10/17/2014 by James Fedewa

Finding fantasy football starters from the waiver wire is an art and tremendously difficult. Well, it’s not really art, it’s more like speed, timeliness, and of course the waiver wire order. Grabbing those buds before they bloom is the real advantage (like San Diego’s new find running back Branden Oliver). And most of the buds are entirely created from key injuries, weekly matchups and bye weeks. And there will be some available in Week 7. So, let’s REACH for a DOG.

My Wide Receiver “Dog Named Reach” for Week 7 is Paul Richardson of the Seattle Seahawks. With star Percy Harvin out the door and traded to the New York Jets, Seattle loses their most dynamic playmaker. Or did they? Seattle did draft speedy wide receiver rookie Richardson out of Colorado. Both Richardson and Harvin have the same build, play the same position and are loaded with speed, but Harvin has some significant injuries throughout his short tenure in Seattle. In fact, Harvin has only played in 8 games in Seattle since joining the team last year, but when he does play, he has game changing ability. However, Seattle has lost their offensive identity with Harvin on the field, with his ball demands. Seattle’s offense has become “novelty” with Harvin in the lineup and it seem that every play is going to be a trick play, taking the command away from star quarterback Russell Wilson. Expect Richardson’s play time increase as he could be the Seahawks next superstar. Obviously Pete Carol always has a solid backup plan when it comes to his playmakers, and don’t forget about Seattle’s wide receiver Jermaine Kearse
as his snaps will increase.

My Quarterback “Dog Named Reach” for Week 7 is Charlie Whitehurst
of the Tennessee Titans. A career backup in San Diego and Seattle, he’s had only a limited playing time and only a few spot starts in his career. Nicknamed “Clip Board Jesus” (or CBJ) from his long hair / beard, managing the clipboard duties on the sidelines, Whitehurst is a nine year veteran and has been coached by some of the best quarterback coaches in the business.

Whitehurst has had most of his NFL playing time in the preseason, scrambling behind shotty second and third string offensive lines, and Tennessee first string O-line is quite a talented and impressive young bunch (with three first round draft pics and a premier guard). If the O-line and if they can keep CBJ upright to throw the ball down field, Whitehurst has a lot of dangerous weapons at his disposal. Tightend Delanie Walker has developed into a good TE1 with wide receiver speedster Kendall Wight and deep threat Justin Hunter, Whitehurst is due to breakout game and take over as the Titans starting quarterback for the remainder of the year. I like the o-line and the weapons CBJ has at his disposal and I will predict a 300 passing years with 2 very long TD (one to Hunter and one to Nate Washington).

Three weeks ago, Whitehurst started against the Cleveland Browns and I predicted (via Twitter @jamfed) he would shine in that game. Most people claimed I was crazy and Whitehurst would FLOP (but he finished with 13 completions, 21 attempts, 194 and 2TD’s / in a game they lead until the last second of the game). Not a bad performance, yet that was the game where Cleveland had the biggest road comeback win in NFL history. (Sorry Charlie…)

If you have Nick Foles as your starter, or you do not necessarily like your starting QB’s matchup this week, Charlie Whitehurst
your “Dog Named Reach” of the week.

*Two Week ago, I started fantasy football segment called a “Dog Named Reach,” driven by our own fantasy football teams (with our own drafting errors). Finding a new Dog (player), or Reaching on a fantasy Free Agent is the new evolution of improving our (weekly) fantasy football team. This is the Art of the Waiver Wire. Two weeks ago, I had Austin Seferian-Jenkins
set as the “Dog Named Reach” and yet I just released him due to his bye this week, the emergence of Dwayne Allen as my TE2 on my team (with my TE1 Vernon Davis wounded on the bench). Plus, I picked up WR Malcom Floyd to take ASJ’s spot. – The worst way to manage your fantasy football team’s bench is to have three tightends or quarterbacks on your team, so I had to let ASJ go but I still like him.

My Pools, Mules & Wagers of Week 7:

Jets +9.6

Tennessee +4.5

Jacksonville +4.5

Buffalo -4

New Orleans +3

San Diego -4

Giants +5.5

Atlanta +7

Seattle -6.5

Cincinnati +3

Miami +3.5

Green Bay -7

Arizona -3.5

San Francisco -3.5

Houston +3.5 *Total Score (tie breaker): 47