By Jim Rueda
It’s Week 15 and that means injuries and ineffectiveness have taken their toll on a number of marquee fantasy players. That means a lot of guys who weren’t drafted in your fantasy league are now getting opportunities to produce.
Players such as Chiefs’ running back Jamaal Charles and Dolphins running back Ricky Williams have become quality fantasy players. Charles is in the lineup because Larry Johnson was terrible and finally got released. Williams is getting touches because of a season-ending injury to Ronnie Brown.
Other previously non-descript players who have stepped into the spotlight this season are wide receiver Miles Austin of Dallas, wideout Sidney Rice of Minnesota and tight end Vernon Davis of San Francisco. Are there other players out there who can still help you? Check out the Players to Pick-Up section below.
Injury update: The most significant injuries over the weekend involved Detroit running back Kevin Smith and Tennessee quarterback Vince Young. Smith is out for the season with a knee injury. Young strained a hamstring and is considered day-to-day.
Eagles’ wideout Jeremy Maclin sustained a foot injury and is probably out for 1-2 weeks. Seattle’s Nate Burleson and Miami’s Davone Bess are both nursing sore ankles and their status for this week is unknown.
Oakland quarterback Bruce Gradkowski suffered MCL injuries to both knees and is out indefinitely.
The good news on the injury front is that three impact players may be returning this week. Barring a setback, Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook (concussion) and Atlanta running back Michael Turner (ankle) should be on the field in Week 15. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan is also expected to return behind center.
Players to jettison: Oakland tight end Zach Miller was playing better once Gradkowski became the starter but, now that JaMarcus Russell is back calling signals, Miller’s days as a decent fantasy tight end should be considered over for the rest of this season.
Even though quarterback Matt Ryan is slated to return, wide receiver Roddy White should take a seat on your bench this week. White did next to nothing in Week 14 and will be covered by Jets’ shutdown corner Darrell Revis on Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are sinking fast and so is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The veteran QB threw for just 201 yards without a touchdown against the hapless Cleveland Browns last week and faces a much sturdier Green Bay Packers defense in Week 15.
Players to pick-up: Washington running back Quinton Ganther virtually came out of nowhere on Sunday to rush for 50 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. He also caught three passes for 43 yards. Rock Cartwright, the expected No. 1 back, did not get nearly as much work. Ganther is worth a gamble at this point.
The Chicago Bears have been searching for anybody to give them some consistency at the wide receiver position and Devin Aromashodu just may be that guy. With Devin Hester sidelined, Aromashodu grabbed eight passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. If it looks as if Hester will be on the bench again, Aromashodu should be a decent play in Week 15.
With Davone Bess banged up and Ted Ginn Jr. all but invisible, it could be Greg Camarillo time in Miami. The wideout has been gradually establishing a rapport with quarterback Chad Henne in recent weeks. On Sunday, Camarillo had seven catches for 110 yards.
Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@mankatofreepress.com.
