With playoffs on deck, scavenge the waiver wire

Cue your inner Jim Mora - this week is the last standing in the way of the fantasy football playoffs.

It's a joyous time in the fantasy world for owners that qualified, or are in prime position to do so, but not so much for those that will set their lineups this week for the final time until September.

The latter group may have drafted the likes of Darren McFadden, Michael Vick, Larry Fitzgerald or DeMarco Murray in early rounds in hopes they could become cornerstones for their respective teams. Those highly-touted players, among others, have failed to live up to their projected performance whether it is by virtue of injury or individual or team shortcomings.
 

Owners that have already clinched the right to set a lineup in Week 14 may have been the bold ones to draft Peyton Manning or Adrian Peterson in the second round. Of course, quality starters, like always, were likely picked up on waivers throughout the year to help propel owners to the upper-echelon in their respective leagues.
 

The waiver wire, even 12 weeks into the NFL season, can still be an effective tool to finalize the molding of a playoff roster. Recent waiver wire pick-ups, as well as players still available in a majority of leagues have become must-starts, or at the very least, matchup starts.

Colin Kaepernick avoided Rob Johnson-and Matt Flynn-syndrome by proving he was not just a one-week wonder as a starting quarterback. I don't think he's just a two-week wonder, either.
 

The dual-threat quarterback scored 21 points in standard leagues Sunday, albeit against an atrocious Saints' defense, but those numbers are still worthy of a starting fantasy signal-caller. Don't forget how surgical he was a week ago in his first career start against the vaunted Bears' defense.
 

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh has stated he likes to stick with the hot hand as his quarterback and that is exactly what Kaepernick is right now. He may be available this late in the year and if he is, pick him up. The Niners have three straight matchups against less-than-stellar pass defenses - St. Louis, Miami and New England.
If your success this year relied more on the strength of your quarterbacks and wide receivers, and less on your running backs, do not fret.
 

With Willis McGahee likely out for the season, Knowshon Moreno stepped into the starting running back role for the Denver Broncos Sunday and performed well. The former first round draft choice's talent was never in question - it's just a matter of staying on the field.
 

Moreno gained 85 yards on 20 carries against Kansas City last week, and if healthy, he'll continue to get plenty of carries in the Broncos' balanced offense. He's available in about 80 percent of leagues, and is a viable second running back option.
 

Beanie Wells is also available in a majority of leagues, as he played his first game since a Week 3 injury Sunday. While his yards-per-rush was low (2.8), he still received a healthy amount of carries (17) and scored two touchdowns against the Rams.
 

In his last 18 games, he has 12 touchdowns. He's a classic touchdown-or-bust guy, but more often than not, he's apt for the touchdown.
 

Oakland Raiders' running back Marcel Reece is also a highly capable option at running back so long as McFadden is sidelined with an injury. The big, powerful back is available in about a quarter of leagues.
 

With at least nine points in each of the last four games, Reece is worth a roster spot even after the oft-injured McFadden returns.

Danario Alexander has officially broken the one-game wonder stigma that was placed earlier in the year on the Cowboys' Kevin Ogletree.
 

The Chargers' receiver has led or tied for the team lead in targets in each of the last three games. He has gone from unknown to marvel within the last month, with 20 catches for 365 yards and three touchdowns in his last four games. The former Rams' castoff is still widely available and is a must-start if picked up.
 

Jacksonville Jaguars' rookie wideout Justin Blackmon is starting to show more of the talent that made him the fifth overall pick in last April's draft. After being drafted in nearly all leagues prior to the season, he was seemingly consensually dropped within weeks of being drafted. It is time for him to be re-claimed.
 

Chad Henne has brought some stability to the Jags' offense, and he has targeted the former Oklahoma State product 19 times the last two games. Blackmon responded with 42 points over that span. He's worth a flex option any given week.
 

The final week of the regular season is about clinching one of the final seeds or getting the all-important first-round bye. Patching up holes on a potential championship roster can make the difference between a one-point playoff win or loss. Achieve the former by getting to the waiver wire for some last-second help.
 

Aaron Garland can be reached by email at garland.record@live.com.