Garbage Grab: Week 1
Dorian “The Trashman” Colbert, Rosterwatch.com

It’s that time of the season again, fantasy friends. That time when I like to roll up my sleeves and reach way down into the recesses of the old fantasy dumpster to find the gnarliest waiver wire players to stink up your lineups with on game day. Nothing makes your opponent hurt worse than getting beat with garbage.

Now this isn’t your run-of-the-mill waiver article. If you want one of those, go find some high schooler writing a damn slideshow somewhere. These guys are generally the deepest of sleepers, and should only be handled by the bravest and boldest fantasy owners. That being said, I hit more often than not, so listen carefully boys and girls.

Things are about to get really smelly in here, you’ve been warned. This is your week 1 Garbage Grab.

 

Greg Little WR, Cleveland Browns: Let’s get one thing straight. Josh Gordon is the number one receiver in Cleveland, and he will assume that role when he comes back from his suspension. But, the fact of the matter is that for two games there is no Gordon, and Little will get more targets because of it. He actually has some decent value for this and next week’s contests.

Terrance Williams WR, Dallas Cowboys: Williams’ appearance on the Grab is due more to the position he’s assuming in Dallas than anything we’ve seen from him. Neither Alex or Byron was impressed with Williams at the Senior Bowl after having the highest of hopes for Kendall Wright’s ex-Baylor teammate in the infamous RG3 Baylor offense. The Cowboys’ third receiver has been of sneaky value the past several years, though, and Williams will be no exception. This is especially true in a prime-time matchup with the Giants at home. There will be plenty of fantasy points scored, and Williams will be a beneficiary. You remember Kevin Ogletree in Week 1 of 2012, right?

Nate Burleson WR, Detroit Lions: There’s nothing sexy about the Garbage Grab, and our next dumpster diamond is the epitome of a boring fantasy play. Boring, effective, old and crusty, mind you. Burleson is the number 2 receiver for the Lions, at least until Ryan Broyles is up to speed. The 32 year-old can’t separate like he used to, but that’s not really his role anymore. “Short and sweet” is the name of the game with Burleson, and he has some of the best hands in the business. Rehabbed from an injury-riddled 2012—on an extremely prolific Lions offense—Burleson can provide you some run this week; and moving forward until Broyles usurps him.

Nate Washington WR, Tennessee Titans: Another well-worn WR named Nate, Washington is the clear-cut number 2 in Tennessee, at least for the time being. Kendall Wright is playing right behind him, and has upside to spare. But upside doesn’t matter as much in an offense that is unsure of itself, and in the hands of a young quarterback. Dependability matters in that case, and Washington is just about as good as it gets in that category. We don’t know what we’re going to get out of Kenny Britt or Wright this season, but I can tell you that Washington will average about 50 yards a game. Throw in a TD, and you have yourself a nice fantasy week out of your third or fourth receiver.

Mike Tolbert RB, Carolina Panthers: Veteran Panthers WR Steve Smith intimated that Tolbert would have a bigger role now that former OC Rob Chudzinski was no longer calling plays in Carolina, and I’m inclined to believe him. This is exacerbated by the fact that Jonathan Stewart is out for the near future, and DeAngelo Williams is the lead back. Tolbert was already slated to take goal-line carries, and we should see even more action from him now. With at least ten carries and goal-line looks in the plans, you could do worse in a pinch. Tolbert actually might be more effective than Williams against a stout Seahawks defense this week.

Roy Helu RB, Washington Redskins: A now-healthy Helu will see third down plays and maybe more in an fast and powerful Redskins offense. A perfect fit for their zone-blocking sheme, Helu has been impressive in the preseason rushing 27 times for 257 yards and a touchdown. In PPR leagues, he has considerable upside on his own, and should Morris go down, Helu will be an RB1 in fantasy. This week, against an Eagles defense that has been less than capable all preseason, I like Helu’s chances of getting on the board.

Benny Cunningham RB, St. Louis Ram: Cunning-who? An undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State, Cunningham has had perhaps the most impressive preseason of any Rams running back with 123 yards on 20 carries. This is good enough to put him first in line after Daryl Richardson, for the first game of the season, as Isaiah Pead cannot play. The Rams go up against the Cardinals this week, whose defense leaves much to be desired right now. Richardson will see around 15 carries, but I’m betting most of the rest will go to Cunningham. This pick is only for the deep, deep leaguers and super-creeps but I think it will hit.

Scott Chandler TE, Buffalo Bills: No; Chandler won’t get many yards in Doug Marrone’s run heavy offense, but he will continue to be a heavily targeted red-zone target. The fact that an inexperienced QB in E.J. Manuel is starting may actually be a benefit to his performance. Chandler makes for a nice, big safety blanket.

Zach Sudfeld TE, New England Patriots: You have to like Sudfield with Rob Gronkowski out of the lineup for at least the first couple of weeks. I like him beyond Gronk’s return, too. Sudfield is playing the “move” tight end role, so deftly played by Aaron Hernandez in the past, so he will continue to get run the Pats’ offense. The role is tailor-suited for the attributes Sudfeld put on tape through college in Chris Ault’s revolutionary pistol offense at Nevada. The Bills are in for trouble this week, and Sudfield will be a big reason why. Remember though, Sudfeld is an injury concern himself, having not made it through a season healthy in the last three years.

Dwayne Allen TE, Indianapolis Colts: There is some question as to whether Allen or Coby Fleener will see more targets in a dream matchup against the lowly Raiders. Fleener plays the move to Allen’s more  in-line role. I like Allen more as the end-zone target though, and that’s why he’s in the Grab.