With the NFL fantasy league playoffs right around the corner, and a ton of injuries wreaking havoc for most owners, there aren’t many top options available on the waiver wire to bring in this late. However, while injuries have really hurt the value of some players, they have also opened the door for a couple of key players to have the chance to perform, and they may be worth taking a look at down the sports betting stretch.

No position has been hit harder late this season than at quarterback, where numerous injuries have hit key fantasy players around the NFL. Just one week after the Houston Texans lost Matt Schaub and the Kansas City Chiefs lost Matt Cassel, the Chicago Bears were rocked by the loss of Jay Cutler, who could miss the remainder of the regular season with a broken thumb. While Caleb Hanie and Tyler Palko may not represent top fantasy options, Matt Leinart could be a useful option for the Texans as they look to clinch their first playoff spot in franchise history. Leinart didn’t last long with the Arizona Cardinals in his first stint as a starting quarterback, but he does have a lot of the tools to succeed, and he has had a couple of years to familiarize himself with the playbook in Houston. The Texans have the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers on their schedule for the next few pay head weeks, and none of those opponents offer top defenses. In those leagues where Tebow is still available it’s hard to argue about his production these past few weeks, while Hanie could be a decent operation for desperate owners in deeper leagues.

With the NFL fantasy football league playoffs right around the corner, now is the time for the contenders to separate themselves from the pretenders and lock up one of the few postseason positions available in their respective league. While the core of your team should be decided at this point, there is always potential to pick up one or two key free agents that are available. Heading in to week 10 of the NFL season, the two names that stand out both reside in the NFC East, in Roy Helu of the Washington Redskins and Laurent Robinson of the Dallas Cowboys.

If you need to fill a pay head hole at the receiver position, then Robinson is an excellent option as he looks to occupy the void opened by an injury to starting wide receiver Miles Austin. Austin has already been ruled out for this week’s game against the Buffalo Bills, and with Dez Bryant demanding attention on the opposite side, Robinson should get his share of looks. For those looking for a running back to fill a spot, then you won’t have to go far to find Roy Helu still available in most leagues. Helu will handle the bulk of the carries for this week’s sports betting contest against the Miami Dolphins, and considering the numbers that team’s have put up against them this season, he should be in for a big fantasy week as both a rushing and receiving option.

Heading in to week eight of the NFL fantasy football season, there really isn’t much doubt about the top players that are still eligible to be picked up in most leagues and where they could fit in on a team that is in need. With the majority of the regular seasons in fantasy leagues already winding down, and injuries and bye weeks having their effect, there are still a couple of key names that are out there just waiting to contribute to your team.

The sports betting action begins in Dallas, where the Cowboys may have uncovered a gem in running back DeMarco Murray, who rushed for 253 yards and a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams last week. Murray will again be the featured back in the offense ahead of Felix Jones against the Philadelphia Eagles, and how well he performs could go a long way in determining his fantasy value for the remainder of the season. For those of you looking for a wide receiver, it might be a good idea to scoop up San Francisco 49ers’ Ted Ginn Jr. off the waiver wire. Ginn looked dominant returning kicks in the win over the Detroit Lions, and his speed could give him a more prominent role in the offense as the season progresses. Those in need at the quarterback spot have a couple of different options, including Denver Broncos’ quarterback Tim Tebow and Washington Redskins’ quarterback John Beck. The Redskins will travel north of the border this weekend to take on the Buffalo Bills, while Tebow and the Broncos will look to challenge a Detroit Lions’ defense that has struggled in recent pay head weeks in his first home start of the NFL season.

The biggest problem with NFL fantasy football isn’t the availability of stars on a given team, but rather the sports betting ability to find the right matchup going head-to-head. While running back Adrian Peterson could break out with a massive performance in any given week, he could still have his bad days when the Minnesota Vikings are simply outmatched. Heading in to week six of the NFL regular season there are a couple of pickups that could provide a team with a spark, and it begins with Minnesota.

After struggling through the first four pay head weeks of the season, the Vikings came alive against the Arizona Cardinals, with Peterson sparking the offense in a major way. Peterson will be the focus of the Chicago Bears this week, and that leaves Donovan McNabb as an option to have a big game as a fantasy pickup. McNabb will be in the spotlight on NFL Sunday Night Football, and as long as Peterson is taking most of the defense’s attention he should be able to thrive. Another option to consider could be Curtis Painter of the Indianapolis Colts, as they travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals. Painter has steadily improved in each week since being names the starter, and last week against the Kansas City Chiefs he threw for over 200 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over. The pickings will be slim at this point in the season, but for those desperate to add someone both McNabb and Painter should be available.