Erin Skelley, aka "Erin the Fantasy Girl" on Texans Radio/SportsRadio 610 in Houston, gives you turkey-free waiver picks for Week 12.
'Tis the season for giving thanks. Matt Schaub, I am thankful for you. I am thankful for your 43 completions for 527 yards against a feisty Jaguars defense. I am wildly thankful for each of your five touchdowns. Of course, the final touchdown, while its fantasy value is the same as any other touchdown, certainly felt more special as the Texans' overtime game winner.
And wow, Andre Johnson! I am thankful for you, too. Even in your 10th year, you showed ageless speed and grit as you mustered 273 yards, including a 48-yard dash to clinch the win. Happy Thanksgiving, indeed!
All this thankfulness is making me rather full. Especially with the giant portion of turkey I've swallowed all season. My fantasy turkeys, your fantasy turkeys – we all have turkeys who have ruined our cornucopia of wins. Ahem, Cam Newton and Darren McFadden, you're featured on the fantasy failure menu. Michael Vick, Greg Jennings and Calvin Johnson deserve a seat at this table too, as do most Chiefs, Jets and Jags.
I could get carried away but I won't. In the spirit of the holidays, I invite all my players to my faux Thanksgiving table. Even Chris Johnson. As we share in our gratitude, all I ask is you give me a double helping of touchdowns. Each of you. Is that too much to ask? I assure you, it's what the pilgrims had in mind.
As promised, here are a few yummy waiver dishes. Load up. Overindulging is encouraged.
Chad Henne, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars – I am thankful for Jags coach Mike Mularkey, too, as he declared Henne the starter on Monday. That's like a secret shoutout to fantasy owners, as we typically have to wait for crucial decisions like this. He totally gets us! Henne was a mastermind on Sunday, putting up 354 yards and four touchdowns against a hardy Texans defense. Stats like that are difficult to repeat, but he faces a Titans defense that's vulnerable against the pass. Available in 97% of Yahoo! leagues.
Danario Alexander, WR, San Diego Chargers – We can all agree Philip Rivers hasn't done much this year. But the last two weeks, he has connected with Alexander for 230 yards, including three touchdowns. Alexander becomes a big threat this week against the Ravens, who will be without Ed Reed. Available in 75% of Yahoo! leagues.
Justin Blackmon, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars – Henne's receivers came alive under his command. Blackmon especially impressed with 236 yards and a touchdown. This is fantastic, unless you already dropped him. Like Henne, duplication of this performance will be difficult. This week, however, Blackmon is matched up against a Tennessee defense that is generous to wide receivers. Start Blackmon. Available in 72% of Yahoo! leagues.
Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver Broncos – With Willis McGahee sidelined for 6-8 weeks, Hillman is the man to plug in. While you can't expect the production of McGahee, he will reap the rewards of being part of a solid Denver offense. The Broncos take on the Chiefs this week, who have given up the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs. Available in 81% of Yahoo! leagues.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers – He can do more than run, that's for sure. In fact, Kaepernick only ran four times for 12 yards on Monday against Chicago. His arm, however, lit up the Bears for 243 yards and two touchdowns. It was a different – and improved – offense with Kaepernick at the helm, so QB controversy is already buzzing. Worth a gamble to pick up this kid. And by the way, San Francisco plays New Orleans this week. Perfect. Available in 95% of Yahoo! leagues.
Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals – He's back! Expect Beanie to start Week 12, instead of the ho-hum LaRod Stephens-Howling. While he'll probably share some of the carries this week, Wells' workload should increase moving forward. Get him if you can. Available in 72% of Yahoo! leagues.
Erin Skelley joins Texans Radio every week on SportsRadio 610. Follow her on Twitter @erinskelley. She'll babble fantasy to anyone who will listen.
