11/2/06
If you’re in a fantasy football league that has owners that
live in the past rather than the future, you’re in luck.
You can pull off lopsided trades in your favor without them even
knowing it. In fact, they may even think they’re ripping you
off.
Last season, trading Buffalo running back Willis McGahee for Miami
wide receiver Chris Chambers at midseason would have raised some
eyebrows from many fantasy owners. McGahee was rolling with four
100-yard rushing games while Chambers was still searching for his
first 100-yard game.
However, after McGahee scored just one second-half touchdown and
had no 100-yard games until Week 17 and Chambers posted the best
second half of any receiver with eight touchdowns, that fantasy
owner would’ve looked like a genius with that trade. A savvy
fantasy owner would’ve realized McGahee had a brutal second-half
schedule and would’ve got not only Chambers but also another
player in the deal.
Here’s a list of second-half studs and duds that can help
you pull off your own trading heist.
Studs
Fred Taylor, RB, Jacksonville:
If “Fragile Freddy” can stay upright, he’ll have
a huge second half. The Jaguars have the easiest schedule through
Week 16 (when most fantasy leagues end) against the run. Jacksonville’s
remaining opponents are allowing an average of 127.2 yards and almost
one touchdown (0.9) per game, both league highs. The Jaguars face
Tennessee (31st-ranked run defense) twice and Indianapolis (last-ranked),
Houston (26th) and Buffalo (18th) once.
Others: Jon Kitna, QB, Detroit;
Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans; Donald Driver, WR, Green Bay; Reggie
Brown, WR, Philadelphia; Julius Jones, RB, Dallas; Jamal Lewis,
RB, Baltimore; McGahee, RB, Buffalo.
Sleepers: Alex Smith, QB, San
Francisco; Wali Lundy, RB, Houston; Michael Jenkins, WR, Atlanta.
Duds
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh:
The Super Bowl quarterback has had plenty of bumps in his road
this season. More bumps still are ahead. The Steelers face pass
defenses giving up an average of 196.6 yards per game -- fourth
toughest in the NFL -- and the 67 passing touchdowns allowed in
57 games by opponents is tied for the fewest of any team. With
Pittsburgh 2-5, there also is a possibility that if the Steelers
fall out of the playoff picture, Roethlisberger could get benched
to prevent any further injuries.
Others: Trent Green, QB, Kansas
City; David Carr, QB, Houston; Chambers, WR, Miami; Santana Moss,
WR, Washington; Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami; Leon Washington, RB,
N.Y. Jets; Edgerrin James, RB, Arizona; Warrick Dunn, RB, Atlanta;
Tatum Bell, RB, Denver.
Hot Read
Michael Vick, QB, Atlanta: Three
weeks ago the Falcon never had thrown more than two touchdown
passes in a game. Fast forward to today and he’s done it
the past two weeks, throwing four two weeks ago and three last
week. Vick appears finally to be comfortable in the West Coast
offense and has found a way to use his sick running abilities
to set up the pass. Until he shows signs of slowing down, he’s
a must start every week.
Broken Play(er)
Reggie Bush, RB, New Orleans:
Owners who drafted the former Heisman Trophy winner early in non-keeper
league drafts are wishing they didn’t get caught up in the
hype surrounding the rookie. Bush has yet to score a rushing or
receiving touchdown and hasn’t recorded more than 86 total
yards since Week 1. Bush (42 receptions) has decent value in point-per-reception
leagues, but otherwise should only be used as a No. 3 running
back at best.
Off The Bench
Patriots’ running backs:
New England coach Bill Belichick comes up with a different game
plan every week that focuses on attacking his opponents’
weakness. This week, he’ll lean on running backs Corey Dillon
and Laurence Maroney against Indianapolis’ last-ranked rushing
defense that has allowed 167.9 yards per game this season.
Safe Bet
Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo: Are
you licking your chops because the Bill is facing Green Bay’s
last-ranked passing defense? Stop licking. Despite the Packers
giving up 270.3 yards per game through the air, opposing teams’
top receivers have struggled recently to put up numbers against
the Packers. Green Bay shutdown cornerback Al Harris has held
Arizona’s Anquan Boldin (four catches, 47 yards), Miami’s
Chris Chambers (two, 29) and St. Louis’ Torry Holt (three,
40, one TD) in check. Evans won’t be able to break that
trend at home this week.
Extra Point
This week is the last of the bye weeks. That means it’s
time to start trading away your depth to improve your starting
lineup, especially if you’re not leading your league and
are trying to climb up your league’s standings. Trade a
quality bench player and a starter for a player that’s better
than that starter and, wah-lah, you have improved your starting
lineup.
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