof" For example, I traded Darren Sproles, Antonio Gates, and Kansas City defense for Rob Gronkowski. Gronk is of course one of only two truly elite, near unstoppable tight ends. You can argue that KC is elite, and that has been true so far. Denver might change that and I'm getting out while they are still hot. Thats just one example.

Middle tier players that make a great starting point in a 2 for 1 package for an elite player:
Zac Stacy
Chris Johnson
Gio Bernard
Le'Veon Bell
Keenan Allen
Alshon Jeffery
Denarius Moore
Larry Fitzgerald
Tony Romo
Russell Wilson

Thats a nice list of players to give you an idea. This player would be the main player you trade away (in the darn good, but still not great category) and then package them with a lesser but still good player and receiver a player like Forte, Charles, McCoy, Stafford, Garcon, Andre Johnson, etc. This gives you the extra oomph in your lineup that gives you a better chance to win no matter what the situation is. Then you can sit back and watch the destruction that ensues. Of course it doesn't always work, but at least you'll know you did what you could.

---------------

Well, that wraps it up, I think I covered pretty much every situation. In case you are curious, I have 1 team that is in great position for the playoffs, another that is on the cusp of being certain for the playoffs and still uncertain. Another team just outside, but its a really good team. And then a 16-teamer that basically needs a miracle. To be fair it was the worst draft I've ever had (Spiller & D. Wilson were my top RBs), so the fact that I'm not last is a personal success. Thanks for reading and as always, I hope it helps you a bit!

Week 10 TE Rankings

1. Jimmy Graham
2. Vernon Davis
3. Julius Thomas*
4. Tony Gonzalez
5. Jason Witten
6. Antonio Gates
7. Garrett Graham
8. Timothy Wright
9. Martellus Bennett
10. Coby Fleener
11. Greg Olsen
12. Charles Clay
13. Zach Miller
14. Delanie Walker
15. Heath Miller
16. Scott Chandler
17. Zach Ertz
18. Brandon Myers
19. Tyler Eifert
20. Brandon Pettigrew
21. Andrew Quarless
22. Dallas Clark
23. Rob Housler
24. Jermaine Gresham
25. Jared Cook
26. Joseph Fauria
27. Brent Celek
28. Mychal Rivera
29. Levine Toilolo
30. Ed Dickson
31. Marcedes Lewis
32. Clay Harbor

#4 Tony Gonzalez - (#7 on Fantasy Pros Consensus Rankings)
I know, its the Seahawks. The Seahawks defense that gets more credit than it deserves this year! The Seahawks are just average against Tight Ends. They have allowed at least 50 yards to tight ends in the last three games, where the TEs were Rob Housler, Timothy Wright and Jared Cook. They are beatable.

#6 Antonio Gates - (#3 on Fantasy Pros)
Gates is good, but he isn't really great. Despite getting enough catches and targets in the past three games, he hasn't had more than 53 yards. Those were good matchups too, against the Jags and Redskins. I think he will do well but even against the Broncos, he is no automatic play.

#7 Garrett Graham - (#12 on Fantasy Pros)
I knew I was going to be high on Graham. Despite no fancy numbers, I have liked what I've seen in the last two games. The Cardinals have allowed the most touchdowns to opposing Tight Ends with 8. Graham is due, and I think he gets in the endzone.

Quick thoughts...Without Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin, Zach Miller may end up benefitting for Seattle against a weak Falcons defense. Any tight end facing Jacksonville is a good play, Delanie Walker is no exception. He's had some good games this year. I'm not very high on him, but Andrew Quarless did get a lot of targets last week. Its possible the same holds true again. And if you're really desperate, Joseph Fauria is probably due for another TD. I'm not gambling on that, but my gut says its coming.

Week 9 TE Rankings

1. Jimmy Graham
2. Rob Gronkowski
3. Antonio Gates
4. Jordan Cameron
5. Jason Witten
6. Jordan Reed
7. Tony Gonzalez
8. Martellus Bennet
9. Greg Olsen
10. Garrett Graham
11. Heath Miller
12. Coby Fleener
13. Kyle Rudolph
14. Timothy Wright
15. Jared Cook
16. Scott Chandler
17. Delanie Walker
18. Dallas Clark
19. Anthony Fasano
20. Zach Ertz
21. Ed Dickson
22. Brent Celek
23. Levine Toilolo
24. Andrew Quarless
25. Zach Miller
26. Zach Sudfeld
27. Benjamin Watson
28. Lance Kendricks
29. Mychal Rivera
30. Sean McGrath

#5 Jason Witten - (#7 on ESPN Rankings)
For whatever reason, Jason Witten has been much better at home than on the road. All three of his highest yardage totals came at home, as well as all three of his touchdowns. Its a good matchup against the Vikings, its at home, and he is coming off a down game. I like his chances.

#10 Garrett Graham - (#13 on ESPN Rankings)
Graham has been a major disappointment since taking over the TE1 role in Houston. Others may be out, but not me. Graham received 8 targets from Case Keenum against the Chiefs, who happen to be by far the most shutdown team against tight ends. Those 8 targets were the most of any player on Houston - more than Andre or DeAndre. Against any team that isn't the Chiefs, I expect a lot more success. Also factor in how the bye has surely helped Case Keenum get familiar with his targets.

#13 Kyle Rudolph - (#10 on ESPN Rankings)
I will never understand any love for Kyle Rudolph. He is wildly inconsistent. Even in a good matchup, I don't trust him. He has a bad QB situation and he has only scored more than 5 points once in the past 5 games. Look elsewhere.

Let me know what you think in a comment below, or tweet me @LopsidedTrades!

Week 8 TE Rankings

The big question is whether Jimmy Graham plays this week. Even though he has hardly practiced at all, I will be ranking him and ranking him highly. If he plays, he is a must start.

1. Rob Gronkowski
2. Julius Thomas
3. Jimmy Graham
4. Tony Gonzalez
5. Jason Witten
6. Vernon Davis
7. Jordan Cameron
8. Jordan Reed
9. Charles Clay
10. Heath Miller
11. Jeff Cumberland
12. Tyler Eifert
13. Andrew Quarless
14. Jared Cook
15. Zach Ertz
16. Kyle Rudolph
17. Brandon Pettigrew
18. Zach Miller
19. Joseph Fauria
20. Benjamin Watson
21. Brandon Myers
22. Anthony Fasano
23. Rob Housler
24. Brent Celek
25. Jermaine Gresham
26. Marcedes Lewis
27. Scott Chandler
28. Mychal Rivera
29. Levine Toilolo
30. Lance Kendricks

#16 Kyle Rudolph - (#11 on ESPN Rankings)
With Rudolph if he doesn't get a touchdown, he doesn't do well. I don't chase touchdowns. He has been mediocre with all three QBs at different times. There is no reason to feel hopeful for him here.

#14 Jared Cook - (#17 on ESPN Rankings)
This one is a gut call, but I think Clemens will look for Cook a lot. In a sample size so small that it shouldn't be relevant, Clemens targeted Cook on 2 of his 4 throws last  week. Its reason for hope.

#13 Andrew Quarless - (#26 on ESPN Rankings)
This is another partial gut call, but hear me out. Jermichael Finley is not playing. James Jones is almost definitely not playing. Aaron Rodgers isn't going to throw to just two guys the whole game (Jordy and Boykin). Someone will have to step up to be that third target. Quarless should be the third option and that makes him a lot better than most other options here.

Quick thoughts...I've already explained my love for Zach Ertz too many times. That big game is coming. Joseph Fauria didn't have a touchdown last week. If you are really desperate, that makes him an option. Carson Palmer looks horrible for Arizona, but Rob Housler is very talented. I know a number of analysts are higher on him just because of his talent. I can't put my confidence in Palmer right now.

Rebounds & Breakouts: Players who can improve in the second half

The end of week 8 will mark the halfway point for most fantasy leagues. Unless you play week 17. Either way, its a great time to look at players with a great shot to rebound from a disappointing first half, or younger players with a promising chance to breakout. I'm not just looking at disappointing players and saying "Yeah this guy has sucked, he is sure to bounce back". No, some players with high expectations have looked really bad (Tom Brady, Ray Rice) relative to expectations. I'm looking for players who I believe can be reasonably expected to improve. We will be looking at one breakout and one rebounding player from each position.

Quarterbacks:
Rebound: Colin Kaepernick
Relative to expectations as a decent throwing QB with a good chance for a rushing touchdown, Kaepernick has been a big disappointment. However we saw in week 7 the potential that remains within him and this team. Mario Manningham is expected back soon, and a few weeks after that we should see Michael Crabtree. Those two combined with Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis is a huge upgrade. That will improve the passing and take defenders away from focusing on Kaepernick's mobility. I really like Kaepernick in the second half.
Honorable Mention: Eli Manning

Breakout: Jake Locker
I was amazed that Jake Locker played as well as he did in week 7. This was a guy who was supposed to be out for 6-8 weeks. He came in against a very tough defense and even though it was an easy loss, he looked great. I'm assuming he isn't fully healthy still, and when he is, thats an impressive player. They are also realizing that they can't rely on Chris Johnson as much. Locker could definitely end up as a viable option for fantasy players without a sure thing at QB.
Honorable Mention: Terrelle Pryor

Running Backs:
Rebound: Trent Richardson
A lot of people are completely bailing on Trent Richardson. Admittedly I don't feel as great about this pick as some others, but I actually liked some of the things I saw in the game against the Broncos. I felt his blocking was pretty weak, but when he got holes, he did well. The Broncos had Von Miller back and they are very tough against the run. Richardson has already faced four of the toughest run defenses in the league. The second half is much easier.
Honorable mentions: C.J. Spiller (I've already explained this elsewhere), Stevan Ridley

Breakout: Le'Veon Bell
Bell struggled mightily against the tough New York Jets in week 6. He then came back and played pretty well against the equally tough Baltimore Ravens. He has had a small sample size and one big game out of the three he has played, so a lot of people still don't know what to make of him. He is the undisputed #1 RB in Pittsburgh and I have high expectations going forward.
Honorable mention: Zac Stacy. There isn't anyone else I feel strongly about, but he would be next. Update: I lied. Andre Ellington is another great possibility!

Wide Receivers:
Rebound: Roddy White
Roddy White's value has tanked with an incredibly disappointing first half. Roddy White is on pace for 344 yards. Roddy White has had 1,100+ yards in six straight seasons. Roddy White has not become magically bad. He finally (for the first time in his career) took a game off to rest. If he has to take another game off, thats fine with me. As long as he makes sure he is fully rested. When he does he will come back and play like the excellent player he is. Did I mention that Matt Ryan made Harry Douglas look like a star?
Honorable Mentions: Hakeem Nicks, Stevie Johnson, Mike Wallace, Marques Colston

Breakout: DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins had a few nice games in the first half, but they were not often. Now with Schaub possibly out, his value is taken a hit. However it seemed like few people gave him credit for his very nice game with Case Keenum throwing (76 yards and a TD). He is extremely talented and should have a chance at a breakout second half regardless of who is throwing. With Andre Johnson opposite him, he won't be the focus of the defense.
Honorable mentions: Robert Woods, Ted Ginn, Aaron Dobson, Tandon Doss

Tight Ends:
Rebound: Garrett Graham
This one is a bit of a stretch as he has never been great. But I'm thinking its more of a rebound to #1 Texans TE numbers. He is talented and simply hasn't performed while Owen Daniels has been out. However it has been a bit of a bad time to step into that role with Schaub's confidence at an all time low, and then a QB making his debut. Things should get better and the Texans still love throwing to their tight ends.
Honorable mention: Heath Miller (doesn't entirely count, but there aren't many good options)

Breakout: Tyler Eifert
I had a couple other options, but Jordan Reed already had his breakout game and I've spoken about Zach Ertz a couple times. Eifert is similar to Ertz in that he has shown some promise, he'sbeen more productive than Ertz even, with a nice touchdown in week 7. He continues to show he is better than Jermaine Gresham ever was. Really the only thing holding him back is Andy Dalton, and if they build a good chemistry, he should be an excellent alternative to AJ Green being double covered.
Honorable Mentions: Zach Ertz, Jeff Cumberland

As always, let me know what you think and send me some tweets @LopsidedTrades!

Reviewing the early and afternoon games of Week 7

Week 7 proved to be a big test for fantasy teams. A large number of players got hurt. At QB you had Jay Cutler, who was a popular start this week, and Sam Bradford. You probably didn't start Sam Bradford, but he was widely owned. Nick Foles also left, and he was a pretty popular pick this week as well. Both guys could be out for an extended period. In the running back department, Arian Foster left very early & did not return. Doug Martin also left and did not return. Both of those injuries to be a little less serious. At WR, Desean Jackson left the game and was a big disappointment for owners. Doesn't appear to be long-term. Lastly Jermichael Finley was carted off. When you hear the words 'carted off' its never a good sign. Naturally, I hope you understand that any person making predictions can't really account for injuries. When you are looking long-term, guys do take a hit in value if they are injury prone, but when making rankings, you can't really lower a guy because he might get hurt. It happens. Lets look position by position at the performances around the league.

QBs:
With Peyton & Andrew Luck still to duel, a lot could change here, but standing atop the leaderboard is Matthew Stafford (26) and he is really a huge step up when Calvin Johnson is healthy. He is close to a must start in all leagues. For the second straight week, Andy Dalton (26) put up huge numbers. Its well known he has the offensive firepower around him. I think he's gotten himself into a groove, and that makes him a good play depending on the matchup. Next week he faces the Jets, and I'm not playing him there. RGIII (25) finally returned to prominence. He is running again. As long as he is healthy, he is a top 5 QB. That is all there is to it. Matt Ryan (22) showed us all how talented he is. He turned Harry Douglas into a star. No problem starting him. Colin Kaepernick (19) also returned to form. He didn't throw a ton, but he didn't make mistakes and had a great day running. I really like him when Manningham and perhaps Crabtree return. Mike Glennon (17) had a respectable day for any desperate owner who started him. It looks like he will be a matchup play. On the disappointing end we have Tony Romo (12), Tom Brady (7), and Nick Foles (5). I know Foles got injured, but if you were expecting a big day, shame on you. I did have him as my 12th or 13th ranked QB, so he was generally the best alternative option on my rankings, but I wasn't expecting much. Long term, it looks like Vick is safe. Tony Romo is a bit inconsistent, but 12 points isn't terrible for a bad day. Tom Brady on the other hand...with Gronk back thats a pretty terrible performance, even against a good defense. I am definitely concerned.

RBs:
No surprises at the top with Matt Forte (28) and Frank Gore (22), but Roy Helu (22) with three touchdowns? This is a bad bad sign for Alfred Morris (9). He got the carries and the yards, but they refused to go to him at the end zone. This might turn into a Bills timeshare from last year but worse. Speaking of the Bills C.J. Spiller (1) looked really bad and just not healthy. I saw someone on Twitter suggest they need to give him a game off. It might be the best option. I'm one of many analysts who has loved Spiller without stepping back, but even I am admitting its time to reel back expectations. I still have hope that its injury-related and he can heal and bring it back for the fantasy playoffs. Jacquizz Rodgers (17) hardly rushed at all, but he has become a very solid pass catcher. He might be a Darren Sproles type player. Reggie Bush (9) had a rough day, but he is still a great option long term. As bad as it was, he came out with 90+ yards. Another bad day for Ray Rice (6), I'm holding, but I'm not stopping anyone else from trading for whatever they can get. It looks pretty bad. Luckily he is on bye next week.

WRs:
Calvin Johnson (27) with that signature day everyone looks for. Had touchdown issues last season  but with his talent, they were bound to come. I would consider him untouchable if I owned him. Across from him, A.J. Green (21) had another big day. He is still a bit dependant on the play of his QB, but if he had a Stafford-type QB...wow. Vincent Jackson (25) with two straight 2 TD games. I was really worried on how he will do with Mike Glennon, but it looks like he can definitely be a top 10 play. Harry Douglas (20) with a great day. This may have been my worst call, but I stand by my reasoning. There was no reason to think Douglas could come out and perform this well. I give him credit, but a lot of that goes to Matt Ryan as well, who played phenomenal football. The same goes for Jarrett Boykin (16). He is looking at long-term relevance. Pick him up if he is still out there. Justin Blackmon (5) and Josh Gordon (2) are guys that everyone was high on but they both got shut down. With those offenses and QBs, it will happen from time to time. Still like both a lot based on talent. Torrey Smith (6) and Pierre Garcon (5) are two #1's on good offenses that got shut down. I'm buying low if I can, especially on Smith. Start all Patriots receivers at your own risk.

TEs:
Well, Gronk (11) is officially back. I'm pretty confident he will be my #1 TE going forward. Jordan Reed (19) had a huge coming out party. He is still available in many leagues. Grab him. He is extremely talented and rose up the depth chart very fast. Tyler Eifert (10) finally had the game I was looking for, but it only came on 3 catches and 4 targets, so I don't really see him as a good play yet. Jeff Cumberland (4) only had 3 catches for 41 yards, but he really looks like a big part of that offense. Zach Ertz (3) is one of my latest man crushes. Another quiet day, but he has definitely overtaken Brent Celek. At least with Nick Foles throwing. No idea how it plays out with Michael Vick.

Thats a wrap for the early games. Time to go watch Peyton destroy Indianapolis! If you want further discussion on a player mentioned above, or a player not mentioned, leave a comment! For quick and brief analysis, tweet me @LopsidedTrades! 

Week 7 TE Rankings

A fun week for TE rankings with Gronk almost definitely back & Jimmy Graham out. I tweeted this earlier, but its entirely possible Gronk may not play that much this week. Think about it this way - the Patriots are notorious for being as deceptive as they can with their injury report. Why now, would they make it clear that Gronk will be back, giving the Jets time to prepare? There are two possible reasons for this. 1.) It really was a major clubhouse issue and some guys were questions Gronk's commitment to the team, so they needed to make it public and get that out of the way. 2.) He will be used sparingly and mostly as a decoy while they ease him in to the speed of a real game. Either way, if he is playing, he instantly becomes the best red zone target for Brady. Because of that it its my philosophy that unless you have one of the great options this year, you are starting him immediately.

1. Julius Thomas
2. Tony Gonzalez
3. Jordan Cameron
4. Antonio Gates
5. Rob Gronkowski
6. Jason Witten
7. Vernon Davis
8. Jermichael Finley
9. Martellus Bennett
10. Heath Miller
11. Kyle Rudolph
12. Charles Clay
13. Coby Fleener
14. Greg Olsen
15. Scott Chandler
16. Timothy Wright
17. Jordan Reed
18. Zach Ertz
19. Jeff Cumberland
20. Sean McGrath
21. Brandon Myers
22. Garrett Graham
23. Delanie Walker
24. Jared Cook
25. Brandon Pettigrew
26. Joseph Fauria
27. Dallas Clark
28. Clay Harbor
29. Tyler Eifert
30. Levine Toilolo
31. Brent Celek

Jordan Cameron #3 - #6 on ESPN Rankings

The Jordan Cameron hype train has died down a little bit the past two weeks. A lot of people are wondering Weeden's return has spelled the demise of Cameron's value. Don't be one of those people. Cameron jumped to elite numbers at the beginning of the season behind Weeden and he is very capable of doing it again. This week should be a great return to that.

Greg Olsen #13 - #10 on ESPN rankings

The Rams are very tough against tight ends, the one spot they are decent against. They are allowing the 5th fewest points to opposing tight ends and have only allowed touchdowns to much better players Jason Witten and Vernon Davis.

Scott Chandler #14 - #21 on ESPN Rankings

Chandler is a fantastic goal line target, standing at 6'7". He got a touchdown with Thad Lewis last week, and inexperienced QBs tend to target their TEs because they are big targets who don't usually have an elite defender in coverage.

Timothy Wright #15 - #22 on ESPN Rankings

The inexperienced QB statement from above applies here as well. Wright has quickly established himself as one of Mike Glennon's favorite targets. It will be interesting to see if Mike Williams changes this, but for now I really like Wright. Falcons have allowed 5 TDs in five weeks to TEs.

Zach Ertz #17 - #29 on ESPN Rankings

This might be the most aggressive ranking I made the entire week. I love Ertz. It seems to have flown on the radar, but after last week he was officially moved from #2 on the official depth chart to "Co-Starter". He also received 6 targets to Brent Celek's 1 target last week. He is an amazing playmaker. If he had enough catches to qualify, he would have ranked 2nd in yards per catch for tight ends, squarely between Vernon Davis and Jimmy Graham.

Deeper looks...Brandon Myers has become a non-factor, and I ranked him accordingly, but he does have a great matchup this week. I didn't highlight Jordan Reed, but I feel similarly on him as I do for Ertz. I really like fellow rookie Tyler Eifert but its clear he isn't ready to take on a major role yet. I ranked Jared Cook lowly, and I've said it before but there is no reason he should be owned. I also mentioned on twitter, Joseph Fauria should not be really be considered a great option. He might get a touchdown, but if not he isn't an option. Its one of my mantras that you don't chase touchdowns.

Thanks for reading and as always feel free to leave a comment or tweet me @LopsidedTrades.