2008 Fantasy Football Week 9 Waiver Wire Report

Each week Pro Football Fans will be bringing you all our waiver wire report where we identify players who are more likely to be available using your waiver position to add to your team. While we can't be sure that individuals will be available in your league, you can use this as a guide for all of your fantasy football decision-making as you work toward a fantasy football league championship.

Tyler Thigpen QB (Chiefs): Thigpen has had two good games in a row. I do not know if that means that he will continue to improve or become a fantasy consideration. However, the Chiefs offense has a few weapons and if Thigpen can develop they may be on their way up. I am still unsure what this means short term for fantasy purposes, but he has a shot to contribute against weaker opponents. In keeper leagues he is somebody to consider at this point. He has a chance to develop into a pretty nice fantasy option long term. Athleticism accounts for a lot in the NFL and the way he looked on the reception for a TD he is incredibly athletic.

Michael Jenkins WR (Falcons): Truthfully Jenkins is just a decent run of the mill option as a backup WR. Jenkins is a mid tier WR option that can be played occasionally against weaker opponents, but he is unlikely to be a consistent performer week to week.

Falcons Defense: The Falcons had as good a week as a defense can have in the NFL. Their defense has been solid all year, but playing Oakland provided a perfect storm. Oakland’s offense is terrible and the Falcons took advantage. The Falcons are decent play against weaker offenses and not bad against mid-tier offenses.

Joe Flacco QB (Ravens): Flacco has been solid all year, doing what the Ravens asked. He is not a fantasy option right now, but he will at some point. I do not know if it will happen by next year, but he is worth stashing away in keeper leagues.

Ray Rice RB (Ravens): Rice has had his moments this season. Those moments culminated this week against the Browns. The Browns run defense is not great, but it is not the worst in the league either. All that to say that Rice’s numbers this week were legitimate. Rice is a solid fantasy option going forward as a Flex or RB2; he should be picked up in all leagues.

Peyton Hillis RB (Broncos): Hillis caught seven passes for 116 yards with a TD. Hillis’s week was great, but I do not know if I would get too excited. Hillis’s week could have easily been a fluke, and we will have to see if the Broncos continue to target him in the coming weeks. I doubt Hillis is going to become a viable fantasy option.

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Koren Robinson WR (Seahawks): Robinson had his biggest week since 2005 this Sunday. He is as good an option as Seattle has at WR right now. Robinson should become more and more comfortable with the rest of Seattle’s offense and they need a deep threat, which Seattle needs desperately. Robinson is a decent option as a Flex/WR3 in deep leagues, but he is not an every week WR play.

Dan Carpenter K (Dolphins): Carpenter had an excellent game against the Broncos, but he is a kicker. All that means is that he is likely to have these weeks where they bubble up. Carpenter is just another mid-tier kicker that can be played if you need a kicker, but week to week his averages will probably be similar to other mid level kickers. The only advantage Carpenter may have is more opportunities for field goals if the Dolphins red zone struggles continue.

Sage Rosenfels QB (Texans): Rosenfels had a good game against Minnesota coming in for the injured Matt Schaub. Schaub is out at least four weeks, so Rosenfels will continue to start for the short term. Rosenfels has proven in the past that he can be adequate in short bursts against weak defenses, but he is only an option in emergency situation.

Derrick Ward RB (Giants): Ward had a good week and has been solid all season. Ward is a backup RB who is good as a change of pace with Brandon Jacobs. All of that means that Ward is only an option as an emergency play, but if you have no choice but to play a backup RB he is about as good as it gets.

Jerious Norwood RB (Falcons): See Derrick Ward. The only difference between Ward and Norwood is that the Falcons may use Norwood more going forward. They are less reliant on the pass, so they have to use the run more, forcing them to use more backs.

Derek Stanley WR (Rams): Stanley had a good game against a bad Arizona secondary. The Rams have a couple quality WR ahead of Stanley who may occasionally have a good day or two. However, Stanley is most likely not going to be more than a lower tier fantasy receiver who has a day or two during the season when he gets a long pass or two.

Brent Celek TE (Eagles): Celek was filling in for L.J. Smith and had an outstanding day. Celek should be a good fantasy option at TE until Smith comes back since the Eagles like to utilize the TE quite a bit. Celek is a good bet if you have a weak TE, but only short term while Smith is out.

By Brian Chmielewski
ProFootball-fans.com Fantasy Football Correspondent

Fans can contact Brian via email at bchmfantasybaseball @ yahoo.com