Rotter's Top 10 waiver claims
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Despite going scoreless in the first four games, Williams totaled 145 yards and three touchdowns. Of note, Williams is still available in nearly one-third of FOX Sports leagues entering Week 6.
Who will be next fantasy star to be found on the waiver wire?
Candidates include New England's Kevin Faulk and Chicago's Devin Hester. In addition, a few players who have already posted excellent fantasy games can still be claimed in free agency, including San Francisco's J.T. O'Sullivan and Isaac Bruce.
10. Michael Bush, RB, Oakland (Available 79.2 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Both Justin Fargas (groin) and Darren McFadden (turf toe) are expected to play against New Orleans in Week 6. If either misses any games, Bush has shown he can be productive in Oakland's dual back system. When Fargas was out, Bush ran for 90 yards and one score in Week 2 and totaled 128 yards in Week 4. He displayed receiving skills by catching seven passes for 80 yards in Oakland's last contest.
9. Matt Prater, K, Denver (Available 41.4 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Disappointed with the fantasy production of Adam Vinatieri, Shayne Graham or Matt Stover? Their fantasy owners can claim a first-year starter who leads all kickers in field goals (12) and extra points (15). Denver's offense is one of the league's highest scoring, so Prater will continue to produce excellent stats for the rest of the season. Best yet, Prater has shown the accuracy and strength to kick from long distances. He's made all four attempts from 50 yards or more, connecting on kicks of 51, 52, 55 and 56 yards.
8. Washington D/ST (Available 86.5 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Though Washington has only forced seven turnovers and garnered six sacks in five contests, it's faced teams like the Giants and Eagles, which commit few giveaways. In addition, it's met high-powered offenses like the Giants, Saints, Cardinals and Cowboys.
Now the schedule becomes easier. The Redskins can produce solid fantasy games against the struggling offenses of St. Louis, Cleveland and Detroit in the next three contests. Both St. Louis and Detroit rank in the bottom third in allowing sacks as well. Look for Washington to create turnovers and sacks with the potential for defensive touchdowns in the next three contests.
7. Domenik Hixon, WR, New York Giants (Available 96.1 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Who needs Plaxico Burress? Hixon showed he can be just as productive as Burress when he caught four passes for 102 yards and one score in replacing the suspended veteran star. While he may defer to Burress for future games, it doesn't hurt to keep this talented star on the fantasy bench in case he receives more playing time and assumes a larger role in the offense. Hixon proved he has big-play ability, connecting with Eli Manning on a 32-yard touchdown catch and a 41-yard reception that nearly resulted into his second score. He also had catches of 13 and 16 yards, and added a 15-yard run.
6. Kyle Orton, QB, Chicago (Available 66.4 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Many owners are shying away from Orton because of Chicago's poor reputation for producing solid fantasy quarterbacks. Though he had significant turnover difficulties, Rex Grossman showed a quarterback could be productive stats-wise in Ron Turner's offense.
Better yet, Orton has already displayed in the first five games that he's more consistent and accurate, and has better vision and game management than his predecessor, Grossman. Orton has also shown big-play ability in the passing attack. Indicative of his potential, Orton threw for a career-high 334 yards and two touchdowns last game. He's now thrown seven touchdown passes in the last three games after passing for two scores at Detroit. Impressively, Orton has thrown more touchdown passes than Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Donovan McNabb this season; only seven quarterbacks have passed for more scores than Orton as well.
Chicago has a favorable schedule facing the questionable pass defenses of Atlanta, Minnesota and Detroit in the next three contests.
5. J.T. O'Sullivan and Isaac Bruce, QB/WR, San Francisco (Available 36.1 percent and 33.8 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Both O'Sullivan and Bruce are already familiar with Mike Martz's offense. O'Sullivan learned as a backup in Detroit while Bruce was hugely successful in St. Louis with Martz's system.
O'Sullivan threw for a career-high three touchdowns against New England for his second game of multiple passing scores this season.
Bruce has been one of fantasy's pleasant surprises with his career revitalized in San Francisco. He's totaled four touchdowns in the last three games after catching two against New England last contest.
4. Correll Buckhalter, RB, Philadelphia (Available 57 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Philadelphia's star running back Brian Westbrook has two fractured ribs, in addition to dealing with his ankle injury. This leaves his Week 6 status against San Francisco uncertain. If Westbrook sits his second game of the season, look for his backup Buckhalter to be Philadelphia's featured back again. Buckhalter totaled 90 yards and one touchdown in replacing Westbrook for Week 4 against Chicago.
3. Kevin Faulk, RB, New England (Available 94.7 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Surprisingly, it may not be Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris or LaMont Jordan who will be New England's best fantasy back. Instead, Faulk may be the top fantasy choice at running back for the Patriots. He totaled 61 yards and two touchdowns against San Francisco last game. The long-time 10-year veteran may very well offer the best combination of running and receiving skills on the roster. At the very least, he's New England's back of choice on passing downs.
New England has favorable matchups against the struggling run defenses of San Diego, Denver, St. Louis and Indianapolis in the next four contests.
2. Devin Hester, WR, Chicago (Available 82.5 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Given his speed and running skills, Hester owns the most big-play ability of any Chicago receiver . He's scored in each of the past two games and is making a push to be Chicago's No. 1 wideout. He caught season highs of five passes for 63 yards and a touchdown at Detroit last game.
He has favorable matchups with the questionable secondaries of Atlanta and Minnesota in the next two contests. He then meets Detroit again in Week 9 after Chicago's Week 8 bye. Hester can also provide the bonus of special teams touchdowns for leagues that count them individually.
1. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina (Available 31.2 percent of FOX Sports leagues)
Though rookie Jonathan Stewart had seized the fantasy spotlight by scoring four touchdowns from Weeks 2-4, his teammate Williams responded by totaling 145 yards and three touchdowns against Kansas City's third-worst ranked run defense. Williams will be hard-pressed to run well vs. Tampa Bay's strong defense next game, but he'll have solid chances for noteworthy fantasy outings against New Orleans in Week 7, Arizona in Week 8, Oakland in Week 10, Detroit in Week 11 and Atlanta in Week 12.
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