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Week 4
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By Jason Lauren |
| September 29, 2007 |
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| Also see:
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One time is an anomaly. Two times
is a coincidence. Three times is trend that should cause fantasy owners
to perhaps panic.
It’s not difficult to find players
who are failing to live up to preseason expectations through the first
three weeks of the season.
With many fantasy leagues having a
12-week regular season, owners need to decide now what to do with their
struggling players before it’s too late. Should they panic (trade them)
or not panic (hold on to them)?
PANIC
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Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans:
With running back Deuce McAllister out for the season the Saints no
longer have a balanced attack, so opponents will key on stopping New
Orleans’ pass. |
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Laurence Maroney, RB, New
England: He’s getting only about 50 percent
of New England’s carries and few near the goal line (he has just two
carries in the Patriots’ 14 plays inside the 5-yard line). |
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Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo:
Five catches, 29 yards, no TDs this season – ick. Rookie quarterback
Trent Edwards is now starting – yuck. |
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Maurice Jones-Drew, RB,
Jacksonville: The biggest bust of the season
is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry and isn’t getting as many
receptions (six) as expected. |
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Chicago defense:
The Bears have too many injuries to overcome, and their schedule
appears to be tougher than last year. |
DON’T PANIC
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Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis:
The Ram has just two touchdown passes through three games. He had the
same total at this point last year and finished with 24. |
| LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego:
He has too much talent and too much talent around him
for his slump to last much longer. |
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Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City:
He will get better as the Chiefs’ schedule gets easier, starting next
week against Cincinnati, but don’t expect him to put up consistent big
numbers like he has in the past with defenses solely focused on
stopping him. |
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Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona:
He hasn’t scored yet, but he’s still getting plenty of passes thrown
his way (32, tied for seventh in the NFL). |
HOT READ
Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City:
The rookie has scored a touchdown the last two weeks. He is a threat in
the red zone with his ability to grab passes in traffic. Pick him up if
he’s available in your league.
BROKEN PLAYER
Steve McNair, QB, Baltimore:
The veteran has a groin injury that has coach Brian Billick considering
using a platoon at quarterback with Kyle Boller. It’s time to drop
McNair.
OFF THE BENCH
Bernard Berrian, WR, Chicago:
He scored a TD in both matchups against Detroit last season. The
fourth-year pro will have a good chance to continue his scoring streak
this week against the Lions, who have the 31st-ranked passing defense.
SAFE BET
Marvin Harrison, WR, Colts:
Benching Harrison sounds crazy, but his owners may want to consider just
that this week. The league’s best cornerback, Denver’s Champ Bailey,
will be covering Harrison. Last year, Bailey held Harrison to 38 yards
and no touchdowns. Owners that have a top-notch receiver on their bench
should consider taking Harrison out of their starting lineup.
EXTRA POINT
Bye weeks start this week. Don’t
just plan your lineup for this week, look at your lineup in future
weeks, too, to make sure you have bench players to plug in your starting
lineup that don’t have the same bye weeks as your starters.
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