Guys you want to grab for Week 7 and beyond
There's a guy in my main league, let's call him "Pete" who drafted both Dallas Clark and Jermichael Finley in our auction draft.
I found his move frustrating, but shrewd. His view was that he had missed the boat (by that point in the draft) on WR1s, and that he suspected that one or both of these guys would have monster seasons. He was likely planning to play Dallas Clark and move Finley.
Genius. I thought.
I made a play for Finley, but was rebuffed. "Pete" was going to get more value than I was offering. And he's the kind of guy that can spin anything but is incapable of lying, so when he shoots you down, he lets you know exactly why, and you leave feeling okay about it.
In talking to some other coaches in the league, I got the sense that I wasn't the only one who sent an offer "Pete's" way, trying to wrest Finley from him. But as of week 6, he was still on "Pete's" roster.
And who is Pete starting in week 7? Fred Davis.
Finley is on IR. Clark is out indefinitely.
Those are just Tight Ends. I mean, how deep do you have to be to win your league, for fuck's sake?
Okay, so maybe "Pete" should have traded earlier, but there's no way for him to know that, frankly, and there's no way to know that the player he traded for wouldn't be hurt as well.
But he loses value, and like they say in A Bronx Tale, "there's nothing worse than wasted value."
Actually, they say "wasted talent" but what do they know about fantasy football? Dick, that's what. The movie A Bronx Tale knows dick about fantasy football.
There's another guy in my main league. Let's call him "Jeremetrius".
"Jeremetrius" drafted Peyton Manning with McNabb on the bench. Fine. Now, there isn't a person in the universe that thinks "Jeremetrius" is ever going to sit Peyton, for any reason, ever.
And "Jeremetrius" admits it, openly. The only reason he needs McNabb is to cover Peyton's bye week, which happens to be this week. Washington at Chicago.
"Jeremetrius" was approached by several coaches at the prospect of trading McNabb. I had drafted Kolb as my only starter, and when he got hurt, I was left in the lurch. I approached "Jeremetrius" and inquired about McNabb, but he wanted Calvin Johnson for him.
I tried to work out a lower end deal (see Tiers), but "Jeremetrius" wouldn't budge. And that was back at the beginning of the season when McNabb was showing better numbers than he is now. He had the benefit of mystery. He had a few big statistical days. Frankly, he had the trading advantage because I needed a QB and he had what may have been a good one.
Trading McNabb would have meant that he'd have to get a QB for week 7, but there are about six of them on the waiver wire with better matchuops than facing Julius Peppers away.
So, "Jeremetrius" keeps McNabb, who is utterly devoid of value, because by now, everyone is set at QB.
Like they said in the movie Apocalypse Now "I love the smell of wasted value in the morning."
Or something like that.
So, in an effort to help you rebuild a little value and a little depth in some positions that have been racked by injury, let me throw out a few players to grab going forward:
TE
There are lots of perfectly decent tight ends available on most wires.
Aaron Hernandez - If he's available, grab him. He's a dynamic talent.
Owen Daniels - Was the #1 TE in the league when he got hurt last year. I fully expect him to have a huge presence in the Texans offense going forward, now that he looks healthy.
Ben Watson - Leads the Browns in receiving targets, receptions and yards. I don't think he's much more than an average NFL talent, but he's getting the looks on a team that's frankly not as bad as everyone thinks.
Jacob Tamme - The Indy TE. I think Peyton throws to the slot more often in the absence of Clark, but I think Peyton needs a TE like a fish needs water.
Tony Scheffler/Brandon Pettigrew - There's a debate as to who will get the better looks when Stafford returns. My money is on Scheffler. Pettigrew has benefited from the short passing game of the Detroit backup QB's and will continue to get looks, but I think Scheffler is the better long term grab.
Andrew Quarless - Many people will tell you Donald Lee is the better pick, but I don't trust him. I think you see Lee get one TD this week or next, ten million people will pick him up and hold him for three weeks before they realize that he's useless. Be smart and grab Quarless, or be even smarter and grab Jordy Nelson.
Visanthe Shiancoe - Lots of people dropped him. He may not get back to where he was last season, but he should remain fantasy relevant.
RB
Danny Woodhead - I know, I can't believe what I'm saying either. But he's taken over the Kevin Faulk role and has quickly become the darling of the Patriots backfield. Fred Taylor isn't even practicing and Law Firm is no more than a middling talent. Woodhead gets the nod, especially in PPR leagues.
James Starks - Might be the player that wins you a championship. And he may never play.
Tashard Choice - He's done zip this year, but after watching the Cowboys play it's pretty clear. Marion Barber can still fight for short yardage, but he just doesn't look good and won't breakout this year. Felix Jones was supposed to be the kind of player that could score on any play, but he isn't. They must have thrown him ten screen passes last game and he looked more like Julius Jones out there. The Coyboys have a great fantasy playoff schedule and by then Choice may be in the mix.
Jerome Harrison - You never know how this will shake out, and I'm not a huge fan of his, but if last season is any indication, he does have some upside and I love the offense he was traded into. A must handcuff for Shady McCoy owners.
Keiland Williams - I wrote weeks ago about how I thought Portis sucked and Torain would get the job. (I wrote that while Torain was still on the Skins practice squad and Larry Johnson was cut to make room for Torain later that day). Torain has looked decent, but I have a gut feeling about the guy that he's either going to get dinged or wear out. His running style has been bruising, and you have to give him credit for the good numbers he's putting up, but he does seem like more of a plodder than a runner. Williams has considerably more natural talent.
Deji Karim - He's getting some touches, which isn't saying much, but a decent grab if your team awards for return yards.
Earnest Graham - Barely. Nothing but a depth pick here, but he's actually getting touches. LeGarrette Blount is someone with potential now that Huggins is done for the year, but I don't like what a hotheaded idiot he seems to be.
Here's Blount punching someone while he was in college:
And here's Blount punching a teammate in Titans minicamp.
After both he does the dancing boxer thing (I don't know what it's called) but I never trust guys like this on my fantasy squad. Matt Jones used to be like this. You just never knew what the morning's headlines would bring. Some of these players are like wild animals and until they understand how to do film study, and prepare like a professional, it's tough to trust them.
WR
Mike Williams - I love them both, but I'm talking about the Seattle WR here. You just can't turn your nose up at 15 targets. Grab him.
Dexter McCluster - May be available. You make sure he isn't.
Danario Alexander - He's got skill. He may be for real. I'd take a chance on him.
Buster Davis - Probably just a one week plug in of you're desperate, but the Patriots pass defense is soft and it looks like Floyd is out, Naanee is dinged and may be out and Gates will likely play, but he's hurting big time.
Michael Jenkins - I don't like this receiver at all, to be honest, but he may be a decent one week play. I always wonder why the Falcons don't go out and get a real WR2 to free up Roddy White a bit.
Nate Burleson - should have a great second half of the year. I've been pimping him since preseason.
Deion Branch - If he's still out there, which he shouldn't be if your league has humans in it. I'm not as high on him as some people, but he'll produce.
Deion Butler - Again, might be a one week play. Willaims will likely have DRC draped all over him this week, which may open up some shots for Butler.
Brandon Tate - a disgusted owner may have ditched him. You can pick him up.
Anthony Armstrong - Has upside, though I don;t trust the Skins pass offense yet.
Steve Johnson - Ditto about the Bills.
dallas clark, donovan mcnabb, jermichael finley | in Analysis, Fantasy, Fantasy Football 
