The power of fantasy football is undeniable. If your favorite team is struggling, a dominant fantasy football squad can raise your spirits (especially if there is money coming your way.) If your fantasy team is a disaster, but the real-life team you love looks great, you might also be able to hold your head up. If both your real-life and fantasy teams are in the crapper, Week 7 is tough...the holidays are still too far away to justify the amount of drinking needed to get over that kind of hump. If your favorite team and your fantasy team are both doing great, keep your head down because your happiness is the direct cause of someone else’s misery. On to the mail!
Week 7 Fantasy Mailbag Q&A
Q: I have Michael Crabtree stashed deep on my bench and have to decide whether to start him, Percy Harvin, or Jeremy Maclin this week (alongside Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson). Who should I start? - Chris
A: Thanks to the magic of 24 hours a day sports channels and coverage, I have grown reacquainted with the heroics of Crabtree in recent weeks. He is a freak of nature. The average receiver takes some time to make a contribution to their offense. He is not an average receiver. Harvin is banged up right now (shoulder) and faces the Steelers defense this week should he be healthy enough to go. Maclin completely disappeared in the debacle against the Raiders and will get the Redskins on Monday Night Football. The Redskins defense is quietly decent against the pass. I actually like Crabtree here. Why not, right? I think he is going to light it up. He is not better than Fitz or Andre but if he is as good as he looks, you might have a good trio of fantasy receivers.
Q: I was offered a trade recently that had me sending Jason Campbell and Kevin Smith away for Chad Henne and Leon Washington. What do you think? - Al
A: Ugh...hit me where it hurts. I actually own both Campbell and Smith in my league and they have not gotten it done for me yet. Leon Washington is an absolute stud. I think he is certainly more valuable than Kevin Smith. Chad Henne is an under-the-radar guy right now. Last week, he looked pretty good against the Jets. He connected with 9 different receivers and two touchdowns on his way to a 20 of 26 for 241 yards performance. Jason Campbell has received his stay of execution in Washington but things there are in complete disarray. I would pull the trigger on this deal and make sure to keep Leon Washington in your starting lineup every week.
Q: Is there a player out there that you would bet is not owned in many leagues that you would recommend taking a huge gamble on right now? Someone that maybe nobody wants right now but could be a valuable reserve down the stretch? I have a roster spot and want to add a guy now that might be a week or two or three early. - Denny
A: Hmmm...the name that comes immediately to mind when you ask that is Vince Young. Depending on how deep your league is, he may or may not be owned. The Titans are free-falling on the field and Jeff Fisher recently wore a Peyton Manning jersey to a public ceremony that has Titans fans reeling. Kerry Collins is struggling and at some point they have to find out if Vince Young is going to climb back on top of the QB depth chart. They have a great running game despite their win-loss record. If Young has been paying attention in practice and getting better, he might be a guy you look to start down the stretch to cover for an injury on your roster. He is the huge gamble you are looking for since he could fall flat on his face. I also like the idea of adding Matt Leinart now. Kurt Warner is great and will not be benched, but he is also a thousand years old (with the body of a TWO thousand year old dude.) If Leinart is pressed into action, it says here he blows up.
Q: I co-own a team with my father and brother, and because I’m a girl, they make all the decisions, but my team is an absolute train wreck. How do I regain control of my fantasy football future? - Danielle
A: Danielle, it is funny you ask me...or not so funny. My favorite team, the Redskins, is also being guided by a group of guys who couldn’t build a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, much less a football organization. My advice to you: branch out now. I have to believe your father and brother would derive great pleasure from going against you in this fantasy football league. Make it clear that next year they will be doing just that. In the meantime, if your season is lost, make a great show of outing them as fantasy manager flops. The rest of the league will thoroughly enjoy having the “girl” cut down on the guys who think they know better. It will make for better drama next year when you face off against them. If you think your team still has a chance this season with a few key moves, force those decisions on your management team. Be strong!
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