The This and That of Fantasy Football

Roster Moves to Think About

As the season is about to start, one thing you should be doing for roster management is to scan your list of free agents for starting quarterbacks. If you look at your roster, you can almost assuredly see a player that you wonder why you drafted. Pick up a starting quarterback especially if you only have two. The reason for this is that you may have an injury question mark/performance question mark guy on your team you are counting on like Carson Palmer, who is nursing an ankle injury now, after having a serious elbow problem last year. Even if you’re set at QB, injuries can strike. It happened last year to guys like Palmer, Brady, Hasselbeck, Romo, Schaub… You get the idea. Matt Cassel, for example, suffered a MCL injury in the preseason that is considered to be a two-to-four week injury.

Players that may be available to pick up in your league may range from Matthew Stafford (named the starting QB today by the Lions and does have the pleasure of throwing to Calvin Johnson), Chad Pennington (228.3 passing yards per game last season – not a misprint), Shaun Hill (227.3 passing yards per game last season  – also not a misprint), Jason Campbell (202.8 passing yards per game last season), and even Byron Leftwich. Also, don’t forget about who ends up starting in Cleveland, likely Brady Quinn. The main purpose for picking up an extra QB is for security for your starter. But, there are other benefits as well. Some fantasy owners don’t have proper QB protection on their roster, so if they suffer an injury, they will have to scramble to the free agent or waiver wire to pick up a QB. It’s a great feeling if a guy you’re playing has to go to the wire and there’s not a quality option available. An extra QB could be trade bait as well in an active league. Another thing to think about is if your QB is struggling or playing the Ravens, you now have another option.

Scanning Free Agent/Waiver Wires

Correll Buckhalter – As of right now, Buckhalter is the starter in Denver. If he is available, pick him up now before he has a good game and then everyone is trying to. Buckhalter has had numerous knee injuries but runs hard, has a 4.5 yards per carry career average and can catch the ball out of the backfield.

Sammy Morris – The Patriots’ backfield is crowded with Morris, Fred Taylor, Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Out of this entire bunch, Morris is the likely bet to get goal-line carries. Freddie T has never been a big TD scorer. Last season, Morris scored seven TDs, rushed for 727 yards and is a favorite of the coaching staff.

Brandon Jackson – Most people probably don’t know that Brandon Jackson is Ryan Grant’s backup. If have Ryan Grant, you better know. Jackson did a commendable job last season rushing 45 times at a 5.5 yard per carry clip and catching 30 passes out of the backfield. I saw plenty of fantasy owners in my drafts handcuff Ahmad Bradshaw to Brandon Jacobs or Jerious Norwood to Michael Turner. But, I did not see many handcuff Jackson to Grant.

Ladell Betts – Another handcuff that you must have if you are counting on Clinton Portis. In 2006, Betts rushed for 1,154 yards and had 445 receiving yards. In Portis’ final five games last year, he only rushed for 281 yards. He is now 28 and has logged a lot of carries for a little dude – 5-11 and 221 pounds. I don’t think Portis is 5-11 or 221 pounds.

Sleepers

Peyton Hillis – With Buckhalter’s unfortunate injury history and rookie Knowshon Moreno nursing a knee injury, don’t be surprised at some point to see Hillis playing a lot. Hillis can also play fullback, can catch the ball and scored six TDs in limited duty last season to go along with averaging five yards a carry.

Michael Bush – Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden have shown a penchant for injury. Michael Bush has talent. Check out week 17 last season when he rushed for 177 yards and two TDs at Tampa Bay. I know it was the last week of the regular season, but you can’t be a buster and do that.

Bryant Johnson – He is the starter opposite Calvin Johnson in Detroit. I think 700-800 yards and 5-6 scores are very realistic for him, which wouldn’t make him a bad bye-week replacement if you don’t have WR depth.

Email questions to pechacek2@comcast.net