Fourth-and-1 Debate: Thursday Football Adjustments

Eric of www.rotoprofessor.com was responsible for this week’s Fourth-and-1 Round Table debate topic.

Click here to see the full article .

This Week’s Topic

What adjustments do you make to your fantasy strategy in the second half, with games
now being played on Thursdays?

My Response

My first thought was the short week was hard on running backs, since they take such a beating game after game. I decided to look back to last year’s games to see how the RBs fared.

Week 10
Jamal Lewis: 19-60, TD (3.2 ypc)
I disregarded Denver since they didn’t have a consistent running game.

Week 11
Thomas Jones: 30-104, TD (3.5 ypc)
I disregarded New England since they didn’t have a consistent running game.

Week 12
Cedric Benson: 16-35 (2.2 ypc)
I disregarded Pittsburgh since they didn’t have a consistent running game.

Week 13
Chris Johnson: 16-125, 2 TDs (7.8 ypc)
LenDale White: 23-106, 2 TDs (4.6 ypc)
Kevin Smith: 12-22 (1.8 ypc)

Week 14
LaDainian Tomlinson: 25-91, TD (3.6 ypc)
I disregarded Oakland since they didn’t have a consistent running game.

Week 15
Pierre Thomas: 22-87, TD (4.0 ypc)
Matt Forte: 11-34, TD (3.1 ypc)

Week 16
Maurice Jones-Drew: 20-91 (4.6 ypc)
I disregarded Indy since they didn’t have a consistent running game.

At first glance, I noticed the majority of the RBs had a low yards per carry ratio. I also noticed that a good portion of them score anyway.

Judging by these numbers, I would stick with my top backs in standard leagues and look for replacements in heavy yardage leagues.

I also decided to look at QB play.

Week 10:  Cutler 447 yards, 3 TDs; Quinn 239 yards, 2 TDs
Week 11:  Favre 258 yards, 2 TDs; Cassel 400 yards, 3 TDs
Week 12:  Big Ben 243 yards, TD; Cincy didn’t count
Week 13:  TENN-DET game didn’t count
               Romo 331 yards, 3 TDs; Hasselbeck 287 yards
               McNabb 260 yards, 4 TDs; Warner 235 yards, 3 TDs
Week 14:  Rivers 214 yards, 3 TDs; Oakland doesn’t count
Week 15:  Brees 232 yards, 2 TDs; Chicago doesn’t count
Week 16:  Peyton Manning 364 yards, 3 TDs, Garrard 329 yards, TD

Now we’re talking.

Almost every QB that mattered had a monster game during the short week. Looking back to last year as guidance, I am starting a QB that plays on Thursday whenever the situation arises.

Panelists

Junkyard Jake of  www.junkyardjake.com
Ryan Lester of  www.lesterslegends.com
Paul Greco of  www.fantasypros911.com
Bryce McRae of  www.kffl.com
Kurt Turner of  www.top-fantasy-football.com
Eric Stashin of  www.rotoprofessor.com
Lee of  www.footballjabber.com
Smitty of  www.fantasyfootballxtreme.com
Jacob of  www.fantasyfootballfools.com
Hatty of  www.hattywaiverwireguru.com