Waiver Wire Gems for Week 4

After some impressive performances in their Week 3 match-ups, many players could be serious candidates for waiver wire pickups in standard fantasy formats. It’s important to assess each player carefully, in order to avoid the one hit wonders and the ones that got lucky.

There are definitely a couple promising standouts that are available in most leagues, but others are too risky and should therefore be left alone.

1. Brian Hoyer, CLE:

Brian Hoyer had an astounding performance in a 31-27 win against the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 321 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. In his start for the injured Brandon Weeden, Hoyer could have very well earned himself the starting job. His numbers are not completely overwhelming, but the former 3rd string quarterback led the Browns to their first win of the season just days after trading Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts.

Browns coach Rob Chudzinski says he will evaluate Hoyer’s performance against the Vikings, as well as Weeden’s progress before making the decision. In deeper leagues, Hoyer may be worth a look to make up for the possible loss of Brandon Weeden, but do not expect a crazy amount of production on a consistent basis.

2. Santonio Holmes, NYJ:

Holmes went off during Week 3 hauling in the 69-yard difference making touchdown to beat the Bills 27-20. The 29-year-old wideout hauled in 5 receptions off of 10 targets for 154 yards and a touchdown. Hopefully, he and rookie quarterback Geno Smith can continue to build a good rapport as the season progresses and Holmes will get more opportunities to put a dent in opposing defenses.

He may also be able to help fantasy teams struggling with lackluster receivers. It is definitely a good decision to target Holmes as a waiver wire pickup heading into Week 4 even though the Jets face a stiff Tennessee pass defense. Holmes could wind up being the perfect guy to step in as a bye week replacement or fill the void for an injured starter.

3. LeGarrette Blount, NE:

LeGarrette Blount carried the workload at tailback for New England in their 23-3 win against his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He led the team in carries and rushing yards with 14 and 65 respectively, with a long run of 23 yards. With Stevan Ridley playing poorly and Shane Vereen being out for a significant period of time, this is Blount’s time to shine.

The 26-year-old rusher is a better fit for fantasy owners than Ridley right now. It would be wise to pick up Blount in hopes that he can be the feature back and possibly get involved as a receiver in Tom Brady’s pass-heavy offense.

 

Packers Pick Up Running Back Joe McKnight

The Packers signed ex-Jets running back Joe McKnight Friday, one day before the final 53 man roster must be set. Although McKnight will likely be the 3rd string running back behind Eddie Lacy and DuJuan Harris, he will have a prominent role in their special teams.

This is good news for McKnight, but bad news for 4th round draft pick Jonathan Franklin and four-year veteran James Starks. Franklin and Starks will likely be offered practice squad positions or released outright.

Although McKnight has not rushed for more than 200 yards in a season, he’s an extremely valuable special teams threat. In 3 seasons with the New York Jets, he’s had 10 kick returns for more than 40 yards with 2 touchdowns. The Packers have struggled in their special teams last season and signing McKnight is a step in the right direction.

DuJuan Harris Done, Rookie Eddie Lacy Takes Over in Green Bay

DuJuan Harris is out for the season in Green Bay because of a knee injury that will likely require surgery. This opens the door for rookie Eddie Lacy to assume the starting running back position for the Packers.

Lacy currently has an Average Draft Position of 48 in 12 team formats. You can expect to see a slight boost in that number during the course of the next few days.

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy says he was extremely disappointed because he wanted to use both backs as a “1-2 punch.”

McCarthy was high on Harris throughout the offseason, but he will have to modify his regular season game plan in short order.

 

Rookie Johnathan Franklin Missing the Mark in Green Bay

During the 2013 draft, the Green Bay Packers picked up two running backs, Eddie Lacy in the 2nd round, and Johnathan Franklin in the 4th. Both were impressive and diverse collegiate running backs, but not all running backs excel at the professional level.

So far, Franklin is tumbling down the Packers running back depth chart and could end up returning kicks. Reports out of Green Bay indicate that Lacy will get the majority of the carries and is a lock to make the roster, while Franklin has not been able to properly separate himself from the pack.

Franklin has fallen short in several areas including his inability to run in between tackles and his shortcomings as a pass blocker. On the other side of the coin, Lacy has exceeded expectations in Green Bay and has been terrific at protecting the quarterback.

Lacy missed the Packers first preseason game, opening the way for Franklin to make a real impression. But Franklin failed to impress recording recording 6 carries for 14 yards and 2 receptions for 12 yards. Barring a spectacular turnaround or injuries to multiple players in front of him, Franklin has no fantasy upside at all.

Packers Activate Running Back DuJuan Harris, Don’t Expect Him to Start

The Packers activated running back DuJuan Harris from the active/PUP list on Monday, but don’t kid yourself into thinking he’s slated to become the starter in Green Bay. Late last week, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said that he viewed Harris as his starter, but the chances that the coach would start Harris over Eddie Lacy are slim to silly.

The Packers broke the bank during the offseason by drafting Eddie Lacy out of Alabama in the second round and picking up Johnathan Franklin in the fourth. Lacy has impressed the Packers coaching staff throughout the preseason and is the clear-cut favorite to start in Green Bay. Why McCarthy would try to push this “DuJuan Harris” fairy tale on anyone is a mystery.

Lacy hasn’t been on the field since he suffered a hamstring injury last Wednesday and is expected to miss his second straight preseason game, but none of this should have any impact on his playing status unless the team is hiding a more serious injury.

Some fantasy owners may find it difficult to blow off the words of the head coach, but that’s exactly what you should do in this situation.

The upside for Lacy far out weighs the confusing rhetoric coming from the Packer’s camp. Franklin seems to still have some sort of fantasy value and is being drafted in most 12 team leagues in the 11th round. Until Harris can show fantasy owners something in practice, he’s still worth little more than a waiver wire pick up.

Draft Zone: 26th Ranked Running Back – Packers Eddie Lacy

Green Bay Packers rookie running back Eddie Lacy has an Average Draft Position (ADP) of 58th overall. That would project Lacy as the 26th ranked running back who would likely be taken somewhere around the end of the fifth round.

If you used your first four picks to solidify starting running backs, receivers or one of the elite quarterbacks, it might be a good idea to try and snag Lacy early.

The Packers haven’t had a good running back for years, but it hasn’t stopped them from being one of the elite offenses units in the league. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is widely regarded as the best player (not just QB) in the game, and Lacy is the first high-end talent the team has had in the backfield in at least a decade.

Lacy ran for 1,322 yards with 17 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide last season on the way to the National Championship. He saved his best performances for the biggest moments, as he combined for more than 300 yards with four TDs in the SEC and National Championship games.

Lacy’s powerful style could be a nice change of pace when mixed with the Packers’ high-flying offense. Look for him to dominate in the red zone and have some opportunities in the passing game as well.

Draft Zone: 26th Ranked Running Back – Packers Eddie Lacy

Green Bay Packers rookie running back Eddie Lacy has an Average Draft Position (ADP) of 58th overall. That would project Lacy as the 26th ranked running back who would likely be taken somewhere around the end of the fifth round.

If you used your first four picks to solidify starting running backs, receivers or one of the elite quarterbacks, it might be a good idea to try and snag Lacy early.

The Packers haven’t had a good running back for years, but it hasn’t stopped them from being one of the elite offenses units in the league. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is widely regarded as the best player (not just QB) in the game, and Lacy is the first high-end talent the team has had in the backfield in at least a decade.

Lacy ran for 1,322 yards with 17 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide last season on the way to the National Championship. He saved his best performances for the biggest moments, as he combined for more than 300 yards with four TDs in the SEC and National Championship games.

Lacy’s powerful style could be a nice change of pace when mixed with the Packers’ high-flying offense. Look for him to dominate in the red zone and have some opportunities in the passing game as well.

Is Alex Green Stealing the Show in Green Bay?

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Alex Green is no stranger to adversity. After tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament during his rookie season in 2011 and playing the entire 2012 season at a disadvantage due to his pending recovery, the 225 pound, 6 feet tall Green led the Packers in rushing last year.

While the former 3^rd round pick only rushed for 464 yards, Green overcame the pain and is currently listed as the number one running back on the Packers depth chart.

It’s no mystery that Green Bay’s biggest weakness is their running game. To ensure change in the upcoming 2013 season, the Packers used their second and fourth round picks on Alabama’s Eddie Lacy and UCLA’s Jonathan Franklin.

Both rookie backs will have an opportunity to win the starting job from Green come training camp, but for now, Green has the support and current starting-nod from Mike McCarthy, as well as the entirety of the Green Bay coaching staff.

Green started OTA’s this offseason as the Packer’s number one running back, a position he was able to retain at their close. Packer Nation as well as the rest of the NFL community are anxious to see who will be at the top of the depth chart on opening day with the likes of Eddie Lacy, Johnathan Franklin, James Starks and DuJuan Harris competing for that starting spot currently held by Green.

Eddie Lacy, arguably the top running back in the most recent draft class, has reportedly gained weight since joining the Packers back in April and is no shoe-in for the starting job.

Expect to see the Packers coaching staff continue to praise Green and reward him with the majority of the starting reps at the beginning of training camp, but close camp with Eddie Lacy as the starting back in Green Bay come opening day.

Eddie Lacy Packing on Pounds Since College

The Green Bay Packers are known for their deadly aerial attack led by All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But the team clearly tried to add some depth at running back during the draft by selecting running backs Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin. Lacy dazzled scouts with his combination of size, strength and speed at the University of Alabama, but a report from the Packers OTAs has some people questioning Lacy’s new size.

Lacy told The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal that he weighs 238 lbs. right now, which is between eight and 13 lbs. more than his playing weight for the Crimson Tide. The rookie said he feels fine, and running backs coach Alex Van Pelt didn’t seem concerned with Lacy’s weight.

The second-round pick grabbed the national spotlight late in the 2012 college football season when he ran for 181 yards and scored two touchdowns against Georgia in the SEC Championship game. He followed that performance by bulldozing the Notre Dame defense in the National Championship Game with 140 yards on the ground to go along with a pair of touchdowns.

Lacy’s size and power should prove to be an asset for the Packers — especially in short-yardage and goal line situations. However, he will be competing for carries with fellow rookie Franklin and incumbent backs Alex Green, James Starks and DuJuan Harris.

Green led the Packers in rushing last season with an underwhelming 464 yards, so it doesn’t seem like one running back has a firm hold on the starting job. If the Packers commit to finding a balance between the passing attack and running game, fantasy owners should monitor who gets the bulk of the carries. It’s likely the feature back will have plenty of holes to run through, as defenses will have to respect Rodgers’ elite skills on every down.

Can Eddie Lacy, Johnathan Franklin Cure Green Bay’s Backfield Woes?

The Green Bay Packers’ top rusher last season was Alex Green with 464 yards. Running backs Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin combined for 3,056 yards to close out their college football careers last season and now the newest members of the Packers’ backfield. So which back will have the edge going into next season?

Eddie Lacy has a championship pedigree playing for Alabama, much like the rest of the Packers. He could easily enter the offense as a starter and put up numbers, especially in goal line situations.

That said, Franklin put up absurd stats while playing at UCLA (15 total TD’s, 1734 rushing yards), and is more of a threat in the slot than Lacy. Word on the street is that Aaron Rodgers can pass the ball, so Franklin will be happy to work as a receiver out of the backfield, much like Randall Cobb did last season.

The ensuing competition between the two will be entertaining to watch, especially from a fantasy standpoint. Either back could serve as a sleeper heading into your draft, but I would put my money on Lacy at this point. The SEC is the SEC, and playing well there has traditionally led to success in the NFL.