Hidden Gems Go Get 'Em

Shapecity · Sep 16, 2008

Brett Favre was no longer a super hero in Gotham, and Brandon Marshall returned to his role as lead target for the Broncos. JT O'Sullivan proved to have some fantasy value, while all who grabbed Matt Hasselbeck are in regret. Fortunately, there are some fantasy jewels that are still available on the waiver wire. The purpose of Hidden Jewels is to bring some unknown talents to light for fantasy managers.

Buyer's guide:
1) Look for catches or rushes (how often did the player have the ball in their hands?)
2) Look for touchdowns (are they a part of the goal line or red zone attack?)
3) Look at their age (are they a young player rising, a good investment?)
4) Look at their team and roster (were they filling in, and what's their role?)
5) Look at post-game recap (any quotes of encouragement for upcoming Weeks?)

SILVER

BRANDON JACKSON, RB, PACKERS (6% OWNED)
While any thoughts of Brandon Jackson as a starting running back would be premature, it might not be a bad idea to stash this young running back at the end of your bench. Jackson, a second round pick from a season ago, saw his opportunity to nab a starting gig slip away last season because injuries derailed him. Of course, Ryan Grant earned an opportunity and has not relinquished it since. However, in Week 2, Grant seemed limited by health woes, while Jackson rushed for 61 yards and scored a touchdown. In the event that injuries continue to hamper Grant, Jackson is certainly the next in line. This past Weekend, Jackson proved that he can contribute even in a backup role.

AMANI TOOMER, WR, GIANTS (23% OWNED)
It took him four years before he finally became a star in the league, and apparently, Amani Toomer has no desire to see his reign as the Giants second option end anytime soon. After racking up 760 yards a season ago, Toomer enjoyed a fine Week 2 with a team-high 6 receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown. While Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, and Sinorice Moss await a chance to shine, it's clear early in the season that Eli Manning still trusts the 33-year old Toomer the most.

WARRICK DUNN, RB, BUCCANEERS (23% OWNED)
While the Tampa Bay backfield is not split down the middle, it is clear through 2 Weeks that Warrick Dunn does play a vital role for the rushing attack. After racking up 65 yards in Week one, the talented tailback who is just two seasons removed from 1,140 rushing yards accumulated 70 total yards and a touchdown against his teammates from last season. In fact, Dunn had just 3 fewer carries than Bucs starting tailback Earnest Graham. While the split backfield does limit his value, Dunn may be appealing to teams in deep fantasy leagues.

DARREN SPROLES, RB, CHARGERS (8% OWNED)
Get to know Darren Sproles, while he managed just three total yards in Week one, this is a playmaker who can have some value even when LT is at his best. A former special teams star, Sproles broke through in Week 2 with 125 total yards and a touchdown. As long as LT is limited by injuries, Sproles will have plenty of value. Naturally, if you already have Tomlinson on your team, Sproles is a fine insurance offer.

GOLD

TRENT EDWARDS, QB, BILLS (12% OWNED)
Edwards is a hot commodity in fantasy leagues with already Tom Brady, Vince Young, and perhaps Matt Hasselbeck having their value head south. On the other hand, Edwards enjoyed his second straight strong performance. After racking up 215 passing yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in his season debut, Edwards missed on just 25 of his pass attempts, while accumulating 239 yards, a touchdown, and again no interceptions. Some further good news is that he connected with highly touted rookie James Hardy for a touchdown, which should be a sign of good things to come.

ISAAC BRUCE, WR, 49ERS (40% OWNED)
While you should certainly not expect another 150-plus yards worth of receiving anytime soon from Bruce, it is nice to know that the 35-year old veteran can still make an impact on occasion. After being held without a catch in his 49ers debut, Bruce displayed his big-play ability with an average of greater than 38 yards on his four receptions. With Mike Martz at the helm of the offense, there will certainly be plenty of passes thrown. You can likely expect Bruce to approach 800 receiving yards this season.

JOHN CARLSON, WR, SEAHAWKS (5% OWNED)
The very logic that what goes up, must come down provides reason to grab rookie John Carlson off the waiver wire. After making four grabs for 52 yards in his NFL debut, Carlson enjoyed an expanded role in Week 2 with Nate Burleson out for the season. The 6'5 target from Notre Dame led the Seahawks with six grabs and 78 receiving yards. It looks like Carlson will have to grow up fast considering the Seahawks don't have many other legit receiving options.

TIM HIGHTOWER. RB, CARDINALS (14% OWNED)
It's official, Tim Hightower is a touchdown vulture. The Cardinals rookie will backup Edgerrin James, but likely star when it comes to goal line opportunities. After notching a touchdown, despite just 34 total yards in Week one, the 6th round pick out of Richmond totaled 44 yards and his second career touchdown. Though he is far from a safe bet, the occasional six points are enough to warrant some fantasy consideration.

DIAMOND

JUSTIN GAGE, WR, TITANS (19% OWNED)
Fresh off a breakout season, things may be getting better for Titans wide out Justin Gage. The former 5th round pick out of Missouri enjoyed a fine performance on Sunday, making five grabs for 59 yards including a touchdown. The good news is that there could be plenty more solid performances coming his way. The injury to Titans QB Vince Young opens the door for a more typical pocket-passer to lead the offense. While Kerry Collins may not be the best quarterback in the NFL, he can enjoy a similar role as Joey Harrington last year in Atlanta. Of course, Harrington's quarterbacking, compared to the more moile Michael Vick, led to a career season for Roddy White. Expect a similar breakout campaign for Gage, a talented wide out who proved his worth last season, when he accumulated a sensational 527 receiving yards in the second half alone.

JT O'SULLIVAN, QB, 49ERS (7% OWNED)
JT O'Sullivan looked sharp in a surprising Week two road win in Seattle. After failing to crack 200 passing yards in his season debut, O'Sulllivan bounced back with 321 passing yards and a touchdown against a decent defense. While Isaac Bruce's jaw-dropping 153 receiving yards stand out most in the boxscore, what may be prove to be more valuable for fantasy managers is the fact that the Niners quarterback also formed a nice rapport with lead wideout Bryant Johnson. It looks like Mike Martz's latest creation is following the likes of Kurt Warner and Jon Kitna as a fantasy star.

BRYANT JOHNSON, WR, 49ERS (43% OWNED)
While his previous statistics may not look all that strong, they certainly rank amongst the best third receivers in the league over the past few seasons. This season, Johnson finally gets his chance to shine as a lead option. After raking in 48 yards in Week one, Johnson looked even more comfortable in the role for Week 2. The Niners off-season acquisition had 6 grabs for 78 yards, including the team's lone touchdown reception. Expect more of the same from Johnson, a 27-year old wide out first reaching his prime.
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Source: Sportsnet

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Hidden Gems Go Get 'Em

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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Hidden Gems Go Get 'Em

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