I’ll never feel great about dropping a guy. You invested something in these dudes and you want to give them some time to prove that you aren’t an idiot. But sometimes you just have to suck it up and move on. So let’s move on and see who’s out there worth consideration:
Quarterbacks:
1. Cam Newton: If he is out there still he is a must add. He probably isn’t, but hey, there’s no harm in checking. Well, unless you get fired for looking at fake football at work and then there is harm.
2. Ryan Fitzpatrick: He’s looking like the real deal in Chan Gailey’s new rock em sock em offense. With a good running attack led by Fred Jackson, a good change of pace guy in Spiller, and and emerging receiving group, he should be able to continue putting up startable numbers with good matchups.
3. Matt Hasselbeck: He’s an injury risk no doubt, but got the job done against the Ravens last week and has some pretty nice offensive pieces to work with right now. He’s looking safer than some of the other QB fodder out there.
4. Rex Grossman: T-Rex is going to throw picks and drive you crazy, but he’s putting up the fantasy points. He’ll continue to be a matchup play, but is worth a backup spot.
5. Mike Kafka: We have a Harvard grad and a Northwestern grad on that list. I doubt that has happened all that often in fake football periodicals, if ever. The quarterback for the Eagles will always have value and if you own Vick you have to be a little worried, even if he returns from his concussion by next week.
6. Blaine Gabbert: This is for you crazy deep 2 QB leaguers. Sunshine has got the goods to play, but of course will go through growing pains. Amazingly Cam Newton and Andy Dalton have already showed they can play in this here league and Gabbert could be next. Luke McCown has looked God awful and Gabbert at least didn’t crap himself and curl up into the fetal position when called upon.
7. Jon Kitna: It’s being reported Tony Romo has a punctured lung. Most doctors recommend not flying with your internal breathing apparatus cut open, but right now it seems like he might still play. If you are a Romowner and have room, it might behoove you to grab Kitna.
Running Backs:
1. Daniel Thomas: It’s hard not to see Thomas as the lead back after Sunday’s game. All the talk of him tip toeing around and not running hard and Sparano not liking him all went out the window against Houston. He’s not going to blow the league away with his skills, but he was running tough and showed good vision on Sunday as the one cut and go type instead of the Reggie Bush type. He’s #1 on this list because he is the surest bet to be the go to guy for the season.
2. Ben Tate: He’s most likely owned, but I had a couple questions about picking him up, so I guess he’s out there in a few leagues. Kubiak said today that Tate would be the guy until Foster is fully healed. Of course he gave no timeline for that, but it looks like Tate will get the start next week in New Orleans. He’ll be a good start there for sure and who knows what will happen after that. He’s a must grab if he’s floating around out there.
3. Jonathan Stewart:Â (Same disclaimer as above) He amazingly caught 8 passes on Sunday which matched his numbers from last season! We really need to see the Panthers in a game where they don’t have to pass every down (which may not happen) before we know how Deangelo Williams and JStew will break down, but the fact that Stewart got 8 receptions makes it worth grabbing him even if you are in a very shallow league. I doubt the Panthers will have many leads and whoever is in on passing downs will have value.
4. Roy Helu: Helu is built perfectly for the Shanahan system, but his rookieness has held him back. Tim Hightower is more seasoned and a better pass blocker and that was very much needed by the Native Americans, but if Helu continues to learn the system and excel, it will be hard to keep him out of the game, like it was on Sunday.
5. Delone Carter: Adding guys in the best position to become the main running back is the way to run your bench and Carter is one of those guys. He took over whole possessions for Joe Addai last week and the more the Colts lose the more they’ll want to know what they have in Carter.
6. Dexter McCluster: It’s really hard to like any player on the Chiefs right now, but McCluster has the ability to do a lot of things and his upside can be generated by his ability, not how good his team is. He could possibly transcend his teams crappiness the way JC Superstar did. I do feel better about adding him in PPR than non, but he’s worth a look in both.
Wide Receivers:
1. Mike Thomas: If he’s dropped after his 3 reception 29 yard day, grab him before you would any of these guys. Blaine Gabbert targeted him a couple times when he took over for McCown and he’s still the #1 receiver there.
2. Denarius Moore: If he had Tom Brady throwing to him I’d give my first born to get him on my team, but he doesn’t. Right? Ok, so you have a crazy good receiver that, as long as they keep starting him and throwing him the ball, can easily be a starter on your fantasy team. He may have the most upside out of all these guys if they give him the targets he deserves.
3. Eric Decker: Eddie Royal is most likely out a few weeks and with Decker’s big game on Sunday we should see Decker continue to get opportunities. If Lloyd is out again he is a #1 option, but even as a #2 receiver he will be up there in PPR leagues and serviceable in non-PPR.
4. Mike Sims-Walker: MSW has 7 targets and we are just in the 2nd quarter of this Monday Night game. Could we have our #1 receiver in St. Louis? Hard to say, but a speculative add isn’t out of the question.
5. David Nelson: I’ve been trying to figure out who the true #2 receiver in Buffalo is and it looks like I’ve found my answer; one Dave Nelson. The guy is 6’5″, 217 pounds and is in an offense that spreads the ball out in the passing game. He’s a big target. I think he’ll continue to get work, but it could be a little spotty so don’t drop Andre Johnson for him just yet.
6. Brandon LaFell: The reason I like LaFell here is because I don’t like Legedu Naanee. LaFell is a better talent and should start to see more targets than him, and even if he doesn’t, he’s averaging 15 yards a reception, so you know Cam is looking for him down field. Add that to him being targeted in the red zone 3 times last week and Newton’s surprisingly great play and I think you’ve got to make a preemptive strike here.
7. Jerome Simpson: I’m not super high on Simpson, but he’s sure getting the job done so far. If the tremendous amount of targets keep heading his way, 9 in each game, then he can retain his value. I think AJ Green will start to dominate those targets, but with Jordan Shipley out for the season we may seen his numbers stay up there which would make for a decent add.
8. Titus Young: Young is young. That is probably what will hold him back for now. That and Nate Burleson. But he did have a nice game and he runs a 4.4 40 which goes well with Stafford’s grenade launcher arm. He’s going to be inconsistent, but he has a lot of raw talent.
Tight Ends:
1. Fred Davis: It’s often hard for tight ends to duplicate numbers from week to week and especially when you have another tight end out there cramping your style, but Davis has put back to back big games up and he’s getting the targets as well. That’s a must add.
2. Lance Kendricks: You can’t be too fickle with tight ends or you will be chasing points all over the place. Opportunity and ability should win out in the end. Lance has both and will eventually make good on both.
3. Ed Dickson: Ed is still going to lose some targets to Dennis Pitta, but seems to have a strong hold on the majority of the targets right now. I like the Ravens offense to get him regular red zone looks.
4. Jermaine Gresham: He had a down game after a good one week 1. Shizz happens. With Andy Dalton showing he can actually play, Gresham should benefit.
5. Brent Celek: Week 1 Celek had 3 targets, week 2 he had 7. I believe he will be used more this season, but we’ll have to see if this becomes a trend or if it’s just an aberration.
6. Evan Moore: All this guy does is score touchdowns. Of course he only had one target last game. If you are feeling risky he can be spot started to hope he snags a TD for you, but that’s about it right now.
