Dynasty Shopping Mall - Week 14

Posted 12/5 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.

We have four weeks left in the fantasy season. This week, we will cover quarterbacks that should be on the waiver wire. The following two weeks will be running backs, with the final article of the season examining wide receivers that all should be available in most leagues.

Kyle Boller

The former first round pick is the starting quarterback for the Ravens, at least for the rest of the season. He gets little respect from fantasy owners stemming mainly from his college offensive system and his less than stellar play in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The former Cal Bear is only 26 years old. With Mark Clayton now healthy, the Raven offensive weapons are pretty good for Kyle Boller. The five-year veteran as a better yards per attempt average the last couple of seasons than he did earlier in his career. He has improved. But, is it enough? Boller has played decent, but not great this season in relief of the aging veteran, Steve McNair.

Outlook: Boller signed a one-year extension and is signed through the 2008 season. This will allow the Ravens a full year to evaluate the young passer to see if he is the quarterback of the future for the franchise. The Ravens have two very good young receivers in Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams, along with veteran Derrick Mason. In addition, Todd Heap is a premier tight end when healthy. With a strong running game, anchored by Willis McGahee, the talent around Kyle Boller is there. With McNair going on Injury Reserve, there is a good chance that the veteran may not be back with the team in 2008. This would be great for fantasy owners.
Store: Dollar Store
Price: Waiver Wire, if not a late round draft pick
Recommendation: Boller is a great guy to pick up off of the waiver wire for dynasty owners who are needing depth at the quarterback position. The former Cal Bear has a very good chance to be the Ravens' starter in 2008. Even if he is rostered, Boller should not be expensive this offseason.

Rex Grossman

Grossman has had an up and down season, mostly down early in the year. He finished the 2006 season as the 15th ranked fantasy quarterback. The lack of a running game, along with poor decision-making, set the stage for the implosion witnessed by many earlier in the season. Last season was the only one in the five-year career of the former Gator where he played at least half of the games. He has a big arm, but lacks steadiness and confidence of a top passer in the league. Rex Grossman did lead the Chicago Bears into the Super Bowl last year.

Outlook: Rex Grossman is a free agent at the end of the season. He will be a hot commodity for teams looking to improve the position. As poor as Grossman has played this season, he is still better than several passers starting this season for NFL teams. He does need to improve his pocket presence and his ability to handle pressure. But, Grossman is still young and could be a viable fantasy QB2 on another NFL team.
Store: Dollar Store
Price: Waiver Wire or very low pick
Recommendation: Stash if you have the roster space and can wait until it is known where Grossman will play in 2008. He could provide fantasy owners with a decent fantasy QB2, and some upside.

Charlie Frye

The former Cleveland Brown is the primary backup to Matt Hasselbeck as Seneca Wallace is moved to wide receiver. The former third round pick from Akron has only attempted 20 passes, completing eight, the last two seasons combined. The Seattle Seahawks traded for the four-year veteran in preseason. Frye is only 26 years old and it would be foolish to write him off so soon in his young career since he has not seen much game time since he was just 24 and in his second season in the league. The former Zip is a gritty quarterback and is fairly athletic.

Outlook: Matt Hasselbeck has had a difficult time staying healthy lately. He was bothered by a shoulder injury and now his oblique is giving him fits. Frye was acquired to possibly be the franchise quarterback of the future. Under the tutelage of Mike Holmgren, fantasy owners should expect improvement in the former Akron Zip. The Seahawk receivers are very good. Deion Branch, D.J. Hackett, and Bobby Engram make up a good receiving corps.
Store: Dollar Store
Price: Waiver Wire
Recommendation: Buy if you are in a deep league and want quarterback depth or do not have faith in Hasselbeck to stay healthy for the next season. Frye could be a very solid fantasy backup passer for free off of the waiver wire.

Joey Harrington

Joey Harrington has had a rollercoaster season. One thing that is consistent about the former Oregon Duck is his inconsistency. Fantasy owners never know when to expect the good game from Harrington. Harrington has disappointed throughout much of his career. He has been a stopgap for the Falcons. They wanted to replace him with Byron Leftwich, but the former Jaguar has played even worse and been injured.

Outlook: Coach Bobby Petrino will bring in the quarterback for the future of the Atlanta Falcons franchise. Most think it will be his former protégé Brian Brohm of Louisville. But, it really could be any of a number of young quarterbacks. Joey Harrington will probably not get another shot to be a NFL team's starting quarterback, but will settle into a backup role. One thing to remember is that Harrington has never played on a good team (maybe due to his own play) and might opt for a backup position on a contending team.
Store: Dollar Store
Price: 2008 2nd round pick and a good prospect
Recommendation: Let someone else waste the roster spot on Harrington. He will be a NFL backup for most of the rest of his career. There is little chance that he will start for a NFL franchise again, much less be viable for fantasy owners.

Damon Huard

Damon Huard played through the first ten games of the season. He also got the start in week thirteen. Coach Herm Edwards wanted to replace the veteran with second-year pro Brodie Croyle for some time. Huard played admirably behind a very poor offensive line. With the season-ending injuries to Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, the Chief quarterback will have even more pressure to make plays. Huard may now be a career backup, but behind a suspect starter like Croyle. The former Alabama star will be erratic, possibly giving Huard more playing time.

Outlook: Brodie Croyle is anything but an ironman and is already hurt. That did not take long. Behind that poor offensive line, fantasy owners should have expected Croyle to be nicked up sooner or later. Huard will be a quarterback that will never be a fantasy star at this stage of his career. He is just a spot starter for fantasy owners.
Store: Dollar Store
Price: Waiver Wire.
Recommendation: Only buy if you will possibly need a quarterback for spot duty. He will get another chance. It may not be in a long-term situation, but he will start again.

Most, if not all, of these passers should be on the waiver wire in most leagues. Here are some other quarterbacks to keep an eye on, in case they are dropped, or their situation changes:

Jake Delhomme

The Panther offense is showing how much they miss Jake. The elbow injury was serious, but Delhomme was playing great before the injury.

Aaron Rodgers

Could be the heir apparent to Brett Favre but many fantasy owners have given up on the former first round pick. Rodgers played very well in relief of the ageless Favre on Thursday night.

Drew Stanton

Could be the heir apparent to Jon Kitna, but has been forgotten while on injured reserve.

Andrew Walter

We really cannot judge him by last season. The Raider offensive line was horrendous. After a year of seasoning, and tutoring by Lane Kiffin, Walter could surface with another team next year and compete for a starting job.

Chris Simms

The Buccaneers could look to trade the former Longhorn, recovering from spleen injury. There are doubts to whether he could even be a fantasy star, but could be a NFL starter again in the future.

A.J. Feeley

He played well in week twelve against the Patriots, but goes back to being the backup as soon as Donovan McNabb is healthy. There are rumors to the Eagles trading McNabb in the offseason, leaving Feeley and the rookie Kevin Kolb as the potential 2008 Eagle starters.

Luke McCown

Led the Buccaneers to a win in week thirteen. He could be the quarterback of the future for the franchise. This is a good gamble in deep leagues considering Garcia's back injury and age.