Pass Plays: Stick with Blount

This is the best time of the year in so many ways. Terrific food (Mrs. Scientist has an awesome meal planned for Thanksgiving), time with the family, the start of the Christmas shopping season and the anticipation of sharing Christmas morning with one's children -- all of it warms the heart.

As much happiness as those things can bring, however, some of the truest joy one can experience this time of year comes via figuring out ways to stock your fantasy football roster with valuable players that other fantasy owners in your league have passed up on acquiring. This week's Pass Plays has more than a few waiver candidates who fit that description.

Pass Plays

QB Carson Palmer (available in 41.9 percent of ESPN leagues)
Oakland currently ranks 10th in the league in passing yards per attempt (YPA). The Raiders' 7.7 total in that metric places them only two-tenths of a yard behind Carolina, San Diego and New Orleans, three teams whose passing offenses are much more celebrated than the Silver and Black's.

Some of that credit has to go to Jason Campbell, but nearly as much of it goes to Palmer, since his YPA this year is much higher than Campbell's (7.1 for Campbell, 9.2 for Palmer).

To get an idea of just how good a 9.2 YPA is, consider this: If Palmer can keep that level of play up the next two weeks while throwing at least 55 passes -- which would make him a qualifier for season-long statistical totals -- he will rank second in the league in YPA. Even if that total drops off by a yard, he would still place in the top five.

To see more of KC Joyner's fantasy advice, from value grabs like Carson Palmer to why you should trade Fred Davis, you must be an ESPN Insider.

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KC Joyner

NFL Insider

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• NFL and CFB analyst for ESPN Insider
• Known as "The Football Scientist"
• Uses proprietary metrics from game tape study