Questions abound as the fantasy postseason looms

On a weekend when DeSean Jackson was benched for missing a team meeting and Matt Stafford threw more scoring passes to the Chicago defense than he did to his own receivers, I suppose we shouldn’t be shocked that the best quarterback on the field in Philly on Sunday was named John Skelton.

Or that Tim Tebow’s second, and last, pass completion of the game was a 56-yard strike to Eric Decker that not only saved the Broncos but transformed otherwise disastrous outings from both players into solid fantasy performances.

Michael Vick broke two ribs and Matt Schaub incurred a serious foot injury, and nobody knows until Monday?

This is no way to run a fantasy season.

So what are Darren McFadden’s owners supposed to think now that Michael Bush has posted three consecutive stellar games in his relief? There’s no way Bush just puts on a baseball cap and cheers from the sidelines when Run-DMC returns, right?

And as poorly has Matt Cassel has been playing recently, should Dwayne Bowe’s owners be panicked or relieved that Tyler Palko will likely be running the Chiefs’ offense for the next few weeks, if not the rest of the season?

Ah yes, these are the things that make us fantasy enthusiasts crazy, and intrigued, as we enter the stretch run toward the postseason.

On a related note, it only took 10 weeks, but it appears Chris Johnson is finally back. Hopefully you weren’t the bonehead that lost hope and traded him for Javon Ringer and a six pack of Yoo-hoo.

Now, which of my competitors can I sucker into taking Bowe off my hands?


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


Lance Ball, RB, Broncos. Two down, one to go. Ball is the last man standing in the Denver backfield now that both Willis McGahee (hamstring) and Knowshon Moreno (knee -- out for the season) were injured in Sunday’s contest. He responded with 96 yards on a whopping 30 carries; but, of course, Tim Tebow got the rushing TD. Ball will likely lead the charge on Thursday night, albeit against a strong Jets run defense.

Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers. Once again, if you’re a Frank Gore owner and don’t have Hunter at the ready, you’re asking for trouble. Gore added a knee injury to his ankle ailments Sunday, and missed the majority of the game. Though the starter could be ready by Week 11, there are no guarantees. And the odds keep getting worse that Gore will survive the stretch run intact.

Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders. The rookie was a popular waiver-wire wonder earlier in the season, then was promptly discarded by most owners after he disappeared from Oakland’s offense. Now that Carson Palmer has re-discovered him – most recently with a 123-yard, two-touchdown outburst last Thursday night – and with Jacoby Ford (foot) out indefinitely, Moore deserves a second chance.

Don’t be fooled

John Skelton, QB, Cardinals. A quarterback controversy is brewing in the desert, now that Skelton has played well in back-to-back wins. Kevin Kolb (toe, foot) has not played up to his contract, so Skelton could remain under center even after the starter returns. Just don’t read too much into the first three-touchdown outing of Skelton’s career.

Kevin Walter, WR, Texans. If you haven’t given up on him yet, now’s the time. Houston heads into its bye with all signs pointing to Andre Johnson’s return in Week 12. Neither Walter nor Jacoby Jones will have any remaining fantasy value at that point.


Ed Dickson, TE, Ravens. Joe Flacco’s receivers tend to accumulate stats in brief spurts, so don’t expect Dickson to lead the team in receiving, or scoring, again any time soon. Only owners desperate for bye-week help in Week 11 should consider adding Dickson; and only then as a short-term fix.

Stop screaming; it’s merely a flesh wound

Remember the scene in The Empire Strikes Back when Han Solo is frozen in carbonite in mid-scream? That’s how I pictured Mike Vick’s owners, myself included, upon hearing that he’d broken his hand while taking another pummeling on Sunday.

Now, I realize the Star Wars reference only reinforces the image of the stereotypical fantasy “geek,” but I’m not worried about being bullied. It’s Vick’s broken bones that could hurt me.

Fortunately, the news isn’t as bone-chilling as first reported. Vick’s non-throwing right hand is bruised and badly swollen, but not broken. He’ll be iffy heading into this weekend, but a month-long absence is no longer in the cards.

But you can’t help wondering if Vick is playing on borrowed time, given the heavy punishment he keeps absorbing. While his extended loss wouldn’t necessarily cause an offensive tailspin like that experienced by the Manning-less Colts, those counting on DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin must be concerned. Whether the underachieving Vince Young or the inexperienced Mike Kafka took over, the Eagles’ wide-open offense wouldn’t be nearly as explosive. Opposing defenses would shift their attention squarely on budding superstar LeSean McCoy, who might find his running lanes much more clogged.

But Vick’s owners aren’t the only ones sporting the Solo shriek these days. Run into a Chris Johnson or Arian Foster owner lately? They’re easy to spot with the dark cloud hovering over their heads.

Meanwhile, Adrian Peterson is feeling so good, he’s pledged $5,000 for every touchdown he scores to help at-risk youth through his All Day Foundation. The “Football for Good” campaign, launched this weekend in tandem with Hollywood A-listers Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, is the rare off-field story you like to hear from a star athlete. Jackson and Dallas Clark have even agreed to match Peterson’s pledges.

In appreciation for the three touchdowns Peterson has already delivered in two of my leagues, the Chief Fool has pitched in at the online fundraising site (www.crowdrise.com/football). Imagine the difference 25 million fantasy fanatics could collectively make by “giving back” to Peterson’s cause? Hey, it might even help shed our nerdy image…


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

Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers. Owners of Frank Gore will want to hedge their bets with Hunter, who totaled 38 yards and a touchdown after the starter injured his ankle. Following the game, Gore talked like a guy who didn’t expect to play in Week 4. The Niners have not had much success on the ground thus far, though; so Hunter is only a stop-gap measure.

Bernard Scott, RB, Bengals. With Cedric Benson headed for a three-game suspension, Scott will be the Bengals’ interim starter. Though Brian Leonard should see some carries as well, Scott is the more explosive back. More important, if Scott gets hot, Benson’s starting job might not be waiting for him in Week 7.

Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens. When you rack up 133 yards and three scores on your first three NFL receptions, you attract a measure of attention. The speedy rookie won’t jump ahead of Lee Evans (ankle) into a starting job overnight, mostly due to his reputation for inconsistency; but he has surely secured a spot on Joe Flacco’s radar.

Nate Washington, WR, Titans. Just as I was preparing to recommend Matt Hasselbeck, who currently ranks tenth among fantasy passers, Kenny Britt suffered what appears to be a season-ending knee injury. While Hasselbeck’s stock takes a hit with the loss of the AFC’s leading receiver, Washington’s soars. He tallied eight receptions for 92 yards and a TD on Sunday.

Don’t be fooled

Vince Young, QB, Eagles. If Vick sits out the Week 4 contest with the 49ers, Young could get the starting nod. But Kafka was called upon after Vick went down Sunday, so perhaps he’ll be the man. Young hasn’t been fantasy-relevant since his rookie year in 2006. Kafka has 107 passing yards and two interceptions on his NFL resume. I’ll turn to my bench for help this week.

Roy Williams, WR, Bears. Three weeks ago, I set the over/under on Williams losing his starting job to Johnny Knox at five weeks. If you took the under, you’re sitting pretty. After dropping every pass he touched on Sunday, Williams should be on your waiver wire today.