Matt Flynn could get the start or a majority of the snaps in the Packers' last game against the Lions.

Another wild weekend has passed, with teams asserting themselves as official playoff contenders, while others are still fighting for their playoff lives (Giants, Cowboys, etc). The one thing we do know is that the Packers have solidified themselves as THE team in the NFC, having locked up the No. 1 seed with the win over the Bears on Sunday night. With that said, here are a few guys who should be on the waiver wire this week as we head into (sigh) the last week of the NFL’s regular season.

QUARTERBACKS
Matt Flynn – GB: With Week 17′s game against the Lions meaning nothing, the Packers could opt to either give Aaron Rodgers a series or bench him completely. That will give Flynn one last chance to prove that he could be a viable starter somewhere else as he heads to free agency in 2012. The Lions could make it a shootout, so pick Flynn up and hope the Pack bench Rodgers to get him ready for their playoff run.

Kyle Orton – KC: The Chiefs may have lost a chance at the playoffs, but Orton still had a decent outing after throwing for 300 yards and a touchdown. The 2 interceptions killed his value, somewhat, but the yardage made up for it. Getting a chance to face his old team the Broncos in Week 17, Orton could be a mid-tier QB2 if you play in a championship this week. He is definitely a strong flex option.

Joe Webb – MIN: With Christian Ponder exiting early with a concussion against the Redskins, Webb put up a so-so performance with 118 total yards from scrimmage, but his three touchdowns were huge. Webb isn’t a QB1, but his scrambling ability, especially near the goal-line, makes him an attractive QB2/flex option against the Bears in Week 17 IF Ponder is out.

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RUNNING BACKS
Toby Gerhart – MIN: Adrian Peterson’s torn ACL and MCL will not only keep him out for Week 17, but his status for the start of 2012 is very questionable right now since the injury happened so late in the season. With AP out early against the Redskins, Gerhart rushed 11 times for 109 yards. Not only will Gerhart start Week 17 against the Bears, but he will get a huge workload in the process. He may not be the talent Peterson is, but he should be a worthwhile flex to a low-end RB2.

Evan Royster – WAS: I was surprised Roy Helu (toe, ankle) was inactive Saturday after putting in some practice time last week. But not being able to get through pre-game warmups gave Royster the start against the Vikings. I doubt anyone actually used him, so they missed out on his 19 rushes for 132 yards and two catches for 15 yards. The matchup against the Eagles means nothing for either team, but Royster could get the nod again if Helu can’t practice at all or is limited. If Royster puts up another big game, this could have an impact on Helu’s dynasty value. We all know how Mike Shanahan works.

Ronnie Brown – PHI: Andy Reid says McCoy “tweaked” his ankle against the Cowboys, so there is a chance he may not play in a meaningless game against the Redskins. Brown carried the ball 8 times for 33 yards and could get the start if the Eagles decide to sit McCoy so he doesn’t aggravate the injury even more. Personally, I like Dion Lewis’ upside and he is the No. 2 on the depth chart, but the Eagles could decide to go with the veteran over the rookie. Lewis didn’t have a carry against the Cowboys.

Brandon Saine – GB: I don’t know what the Packers plan on doing with their running backs this week. James Starks should get the start, but Saine could be worth an addition in larger leagues. The team may want to see what he has with Ryan Grant entering free agency.

Khalil Bell – CHI: With Marion Barber (calf) out against the Packers Sunday night, Bell outperformed what I thought he could do after garnering 159 total yards in the loss. Bell could see a big workload again in Week 17 against the Vikings.

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Wide Receivers
Randall Cobb – GB: Like Matt Flynn, Cobb could get the start with the Packers locked into home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In the last two games, Cobb has racked up 6 catches for 75 yards. If he gets the start, he could easily see that total in Week 17 alone. He’s a worthy WR3 and has more value in return leagues.

Denarius Moore – OAK: Moore had a big game against the Chiefs, catching 4 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. In his first game against the Chargers, Moore had the best game of his rookie season, reeling in 5 catches for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. He could be in for a big game in the team’s second meeting with San Diego in Week 17. With the Raiders still fighting for the AFC West crown, the Raiders have plenty to play for.

James Jones – GB: Jones had a big game against the Bears, catching 5 passes for 50 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jones always had talent, but he is inconsistent and has the case of the drops at the worst times. Jordy Nelson could sit against the Lions, giving Jones that much more fantasy value as a WR3. I know many are wondering why I’m not listing Donald Driver, but I have much more confidence in Jones and Cobb than I do in the over-the-hill veteran.

Brandon LaFell – CAR: LaFell caught 3 passes for a season-high 103 yards and a touchdown in Week 16 against the Buccaneers. With the news that he will start over an injured Legedu Naanee (foot) against the Saints, LaFell could be a WR3 to look at on New Year’s weekend.

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Tight Ends
Jared Cook – TEN: It may have taken 15 weeks, but Cook finally topped 100 receiving yards in two-straight weeks. After putting up 9 catches for 103 yards in Week 15, Cook followed that up with 8 catches for 169 yards and a score against the Jaguars Saturday. Cook could be worth a look in two tight-end leagues for the Week 17 game against the Texans. It’s obvious the Titans want him to be a bigger part of the offense.

CJ Spiller racked up 167 total yards and two touchdowns against the Dolphins Sunday.

With one more game left as we put a close on Week 15, you are either out of your playoffs entirely, or this is the BIG championship game for many of you. Now is critical. For myself, many players who I had predicted to go off on Sunday (AD, Nelson and Welker) crapped the bed, allowing me to bow out too early and miss next week’s championship. Hopefully, you didn’t suffer the same fate. And for those who hold their championship games in Week 17, I would ask you to pass a rule that pushes the playoffs up a couple weeks. There is nothing like scrambling for replacements on teams who have no need to play their starters with a bye or a playoff seed locked up. Owners of Packers players may wind up having to do this if they have the No. 1 seed wrapped up with a 49ers loss against the Steelers Monday night.

Below are a few of the stragglers that are left on the waiver wire that could give you a little edge:

QUARTERBACKS
Kyle Orton – KC: Talk about a Week 15. Not only did Orton pass for 299 yards and breathe new life into an otherwise stagnant passing offense, but he kept his interceptions at zero and pulled off the upset win over the Packers. With a matchup against the reeling Raiders in Week 16, Orton could be an option in 2-QB leagues.

Jake Locker – TEN: I was surprised that the Titans decided to go with a less-than-100% Matt Hasselbeck instead of Locker against the Colts. Playing with a noticeable limp, Hasselbeck threw for 223 yards and two interceptions, but the biggest news was that he allowed the Colts to win their first game of the season. I’d have to get a degree in Calculus to understand whether the Titans are in or out of the playoffs. But regardless, Locker’s performance in the fourth quarter (108yds/1TD) is enough for me to know he should get the start in the last two games, especially after the team invested in a high draft pick on him.

RUNNING BACKS
CJ Spiller – BUF: I understand that larger-league owners likely missed out on Spiller weeks ago once Fred Jackson went down. But considering his week-to-week performances have been inconsistent, I am sure Spiller is still available. Against a tougher Dolphins run defense, Spiller gashed his way to 167 total yards, one rushing and one receiving touchdown. And with 9 catches, his PPR numbers were through the roof. In Week 16, Spiller faces a Broncos Defense that gives up 125.4 rushing yards a game.

Donald Brown – IND: Brown is one of those fantasy players who is just annoying. Joseph Addai got the start against the Titans, but only received 11 carries to Brown’s 16. And on the surface, 16 isn’t many. But Brown made the most of them, averaging a whopping 10.1 yards a rush and scoring a rushing TD. In Brown’s last 3 games prior to Sunday, his total rushing yards weren’t even close to the 161 he put up. Tread lightly with Brown if you do decide to add him to your roster. The Texans rank No. 2, behind the 49ers, in least fantasy points allowed to running backs with 14.2 points a game.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Darrius Heyward-Bey – OAK: In two of my leagues, DHB ranked No 3 behind Calvin Johnson and Roddy White for most fantasy points in Week 15. Now that there is chemistry between he and Carson Palmer, DHB has now managed 13 receptions, 233 receiving yards and a score in the last two weeks. Kansas City has done surprisingly well against receivers this year and they did hold Aaron Rodgers in check, but I get the feeling DHB will do just enough to make him a worthwhile WR3 or a flex option.

Demaryius Thomas – DEN: For the heck of it, I went on one of my yahoo leagues to see the percentage Thomas was owned. I had thought that it would be fairly high considering his last two games prior to Week 15 were strong. But Thomas is owned in only 34% of Yahoo leagues. That’s surprising, but shouldn’t last long. Thomas was once again Tim Tebow’s favorite target in the loss to the Patriots, putting up 7 catches (13 targets) for 116 yards. He should be a strong option against a Bills Defense that can be thrown on.

Lance Moore – NO: Moore had a big day against a beat up Vikings secondary, racking up 5 catches for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns. It’s hard for me to recommend Moore as anything but a desperation option. He doesn’t put up big numbers because there are too many other options for Drew Brees to throw to. And after tallying just 1 catch in the first meeting against the Falcons, owners might want to avoid the situation altogether.

Cowboys RB Felix Jones caught a break after RB DeMarco Murray's injury Sunday night against the Giants.

We are not only 3 weeks away from the end of the regular season and I honestly can’t wait to sit back, relax and watch the playoffs. This year has been somewhat of a disaster because of players I thought would blow up getting the injury bug, or just plain stinking it up. As the weeks continue to roll by, my “DO NOT DRAFT IN 2012″ list continues to grow more and more. So far, Shonn Greene, Beanie Wells and, unfortunately, Darren McFadden have already made the list. Comment below on guys who you are staying away from next year. As for the waiver wire, Week 14 brought us a couple strong options to choose from this week.

QUARTERBACKS
Jake Locker – TEN: Matt Hasselbeck continues to get hit with the injury bug, but manages to pull through during the week. Week 14 was no different after Hasselbeck was knocked out in the second quarter against the Saints with a calf injury. Locker took over and looked better than expected, completing 13-of-29 passes for 282 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Hasselbeck is expected to undergo an MRI on his strained left calf on Monday. But with the Titans still mathematically still alive in the playoffs, barely, Hasselbeck will likely get the nod if he is good to go. At this point, Locker is someone to have on standby in 2-QB leagues if Hasselbeck can’t go for Week 15.

T.J. Yates – HOU: If you had told me Yates would pass for 300 yards against the Bengals, I would have laughed in your face. But that’s exactly what Yates did, leading the Texans to a come from behind victory. Yates also chipped in 2 touchdowns, 1 interception and added another 36 rushing yards off 5 scrambles. Like Locker, Yates is more of a flex option than even a QB2. But unlike Locker, Yates WILL get the start against the Panthers. His ability to run makes him an intriguing option if your other flex options are so so.

RUNNING BACKS
Felix Jones – DAL: Our featured waiver-wire pick got a jolt of fantasy value after DeMarco Murray suffered a season-ending ankle injury (fracture) Sunday night against the Giants. With Murray sidelined, Jones exploded for 106 rushing yards, while adding 6 receptions for another 31. Jones is going to be the biggest waiver-wire addition this week, so he is a must-add option in ALL leagues this week. If I can say, I wound up picking Jones up as my RB4 a few weeks ago, so I am looking pretty smart right about now.

Ryan Grant – GB: With James Starks (ankle) sidelined against the Raiders, Grant looked like his old self after rushing 10 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns. The highlight of the game was on the Packers’ first play, where Grant broke a tackle and rushed 47 yards to nab his first score. He looked like he didn’t miss a beat, making excellent cuts between the tackles. Grant’s waiver-wire push could be cut short if Starks can play in Week 15 against the Chiefs, but Grant is still worth an add. Especially for Starks owners.

Marion Barber – CHI: Many owners were scared off by Barber after Lovie Smith declared there would be a two-back committee between he and Kahlil Bell. Barber received 29 touches to Bell’s 14, so this backfield is Barber’s for now. The ups: Barber ran 27 times for 108 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 2 passes for 32 yards. The downs: For some reason, Barber ran out of bounds as the Bears were in clock-killing mode with 1:55 left in the fourth quarter. Then, Barber lost a crucial fumble in field-goal range during overtime, which allowed the Broncos to march right back down the field and kick the game-winning field goal. The coaching staff isn’t going to forget that, but at least Barber showed he still has something left in the tank and can take a full workload. But he faces a very tough Seattle run defense next week.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Jabar Gaffney – WAS: Gaffney was never really anything special, NFL-wise and fantasy-wise. He would have good games here and there, but he was never more than a flex option in his career. Gaffney had a big game against the hapless Patriots secondary, catching 6 passes for 92 yards and a score. Facing the Giants in Week 15, it’d be hard to imagine Gaffney matching any of those numbers, but the Giants did get torched by the Cowboys receivers Sunday night.

Titus Young – DET: I was talking to a friend of mine, who is in a local league with me, and he shared his discouragement with Young this year. When he benched him he goes off. When he started him, he disappeared. Guess where Young was yesterday? On the bench. Young had a big game against the Vikings, catching 4 balls for 87 yards and a score. He could be a pickup and a flex option against a Raiders team that seems to be crumbling down the stretch.

TIGHT ENDS
John Gilmore – NO: So late in the season, you aren’t going to find a tight end who will give you double-digit fantasy points. In fact, only 7 tight ends scored double-digit points in my local league yesterday. This year has been a down year for the tight end position. With so many receivers popping up, the tight end has become a bit of an afterthought. Gilmore only gets a mention because Jimmy Graham suffered a back injury against the Titans. We should know more after Graham undergoes an MRI on Monday. But if he’s out for Week 15, it’d be hard for me to see Gilmore put up anything more than 5 or 6 points.

Christian Ponder should have a strong future if the Vikings make some upgrades to the offense in the offseason.

Chances are, that you are reading this because you have made your playoffs and are looking for that last ditch edge to gain over your opponent for Week 14. Or, like I am in a couple leagues, you’re reading this in sadness because you are done, capoot, finished. Either way, there are a couple waiver-wire options still to be had as we head into Week 14.

QUARTERBACKS
Dan Orlovsky – IND: 30-of-37 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. The score of 31-24 in favor of the Colts may seem close, but it was a whitewash until the 4th quarter after the Patriots took a 31-3 lead. Still, Orlovsky looked like an improvement over Curtis Painter and could be picked up as a low-end QB2.

Christian Ponder – MIN: Ponder had a big day a few days after the Vikings parted ways with Donovan McNabb, going 29-of-47 passes for 381 yards, three touchdowns. But he threw two costly interceptions and still showed that he is still a rookie. However, Ponder is doing much better than many predicted and is going to make an excellent dynasty prospect if the team can improve over Michael Jenkins in the offseason. For now, Ponder is still nothing more than a QB2.

Matt Moore – MIA: Pete the Greek listed Moore in his Clutch Plug-n-Plays For Your Playoff Run article last week. His prediction looks like it paid off. Moore didn’t have very many passing yards, only throwing for 162 yards with one touchdown, but he showed his versaility as a runner against the Raiders, rushing for another 23 yards and a rushing score. Moore could be in line for a chance to be the starter in 2012. If the Dolphins were high on Chad Henne, no reason to think they wouldn’t give Moore a shot next year. For now, Moore could be a viable flex option or a QB2 in two-quarterback leagues.

RUNNING BACKS
Marion Barber – CHI: Matt Forte owners’ fears have just become reality. After a helmet-to-knee hit from Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson, Forte’s left foot got caught on the turf and twisted his left knee. It was initially thought that Forte may have suffered a torn ACL, but further diagnosis showed a Grade 2 MCL sprain. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Forte owners will be without the star running back for the next 2-4 weeks, which essentially means he is out for most to all of the playoffs. Marion Barber ran 14 times for 44 yards and will be a top waiver-wire option. Unfortunately, Caleb Hanie doesn’t scare opposing defenses, so Barber will see a lot of attention going forward.

Dexter McCluster – KC: I hate adding McCluster, yet again, because he will put up numbers and then disappear the week after. But after running for a career high 61 yards and adding another 4 receptions for 46 yards and a receiving score against the Bears, I figured I would list him anyway. The Chiefs have a decent matchup against a Packers Defense who can be run on, but tread lightly. Again, McCluster could disappear in Week 14.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Devin Aromashodu – MIN: The Vikings attacked Broncos cornerback Andre Goodman early and often, which resulted in Aromashodu’s team high 15 targets, 6 of which were caught, for 90 yards. Aromashodu is somewhat of an upgrade over Michael Jenkins (IR), but it’s going to be hard to trust him as anything more than a flex option in larger leagues. His resume’ isn’t all that spectacular.

Pierre Garcon – IND: Garcon’s numbers against the Patriots may look strong (9rec/150yds/2tds), but most of those stats came in the 4th quarter when the Colts were down by A LOT. Still, Dan Orlovsky showed he has trust in Garcon enough to make him a decent WR3. However, Garcon’s next 3 opponents (@BAL,TEN,HOU) all rank in the top-10 against fantasy wide receivers.

Riley Cooper – PHI: With Jeremy Maclin out yet again, Cooper put up another strong performance against the Seahawks, leading the team with 5 catches and 94 yards in the loss to the Seahawks. There is no news on whether or not Maclin ((hamstring, shoulder) will be available to play Week 14 against the Dolphins, so Cooper could be in for another start.

TIGHT ENDS
Jacob Tamme – IND: Tamme has now put up 2-out-of-3 decent fantasy performances following Week 14′s 5 catch/49 yard outing against New England. With Dan Orlovsky under center, Tamme could be someone to look at in deeper leagues.

Peyton Hillis will creep back into the waiver-wire spotlight this week after his game against the Bengals Sunday.

I had been trying my best to avoid the Browns backfield like the plague in recent weeks. Chris Ogbonnaya has his moments, but he clearly isn’t the running back of the future. Monterio Hardesty had a chance to make a claim for the starting job going into Week 12′s game against the Bengals, but wound up a quick inactive after his calf tightened up. Can he be “THE GUY” who leads the backfield in 2012? I doubt it. Hardesty can be a huge asset, but his health will always come into question. So it now appears we are right back to Peyton Hillis again. I can’t imagine the Browns bringing him back after all the BS that went down regarding his contract and an illness that kept him out. If the Browns were smart, they would let Hillis walk after the season.

Anyway, here are my waiver-wire pickups for Week 13. We also did an aggregated waiver wire rankings for the home stretch over at fantasypros.com.

QUARTERBACKS
Caleb Hanie – CHI: Hanie’s 2012 debut as the starter was so-so, passing for 254 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The interceptions are what killed his fantasy value and killed the team’s chance of winning against the Raiders. I had figured Hanie was nothing more than a desperation QB2 and this game shows that. The yardage and touchdowns were good to see, but I envision at least 1-2 interceptions every game for the rest of the year. I would think that by now, owners can do a little bit better.

TJ Yates, Kellen Clemens or free agent – HOU: The Texans seem to be having bad luck with the quarterbacks this year. First Matt Schaub gets knocked out with a Lisfranc injury. Now it appears Matt Leinart will be out for the year with a broken left collarbone. That leaves either Yates, who passed for a mere 70 yards against the Jaguars, Clemens, who has had a severely up-and-down career, or a free agent. Whichever one the Texans decide to go with, an owner in a 16-team league would have to be desperate to pick up any of these option. We will see a very healthy dose of Arian Foster going forward.

RUNNING BACKS
Roy Helu – WAS: If you were lucky enough to have started Helu in, what was supposed to be, a bad matchup against the Seahawks, Congrats. His 108 rushing yards was a season high, he scored his first rushing touchdown of the year and showed his ability to catch the ball with 7 receptions for 54 yards. Mike Shanahan revealed that Helu is “ready” to be a full-time back, but let’s just hope he sticks to his word. Regardless, Helu is a must add in all league formats.

Peyton Hillis – CLE: You didn’t think I was going to mention Hillis’ name and not add him to the list did you? After a five-game statless drought, Hillis ran for 65 yards against the Bengals. He also chipped in 2 catches, but went a minus 4 yards. Not exactly great numbers, but better than I thought considering Hardesty was supposed to be in the mix for carries as well. If you are counting on Hillis as someone who can get you through the playoffs, good luck. He has two tough matchups against the Ravens and then the Steelers, before facing the Cardinals. And as of now, we don’t even know if Hillis will be the lead back if Hardesty is healthy to play. So while Hillis could make a decent pickup….again….tread lightly.

Maurice Morris – DET: Kevin Smith owners caught a break when his ankle injury went from the high-ankle variety to a “mild” one, according to a source. The couple extra days will help. But in the meantime, Smith owners may want to pick Morris up as insurance just in case Smith does wind up missing the game against the Saints. He ran well against the Packers, averaging 5.6 yards a carry, and his 9 receptions for 81 yards helped his PPR value. Outside of insurance for Smith owners, however, Morris is more of a flex option at best.

CJ Spiller – BUF: Spiller wasn’t great in his starting debut, but his 70 total yards wasn’t shabby against a decent Jets run defense. A part of me had thought that maybe Tashard Choice would surprise, but his 2 touches quickly changed my mind. Spiller has an easier matchup against the Titans.

WIDE RECEIVER
Johnny Knox – CHI: I’ve said it before. When there is a quarterback change, a guy who normally wouldn’t have any value pops up on the free agent radar. That happened to Knox, who led the Bears with 4 catches for 145 yards, while adding a touchdown against the Raiders. The downside is that Knox doesn’t start and will be hit-or-miss every week. So owners looking to add him will find that he isn’t anything more than a flexer at best.

Harry Douglas – ATL: Even with Julio Jones back, Douglas still managed to put up WR3 stats after scoring for the first time this season against the Vikings. 16-team league owners should be the only ones who give Douglas a chance. As the 4th option behind Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, Douglas doesn’t hold as much value in smaller leagues.

Lions RB Kevin Smith will be the top waiver-wire add heading into Week 12.

I don’t need to tell anyone who the biggest fantasy pickup is going to be this week. After watching the action Sunday, you better believe a certain Detroit throwaway (Kevin Smith) is going to blow up the waiver wires across the boards. So let’s dive into this week’s pickups as we head into Week 12. And with many leagues entering their playoffs in another week or two, now is the time to load up for that playoff push. Make sure to check this list throughout the day as we continue to add players we feel worthy of a pickup this week. Unlike other sites, I hate listing players who had a big game, but did nothing before and likely won’t be trusted enough to do anything again. So if there is a player that you have questions about, post a comment below or visit out Forum.

QUARTERBACKS
Vince Young – PHI: It looked like it was going to be a long night when Young threw two picks against the Giants and most of his game was so-so. But after managing a huge 80-yard drive that resulted in a score, Young’s rust should be gone if he winds up having to start again against the Patriots. There is no early word if Michael Vick is going to be able to start with his injured ribs. But after last night, the Eagles staff shouldn’t feel pressured to have to rush him back. Going against a Pats Defense that ranks dead last against fantasy quarterbacks, Young is a must pickup for all Vick owners.

Rex Grossman – WAS: Grossman’s performance against the Cowboys was a reminder of the last few weeks after the Redskins had benched Donovan McNabb at the end of the 2010 season. Grossman’s 289 passing yards was the third best of this season and his 3 total touchdowns (1 rushing) easily outweighed his 12th interception. With the Seahawks allowing the 5th least amount of fantasy points to running backs, Grossman will have to throw a lot in Week 12. At worst, he could be a desperation QB1 if your other options are shaky. Just remember that he can easily put up a dud.

Carson Palmer – OAK: Not surprisingly, Palmer is only owned in 58% of ESPN leagues thus far. It’s a high number, but I am shocked that he hasn’t been picked up as, at least, a QB2. He did tally two touchdowns, 1 passing/1 rushing, but the Raiders went into Michael Bush mode to nurse the lead against the Vikings. Still, I would pluck Palmer off the wire. His schedule over the next few weeks contains some pretty decent matchups. The downside to Palmer is that he totally destroyed Denarius Moore’s value Sunday after targeting the rookie a mere two times.

Caleb Hanie – CHI: With the news that Jay Cutler’s season could be over after breaking the thumb in his throwing hand, Hanie gets the chance to lead the Bears offense. With 14 regular-season attempts in 2 years, it’s hard to see Hanie as anything more than a two-quarterback league option. He also has some playoff experience after losing to the Packers last year.

RUNNING BACKS
Kevin Smith – DET: It’s amazing that just a few weeks ago, Smith was sitting on his couch watching the games on tv. It didn’t take long for him to fight his way past Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams when he started out third on the depth chart. Smith’s 201 yards from scrimmage and 3 total touchdowns made him the best fantasy running back out of all the games thus far for Week 11 and was the best performance of his career. He should easily gain the most adds in all waiver wires this week. And with Jahvid Best still out with concussion problems, Smith could keep the job for the next several weeks. He’ll continue his comeback campaign against a Packers Defense who allowed LeGarrette Blount to rack up over 100 rushing yards and a score Sunday.

Joe McKnight – NYJ: Because of the logjam at running back with Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson, once he comes back, I’m not recommending McKnight as a fantasy option for this season. But considering LT is on his last legs and Greene clearly isn’t the type of running back the Jets had hoped for, McKnight could be someone to eye or keep in dynasty leagues. His 121 total yards and 6 receptions against the Broncos were highs for the rookie’s career and could be a sign of things to come if the Jets think he can be a bigger part of the offense. LT is a free agent after the season and may not be re-signed, leaving McKnight with an opportunity as a backup and a bigger role in 2012.

Ryan Grant – GB: It’s amazing that the Packers keep winning with a running game that is less-than-desirable. James Starks is dealing with a right knee “sprain” and could wind up as a game-time decision in a short week against the Lions on Thanksgiving. If Grant does get the start, he should at least be considered for your flex spot as he will take the bulk of the carries. Just remember that the Packers have relied mainly on their passing game, virtually eliminating a lot of their running backs’ fantasy value this year.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Riley Cooper – PHI: Filling in for an injured Jeremy Maclin (shoulder/hamstring), Cooper was targeted a team-high 12 times, with 5 catches for 75 yards and a score. It’s too soon to say whether or not Maclin will be available for Week 12′s outing against the Patriots, but Cooper showed he can be a competant passing option if given the chance. He is a must-add, especially for Maclin owners and could be an even better option if Michael Vick sits again.

Earl Bennett – CHI: Even after putting up big numbers over the last 3 weeks, Bennett is still owned in only 38% of ESPN leagues. Bennett led the Bears with 9 targets Sunday, but his value could plummet with the news that Jay Cutler will likely miss the rest of the season with a broken thumb. Look at Bennett with caution.

Tight Ends
Brent Celek – PHI: The fact that Celek is still only owned in 18% of ESPN leagues is outright ridiculous. Even with Michael Vick out, Celek and Vince Young still hooked up for 6 catches and 60 yards against the Giants. Against the Patriots, in what could be a high-scoring game, Celek has now risen to low-end TE1 status for Week 12.