Six Big Fantasy Football Names to Sell

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Sometimes you just have to know when to say goodbye.

Every year, a handful of first, second, and third-round picks disappoint fantasy owners. The honeymoon starts to wear off after the second or third poor performance of the early season. And by the time midseason arrives, some of these players have found their way to the bench.

For every early-round stud there are almost an equal amount of early round duds.

Steve Slaton may have been that guy for your fantasy team a few weeks ago. His average draft position peaked near the late part of the first round in standard leagues this summer but his season got off to a rather lukewarm start.

He has since turned it around and hopefully you took my advice to buy low on Slaton a few weeks ago.

The problem most fantasy owners have at midseason with under-performing big name draft picks, like Slaton was earlier this year, is what to do with these players? Bench, cut, stick it out, or trade?

Benching the player is usually the first sign the honeymoon is well over. Frustration is well-embedded once a fantasy owner gets to this stage. The big-name draft pick likely laid a couple of eggs that may have cost an owner a win or two.

Cutting the player outright is difficult for most owners. The feeling that this guy could bounce back and be who-you-thought-he-was still exists deep in the fantasy subconscious.

Only the most audacious owners actually cut one of these guys. And those who do incur the risk of watching this guy blow up—you knew it!—as a waiver wire gem on somebody else’s roster.

Some decide to stick it out. You drafted these guys to anchor your fantasy teams and would hate to see them end up being productive on another owner’s roster. Besides, loyalty is an important quality for your fantasy team.

Another option—one detailed in some length below—is trading these players now . Despite the ineffectiveness of some of these guys, fantasy owners still may be in a position to make a playoff push.

Trading some of these big names (perhaps for a handcuff or two? ) could land fantasy owners an up-and-coming prospect with more promise down the stretch.

Players with Big Names to Sell

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers

A quarterback change—though not happening this weekend —could be imminent in Carolina. Smith’s situation could go from bad-to-worse with a change now, though it is hard to believe it gets much worse than Jake Delhomme right now.

The one redeeming quality of Delhomme is he tries to get the ball to Smith. Who knows if the same synergy will develop between Smith and whomever becomes the starting quarterback once Delhomme gets the hook?

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Cardinals (8), Falcons (10), Buccaneers (13)
Potential Beasts: Jets (12), Vikings (15), Giants (16)

The Cardinals are hard to figure right now and could abuse the Panthers this weekend. The Falcons and Bucs are torch-able opponents. The Jets, Vikings, and Giants figure to be tough down the stretch.

Brian Westbrook , RB, Eagles

Complicating matters for Westbrook right now are the implications of the concussion he incurred during Monday Night Football against the Redskins. The Eagles have not ruled him out for this weekend yet.

Chances are Westbrook misses at least a week if not more. LeSean McCoy would start in his place. Might be kind of hard to move him after the injury but perhaps the McCoy owner would be interested in some insurance.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Chargers (10), Bears (11)

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