Don't Just Play, Win! Have you ever walked into your fantasy football draft unprepared? Carrying a This is only the second half of the first week and there has already been so many big moves i am bursting…I am literally bursting…hold on…flush….much better. Where was I, oh yeah free agent moves.
- QB
Chris Simms, Denver Broncos-On the surface this is just the Broncos signing a decent, young back up QB. But if you look closer there might be more to this. Jay Cutler, although very productive last year, has been making some noise about wanting out of Denver since rumors swirled about the Broncos tossing his name around in trades. Chris Simms has had some medical problems the last couple of seasons but has show some flashes of brilliance when he was on the field (and had a spleen) this might actually matter in the near future, keep an eye on this.~Doyadoya
This may have some relevance if Cutler was going anywhere. He’s not! You do not trade a talent like Cutler regardless of what he demands (see Cardinals/Anquan Boldin). At fines of $14000 a day it is just far too expensive for players to have any leverage against the ownership. This means nothing.~Pretzel
Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals- This is the most important free agent signing of the off season, for the Cardinals and for fantasy owners everywhere. Warner on the 49ers would have spelled doom for Warner’s owners, Fitzgerald’s owners and Kurt’s road to Canton.~Doyadoya
Okay, slow down. I don’t think anyone is rushing Warner into the Hall of Fame. That being said he was a fantasy stud last year and assuming he doesn’t need a walker on the field this year, it should mean another productive season for all the weapons around him. ~Pretzel
JT O’Sullivan, Cinncinati Bengals- This only has any bearing on your fantasy life is if Carson Palmer doesn’t recover well from surgery. Even if that is the case, this still will not matter unless your QB in on a bi-week and Seneca Wallace is not available.~Doyadoya
Since JT can only play in a Mike Martz run offense, look for better options if Palmer is not ready. I suggest the Bengals do the same. ~Pretzel
Damon Huard, San Francisco 49ers- Huard may actually start in San Fran but if he is your starting QB, you had better have some really good RBs and WRs.~Doyadoya
Huard couldn’t out play Brodie Croyle or Tyler Thigpen, don’t count on him taking the job from Shaun Hill. Again look for a better option.
WR
TJ Houshmandzadeh, Seattle Seahawks- This move actually helps several players. TJ now has a consistant QB to throw to him in a prolific, pass first offense (good for him). Matt Hasselbeck now has a healthy, trustworthy and wildly productive receiver to throw to in a prolific, pass first offense (good for him). This signing….good for you.
It seems as though every receiver turns to glass as soon as they sign a contract with the Seahawks. Look at Burleson, Branch, Engram, Jackson . . . I wouldn’t look for TJ to have a monster year. More likely he will have 2 or 3 monster games at the start of the year, just long enough for you to offer you entire team for him in a trade, and then go down with a season ending injury. ~Pretzel
Laveranues Coles, Cinncinati Bengals- Although Coles is not the same type of receiver Houshmanzadeh was, he actually might be a fantasy sleeper this year. Before falling out of favor with his 2 previous QBs Coles was one of the premier WRs in the league and with a change of scenery and a healthy Carson Palmer, he should emerge as a very adequate WR2.-Doyadoya
Premier what?!?!?!?!? Coles has only ever cracked 1200 yards twice in his career and the last one was 6 years ago and has never had more then 7 touchdowns. He has never been a premier WR in the NFL or any fantasy league. He should not be anything more then a very late round pick. ~Pretzel
RB
Correll Buckhalter/Lamont Jordan, Denver Broncos- I think the Broncos are carrying 15 RBs right now and with Shanahan’s magic RB formula gone…..I would not touch any of them.~DoyaDoya
I think the 15 RBs is probably correct and I definitely would not touch any of them but if you had the displeasure of owning any Broncos RBs the past 2 or 3 years you probably don’t have any hair left. The problem with the Shanahan magic is it did not matter who he had back there so he would just grab the 10000th fan to enter the stadium for every home game and put them back there. ~Pretzel
Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Ward was a pleasant surprise for the Giants and all of the waiver wire vultures last year. With a +5 ypc average he should challenge Ernest Graham for the starting role in what may end up a runningback by committee in Tampa. If the ghost of Cadillac past shows up this year, look for a definite RBBC. ~Doyadoya
This will definitely be a time share with Graham. Ward’s upside is he should get the 3rd down yardage, if there is any, unless they sign Warrick Dunn again, for the 8th time. Then you’re screwed. ~Pretzel
