Are you ready?!?

First, let’s get the self-congratulatory stuff out of the way.  Again, The Machine nailed last week’s waiver wire picks.  Rishard Matthews (whom everyone is telling you to get now) was only owned in 28% of the leagues last week.  He get a shout out from The Machine and boom, he’s now owned in 67% of leagues.  That’s the type power we have here.  Ok, maybe it’s the fact that Rishard had a monster week, going 6/113/2.  He has more yards and tds than Jarvis Landry.  Continue to ride that waive.  Also, Blake Bortles turned in a serviceable start last week, throwing for 242 yards, 2 tds and 1 int.  Don’t let those ESPN fools fool you…we tell you who to pick up before it’s obvious.  So let’s get to this week’s picks.

Robert Woods, WR Buffalo (2% owned in Yahoo! leagues)

Beautiful feet.

Listen up, because you haven’t heard this sentence used much, if ever:  The Buffalo Bills have fantasy worth players.  It’s true.  Two weeks ago, we recommended Tyrod Taylor, when he was only owned in 13% of leagues.  Tyrod is now owned in 70% of leagues, and is a legitimate Top 10 fantasy qb.  And this brings us to Robert.

Woods has seen his targets increase each week, which is a good sign.  Sammy Watkins is dinged up again (can we call him oft-injured now?) which means more opportunities for Woods.

Plus, don’t forget:  Rex Ryan is crazy.  Like the Patriots, he wants to beat the Giants so bad, in his never-ending quest to prove he’s no one’s whipping boy (ironic he’s making that stand in Buffalo).  Anyway, we expect the Bills to air it out this week.  Woods is a touchdown dependent WR4/FLEX.

Coby Fleener, TE Colts (23%)

Coby should see his targets increase.

Fleener gets a bump this week thanks to Dwayne Allen and his bum ankle.  With Allen out last week, Coby had six targets, and ended up with 4 catches for 51 yards.  Not bad for a fill in TE.  The goal of waiver wire pickups is either (a) weekly band-aid for your team, or (b) picking up a player for the long haul before everyone else does.  Coby fits the former.  If you’re looking for a stop-gap TE this week, Fleener’s your guy.

Brian Quick, WR St. Louis (24%)

Welcome back.

Quick will make his season debut for the Rams this week.  He instantly becomes the Rams top option at receiver.  Although the match up isn’t great against the Cardinals, it’s not often you see a #1 WR sitting on waivers.  He’s definitely worth a spot on your bench, and if you’re desperate at receiver, plug him in but please temper expectations.

Bonus Pick

Antonio Gates, TE San Diego (52%)

Antonio will soon see the endzone again.

We normally only focus on people who are owned in fewer than 50% of leagues (it’s stupid for us to tell you to pick up Karlos Williams when he’s owned in 80% of leagues).  Anyone that mentions him as a waiver wire pickup should be quickly met with a “no shit” comment.

But we will break from tradition slightly to tell you to look at your waiver wire, and if Antonio Gates is still there, pick him up immediately.  Gates tied for the league lead in tds by a TE with 12 last year, and was a Top 4 TE overall.  He’s finishing up his four game suspension, and next week will resume his place as a TE1.  By next week, he will be owned in 80% of leagues.  Get him now.