2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Advice & Analysis
 It’s so long, farewell and adieu to DeAngelo Williams. The pint-sized running back from Memphis University went Kyle Orton two years ago, blowing everyone’s expectations away. His 20 touchdown performance in 2008 landed him in the top tier of fantasy backs. Williams went in the first and second rounds of many drafts in 2009. Whereas “brilliance” defined his 2008, “bust” defined his 2009 campaign. Now, two years removed from the halls of glory, Williams is on injured reserve. It’s like the car broke the speed record (2008), got some serious speed wobbles (2009) and lost control (2010). Williams’ sad stroll down skid row/IR would normally sting a little less because of wunderkind backup Jonathan Stewart. Unfortunately, Stewart is hurt. Therefore, the final chapter of DeAngelo’s rise and fall ends at the feet of third-stringer Mike Goodson. Goodson put up a decent showing against Tampa Bay, but not decent enough to warrant a start in his next matchup against a stubborn Saints defense. Justin Forsett is on the market in many leagues, but he’s unreliable. Marion "The Barbarian" Barber is more Barbara than Barbarian. Ricky Williams has scored twice this season. Keiland Williams had a breakout game, but his schedule is daunting. What we’re saying is that you are in big trouble. You may consider replacing Williams with a wide receiver like the Rams’ Danny Amendola, since he’s playing a terrible Falcons pass defense this week or the Jaguars’ hero Mike Thomas. Written by James Duren, exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Who are you picking up? Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix, or for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team! Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football Blog, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Football Gold, Week 11, Week Eleven, Keiland Williams, Washington Redskins Add Comment  Tennessee Titan’s wideout Kenny Britt doubled-down on despair Sunday. His injury came early in the game, so not only did fantasy owners rake in pocket lint from Britt’s performance, but they also found out the emerging receiver is out for four to eight weeks with a hamstring injury. It hasn’t been a good year for Rutgers alumni. Just ask Ray Rice. With Britt hitting the skids for a month or so, you need a second wide receiver. With half of the season in the books, most of the big name sleepers have found a home on your enemies’ rosters: the Bills’ Steve Johnson and Lee Evans, or the Broncos’ Jabbar Gaffney. Where does that leave you? Hoping that there’s still one or two guys floating around that could shore up your second receiver slot. The Patriots’ Brandon Tate had a breakout game Sunday against Minnesota, going for 101 yards and a score. His touchdown came on a 65-yard pass play, which is a positive sign for the Patriots passing game. Tate could end up being the deep threat the Bradyites in Foxboro have been missing since the departure of Randall Moss. Tate is still on the board in 75 percent of Y! leagues. Believe it or not, PPR sleeper sensation Danny Amendola is still available in 63 percent of Y! leagues. The Ricky Proehl-esque possession receiver has touchdowns in two consecutive games. Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas is floating around in 80 percent of leagues, while Patriots Danny Woodhead carries a WR/RB tag and is still available in 46 percent of Y! leagues. Britt’s hammy injury was the marquee ailment for week 8. Keep your eye out on the status of Bolts’ tight end Antonio Gates’ plantar fasciitis, Dallas tailback Felix Jones’ sore ankle, and the minor swelling found in Cardinals running back Beanie Wells’ knee. Written by James Duren, exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Who are you picking up? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Advice, Injuries, Week 9, Week Nine, Waiver Wire, NFL, WR Replacements, Kenny Britt, Ray Rice, Felix Jones, Antonio Gates, Beanie Wells, Danny Amendola, Mike Thomas, Danny Woodhead, Randy Moss, Steve Johnson, Lee Evans, Jabar Gaffney  This is no time to take a nap son, we're in the middle of a game Brett Favre is the new Michael Vick. He’s losing fans faster than an Atlanta Walmart in the middle of summer. Throw on two ankle fractures and the guy is, officially… a hot mess. On the other side of the injury coin is the endearing Tony Romo, the guy who helped a dude change a flat tire on the way home from a game one night. While Favre’s status isn’t clear for Sunday’s game, Romo’s is. The Cowboys gunslinger is out for 6-8 weeks with a broken clavicle. This news comes as a crushing blow to Romo owners, who most likely drafted him in the third or fourth round and probably picked up a table scraps backup. Romo’s value to fantasy owners was tremendous. He was Mr. Reliable, throwing a touchdown in 18 straight games including last night’s short pass to Jason Witten. He was a lock to go off on Thanksgiving Day. There’s nothing like a three touchdown performance to chase turkey and stuffing, is there? Fear not. Replacements for Romo, Favre, and Alex Smith are available in many leagues. The best candidate for big numbers in future matchups is the Chiefs’ Matt Cassel. The former New England Patriot has thrown eight touchdowns in his last four games. His hot streak looks like it will continue to burn against the Bills, Raiders, Broncos, and Cardinals. He is still available in 59% of Y! leagues. Another name that could rescue your season is the Bills’ Ryan Fitzpatrick. Like Cassel, Fitzpatrick is devouring opposing pass defenses. In his last four games, Fitz has thrown 11 touchdowns. His upcoming schedule isn’t as favorable as Cassel, but his week ten matchup against the Lions and his week eleven game against the Bengals could produce big numbers for the Harvard grad. As of Tuesday, Fitz was available in 82% of Y! leagues, a startling percentage considering his recent output. Carolina’s Matt Moore is also begging to play on your roster. The former Oregon State quarterback put in a strong performance against San Francisco last week. Former Pro Bowl wideout Steve Smith is back from his ankle injury. Moore also benefits from the emergence of rookie receiver David Gettis. And for those Dallas die-hards that hope Romo is healed by a shaman, pope, or priest, don’t dismiss backup Jon Kitna. Kitna was the only backup in the NFL not to throw a pass last year. However, you may remember that he threw for over 4,000 yards in 2007 and 2008. Think of him as a Shaun Hill-type replacement with sharper weapons in the receiving corps. He connected with Dez Bryant for a touchdown twice in Monday’s game against the Giants, albeit the game outcome was already pretty much decided. The lowly Jaguars, purveyors of 16 passing touchdowns this year, await the former Lions signal caller this Sunday. Kitna is available in over 90% of Y! leagues. Written by James Duren, exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Who are you picking up? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Advice, Injuries, Week 8, Week Eight, Waiver Wire, NFL, QB Replacements, Tony Romo, Brett Favre, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills, Jon Kitna, Matt Moore, Carolina Panthers  Out for the Season TE: Dallas Clark/Chris Cooley The verdict came out on Dallas Clark today and it certainly wasn't what owners and fans were looking for. Peyton Manning will be without the league's top receiving TE for the rest of the season (queue sad music). The Colt's do have backup rookie Brody Eldridge and just re-signed Gijon Robinson, but until we see how that pans out it's safer to go with another teams' TE. In the same game as Clark's injury, Chris Cooley went down with a concussion. He returned to the game and finished it out. Cooley is listed as questionable but is expected to start. There aren’t many good options out there, my friends. Some of the widely available tight ends in Y! leagues are Cleveland’s Benjamin Watson (34%), Cincinnati’s Jermaine Gresham (26%), and the Dolphins’ Anthony Fasano (11%). Watson slightly takes the edge over Gresham here but has a bye-week after this game, so this definitely throws a nice monkey wrench in any plans.  There's no crying in Football RB: Joseph Addai The Colts are running thin but thankfully they have a bye week. According to the Indianapolis Star, Addai was quoted as saying his shoulder is "just dead and needs to wake up". Uhh, this isn't exactly encouraging news. Donald Brown would be the better pickup over Mike Hart if healthy but he missed Wednesday's practice. With the bye-week Brown may have enough time to get back into the swing of things, so keep a close eye. Cadillac Williams is only owned in about half the leagues at this point and although he's been a huge disappointment, he is clearly the number one RB. Last week against the Saints, he may have only rushed for 18 yards but caught seven catches for 63 yards and in a PPR league that adds up quick.  WR: Desean Jackson/Austin Collie Jackson’s concussion is part of NFL lore; it was his injury, along with several other concussions this past weekend, that spurred the NFL’s brass to adopt a suspension policy for dangerous hits. Fantasy owners want to be on the good side of history, though. Jackson is a legitimate top-5 fantasy receiver. It will be hard to replace him. Austin Collie had surgery on his hand this week and although the Colts have the bye, Collie stated he will be out a few weeks according to ESPN. For those who didn't pick up Pierre Garcon last week, you will be looking to fill a big void. Seattle’s Mike Williams is coming off a 123-yard performance against the Bears. He is available in 23% of Y! leagues. Also, take a shot at Denver’s Demaryius Thomas (29%) going against Oakland. Danny Woodhead (50%) is another viable option and can be played at WR or RB. The Pats seem to be integrating Woodhead more and more every week.  QB: David Garrard/Shaun Hill Garrard went down with a knee injury, compliments of the Titans’ pass rush. Shaun Hill broke his arm trying to brace his fall against a Giants’ pass rush. If you were starting these guys, chances are you are thin at quarterback. The good news is that the Chiefs’ Matt Cassel is available in 31% of Y! leagues. He has a delicious matchup against an atrocious Jacksonville secondary. If Cassel is off the board, Carolina’s Matt Moore (4%) returns from injury this week along with his All-Pro receiver Steve Smith. Written by James Duren, exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Who are you picking up? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Advice, Injuries, Week 7, Week Seven, Waiver Wire, NFL, TE Replacements, Dallas Clark, Chris Cooley, Joseph Addai, Desean Jackson, Austin Collie, David Garrard, Shaun Hill, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions Curse has been the word for running backs this season, but it looks like the bad mojo that plagued backs is now spreading to other positions. The most notable injuries this week are Aaron Rodger’s concussion, Calvin Johnson’s mysterious shoulder injury, and Jermichael Finleys’ knee ligament damage. Let's take a look at who will suit up Sunday and who you can fill in for those who don't.  Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions Mark Clayton, WR, St. Louis Rams Clayton went down with a season-ending knee mashing. His season was unfolding into a "from-the-doghouse" to a "to-the-penthouse" type of story. Calvin Johnson’s story follows the same plot: earlier in the season he was vilified by owners for his poor performances, only to throw down three touchdowns in two weeks. However, this week Johnson landed awkwardly on his shoulder in the fourth quarter against the Rams. Lions’ coach Jim Schwartz, according to Yahoo, is very concerned about the injury. Johnson and Clayton owners are left to their wit and wile to find a sleeper to take their place. Owners can look for Danny Amendola, Mike Thomas, and Steve Johnson. St. Louis’ Amendola had a tremendous PPR game Sunday, catching 12 passes for 95 yards. Owned in 29 percent of Y! leagues, he is St. Louis' top receiver now and you should scramble to pick him up. The Jaguars’ Mike Thomas (17 percent in Y! leagues) gets 4-6 catches a game and somehow garners a few rushing yards every contest. He doesn’t have any touchdowns this season, but his 21 receptions put him ahead of the better known Mike Sims-Walker. The Bills’ Steve Johnson (18 percent in Y! leagues), featured in this week’s Fantasy Football Gold, has four touchdowns in his last three games. The drawback with Johnson is that Buffalo has a bye this week. However, it may be worthwhile for you to snag him before anyone else does.  Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers Finley’s injury is a sad one. He heard his knee pop as he was making a tackle during an interception return. After the game, he told reporters that in the seconds leading up to the play he debated whether or not to attack the caravan of defenders heading his way. He was worried about hurting himself and now he’s hurt. So who will fill Finley's void this week? Try Tony Moeaki, Jermaine Gresham, or Andrew Quarless. The Chiefs’ Moeaki has a minor following in fantasy circles after making some spectacular catches earlier this season. He is owned in 27 percent of Y! leagues, and he’s Matt Cassel’s favorite target. Luckily, the Chiefs play a meager Houston Texans pass defense this week. Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati’s burly rookie tight end, averages about four receptions per game and has two touchdown catches so far this season. Only 28 percent of teams own Gresham. Finally, there’s Andrew Quarless, Finley’s backup. He had four catches for 50 yards (three of which were first downs) Sunday following Finley’s injury. The Packers had no qualms getting him the ball and assuming Rodgers is playing, he is a good pickup. Currently Quarless is available in 97 percent of leagues but that will surely go up closer to game time.  GAME TIMERS Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers Joseph Addai, RB, Colts Both Rodgers (concussion) and Addai (shoulder/neck) practiced today. There’s no official word on their status for Sunday’s game. Keep an eye on them tomorrow and Saturday. If Rodgers can’t go, take a shot at the Bucs’ Josh Freeman or the Chiefs’ Matt Cassel. Freeman is consistent, and Cassel is playing a terrible Texans secondary. If Addai sits, backup Mike Hart showed promise and is available in most leagues. Written by James Duren, exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Who are you picking up? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Advice, Injuries, Week 6, Week Six, Waiver Wire, NFL, Calvin Johnson, Mark Clayton, Jermichael Finley, Aaron Rodgers, Joseph Addai, Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts  Clinton Portis/Knowshon Moreno/Pierre Thomas Clinton Portis on the back of a utility cart, his right leg being pretzled back and forth by a trainer? Fox commentators recounting Portis’ history of 325+ carries like they were talking about a high-mileage sedan that’s seen one too many trips to the mechanic? Yep, that’s what Portis owners faced on Sunday. To a lesser extent, Knowshon Moreno owners felt the same pain. Moreno is a second-year back that is slowly becoming the Bronco’s version of the oft-nicked Steven Jackson. Pierre Thomas is also dealing with injuries. So what do you do? Portis backup Ryan Torian turned in a strong showing against the Eagles, running the ball 18 times for 70 yards. Torian was out of football last year, but the year previous he did some spot rushing for the Broncos backfield. Here’s the problem. The Eagles’ run defense gets torched nearly every week, so Torian’s numbers are somewhat misleading. However, the Redskins face two of the league’s ten worst rush defenses, yardage-wise, in the next three weeks: Indianapolis and Green Bay. Torian may not get touchdowns, but he’ll probably get enough touches to produce 8-10 points in those matchups. Keep him on the bench against the stingy Bears. Also consider the Charger’s Mike Tolbert if he’s available. Tolbert put in a 100-yard, one TD performance this week. Next week he faces the purse-wielding, skirt-wearing Raiders run defense.  LeSean McCoy McCoy owners endured manic moments on Sunday. The former Pitt Panther tallied a season high in yards-from-scrimmage, but he also cracked a rib. On Monday, two important things happened. Eagles’ coach Andy Reid said that McCoy would play against the 49ers this week if the running back could handle the pain, and the Eagles contacted the Bills about trade bait Marshawn Lynch. Today though Lynch signed with the Seahawks, thus leaving the Eagles still searching. Keep tabs on McCoy’s status throughout the week. If his injury is more severe than first thought, backup Mike Bell has a nose for the end zone and could help you. Also with Marshawn Lynch out of Buffalo, you should jump at the chance to take Bills running back Fred Jackson.  Andre Johnson Let’s face it. This one hurts. Many owners drafted the burly Texan in the first round, foregoing Frank Gore and company to cash in on what was supposed to be a thunderous season for the receiver from the U. Now Johnson is hobbled with an ankle sprain. He didn’t play Sunday and his status for next week is up in the air. You aren’t going to find a #1 WR to fill his spot. You need to scramble for someone that will steady your sinking ship (unless you are one of those guys that sold high on Jahvid Best to pick up Miles Austin or the like). The options, my friend, are thin. Backup WRs Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter (a lauded sleeper two years ago) played second-fiddle to backup TE Joel Dressen against the Raiders Saturday. It’s hard to say which receiver will go off, but know this: when Arian Foster plays a weak run defense (i.e. the Giants next week) the Houston WRs will suffer. Pick up Walter and play him against the aerially-challenged Chiefs defense. If you are looking for insurance for next week, consider T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He’s available in 68% of Yahoo leagues. Next week he’s up against a middle-of-the-pack Broncos pass defense.  Jay Cutler/Michael Vick One guy came into the season hated by everyone outside of Chicago. One guy came in once-hated by everyone, period. Now both of them are dealing with injuries. Cutler suffered a concussion and did not return to the Bears’ game against New York. Vick took a shot to the ribs/chest and didn’t return to the Eagles’ game against the Redskins. Both QBs were racking up nice numbers to start the season. If you need to fill their spot, take a crack at Detroit’s Shaun Hill. True, Hill posted some great numbers against Green Bay (34-of-54 for 331 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT). What stands out more than numbers is that the former Maryland quarterback connected twice with fantasy heartbreaker Calvin Johnson. If the Hill/Johnson duo keeps clicking, picking up Hill and playing him against the Rams and the Redskins could lead to two 250+ yard, 2 TD performances.  Owen Daniels Daniels proves that ESPN’s Madden Predictions (90+ receptions, 1000+ yards) shouldn’t dictate your draft strategy, among other things. Daniels was a popular sleeper pick–heck, I drafted him prior to the season. Unfortunately, now he’s just asleep. His knee isn’t the same. Neither is his production: 68 yards on the season. Daniels didn’t suffer an injury, per se, on Sunday. However, it’s obvious that his off-season knee surgery is still an issue. If you are an Owen owner, then it’s time to move on. Daniels’ backup Joel Dressen put in an impressive performance Sunday, catching five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. He’s available in 100% of Yahoo leagues. New England’s TE Aaron Hernandez is available in 45% of Yahoo leagues and he’s averaging 70 yards per game. Written by James Duren, exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Who are you picking up? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Advice, Injuries, Week Four, Week Five, Waiver Wire, NFL, James Duren, Clinton Portis, Knowshon Moreno, Pierre Thomas, Ryan Torian, Mike Tolbert, Andre Johnson, Jacoby Jones, Kevin Walter, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Jay Cutler, Michael Vick, Shaun Hill, Owen Daniels, Joel Dressen, Aaron Hernandez, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots  Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens Mr. Rice’s knee has a significant contusion. And thus the curse of the running backs continue. Rice’s status for Sunday’s game against the Steel Curtain is still up in the air. The Rutgers running back’s tenuous status coupled with the Steelers suffocating run defense equals doom…or so it seems. Wise owners will pick up touchdown maven from days of yore Willis McGahee. See below for more recommendations. Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams Yes, it continues. Another first round running back lingering on the fringe of the training room’s skid row. Jackson is famous for two things: causing owners to continually fear for their fantasy life because of injuries; and playing through his injuries like a beast. Last week Michael Turner proved that groin injuries aren’t always debilitating. Rams doctors say Jackson’s injury is only a slight tear and not a major one. However, like Rice, Jackson didn’t practice today. Jackson’s backup Kenneth Darby entered the game and scored a touchdown, but his per carry average wasn’t anything special. Pick up Darby if you can, but also be on the lookout for C.J. Spiller (whom many owners dropped up until this week), Justin Forsett, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys The Cowboys say Witten’s injury is an MCL sprain and that his x-rays came back negative. True, the Cowboys have a by next week. Also true: Witten’s production has been downright abject. Peruse the waiver wire for the Jets’ Dustin Keller, the Lions’ Brandon Pettigrew, or the Bears’ Greg Olsen. Steve Breaston, WR, Arizona Cardinals Maybe the fantasy gods are striking back at Breaston for scoring nearly as many points this season as honey-handed teammate Larry Fitzgerald. Maybe not. Either way, Breaston will be out until week 7 (according to Espn.com). This leaves owners searching for a flex WR to fill the hole that Breaston left. If you are looking for 6-8 points a week, consider St. Louis wideout Danny Amendola. Amendola hasn’t scored a touchdown yet this season, but he is becoming Sam Bradford’s favorite third-down receiver. Amendola has 16 catches, which increases his value in PPR leagues. Many fantasy owners kicked Demaryius Thomas to the curb last week after a poor performance and an apparent injury. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels says the injury isn’t serious and Thomas is slated to play Sunday at Indianapolis. Keep in mind that only Philip Rivers has thrown for more yards this season (1087) than Thomas’ quarterback, Kyle Orton (1078 yards). A healthy Thomas will get enough looks to make him an interesting option at your flex position. Written by James Duren, exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Who are you picking up? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Advice, Injuries, Week Two, Week Three, Waiver Wire, NFL, Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens, Willis McGahee, Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams, Kenneth Darby, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Justin Forsett, Jason Witten, Dustin Keller, Brandon Pettigrew, Greg Olsen, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals, Danny Amendola, Sam Bradford, Demaryius Thomas, Philip Rivers, Kyle Orton Hurting For Heroes: Week Two Fantasy Football Injuries & Their Replacements For Week Three 09/21/2010
Bush’s injury is a significant one and owners are scrambling for a replacement that can match the triple threat charm Mr. Un-Heisman offers. But hey, at least you know you need a replacement at the beginning of the week instead of constantly watching Michael Turner or Ryan Mathews injury status. In that sense, losing a player for a definite amount of time is easier on your blood pressure. Keeping a player with a nagging injury will induce a tenuous angst that lasts the entire season. This week’s Hurting for Heroes lists feature three running backs and a quarterback:  Reggie Bush Reggie Bush | RB | New Orleans Saints If Bush was your no. 1 running back, then you were in trouble in to begin with. Assuming that most of you had Bush as a #2 or a flex is a safe bet. If you want a versatile back to take his place, take Darren Sproles if he’s available. The Lightning Bug can score on the ground, through the air, or on kick returns. Plus, he put in an honest four years at Kansas State. If Sproles is gone (he was drafted in many leagues) you could reach for Buffalo Bills jack-of-all-trades Fred Jackson. Jackson had a terrible week against a good defense, but he could bounce back for 80 all-purpose yards. Another option for Bush owners is Willis McGahee. McGahee’s goal line prowess makes him a threat to score a touchdown every week. Throw in thirty or forty yards and McGahee’s numbers are very comparable to an average Reggie Bush week. Also keep an eye out for Marshawn Lynch. The former Cal standout ran the ball 17 times against the Packers on Sunday. He’ll split carries with Fred Jackson, but his uptick in carries make him a possible flex play. Michael Turner | RB | Atlanta Falcons Turner, despite predictions that he would bounce back from an off year, is already ailing. Falcons Coach Mike Smith says Turner won’t miss time from the groin injury he sustained and was only pulled from the game because it was a blowout. Don’t be so sure, though. Turner may very well be healthy enough to start next week. However, groin injuries are, for lack of a better term, delicate. Clearing a roster spot for a Jason Snelling handcuff would be a very smart idea. Ryan Mathews | RB | San Diego Chargers Maybe it was the pressure of being the top-ranked rookie running back. Maybe it was the burden of filling LaDainian Tomlinson’s shoes. All we know is that Ryan Mathews fumbles too much, and now he’s dealing with a minor ankle injury. NFL.com reports that Mathews was seen in a protective boot during the second half of the Chargers’ bludgeoning of the Jaguars. That’s not a good sign, even if Norv Turner says the boot measure was only precautionary. Like Turner, feel free to handcuff Mathews with backup beast Mike Tolbert. Tolbert is available in 99 percent of leagues. Dennis Dixon | QB | Pittsburgh Steelers Dixon’s knee injury requires surgery and there’s a good chance that the Oregon grad won’t play in another game this season. Like Bush, if you were starting Dennis Dixon you were already in trouble. With Dixon down and out for the season, comb the waiver wire for Josh Freeman. The Bucs’ field general has thrown four touchdowns in two games. He is looking poised in the pocket and his receivers are slowly creeping into the conscience of fantasy football gurus. Freeman is available in 97% of leagues. Written by James Duren, exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Who are you picking up? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Advice, Injuries, Week Two, Week Three, Waiver Wire, NFL, Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons, Jason Snelling, Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers, Mike Tolbert, LaDainian Tomlinson, Dennis Dixon, Pittsburgh Steelers, Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, James Duren If you watched the Eagles/Packers game this week, you learned two things: 1. Fox loves commercials. In fact, I thought I was watching an advertising montage that was occasionally interrupted by a football game (although that Ray Lewis commercial is a treasure). 2. Big men running around and colliding into each other means someone is going to get hurt. Clay Matthews, a dead-to-rights doppelganger to Conan the Barbarian and Fabio’s love child, buried Kevin Kolb’s head into the turf. Ryan Grant’s ankle went pretzel under the weight of a couple Eagles defenders. In the Lions game, the Bears’ Richard Seymour mashed Matthew Stafford’s throwing shoulder into the grass. All three players fell under the “this-guy-has-potential-to-be-a-sleeper” category, so chances are they served as a second-tier player in your lineup. However, I know there are a few fantasy owners out there who drafted heavy on running backs and wide receivers and waited until the middle rounds to draft Kolb. Here’s a breakdown of Band-Aid backups that can salvage your hurting starters.  Replacing Kevin Kolb and Matthew Stafford Let’s face it. Injury or not, Kolb had a terrible game. He left the game in the second quarter and returned to play two series. Michael Vick played a tremendous game in Kolb’s absence, firing darts to his receivers and rushing for over 100 yards. Kolb wasn’t hurt badly enough to take off the pads and return in street clothes, but you have to wonder if Vick’s resurgence will further dent Kolb’s already-chinked armor. In a fickle city like Philadelphia, this could mean doom. Stafford, like Kolb, was putting together a raggedy open act to the 2010 before Julius Pepper turned his throwing shoulder into applesauce. He’s visiting the renowned Dr. James Andrews this week to get a second opinion on his separated shoulder. Expect him to be out at least three weeks. Who will be the hero for you in this situation? Enter Matt Hasselbeck, Derek Anderson, and Michael Vick. According to Rotowire.com, Hasselbeck was the second to last quarterback selected in drafts this year. The last quarterback selected? That’s right…Michael Vick. Chances are Hasselbeck is floating around the waiver wire. He put in a strong showing this week against a supposedly-tough 49ers defense – and he did it without any sniff of a decent receiver. When you can throw for two scores with the likes of Deion Branch and Mike Williams (yes, THAT Mike Williams), you’ve earned your right to make it on someone’s roster. Derek Anderson, on the other hand, wasn’t even on Rotowire.com’s average draft position tables. Ironically, when TJ Houshmandzadeh jumped ship to Baltimore last week I dropped Hasselbeck and replaced him with Derek Anderson. I like Anderson’s weapons, and I like that he showed glimpses of greatness a couple of years ago. This past week he threw for nearly three hundred yards and tossed a touchdown to Sir Larry Fitzgerald. Although Mike Vick put in a strong performance, I’m hard-pressed to recommend him because I don’t think Andy Reid will deep six Kolb in favor of Vick. I see the two quarterbacks splitting time. Keep tabs on Kolb’s status for next week. If Kolb sits out the next game against the Lions, Vick will be a great play. I see him running for at least 60 yards and passing for 200+ and a touchdown. If Kolb does play against the Lions, 0pt for a full-time starter like the Bald Wonder or Mr. Cleveland.  Replacing Ryan Grant I don’t know what it is about Ryan Grant, but in my book he’s just an old-fashioned likeable guy. Plus he’s a battle axe. How many dudes hop their way to the locker room after sustaining a season-ending injury. That’s manly…I’m talking Ray Lewis-Riding-A-Crow manly. So who do you pick up in Grant’s absence? Brandon Jackson, Fred Taylor, and Fred Jackson. I know, I know. It’s a riddle waiting to happen. If you have two running backs with the name Fred, two running backs with the last name Jackson, and two running backs with different first names, how many running backs do you have? Brandon Jackson is a great play for the rest of the season. Coach Mike Sherman has full confidence that Jackson is an every day back. He’s got a great burst and can catch the ball. BJax will be a boon for all leagues, especially for teams in PPR leagues. Fred Taylor is another pickup that can steady your lineup for the next couple of weeks. The Pats traded Laurence Maroney to the Broncos, leaving Taylor to compete against the likes of Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk. Taylor should be good for at least 80 total yards every week and an occasional touchdown. He’s not the best option, but if you are hurting for a hero, he’ll do. Fred Jackson is another guy who can rescue you from the gaping fire pit of fantasy death left by Mr. Grant. Jackson’s value dropped after his hand injury and the sparkling preseason performance of C.J. Spiller. However, Spiller choked in his debut (what else would you expect from a Clemson grad) and the door is wide open for Jackson. The Bills are up against some good rush defenses, but if Jackson can get twenty touches a game he’ll pull in 100 total yards. Written by James Duren, exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Who are you picking up? Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, NFL, Injury Report, Roto, Kevin Kolb, Matthew Stafford, Ryan Grant, Matt Hasselbeck, Derek Anderson, Michael Vick, Brandon Jackson, Fred Taylor, Fred Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills | CategoriesAll  |
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