Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: St. Louis Rams Defense Takes Center Stage

Coming into a bye week is a weird time to be trawling for St. Louis Rams on your fantasy football waiver wire, but for some people, some of whom you no doubt have interminable message board conversations with, it is never to early to hunt down the next big sleeper pick. And with that in mind it's worth noting that, according to ESPN's current rankings, the Rams' defense has been the biggest ownership gainer of the last seven days, moving over the 50%-ownership mark in their leagues. It's true: The biggest Week 9 gainer won't be playing week 9. 

Some of that bump, no doubt, came from the news that the Rams would be playing against the misfiring Carolina Panthers offense. But aside from that devastating loss to the Detroit Lions in week 5, the Rams' defense has been impressively steady, and that game in Carolina gave them the chance to flex their point-scoring muscles, picking up three sacks and three interceptions. 

Other fantasy gainers from the highly successful week that was—Sam Bradford has actually fallen off slightly, remaining around a quarter-owned in ESPN leagues, but his ability to bounce back from his wild performance against Tampa Bay and his newfound interception abstinence make him a more reliable pick than ever as a backup or emergency quarterback. Danario Alexander fell almost totally off the radar, proving that the shelf-life for sleepers who continue sleeping is low; meanwhile, Danny Amendola, continuing to pick up receptions and now getting end-zone opportunities almost by default, has been one of this week's top gainers at receiver. If Randy Moss should show up at the locker next-door that might change, but until then... 

One long-term fantasy question comes at the Rams' tight end position. Bradford has utilized his tight ends rather heavily, but because of injuries and whim it's rarely been the same one twice. Either Daniel Fells or Michael Hoomanawanui could be a fair I-forgot-he-had-a-bye-week target at the position, if only the Rams would just decide which one is going to show up in the end zone.