FanHouse Earl Bennett

Weeding through those unwieldy waiver wires requires a keen eye and a quick trigger. Thus, Waiver Wire Wonders provides a weekly snapshot of players worthy of consideration who should be available on a good portion of league waiver wires.

It looks like we have the makings for some steamy waiver wire action as Week 9 provided a host of interesting plays. In the "one man gathers what another man spills" department, we saw a perennial backup step in as a fantasy big shot suffered a concussion, a couple of forgotten old timers break out for their new teams, a couple deep-on-depth-chart overachievers make a name for themselves and we even saw a Lion play a good game. With the trade deadline looming, waiver wire moves get even more important down the stretch, so stay on your toes. Let's go.

Each Monday of the fantasy football season, we'll cut through the fantasy numbers put up by individuals and tell you what they really mean.

Heading into the season, we liked DeSean Jackson's chances to move into low-end WR2 range. After three weeks -- two of which were with a backup quarterback -- we're ready to say he's easily a WR2, with the chance to move into WR1 range. In the past two games, Jackson has caught 10 passes for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Adding in a punt return touchdown in Week 1, Jackson has scored in all three Eagles games this season.

Since arriving in Chicago, Jay Cutler's been fighting the stigma that he's more of a stat-monger than a winner. The only way to change the feelings of the general public is to go out and win tough games. Anyone can look good during a blowout of an inferior opponent.

For the second consecutive week, Cutler has won close games in come-from-behind fashion. Last week, he led the Bears on a 72-yard, game-tying touchdown drive and then a 41-yard game-winning field goal drive against the Steelers. Sunday afternoon, Cutler brought the Bears back from an early 13-0 deficit to lead 17-13. The Bears lost the lead, but that was of no consequence, as Cutler again led them on a game-winning drive.

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I've seen bad weeks from elite receivers before, but I never thought I'd see a zero-catch game from Greg Jennings this season. Will it get better in Week 3? Well, it has to, doesn't it? Almost as surprising as seeing Jennings with no catches was seeing Mario Manningham with 10, especially considering the Giants' Steve Smith also had 10 catches. Are we dealing with the next Randy Moss and Wes Welker? You're right, that's too much hyperbole, even for me. Still, the highly-added Manningham is due for a huge bump up in the rankings, but how far will he climb?

1. Andre Johnson, HOU vs. JAC
2. Marques Colston, NO @ BUF
3. Steve Smith, CAR @ DAL
4. Randy Moss, NE vs. ATL
5. Greg Jennings, GB @ STL

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When Jay Cutler was traded to Chicago, there was an instant line drawn in the proverbial sand. Everyone from professional sports writers to the most casual of fans had opinions. Those who wanted to argue it was a bad move for the Bears had several points. Some of them were valid, but one of them in particular always drove me bonkers.

"Who is he going to throw to?" "He's going to hate life without Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal." Etc.

Cornerback Darrell Revis shut Andre Johnson down in Week 1, and now he draws Randy Moss, who's coming off a 12-catch game, in Week 2. Who will win this matchup? I still see Moss as a must-start, but if Revis can contain him and hold his fantasy production down, I'm going to start sitting all No. 1 WRs that are matched up across from Revis.

Many people are already worried about Eddie Royal, but I think you have to start him again. I'd call last week an aberration, and he should have success against Cleveland. More random WR thoughts after the rankings:

1. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI @ JAC
2. Reggie Wayne, IND @ MIA
3. Greg Jennings, GB vs. CIN
4. Roddy White, ATL vs. CAR
5. Randy Moss, NE @ NYJ

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On the surface, the past 24 hours have been really bad for Bears fans. After months of excitement, the Bears lost a heart-breaking season opener to their hated division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. To make matters worse, strong-armed Jay Cutler threw four interceptions and defensive captain Brian Urlacher has already been lost for the season. That wasn't all that was bad. The offensive line couldn't run block, receivers appeared to have very little rapport with Cutler and that fake punt call -- teamed with a ridiculously bad challenge by Lovie Smith -- was an unmitigated debacle.

Good thing the season doesn't end after one week.

Each Monday morning of the fantasy football season, we'll cut through the fantasy numbers put up by individuals and tell you what they really mean.

You know what Kyle Orton's line should have been? 16 of 28 with 156 yards and no touchdowns. He would have had a few more passing attempts before losing the game, which likely would have made him 16 of 30 or 17 of 31 or so. Instead, he was the beneficiary of the most insane amount of luck we've ever seen on one play in fantasy football. He forces a throw to Brandon Marshall in double-coverage, badly under-throws him and the Bengals tip the ball up in the air. The rest is history. And Kyle Orton had a decent fantasy day.

But don't be fooled.

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. " We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Expectations in the Windy City are sky-high, coming off an offseason in which the Bears acquired who should be their first franchise quarterback in ages: Jay Cutler. He's doing photoshoots, selling jerseys with ease and playing well in preseason games. Can it translate into a playoff run ... or more?

While those truly following the Bears' every move this offseason know the defensive backfield is a much greater concern than wide receiver, the masses are left trying to figure out who newly acquired quarterback Jay Cutler will be throwing to (the sheep can now insert, "no one!" and feel good about themselves).

After all, the leading receivers -- in terms of catches -- last season were running back Matt Forte and tight end Greg Olsen. Devin Hester was the top wideout, with 51 catches and 665 yards. Rashied Davis caught 35 balls, but no other wide receiver in training camp caught a single NFL pass in 2008.