Bargains lift playoff hopes
I consider myself a relatively savvy fantasy football player.
I’m diligent on the waiver wire, I frequently tweak my team(s) and I sacrifice points for a week if it will help me for a month.
But until last year, I wasn’t a contender for league championships. That is, until I read a story by a well-known fantasy columnist about playoff matchups. And I added a few players and I dropped a few players, and I won three championships.
With that in mind, here’s a list of waiver-wire casualties who could propel your team into contention this season:
• Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay quarterback: It made me do a double-take, but look at this stat: Garcia threw three interceptions against Jacksonville in Week 8 but has zero picks in every other game this season. The 37-year-old has lapped from the Fountain of Youth this season, becoming a patient and smart passer while his team almost has locked up the NFC South.
Against Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco and Carolina in Weeks 14-17, Garcia won’t get a ton of yardage but should toss a handful of touchdowns and, as that previous statistic revealed, not many interceptions.
• Jay Cutler, Denver quarterback: Cutler has had an uneven season, and the fact he’s thrown multiple touchdowns only twice this year scares me. But he’s got a favorable fantasy playoff schedule (vs. Kansas City, at Houston, at San Diego, vs. Minnesota), and wide receiver Javon Walker will return shortly. He could be a decent option should the injury bug bite late in the season.
• Koren Robinson, Green Bay wide receiver: After his reinstatement following an eight-game suspension, Robinson has been filtered back into the Green Bay offense. While the Packers have two solid receivers in Donald Driver and Greg Jennings and a capable rookie in James Jones, Robinson still will get his piece of the Packer pie. With St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit on the Packers’ fantasy playoff schedule, Robinson is worth a look in deep leagues.
• Patrick Crayton, Dallas wide receiver: Crayton has become an ideal complementary receiver in the Cowboys’ passing game. His game splits are striking — he had 184 of his 482 yards and two of his five touchdowns in Week 4 against St. Louis — but he’ll continue to be a worthwhile grab with Dallas’ easy playoff schedule.
• Ron Dayne, Houston running back: Ahman Green is basically done for the year, and I had to look up Adimchinobi Echemandu’s name seven times before I spelled it right, which isn’t a good sign. Enter Dayne, who’s taken the Texans’ starting spot and had two consecutive above-average efforts. He’ll keep the job and be a producer as things progress.
• Kansas City defense: The Chiefs are allowing a decent 18.6 points per game, and with 25 sacks and 19 takeaways, the unit is worth a look. If you have New England, obviously stand Pat — get it? Patriots, stand pat? I’ll stop now.
On to an abbreviated locks of the week:
MONEYMAKERS
• Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle quarterback vs. St. Louis: I’m not a big Hasselbeck guy usually, but he’s had a good year and, most importantly, been consistent. With two touchdown passes in each of the past five games, Hasselbeck has become a constant in an otherwise iffy Seattle offense. Against the Rams this week, he might double his recent scoring.
• Andre Johnson, Houston wide receiver vs. Cleveland: Johnson’s first game back from an injury that cost him seven weeks was a good one — 120 yards and a touchdown. For all the talk about Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, Johnson might have joined the conversation if not for the bum wheel. Now back and healthy, Johnson might be just as valuable as the top two studs during the season’s final weeks.
• Edgerrin James, Arizona running back vs. San Francisco: James’ yards-per-carry average has been awful, but first-year Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt keeps feeding him the ball. The one thing lacking from his arsenal has been the long ball, as his long run for the season is 27 yards. Against an awful 49ers squad, watch him regain some of his mojo.
WINGMEN
• Jamal Lewis, Cleveland running back vs. Houston: The Texans’ run defense is nothing to write home about, and Lewis is showing some — albeit not all — of his old form. Averaging his most yards per carry since 2004, Lewis has scored seven times and should find the end zone at least once against Houston.
• Dwyane Bowe, Kansas City wide receiver vs. Oakland: The Raiders’ linebacker corps is fast and can keep up with good tight ends, so Kansas City’s quarterback du jour likely will shy away from Tony Gonzalez. That could force the ball into the hands of Bowe, who has become the league’s top rookie receiver.
• Heath Miller, Pittsburgh tight end vs. Miami: The Steelers enter this game hungry and angry after a pitiful performance against the New York Jets last week. Miller will be on the receiving end of at least six Ben Roethlisberger passes and should be targeted in the end zone frequently.
BANK-BREAKERS
• Willis McGahee, Baltimore running back vs. San Diego: This could be risky, seeing as the Chargers have been susceptible to the long run. But Shawne Merriman is angry, and I can’t go against that. He scares me.
• Chad Johnson, Cincinnati wide receiver vs. Tennessee: In a weird way, Johnson’s insane ability might hurt him. Always facing the opponent’s top cornerback, always being spied on by the opponent’s over-the-top safety, Johnson doesn’t get the first look from Carson Palmer anymore. (Hello, T.J. Hoos-yo-momma.)
• Jacksonville defense vs. Buffalo: Projected at 13 points in standard defensive scoring, the Jaguars won’t have such an easy time against the Bills. With J.P. Losman behind center and the team playing with reckless abandon at this point, Buffalo could do some damage.
QUICK PICK SIX
Miller, Bowe, Hasselbeck, WR Hines Ward (vs. Miami), WR D.J. Hackett (vs. St. Louis), QB Vince Young (vs. Cincinnati).
Jon Gold is a Review-Journal sports writer with 10 fantasy football teams. His column is published Friday. He can be reached at jgold@reviewjournal.com.
