Strike Gold for Your Fantasy Football Team

If you are one of the millions of NFL fans who plays fantasy football every weekend, you understand how exciting and demoralizing each week can be.  Fantasy football has at least done one good thing for the game: it's widened the view of the average football fan to not just include their home team. 

As you progress each week, figuring out which players to add on your active roster can be difficult: injuries take their toll, player performance can affect their playing time, and so on. Week one in the NFL was a veritable war zone, with the so-called "top performers" not getting quite the stats they needed, while some rookies and unknowns had some huge games.  If you think your team needs a leg up on the competition already, take a look at some of these fantasy players who would make a great waiver pickup for week #2.

-    Julius Thomas, TE:  This pickup is a no-brainer.  In an offense that is clearly steered by the greatest quarterback in league, Thomas has emerged as a go-to guy for Peyton Manning.  Their offense features quite a few weapons, and Thomas will undoubtedly be seeing a lot of looks this season.  Snatch him up if he is still available!

-    Le'Veon Bell, RB:  If you were one of the knuckleheads (like me) who picked up Issac Redmond off of waivers, then you are likely 0-1 to start the season.  Fortunately, Bell has mostly gone undrafted due to the injury he sustained. The word is that he will be making a comeback in several weeks, so now would be a great time to pick him up.

-    Terrelle Pryor, QB:  While he likely won't be reaching Aaron Rodgers-type passing numbers this season, Pryor showed that he could be a real fantasy asset with his legs. Someone has to score some points in Oakland this season, and Terelle Pryor looks like the key playmaker available.

Whether you end up watching the games each week as a fan, or are avidly watching each game to determine the fantasy impact for your football team, remember to be comfortable.  As autumn quickly draws near, the weather gets colder, warm beverages become commonplace and nothing quite beats a Sunday afternoon watching the games by a fire.  Grab a pair of NFL slippers and keep your feet warm as you bask in the glory of your winning team.