Week 15: Player Upgrades

With the fantasy playoffs in full swing, its all about match-ups at this point in the season. The only reason you are still reading Player Upgrades is that you're looking for that insider edge to get you a fantasy championship. Every fantasy owner gripes about teams resting starters, but personally I feel it is a true test of skill and knowledge to be able to find those diamonds in the rough... the unknown players that can win you a title.

Fantasy owners will be looking to the wavier wire to find this year's Pierre Thomas. For those who don't know, Pierre Thomas was New Orleans' 4th string running back two years ago, but due to injuries he started for the Saints in their final game versus Chicago and rushed for 105 yards and caught 12 passes for 121 yards and 1 TD. Thomas' performance carried owners who started him -- including myself -- to a fantasy championship in the final week of the regular season.

The goal of this week's article is to find fantasy owners a player off the wavier wire who you can plug into your lineup during the playoffs and help your team win a championship. Factors that go into finding a "Pierre Thomas" include injuries, match-ups over the final month of the season, and most importantly playoff position (who will be fighting for a playoff spot, and who's just playing out the string). A few players who meet the criteria for a sneaky fantasy playoff start who are available on your league's wavier wire are: Chris Redman, Quinton Ganther, Davone Bess, Chris Chambers, Josh Cribbs, Hakeem Nicks, and the Houston Texans D/ST.

Best of luck to all fantasy owners in the playoffs. Remember: whatever lineup decision you make, make sure you can live with it and feel confident that you had every reason to believe you were making the right call. Enjoy the games, and hopefully I will be celebrating a championship along with all of you at the end of the season.

QB Chris Redman, ATL

Chris Redman has never been associated with fantasy greatness, but he has a chance to be over the final three weeks of the season in place of an injured Matt Ryan. Redman threw for 303 yards with a long touchdown to Michael Jenkins, and only one interception in his last start against the New Orleans Saints. After two and a half games straight under center for Atlanta this season, I am ready to buy into Chris Redman if you are in a desperate situation at quarterback (I'm looking at you Carson Palmer and Joe Flacco owners).

Redman has done enough to be considered a desperate play, but one worth considering this weekend against the New York Jets. Fantasy owners already know about Darelle Revis, but he can't cover everyone (I think, right?). Redman will have opportunities to throw in this game (especially with Michael Turner likely out once again). Redman is a desperation play, but I don't have a problem with it. If your league plays until Week 17, then his final match-up against Tampa Bay is a juicy one. Redman threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns in one half against the Buccaneers three weeks ago.

RB Quinton Ganther, SEA

Vigilant fantasy owners saw the news out of Washington this past week when Head Coach Jim Zorn named Quinton Ganther the Redskins' starter with Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts, and Rock Cartwright now all officially on the shelf. Savvy fantasy owners picked up Ganther and most likely received an early Christmas gift (like I did) watching Ganther run for two touchdowns in their starting lineups. If Quinton Ganther is still available in your league, he is a no brainer pickup and start this weekend against the division rival New York Giants. While the G-men have been stout against the run in recent weeks, Ganther is also an adept receiver out of the backfield. As the Redskins' default goal line back, odds are he punches in a score or two against New York. Ganther is this year's Pierre Thomas; and as a flex option, he could carry a lot of fantasy teams to championships with his performance over the final three games.

WR Davone Bess, MIA

Trying to predict what Davone Bess is going to do is like trying to change your phone back to english after one of your buddies puts it in another language, it is frustrating. Just after Bess had established himself as the main target in the Dolphins' improving passing game, he injures his ankle and is forced to leave the game early. It was a good sign that Bess returned later, but was held to only three catches for 22 yards by the Jacksonville Jaguars this past weekend.

Miami squares off against the Tennessee Titans in a critical battle for playoff position this weekend, and this has the makings of a grind it out defensive struggle. There won't be a ton of big plays in this one, and that means that Bess could have a field day working the middle of the field on shorter routes. Davone Bess is mini-Wes Welker without the consistency yet. If he can stay on the field and produce then he has the potential to help fantasy owners in point-per-reception leagues take home a title.

WR Chris Chambers, KC

Sometimes you have to just roll the dice, and this call is based purely on a gut instinct that Chambers breaks a couple of big plays against a defense prone to giving them up, the Cleveland Browns. With the return of Dwayne Bowe, opposing secondaries will no longer be able to roll coverage toward Chris Chambers, and this in theory should allow Chambers to get open downfield where he is most dangerous. Bowe's presence may result in a decrease in the number of targets, but it should open the door for Chambers to make more big plays in the vertical passing game.

WR Josh Cribbs, CLE

Josh Cribbs is ultra-productive, and while teammate rookie Chris Jennings is the obvious pickup of the week, Josh Cribbs isn't a bad consolation prize. The buzz in Cleveland is that Cribbs is a candidate to make the transition to full-time running back. Cribbs isn't there yet, but in a Miami Dolphins style formation in which he takes the snap directly and almost like a punt return makes a play with his feet, Cribbs has been extremely effective. Cribbs piled up 87 yards on eight carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers; while he only caught one pass, Cribbs remains a dangerous threat on screens as well.

Cribbs has big play ability; while he may not be worth a start, he is worth a pickup in the event that he has another monster game over the final three weeks of the season. Facing off against the 28th ranked run defense of the Kansas City Chief's (who have had problems all season with big plays), Cribbs is a candidate for a breakout monster game this weekend.