Week Six Waiver Wire Pickups Oct 9, 2007 | More

Welcome to another week of the Waiver Wire Wonders! Thanks for all the... umm... feedback regarding last week's list. Just a quick reminder of what we're trying to do here, we're putting together a list of players that you should consider picking up for your fantasy team if you have the room on your roster and the need to replace players. Players that will help you win your championship. Sometimes that means we'll go out on a limb and recommend players a week or two before they become hot commodities. There's no sense in putting together the same list of players that everyone already knows about, guys that you will have to fight for on the waiver wire since everyone in your league knows about and wants to pick up. This forward thinking is for the owner in the league whose team is chugging along, and each week they find themselves at the bottom of the waiver wire, having to pick through the scraps. I'm trying to find some scraps for that owner, something that may pan out in a few weeks, or something that may not but was worth taking the chance on.

All these lists depend on your league, your roster size, and the players you have on your team. I am of the opinion that you shouldn't waste a roster spot. Even though the last guy on your roster is someone that may never see your starting lineup, that guy is a player that the rest of the teams in your league cannot start against you. And if injuries or other factors come into play, that player may all of a sudden be something valuable that can be traded.

Regarding Garrett Wolfe on last week's list, perhaps it was a bit of a stretch to have him on the hot list, but I stand by the recommendation.  Cedric Benson continues to struggle, and yes, this is because the Bears in general are having problems moving the ball on the ground. The fumbles are a concern and at some point if it continues, the coach needs to make a difficult decision to go with someone that can hold onto the ball.  Adrian Peterson has been hurt all season, and for a rookie trying to make a name for himself, this is the kind of thing that can last an entire season (see also Benson,Cedric for the past two years). Wolfe is waiting in the wings behind these two, and last I checked, "size doesn't matter" (at least that's what they tell us). Whoever the Chicago starting RB is will be a fantasy producer.

So judging by the reaction to last week's list, I think we accomplished our goal, people are reading and thinking about what I'm putting in here. You don't need to agree with the opinions that are expressed here, in fact, I wouldn't want you to. Just think about what's here, come to your own conclusions and react accordingly. Good luck and thanks for reading!

Oh yea, let's get to this week's list that is sure to infuriate and perplex!

Smokin' Hot

WR Jerry Porter, Oakland
Old friend Jerry Porter makes the hot list this week. Though the Oakland WR has only touched the ball seven times in four games, three of those times he ended up in the end zone. His three catch, 53 yard performance in week four saw him hit paydirt twice, it could be that he and Culpepper are making a connection. The Raiders have already had their bye week, Porter is a guy that you can consider picking up and putting right into your starting lineup to cover a bye week.

WR Ike Hilliard, Tampa Bay
Another veteran WR joins Porter on this week's hot list, Ike Hilliard. Though you wouldn't think of much fantasy production coming out of the Bucs passing game, Hilliard has 15 catches for 172 yards in the last two games. No touchdowns, but those are pretty good numbers. As with Porter, I'd consider Hilliard as a pickup and start to cover a bye week or injury to one of your starters.