Fool's Gold - Week 6
Posted 10/10 by Marc Faletti, Exclusive to Footballguys.com
Coming at you early enough to help with waivers from now on, we proudly present another week of derring do's that daren't be repeated the rest of this season.
Devery Henderson, WR, NO
Fool's Gold: 4 catches for 101 yards
Just like last year, Henderson put up a random big game. Unlike last year, he still played so badly in that game that the Saints have announced they will rotate receivers at his position. He's been so clumsy at catching the rock that Lance Moore may get the starting nod over Henderson, meaning he'll receive even fewer looks. Bottom line, Henderson's lost the trust of his coaches and isn't worth a roster slot on your team.
Vincent Jackson, WR, SD
Fool's Gold: TD catch
Okay, okay, VJ doesn't really belong on this list. But based on the brutal hands he's shown all year, especially when it counts, I'm always surprised when he comes up with a TD. If I were you, I'd move this kid while he's putting up a few points. He's just not a natural when it comes to catching the ball, and Parker will be back soon.
Glenn Martinez, WR, DEN
Fool's Gold: 6 catches for 70 yards
Any time a player comes up after a catch flexing his arms and screaming in pure joy despite his team being down 38 points, you know that guy isn't getting on the field much. And so it is with Glenn Martinez, the skinny, excitable kid from Denver. He showed decent hands and held onto the ball after a few solid hits, but he did nothing special to move up the WR food chain for the Broncos. Trash time may be Martinez time, but that's not what fantasy owners prefer to bank on.
Randy Moss, WR, NE
Fool's Gold: 3 catches for 46 yards
He's human, he's human! Actually, the Pats simply wanted to exploit young Browns CB Eric Wright, who was covering Stallworth most of the day. They still gave Moss plenty of looks; Brady went his way on 3 third downs into coverage. For the first time, though, Moss was unable to make those plays. But unless you think he's dinged up or already tired of winning, there's no reason to assume he'll come up this empty again.
Artose Pinner, RB, ATL
Fool's Gold: 1 rush, 49 yards
Successful fake punts can generate some yards, and this one did. Look elsewhere for fantasy help.
Tony Romo, QB, DAL
Fool's Gold: 6 turnovers
I don't know what's more unlikely: that Romo will ever have a collapse like this again, that he'll ever have a collapse like this again and win, or that he'll ever have a collapse like this again and still have a decent fantasy night. And since we're using colons here, 2 asides: 1) it was good to see the Wade Phillips Face reemerge, even if it was only for a few quarters, and 2) people who say this game "exposed" the Cowboys entirely missed the point. Any team with the guts, willpower, and horses to keep fighting in a game this ugly is for real; any team (and any QB) that wins a game like this after so much self-inflicted adversity is downright scary. In a league where talent parity has arrived, truly believing in yourself can be the difference between the Super Bowl and a sub-.500 record. Meanwhile, Romo will be just fine; he was executing sharply at the end of the game, and if you had doubts about his mental toughness, they should be erased now.
Mike Sellers, RB, WAS
Fool's Gold: 5 rushes for 24 yards, 3 catches for 36 yards, 2 TD
If you saw this one coming and inserted Sellers as a bye week fill-in, you should be issued a crystal ball and put on missing persons duty. Sellers provided a nice spark for an offense that was hitting on all cylinders Sunday, but with Portis, Betts, and Cooley there to hog the short yardage runs and catches, it may be awhile until Sellers sees the end zone again.
Michael Turner, RB, SD
Fool's Gold: 10 rushes for 147 yards, 1 TD
It's a full RBBC in San Diego!! ...Kidding, kidding. Turner's an outstanding talent, but I'm afraid no one can be expected to produce these kinds of numbers on 10 carries. More to the point, it'll be rare for the Chargers to be up, say, 38 points on their opponents as long as Norv Turner and Ted Cottrell are calling the shots. Chalk this one up to 1) the Broncos brewing internal meltdown and 2) the worst tackling LB core in the league.
Vince Young, QB, TEN
Fool's Gold: 20 for 33, 157 yards, 3 INT, 8 rushes for 27 yards
Yuck. After a mediocre first half, Young embarrassed himself in the second. Looking back to the preseason, nearly everyone figured Tennessee would be worse than they are, especially on defense. That would've meant Young would have to work his crazy magic as he did last season just to keep them close. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, the defense looks like the real deal, meaning Young won't be asked to do much. But that doesn't mean he'll be lobbing 3 picks any time soon, either. While he may not wind up as an elite fantasy QB in 2007, neither will he be a giant bust. This game will be his ugliest.
