Fantasy Desperation, Part Deux

Welcome back to the only place that re-allows you to fantasize about winning fantasy football, completely guilt-free. I trust you have already checked on Matt Schaub’s and Kolby Smith’s availability, so let’s now look to some potential free-agent wide receivers, tight ends, kickers, and defenses that could help stabilize unrealized future playoff dominance. I know that once my players saw I meant business with my latest transactions…well, let’s just say that my recent fantasy practices have been nothing to laugh at.

Best available Free Agents

Wide Receiver
1. D.J. Hackett/Deion Branch
2. James Jones
3. Kevin Walter/Andre Davis
4. David Patten
5. Bernard Berrian
6. Ike Hilliard
7. Justin Gage
8. Arnaz Battle
9. Terry Glenn
10.Devin Hester

9-1-1
1. Drew Carter
2. Keenan McCardell
3. Amani Toomer
4. Nate Washington
5. Various Jacksonville/Seattle receivers (Reggie Williams, Dennis Northcutt
Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram)

If you haven’t heard, the Seattle Seahawks have adopted a very pass-heavy offensive mindset. This greatly increases the value of their starting wideouts. While this is normally Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett (as listed on the depth chart), both have been plagued by injuries this season. Burleson and Engram have both had big games in relief. Check on injuries/matchups to see which would best fit your team.

For some reason, I see James Jones available in a lot of fantasy leagues. He shouldn’t be. Favre is a man.

Kevin Walter and Andre Davis have both seen a decrease in receptions with Texans star Andre Johnson back from injury, but as long as Houston’s running game remains laughable, Texans wideouts get an extra boost of fantasy value. It should be noted that Kevin Walter is listed as the team’s second starting wideout behind Johnson, which should mean more opportunities than Davis.

David Patten has emerged as a reliable #2 behind Colston in New Orleans. His numbers haven’t been as spectacular the past few weeks, but he should be good for at least a couple more touchdowns this season.

Berrian has averaged near 80 yards a game this season, though it seems a lot of his catches come on long bombs from Grossman. Well, since sexy Rexy is back in the starting role, you can expect a few more of those.

Ike Hilliard has embraced his new crafty veteran quarterback, Jeff Garcia, and developed good chemistry. Galloway is often injured, which leads to more receptions for Hilliard.

Justin Gage is more of an emerging fantasy option as Vince Young struggles to throw the ball in an accurate fashion. He had one of the most impressive touchdown grabs I’ve seen all season, balancing entirely on his helmet for a split second while he reached for a bobbled ball in the endzone before snaring it in.

Arnaz Battle has led the 49ers in receptions on multiple occasions this season, despite being regarded as a third option behind Darrel Jackson and TE Vernon Davis. To be fair, the 49ers offense is pathetic.

I keep hearing that Terry Glenn will be back in 1-2 weeks. Well, if he is, he would have great fantasy potential in a monstrous offense.

Devin Hester has been under the radar the last few weeks. He probably isn’t going to catch many more touchdowns this year (I think both of his came with Griese in the lineup, and Berrian is clearly the long-ball favorite of Grossman), but he could always take one back on a punt or kick return. 6 points is 6 points.

I’m not going to take a lot of time to go through the 9-1-1 guys. Drew Carter has the better hands of the second-tier of receivers (Steve Smith being tier 1) on the Carolina Panthers, Keenan McCardell is a nice redzone target, Amani Toomer is a solid veteran with great concentration, and Nate Washington will see an increase in PT as long as Holmes remains sidelined.

Tight Ends
1. Vernon Davis
2. Alex Smith
3. Eric Johnson
4. Leonard Pope
5. Jeff King
6. L.J. Smith

Tight End really isn’t important enough to go into 9-1-1; you’re rarely going to have a tight end that catches multiple touchdowns or has a 100 yard game and isn’t named Antonio Gates. I won’t be including 9-1-1 for defenses or kickers, either, but I’ll try to include enough so that you’ll have options.

Vernon Davis is a great football player. Despite not living up to rumors of a “break-out” season, and despite the struggling San Francisco offense, Davis has tremendous upside. He is one of the fastest tight ends in the game, maximizing potential yards-after-catch.

Alex Smith (not the bumbling idiot who lobs the ball around in San Fran, the TE from Tampa) has become somewhat of a favorite redzone target for Jeff Garcia.

Eric Johnson benefits from having a great quarterback. Brees’ play has been amazing through the middle weeks of the season.

Leonard Pope is a beast—this 6’8” monster exploded for two touchdowns a week ago, but rarely averages more than a handful of targets a game.

Jeff King is one of the most consistent parts of the Carolina passing game, but don’t expect him to catch many touchdowns. Don’t expect anyone from Carolina to catch many touchdowns.

I hate L.J. Smith for the same reason I like honey-nut cheerios with vanilla ice cream. My arbitrary feelings notwithstanding, he is a decent fantasy option now that he is healthy.

Defenses
1. Indianapolis
2. Tampa Bay
3. Kansas City
4. Arizona
5. Cincinnati
6. Anyone who plays against the Dolphins, Jets, or Falcons

If you don’t have a reliable defense at this point, it’s going to be best to try and plug and play one defense at a time, with high regard to weekly match-ups.

Kicker
1. Jason Hanson
2. Kris Brown
3. Mason Crosby
4. Sebastian Janikowski
5. Robbie Gould
6. Shayne Graham
7. Phil Dawson
8. John Kasay

One of the worst things you can do in fantasy football is fall in love with a kicker, defense, or tight end, and just keep waiting and waiting for them to perform. Be liberal in switching kickers, and NEVER carry more than one on your team. The best piece of advice I can give you at this point is to DROP Adam Vinatieri, Nick Folk or Stephen Gostkowski if you have been riding their wave of PATs to this point. You want to focus on kickers whose redzone offense or running game struggles, making their team one-dimensional near the goal line. Those are the guys who are going to get field goal opportunities.

Please feel free at ANY time to post ANY questions about who to start, sit, whether potential trades are worth the investment, or other inquiries you might have. Comment here, e-mail me at erickfore@gmail.com , or feel free to send me an IM—Doctor Ummer