Dynasty Shopping Mall - Week 13

Posted 11/28 by Jeff Tefertiller, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Just like any other shopping mall, this will have different products at different levels of quality and price. We will shop around at different stores like Bloomingdales, Macy's, Sears, even the Dollar Store and look for products to buy. The focus will be on value. Many times the expensive products are worth the price. Some times they are not. We will examine opportunities to buy at a reasonable price compared to value. The products we are purchasing are fantasy players for our dynasty team.

This is the point of the season when the trade deadline is approaching. We are examining players to acquire that should be worth more in the offseason or next year. These are players to stash as "buy low" opportunities. The opportunity will mostly come from a potential change in situation. It happens every year. A player has changes teams and goes from worthless to very worthwhile. Chester Taylor is a prime example. So are Kevin Curtis, Wes Welker and Sammy Morris for this past season. There is a long list of players that fit this description. Acquiring Welker on the cheap last year would have paid huge dividends this season. This is the ideal time of year to acquire disappointing players on the cheap. In addition, fantasy owners that can accurately predict players changing teams or situations are rewarded for their late-season deals.

Sidney Rice

The former South Carolina Gamecock has flashed potential this season. With the poor quarterback play in Minnesota this season, the ability of Rice has not been seen. Troy Williamson seems to be on his way out of the land of purple. This will leave Rice and Bobby Wade as the starting wide receivers in 2008, with Robert Ferguson as the third receiver. The Vikings are expected to upgrade the quarterback position this offseason, which should provide a big boost to Sidney Rice. The rookie still has plenty of room to mature and develop as a receiver. He left school as a redshirt sophomore. Rice just turned 21 years old and is still so young. The young pass catcher has battled a hamstring injury the last few weeks. It should not be a serious problem in the future. But, some receivers battle the injury throughout their careers.

Outlook: The athletic receiver looked great in week twelve against the very good New York Giants defense. He caught a 60-yard bomb from quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in the first quarter. Rice is big and fast. The outlook for the Vikings' offense looks great with any sort quarterback upgrade in the offseason. Sidney Rice will have every opportunity to be the "go to" receiver for the men in purple. The biggest variable for improvement in Rice's fantasy stats is how the Vikings address the quarterback position. If they try to get by with passers like Kelly Holcomb, Brooks Bollinger, or Tarvaris Jackson, then the maturation process for the former Gamecock will be slowed.
Store: Macy's
Price: 2008 2nd round pick and a good prospect
Recommendation: Buy if you can get him cheap enough. Rice has the look of a player that could be special. I would not overpay for a player with that much risk. He will probably not be startable for fantasy owners until 2009, so keep that in mind. Acquiring Sidney Rice requires patience. He will have some huge games followed by poor ones. The quarterback play is a big factor in Rice's development.

Santana Moss

The former New York Jet has struggled mightily this season. He has battled injuries and the Redskin offense has been relatively ineffective. Moss has found it difficult to get open deep like in years past. When he has been open down the field, Jason Campbell has overthrown the speedy receiver on several occasions. Santana Moss has produced in years past and could do so again in the future. He is a player that is now being undervalued by fantasy owners.

Outlook: With Campbell maturing and improving, Santana should benefit. The Redskins have very little talent and depth at the receiver position. Only Antwaan Randle El is a viable receiving threat. Under coaches Gibbs and Saunders, the Redskins have been transformed back into a power rushing team. As long as Moss can remain healthy, he is a good candidate to buy low. The speedy receiver had a good game in week eleven, showing the skills fantasy owners remembered including a great one-handed grab n the third quarter.
Store: Old Navy
Price: 2008 2nd round pick and a good prospect
Recommendation: Santana Moss needs to get healthy and stay that way. The main downside for the former Miami Hurricane is that he seems to get nicked often. He plays through the pain but is ineffective. If you can buy Moss cheap enough, he is a good buy low. Santana is the unquestioned WR1 for the Redskins and is explosive. He is known for having a few huge games most every year.

Chad Pennington

The former Marshall star should be with a different team in 2008. The Jets replaced him for second-year pro Kellen Clemens in order to see if the youngster can be the Jets quarterback of the future. Make no mistake, Pennington has weak arm strength, but is a veteran passer. He would be an improvement over several starting quarterbacks. The poor play of the Jet offensive line has not helped matters at all. They were getting Chad Pennington creamed on most pass plays.

Outlook: Depending on where Pennington ends up, he could be a good fantasy passer. Yes, he leaves his receivers out to dry on floating passes across the middle. But, he is still young and is a better quarterback than NFL starters like Tarvaris Jackson, Alex Smith, Josh McCown, and several others. There are many teams that could use a veteran under center to stabilize the offense and make plays. Chad Pennington would make a good fantasy QB3 if he ends up in a good situation. There is also a slim chance that the former Thundering Herd passer remains in New York to provide the veteran leadership for a rookie quarterback if Clemens continues to underwhelm.
Store: J.C. Penney
Price: 2008 4th round pick or a good prospect
Recommendation: Buy if you have the roster space and can get a good deal on Chad Pennington. He has produced at a good level in the past and can do so again in the future. His experience would be attractive to NFL teams with disappointing youngsters at the position. The deeper the league, the better the buy low play Pennington is. In deep leagues, it is difficult to find starting quarterbacks and Pennington could be had at a cheap price. With the Jets in against the Steelers in week eleven, with Clemens under center, the price for Pennington should be even cheaper than before. Most will assume the job is Clemens' to lose at this point. Chad Pennington might even end up on some waiver wires this offseason.

Dwayne Jarrett

Dwayne Jarrett is a player where most fantasy owners either love his potential and think he is the next Keyshawn Johnson or they think he is the next Mike Williams. The former Trojan is a polarizing player. In college Jarrett made plays. He was drafted to be the perfect complement to speedster Steve Smith. The rookie was inactive for much of the first half of the season, and has played more the last couple of games. The former USC star saw more action in week eleven while Steve Smith was sidelined with a shin injury.

Outlook: The poor quarterback play has hindered the short-term outlook of all Panther receivers. David Carr is not the answer. The Panthers are now realizing how much they miss Jake Delhomme. But, in 2008, Dwayne Jarrett should be starting opposite Smith for Carolina and should produce good fantasy numbers. Jarrett does need to grow up and mature as a player. The reason he was inactive for so many games had much more to do with practice and preparation than ability. The quote of Steve Smith that Jarrett needs to spend more time in the film room than talking to reporters is an indication that he needs to mature further. Drew Carter is a free agent in 2008, leaving only fellow Trojan, Kerry Colbert, as competition for the starting receiver job.
Store: The Gap
Price: 2008 2nd round pick and a good prospect
Recommendation: Jarrett is a risky buy because his issues lie in work ethic and maturity. There never is any predictability in those areas. If you can find a disappointed Jarrett owner, it might be worth the risk. But, there is no way I would give a 2008 1st, or very good prospect, for the former Trojan. The lack of playing time, even with the weakness at the receiver position, should speak volumes to fantasy owners. The poor quarterback play is also a concern for the near future.

Jacoby Jones

The former star of tiny Lane set the preseason on fire. He is explosive as a receiver and as a returner. Jacoby could be a top pass catcher of the 2007 draft class when it is all said and done. Jones looks to be the perfect complement to veteran Andre Johnson for many years. With all of the games missed this season, Jacoby Jones will progress and mature as a NFL receiver more in 2008 than he did in 2007. Coming from a small school, and transitioning to the NFL, it might take a little longer than many other prospects. There is no denying the talent of the athletic receiver. He looks like the real deal. Jacoby Jones looks like a stud in the making. The rookie has a good frame and is fast.

Outlook: With Matt Schaub at quarterback and Gary Kubiak as the head coach, the Texans have an explosive offensive system. Jones fits right in with his big play ability. The Texan offense will be stable at the skill positions, other than running back, for several years. Talented rookies that do not set the NFL on fire, like Jacoby Jones, are the perfect players to buy low and stash. Jones only has Kevin Walter and Andre Davis between he and the starting receiver job across from Andre Johnson. This is an ideal situation for the young pass catcher.
Store: Stein Mart
Price: 2008 2nd round pick and a good prospect.
Recommendation: Buy. Buy. Buy. Jones has the potential to be a future star in the league. The duo of he and Andre Johnson could be one of the top receiver tandems in the not so distant future.

Derrick Ward

The oft-injured running back displayed great quickness and vision earlier in the season while replacing the injured Brandon Jacobs. The former star of tiny Ottawa is a player many fantasy owners dismiss too quickly. The Giants are in the playoff hunt and may need the shifty ball carrier to be a playmaker down the stretch. Jacobs tweaked his hamstring in week eleven and might be proving that he will have issues carrying the load in the future. Reuben Droughns is not the answer. He is a good short yardage back, but is not a good option for the Giants to get 15-20 touches a game.

Outlook: The smallish back will be a free agent in the offseason. It is unknown whether he will be back in New York in 2008. The Giants traded Ryan Grant to the Packers, leaving Jacobs, Ward and Reuben Droughns as the only viable ball carriers on the roster. With Jacobs' ability to stay healthy still in question, the Giants will need a solid back whether it is Ward or another ball carrier. Ward's versatility is a great fit for the Giants. His shiftiness provides a great balance to the physical running style of Jacobs.
Store: Macy's Clearance Sale
Price: 2008 3rd round draft pick and a good prospect.
Recommendation: Buy if you have the roster space and can get Ward cheaply. Whether he is in New York or not, Derrick Ward could find fantasy success in the coming years. He has proven the ability to produce great games when healthy and given the chance.

Chester Taylor

Taylor proved last season that he can carry the load for the Minnesota Vikings if he is called upon to do so. With Adrian Peterson out with a sprained knee, the former Raven exploded in week eleven against the Oakland Raiders. Taylor had a huge game against the porous Oakland defense. He totaled over two hundred total yards and scored three times. The Viking offensive line played well, opening holes for Taylor. Chester played pretty well the following week against the New York Giants.

Outlook: The versatile back will be a backup in Minnesota as long as Peterson is healthy. With the contract Taylor signed as a free agent, it has been rumored that he may be released in the offseason. Chester signed a contract for starter's money and the Vikings have a lot of money tied up into the rookie, Adrian Peterson. With Taylor's track record of production, he could be a sought-after player on the free agent market.
Store: The Gap
Price: 2008 2nd round draft pick or a good prospect.
Recommendation: Buy if you have the roster space and can get Taylor cheaply. His monster game against the Raiders may make him difficult to buy low, but it is worth a try. I would not pay a lot for Chester Taylor considering that he will be a backup as long as he stays in Minnesota and Peterson is healthy. But, with starting running backs difficult to come by cheaply, Taylor is a player worth inquiring about. Considering that Peterson is expected back this coming week, the Chester Taylor owner might let him go at a reasonable price. If not at this time, the offseason should lower the asking price for the ex-Raven.

With most leagues having trade deadlines, the next few weeks will concentrate on waiver wire players to stash. Preference will be given to players that could be viable, and valuable, in the 2008 offseason.