Week One Loss in Fantasy Football? Here's a Thought...

If you were like me and didn't win the Adrian Peterson sweepstakes, you might still be sulking going into Week Two over your running back production.  The lot I casted wound me up drafting in the middle, settling for Steve Slaton, whose awesome name still hasn't made up for the two whole Fantasy points he managed this past Sunday.

My other starter, DeAngelo Williams, underachieved, but it may not have been his own fault (with his  quarterback spending more time lying on his back and playing catch with the Eagles than handing him the ball), but in any case, this may have been foreshadowing of what's yet to come.

All that said it was time for me to start bartering with other teams and exploring the free agents left on the board.

After not hearing back from my two offers on the table, including one in which I am trying to pry Michael Turner away from another guy's starting lineup, I decided to think about free agent pickups. 

Sometimes a great pickup is that talented guy who gets injured everyone forgets about like in baseball, Chris Carpenter comes to mind.  The NFL has a few potential career resurrecting stories too.

1. Cadillac Williams, RB Bucs

For his career Cadillac has been more like a Mazda Miata, a nice car in the showroom with lots of potential,  not very durability on the road, but still catches people's eyes by it's style and speed.  That said with the two back or perhaps three back system now in place in Tampa Bay, Williams really could thrive. 

Derek Ward and Earnest Graham are both solid in their own right, ultimately give the more talented Williams the modest amount of carries he needs to make through a full season (and more importantly help us win our Fantasy Leagues). 

2. Laurence Maroney, RB Patriots

Outside of the season-ending injury last year to his shoulder, Maroney has been pretty durable in the NFL. He might just have the biggest upside of all the running backs in this category. 

Maroney averages more than four yards per carry for his career.  And with opponents having to respect Brady and the Patriots' pass offense, Maroney might get a nice chunk of yards.  Like Williams in Tampa, Maroney is part of a multi-back system.

But to me he's clearly the best of the bunch.  Maroney is younger and more talented than aging veterans like Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris.  And even though Morris might get some of the short-yardage touchdowns, Maroney is the most likely to reach 100 yards for a game.

Other Potential Bargains...

3. Jordy Nelson, James Jones, WR's Packers

I realize that both of these guys combined for zero catches in Week One, but I am sold on Aaron Rodgers and this Packers offense.  I thinks it's a just a matter of time (like say this week against the lowly Bengals) that these two big targets will join Driver and Jennings in the festivities. 

4. Matt Prater, K Broncos

If you are looking for a kicker or if yours was a bust like mine in Week One (John Kasay) this guy might be a nice choice.  Just like his predecessor, Jason Elam, Prater has the strong leg (had kicks this past weekend of 48 and 50 yards) and the opportunity for scoring chances in the weak AFC west division. 

This week wouldn't be a bad week to add Prater since the Broncos are home to the Browns.