Six teams will be enjoying their bye in both Weeks 8 and 9.
The challenging fortnight begins with the Aaron Rodgers-less Packers and Carson
Palmer-less Cardinals joining the Jaguars, Rams, Giants, Titans, you and me on
the couch.
Following that, the Bears, Browns, Chargers, Vikings,
Patriots and Steelers will be idle.
Few fantasy teams will have sufficient depth to field a full
starting lineup without working the waiver wire. Savvy owners planned ahead and
made a preemptive move or two to minimize the number of transactions required
this week. If this weekend isn’t your concern, be sure to look at your Week 9
schedule to see if you should be making an early swap at kicker, defense, tight
end or other bench player.
Admittedly, at this stage of the season, the pickings are
thin. But some value can be had, especially when considering defensive units
facing beleaguered offenses. The Eagles (owned in less than half of all
leagues) are a safe bet against the winless 49ers. The Bengals should have some
success against the Colts. And the Saints should continue their defensive
renaissance against the pass-challenged Bears.
This is also prime time for trading, as most owners will be
scrambling just like you. Check out your opponents’ pain points over the next
couple of weeks, and probe to see if they are more amenable to a trade than
they might otherwise be.
Hey, all’s fair in love and fantasy football. Taking
advantage of a desperate competitor is part and parcel of the game.
WAIVER WIRE PICKS AND PANS
To win a fantasy championship, it’s best to start with a
great draft. But filling gaps in your roster with the occasional waiver-wire
acquisition can also pay big dividends. Here's a look at some players worth
considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.
Catch ‘em while you
can
Matt Moore,
QB, Dolphins. Many Dolfans got what they’ve been asking for when Moore took
over Sunday for the injured Jay Cutler. Moore isn’t going to erase the memory
of Dan Marino, but he brings experience and a steadier hand to the passing
game. For those with injury or bye-week issues at QB, Moore could come through
on Thursday night. And if he soars, Cutler’s return could be “delayed.”
Jalen Richard and
DeAndre Washington, RBs, Raiders. Marshawn Lynch had been disappointing
enough before he got himself ejected and left those who trusted him in their
starting lineups with a big fat zero. Richard and Washington will presumably
share the load in Week 8 against the Bills, and with the passing game seemingly
back in fine form, they both have a chance to excel. As the more versatile of
the two, Richard is option 1(a) to Washington’s 1(b).
Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris, RBs, Cowboys. The Zeke Elliott saga continues
to play out in the courts, and he will play in Week 8. But it seems
increasingly likely that the superstar RB’s six-game suspension is imminent.
The Cowboys haven’t yet tipped their hand on who will start in his place, but
my expectation is for a committee approach, with the proverbial “hot hand”
taking the lead. Both backs are, therefore, worth owning.
Kenny Stills,
WR, Dolphins. Stills has speed and talent, but he is frustratingly
inconsistent. If Sunday’s game is any indication, he and Moore have built a
strong chemistry in practice. If DeVante Parker remains out and Cutler takes
time to heal, Stills could add to his Week 7 heroics.
Don’t be fooled
Drew Stanton,
QB, Cardinals. Not only should you never put your fantasy team in Stanton’s
hands, but with Arizona’s bye week on tap, you can safely release any of your Cardinals
receivers not named Larry Fitzgerald. This passing game without Carson Palmer
at the helm is going to get even uglier than it’s been for most of this season.
Travis Benjamin, WR, Chargers. The speedster dazzled on his punt-return TD and 42-yard
TD reception. But keep in mind the latter was Benjamin’s only catch of the day.
That gives him a total of 14 receptions on the season – an average of two per
game. He’s the definition of boom or bust, and it’s mostly bust.
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