A sports blog by and for Midwest Sports Fans
Week 8 of fantasy football has arrived, and the playoffs are seemingly right around the corner. While it is important to get your rosters set now for the long run, you also needs wins, especially during these bye-riddled weeks, to make sure you get a shot at the second season.
Here are some last minute tips on some players who could disappoint this week, as well as some others who are set up for success to help your fantasy team in Week 8.
Is 2011 going to be the highest scoring fantasy season of all time? All signs indicate that it could be. Last season, seven players finished the season with more than 270 points (ESPN Standard Scoring). After four weeks this season, a staggering 18 players were on pace to beat that mark…and nine of them were QBs.
Like I said at the beginning of the season, gone are the days of fantasy rule by the RBs. Of those 18 players, only 5 are RBs…simply a staggering thought to anyone living in 2006 or before.
Injuries!
Andre Johnson is gone. Ben Roethlisberger is banged up. Miles Austin is on the mend. Marques Colston is back, but when will he get on track?
With the bye weeks now here, the time has come when fantasy leagues are truly won and lost. If you drafted well, and got a little lucky, you should be near the top of the standings. But nobody can ever completely escape the injury bug. Managing your lineup properly when byes and injuries attack is what separates the good owners from the great ones.
So let’s look at the Week Five games and decide who to start and who to sit this week.
Week Three is over, and you are probably wondering one thing: How is a guy that’s giving such great advice 0-3 in his own fantasy league?
I wish I knew…injuries have just killed me…and I’ve lost each week by an average of 1.2 points. Just heartbreaking.
Some of you are probably in the same boat as me. Even if you aren’t, it’s the time in the fantasy football season when leagues are won and lost. Now is when we have to start making the tough calls.
Everyone who is not a general manager of a professional team wishes they were a GM, regardless of the sport. This is probably the most agreed upon thing in sports. That is why fantasy sports are (basically) the most popular thing in the world.
I know for sure that I have thought and will continue to think that I can assemble a team better than some GMs out there.
My favorite time to pretend I am a GM is when the NFL Draft rolls around. Most people who have a favorite team, in my case the Minnesota Vikings (sad, yes I know), have an opinion for what area said team needs to improve whether it is for talent or personal reasons.
Today’s topic, however, has nothing to do with who the Vikings should draft. As long as it is a quality pick and they don’t reach for a project pick who is then rushed along without proper development (See: Jackson, Tarvaris), I don’t mind who they pick.
Rather, let us take a look at something more general, and one the biggest yearly debates and uncertainties of the NFL Draft: the debate of production vs. potential.
They don’t call him the Guru for nothing!
So far on the year, our NFL record is 30-18, so we’re hitting 63% of the time. I bet your 401k is not even performing that well.
For college, we ended the year on complete fire thanks to the bowl games, finishing with a record of 29-22 (hitting 56% of the time).
Today’s NFL Playoff games I absolutely love.
Somewhere in snowy New York, once they came in out of the Buffalo cold and their faces thawed enough to allow movement, Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell must have smiled a small “I told you so” smile to themselves.
The reason is the knee injury suffered today by Patriots’ WR Wes Welker, which is feared to be “serious”.
Gazing through the Thursday edition of the official NFL Injury Report, it’s clear that one fantasy-relevant position will be affected by injury more than any other: wide receiver.
A plethora of #2-#3 WRs are listed on the Thursday injury reports and could impact your lineup decisions. A few relevant links below, and then a quick rundown of the latest injury updates on each of the dinged up pass catchers.
Anquan Boldin Injury Update
Anquan Boldin has been battling a hamstring issue and was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice. The Cardinals coaches are obviously hoping that Boldin will be ready to go, as are his fantasy owners, but this is an injury to watch as the games approach on Sunday. You will probably have to make your decision before pre-game warmups though, as the Cardinals play in their typical 4:00 slot on Sunday. Boldin’s teammate Steve Breaston was a full participant in practice and would be a good option should Boldin not be able to go.
Update 9/12: Boldin was limited during Friday’s practice and his availability for Sunday’s game will most likely not be determined until pre-game warm-ups. But as the Arizona Republic reports, while Ken Whisenhunt has been the coach it is rare that a player has played without practicing during the week.
Update 9/12: Josh Alper at ProFootballTalk is reporting (via the Arizona Republic) that Anquan Boldin thinks it would be “stupid” for him to risk further injury. Sounds like he’s leaning towards not playing, and you will want to keep track of how things progress over the next 24 hours, but prepare an alternative plan
Antonio Bryant Injury Update
Bryant is battling a knee injury and was limited in Thursday’s practice. According to RotoTimes’ latest injury update on Bryant, Bucs head coach Raheem Morris said that Bryant and teammate Michael Clayton are okay and the team is just being careful leading up to Sunday’s game against Dallas. The Cowboys are susceptible to big plays in the passing game, so Bryant appears to be a solid start this weekend.
Update 9/12: Antonio Bryant is listed as probable on the most recent injury report. He should be ready for the Cowboys tomorrow.
Wes Welker Injury Update
The Patriots’ diminutive dynamo has been battling a knee injury that has him listed as a limited practice participant on the injury report. Of course, this is New England, so injury updates on Welker are hard to come by. What you see in that link to the Boston Globe is about as much as you’ll get out of the tight-lipped Pats. Monitor this one because it appears relatively serious and could keep Welker sidelined. The Patriots play Monday night, so you’ll probably have to make your decision Sunday. If you have a solid option ready, think seriously about using it. But if any positive reports about Welker come out over the next 48 hours, keep him in your lineup as the Patriots should be able to throw the ball effectively against the Bills.
Kevin Walter Injury Update
Walter is listed on the Texans’ injury report with a hamstring issue, and did not participate in Thursday’s practice. According to the Texans’ official website, the latest injury update on Walter is that he will be a game-time decision for the team’s 1:00 matchup against the Jets on Sunday. If he’s healthy he will play, but there is no telling if the hamstring issue will linger. I’d have another option ready to go and be checking the pregame reports if you are intent on using Walter.
Update 9/12: Kevin Walter is listed as questionable on the most recent injury report.
Bernard Berrian Injury Update
Berrian has a hamstring injury and was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice. The latest injury update on Berrian from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is not all that optimistic about his prospects for Sunday, as they cite the fact that this is the first time Berrian has battled hamstring issues in his career. For a straight speed receiver, this type of injury can be especially troublesome. The Vikings want to make sure he is totally healthy before green-lighting him, so check on this one up until kickoff Sunday.
Update 9/12: Bernard Berrian is listed as questionable on the most recent injury report.
Other WRs of note who are battling injury issues:
I will update this post with any new reports on the availability of these WRs.
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* – Anquan Boldin photo credit: The Cards
