I’m gonna start this buy/sell off saying I’m sorry to those who think Miller Lite is a good beer. I’m not here to tell you that you’re wrong – though you are…just saying that’s not why I’m here – I will say there’s been plenty of brewers over the last 20+ years who’ve come out and I strongly suggest you take a swig or two of some other brews out there. Heck, I’m not even gonna tell you I’m all about the microbrews. I like me some Blue Moon and I’ll drink a Corona. What I’m trying to tell you is that you and I aren’t so different from each other. I wake up and put my assless chaps on just like everyone else. The main difference is, when I’m done I go buy a local IPA most likely and you buy Molson Ice. Wait, what are we talking about? Oh yeah, Lamar Miller. I’ve been getting a lot of ‘should I sell this guy for a bag of doritos and signed photos of from Menudo’ questions lately and I want them to stop. NOW. So I’m making him my buy feature. Ok, that’s not the only reason of course. The kid’s been good or at the least ‘not as bad as people think he’s been’ good. The first real game Lamar’s been given a chance to be the man started week 4 against the Saints. Wanna know what he did? Well, 11/62/1 on the ground. Not overly excited? Keep in mind most of that happened in the first half before NOLA went for the jugular in the second half and put the Dolphins on pass-heavy alert for the remainder of the game. The next week against Baltimore was tough sledding – only 7 for 15 on the ground – but few have run the ball well against the Ravens defense so far this year. It seems that maybe expectations have clouded judgement concerning Lamar coming into the year. He still looks like a solid low end RB2/flex play most weeks but I think people think he’s their bench RB at this stage. I can’t promise sexy numbers but I think there are plenty of 80 yard games in his future with a touchdown here and there just waiting for him. Take advantage before the market on him goes dry…Bud Dry…yeah, I’m gonna stop talking about beer now. In other buy/sell news for 2013 Fantasy Football…
BUY
Robert Griffin, III – Wait, didn’t I tell you to sell him a couple of weeks ago? Hrm…yeah, I did. I think it was right after week 2 if I’m not mistaken. My main concerns went like this: a huge part of his value came from his legs and from how he was playing, it wasn’t clear if he was still needing rehab for the knee or he didn’t fully trust it. Well something or someone must’ve flipped the switch for him before week 6 as he went for 77 yards on 9 carries. That total doubled his rushing yards for the year up to 149. Though he’s still not 100% the kid we saw last year, he’s running again and could be a great buy at this point now if owners are just looking at the underlying meh statlines he’s been putting up since week 2.
Chris Johnson – Not gonna lie, this is a buy and pray suggestion. This is not the CJ of old at this point. I don’t even know if he’s the CJ of 2012. But what I do know is the schedule after San Fran looks pretty nice for running backs. I can’t make any promises he’ll perform up to what he should given those matchups. Heck, I can’t even promise the Titans will keep feeding him the ball when Greene comes back (seriously, how sad of a world would it be if Shonn takes over for you?). But I can point at the schedule and make a reasonable argument. And so it has been done.
James Jones – Cobb down for 6-8 weeks and Nelson can’t haul in all the extra targets. Consider this also a sorta/kinda buy call on Finley as well. They’re not gonna stop throwing the ball just because Randall isn’t there. Jones might become a very consistent high-end WR3 the until Cobb comes back and should probably go at a reasonable price to find out.
Justin Blackmon – Beast. One a team that will most likely play from behind every week. Who might’ve lost his sole competitor for targets in Shorts or who at the very least might be limited for a bit. And yet I still get the feeling no one trusts the breakout. Listen, it started half way last year and it never really stopped. I’m calling top 15 WR ROS here and think most owners believe they have a sell high on their hands. If you can talk their owners into a reasonable price, take it. Not all ‘buy lows’ look like buy lows at the time. I think he’s gonna have a prorated Garcon-like line by the end of the year meaning a nice balance of consistency mixed with upside but not many huge touchdown games.
Nick Foles – Someone picked him up to stream against whatever for the week. Heck, they might even throw him back if they’re not paying attention to the news that he might be the starter against Dallas. The Vick experiment might be winding to a close in Philly after last week’s performance by Nick. You know how good that offense is when it’s clicking. Foles could easily be a top 10 QB by volume alone from here on out if he keeps the job.
Sell
Terrance Williams – I really do love this kid but unless you realize what he really is – he’s what Chris Givens could be for 3 or 4 games in a row this year – you’re gonna have a hard time accepting that he’s the 3rd and sometimes 4th option for his own team. It’s not a question of his talent, mind you, but I’m not gonna battle the numbers: 8, 4, 2. That’s the target totals for him the last three weeks. His line for week 6 was saved by a touchdown because 2 receptions for 27 yards isn’t exactly inspiring. See if you can move him either as a sweetener or to a desperate owner looking for a WR3.
Rueben Randle – A dicey call here as if Nicks gets traded, this sell call is gonna look silly. But I’m also having a hard time believing they’re gonna be able to move Nicks. I think that ship has sailed at this point so I’m suggesting you take advantage of his current place as the 25th best WR in the yahoo game as a peak point. Ahem, I said ‘peak’ not ‘peek’. Get out of my bathroom! I wouldn’t be selling him for anything less than his current value but I’d rather get away from this Giants roller coaster if I can help it.
Matt Ryan – His season was already fairly flat by fantasy standards. Now with Julio out for the year, a banged up Roddy and a running back who apparently decided 30 is really the new 40, it’s shaping up to be a lost year for Ryan fans. Not to mention that o-line has not protected him well at all to date, I’m not seeing the upside in keeping Matty Ice around for the rest of the season. Someone wants to pay name brand price, do it.
