Roundtable - Week 9
Posted 10/30 by Staff, Exclusive to Footballguys.com
Welcome to the Week Nine edition of the 2008 Footballguys Roundtable. Feel free to eavesdrop as various staff members share their views on a range of topics in discussion format. This week, they touch on the following:
- Anything left in the tank?
- Ryan Torain
- Whom would you rather have?
- Midseason Fantasy Awards
Anything left in the tank?
There are a number of players with a very good history of production who seem to be playing well below their historical level at this point. For each of the following players . . . which ones have a decent shot at become decent fantasy starters once again (this year or in the future), and which ones look like they are pretty much done at this point?
Fred Taylor
JEFF TEFERTILLER: He's only a bit player. He will struggle to be a RB3 many weeks. The Jaguars' banged up offensive line does not help.
JEFF HASELEY: If I had him, it would take a great matchup to start him and even then, I would second-guess it. I do think he has some more in the tank for another season or maybe two, but as a fantasy play right now he's becoming less valuable due to Maurice Jones-Drew's expected continued emergence.
MARK WIMER: Fred Taylor has nothing left in the tank. The O-line is riddled with injuries still (G Chris Naeole spent 2 months getting back up to speed, and then broke his hand in pregame warm-ups last week - just one example of the Jags' bad fortune in the trenches this year). Last week's game against Cleveland sealed my opinion on this front. (Yes, I am a frustrated and disappointed Taylor and Willie Parker owner, watching my fantasy season flush due to injuries.)
CHRIS SMITH: The bell has indeed tolled for Taylor... he is done aside from an occasional glimpse of his former self.
Larry Johnson
JEFF TEFERTILLER: He still has ability, but runs behind a poor O-line. The suspension and legal issues are a problem. But Johnson could carry fantasy teams in the fantasy playoffs.
JEFF HASELEY: I definitely think LJ has more in the tank. I figured it would take two years for him to rebound from his grueling workload of seasons past plus his knee injury. That puts him on pace for 2009. I think his recent apology for his wrongdoings was genuine and I believe that will be a major reason for his comeback or return to excellence in 2009.
MARK WIMER: I think he's toast. The O-line is awful, and the ominous combination of the team transitioning to Jamaal Charles or Kolby Smith on third down and also limiting Johnson's touches earlier in the season now makes a lot more sense when the whole domestic violence story broke. The fact that he went out and assaulted another woman while on a one-week suspension related to the prior domestic violence incident really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
CHRIS SMITH: If he can get himself ready mentally and emotionally, there are more good things to come from Johnson... He is a 30+ carry per game workhorse when everything comes together and I wouldn't write him off just yet for this year or in the next couple of seasons. He is a risk, however.
Rudi Johnson
JEFF TEFERTILLER: He looks done. The poor Detroit O-line makes things difficult. But it is hard to be excited about an average of two yards per carry, which is what Johnson ends up with many weeks.
JEFF HASELEY: Yeah, he's pretty much done. How many veteran RBs go to Detroit for a resurrection? Not many come away as better RBs because of the change of scenery.
MARK WIMER: He's toast. Slow and lethargic.
CHRIS SMITH: The writing on the wall is written in permanent ink. He's finished.
Edgerrin James
JEFF TEFERTILLER: He has lost a step. The high mileage is catching up to him. Not getting the short yardage scores is also a concern. He is toast.
JEFF HASELEY: He is losing fantasy steam every week. The Cardinals are a passing team and when they do decide to run, where it counts, they are heavily leaning on rookie Tim Hightower to get the job done - and he has. The end of the road is near for Edge.
MARK WIMER: He's toast. James has lost a step, the line isn't creating much in the way of running lanes, and Tim Hightower gets all the goal line work. In fantasy terms, that is the end for Edgerrin James. He went out and demanded the ball more last week and then flopped with 7/17/0 against Carolina. He's done.
CHRIS SMITH: Has James lost his edge? Yes he has and he is now an afterthought in the desert. I wouldn't be surprised to see him out of Arizona next season and perhaps even out of the NFL.
Joey Galloway
JEFF TEFERTILLER: He's still viable. Galloway was able to get open last week against Dallas. Yes, I know it was against the Cowboys. But, he looked decent. The bigger issue is the presence of Antonio Bryant.
JEFF HASELEY: He has a little left in the tank, but there is a bright orange light indicating the tank is near empty. Galloway has an opportunity to rebound this season, but if he suffers another injury or simply realizes that he no longer has what he used to have, he could hang up his cleats at the end of the year.
MARK WIMER: The jury is still out here. He got some looks from Garcia in his first game back, but Antonio Bryant's resurgence into the league makes Galloway the #2 (for now, at least).
CHRIS SMITH: Galloway is ready to 'go away.' He may have another big moment or two but he won't put together any more big seasons.
Marvin Harrison
JEFF TEFERTILLER: He looks decent. Harrison is still able to make cuts and get deep.
JEFF HASELEY: This is most likely Marvin's last season. He clearly has lost a step and it appears as if he has lost his edge, especially in passes over the middle. Ever since his knee injury last year, he has not been the same Marvin Harrison. If the Colts continue to slide, don't be surprised to see Harrison mail it in.
MARK WIMER: He's able to contribute, but no longer a fantasy starter. He's a guy to fill in when your regular starter is sidelined due to injury for a week or two, or a guy to plug in as a flex option.
CHRIS SMITH: When Peyton Manning is throwing the ball there is still a chance for success but Harrison is not the same player he was two years ago. He'll have more big games but there will also be many disappointing games. I wouldn't be surprised if he retires after this season.
Torry Holt
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Holt is close to toast. In a week in which Bulger somehow eclipsed 300 passing yards, Holt had fewer than 30. It looks like Avery is quickly becoming the WR1 in St. Louis. Holt has yet to exceed 76 receiving yards in a game and has only one score.
JEFF HASELEY: Holt mentioned that he would like to end his career in Carolina to return home and be with his brother Terrence, but he was cut in the preseason by the Panthers and now is with Chicago. Holt must be frustrated, because he was one of the more vocal players when it came to opinions surrounding former HC Scott Linehan. He clearly wants to play more. I'm baffled as to why he hasn't had more looks in the offense. I don't think it has anything to do with his ability. I believe he can still play and he may be a candidate for one of the bigger rebounds in the second half of the season.
MARK WIMER: He's done. The knees were requiring regular draining last year and I'm sure that's the case this year too. Avery has become the go-to guy. Holt will be the guy with 3-4 receptions for 30-40 yards and must-have first downs for the rest of the season. But you don't get fantasy points for first downs in most leagues.
CHRIS SMITH: Of all the players we've mentioned so far, I am most surprised with the rapid decline of Torry Holt who has been an elite receiver and isn't that old. I still believe Holt can turn it around although his days as a top receiver are clearly finished.
Donald Driver
JEFF TEFERTILLER: I think he is still playing well and could be an asset going forward.
JEFF HASELEY: Driver still has the ability to do well. He is simply being outplayed by his teammate Greg Jennings, who is turning into an elite WR. Driver is fine, he's just being upstaged and it doesn't look like he'll have the limelight that he used to have.
MARK WIMER: Driver is still able to contribute, but much in the same role fantasy-wise as Harrison.
CHRIS SMITH: Driver was always just a good receiver in a great passing offense. Brett Favre had the uncanny ability to make decent receivers look great and he did so with Driver. Now Driver is getting up there in age and he is nothing more than a decent option at receiver going forward.
Jeremy Shockey
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Shockey is still recovering from injury. I would give him a pass until week ten.
JEFF HASELEY: Shockey is still a viable force in the league, but his hernia injury has hampered him. I do think he'll have plenty of great games with New Orleans, but it may take a little more time for him to fully recover from his injuries.
MARK WIMER: I think he's done for this year. The sports-hernia surgery fix was a failure, and that particular injury just gets worse and worse the longer you aggravate it (aggravating it by, say, running and twisting at the waist, which football players do on every down). They'll have to put him on IR at some point, in my opinion. If you are in a TE required league, go grab Billy Miller off the WW if you can.
CHRIS SMITH: If Shockey gets healthy, he'll return as a relevant top-ten tight end. No guarantee that will happen though.
Todd Heap
JEFF TEFERTILLER: I think he is done. Injuries have taken a toll and the offense does not throw much.
JEFF HASELEY: Heap has had a fair number of injuries in his career and it's starting to catch up to him. I thought the same about Alge Crumpler last year and he hasn't disappeared altogether yet, but he's getting close. Heap is definitely in the twilight of his career and likely will not be a top flight TE this year or in the future.
MARK WIMER: He's done. Old, slow, and in a low-octane passing offense.
CHRIS SMITH: I believe Heap can rebound and finish off his career as a decent fantasy option but his days as an elite fantasy option at tight end are behind him. It appears injuries have caught up to him and he is simply not the same player he was in the past.
Ryan Torain
Selvin Young (who is now injured) and Andre Hall have been disappointing, while Michael Pittman has been the only (barely) worthwhile fantasy RB in Denver so far.
Rookie Ryan Torain is set to make his NFL debut this weekend. Before Torain suffered an elbow injury in August, Coach Shanahan praised Torain's talent. Will Torain step in as the Broncos' featured RB from here on out? What are his prospects for the rest of this season?
JEFF TEFERTILLER: I definitely am in the camp that thinks Torain can be a solid RB2 every week for fantasy owners. The two things I want to see: If the Broncos still throw so much with him in the lineup and if the rookie can stay healthy. We need to remember that he missed a lot of his Senior season with a foot injury. The good news is that the division is HORRIBLE against the run.
JEFF HASELEY: I too am on board thinking Torain can be a big fantasy producer in the second half of the season. The fact that he is on Denver is a huge feather in his cap. Denver's history of producing quality RBs, especially rookie RBs, is off the charts. Torain is getting healthy at the right time and there is a void in the Denver running game right now. Michael Pittman has filled in nicely, but he's simply a stopgap. Selvin Young is hurt and quite frankly, he's not the answer. Andre Hall has recently had issues with ball security - so that opens up things for Torain. As long as he doesn't fumble the ball, he should be penciled in for starting duties and thus plenty of carries for the majority of the second half. What I really like about Torain, in addition to the perfect opportunity to step in, is what HC Mike Shanahan has said about him - the fact that he has compared him to Terrell Davis is enough for me to perk up my ears and listen. We'll see - all he has to do now is execute. If he can be productive and if the Denver offense takes flight once again, look out - he could be a HUGE player in the second half.
MARK WIMER: I liked what little I saw of Torain during the preseason, but therein lies the rub. He did well in preseason, before opposing defenses were starting their "A" lineups and before everyone was in "football shape"
Now, Torain has been rehabbing a broken arm (broken right at the elbow, thus often referred to as an elbow injury). While in the long term broken bones don't usually become issues for repeat injuries (Dallas S Roy Williams' forearm did break twice in the same place, but that is unusual as bones actually heal stronger at the site of a break then they were before), what the rehab means is that Torain is not in "football shape." He hasn't been taking full speed hits from opposing linebackers and defensive linemen for two months. Meanwhile, most everyone else on the opposition is in football shape.
What all that means is that Torain is going to be facing NFL players at the peak of their conditioning and timing when he gets back on the field for Denver - something that is often difficult for rookies to transition into. In this case, Torain is well behind the curve regarding reps and timing and football shape (although he should have fresh legs, which is a plus).
I wouldn't be surprised to see Torain struggle in his first game back from the injury. If he doesn't fumble several times, he'll probably get another couple of opportunities to produce before coach Shanahan goes back to the committee concept - but Torain has a very short time window to get up to speed before Shanahan loses patience. If he has trouble holding onto the ball, stick a fork in him. Coach Shanahan hates fumblers with a passion. Just ask Quentin Griffin, the last young back that coach Shanahan praised voluminously in preseason (comparing him to Barry Sanders, if I recall correctly), before benching him for fumbling too much (he was eventually cut).
I think Torain has an opportunity given Selvin Young's struggles, but I'm not yet sold that he'll be able to become the next, coveted "Bronco Back."
Whom would you rather have?
Going forward, which player out of each pair would you rather have on your fantasy team?
Matt Schaub or Brett Favre?
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Schaub. He is playing great right now.
JEFF HASELEY: I like Houston's offense better than New York's, so I'll take Matt Schaub over the gunslinger. Schaub also has arguably the best WR in the game in Andre Johnson. With a guy like him on your team, it would be hard not to perform well.
MARK WIMER: Favre. He and Coles are just getting simpatico, and the team has other solid receivers in Leon Washington, Jerricho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller. I look for Favre to have a few more "boom" games while Schaub has a tougher division and not as much talent around him despite having the elite Andre Johnson to throw to.
CHRIS SMITH: Schaub is the easy pick here... He is finally playing like the Texans hoped he would when he was signed to lead them out of obscurity and into relevance.
CHASE STUART: Schaub. He's on an offense that is improving, and he doesn't have to deal with Giants Stadium in the winter.
Eli Manning or Peyton Manning?
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Peyton. The lack of a running game will beef up his stats.
JEFF HASELEY: I'll take Peyton for the same reason as Jeff. The Colts will have to rely on the pass to score.
MARK WIMER: Peyton Manning. He's more talented than Eli when it comes to throwing the ball, he has an indoor home field for the autumn and winter months (Giants' Stadium stinks to throw in when the weather is stormy), and Eli has the misfortune of watching a battle between his head coach and his best receiver (Plaxico Burress), which is mushrooming as the weeks go by. Burress' attitude since getting his big pay day is toxic in the Coughlin-led organization. He's defiantly putting "family first" and skipping mandated team events and injury treatments. Not good.
CHRIS SMITH: I'll take Peyton any day of the week over Eli... expect him to turn things around soon.
CHASE STUART: Peyton Manning. Eli typically declines as the season wears along, and like Favre, will have to deal with touch conditions in December. This hasn't been Peyton's best year, but he'll have some 3-TD games down the stretch.
Matt Forte or Michael Turner?
JEFF HASELEY: I'll take Matt Forte by virtue of his pass-catching skills. Plus he has five home games before week 17, compared to four for Turner.
MARK WIMER: Michael Turner. The Falcons play 5 of their last 8 games in the Georgia Dome, and 7 of their last 8 in domed stadiums (with the 8th game in beautiful winter-weather San Diego). Forte plays in the NFC North, with Soldier Field as home base. Turner will outproduce Forte given his significant advantage in venues during the 2nd half.
CHRIS SMITH: Michael Turner is the player to choose here. Sure Forte has had his moments but Turner is a difference maker.
CHASE STUART: Michael Turner is just a terrific runner. I like Forte, but I'm not sure he's as natural a runner as Turner is, and he certainly doesn't have the athleticism. Turner's also averaging a full yard per carry more than Forte, and plays on a better offense.
DeAngelo Williams or Maurice Jones-Drew?
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Jones-Drew is not getting the holes we are used to seeing in Jacksonville. The big game in week six gives hope. I will still take him and his upside over Williams.
JEFF HASELEY: Tough call, but I like Carolina's rushing offense more than Jacksonville's. Both backs have a tendency to have down games here and there, but it seems like Jones-Drew has more down games than Williams. I'll take the back on the better offense.
MARK WIMER: Maurice Jones Drew. Fred Taylor appears to be fading into the background, while Jonathan Stewart is young and still a significant threat to Williams' touches.
CHRIS SMITH: This is a tough call but I have to take DeAngelo Williams. Something is very wrong with the Jaguars rushing attack this season.
Brandon Jacobs or Steve Slaton?
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Jacobs. He runs hard and is a threat for a huge game every week. Slaton is playing well, but is not getting the scoring chances Jacobs sees.
JEFF HASELEY: I think these backs are going in opposite directions. I would not be surprised to see a decline from Steve Slaton in the coming weeks. Whether or not it's the rookie wall or Ahman Green getting more touches, I will be surprised if he keeps his pace for the second half of the season. My choice goes to Brandon Jacobs and his countless TD runs inside the five.
MARK WIMER: Steve Slaton. He is the featured back and will get 25-30 touches most weeks. Jacobs may see around 20.
CHRIS SMITH: This one is kind of a crap shoot so I'll hedge my bets... In a PPR league, I'll take Slaton and in a more standard fantasy league, I'll go with Jacobs... I love both players going forward though.
Vincent Jackson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh?
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Houshmandzadeh for me. Jackson will have Chambers back at full strength soon while the Bengals have few other options ... and no running game.
JEFF HASELEY: I would take Houshmandzadeh despite the situation in Cincinnati, especially in PPR leagues. Jackson has been a nice surprise, but I would not be surprised to see him fall out of the top 20 when Chris Chambers fully returns to health. Plus the health of Antonio Gates seems to be improving every week. Jackson is a great deep ball talent that will reel in his share of TDs going forward, but TJ is more of a focal point of his offense and will see considerably more targets than Jackson.
MARK WIMER: Houshmandzadeh. He's number one in Cincinnati, Jackson is number our in San Diego behind Chambers, Gates and Tomlinson.
CHRIS SMITH: The Bengals are a train wreck so the easy pick here is to take Vincent Jackson. He is finding the end zone with some regularity.
Dwayne Bowe or Bernard Berrian?
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Bowe, even though Berrian has found the end zone a lot lately. Rice will be back soon which might affect the looks Berrian gets. Thigpen's performance gives hope that Bowe could be very good this year.
JEFF HASELEY: Give me Dwayne Bowe here. I like what Berrian has been able to accomplish in his last few games, but Bowe is an elite WR in the making and he'll have more 6-8 reception games than Berrian going forward. If Bowe has a bona fide NFL QB throwing him the ball, he has the ability to be the next Andre Johnson.
MARK WIMER: Berrian. Gus Frerotte is way better than Tyler Thigpen.
CHRIS SMITH: This is a toss-up. I'll take Berrian just because the Vikings offense is in a little better shape going forward.
CHASE STUART: Dwayne Bowe. He's the Chiefs' offense. He ranks third in the NFL in targets per game, and he'll continue to be the focal point of the KC offense. If Tyler Thigpen continues to play even half as good as he did on Sunday, Bowe should have a big second half.
Terrell Owens or Reggie Wayne?
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Wayne. He has had his bye week already while Owens will not get Romo back until week 11 at the earliest.
JEFF HASELEY: Wayne, without a doubt. Owens will has been a disappointment without Tony Romo and even when he returns, he'll have Roy Williams taking away some of his targets. I'll gladly take the younger Wayne over Owens.
MARK WIMER: Reggie Wayne. Owens now has Roy Williams to worry about in the red zone, and we don't know how long Romo will actually be out yet.
CHRIS SMITH: Wayne and Owens will both have huge second halves... Both will be elite but I'll take Owens as the top dog once Romo gets going once again.
CHASE STUART: Reggie Wayne. Roy Williams isn't a big cause for concern for Owens, but the Cowboys now have four legitimate red zone targets. On an average team, two stud WRs can both be productive. But when you have a star RB and a star TE, it makes things a bit more complicated. Reggie Wayne brings all of the upside and none of the risk; I'd much rather have him than Owens.
Anthony Fasano or Greg Olsen?
JEFF TEFERTILLER: Two tight ends on teams with bad receivers. I will take Fasano only because the Bear receivers are getting healthy.
JEFF HASELEY: I like Olsen to be more of a factor in his team's offense between the 20's as well as the red zone. Right now, it seems like Fasano is mainly used in the red zone. Olsen, to me seems like he will have an easier time maintaining a top five TE ranking.
MARK WIMER: Greg Olsen. He's much more talented and Orton likes to throw to him.
CHRIS SMITH: Fasano has been a nice story but Olsen has elite ability... I believe Olsen will continue to improve as this season wears on.
Midseason Fantasy Awards
We're roughly at the midway point of the NFL season.
Who's been the most valuable fantasy player over the first half of the NFL season?
JEFF HASELEY: Brian Westbrook. Westbrook is unbenchable when he's healthy. If there's a player who helps a fantasy team more than Brian Westbrook, I'd like to know who that is. Westbrook is productive no matter what defense he plays against. There is never a cause for concern as to whether or not he should be benched when he faces a tough defense. Ask those who weren't able to play him in weeks four, six and seven how valuable he is. He is the 11th ranked RB, despite missing three games. He gets my vote.
CHASE STUART: The most valuable fantasy player has to be Clinton Portis. He's got 144 fantasy points and 79 points of VBD. Marion Barber III (131; 66), Philip Rivers (184; 64), Frank Gore (124; 59) and Drew Brees (178; 58) round out the top five. Since week three, Steve Smith has been right up there with those guys.
MARK WIMER: I have to go with Drew Brees here - he's been throwing for over 300 yards with regularity, and usually notches multiple TDs too. If you have him on your team, you probably took him after 3-5 other fantasy QBs were drafted, but you've got #1 QB production for that pick. He's a fantasy difference maker for a lot of squads.
CHRIS SMITH: In almost any season, the MVP of fantasy football will go to the top rusher. Clinton Portis is that guy so far through the first half of the season with six 17+ point performances through eight games. My honorable mention is QB Drew Brees who is the top fantasy performer at quarterback this year.
Who's the Biggest Bust of the season? (Non-injury.)
JEFF HASELEY: Based on when he was drafted, it has to be Ryan Grant. I still think there is some hope for Grant to turn it around, but he has disappointed a lot of owners this year in the first half of the season.
CHASE STUART: Maybe I'm biased, but Braylon Edwards has killed me and everyone else that drafted him this year. Jeff's right about Ryan Grant as well; he's been just about useless for a second or third round pick.
MARK WIMER: I'd have to go with Bryant Johnson here. He was supposed to be a lead receiver in an uber-productive Mike Martz system, but he's been so disappointing (16/208/1) that the team benched him for a rookie, Josh Morgan (who has done quite well in his time on the field). Obviously, Johnson isn't a real world #1 WR or a fantasy starter, either. He's lost his job and won't get another shot at redeeming himself, it appears, so he is the biggest bust in my opinion. Javon Walker is giving Johnson a run for his money as biggest bust, but since Walker still has his starting job I have to go with Johnson.
CHRIS SMITH: My choice is WR Torry Holt who has gone from a fantasy star to forgotten man in a very short period of time. He is not even worth a start in fantasy football right now.
Who's been the Best Value Pick?
JEFF HASELEY: The strong play this year was to go WR-WR or WR-RB with your first two picks in the draft. If you waited on drafting a RB, there were plenty of RBs like Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Michael Turner, LenDale White, Steve Slaton, and DeAngelo Williams who had first-round value. Those who waited are probably doing very well in their league's standings. As a result, my pick for best value is Matt Forte, currently the 4th ranked fantasy RB who has more fantasy points than LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson, who were likely drafted #1 and #2 overall.
CHASE STUART: Philip Rivers and Matt Forte have been huge values for their owners. Neither player was highly drafted, and both have been fantasy anchors so far this season. Kurt Warner has outperformed his draft position by a mile, and anyone who snatched him up late has been very happy most weeks. The number 1 and 2 fantasy wide receivers so far are Santana Moss and Roddy White -- players who had average draft positions of WR29 and WR26, respectively.
MARK WIMER: Steve Slaton was probably drafted near or in the final round of most drafts, yet has put up top-12 fantasy RB numbers. That is the definition of value in my book.
CHRIS SMITH: I agree Mark. The best value has been RB Steve Slaton hands down. He is a better running back than most folks give him credit for and I predicted in August that he would emerge as the starter, which he has. Not only is he a starting running back but he has been putting up big numbers.
How about Best Rookie?
JEFF HASELEY: I think you could make a case for Matt Forte, Steve Slaton, Chris Johnson, Eddie Royal, DeSean Jackson, and others. But the biggest impact on the league has to be Matt Ryan. He has brought life to a franchise that desperately needed some life. Between him and HC Mike Smith, the Falcons franchise has done a 180. Where would Roddy White be without him? Where would the Falcons be without him? He gets my vote.
CHASE STUART: Guess which Johnson has the highest VBD to date? Calvin, Andre, Larry, Chad or Rudi? Answer: None of the above. Chris Johnson has been lights out this year, and a huge reason why the Titans are undefeated. He's currently the 8th ranked fantasy running back, and in most years he'd be the most valuable rookie. This year, though, it's hard to top Matt Forte. While he is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, he ranks third in the league in touches despite already having had his bye week. He's in the top eight in touchdowns and total yards, and has been a fantasy force all season long.
MARK WIMER: Steve Slaton, for the same reasons I picked him as the best value pick.
CHRIS SMITH: I think Steve Slaton has been the second best rookie. He has been terrific. But the top rookie in 2008 has to be QB Matt Ryan, who has exceeded all expectations out of the shoot this season. He has been simply fantastic while learning the pro game.
Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year?
JEFF HASELEY: This is a tough one for me, because leagues differ. In some leagues, guys like Steve Slaton or Eddie Royal probably weren't drafted. But in deeper leagues, they most likely were. I don't think many people drafted Kyle Orton and what he has been able to do with the Bears this season has been remarkable. Orton has more fantasy points than both Mannings and is averaging 22.6 FP/game in his last five games.
MARK WIMER: I like Orton as much as Jeff Haseley does, and he'd be my vote here. He was most likely undrafted in most 12 team leagues, and is a top-12 fantasy QB at midseason.
Midseason Comeback Player of the Year (i.e., the player most likely to turn things around for the better in the second half of the season)?
JEFF HASELEY: I'm going with Willis McGahee here. The Ravens have really relied on the running game this year and with McGahee getting healthier each week, he stands to benefit - provided he can stay healthy. Ravens OC Cam Cameron really knows how to use his backs and McGahee should be a top 10 RB in weeks 9-17 even if Ray Rice continues to get looks.
MARK WIMER: I like Ryan Grant for this designation, actually. He's seeing a workhorse, featured-back load since week 6 (33/90/0) and 7 (31/105/1) - the Packers seem to have decided to load him up with carries and ride him hard to finish the year after lightly using Grant (max of 18 carries weeks 1-5) while he got back to football shape and regained his timing after missing a lot of training camp. Guys who get 30+ carries a week are going to put up decent fantasy points. I think Grant will do just that in the stretch run for the Packers.
CHRIS SMITH: I'll go with WR Santonio Holmes on this one. He's too good to be ranked 38th at the receiver position.
That will do it for this week. Enjoy the games this weekend, and we'll see you back here next Thursday!
