Here is a mix of interesting questions I received from fantasy players
this past week, and the response provided. If you have a question
for the HTH Mailbag, just drop
me an email.
Note that not all questions will be answered because it just isn't
possible to respond to them all. Also there are no certainties in
fantasy football. The responses represent one opinion to consider
in your final decision managing your fantasy team. Overall, I just
Hope This Helps...
Hey Mike,
With the trading deadline in my league approaching I was
trying to make last minute improvements. My team is pretty well-rounded
but one place where I would like to improve is TE. I have Marcus
Pollard, who is ok, but I was looking to upgrade. My WRs are:
Moss, Mason, Moulds, Wayne, Stallworth, and Lloyd. I feel that
I may be able to lose one.
Do you think that it would be wise to upgrade my TE position
- possibly if it means trading Mason or Moulds to get one. If
so, what kind of TE do you think that I could get in return.
I know this may be difficult because it is somewhat dependant
on the strengths and weaknesses of the other teams. Do you think
that I should just sit tight?
Thanks, Dan
Hi Dan. Excellent question. You haven't mentioned how many WR you
start each week so I will assume a fairly standard 3, in which case
you have some nice depth at WR to the point it has to be tough picking
the starters each week. Moss (Randy, right?) is a no brainer, then
probably Mason and Moulds but Wayne has been very good (hopefully
the "polite" shove towards Manning doesn't hurt him) and
Lloyd is coming on. Stallworth should be doing better then he is
if not for too many dropped passes.
Pollard is tough to get excited about because there is so much
sharing the ball with all the receivers in Indy. Heck, Pollard
even has to share at the TE position much less the top 3 WR and
Edge. If you can get a quality TE who you can rely on more each
week for the cost of one of these receivers, then yes, I would
try to make a trade. The question is what TE to target. Here are
the ones residing at the top of the stats chart that I like above
Pollard:
Antonio Gates
Eric Johnson
Randy McMichael
Daniel Graham
Alge Crumpler
Tony Gonzalez
Jason Witten
Jeremy Shockey
Jermaine Wiggins
With 9 on this list, there is a good chance at least one team
in your league is holding a pair of them. It would be a good start
to target that team for a deal. Note there are some other TE I
would pick and start regularly above Pollard, like Jeremy Stevens
and L.J. Smith, but I wouldn't go out of my way to acquire them
via trade because they really haven't proven to be any more reliable
then Pollard to this point. They should be part of a smaller deal.
If we're going to trade one of your quality receivers, lets focus
on the top 9.
Gates, Gonzalez and possibly Johnson and Graham owners will probably
be the most reluctant to trade their guys even for a Mason or
Moulds receiver. Both receivers have some spots right now each
playing in dismal offenses led by poor QB play. It is worth a
shot though as you might catch someone in the argument, "hey,
it's only a TE which is (historically) a poor value position."
Based on my perceived cost-benefit of acquiring each of these
top four guys, I would rank and target them Gates, Graham, Johnson
and then Gonzo. You know the Gonzo owner paid much more then the
other owners did so he might still command the highest price even
though Gonzo is getting out fantasy-scored by the other 3 through
7 weeks. Mason or Moulds + Pollard for one of these guys - possibly
a bit light but worth trying.
Of the remaining group, I like Shockey and he would probably
be my top choice to target with highest expectations of getting
a deal done at a reasonable cost. He started the season active
but below expectations, was solid weeks 4 and 5, had an off week
and then did little last week. Overall, pretty average. But, Shockey
was not happy with his role in the offense early on as Tom Coughlin
was using him more as a blocker. Coughlin has backed off that
a bit and the two short TD catches show that.
Health will always be a concern with Shockey (same with Eric
Johnson) but assuming he can stay out of the infirmary he could
easily perform on pace with the top 4.
For the remaining guys, it is worth noting I posted an open invitation
to one of my leagues to trade Randy McMichael and no offers have
come back to me. He is another good one to target because he is
performing great but on a bad team that fantasy owners really
don't want much to do with. Someone has to catch the ball though,
right?
What about Jermaine Wiggins? He is a guy who you shouldn't have
to give up Mason or Moulds for, but could be a pretty good option
for you. I've watched Culpepper a fair bit this season and he
does check down to the TE regularly while Moss and company are
stretching the field. Wiggins is also getting targets in the red
zone. The way Stallworth is playing (frustrating is an understatement),
and considering your other options at WR, I might just do a Stallworth
for Wiggins deal. Or, Wiggins is a nice guy to grab as part of
a package deal. Worse RB + Mason or Moulds for Better RB + Wiggins
is something to think about.
The only guys I haven't mentioned are Crumpler and Witten. Two
more good options but I've never been that excited with Crumpler
due to Vick's passing. Perhaps if I watched more Atlanta games
I'd have a stronger opinion on him.
Witten had a great game last week so it might not be the easiest/best
time to trade for him. This is another guy I haven't seen play
enough. I would worry about inconsistency as a second year player
but looking at the stat line he has been pretty active in catches,
just low yardage in all but 2 games. This is likely due to the
max protect the Cowboys use to keep Vinny standing upright. Now
with Glenn and Morgan hurting, it could open up more opportunity
for Witten. Might as well ask what the owner is looking in return
for him, but I've already given you lots of other options, right?
Call this the year of the TE. Now, get to work!
Mike,
I wanted to ask you a couple of questions. First, What do
you think will be the result of the RB situation in Minnesota.
Do you think that the featured back will get enough touches
to warrant starting and keep me competitive or do you think
that a RB by committee could emerge, diminishing the value of
all?
Second, I am currently looking for a backup QB. I have Vinny
Testaverde. The only QBs in my league that are available that
start are Carson Palmer and Mark Brunell. Should I drop Vinny
and pick one up or just stick with him?
Thanks, Tim
Hi Tim. What I think right now is Mewelde Moore is playing so
well they can't possibly pull him from the starter position. And
from what I've seen of him, I think he will continue to perform
the way he has and not give an opportunity to relinquish the job
over to Onterrio Smith on his return from suspension. Now, Moore
hasn't found the end zone yet and it appears he won't unless he
breaks one from 15+ yards out. In close it will be Onterrio Smith
and Moe Williams territory. I really don't think Michael Bennett
is in the team's future plans as he is being moved to return kicks.
Overall, I think Moore will get enough touches and perform well
enough in that offense to keep you more then competitive. It is
a bit riskier then some other situations because of the quality
of other backs behind him, but for now I'm very comfortable with
Moore as a number 2 fantasy RB.
I tried to pull some data together on the history of Minnesota
RBs to give us a better answer, but it really didn't tell me much
other then there hasn't been a lot of sharing in the Vikings backfield
since 2002. Well, on the other hand maybe that is what we want
to hear. Whoever the starter is gets the bulk of the load come
game day, and as the table shows, the top RB in Minny has been
a prosperous fantasy position to bank on.
MIN Starters Get The Bulk
Of The Work
Season
Wk
Name
Starter
Inj
Att
Yds
TDs
Rec
Rec Yds
Rec TDs
FF Pts
2002
1
M. Bennett
Y
16
53
0
0
0
0
5.3
2002
1
M. Williams
7
48
0
1
-4
0
5.4
2002
2
M. Bennett
Y
P
10
45
0
0
0
0
4.5
2002
2
M. Williams
17
102
1
0
0
0
16.2
2002
3
M. Bennett
Y
9
23
1
3
33
0
14.6
2002
3
M. Williams
4
16
0
4
66
0
12.2
2002
4
M. Bennett
Y
P
15
91
0
4
44
0
17.5
2002
4
M. Williams
6
19
2
7
77
0
28.6
2002
6
M. Bennett
Y
16
68
0
4
70
1
23.8
2002
6
M. Williams
2
4
1
2
18
0
10.2
2002
7
M. Bennett
Y
12
56
0
0
0
0
5.6
2002
7
M. Williams
5
16
1
4
30
0
14.6
2002
8
M. Bennett
Y
29
106
0
6
30
0
19.6
2002
8
M. Williams
6
9
1
1
13
0
9.2
2002
9
M. Bennett
Y
10
114
1
3
27
0
23.1
2002
9
M. Williams
7
43
2
6
30
0
25.3
2002
10
M. Bennett
Y
15
167
1
2
9
0
25.6
2002
10
M. Williams
2
2
1
1
10
0
8.2
2002
11
M. Bennett
Y
20
130
0
1
9
0
14.9
2002
11
M. Williams
6
29
1
0
0
0
8.9
2002
12
M. Bennett
Y
14
55
0
1
8
0
7.3
2002
12
M. Williams
P
6
39
0
1
11
0
6
2002
13
M. Bennett
Y
P
18
86
1
2
6
0
17.2
2002
13
M. Williams
5
3
0
0
0
0
0.3
2002
14
M. Bennett
Y
19
120
0
3
8
0
15.8
2002
14
M. Williams
D
2
45
0
0
0
0
4.5
2002
15
M. Bennett
Y
15
46
0
3
61
0
13.7
2002
15
M. Williams
Q
1
2
0
1
6
0
1.8
2002
16
M. Bennett
Y
18
54
0
2
15
0
8.9
2002
16
M. Williams
P
2
2
1
0
0
0
6.2
2002
17
M. Bennett
Y
19
82
1
3
31
0
20.3
2002
17
M. Williams
6
35
0
0
0
0
3.5
2003
1
M. Williams
Y
22
80
0
0
0
0
8
2003
1
O. Smith
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2003
2
M. Williams
Y
21
108
1
4
50
0
25.8
2003
2
O. Smith
9
47
0
1
9
0
6.6
2003
3
M. Williams
Y
13
95
0
6
54
0
20.9
2003
3
O. Smith
2
3
0
1
6
0
1.9
2003
4
M. Williams
Y
13
43
0
2
16
0
7.9
2003
4
O. Smith
10
43
1
1
1
0
11.4
2003
5
O. Smith
Y
13
63
0
2
23
0
12.6
2003
5
M. Williams
11
71
2
2
15
0
22.6
2003
7
M. Williams
Y
14
42
0
4
50
1
19.2
2003
7
O. Smith
5
29
1
0
0
0
8.9
2003
8
O. Smith
Y
11
32
0
1
17
0
5.9
2003
8
M. Williams
11
69
0
2
19
0
10.8
2003
9
M. Williams
Y
12
63
0
4
26
0
12.9
2003
9
M. Bennett
Y
8
43
0
3
15
0
8.8
2003
9
O. Smith
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2003
10
M. Williams
Y
12
45
0
11
126
2
40.1
2003
10
M. Bennett
5
23
0
2
22
0
6.5
2003
10
O. Smith
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2003
11
M. Bennett
Y
5
13
0
2
59
0
9.2
2003
11
M. Williams
10
39
0
6
80
0
17.9
2003
11
O. Smith
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2003
12
M. Bennett
Y
15
73
1
0
0
0
13.3
2003
12
M. Williams
5
14
0
6
56
0
13
2003
12
O. Smith
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2003
13
M. Bennett
Y
14
98
0
3
24
0
15.2
2003
13
M. Williams
6
2
1
7
35
0
16.7
2003
13
O. Smith
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2003
14
M. Bennett
Y
25
103
0
2
12
0
13.5
2003
14
M. Williams
8
28
0
3
29
0
8.7
2003
14
O. Smith
4
40
0
0
0
0
4
2003
15
O. Smith
Y
27
148
0
2
10
0
17.8
2003
15
M. Williams
P
4
0
0
4
55
0
9.5
2003
15
M. Bennett
P
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2003
16
M. Bennett
Y
P
6
31
0
0
0
0
3.1
2003
16
O. Smith
P
21
146
3
4
37
0
40.3
2003
16
M. Williams
P
5
34
0
2
18
0
7.2
2003
17
M. Bennett
Y
P
12
63
0
0
0
0
6.3
2003
17
M. Williams
7
12
1
2
15
0
10.7
2003
17
O. Smith
5
28
0
3
26
0
8.4
2004
1
M. Williams
Y
6
27
0
1
8
0
4.5
2004
1
O. Smith
15
76
0
1
63
1
20.9
2004
1
M. Moore
1
8
0
1
8
0
2.6
2004
1
M. Bennett
O
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2004
2
O. Smith
Y
10
28
0
8
56
0
16.4
2004
2
M. Moore
0
0
0
1
6
0
1.6
2004
2
M. Williams
Q
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2004
2
M. Bennett
O
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2004
3
O. Smith
Y
17
94
0
6
104
0
25.8
2004
3
M. Moore
P
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2004
3
M. Williams
Q
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2004
3
M. Bennett
Q
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2004
5
M. Moore
Y
20
92
0
12
90
0
30.2
2004
5
M. Williams
Q
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2004
5
M. Bennett
O
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2004
6
M. Moore
Y
15
109
0
7
78
0
25.7
2004
6
M. Williams
P
6
66
0
1
13
0
8.9
2004
6
M. Bennett
O
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2004
7
M. Moore
Y
20
138
0
5
30
0
21.8
2004
7
M. Williams
P
3
10
1
1
1
0
8.1
2004
7
M. Bennett
Q
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
At QB, I would stick with Testaverde for now but watch close
how he and Palmer each perform this week, particularly Testaverde
without his #2 and #3 receivers. I'd like to see more from Palmer
then just the one decent game he had last week thanks to Champ
Bailey tripping over himself. Brunell is not an option at all
in my mind.
