The playoffs are in full effect and the name of the game is survival. Here are some lesser known players who you can start this week if you are in a pinch:


1) Arian Foster -- RB -- Texans -- Texans RB's have a serious case of fumblitis and head coach Gary Kubiak is not happy about it. He has named Foster the Texans RB1 for now and wants to see what he can do with a full complement of carries. Foster is a big hulking back who fits the cut back running style the Texans employ. He is not very fast but has good lateral quickness for a bigger RB and is extremely hard to tackle. Foster has good hands too and should be a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield for the Texans. Playing against the lowly Rams this week should result in a pretty big game for Foster, the kind of week that could lead your fantasy team into the championship round of your leagues playoffs.

2) Brian Westbrook -- RB -- Eagles -- Don't forget players who are coming back from injuries and/or suspensions late in the season. It appears that Westbrook will be back as soon as this week. My sources close to the Eagles strongly believe that Westbrook will jump right back into his primary RB role right away. I am a bit more hesitant, but to gain this kind of player at this point in the season on the waiver wire would be an outright steal. Westbrook is available in only 25% of leagues right now but if there is any way of grabbing him stop reading this right now and go do the move.

3) Dwayne Bowe -- WR -- Chiefs -- Crazy? Like a fox. How can Bowe be available? He is only owned in 60% of fantasy leagues right now despite his suspension being over with. It appears many fantasy teams didn't want to wait on him and ditched him while they made their run at the playoffs. Well, now Bowe sits on the waiver wire and could be a big help for any teams WR corps at this point in the season. I believe Bowe comes back strong and has a monster game to prove himself once and for all to the Chiefs coaching staff, his teammates and himself. Check the waiver wire and get him immediately if he's still available.

4) Jason Avant -- WR -- Eagles -- How many times can I possibly put Avant in the Hot 8? Well this is your last warning people. It will be Avant and not Reggie Brown or Kevin Curtis that benefits most from Jeremy Maclin going down. Forget his zero catch performance last week. Avant will line up in the slot with Reggie Brown starting this week against the 49ers. McNabb is very comfortable with Avant in this role and look for him to be a security target for McNabb and a frequent red zone target.

5) Brady Quinn -- QB -- Browns -- Looking over the QB landscape at this point in the season, the only player I see worth a damn is Brady Quinn. There are many QB options out there right now but only Quinn has proven to be and effective passer in the league and he plays a very soft schedule for the rest of the year. Quinn has played good football of late and I look for him to continue to progress even in these meaningless games. If you need an emergency QB from here on out, Quinn is your man.

6) Maurice Morris -- RB -- Lions -- I like rookie RB Aaron Brown much more than I like Morris but unfortunately I am not the head coach of the Detroit Lions. Jim Schwartz hates Aaron Brown right now having pulled him off of the kickoff team due to his carelessness and miscues. Morris seems like the Lions primary ball carrier from here on out this year and it is safe to pick him up to at least add some depth to your roster.

7) Davin Aromashodu -- WR -- Bears -- If you had listened to the Sunday Morning Kickoff Show on Fighting Chance Radio this week, you would have heard me call out Aromashodu as one of my deep sleepers of the week. Jay Cutler has been raving about Aromashodu in practice lately and has personally requested that the Bears coaching staff use him more in the offense. That wish was granted this past week and Aromashodu went out and grabbed 8-76 yards and 1 TD. Cutler loves the kid and all of a sudden the Bears have a legitimate WR worth owning in fantasy leagues. Forget about Devin Hester, Aromashodu is the best fantasy WR on the Bears right now period.

8) Deon Butler -- WR -- Seahawks -- With the Seahawks out of all contention, look for them to use rookie WR Deon Butler more and more. This kid showed some great flash in training camp and the preseason. With Nate Burleson suffering a high ankle sprain last week and everybody going out to grab Deion Branch do the smart thing and not follow the crowd. Pickup Butler and get yourself a WR with high upside and a soft playoff schedule.




That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Let me know by posting your comments below or emailing me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com


Listen to Fighting Chance Radio Tuesday's at 10 PM EST, Friday's at Midnight EST and Sunday Mornings at 11:30 AM EST.

It's playoff time in most fantasy leagues and that means the season has become all about one thing and one thing only: SURVIVAL.

It doesn't have to be pretty and it isn't going to happen by all of your regular starters all doing well for 3-4 weeks in a row. To win a championship you are going to have to think outside of the box. Take calculated risks with both your roster moves and your starting lineups. There are many factors at this point in the season that aren't a concern in October or November. Weather, injuries, fatigue, rest for playoffs, perfect seasons, personal records and future considerations all play a part in what the remaining weeks will shape up like.

But don't worry. If you are reading this article chances are you also follow my daily blog on Fantasy Football Search or listen to the podcasts on Fighting Chance Radio. I'll be here every step of the way to give you all the information you need to make the right decisions and secure your championship. Anytime you want to run a thought by me or need some advice feel free to shoot me an email at thefantasyscout@gmail.com or call into any of the live shows. Together we'll finish off this season in style and bring home the bling.



1) Jason Avant -- WR -- Eagles -- Yeah, I like him this much. Avant is without question Donovan McNabb's most trusted target especially anywhere near the endzone. I understand DeSean Jackson is coming back from his concussion this week and Jeremy Maclin is doing well also but to me Avant is very close to being an automatic starter. I'd easily start him over Maclin the rest of the way and for those of us needing help at the WR spot this is a huge value. Avant will score in at least 2 of the remaining weeks of this season and accumulate a decent amount of catches and yards in the process.

2) Jerome Harrison -- RB -- Browns -- I have been recommending both Chris Jennings and Harrison for a couple of weeks now and a couple of things surprise me. First is how many fantasy teams still owned Harrison (25%) despite him not being anywhere close to a factor of late and being deactivated for a game just 2 weeks ago. I am also surprised by Mangini's use of Harrison and not Jennings in the red zone last week against the Chargers. Now, I must tell you that Jennings is suffering from a shoulder injury and that I do not expect Harrison to be in at the goal line on a regular basis either. But, in PPR leagues Harrison is a very solid player providing Mangini keeps using him as the primary RB for the Browns. If so, Harrison will touch the ball 20+ times a game and with his elusiveness and breakaway speed this could give any fantasy team that push it needs to get over the championship hump.

3) Brady Quinn -- QB -- Browns -- Before you start ripping me for all of these Browns players let me say that championships are rarely won with studs anymore. NFL teams rest many of their key players down the stretch and even the most minor of injuries become reason for less touches in any given game. You must be prepared to go to war with players you wouldn't have touched a few weeks ago. That is the fantasy football world we live in today. Therefore, a hot hand like that of Brady Quinn could be of real service to someone in need of a QB or in leagues where you start 2 QB's per week. Kurt Warner, Matt Ryan, Jake Delhomme, Matt Stafford, Matt Schaub, Tom Brady, Mark Sanchez and Matt Hasselbeck are all dealing with injuries that will or could result in missing one start or more. Combine that with teams resting QB's such as Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees and the changing weather patterns in certain cities and finding a starting QB could be real difficult all of a sudden. Quinn is playing real well right now and with purpose. It also doesn't hurt that he plays some of the worse defenses in the league in the final weeks of the regular season too.

4) Quinton Ganther -- RB -- Redskins -- Forget about Rock Cartwright. Cartwright is a fullback who is good in short yardage situations but isn't the answer as far as a feature RB solution for the Redskins. Ganther has been getting a good amount of carries and based on his performance is in line to receive plenty more going forward. What impresses me most about Ganther is his first step or cut after getting the ball. He seems to have great vision in how his blockers are setting up and makes a quick move toward where the room will be and hits the hold hard. I think Ganther may have a great game in week 14 against the Raiders and will rack up a ton of fantasy points. Don't get cute and start him ahead of Ray Rice or something like that but if you don't have a solid option and need some big points consider playing Ganther this week and shooting for the stars.

5) Chaz Schilens -- RB -- Raiders -- Louis Murphy had an amazing week last week for the Raiders but what got lost in the shuffle is the solid performance of Schilens. He is finally running with some burst and is confident enough in his leg to make aggressive breaks and go up for balls the way only a select few NFL WR's can. Now that the Raiders have a mediocre passing game it opens up the offense for much more fantasy opportunities than at any other point in the past 2 seasons. Schilens has incredible skills and he'll give some fantasy team a boost down the stretch.

6) Garrett Hartley -- K -- Saints -- An under the radar move that was made last Sunday was the Saints awarding Hartley the placekicking duties over John Carney. Carney had been the Saints kicker all season since Hartley had been suspended for the first four games due to the NFL's drug policy. Hartley is an above average kicker who kicks for the NFL's best offense. Fantasy points will follow and based on New Orleans schedule the rest of the way he could honestly kick 12-15 field goals and a ton of extra points. This is an instant upgrade for your kicker spot no matter who else you had before.

7) Devin Thomas -- WR -- Redskins -- I am not ready to say that I trust Thomas entirely yet but I have long been a believe of his talent. Thomas has elite WR skills but unfortunately also carries with him an elite WR's brashness and sense of entitlement. The Redskins need some playmakers on offense and Jason Campbell is finally airing it out and trusting his young WR's to make the plays they are capable of making. Campbell has been playing good ball lately and if last week was any indication it could finally payoff for Devin Thomas.

8) Ryan Moats -- RB -- Texans -- Like Jerome Harrison, Moats was one of the hottest waiver pickups this season after his 23-126 yards and 3 TD performance against the Bills. Steve Slaton won the job back just 2 weeks later and then even Chris Brown was seeing more carries than Moats. But with Slaton now out for the season with a neck injury, there is no doubt in my mind that Moats becomes the lead ball carrier for the Texans the rest of the way. He is a perfect fit for the one-cut zone blocking system that the Texans employ and has good speed as well as hands. Remember, Moats was originally drafted to be Brian Westbrook's replacement in Philadelphia but never got much of a chance to prove himself. I think Moats racks up at least 1 big game probably either this week against the Seahawks or next week against the lowly Rams. He is very startable in either matchup as either a low RB2 or flex player.



That is The Hot 8 for week 14. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?

Leave your comments below or email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com

Also, be sure to listen to Fighting Chance Radio Tuesday 10 PM EST, Friday at Midnight EST and on Sunday Mornings 11:30 AM EST.

We have officially hit crunch time in fantasy football 2009. For many leagues this week is the final regular season week before the playoffs start. If you are reading this you obviously still have a shot at capturing your leagues title this year and I plan on helping you until the end. This week will be the final week of free agents who are about to make an impact. After this week, I will focus strictly on the matchups in selecting players who will help you on a week to week basis. The moves you make at this point in the season would have been ludicrous if done earlier on but it is now all about survival and moving on. If you have to dump a superstar player to grab someone off of the scrap heap then so be it. We haven't put in all this work to not win the title, right?



THE BEST OF WHAT'S LEFT

1) Chris Jennings -- RB -- Browns -- With Jamal Lewis going on injured reserve and ending his season, the Browns appear ready to see what they have in rookie RB Chris Jennings as well as possibly Jerome Harrison and newly acquired DeDe Dorsey. My bet is on Jennings holding the job for the rest of the year and thus worthy of a pickup right now. The Browns offense has been better of late with Brady Quinn at QB. The Browns have some great matchups in the coming weeks as well going against weak defenses such as San Diego, Kansas City and Oakland. As much as none of us want to own let alone count on any Cleveland players you must go to where the points are and I am telling you now that Jennings will be valuable come playoff time.

2) Jason Avant -- WR -- Eagles -- I am impressed with Avant's play in recent weeks. He is making some downright phenomenal catches as well as blocking well downfield for his teammates. With DeSean Jackson set to miss at least 1 game due to a severe concussion, Avant is set for an increased role in the Eagles pass heavy offense. In fact, I guarantee that Avant is the WR1 for the Eagles at least until Jackson comes back and possibly for the rest of the way. Not only is he roster worthy right now, I wouldn't hesitate starting him in either of the next two weeks against Atlanta or the Giants.

3) Kenny Britt -- WR -- Titans -- Britt has been one of my favorites since the moment he was drafted by the Titans in April. He is exactly what the team needed at WR in a big, physical specimen who can be counted on to make big time catches even when coverage is tight. After last weeks monster performance there is no doubt his name is high on everyone's waiver priority list this week and rightfully so. However, I must stress to not get over excited about Britt just yet as the Titans are a run first team and as good as Vince Young looked last week he is not a drop back and fling it around type QB. Start Britt at your own risk and only if you don't have any better options.



WORTH A LOOK

4) Chris Redman -- QB -- Falcons -- Redman played well last week as he came off the bench early on when Matt Ryan left with a foot injury. Ryan won't be back for awhile leaving Redman as the Falcons starting QB in the interim. Redman already has a nice chemistry with Roddy White and the other Falcons receivers so the transition shouldn't be too bad. Plus, the Falcons need to win all they can down the stretch to get back into the playoffs and so there will be no letup in this offense whatsoever. Redman can be used in 2 QB leagues and is worthy of a bench spot in leagues of at least 12 teams.

5) Matt Leinart -- QB -- Cardinals -- If you get the time, go back and read my preseason predictions especially those concerning Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals. Spooky isn't it? Warner is a constant headache for fantasy owners as he always comes up with reasons to either leave games or as was the case last weekend miss them entirely. Leinart has already appeared in 6 games this season for the Cardinals and despite what you may hear from uninformed fantasy experts, played pretty well. He threw his only interception of the season against the Bears causing him to be pulled and Warner re-inserted in order to close out the ballgame but other than that he's been OK. I would bet the farm that given a full week of practice reps with the first team offense, something Leinart hasn't had since training camp, he would be able to put up very similar numbers to Warner in this offense. With Warner never a lock to play it would be a wise move to swoop up Leinart right now and even if you don't use him yourself, keep him away from whoever owns Kurt Warner and who would likely beat you with him given the Cardinals easy end of season schedule.

6) Fred Jackson -- RB -- Bills -- Jackson is no more than a very good third down RB and a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. But with Marshawn Lynch struggling and a patchwork coaching staff the Bills seem inclined giving Jackson more touches the rest of the way. He could be a sneaky play in a couple nice matchups against Kansas City and Atlanta down the line.



UPSIDE ALERT

7) Quinton Ganther -- RB -- Redskins -- Last week I mentioned my love for Marcus Mason and this week I want to spotlight Quinton Ganther. Either one of these RB's are capable of performing at a high level and producing quality fantasy numbers the rest of the way. It comes down to who is getting the ball and last week Ganther got it more and did more with it. Clinton Portis told a local radio station today that he isn't sure if he is going to play again this season making both Ganther and Mason worhty of roster spots right now. While Mason is more of a homerun threat, I like Ganther's ability around the goal line and his ability to break to the outside for bigger chunks of yards.

8) Matt Bryant -- K -- Falcons -- Jason Elam got the boot and has been replaced by Matt Bryant for the rest of the season. Bryant is a solid kicker who will not be kicking for a higher profile offense who will have to put mega points on the board to win the games left on their schedule. What makes Bryant even more attractive is that he plays all but 1 of his remaining games indoors and away from the bad weather.




That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?
Email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com or leave your comments below, thanks!


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Get your waiver claims in quickly this week as there are 3 games this Thursday.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!!


1) Rock Cartwright -- RB -- Redskins -- With Clinton Portis and LaDell Betts out for an extended period the RB1 job in Washington falls to the Rock. Although I like both Quinton Ganther and Marcus Mason better, the Redskins coaching staff has faith in Cartwright and appears ready to give him a heavy workload this week against the Eagles. The good news is that Cartwright is a powerful runner who excels in short yardage situations which is ideal for goal line duty. This is a good pickup if you are desperate for a RB this week or just want to keep a desperate opponent from claiming him and getting steady points.


2) Kyle Boller -- QB -- Rams -- I've said all season long that I like Boller far better than Marc Bulger and I strongly believe he is a better QB overall than Bulger is. Boller is a smart player with a very strong arm and the ability to escape pressure and make plays with his feet. While I expect the Rams to continue leaning on Steven Jackson and the run game, I believe Boller can get the ball to developing WR's like Brandon Gibson and Donnie Avery in situations where they can produce. This is the best QB option you are going to get on the free agent wire until Kurt Warner goes down for good and Matt Leinart is again usable.


3) Kevin Boss -- TE -- Giants -- I have to admit that I have not been high on Boss all season. But it is clear that he is now a major factor in the Giants red zone passing game and Eli Manning has gone to him a ton in recent weeks overall. Boss is a solid backup TE at least and can definitely be used as a starter in favorable matchups.


4) Chris Jennings -- RB -- Browns -- I've said all season long that the Browns offensive line is actually pretty darn good. Even mediocre RB's could run well behind it and that is basically what Jamal Lewis is at this point. Enter Chris Jennings who is a solid talent and has gained the confidence of the coaching staff and thus more playing time. Expect Jennings to see the majority of carries going forward as the Browns find out what exactly they have in him as they play for the only thing they have going for them...the future!


5) Daunte Culpepper -- QB -- Lions -- One week start alert! Culpepper will start this week against the banged up Packers on Thanksgiving Day. As you all know by now my official policy is any QB throwing to Calvin Johnson is a QB worthy of fantasy consideration. If Megatron indeed plays on Thursday and you are desperate for a QB and are looking for big upside, Culpepper is your man.


6) Ernest Graham -- RB -- Buccaneers -- I'm starting to feel the Bucs resurgence of sorts as Josh Freeman has really motivated this offense to the brink of mediocrity. Head coach Raheem Morris is looking to solidify the running game and came out this week saying that Ernest Graham will no longer be needed as a blocker and will see an increase in carries starting this week against the Falcons. I believe that Graham makes the most of this opportunity and takes over as the primary ball carrier and short yardage/goal line back. He's worth an addition in deep leagues or by those who like to play aggressive.


7) Jason Avant -- WR -- Eagles -- There are those who would never recommend an Eagles WR but I ask you this: Why would you not want a receiver whose team throws the ball 40+ times in most games? Especially when that receiver has been seeing more and more targets and receptions the past few weeks and is getting red zone opportunities as well? Never say never in fantasy football my friends because in order to win you have to think unlike your opponents. Avant is a guy to stash for now and could be a weekly starter very, very soon.


8) Marcus Mason -- RB -- Redskins -- Well, in the beginning of the season I had Mason on my deep sleeper radar. The Redskins cut him back in October but now with Portis and Betts being out, there is a legitimate opportunity for someone to step up and show what they can do. If Mason is active this Sunday, it means he will see carries because he is no special team player like Quinten Ganther. Mason has a great skill set Speed, reckless cut-back ability and an eye for the endzone no matter where on the field he gets the ball. This is a homerun pick. Rock Cartwright is the primary guy for now but a few carries from Mason could change that dramatically.






That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Post your comments below or email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com

...And just like that the waiver wire becomes your best friend once again. Just when pickings were getting slimmer and slimmer all hell breaks lose on valuable fantasy property and suddenly some little known backups are commanding big time attention. With the injuries to Brian Westbrook, Ronnie Brown, Julius Jones, Michael Turner, Marion Barber Kyle Orton and many others, there is suddenly a wealth of players on the waiver wire this week. Quite a bit of these players have already been featured here in The Hot 8 this season (take a look through the archive!) so if there is a name missing chances are I have grown tired of telling you about him this season. Here are this weeks top picks:


RED HOT

1) Ricky Williams -- RB -- Dolphins -- I know this is a bit of a longshot that he is available but my investigating has shown Williams is only owned in 65% of leagues right now. Ronnie Brown is now out for the season with a severe foot injury leaving Boy Ricky as the clear RB1 in Miami. Williams has been running very well as it was this season and his newfound playing time will allow him to be a very good contributor to both the Dolphins and fantasy teams fortunate to have him now. This is the clear #1 waiver wire play to make this week and hopefully your fellow owners weren't stashing him and he is now available to you now.

2) Jason Snelling -- RB -- Falcons -- Michael Turner suffered a high ankle sprain last week and will miss at least 1-2 games. The Falcons are already without backup RB Jerious Norwood who's missed the past few weeks with a hip injury. This leaves fullback Jason Snelling as the main ball carrier now for Atlanta and he is definitely worth a roster addition for what should be a pretty solid stretch these next couple weeks. Snelling carried the ball 18 times for 61 yards last week against Carolina and also found the endzone. An interesting fact about Snelling, he is the only epileptic RB in the NFL and is an spokesperson and activist for the disease. This weeks game against the Giants isn't the greatest of matchups but in Atlanta's system the RB is always a safe bet for fantasy production. Oh, and the big payoff of Snelling may very well be in week 12 when he takes on the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

3) Brandon Gibson -- WR -- Rams -- Well that sure didn't take long! Last week in this very article I wrote that most football fans had never heard the name Brandon Gibson. Then poof! Keenan Burton goes down with a serious knee injury and Gibson takes the opportunity and catches 7 balls for 93 yards against the Saints. I really like this kid and believe he has all the tools to be a starting WR in the NFL for a long time. The Rams were wise when they got him from Philly at the trade deadline for LB Wil Witherspoon. With improved offensive line play, Steven Jackson's never say die spirit and a few under the radar receivers the Rams actually have the makings of a real NFL offense. You could be using Gibson as a WR2 in the weeks ahead.



WARMING UP

4) Justin Forsett -- RB -- Seahawks -- Just another RB that I've had here in The Hot 8 several times this season. In fact, I feel that I shouldn't even be recommending Forsett anymore because he should be owned in most leagues already, right? Well he's not and after last weeks breakout performance he is probably the hottest waiver claim this week. But I am asking you to use caution with Forsett at this time. He is a very good third down back type who is great on draws, delays and in passing situations. However, I just don't see Forsett as a full time RB in the NFL. He is a smaller guy who's body doesn't seem as if it'd be able to take the constant punishment of a 20+ carry RB. Also, there is another runner in the Seattle backfield that I see as a potential home run threat every time he touches the ball...

5) Louis Rankin -- RB -- Seahawks -- I had Rankin in The Hot 8 last week as well as a guy to follow for a few weeks in case he gets a chance. Well, that chance seems to be coming a lot quicker now that Julius Jones is out for a few weeks with a bruised lung and ribs. Rankin has got such great quickness and raw speed that he makes defensive tacklers look goofy. I am sure he will get at least a few carries this week against the Vikings and on that turn against a very aggressive defense I can see a couple of long runs out of him. The ideal situation for the Seahawks is to have Rankin as the primary ball carrier and Forsett as the third down RB.

6) Josh Freeman -- QB -- Buccaneers -- I watch every single NFL game every single week without missing a single one. How? I have a wall of 5 TV's in my basement, have multiple laptops at my disposal and have the quickest remote trigger in all of Chicagoland. The difference in the Buccaneers offense from the Byron Leftwich and Josh Johnson weeks to the current Josh Freeman era is unbelievable. Maybe it is a coincidence but whatever it is Freeman looks like a much more polished NFL QB than anybody thought he was coming out of school this spring. Freeman is using his main weapon in Kellen Winslow often and making plays with his legs that are keeping drives going and putting more points on the scoreboard. One more solid week and he may have to be considered a sleeper for your lineups in good matchup weeks. For now, I think adding Freeman as a backup QB for your team wouldn't be a bad idea.


SCORCHING SLOT WR'S

7) Lance Long -- WR -- Chiefs -- Long almost made it the cut as well last week after an impressive 8 catch performance against the Jaguars. Now with Dwayne Bowe suspended for the next 4 games, I see the Chiefs and Matt Cassel leaning heavily on Long in the short passing game. Cassel is comfortable and proven to be effective when using his slot WR's in a short quick passing scheme as he did with Wes Welker and the Patriots last year. Long is the Welker of the Chiefs and is very sure handed and an effective route runner. Cassel has come out publicly and praised Long's hands and his work ethic which is a great sign that he is quite comfortable with Long.

8) Julian Edelman -- WR -- Patriots -- Just a few weeks ago it was Edelman who was out of the picture as I talked up both Sam Aiken and rookie WR Brandon Tate as a possible sleeper for the Pats. Now Edelman is back and recovered from a fracture in his wrist and Tate is out for the season with a knee injury and Aiken is questionable with a hip injury. This leaves Edelman to step back into a prominent role in the Pats offense for rest of the season.




That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?

Send me an email at thefantasyscout@gmail.com or leave your comments down below.

This is an admittedly weak list of sorts mostly because at this point I have already uncovered most of the impact free agents that you guys are now adding to your rosters and using to win you games. At this point in the season, the waiver wire starts to become less about upside and more about instant impact. Therefore, you'll be seeing me recommend some really iffy players at least on the surface but usually these guys will have premium matchups or opportunities right away. On this weeks Hot 8 however, I have included 2 players who I really want you guys to watch out for over the remainder of the season. These are guys who won't make an impact quite yet but may be poised to do so in weeks #14-17 which may be after your leagues waiver move deadline.


STARTABLE RIGHT NOW

1) LaDell Betts -- RB -- Redskins -- I like Betts a lot and at this point I actually rate him as a better RB than Clinton Portis. Portis has lost a step, become too much of a character and hates his coach so much that he's become barely usable even when healthy. Portis will be taking at least a week off after being knocked unconscious early in last weeks game. Betts takes over the feature RB role and should be a decent low RB2 this week. Betts runs hard and picks up good yardage after contact. He also is a threat out of the backfield which is good for PPR leagues. Best of all there is nobody else to steal carries away from him so make sure he is your top priority if you need a RB this week.

2) Bo Scaife -- TE -- Titans -- That's right, Bo Scaife is startable this week. He has always been Vince Young's favorite target since their college days together and that hasn't changed a bit. Since Young has taken over, Scaife is the only Titans TE to see any significant playing time. Though he's only caught 6 passes in the past two weeks, he's also been targeted 14 times, dropped 2 catches and had a short TD pass called back for holding last week. I think Scaife is a very solid start in week 10 against the Buffalo Bills as Vince Young stays away from the Bills ball hawking defensive backs.


PROCEED WITH CAUTION

3) Chris Chambers -- WR -- Chiefs -- I am the only person I know who actually liked Chambers fit in K.C. Now, in no way do I expect him to be the TD machine he was in his first game with the team, but I do believe he offers a decent second option opposite Dwayne Bowe for Matt Cassel and this pass heavy offense. Guys like, Bobby Wade, Mark Bradley, Terrence Copper and Lance Long are below mediocre as far as skill level goes and Chambers at least offers experience, size and good hands when he does get the ball. People have overreacted to what happened to him in San Diego. He isn't quite the receiver he was in his Miami days, but he isn't a total lost cause either. He can become a solid flex option here in Kansas City and may just play well enough to be back with the Chiefs in 2010.

4) Chaz Schilens -- WR -- Raiders -- Is this the week Schilens finally comes back? Yeah I think this time we will see the big man back on the field. I honestly believe that if Schilens would have not broke his foot in the last week before the season, JaMarcus Russell wouldn't suck this bad. Schilens is an incredible talent who possesses all the skills you want in a WR. The only questions that linger are can he stay healthy and can Russell get him the damn ball? If so, you will be getting yourself a pretty darn good WR for the stretch run.

5) Josh Freeman -- QB -- Buccaneers -- Freeman had himself a big first start in the NFL but I must warn everybody that he is still a long term project. Freeman is going to be erratic as a passer for the foreseeable future but will make some plays with his legs that will keep his fantasy points very close to respectability. I recommend taking a shot on him as your QB3 if you have deep enough rosters. He has a few decent matchups remaining on the schedule and even if you don't start him you don't want one of your opponents to pick him up and beat you with him now do you?

6) Kolby Smith -- RB -- Chiefs -- My buddy and Fantasy Football Tonight co-host Ted "Hawkeye" Schuster loves Jamaal Charles and is telling anyone who will listen that he's the impact RB you want for the rest of this season. But what I saw on Sunday was Kolby Smith not only getting a bit more playing time but also receiving all of the red zone carries for the Chiefs. Charles is a good pass catcher and has blazing speed but also is a notorious fumbler and is obviously not trusted anywhere near the goal line. Smith is going to be a factor in the K.C. backfield and may be worth an end of the roster flier right now. I wouldn't get my hopes up for him necessarily but if you are in need of RB help there are worse options than Kolby Smith already on fantasy rosters.


BOOM or BUST

7) Brandon Gibson -- WR -- Rams -- Another player you probably won't hear about anywhere but on The Hot 8. Gibson was a 6th round pick of the Eagles in this years NFL draft and was traded at the deadline for LB Wil Witherspoon. Gibson is a very talented WR and would have been a possible first day pick if he'd have left Washington St. after his junior year. Instead, he stayed in school and his stock plummeted as the team took a major nose dive and thus his production tumbled. Gibson is a professional WR in many ways. He has natural instincts and mechanics that just cannot be taught. He has a nose for the football and adjusts his body real well to make difficult catches look easy. He has above average height and speed for an NFL WR and is very strong to fight off even the most aggressive defensive backs. I strongly believe in this kid and his pro potential going forward. Whether that happens this season or not I cannot say. But he is in a great situation here in St. Louis to at least get some looks this season. The team obviously must see what I see in him or they would not have paid such a high price to acquire him. Don't be surprised to see him starting for the Rams by season's end.

8) Louis Rankin -- RB -- Seahawks -- I almost put Rankin in The Hot 8 last week when the Seahawks let go of Edgerrin James but figured I had at least another week or two before the glut of fantasy football band wagon jumpers even knew his name. Leave it to loyal reader and listener, Corey Benjamin (CB31 for those who know!) to ruin that for me last week when he brought up Rankin during my LIVE Seahawks game chat right here on Fantasy Football Search. This kid is the real deal. As we've learned with the Titans Chris Johnson, speed kills in the NFL and Rankin has plenty of it. I first learned of Rankin's NFL prospects when my Chicago Bears sent some scouts out to work him out before the draft and eventually brought him in for a visit to Halas Hall. When he wasn't drafted, Rankin had a choice of several invitations to camp and he chose the Oakland Raiders. In his first preseason game with the Raiders Rankin took the ball and busted something like a 60 yard TD run on his first carry. He was eventually cut and hooked onto Seattle's practice squad for the beginning of the season. I am pretty sure that my beloved Bears started sniffing around and forced the Seahawks to protect Rankin and thus cut Edgerrin James loose. Rankin nearly busted 2 kickoffs for touchdowns in the game against the Lions last week but got caught once by a diving arm tackle and another time by the kicker. He is an explosive player who deserves your attention right now. I wouldn't use a roster move on him quite yet (COREY!), but keep watching for Rankin's playing time to increase. It is possible that he gets some serious action in the final few weeks of this season and I will bet you anything that he puts up numbers.




That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Leave your comments below or email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com

Hear Jeff Mans every Tuesday & Sunday Morning on Fantasy Football Tonight.

If you are a loyal reader of The Hot 8 first of all, thank you. Secondly, you'll notice some very familiar names on this weeks list in Ryan Moats, Justin Forsett and Vince Young. As many rush out to their waiver wires this week to get one of these emerging stars, you should be either kicking yourself or sending me a six pack of Bud Light Lime depending on if you took my advice weeks ago. Every week I compile The Hot 8 with a couple of obvious choices and give you my expectations for them and also fill it with guys who are closing in on being the next big fantasy free agent. You come here to get this knowledge first. So please, stay ahead of the curve and read through all the names and breakdowns on this list and be ready to pounce on these guys before they have their breakout week.


SURE BETS

1) Ryan Moats -- RB -- Texans -- I really like him in the Texans one-cut zone blocking system. It fits his skills perfectly and Moats showed exactly what he is capable last week against Buffalo. Don't expect him to take over the feature RB role just yet, but he's earned himself a solid share of the carries going forward. If Steve Slaton doesn't step up his performance or continues putting the ball on the ground then Moats will continue to take carries and eventually be the man in Houston.

2) Malcom Floyd -- WR -- Chargers -- With the release of Chris Chambers, the Chargers have made Floyd their WR2 as he continues to impress the team with his sure hands and bit target. at 6'5", Floyd creates a mismatch for any cornerback in the league. This is especially useful in the red zone, an area where the Chargers have been struggling as of late. Phillip Rivers is an every week starting QB in fantasy football and so is Vincent Jackson. If Floyd continues to make plays he will not only be a must have on your roster but also a good flex start week in and week out.

3) Vince Young -- QB -- Titans -- I promise this is the last week for Vince Young. What I really want to say right now is, "I told you so" to those emailers who rode me for the past 2-3 weeks saying there was no way the Titans turn back to Young to be their QB. While he will not produce the kind of passing numbers Kerry Collins would, Young makes up plenty of ground using his feet. That is a big bonus in fantasy, when your QB can pick up bonus points with rushing yards and TD's as well as passing one's. Take a shot...the upside is big and who the heck else do you have as your backup QB, Trent Edwards? Give me a break!


GOOD ODDS

4) Justin Forsett -- RB -- Seahawks -- The release of Edgerrin James gives Forsett the clear RB2 job in Seattle for now with sights set on overtaking the ineffective Julius Jones soon enough. Forsett is a great pass catching RB who has the speed to take it to the house at any given time. He is very similar to Darren Sproles actually but has better balance and vision and a bit less speed. I like his upside potential and believe Forsett is on the verge of putting together some very impressive weeks this season.

5) Ted Ginn Jr. -- WR -- Dolphins -- What are you guys doing? Stop buying into every single story you read on Rotoworld cause Ginn is still very much a part of the Dolphins offensive plans. Sure, they "benched" him and all that last week but that was just another attempt to motivate the speedy WR and not necessarily a mark against his skills. I am confident that Ginn will find his niche as a downfield threat now with strong armed Chad Henne at QB for the Dolphins. Ginn is the only WR on the team who can stretch the field and give both Henne and both the Dolphins RB's some breathing room. He has been dropped in far too many leagues I am noticing and he is a guy you can scoop up off the waiver wire right now and have it pay off in a big way down the road.

6) Bo Scaife -- TE -- Titans -- A recent emailer of mine commented that there were very few usable TE's left in most leagues right now. That got me to thinking about what TE's are about ready to bust out and become fantasy worthy very soon? That brought me to Bo Scaife who, when Vince Young is his QB, becomes a frequent pass target. Young is good friends with Scaife and the two are former teammates in college and have a long history together. Look back at when VY was the Titans starter a few years back and notice how Scaife was also a top fantasy TE at that time too. Scaife is only owned in 7% of Yahoo leagues and 10% of CBS leagues right now meaning he is readily available for anybody looking for a productive TE right now.


LONG SHOTS

7) Brandon Tate -- WR -- Patriots -- Everything I hear about Tate out of Patriots staff and New England reporters says he is impressing the hell out of everybody. His knee appears 100% healed and he doesn't seem to have lost any of his top end speed during his recovery. This kid would have been a top 10 draft pick had he not blown out his knee so you know that the talent is there. I am hearing he has already passed up Sam Aiken for the WR3 gig and is going to give Tom Brady yet another strong option to throw to in the passing game.

8) Chris Chambers -- WR -- Chiefs -- I haven't been impressed with Chambers for going on 2 years now. He's lost some speed and just isn't playing as tough as he had in his finer days in Miami. Still, the Chiefs are desperate for a WR who can catch the ball and head coach Todd Haley is good at getting the most out of his WR's. The potential for Chambers in K.C. is as good as it would be anywhere and if the veteran wideout has any intention of resurrecting his career he will be going all out to make a statement with the Chiefs the rest of the way. There is some solid potential here with Chambers so don't give up on him quite yet. Maybe, just maybe all that he needed was another chance.




That is The Hot 8 for this week. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?

Post your comments below or email me at thefantasyscout@gmail.com