10/12/06
The tryouts are over. Five weeks of the NFL season are in the books,
and it's time to evaluate where your team is.
Fantasy owners that hang on to players that aren't living up to
preseason expectations too long likely will be closer to their league's
basement than their league title.
Leading the list of players that have disappointed are tight ends.
Only one tight end (Todd Heap) has three touchdowns and none have
300 yards. Since so many are struggling and putting almost all fantasy
owners on the same level, if you own a tight end that traditionally
has been strong, hang on to him and just hope he rebounds.
Here's a look at some players -- not including kickers (which never
should be considered a disappointment, since they are so inconsistent
from year to year) -- that are frustrating their owners and whether
you should panic if you own those players.
Don't Panic
QB Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle: The
quarterback has just 854 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions
in four games. The veteran's numbers should turn around as the Seahawks
play San Francisco twice, St. Louis twice and Green Bay and Arizona
once each. Also, Hasselbeck will get a lift when MVP running back
Shaun Alexander returns from an ankle injury and former wide receiver
Deion Branch gets comfortable in the offense.
Others: Quarterback -- Carson
Palmer, CIN; Running Backs -- LaMont Jordan, OAK; Carnell Williams,
TB; Wide Receivers -- Chad Johnson, CIN; Randy Moss, OAK; Tight
Ends -- Antonio Gates, SD; Jeremy Shockey, NYG; Alge Crumpler, ATL.
Panic
WR Terrell Owens, Dallas: Not
only is he a bad player to own in real life, he's also poison to
fantasy teams. The loudmouth receiver has started to badmouth his
quarterback and his coaches, he's dropping passes, and his future
starting quarterback is in question. Trade Owens and hope to get
a quality player back based on his name power, or if you keep him,
limit your expectations.
Others: Quarterbacks -- Drew Bledsoe,
DAL; Daunte Culpepper, MIA; Ben Roethlisberger, PIT; Jake Plummer,
DEN; Running Backs -- Chris Brown, TEN; Reuben Droughns, CLE; Wide
Receivers -- Chris Chambers, MIA; Hines Ward, PIT.
Hot Read
WR Bernard Berrian, Chicago:
The wide receiver that went undrafted in most fantasy drafts ranks
third in the NFL with 413 receiving yards, and his four touchdowns
is tied for the league lead. As long as Bears quarterback Rex
Grossman can stay healthy, the speedy third-year pro should remain
a productive fantasy receiver.
Broken Play(er)
WR Troy Williamson, Minnesota:
After starting the season with two solid games, the wide receiver
has just eight catches for 77 yards and no touchdowns the last
three weeks. Despite the second-year pro’s poor play in
recent weeks, owners should check the waiver wire to see if he’s
available. After the Vikings’ bye week this week, Minnesota
takes on just two teams with pass defenses ranked higher than
19th and five teams with pass defenses ranked 25th or lower.
Off The Bench
QB Philip Rivers, San Diego:
The quarterback finally was given a chance to show what he can
do in last week’s 23-13 victory over Pittsburgh. He completed
24 of 37 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Look for Rivers
to get plenty of chances to throw against San Francisco, which
has the 25th ranked pass defense (224 yards per game) and has
allowed the second-most passing TDs (10).
Safe Bet
RB Tatum Bell, Denver: The running
back will be one of the elite fantasy players in the next three
weeks. The Broncos face Oakland (29th ranked rush defense), Cleveland
(26th) and Indianapolis (31st). Owners would be smart to deal
a similar-talent running back for Bell to reap the rewards in
the coming weeks and then trade him once his schedule gets more
difficult.
Extra Point
Indianapolis wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne caught
their first touchdowns of the season last week against Tennessee.
Their total makes up just ¼ of quarterback Peyton Manning’s
season total of eight. Also, their two TDs is the same number
of rushing touchdowns Manning has recorded. Anybody that predicted
either of those facts should go buy a lotto ticket and pick their
own numbers.
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