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The Feeding Frenzy: Looking Back, Looking Ahead (fantasysharks.com)
5 Months Joseph Addai RB NE, Laurent Robinson WR JAC, Russell Wilson QB SEA, Justin Blackmon WR JAC, Jay Cutler QB CHI 1 Comment

The 2012 fantasy season has come to an end for me. I'll be traveling next week for the holidays, so this is my final column of the year. I want to thank all of you who stopped by and read my advice on trading players this season. I hope you found some of my inane babbling useful.

In the final edition of The Feeding Frenzy, I will take a look back and a look ahead to 2013. First, I will look at the players I think were the Top 5 waiver wire pickups of the season. Now I know in some leagues a couple of these players may have been drafted, but the fact is if you go back to August and look at the information available, they weren't being selected in a majority of drafts.

Finally, I'll look ahead to next season and five players I'm high on for 2013. Obviously things change, but these are five guys that as of right now are high on my fantasy radar for next year.

So if you're still playing in your fantasy championship games, I wish you luck. I also hope everyone has a great holiday season. As for me, if this is the end of the line, I'll see you all in the funny papers.

Here are my five top waiver wire pickups from the 2012 season:

Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle -- Wilson was expected to be a game manager in his first year as a starter in the NFL. He was anything but that as Wilson has eclipsed 20 fantasy points in seven of 14 fantasy starts this season. Wilson has gotten better as the year has gone on too, averaging 25 fantasy points since Week 8. Through 14 games, Wilson has outscored bigger name quarterbacks such as Eli Manning, Jay Cutler, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers. For those who believe you shouldn't use a high draft pick on a quarterback, Wilson adds more fodder to their argument.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver -- Moreno was a late addition to fantasy teams, but if you were fortunate enough to get him, it has paid off. Since Moreno started against Kansas City four weeks ago, he has averaged 19 points in points per reception formats. Even more importantly, Moreno has done most of his damage during fantasy playoffs, rushing for 237 yards and two scores over the last two weeks. Moreno may not be done yet. He gets the Cleveland Browns and their 18th ranked rush defense in Week 16. I said to sell Moreno after his first start. I was dead wrong. Peyton Manning got me again. First Joseph Addai, now Moreno.

James Jones, WR, Green Bay -- There were talks of Jones being traded during the summer, but, rather than leaving Green Bay, Jones...

Ben Roethlisberger QB PIT
5 Months Pittsburgh Steelers Comment

Ben Roethlisberger expressed disappointment with the Steelers' Week 15 playcalling following Sunday's loss to the Cowboys.

Roethlisberger was displeased that the Steelers didn't get the ball to Heath Miller at all in the second half. "I just don't think we called the right plays to get him the ball," Big Ben said. Roethlisberger was then asked whey the Steelers didn't run more no-huddle in the final two quarters. "That's tough for me to answer right now," he said. "The second half we didn't do much of it, and that's disappointing." Ben's relationship with OC Todd Haley may be chilling at the wrong time of year. The Steelers dropped to 7-7 with Sunday's loss to Dallas.

Ben Roethlisberger QB PIT
5 Months Pittsburgh Steelers Comment

Ben Roethlisberger completed 24-of-40 passes for 339 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Pittsburgh's Week 15 overtime loss in Dallas.

Roethlisberger settled down for his third 300-yard game of the season after getting off to a shaky start, but doomed the Steelers' chances with an interception in overtime. Roethlisberger telegraphed a pass to Mike Wallace, and Cowboys CB Brandon Carr jumped the route, returning the ball all the way to the Steelers' one-yard line. It was Ben's worst throw of the day by far, and one that has Pittsburgh facing a must-win game in Week 16 against the Bengals. Roethlisberger did make one of the best plays of his career in the second quarter, evading the rush for nearly 10 seconds as he pump faked twice before finding Heath Miller for a 30-yard touchdown. Despite missing three and a half games, Roethlisberger will enter Week 16 with 22 scores.

Ben Roethlisberger QB PIT
5 Months Pittsburgh Steelers 4 Comments

Ben Roethlisberger completed 22-of-42 passes for 285 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the Steelers' Week 14 loss to the Chargers.

Roethlisberger's numbers look far better than his real life performance. In his first game since Week 10, he looked really rusty early, throwing the ball low and inaccurately. He also threw an ugly lateral to Antonio Brown that was botched and went for a Chargers touchdown. Big Ben did save his fantasy day in garbage time by throwing two touchdowns and racking up the majority of his yardage with less than six minutes to go in a blowout. The best news is that he looked healthy and fearless, even running five times for 31 yards. Roethlisberger will be a borderline QB1 option in Dallas next week.

Ben Roethlisberger QB PIT
5 Months Pittsburgh Steelers Comment

Ben Roethlisberger (ribs) is active and starting Sunday's Week 14 game against the Chargers, as expected.

Ben Roethlisberger QB PIT
5 Months Pittsburgh Steelers Comment

Ben Roethlisberger (ribs, shoulder) is officially probable for Week 14 against the Chargers.

Roethlisberger didn't miss a practice rep all week, and appears near 100 percent heading into Sunday's tilt with the Bolts. Although the Steelers will look to establish Jonathan Dwyer early, Big Ben will still be a low-end QB1 against the Chargers' fading defense.

Ben Roethlisberger QB PIT
6 Months Pittsburgh Steelers 12 Comments

Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that Ben Roethlisberger (ribs, shoulder) will start versus the Chargers in Week 14.

"He has been above the line in all areas," Tomlin said Thursday. "Really, the only question we can't answer is taking a hit. Obviously that will be answered in the stadium on Sunday. I am extremely comfortable with his ability to work the field both vertically and horizontally. He has great velocity on his ball. We're ready to go." Rotoworld ranks Roethlisberger 17th among quarterbacks for Week 14.

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