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Week 6
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By Jason Lauren |
| October 14, 2007 |
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| Too bad there aren’t mulligans in
fantasy football. Many owners wish they had a
mulligan – or two or three – after drafting a bust in the first round,
the second round and – cover your children’s eyes and ears – the third
round.
It seems this year has had many more busts than in
years past. If you drafted a first-round bust, you’re not alone. As a
matter of fact, you’re probably in the majority.
However, there is a bright side to
this season – there also have been a number of players who have turned
out do be draft-day steals.
Let’s take a look at the biggest
steals and busts so far from preseason drafts, excluding players who’ve
sustained injuries, since they are difficult to predict.
STEALS
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LaMont Jordan, RB, Oakland:
After being perhaps the biggest bust last season, the Raider was
drafted as about the 30th running back. With 552 total yards in four
games, owners who drafted him most likely came away with the steal of
their draft. |
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Randy Moss, WR, New England:
The Patriot’s off-the-field issues and dropoff on the field in Oakland
let him slide out of the top 10 and even top 15 on most owner’s
preseason cheat sheets at wide receiver. He’s on pace for 108 catches,
1,763 yards and 22 touchdowns. If you passed on Moss, you can stop
beating your head against the wall now. |
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Jason Witten, TE, Dallas:
After scoring just one touchdown in 2006, owners avoided him like the
plague in preseason drafts. He has more receptions, yards and
touchdowns than teammate Terrell Owens. Enough said. |
Others:
Tony Romo, QB, Dallas; Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay; Adrian Peterson, RB,
Minnesota; Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami; Braylon Edwards, WR, Cleveland;
Plaxico Burress, WR, N.Y. Giants; Derrick Mason, WR, Baltimore;
Benjamin Watson, TE, New England.
BUSTS
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Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans:
The Saint was taken as high as the No. 2 quarterback and no lower than
the No. 4 quarterback in most fantasy drafts. With just one touchdown
pass and nine interceptions, Brees isn’t in most league’s top 25
quarterbacks. |
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Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City:
With the many question-marks on Kansas City’s offense, many predicted
a dropoff in the Chief’s stats before the season, but nobody expected
this – zero touchdowns and 55 rushing yards or less in four of five
games, including a pathetic 12-yard performance last week. Don’t count
on him to be a fantasy stud this season, but his numbers should
improve as the Chiefs have seven games left against teams ranked 25th
or worse in run defense, including facing Cincinnati (29th) this week
and Denver (32nd) twice more. |
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Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo:
Drafted as a near top-10 receiver in many drafts, the Bill isn’t even
starter-worthy now. He has just 12 receptions, 113 yards and no
touchdowns. |
Others:
Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis; Thomas Jones, RB, N.Y. Jets; Maurice
Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville; Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans; Mark
Clayton, WR, Baltimore.
HOT READ
Bobby Engram, WR, Seattle:
The Seahawk could be a good bye-week fill-in the next two weeks. Wide
receivers Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett are out for the Seahawks’ next
two games, sliding Engram into the starting lineup.
BROKEN PLAY(ER)
Chris Chambers, WR, Miami:
The Dolphin started the season on a tear, recording at least 92 yards in
his first three games. In the last two, he has only 40 yards. With
starting quarterback Trent Green most likely lost for the season,
Chambers’ future looks bleak.
OFF THE BENCH
Damon Huard, QB, Kansas City:
If your starter is on a bye week, the Chief could be a good option.
Kansas City takes on Cincinnati’s 28th-ranked passing defense (251 yards
per game) that has allowed 11 touchdowns, the second most in the NFL.
SAFE BET
Chris Cooley, TE, Washington:
The Redskin is in line to have a big game against Green Bay. Washington
is banged up at wide receiver, and the Packers have given up a
league-high 362 yards to tight ends. Look for Cooley to get 75 yards and
a possible score.
EXTRA POINT
When looking for a defense/special
teams to fill in during bye weeks, first look for teams that will face
opponents that give up the most fantasy points. For example, on the
surface, picking up Washington last week against Detroit’s offense that
averaged 28.5 points per game entering the contest didn’t seem like a
smart move. However, savvy fantasy owners knew the Lions had allowed 21
sacks, four interceptions and six lost fumbles in the previous four
games, making the Redskins a top-notch option at home against
road-challenged Detroit. Washington allowed three points and had five
sacks, two interceptions, a touchdown and a safety. |
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