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| Authored by Erick Arnold - 6th October, 2010 - 7:41 pm
 More games played mean more injuries to NFL starters thereby leading to some necessary additions to every fantasy roster. Here?s the short list of players to add (some of which were mentioned on our Watch List in prior weeks) to your squad followed by RealGM?s fantasy ?Watch List? to keep your eye on:
- QB Kevin Kolb
- WR Davonne Bess
- RB Mike Bell
- RB Fred Jackson
- RB Marshawn Lynch*
- RB Ryan Torrain
- RB Michael Bush
- WR Brandon Tate
- DEF New Orleans
Watch List
- QB David Garrard
Normally, I wouldn?t recommend playing any quarterback facing the 11th ranked pass defense nor would I normally recommend playing QB David Garrard. However, in Week 5 looks can be very, very deceiving because Garrard gets the worst run defense in the NFL: the Buffalo Bills. Obviously MJD owners a frothing at the mouth but Tom Brady owners should be as well. With Jacksonville gaining 175 yards running the ball last week against Indy (coincidentally Buffalo?s per game average), look for Buffalo to key on the Jags run game regardless of how futile the effort. If Jacksonville runs the ball effectively ? which they certainly will ? then Garrard will be that much more effective on play action passes. Furthermore, with newly acquired QB Trent Edwards being promoted to the backup role, Garrard will be pushed to produce on a short leash. Garrard is known amongst his peers and locker room as a legitimate pro thus expecting him to respond positively to the competition is a very safe assumption. MJD owners may cringe to hear this but expect Garrard to get 17 fantasy points this week in a nice plug-n-play for Brady?s bye week or QB Michael Vick owners who aren?t sold on QB Kevin Kolb.
- QB Bruce Gradkowski
Coming off of an utter decimation of Arizona?s feeble offense, San Diego?s defense could find themselves in a trap game of sorts on the road against the traditionally soft Oakland Raiders. It?s well documented that the Chargers offense can score a lot of points and will likely do so against the Raiders defense this week. However, from a fantasy perspective that?s exactly what QB Bruce Gradkowski owners would want because it would force the Raiders to pass the ball from behind. Against a decent Houston defense, Gradkowski threw for almost 300 yards with two scores. Expect San Diego to key on the Raider rushing attack forcing Oakland to throw the ball, much of what Houston?s game plan was last week. Granted QB David Garrard and possibly QB Sam Bradford would perhaps be better plays this week but, if you buy into QB Trent Edwards or Detroit?s defense then Gradkowski could be a sneaky plug- n-play. Regardless, Gradkowski should certainly be on your fantasy radar if you?ve got a QB with an upcoming bye week given the Raiders upcoming opponents (49ers, Broncos, Seahawks).
- WR Mohamed Massaquoi
I?ll be the first to admit that I wrongly picked the Bengals to beat the Browns last week. I also got a note before the game from a friend of mine (who happens to be good friends with Browns QB Seneca Wallace) that said the Browns believe in themselves and truly believed that they?d win that game. With a potent running game, QB Seneca Wallace proved me and a lot of other experts wrong last week. Going with that theme, running the football effectively in the NFL will open up the passing game. WR Mohamed Massaquoi is the most talented receiver in Cleveland but has been a disappointment thus far this season. If QB Jake Delhomme returns from an injury this week, keep an eye on Massaquoi?s production. Delhomme and Massaquoi had a nice rapport this training camp and in the preseason. If the former Georgia wideout re-kindles that same chemistry with Delhomme this week against Atlanta, Massaquoi could be an intriguing bye-week option moving forward.
- WR Tiquan Underwood
QB David Garrard hooked up with WR Tiquan Underwood two times in the game-winning drive against Indianapolis this past week. Don?t get me wrong, three receptions for 41 yards isn?t the type of production fantasy owners want from their wideouts but with last year?s fantasy darling, WR Mike Sims-Walker, virtually non-existent thus far this season fantasy owners should certainly be monitoring Underwood?s progress this week. Opposing defenses have picked up on the fact that TE Marcedes Lewis is now a focal point of this offense along with MJD. Thus, Underwood should expect to continue receiving less attention from defenses but also more attention in Jacksonville?s passing attack. Not to mention, Underwood also returns kickoffs as well leading to even more possible potential. Adding all of these factors up, keep an eye out for Underwood and see if his chemistry with Garrard continues because if it does, a savvy fantasy owner may find THIS year?s Sims-Walker.
- WR David Gettis
The former Baylor receiver is now a hidden sleeper that has an opportunity to shine. With WR Steve Smith out for a couple weeks with an ankle injury and oft-troubled WR Dwayne Jarrett being released this week, Gettis emerges as the top wide receiver for Carolina. Even with quarterback issues Gettis has averaged almost three receptions per game since he became the starter in week two. That?s saying quite a lot given how poor the quarterback play has been in Carolina thus far this season and the fact that the 2010 6th round pick leapfrogged a former 1st round and 3rd round pick to become the starter. It?s likely that he does better than his season average against Chicago with the receiving corp being thinned out. Thus, this is definitely a situation to monitor very, very closely.
- WR/RB Danny Woodhead
As noted in this past Monday night?s game, RB Danny Woodhead definitely has a role in the Patriots offense. RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis did a decent job as the starting back for New England but Woodhead certainly produced which should lead to more playing time moving forward. Woodhead?s opportunity came from Patriots stalwart RB Kevin Faulk?s season-ending injury and thus far, Woodhead has capitalized. With the recent trade of will-be Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss, the offense has certainly opened up which benefits every Patriot. All that said, given Head Coach Bill Belicek?s history of mixing up the New England backfield it?s tough to count on Woodhead on a weekly basis but, in a bye week a fantasy owner could certainly do worse than plug Woodhead in their lineup in a pinch. With the Patriots on a bye this Sunday, keep an eye on how the Patriots continue to incorporate Woodhead into the offense especially considering that RB Fred Taylor should be ready by Week six.
- RB LaGarette Blount
With current Tampa starter RB ?Cadillac? Williams struggling in the running game averaging a dismal 2.5 yds/carry, the door has opened for RB Lagarette Blount (as well as RB Kareem Huggins) to receive carries in the Buccaneer backfield. Tampa Bay clearly wants to improve on their 20th ranked rushing attack that currently has only one rushing touchdown. At this point it?s pretty much any back?s opportunity to seize the moment and prove the Buccaneer coaching staff that they deserve more reps. Blount is a bruising back and certainly has the size to take goal line duties which ultimately makes him the more valuable addition to a fantasy roster. If Blount can demonstrate patience for the blocks to open up and enough burst through running holes, the starting job could certainly be his. Tampa faces an average run defense in Cincinnati this week which will be a solid barometer to determine who the better back is moving forward.
- TE Brandon Pettigrew
The second year tight end out of Oklahoma State has emerged as a prime target on the Lions offense. In the three games Pettigrew has started, he has had no fewer than six receptions in a game with his last effort gaining 100 yards receiving for the first time in his career. With big name tight ends continuing to struggle and bye weeks upon us, Pettigrew is now a viable fantasy tight end in all formats. For those that drafted TE Brent Celek, TE Jason Witten, or TE Visanthae Shiancoe; make the move and add Pettigrew now. Pettigrew has the size and speed that reminds scouts of TE Vernon Davis. If Pettigrew continues his offensive production against the Rams this week, we may not only be watching a bye week option, we could be looking at a new fantasy star on the rise.
- DEF Chicago
The 2010 version of the ?Monsters of the Midway? should feel like an eight year old scoring a house giving away king size Snickers bars on Halloween when they get the Carolina kitties this week. The Panthers, although played a good team game against the Super Bowl champs last week, still have a rookie quarterback and just lost their best receiving option in WR Steve Smith. Thus, the Panthers have become entirely one-dimensional and must be able to run the football to win this game. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the Bears own the league?s sixth best run defense. Look for Chicago to shut down the Panthers running game and exploit rookie QB Jimmy Clausen?s inexperience. Fantasy owners can expect big time fantasy production from Chicago this week and get the feeble Seahawks at home the following week.
- DEF Detroit
The Lions face the Rams this week in a battle to determine which franchise has climbed out of the cellar first. The Rams are still a team with little talent and the Lions get them at home this week which works in Detroit?s favor. QB Sam Bradford, although playing well for a rookie, is still a rookie quarterback that has and will continue to make mistakes. If the Lions are able to establish the same pass rush against the Rams that has gained them a surprising thirteen sacks this season, they can exploit Bradford?s inexperience and create turnovers from bad decisions ? which Bradford has already demonstrated (he?s tied for second in the NFL with six interceptions). The likelihood of this scenario playing out is high given that the Rams give up almost three sacks per game and the Lions have forced eleven turnovers this season. RB Steven Jackson is expected to play again this week but his groin injury has definitely slowed him as evidenced with his 3.1 yards/carry average against the lowly Seahawks this past Sunday. If you?re a Jets DEF owner and don?t like the matchup against the Vikings this week, this could be a gutsy plug-n-play that should net some nice results. |
