This so-called ‘Big Ben’ must be stopped

Who’s that under center in Pittsburgh and what have they done with Ben Roethlisberger?

That can’t be the Big Ben that has cracked the Top 10 fantasy QBs in just three of his first 10 seasons. That’s not the same guy that has followed nearly every masterful fantasy performance throughout his career with a dud the next week.

I know it can’t be him, because who else could pass for 522 yards and 6 TDs and still be benched by half his owners the next game – on a weekend when six teams are on bye, no less? Roethlisberger isn’t even owned in about 15 percent of all fantasy leagues!

The Big Ben I know had a pedestrian 10 total scoring passes in his first seven games, including a 217-yard, zero-TD, one-interception stinker in Week 2 at Baltimore. So who was that lighting up the Ravens for 340 yards and a half-dozen touchdowns?

Someone needs to get to the bottom of this, because it’s throwing everything out of whack in Fantasyland. It’s strange enough to see Antonio Brown at the top of the receiver rankings; now Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant are getting into the act, too.

Is Emmanuel Sanders regretting his decision to go to Denver and play with that Omaha-yelling slouch they have there? After all, it’s taken Peyton Manning four games to throw as many scoring strikes as that Big Ben imposter has collected in half the time.

Alert the authorities. The Steelers’ passing game has been hijacked!

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Alfred Blue, RB, Texans. We were reminded yet again that as great as Arian Foster can be, he is no stranger to the trainer’s table. He’ll have the Texans’ bye week to rest his injured groin, but Foster’s owners would be wise to have his backup ready just in case his latest injury lingers.

Martavis Bryant, WR, Steelers. Geez, when I’m wrong, I’m wrong! Big Ben is making it rain and his receivers are getting drenched. Bryant added two more end zone visits Sunday night to the three he accumulated over his first two games on Pittsburgh’s active roster. Still widely available, Bryant should not just be scooped up, but given a starting nod next week against the lowly Jets.

Owen Daniels, TE, Ravens. Daniels returned much more quickly than expected from the cleanup procedure on his knee less than two weeks ago. He even led his team in targets and receptions on Sunday night. Those needing a boost, or a bye-week replacement, at the tight end position should grab him while he’s available.

Don’t be fooled

Mark Sanchez, QB, Eagles. If you’ve played fantasy football for at least two years, you know better than to count on Sanchez. Even in Chip Kelly’s offense, he is simply not trustworthy. Look elsewhere if you need to find a replacement for Nick Foles, who is expected to miss a month or more due to his broken collarbone.

Matt Asiata, RB, Vikings. Asiata is arguably the most ridiculous fantasy RB in history. Who else either scores three rushing TDs, or none? Sunday was the third time in the last 11 games that Asiata had a TD hat trick. Over the rest of his three seasons, he has just one solitary touchdown, and it came through the air. So it’s not like Asiata regularly poaches goal-line runs from Jerick McKinnon. He’s simply feast or famine, and forecasting when the buffet line will be open is a fool’s errand.