Rabble Waivers: Week 8

Quarterbacks

1. Josh McCown (CHI) WEEK 9 STARTER
It's rarely mentioned, but the Bears have quietly assembled one of the most talented offenses in football. Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jefferey, Martellus Bennet and Matt Forte are solid starts in just about all fantasy leagues. Josh McCown is no different. We don't think there is anything special about Jay Cutler, so don't expect much of a drop-off with McCown under center. The Bears are on a bye, so add this guy now and start him in Week 9.

Rabble Rabble Vegas: Week 7 Bets

Even the weaker cast of Vegas bets with Rabble*

Rabble Rabble Vegas: Week 6 Bets

The Cincinnati Kid bets with Rabble

Rabble Rabble Vegas: Week 5 Bets

Sam 'Ace' Roethstein bets with Rabble.

Rabble Rabble Vegas: Week 4 Bets

James Caan bets with Rabble.

Top Ten Fantasy RBs: Duck Doug Martin at No. 2

This won't happen again.

Owners of Doug Martin have fond memories of his 2012 season.  Opponents are green with envy.  Level headed observers are cautious.  You'll want to avoid taking Martin too early in 2013.  Doug Martin, aka the Muscle Hamster (don't call him that), aka Douggernaut, aka Teach me how to Dougie, aka The 2013 Fantasy Reach. In most formats, Martin is slated to be the second RB off the board.  Martin is not going to have a bad fantasy year, he is just not going to have the second best year among running backs.  It'd be a reach and a half to get him at number two.

Inconsistency you can count on.

My Favorite Martin only scored in seven games last year.  Seven of his twelve touchdowns came against two teams, the mighty mighty Oakland Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons.  He scored four touchdowns in a homecoming game in Oakland and three in two games against Atlanta. In terms of yards per game, he was more consistent, but that's the case for every RB that is listed in the top five.  

Ray Rice is faces the Lions Week 15

Big Games against Small Teams

Dougie-Do-Right had some monstrous games against some cupcake teams.  His game against the Oakland Raiders accounted for 17 percent of his total rushing yards and a 33 percent of all his touchdowns.  This game greatly inflated his season totals.  Tampa is not playing the Raiders this year. and they faced some weak competition as a whole.  Their average opponent ranked 18th against the run. It will be hard for Tampa to find as many cream puffs on their 2013 schedule.  Tampa has road games against the Seahawks and Patriots, both of which were top ten run defenses last year.  Week 15, which is a playoff game in most leagues, pits Mr. Martin against the 49ers.  Food for thought: Arian Foster is running against the Colts Week 15.

There are Four New RBs in Tampa.

Nobody expected LeGarrette Blount to sit and watch the entire 2012 season.  Martin benefited.  Of the 371 Buccaneer handoffs, Martin received 319 (85.98 percent).  This offseason, the Bucs passed the Blount to the Patriots in exchange for Jeff Demps, and went on to acquire Brian Leonard and Peyton Hillis in free agency.  Leonard and Hillis are both proven pass catchers and will be more than likely to steal goal line work from Martin.  The Bucs also drafted Mike James in the sixth round.  Mike James is a bruiser with hands; look for him to make an impact short yardage situations.  New RBs means fewer touches for Martin as Tampa is now home to a stable of capable running backs.

RABBLE RABBLE DRAFT ADVICE:
Doug Martin is going to go fast, and will finish as a Top 10 RB.  Take him with the fifth or sixth pick. It's a reach to take him any sooner.  If he's there later than that, you're in a league full of turkeys.  

Hide and Watch: Carson Palmer will be a Top Ten Fantasy QB.

Carson Palmer wants to be your starting quarterback, and you get can him late.  Real late.  Palmer will still be available in the ninth and tenth rounds.  So while everyone is thirsty for quarterbacks like Andrew Luck, or Eli Manning, you'll be able to add another solid WR1. Only nine quarterbacks threw for more yards than Palmer last season (4,018), and none of them had a roster as talent starved as the Oakland Raiders.  Last season, the former Heisman trophy winner posted his highest QB rating (85.3) since 2007. He's got the hot hand.  Land Carson and you won't be disappointed.

Johnathan Cooper

New O-Line

Cardinals QBs were sacked a league-high 58 times last season. That won't be the case in 2012.  With the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft the Cardinals selected Johnathan Cooper.  The durable All-American left guard from North Carolina should buy Carson more time in the pocket.  The Cards also added fourth-round guard Earl Watford, and  acquired tackle EricWinston from Kansas City.  Mr. Winston hasn't missed a game in his eight-year career.  The Cardinals now have an offensive line.  

Larry F. Fitzgerald

And the F is for Fantasy.  No longer will Larry toss and turn at night longing for the days when Kurt Warner was under center. Don't count out Michael Floyd either.  The thirteenth overall pick from the 2011 Draft from Notre Dame is a 6'2" speedster and should thrive in Bruce Arians' vertical passing attack. Andre Roberts is no slouch either. This man caught five touchdowns last year from the likes of John Skelton and Kevin Kolb.  The Cardinals receivers are leaps and bounds above anyone who lined up in a Raiders jersey last season.  If Floyd becomes the player the Cardinals believe he is, this unit could be the best receiving corps Palmer has ever worked with. 

Bruce Arians

Don't bring me down...Bruce.

You could make the argument that Bruce Arians has more talent in Arizona than he had in Indianapolis.  It shouldn't be hard to replicate his achievements in Arizona. Larry Fitzgerald compares favorably with Reggie Wayne. Andre Roberts and Malcom Floyd have slightly more upside and a lot more size than T.Y. Hilton and Donnie Avery.  The Cards have a slight edge at the tight end position. Look for Rob Housler to step up in Arizona's new-look offense.  Fun fact: Housler had more catches than Vernon Davis last season, leading the NFC West in tight end receptions.  Bruce is going to put the Cardinals offense back on the map.  Hide and watch.

RABBLE RABBLE DRAFT ADVICE: Carson Palmer is seriously undervalued, so you should get him AFTER that mid-draft run on QBs.