Don't Just Play, Win! Have you ever walked into your fantasy football draft unprepared? Carrying a In Case you are not familiar with my format, I will explain it…again.
There are 3 categories of free agents. The first is “Head Smackers”. This section talks about the players that are probably owned already but we list them anyway in case you are playing with a bunch of fools (and if you are playing in a league that had Chris Johnson undrafted..stick with us, you should win). The second is “Not So Obvious”. These are players that have a situational reason that they should have a productive week. Some will seem more obvious than others, for example, last season; we told you 3 weeks before anyone else that Ryan Torrain was a good pick up. We were correct too…until he suffered a season ending injury in his first game back, but not before he put up over a hundred yards and a TD! The last section is “Hail Marys”. This is the section where we play hunches. Last season we told you to pick up Darren Sproles in week 14 based on his stealing a couple of carries a week from LT. LT started playing less and less down the stretch and Sproles help a lot of people win fantasy playoff games.
QBs
Head Smackers:
Matt Ryan, Atlanta: Matty “ICE” was the breakout rookie star of last season. If you thought there was going to be a drop off or sophomore slump….think again. Matt has a new check down with a bunch of pro bowls on his resume in Tony Gonzalez and one of the best running game in the league to help him ease his burden.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle: Hasselbeck is bald and I don’t mean balding, I mean cue ball (I read that about him in a fantasy magazine once under “analysis” it still makes me laugh). Seriously though. He is healthy again and is in a throw first offense, he should be owned in all leagues.
Not So Obvious:
David Garrard, Jacksonville: Garrard was a fantasy sleeper a couple of years ago and then he fell asleep but he appears to be back in stride. He looked adequate against a decent Colts defense. Garrard is not going to put up 30 point fantasy games for you but he most likely will not put us 3 point fantasy games either.
Trent Edwards, Buffalo: He looks poised for a jump this year and he has a big time playmaker in T.O. If you need a solid Backup QB…he is it.
Hail Marys
A.J.Feeley, Carolina: Feeley signed Monday with the Panthers and with Jake Delhomme turning the ball over 12 times in his last 2 games, his days may be numbered as a starter. Carolina has one of the best receivers in the game and a spectacular running game. Feeley had some success in his previous stops and realistically, all he has to do is get the ball to Steve Smith to have fantasy relevance.
Running Backs
Head Smackers
Cedric Benson, Cincinnati: Benson, despite his moderate success last season, had a lot of people not believing he could hold it together as a starting running back in the NFL. However, it appears that getting cut by the bears taught him a much needed lesson and it appears that Ced-Ben is going to be a big part of the Bengal offense. It also doesn’t hurt that Carson Palmer is back force the safeties to play the passing game honest and not stack the box.
Not So Obvious
Fred Taylor, New England: Fragile Fred has been healthy for a number of seasons now and had apparently played himself into the starting job in New England. Taylor when healthy and being fed the rock is a fantasy force…He just scored a touchdown as I am writing this, I am so good.
Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay: If you had followed our “Ask the Experts” contributions on FantasyIndex.com you would have drafted Cadillac, we have been talking about him for months!!!!! But if not, he is now first on the DC and rushed for almost 100yds and a TD yesterday…I am just saying.
Hail Marys
Samkon Gado, St. Louis: The Rams are leaning heavily on Steven Jackson and with Jackon’s history of injuries, it is only a matter of time before he is out for a period of time. Add to that the fact the Gado looked ridiculous in the preseason and this guy has a chance to make an impact.
Chris Brown, Houston: Brown had success in a relief role for the Titans. He looks like he is heathy again and is getting a bigger role than expected with the Texans.
WRs
Head Smackers
Hines Ward, Pittsburgh: With the emergence on Santonio Holmes as the WR1 last season, people have kind of cooled on Hines Ward, but make no mistake Ward is still the go to guy in a pinch. Ward is a warrior too which means he will not miss games and he will be looked for in the red zone…. all good things.
Justin Gage, Tennessee: Gage had double digit “thrown tos” against the Steelers on Thursday. He appears to be the go to guy for the Titans
Devin Hester, Chicago: Jay Cutler may not have looked great on Sunday but he will get it together and Hester is his play maker.
Not So Obvious
Nate Burleson, Seattle: I know the this is the second Seahawk I have mentioned and I know they were playing the Rams, but Burleson was the man before TJ got there and he was very involved on Sunday too. Plus, the Seahawks throw a lot.
Steve Smith, New York Giants: Smith did not catch the TD on Sunday but he did catch 6 balls and looks like the primary target for the junior Manning. Unless someone really steps up this season, Smith should stay consistent.
Hail Marys
Laurent Robinson, St Louis: I know this sounds silly, but the Rams will score a few points this season once they buy into the Spagnola system. Robinson look strong on Sunday even if the Rams didn’t.
Chansi Stuckey, New York Jets: Stuckey started last season with a couple of TDs while playing with Brett Favre. On Sunday, he looked to have good Chemistry with a surprisingly poised Mark Sanchez.
