Sneaky plays: Week 9
We’re entering the last third of the fantasy football season, and between byes and injuries owners are scrambling. Times like this, I wonder if I should rename this article, “Living on a Prayer” or “Fantasy Roulette”. I actually like the former title. Might have to use it next year.
Week 8 was a fantastic one if you listened to my advice. Although Tarvaris Jackson didn’t start, his late spot play earned more points than Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Schaub, Mark Sanchez, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Chad Henne, and Matt Hasselbeck! Not how I foresaw things exactly, but close enough.
Rashard Mendenhall kicked some serious butt for owners despite what some “experts” predicted and Nate Burleson was a PPR hero with seven receptions. We will just forget about Marshawn Lynch and Bo Scaife. They obviously must have been paid off to make me look bad. Only way to explain it.
Matthew Stafford vs New York Jets — Many owners and experts are scared of starting anyone against the Jets, but the fact is they allow the 11th most quarterback points. Even if you buy into Darelle Revis being back in form (I’m not), the Lions will have a tough time running the ball, so Stafford will have to take his shots. He’s a great gamble that is lower risk than most realize.
Chris Ivory @ Carolina Panthers — The Panthers rank a lowly 20th against the run and rank right in the middle in fantasy points allowed to running backs (16th). Ivory gets the nod with Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas out of the lineup for one more week.
Toby Gerhart vs Arizona Cardinals — Let me lay it out for you. Brett Favre ** is banged up. **Percy Harvin is highly unlikely to play. Randy Moss is gone. Bernard Berrian sucks. Couple all that with a bad Cardinals run defense and a steadily increasing role for Gerhart and you have a sneaky flex play here.
Seyi Ajirotutu @ Houston Texans — By default he’s not only starting this week but also a top option in the passing game. The Texans have an awful secondary, and with Antonio Gates doubtful, he’ll get more than the four targets he saw last week. By the way, of the six targets he’s seen over the past two weeks, he’s converted five of them. Not bad.
James Jones vs Dallas Cowboys — I’m calling a mulligan on last week’s pitiful performance. Fact is, Jones has been better than Nelson every other game before Week 8. The Cowboys have all but phoned it in for the season, so I expect the Packers’ offense to rebound nicely this week.
