The injury bug has hit fantasy
football teams this season like an epidemic.
Steven Jackson,
Brian Westbrook, Laurence Maroney, Carnell Williams
(out for season), Deuce McAllister (out for season), Brandon
Jacobs, Andre Johnson, Javon Walker, Anquan Boldin
and Jake Delhomme already have missed games.
Marc Bulger
will be out this week, and Marvin Harrison, Travis Henry,
Joseph Addai and Santana Moss may sit out, too.
Injuries happen to just about every
fantasy team every year. How owners prepare for those injuries can
separate the contenders from the pretenders for league titles.
DEPTH IS BIGGEST KEY
The best way to absorb injuries
without much damage to your fantasy team is to have quality players on
your bench to plug into your starting lineup for hobbled players.
To achieve depth, draft safe picks
as your bench players and not a bunch of fliers and sleepers. Also, look
to upgrade your bench players just as vigorously as your starters.
EQUAL DEPTH
If you have a ton of depth at one
position and not another, balance it out by trading players at your deep
position for a weak position.
For example, having a fourth running
back on your bench that you’ll never play is just a waste, especially if
you have just one decent backup wide receiver. Trade that running back
for a receiver to balance your depth.
Also, don’t have too many players at
one position. For example, having four quarterbacks on your roster in a
league that starts just one at that position is not smart, because if
you get an injury at a non-QB position, you’re less likely to have a
quality backup to plug in your starting lineup.
KEEP YOUR DEPTH
It’s tempting to trade one of your
quality bench players to upgrade your starting lineup, but that’s not a
smart move until bye weeks wind down or are complete.
For example, if you have two solid
backup wide receivers and decide to trade one, then if one of your
receivers gets hurt when one of your starters has a bye week, you’ll be
left scrambling for starter that week. If you hang on to both receivers,
then you can absorb an injury, even during a bye week.
However, if you’re off to an 0-4
start, you have to be more aggressive and look to upgrade your starting
lineup anyway you can. But if you’re 2-2 or better, hold on to your
depth.
QUALITY HANDCUFFS
The easiest way to replace an
injured player is with his backup. But don’t get too carried away with
handcuffs.
Only handcuffs that likely will
produce solid numbers if his starter goes down are worth having on your
bench. Having Michael Turner as LaDainian Tomlinson’s
handcuff is a smart move. Having Marcel Shipp as a handcuff to
Edgerrin James is not.
Owning handcuffs especially comes in
handy when a player’s status for a game is unknown until just before
kickoff. On Sunday night, Westbrook’s owners who also had Correll
Buckhalter could simply take out Westbrook and plug in Buckhalter at
the last minute when it was determined Westbrook wouldn’t play.
HOT READ
Jason Witten, TE, Dallas:
The Cowboy’s 304 receiving yards are third among
tight ends, and his three touchdowns are tied for second. He’s become a
huge part of Dallas’ potent offense. However, don’t be surprised if his
numbers take a hit when wide receiver Terry Glenn returns from an
injury.
BROKEN PLAY(ER)
Laurence Maroney, RB, New
England: The Patriot could turn out to be the
biggest fantasy bust this season. He was drafted in the first round of
many drafts, but after missing last week’s game, it raises serious
questions if he’s durable enough to handle the feature roll. After
backup Sammy Morris gained 117 yards in his absence, it looks like a
running-back-by-committee is in the Patriots’ future.
OFF THE BENCH
Ernest Graham, RB, Tampa Bay:
With Williams out for the season, Graham is expected to split the
workload with Michael Pittman and get most of the goal-line carries. He
also faces Indianapolis, which has allowed 4.5 yards per carry.
SAFE BET
Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh:
The Steeler was held to just 37 yards last week in a road game against
Arizona. Look for him to rebound at home against Seattle. Parker
averaged 119 yards and one touchdown per game at home last season.
EXTRA POINT
Don’t get suckered into thinking
Arizona wide receiver Bryant Johnson is a quality fantasy play
when his fellow receivers, Anquan Boldin or Larry Fitzgerald,
are out with injuries. Last week, Johnson had one catch for 18 yards
with Boldin out. In Johnson’s last four games with either Boldin or
Fitzgerald not playing, he has 131 yards and one touchdown, including
three games with less than 20 yards.
