Fantasy Football start and sit: Contemplating Trade and time to pick up Roy Helu
By Editorial Staff
My Fantasy Preparations Record 5-2
Opponent
Buaidh no Bas
Record 5-2
Transactions:
Okay I lost last week thanks to multiple bye weeks, Marshawn Lynch’s mysterious back injury, Darren McFadden’s injury, as well as my horrible pickup and article about Doug Baldwin. He faced my wrathas I immediately cut him off a zero point week. In his place I picked up a RB that could help us all if his own HC would play him….Roy Helu. With Hightower out for possible the season, this 4th Round Nebraska product could be in line for some big games….if not than it was no big deal. I am also contemplating a trade offered to me. A league member offered me Mendenhall for Steve Johnson. In a PPR league Mendenhall is not a beast, but getting a third starting RB would be huge for depth…it also adheres to the philosophy of buying low. I would hate to lose WR talent and depth…stay tuned.
Starters
Matthew Stafford is not the same Stafford that started the season. His body language and unsteady feet suggest that the week to week pounding is getting to him. That being said, I am still sticking with him versus the Broncos over Flacco. Stafford has been practicing this week and with the first team so his injury does not appear significant. The Broncos are giving up the most fantasy points to QB’s so this is a must start.
Ray Rice and Darren McFadden are the backbone of my team. Though they have had some quiet games lately I am still high on both. Unfortunately McFadden has a bye and with his injury maybe it was a good time to get hurt. Ray Rice plays the Cardinals and I believe the Ravens will give him additional carries to make up for last weeks debacle. Cardinals are giving up the 8th most points and in lieu of this possible blowout Rice might see more work than usual.
In place of McFadden I have to pick from Marshawn Lynch, Ben Tate, Steven Ridley, and Roy Helu. Not a great selection. This year has been a plague on RB depth. Ridley is out playing the Steelers so I am eliminating him. Lynch’s no play last week has me scarred to play him so he is out as well. It is between Helu playing atBuffaloand Tate playing the Jaguars. Helu has the better matchup but I am going with talent here and playing Tate. I am not expecting much but 8-10 points would be welcomed.
My WR’s are back off the bye!!!!! Well except Jordy Nelson, but I get my 2nd leader point producer Wes Welker back. Steelers are giving up the 31st most points to WR’s this fantasy season. The Patriots are matchup proof. Wes Welker last season went for 8 receptions for 87 yards….I would take that.
Steve Johnson should finally be healthy resting his groin during the bye week. He plays the Redskins who are giving up the 21st most points. I think Johnson can over power their smaller CB’s in the red zone and might have his best game of the season.
Deion Branch will have to start this week. I don’t like playing two players at the same position on the same team. It is doubtful they both go off…but if you have to do it, the Patriots and Packers are one of the few teams to do it with. I am hoping for 5-6 receptions for 50-70 yards, and a touchdown would be a godsend.
At TE Jimmy Graham might be the best fantasy TE in the NFL and might post one of the best seasons of any TE ever. I am in a keeper league that only allows a owner to keep two players. It will be hard to let Graham go, however, let tomorrow’s problems be tomorrow’s problems. Graham plays the Rams who surprisingly are one of the better teams versus TE’s….this is misleading since their defense is one of the worse and other positions usually gouge them. Graham will be a monster versus them.
For my utility it goes to Reggie Wayne. I hate playing him but the bye week dictates it and I do not want to play a backup RB. Titans have been solid versus the pass so from my demeanor you can tell I don’t expect much. I knew drafting old players was a bad idea.
Dan Bailey was a big time pickup at kicker. With the Cowboys offense being explosive but not a great red zone offense he gets plenty of work. The Eagles defense is horrible so I expect more PAT than FG’s this week…but he should be good for 6-9 points.
Cowboys’ defense plays the Eagles. The Eagles are giving up the third most points to opposing fantasy defenses. I expect that trend to continue.
Foe:
Sun Tzu states, “Know thy enemy.” My enemy is my father. I told him earlier this week, male lions scare off their male offspring since they do not want future competition for the pride….my father should have taken their lead.
My father is 5-2 and is in third place in our league. It would normally be a hard matchup, but his team is even more decimated with players on their bye week than I am. He has Matt Ryan, Greg Jennings, Santonio Holmes, Michael Turner, and LaGarrette Blount on byes. I would laugh but I lost last week to a team that was decimated with byes…the difference this week is the bye week will not hurt me as much as last week. He still will be tough starting Eli Manning at quarterback with a good matchup versus the Dolphins. At RB Reggie Bush and CJ Spiller are just plain sad. At WR Robert Meachem, Steve Breaston, andMike Simms Walker is just plain sad. At TE Jason Whitten will score a ton of points. At K/Def he has John Kasey and the Giants who will be solid contributors this week. His bye week has cost him a game here.
Prediction:
Both Yahoo and myself could not account for my horrible luck last week. This week it has me winning by 70 points and getting back on track. From 4-0 to 5-2 is not good…however, I beat my dad and get to 6-2 will make up for last week and for an interesting Thanksgiving in the near future. Love you dad but don’t expect that love to save you this week.
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