Championship Week 2023-Waiver Wire is now here! I salute you all and now we must focus and finish!
I’ve paid my dues Time after time I’ve done my sentence But committed no crime And bad mistakes I’ve made a few I’ve had my share of sand Kicked in my face But I’ve come through
Entering Championship Week 2023-Waiver Wire running backs are vital, Josh Jacobs (quadriceps), Isiah Pacheco (concussion), Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring), Zack Moss (forearm), Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), Kareem Hunt (groin), D’Onta Foreman (personal) and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (foot) are all questionable. As I learned in my sales career, we can live with no, we love yes, but maybe can kill us.
The back best positioned for s big week may be Clyde Edwards-Helaire. With Jerick McKinnon (groin) on injured reserve and Isiah Pacheco suffered a concussion in Monday’s loss to the Raiders. Pacheco did not participate in the Kansas City Chiefs’ Wednesday practice. If Josh Jacobs somehow can’t play in Week 17 at Indianapolis then White would be a must start.
If you find that you were not able to grab Antonio Gibson or Zamir White, all is not lost. Khalil Herbert, is back and is running with power and speed. He just produced 112 rushing yards on 20 carries in the Bears’ 27-16 win while facing the Arizona Cardinals, Christmas Eve. In addition, he scored his first rushing touchdown.
The Patriots are a very poor offense, while there are no great options, Rhamondre Stevenson has been fairly consistent. He finished as a top-12 fantasy RB seven times; top-24 11 times. With him on IR, his replacement Ezekiel Elijah Elliott is averaging 8.5 points in 1/2 point PPR. He is not likely to be available. My two deep league desperation dart throws are Jaleel McLaughlin, who has averaged 5.5 points per game in 1/2 point PPR. In week 16 he had five targets, four receptions for 30 yards and six carries for 37 yards, for 8.7 points in 1/2 point PPR
One other championship week 2023 waiver wire running back of interest is his teammate, who is averaging 5.9 points in 1/2 point PPR. Last week he had five targets, four receptions for 27 yards and a carry for two yards. He is for the deepest of deep leagues and again. Chase Brown carried the ball four times for 16 yards and added two catches for eight yards in week 16. Another explosion like week 14’s seems unlikely, he is a deep league add only.
Via (Allen J. Schaben care of the Los Angeles Times)
Championship Week 2023-Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
I’ve taken my bows And my curtain calls You brought me fame and fortune And everything that goes with it I thank you all
Championship Week 2023 comes as many of the top fantasy wide receivers are battling injuries: Jaylen Waddle (ankle), Jordan Addison (ankle), Courtland Sutton (concussion), Keenan Allen (heel), Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder), Michael Pittman (concussion), Jayden Reed (toe), Christian Watson (hamstring), Dontayvion Wicks (chest) and Marquise Brown (heel) are all questionable.
This is it, you must find an alternative. There a few options that I can recommend. George Pickens should not be available, but Diontae Johnson might. If so he should be added if you need a flex/WR2. I am starting Tyler Alexander Boyd in all the leagues possible. He was able to score 8.4 points in 1/2 point PPR in week 16.
Jaylen Waddle is out for Championship Week 2023. Teams are trying to limit Tyreek Hill, the other possible recipients of WR targets for Miami are well behind, Hill’s 146 and Waddle’s 104, is the 31 belonging to Cedrick Wilson Jr., who caught three of his five targets for 42 yards last week. I suspect he will increase his volume this week.
Demarcus Dontavian Robinson is still producing despite being a tertiary target. But last week he had six receptions on as many targets for 82 yards and 1 touchdown. Robinson found the end-zone for the fourth straight game. He is trending up and has replaced Atwell as the Rams’ clear-cut WR #3 in the Rams’ heavy 11 personnel package. Robinson ran a route on 94% of the drop-backs. He has caught four touchdown passes in the last four games.
Rashid Shaheed is still widely available, last week Shaheed’s longest reception was 45 yards for a long score, versus the Rams. also played the most WR snaps (82%) and ran the most routes. He had 1 rushing attempt for 4 yards, and in receiving, he made 5 receptions on 9 targets for 70 yards.
With the Texans regaining the talented, Coleridge Bernard Stroud Jr., under center, Noah Brown, in deeper leagues, must be acquired if available, both he and Nico Collins could be double-digit 1/2 point PPR scorers. Brown was a limited participant at practice on Wednesday.
My last WR to consider is Josh Downs. With Pittman Jr. shelved he has breakout potential and four times he has broken the 10 point barrier in 1/2 point PPR.
Via Mike Roemer of the Associated-Press
Championship Week 2023-Waiver Wire Quarterbacks
But it’s been no bed of roses No pleasure cruise I consider it a challenge before The human race And I ain’t gonna lose
Championship Week 2023 continues with new starting quarterbacks I may have been too hasty when I wrote about Jaren Hall. Finally, Hall and Jarrett Ryan Stidham are scheduled to start. Stidham has flashed in some of his previous starts. December 28, 2022, n his first NFL start, Stidham threw for 365 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, while spelling Derek Carr.
However, my personal favorite deep league, desperation dart throw QB, is Tyrod Diallo Taylor. If you are in a two QB or Super-flex league and you lost Russell Carrington Wilson and or Drek Dallas Carr or Joe Flacco is not available, Taylor is a vetran who can still make plays with his feet. In Monday’s loss to the Eagles, he completed seven of 16 passes for 133 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Taylor added 21 yards on two rushes. I think he can double that production versus the Rams.
via TeamNBS
Championship Week 2023-Waiver Wire Tight Ends
And we mean to go on and on and on and on
We are the champions, my friends And we’ll keep on fighting till the end
Taysom Hill is a classic boom or bust option, however his fellow Saints’ tight ends, Juwon Johnson, the most targeted of the group and even touchdown specialist, Jimmy Graham, may be safer options. But I have added Gerald Everett, who went, last week, for 7.7 points in 1/2 point PPR, Cade Otton, who has been held to two or fewer receptions in four straight games, but I think is do for a breakout and the much injured, Darren Waller, but despite that, in limited duty, thrice he has exceeded 10 points in 1/2 point PPR.
My favorite, deep league, desperation dart throws are Tucker Kraft and Jonnu Smith. Smith has averaged 5.9 points in 1/2 point PPR and three times he has topped 10 points in 1/2 point PPR. Kraft, since week 11 has, 1/2 point PPR, scored 8.5, 5.2, 8.4, 13.7 and 8 points. If you are in need of a TE, he might be the best option.
Photo by Matt Rourke of the Associated Press
Championship Week 2023-Kickers
I am grabbing kickers on good offenses and also the ones one teams that stall in the red-zone. Justin Tucker is a must start if available, Tucker has finished as a top-five kicker eight out of the last nine seasons, making him the most consistent player at any position in the past decade. I am starting: Jake Elliott, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Matt Gay, Dustin Hopkins, Jason Myers and Jason Sanders.
My deep league desperation dart throws are Lucas Havrisik, who has made three of his four field goals and added three extra points in week 17 he is facing the Giants he has hit on 15 of his 20 field goals and 17 of 18 extra points. Chase McLaughlin is a player who is almost universally available, but he has a strong leg and is in a favorable situation. My final deep league desperation dart throw is Mason Walker Crosby, age 39, the Giants’ fourth kicker this year. He came in, went 2/2 on extra points, and hit a 52-yard field goal. he’s a career 43-of-78 (55%) on field goals from 50 or more yards.
We are the champions We are the champions
Picture by Keith Birmingham-MediaNews Group&Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images
Championship Week 2023-Waiver Wire Defense/Special Teams
No time for losers ‘Cause we are the champions of the World
Since Week 11, the Bears’ defense has ranked third in fantasy scoring. Chicago gets a favorable home setting this week against Atlanta, a dome team from the South traveling to play outdoors in Soldier Field. Other defenses to consider are the Falcons in that same game, Fields has thrown nine interceptions in 11 starts and is sacked at an average of four per game.
The Raiders’ defense over its last three games, has averaged nearly 20 fantasy points. Las Vegas faces an inconsistent Colts’ offense. Again, the opposite defense is fifth in defensive fantasy scoring, the Colts average 8.7 fantasy points per game. The Jaguars is a true deep league desperation dart throw . The have struggled in the last half of the season, but the Titans are a very tempting proposition.
We are the champions, my friends And we’ll keep on fighting till the end We are the champions We are the champions No time for losers ‘Cause we are the champions of the World
am now in my fourth decade as a published writer. The Answer Newspaper first carried my sports column over 30 years ago; additionally, I am a published poet, playwright, and military historian. I am a founding member of MPAACT. I have also written for Black Sports Online, Football Reporters Online, and oversaw HBCU Scouting for Consensus Draft Services. Currently, Consensus Draft Services is in a content providing relationship with www.fanspeak.com. My broadcasting career is also long established. I have co-hosted “Local Color” on WEFT, “The Draft-Tastic 4,” and the Sports Chronicles Radio Network. I hosted “Feeling A Draft” and CDS “Pro Prospects Radio.” I have also taught broadcasting at Kennedy-King College.
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