Garbage Grab Week 1
Dorian “The Trashman” Colbert

Photo by Iwan Putuhena

I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Okay, that’s an oddly placed quote from Apocalypse Now, but I can totally appreciate the sentiment Robert Duvall’s Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore displays towards warfare in relation to combat of another sort.

I’m talking about NFL football, ladies and gentlemen, and it is well underway my friends. Now, with the advent of the NFL season comes another tradition I hope to impart, and that is the weekly Garbage Grab.

For those new adherents out there, The GG is my own handpicked list of players that are almost guaranteed to be on your waiver wire, but have a good chance of producing …for at least the week they are parceled out and perhaps beyond.

I’ll forewarn you, these dumpster diamonds are not always for the squeamish or weak of heart. They are often high risk players with names that you haven’t heard in years or maybe ever, but that’s half the fun in it. I love strategy, and I relish winning weeks with players that make opposing teams stew. So if you’re game, read ahead. Come see what trashy treasures I’ve drudged up this week.

WR Rod Streater, Oakland Raiders: Who? Exactly. You’ve probably never heard of him (unless you come to this site often), But Streater is a talented rookie who is slated to start this weekend against San Diego. He’s had an impressive preseason (18 catches and 165 yds in the games), and with Darrius Heyward-Bey being the only other healthy receiver the Raiders have going right now, Streater could make himself difficult to sit with a solid showing in week one.

RB Robert Turbin, Seattle Seahawks:  Marshawn Lynch is iffy this week with back spasms, leaving the door open for the powerful Turbin. If Lynch sits, Turbin is a top twenty back this week against Arizona. Even if Lynch plays, Turbin should be owned. He’s one of the better handcuffs in the league.

WR Eddie Royal, San Diego Chargers:  Thanks to Vincent Brown’s unlucky break, Royal is a viable option in San Diego. Hopefully he can take some of the heat, and targets, from Antonio Gates in the slot. Coach Norv Turner has been talking him up thus far, so hopefully he stays true to his word and gets him involved.

TE Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings:  An athletic specimen in the style of a Rob Gronkowski, Rudolph comes into the season as Minnesota’s second option in the passing game, at least until Jerome Simpson returns from suspension. I expect the Vikings to pass more this year with a competent quarterback and a mission to take some of the onus off of AP. Use him confidently this week against the Jaguars.

WR David Nelson, Buffalo Bills: Jets shutdown corner, Darrelle Revis, has been listening to what people are saying about how Stevie Johnson has his number (159 yds and a touchdown last season). I think he’ll do everything he can to silence the noise in their week one bout, leaving No.2 receiver David Nelson to soak up targets. And all Nelson needs is a few, as he is a reliable red zone weapon at 6’5”. He could quietly have a solid year.

RB Ronnie Brown, San Diego Chargers: His reign won’t last long, but Brown looks like the guy to roll with in the Chargers backfield for week one. It won’t be pretty, but I would start the veteran Brown in my flex and not blink an eye. Somebody has to run the ball till Mathews returns.

QB Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings:  He can run. He can throw. What’s not to like? With TE Kyle Rudolph primed to make an impact behind Percy Harvin in the passing game, Ponder has a at least one more toy to play with this season. I like his chances against the Jaguars this week. When WR Jerome Simpson gets back from suspension, look out.

WR Braylon Edwards, Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks just can’t keep has beens out of their receiving corps, as somehow Edwards has slipped into the starting spot opposite Sidney Rice. He’s shown he can still stretch the field through a couple nice preseason grabs, and with an invigorating Russell Wilson tossing the ball around, he might actually make a difference this year. He may not stick, as Golden Tate is bound to come back sooner or later, but for now Braylon has nothing to keep him from succeeding…except for his hands.