Grading the 2014 Waiver Wire

Ken Kelly Posted On January 12, 2015

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I love the regular season, in part because I can write the DLF Weekly Aftermath for a good four months in a row. Part of that article series focuses on names to follow or pick up off the waiver wire. Remember, I focus my time throughout the season on the lesser names who we haven’t mentioned much around these parts (that’s why you don’t see players like CJ Anderson on the list). Instead, we focus on future prospects instead of veterans who have a one week window to play or the mainstream players you’d find featured on other sites.

As usual, folks are now asking me which players are still roster worthy. With that in mind, I went ahead and categorized the players suggested from the column in order to help you make any final roster decisions as we head towards the 2015 NFL Draft. As always, I shoot for the moon and that leaves me with a lot of hits and a lot of misses, too! Keep in mind, these are my own personal thoughts and not the consensus rankings of my brethren here at DLF.

“The Home Runs”
These are players who should not only be on your roster, but those who could actually become contributors (some even contributed this season).

Justin Forsett, RB BAL
We jumped on the Forsett train early and were rewarded handsomely. He’s always had talent, but that was one amazing season. It’s going to be interesting to see just what the Ravens do with him. Regardless of where he ends up, he’s going to compete for a starting job. Just keep in mind he’ll turn 30 during next season. If you have an owner who sees him as a long-term building block, it’s a good time to move him.

Charles Johnson, WR MIN
We really expected to see a breakout in Minnesota this year, but it was supposed to belong to Cordarrelle Patterson. Instead, Johnson became one of the best pickups of the season. He’s primed to be on everyone’s sleeper list this Summer, but hopefully you were ahead of the curve with us and nabbed him before everyone else.

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Jarvis Landry, WR MIA
I felt compelled to put Landy on the list after week one because I was amazed at how many leagues still had him available. Landry rewarded his owners with a great season and looks primed to be a PPR option for years to come – maybe more if Mike Wallace keeps pouting.

Dan “Boom” Herron, RB IND
It was apparent to everyone outside of Indianapolis that Trent Richardson just wasn’t very good for most of the season. It took the Colts a while, but Herron finally got a chance and made good on it. There is a lot of danger with him since it’s anyone’s guess what the Colts may do at the position moving forward, but Herron proved roster worthy (and then some).

Jerick McKinnon, RB MIN
A few of our writers were singing the praises of McKinnon in the off-season, but nobody could have predicted what would happen to Adrian Peterson. With his future up in the air, McKinnon is one of last year’s most coveted rookies.

Knile Davis, RB KC
Much like McKinnon and Landry, Davis most certainly should have been on most rosters at the beginning of the year. However, when Jamaal Charles got dinged up, Davis again emerged on the radar and became even more desirable. He most certainly has a bright future.

“They have a chance”
These are players who should either remain on your roster or be grabbed now off the wire if they’re somehow available.

Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB BAL
Taliaferro had his chances, but really didn’t take advantage of them much. Regardless, the running back corps of the Ravens is a huge question mark and he remains in the mix.

Dontrelle Inman, WR SD
Call me crazy, but I have this weird feeling about him.

Charles Sims, RB TB
I’m not putting him in the home run category because he wasn’t overly impressive this season. With that said, he has a great chance next year in Tampa.

Alfred Blue, RB HOU
Blue had the opportunity of a lifetime with Arian Foster nicked up here and there. He had his moments, but looked pedestrian at times as well. It’s hard to say what the Texans really think of him, but I can’t imagine the view him as the heir apparent.

Zach Mettenberger, QB TEN
Jake Locker predictably flopped and turned the job over to Mettenberger this year. The real key for his value is what the Titans do with the second pick in the draft. If the player they take isn’t named “Winston” or “Mariota,” he has a real chance.

Khiry Robinson, RB NO
He always plays well, but really needs Mark Ingram to move on for him to have a realistic opportunity to provide any type of consistent value.

Jarius Wright, WR MIN
There’s no doubt Wright is talented, but Minnesota has a hard time maintaining value with one receiver, let alone two or three. With the aforementioned Johnson and Patterson still in tow, targets may be hard to come by for him.

Tim Wright, TE NE
The Pats seem to love Wright’s work ethic, but this team continues to be maddening when it comes to consistent fantasy production. Wright could still turn into Aaron Hernandez, but he could just as easily be forgotten by this time next season.

Bryce Brown, RB BUF
Buffalo’s running back corps is in a major state of flux. Can Brown be the guy for Rex Ryan?

Chris Hogan, WR BUF
He should be back with Buffalo as an exclusive rights free agent, but his role is undefined with a new coaching staff in town. The way the Jets destroyed the value of offensive players, I have my doubts. Still, he had a good season.

Duron Carter, WR FA
The “Son of Cris” may soon find his way on to a roster. If he does, he’s worth monitoring for sure. He has a checkered past, but also has talent.

Branden Oliver, RB SD
Ryan Mathews may not be back and Danny Woodhead is no lock to keep his role, so Oliver could be in line for a nice season next year. As with all running backs, his value is really in limbo until the draft is over. As always, this is a terrible time to acquire a running back, so proceed with caution.

Joseph Randle, RB DAL
Will DeMarco Murray be back?

Logan Thomas, QB ARI
Thomas must have looked really bad in practice for the Cardinals to stick with Ryan Lindley in the playoffs. However, I actually think that may be a good thing. If they didn’t value Thomas, they likely would have just thrown him to the wolves without worrying about damaging his confidence.

Mark Sanchez, QB FA
Who knows, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him back with Rex in Buffalo.

“A lot would have to happen”
These are players who would need a lot of events happen in order to really reclaim (or claim) value.

Fitzgerald Touissant, RB BAL
Antonio Andrews, RB TEN
Bobby Rainey, RB TB
Anthony Dixon, RB BUF
Donald Brown, RB SD
Kirk Cousins, QB WAS
Aaron Dobson. WR NE
Niles Paul, TE WAS
Joe Banyard, RB MIN
Silas Redd, RB WAS
Damien Williams, RB MIA
Marion Grice, RB ARI
Ryan Mallett, QB HOU
Mike Glennon, QB TB
Juwan Thompson, RB DEN
Philly Brown, WR CAR
James White, RB NE
Marcedes Lewis, TE JAX
Tom Savage, QB HOU
Preston Parker, WR NYG
Jonas Gray, RB NE
Glenn Winston, RB CLE

Within that group, my favorite players are actually Antonio Andrews, Damien Williams, Juwan Thompson, Preston Parker and James White. I see Anthony Dixon as a plodder, Kirk Cousins as a career backup and most of the receivers having too many players in front of them to really make much of an impact.

“Uhh, no”
These are players who really don’t have much roster value in anything but the deepest of leagues…and for some, that would mean rosters of 1,000.

Case Keenum, QB HOU
Austin Davis, QB STL
Joe McKnight, RB KC
Rhett Ellison, TE MIN
Darrin Reaves, RB FA
Louis Murphy, WR TB
Kyle Orton, QB FA
George Winn, RB DET
Adam Thielen, WR MIN
Colt McCoy, QB WAS
Brandon Weeden, QB DAL
Kamar Aiken, WR BAL
Michael Vick, QB NYJ
Chase Ford, TE MIN
Matt Simms, QB NYJ
Ryan Williams, RB FA
Drew Stanton, QB ARI
Josh McCown, QB TB
Kapri Bibbs, RB DEN
Zurlon Tipton, RB IND
Jeremy Stewart, RB OAK
Michael Bush, RB FA
Kerwynn Williams, RB ARI
Alfonso Smith, RB SF

So, there you have it. Some good pickups, a number of decent prospects and more than a few darts that not only missed the bullseye, but went straight past the dartboard, through your side window and into the throat of your neighbor who was mowing his lawn. The waiver wire is always some of the most fun during the season and this year was surely no different.

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Ken Kelly

Co-Founder at DynastyLeagueFootball

Ken is a corporate trainer by day an a tireless editor of dynasty content by night. His passion for the World Champion Seattle Seahawks is second only to his love of fantasy football and the dynasty format.

Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK