The current Week 2 Upgrades, Downgrades and Waiver Wire Wonders are listed numerically by position. I have always considered that a ranking of sorts and an indication that the number 1 player to target is the one listed at the top of each positional list. Whether that player is actually available in my leagues is up to me to determine. Who to choose from that list then depends on my own circumstances, etc.
That is pretty much correct. The way this report works is as follows:
1. We have several staff watch games and take notes. Then they write up their entries.
2. Those notes are sent to me to read over and compile. I also do about 3-4 games.
3. I then rank in order these players according to my judgment based on what I read and see. Some of the staff might not agree with my ranking, but its my prioritization.
Some players noted as "Upgrades" on the low end of the spectrum are often players that aren't going to be on the waiver wire in 99.99 percent of leagues but deserve mentioning of a good game for a variety of reasons.
Ariakis: There are some players mentioned that are forward thinking, but you have to remember this report is based on performance in games as supporting evidence and not prospecting for gold that hasn't shown itself. The Law Firm hasn't played this year and neither Fred Taylor nor Kevin Faulk were hurt. Plus this article comes out late Monday night, Maroney was still a Pat until Tuesday afternoon. I'm sure you can find a different example, but the point I'm making is that guessing injury isn't our job here. Otherwise we could mentioned dozens more players but we could not possibly get this to you in a timely fashion if we did.
Still we try to bring up a few players where we can. Evan Moore, Harry Douglas, Camarillo, Albert Young, and Javon Ringer are examples of players that didn't do much but we mentioned either for good for bad to help you think about them or avoid them.
This report is just one attempt to give you quick information based on observation of games and what's happening. The Prospecting articles that Will Grant is heading this year. Here's an explanation of the article:
"The purpose of this column is to spotlight deeper roster moves that could pay off big over the course of the season. Unless stated in a player's write up, we're not looking for one-week wonders here, but shark moves that could really strengthen your team down the road.
Prospecting focuses on low risk players that could be huge payoff roster moves that you might be able make before the guys in your league think about it. The aim of this column is to make you look like a genius to the other owners in your league. When news breaks and the other owners are scrambling to make a waiver wire move, we want them to be upset time and time again that the player is already on your squad."
Example link -
http://subscribers.footballguys.com/2009/09prospecting4.php