Let me start this segment with apologies to all Baltimore Ravens fans. They were looking like possible contenders this year in terms a Super Bowl run with a high octane offense and a decent enough defense with Suggs around the corner to shore things up. Well, things just got dire. With both Ray Lewis and Ladarius Webb going down with season-enders on Sunday, the defense is going to struggle from here on out. Considering they weren’t very intimidating coming into the game versus the Cowboys to date is already telling. With all that reality out of the way, let’s get to the fantasy spin. Joe Flacco was already having a strong season as he’s on pace for 4500 yards passing. The touchdown passes aren’t there yet with only 8 on the season but that hurry up offense now needs to kick it into a higher gear. If you’ve ever watched the Saints offense, you’ll get what I’m saying. It won’t matter if Baltimore is up two touchdowns, they’re going to need to keep pumping it into the redzone to stay ahead the rest of the way and that means increased opportunities for Flacco and crew. So rather than giving a buncha buys, just realize guys like Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith get a bump with news like this. Don’t believe me? Just ask Andy Dalton owners how much they like Cincy giving up 61 points to the Browns in two games. Not that QB isn’t deep this year but this might be a big push for Flacco to be a top 7 QB going forward. No I’m not calling that, I’m just saying if he’s already ranked 10th among QBs according to yahoo and has a clean shot at 20+ TD passes from here on out, he’s gonna start creeping up. In other buy/sell ideas for fantasy football…
Buy
Guys On Bye – It’s the perfect combination of desparation and opportunity melding together. Yeah, broad stroke I know. But we all know we’re 6 weeks into the season. Go take a look at that 2-4 team with a million players on bye and see if you can wrestle someone away you wouldn’t normally get unless the owner were a n00b. Heck, maybe they are a n00b. Either way, it’s always good to say hello to bye buys.
Mikel LeShoure – Don’t really like calling him a buy namely because I don’t think he’s that impressive but facts are facts. Jahvid Best is looking less and less like a threat while Detroit has all but assigned Kevin Smith to the practice squad. Joquie Bell will get his touches here and there but LeShoure seems to have a full handle on the brunt of carries. His touches stay where they’re at ROS, he’s a solid RB2 play from here on out. For what it’s worth, I just typed that with a look on my face that said an SBD just wafted my way.
Kendall Wright – Alright, here are some numbers: 11, 8, 11, 8. Do you see the pattern? What number comes next if this were to go to infinity? Sorry, forgot this wasn’t math class. Those are the target numbers weeks 3 thru 6 for Wright. Tennessee is going to be playing from behind most of the season so don’t be worried about the other WRs on the team. Wright could be a sneaky WR3 rest of the way and probably wouldn’t cost much in a trade. Go check in before the stock rises.
Sell
Fred Jackson – I alluded to this a bit on Monday. C.J. Spiller has been the more impressive back between the two. Fred just scored a touchdown and had a healthy amount of touches. Try and play him up a bit to the Spiller owner as being a hedge (that they don’t really need) or straight up as a solid RB2 (which he no longer is). I worry the touches will slide more to Spiller from here on out. I also worry about worrying to much, though, so there’s that.
Shonn Greene – To sum up this sell, I’ll use one word: obligatory. There, I’m done…next!
James Jones – Doing his best Chris Carter impersonation. No, not that Chris Carter. No, not that one either. Do you even know what sport we’re talking about? But I digress, Jones is on pace for nearly 19 touchdowns this season with 2 TDs a week since week 4 which is making his so-so rec/yards over that span – 12 receptions for 135 yards – palatable. Now I do believe he’ll hold some value over the course of the season with Finley dropping everything that comes near him and Jennings having injury issues but he’s not going to stay the 34th ranked player in yahoo ROS or my name isn’t Tits McGee. Wait, it’s not…stupid teleprompter! But I digress, his value couldn’t get any higher right now and it’s bye week everywhere.
