Waiver Wired | Week 14: No Plax, No Problem

My weekly "Waiver Wired" column is up at Rotoworld for Week 14. Summary is below, but click here for the full article. Keep in mind this article is through Rotoworld and is intended for more shallow redraft leagues as opposed to a deeper roster Dynasty league.

***

As the designated Dynasty sherpa at Rotoworld, I've developed quite a few keeper league maxims over the years. The ne'er-do-well Plaxico Burress was the impetus for one of my earliest rules: stay away from players with high knucklehead potential. Ever since he arrived in Pittsburgh as a Top-10 pick in the 2000 draft, Plax has been a threat to lose fantasy value at a moment's notice simply because of his knucklehead nature. Plax's offenses have run the gamut: crimes, benchings, suspensions, laziness, tardiness, insubordination, outright stupidity, vanishings and now the coup de grace – a self-inflicted gunshot wound with multiple layers of repercussions.

The initial repercussion for fantasy owners is the sudden value spike for his replacement, Domenik Hixon. I advised handcuffing Hixon to Plax last week after the hamstring injury made an appearance. As the week went on and it was obvious that Plax wouldn't suit up, Hixon's value continued to rise. Once Plax went the way of "Lawyers, Guns and Money" Saturday morning, Rotoworld dubbed Hixon a mandatory pickup. Oddly enough, Plax's big-play replacement in the Giants offense is owned in just 25 percent of all fantasy leagues. If he's still sitting out there, grab Eli Manning's new weapon and consider starting him this week.

As for the rest of the Waiver Wire options, we would advise not getting overly cute in turning to a guy coming off one strong game while benching a struggling stud. As a general rule, owners should stick with the lineup that got them to this point.

The Waiver Wire is now about insurance. Fine-tune your depth and maximize your roster to deal with the types of injuries suffered by Plaxico Burress, Kellen Winslow, Marion Barber, and Ryan Grant in Week 13. This week's column will feature the Top-5 options to replace both Plax and Winslow as well as the Top-5 fliers at quarterback and running back.

On to the lists. Here is how I rank the Top-5 players available at each position as we head into the fantasy playoffs. Full writeups of each player are below.


Top 5 Plaxico Burress Replacements
1. Domenik Hixon, Giants
2. Davone Bess, Dolphins
3. Amani Toomer, Giants
4. Mark Clayton, Ravens
5. Deion Branch, Seahawks

Top 5 Kellen Winslow Replacements
1. Tony Scheffler, Broncos
2. Zach Miller, Raiders
3. John Carlson, Seahawks
4. Heath Miller, Steelers
5. Todd Heap, Ravens

Top 5 Running Back Fliers
1. Pierre Thomas, Saints
2. Brandon Jackson, Packers
3. Sammy Morris, Patriots
4. Tashard Choice, Cowboys
5. LeRon McClain, Ravens

Top 5 Quarterback Fliers
1. Shaun Hill, 49ers
2. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
3. Matt Schaub, Texans
4. Joe Flacco, Ravens
5. Gus Frerotte, Vikings