11/16/06
The stretch run is upon us.
It’s the time when fantasy football owners make a run toward
their league’s playoffs or sink back in the pack.
The difference between making that run or sinking could be picking
up a key player or two. If your team needs a boost, here are a few
players to consider picking up that could be available in your league:
Ladell Betts, RB, Washington:
Starting Redskins running back Clinton Portis is out for the season
with a broken hand, so Betts will get his shot as the team’s
starter. The fifth-year back has proven to be solid, but not spectacular
in his career. He is averaging 4.1 yards per carry and has 80 receptions,
including 30 this season. Pick him up and consider him a low-end
No. 2 or No. 3 fantasy running back.
Anthony Thomas, RB, Buffalo: Including
this week, starting Buffalo running back Willis McGahee could be
out three more weeks. Thomas picked up 204 yards and a touchdown
on 48 carries the last two games while McGahee was out with broken
ribs. Thomas should continue to receive plenty of carries against
Houston’s often-soft run defense this week and Jacksonville’s
and San Diego’s beat up defenses the following two weeks.
Mark Clayton, WR, Baltimore: The
second-year pro has put together solid games in the last two weeks
and three of the last four, peaking last week with a seven-catch,
125-yard, one-touchdown performance against Tennessee. With coach
Brian Billick calling the plays, Clayton has been more involved
in the offense. Look for that trend to continue with favorable matchups
against Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in the next three weeks.
Tony Romo, QB, Dallas: The Cowboys’
new starting quarterback is the least likely of these four players
to be available in your league after he put together his third straight
solid start last week (20-of-29, 308 yards, two TDs, no interceptions
against Arizona). If your quarterback is struggling and a fellow
owner already grabbed Romo, but isn’t starting him, trade
for him and hope his hot streak continues.
Hot Read
Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh:
The Steeler has turned out to be one of the biggest steals of
preseason fantasy drafts, with 1,001 total yards and 10 touchdowns.
Parker was ranked 15th to 20th among running backs on most owners’
preseason draft cheat sheets. He wasn’t highly hyped due
to his lack of scoring ability (five touchdowns last year). With
“The Bus” (Jerome Bettis) permanently parked, however,
Parker has become a consistent touchdown threat, scoring in six
of his last seven games.
Broken Play(er)
Santana Moss, WR, Washington:
Portis’ injury wasn’t the only major fantasy news
out of the nation’s capital this week. Veteran quarterback
Mark Brunell also was benched in favor of second-year pro Jason
Campbell, who hasn’t thrown a pass in his career. Moss already
was struggling (126 yards, no TDs in last four games), so this
change likely will keep the receiver on a cold streak.
Off The Bench
Jake Plummer, QB, Denver: If
your starting quarterback has a tough matchup and Plummer is available,
pick him up and start him against the struggling San Diego defense.
The Chargers, which have multiple defensive starters missing from
injuries and a suspension, have allowed an average of 30 points
and 311 passing yards in their last four games. San Diego also
has given up eight passing touchdowns while collecting just one
interception during that stretch.
Safe Bet
Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans:
He’s been a Saint to New Orleans and his fantasy owners.
Brees is leading the NFL in passing yards (2,604) and has been
the hottest fantasy quarterback in the last three weeks, throwing
for more than 300 yards in each game with seven touchdowns. His
streak of 300-plus yard games should continue at home against
the soft Cincinnati pass defense that has allowed an average of
291 passing yards the last three weeks.
Extra Point
When analyzing the matchup of a player, consider how the player’s
opponent has done in recent weeks and not just the entire season.
A team may have poor overall numbers, but be playing well in recent
weeks, like San Francisco and Houston.
|
