9/28/06
If you drafted the Oakland Raiders’ skill-position fantasy
trio, you struck out.
Strike 1 – LaMont Jordan. Strike 2 – Randy Moss. Strike
3 (you swung and missed at pitch that fell 6 feet short of the plate)
– Aaron Brooks.
While the preseason expectations were low for Brooks, owners whom
drafted Jordan and Moss were counting on much more from them.
So, what should you do with Jordan and Moss? As frustrated as you
may be with the duo, hang on to them. Don’t get suckered into
trading either for sub-par players or don’t make a knee-jerk
reaction and drop either of them. Here’s why:
Trade values can’t get any lower:
Jordan has 55 rushing yards on 29 carries for a microscopic 1.9-yard
average and has yet to catch a pass, making him the biggest fantasy
bust of the season after he was drafted among the top 10 in many
preseason drafts. Moss has six catches for 79 yards. Neither has
a touchdown. Nobody in your league likely will give up a player
who currently is excelling for Jordan or Moss, whom have given their
owners essentially nothing in the Raiders’ two games.
A favorable schedule is coming up:
Jordan and Moss have struggled against two of the top defenses in
the league – San Diego and Baltimore. With Cleveland coming
up this week and San Francisco next week, the opportunity will be
there for both to come out of hibernation. If they struggle in the
next two weeks, then their owners can start to panic and consider
getting what they can in a trade or waiver-wire pickup.
The potential still is high: Any
player that can be acquired through a trade or a waiver-wire pickup
probably doesn’t have the upside that Jordan and Moss do.
Jordan gained more than 1,500 total yards, scored 11 touchdowns
and was the league’s leading receiver at running back last
season with 70 receptions. Moss, meanwhile, recorded a 1,000-yard
season with eight touchdowns while battling injuries. Both still
have the talent to excel. Both still will be a big part of the Raiders’
offense. Both will be crutches for new starting quarterback Andrew
Walter (or Brooks if he regains his starting job when he’s
healthy) as Oakland’s only offensive threats.
Hot Read
Maurice Morris, Seattle: When
the starting running back of the defending NFC champions becomes
available, you have to pick him up. Morris takes over as the Seahawks’
starter after fantasy-stud Shaun Alexander sustained an ankle
injury. In limited duty in his five years with Seattle, he’s
averaged 4.5 yards per carry and has shown the ability to catch
the ball out of the backfield. Don’t expect Alexander-type
numbers from Morris, but with matchups against St. Louis and Kansas
City likely and a possible game against Oakland, the fifth-year
player safely can be started as a No. 2 fantasy running back.
Broken Play(er)
Chris Chambers, Miami: Some
guy named Wes Welker has more receptions and receiving yards on
the Dolphins than Chambers. The acquisition of quarterback Daunte
Culpepper was supposed to take Chambers to an elite level. Instead,
the former University of Wisconsin product has just 153 receiving
yards and one touchdown. Last week, Chambers had 39 receiving
yards against the pathetic Tennessee pass defense. This week,
Miami takes on Houston’s weak defense. If Chambers and Culpepper
can’t find the chemistry to light up the Texans, the Dolphins’
passing game may never get going.
Off The Bench
L.J. Smith, Philadelphia: The
tight end faces Green Bay and its struggling pass defense that
ranks second-to-last with 301 passing yards allowed per game.
Smith leads the Eagles with 16 receptions and should be a big
part of Philadelphia’s passing game against Green Bay on
Monday night.
Safe Bet
Steve McNair, Baltimore: The
veteran quarterback will be held to less than 200 passing yards
against San Diego’s No. 1-ranked passing defense that has
allowed a stingy 102.5 yards per game. McNair has struggled with
his accuracy (55.4 percent completion percentage) against Tampa
Bay, Oakland and Cleveland, so a matchup against the Chargers
is one fantasy owners should avoid.
Extra Point
If you own Tennessee running back Chris Brown, drop him and take
your chances on a waiver-wire player with potential. Brown’s
potential is extremely limited because he has to battle for carries
with Travis Henry and LenDale White, he’s injury-prone,
and he plays for the awful Titans’ offense.
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