Archive for October, 2007

Quarterbacks have a big load to carry. I know–that’s what she said, but it’s true. With the big paycheck comes the blame if the team gets off to a bad start or can’t execute in big games. Fans like to point fingers, and most of the time, they are pointing at the quarterback. This season, however, there has been a lot of starter swapping and finger pointing and a more than usual amount of bloodshed.

Very few in the NFL’s quarterbacks don’t, at one point or another, catch the wrath of the fans. Most notable in recent times, Rex Grossman and Eli Manning were two quarterbacks just old enough not to be though of as draft mistakes and just young enough not to be written off for every bad game–but they were. Grossman–maybe deservedly in his case–was eventually benched this year while Eli Manning is showing everyone that he can be great but maybe not his brother like some people expected. Lightning can’t strike twice–even in the same bloodline.

Last year, Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys (go big D) found his groove coming in for Bledsoe and led the team on a run that got them into the playoffs. (Note that I will not, at this point, address what may or may not have happened in said playoff game in regards to Romo. He doesn’t deserve that.) Matt Schaub has jumped out this year as a great starting quarterback that Atlanta wishes they had kept after losing Michael Vick. After a mediocre start by Frye, Derek Anderson emerged as a star quarterback–especially by fantasy standards–to take them into a winning record. Maybe no one would have known these QBs were worth anything had Houston and Cleveland not given him a chance, but now every team seems to be looking quicker to their next warm body in the quarterback slot this season. Not every situation can be solved with a quarterback swap.

Two notable situations are in Buffalo and New York. In Buffalo, Losman’s bad start was seen as the end of his hot streak. He was benched after injury in favor of the rookie Trent Edwards. While Edwards has an arm, he takes some warm up to get going, and if you are already having a bad start to the season, without much support, rookies usually lack that explosive presence to carry you out of it. Very few can jump off the bench without throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. In their Week 8 game against the Jets, Edwards’ injury allowed Losman to go into the game and show his stuff by throwing a bomb to Evans for the winning touchdown. Granted, the ball may have been underthrown, and Lee Evans had to work for it, but Losman got it there and got Evans into the zone.

The same could happen with Kellen Clemens in New York. I think there is something to be said for the chemistry that a starting quarterback has with his team. They shoulder the blame and shoulder the responsibility, and they earn respect for that. Has the team completely lost faith in Pennington enough to give Clemens all the help he needs as a rookie moving forward? Pennington did take them to the playoffs last year, and I doubt the entire team can write him off and move on like he is not part of what made that possible. As a fantasy football owner, I don’t trust Clemens yet. I know that Pennington has played horribly in his last few starts, but I am not sure that Clemens will be much better. He will really have to earn his spot this week against a tough Redskins defense.

Ryan Grant, RB Green Bay Packers

Ryan Grant showed some flashes of brilliance in the Denver game. I heard rumors that he would eventually become the starter early in the season when Brandon Jackson was still “the guy” for Green Bay. It’s been a mess in the running game department all season, so naming Grant as the starter after his performance show that he is a guy that Green Bay wants to keep hot. He is worth picking up if you need a decent second RB, but I wouldn’t plan on playing him every week. It would be good to have another RB to play match ups. Green Bay’s running game can go from hot to cold based on the opponent this season.

Adimchinobi Echemandu, RB Houston Texan

Echemandu may have looked like a pick up in the game this Sunday, but he did pull a hammy on his first play. Although he played through the game, word is that he may sit against the Raiders this week. If you have a roster spot to grab him, and you need a little help in the RB department, go for it. I wouldn’t play him this week, but he is sure to get more carries if Ahman Green stays out just like the rest of the starters and Ron Dayne continues to lack any playmaking ability for the Texans. Watch the status reports though. If Eche starts, he might be a great pick up this week.

Selvin Young, RB Denver Broncos

I don’t know why someone wouldn’t have already grabbed him up in your league, but if you need a RB, he is a solid pick up. Travis Henry will soon be suspended, and he looks to be the runner in Denver. Don’t take Andre Hall out of your sights either. Hall could still emerge as the starter if he gets some explosive carries. It’s Shanny for crying out loud.

Deion Branch and DJ Hackett, WR Seattle Seahawks

They have been forgotten while injured, but both these receivers are expected to return this week after Seattle’s bye. Expect them to come into Seattle’s game plan early and often. Branch was producing well before he went down with an injury. You might even try to buy low on Branch if the owner who has him doubts his return to greatness–or doesn’t need the depth. This week the Seahawks take on the Browns with Anderson throwing 3 TDs per game. Expect the WR to get a lot of action.