Before get to the mini-mailbag (I’m going to try and answer a few emails each week here) a couple of fantasy thoughts after three weeks…
How about Matt Forte leading the NFL in carries? He’s on pace for 389, which would be a HUGE number for a rookie (and would be 11th all-time). I’m sure the Bears will slow down with him at some point, but if he stays healthy he has a real shot at posting 1,800 total yards this season.
Carson Palmer and Derek Anderson have a combined QB rating of 107.3. J.T O’Sullivan (who was on the Pats practice squad in 2006, one of nine teams he has been with) has a QB rating of 104.6.
Strange week for big-name WRs this past Sunday. Andre Johnson, Randy Moss (we’ll get to him in a minute) and Terrell Owens combine for eight catches, or two fewer than Antonio Bryant alone.
Julius Jones? I didn’t think he’d make an impact at all (figured he would lose the battle with Mo Morris) but he’s been great for the Seahawks. I still think he’s a sell-high guy but maybe he puts up a 1,200-yard season.
LaDainian Tomlinson owners should still be worried. Two short TD runs don’t fix a 2.6 yards per carry average from Monday Night. His YPC in Week 2? 2.6. He has 36 carries over the last two games and has a long run of six yards. I’d hold on to Sproles.
Keep sending the emails. Some good ones this week. I wanted to answer the MILF one but I elected not to out of respect to Felger. (I’ll just say this. No, No, Yes, No, Sela Ward, Yes, and Kelly Ripa.)
I realize most owners would literally murder to be in this position, but I currently own Drew Brees AND Jay Cutler in my league (10 teams). I'm leaning toward sticking with Minihane Man-Crush Cutler, but that's really not the issue. How long do you think I should sit with both of them on my roster? I would think they are both at their premium value right now, no? What's fair compensation for one of them?
What I'm really trying to ask is who would win a WEEI (Radio and .Com) Royal Rumble? We know Pete Shepherd would get the proverbial Yokozuna/Andre T. Giant treatment, with half the roster feeding him over the top rope. Same with Ordway ... and Michael Holley.
Butch Stearns and Bill Burt would obviously fill The Bushwhackers role and get heaved over the top rope and onto the concrete floor 2.2 seconds after entering the ring. I'm guessing Felger, the Million Dollar Man (classic heel) of 'EEI, would make the final four (or as Gorilla Monsoon would say, 'the nitty gritty) but would get ganged up on, much to the delight of the two people in attendance. Your thoughts about what role you'd take ... and your winner.
--Matt B, San Diego
Start with the two QBs. My first inclination would be to see what I could get for Brees. With Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey both out Brees’ production may take a little hit over the next month or so. His value, however, should be enough to land you a solid every week flex starter.
If you do think Brees will be fine without those guys than you can move Cutler. His value is at its peak right now and you might be able to get a little more than you could for Brees. Just checked my fantasy league and recent trades for Cutler in other leagues on that site include guys like Brandon Marshall and Michael Turner. Recent deals for Brees can get you guys such as Matt Forte and Chris Chambers. I’d rather have a combo of Brees/Marshall than Cutler/Forte.
If, however, what you can get back for each guy is close I value than move Brees. Cutler is on pace to throw for 4,875 yards and 42 TDs. He’s not going to keep that up (even I’ll concede that) but 4,400 yards and 35 TDs are a real possibility. I just don’t think Brees will be able to get near those numbers without two of his top three options in the lineup.
The second question is really an attempt to “out” me as a wrestling fan. And you know what? Three days ago I might’ve just moved on to another email. But the bravery of Clay Aiken (who, let’s face it, is the Jackie Robinson of “Obviously gay reality stars who came out of the closet to shake up a dying career”) has led me to publicly embrace the world of Vincent Kennedy McMahon. So I’ll admit it. I watch old Van Hammer matches on YouTube. I once asked Lou Albano for an autograph at an airport in Charlotte (he couldn’t have been nicer, by the way). I was in attendance at WrestleMania 14 when Stone Cold Steve Austin beat HBK for the title and I still consider it a top three all-time Fleet Center (or whatever it is now) moment (right behind Banner 17 and the unforgettable NCAA Women’s Final Four in 2006).
So a WEEI Royal Rumble? I agree that Felger would be the top heel (he’d bring Janet Prensky to the ring as his valet to drive Ordway nuts) but I think he’d be eliminated early by Ordway’s (who, let’s face it, is WEEI’s McMahon) Stooges, Stearns and Burt. Felger and Bradford would be the only two members of the WEEI.com army to even qualify for the 30 spots (I would maybe, MAYBE get to work a dark match with Paul Perillo before the show started). If I had to pick a winner I’d go with Ordway (he has to win, right? It’s best for business) eliminating Callahan in the 63rd minute with the help of Ron Borges (who would then rip off his Boston Herald sweater to reveal an “I Love Belichick” shirt). The highlight of the night, however, would be the return of Eddie Andelman and Bob Neumeier as a “Legion of Doom” type team hell bent on destroying Dale Arnold.
Do you think there's any way Randy Moss can mentally adjust to catching five-yard passes? The dink and dunk style is clearly what works for Cassell, and Wes Welker is the king of turning the short route into good yardage. Should we air it out to Moss once or twice a game to stop it from becoming "Randy being Randy"? Or do you think the "new Randy Moss team-captain extraordinaire" will make the most of a bad situation?
--Emily W. from Northbridge
Ok. What to do with Randy Moss?
Terrell Owens, Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, Andre and Calvin Johnson and Greg Jennings. Those are the WRs you definitely couldn’t get straight up for Moss in a trade today. I would have had Plaxico on the list before the suspension.
And those are just the locks. If I’m an Anquan Boldin owner, for example, and I get a Moss for Boldin offer I might be thinking about this before I hit the “accept” button:
Boldin is in a high-powered, pass first offense that will go deep all the time. Kurt Warner is a top 10 fantasy QB (he really is, name me nine guys who are better right now). And, Boldin is a looking for a contract after the season, so motivation will not be a factor regardless of record.
Moss is trapped in an Ann Coulter offense. Matt Cassel is closer to the 30th ranked QB than he is to the 10th,. And money is no factor for Randy, who got a nice 15 mil guaranteed after last season. Oh, and he does have that history of, y’know, struggling with motivation when things get ugly.
So maybe you can’t even land that second group of WRs. That leaves you with the other Little Lebowski Underachievers (Braylon Edwards, Chad Johnson, Torry Holt, Roy Williams). At that point you are just making a trade for trade’s sake.
I’d keep Moss for now. Three reasons why: (1) He appears to be healthy (despite the suggestion from Rip Taylor Casserly on the CBS pregame show that “something is not right” with Moss, the wideout hasn’t been on the injury report this season). (2) He is the top weapon in the Pats offense and Belichick knows it. They will open the offense (a little) to get him involved. Even if it only serves to placate Moss it’s a smart move. (3) If they bring in a veteran QB with a strong arm Moss goes right back to the top of the list. Remember, this is a guy who had 11 TDs and 1,413 yards with Jeff George as his QB one season. Oh, and (3A) unless you are truly desperate you never trade a player when his value is at its lowest. You didn’t use the eighth pick on Moss to trade him for Dwayne Bowe and DeAngelo Williams after three weeks. As the great American Poet William Bruce Rose Jr. once wrote, “Have a little patience”.
A few emails I received this week asked about bye-week replacements. Two QBs stand out to me as really strong options this week.
J.T. O’Sullivan has really played well in Mike Martz’s system over the past two weeks (510 yards with three TDs and zero picks) and should put up another big game against a weak New Orleans secondary on Sunday. 250 yards and a pair of TDs is a reasonable expectation.
Jake Delhomme gets perhaps the best matchup of the week, getting the Chiefs at home (good suicide league pick as well). Now that Steve Smtih has a week under his belt, I’d expect a TD connection between the two. Delhomme should be good for 200-220 yards and a TD or two in an easy win.
A pair of WRs who could give owners a solid one-week shot include Chansi Stuckey (a TD catch in each game so far, six catches Monday Night) and if Antonio Bryant is still available he’s worth a start. He won’t match last week’s outburst (138 yards with those 10 grabs we mentioned earlier) but should be good for five-six catches and 65-70 yards at least.
If you need an RB you know will get the ball I’d pick up Rashard Mendenhall. I don’t like his matchup at all this week (the Ravens are the league’s best against the run) but he’s going to get 20 touches. Maybe he gets 70 yards and a goal-line score.
Kirk Minihane, WEEI.com Contributor, is the resident Fantasy Football expert for WEEI.com.
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Bobby Valentine & Joe Castiglione on a rare no-move day today in Baltimore to preview Sox/irds
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