Fantasy Football: Week Nine Hangover

The week that was has left us with many points to ponder in our weekly hangover. Injuries to insulting performances, there were plenty of pieces that should give fantasy owners something to think about over the next several days.

Fantasy Up

1. Brady Quinn- It's his team now. Quinn was named starter this week over Derek Anderson, who cost the Browns dearly with a key turnover late in the game against the Ravens. We won't get into the fact that Quinn will still have the same busted line, running game, and drop-prone receivers.
2. Ryan Torain- With Michael Pittman being placed on IR, Selvin Young and Torain are the only healthy backs in Denver—until Evil Shanahan signs someone else and we're stuck in another platoon situation. Torain will likely be given an all-out crack at this job.
3. No Names- Derek Fine, Peyton Hills, Derek Stanley, and Brent Celek all ranked in the top-30 in most scoring formats. If you had any of them on your fantasy teams, you're better than I am. Celek could continue to be valuable in an Eagles offense that may not have L.J. Smith.
4. Tim Hightower- It's about time he finally took over, and he definitely did that. Hightower has likely stolen the job from James going forward. He's a must-own in all formats.
5. Cedric Benson - Something about this guy just doesn't let me quit him. He put together another 100-yard day for the Cincinnati offense and has become a major reason why Fitzpatrick has been able to get passes off. Benson will see plenty of work in this running game.

 

Fantasy Down

1. Derek Anderson - You have to feel bad for the guy. It isn't his fault Edwards has dropped 20 passes already this season. Still, he's down and not likely coming back. Sorry, Derek.
2. Michael Pittman - A trip to the IR ends his season and could be the end of his time in Denver. Drop him like it's hot.
3. Edgerrin James- James didn't ask for this to happen, but he had been marginalized in that offense over the last month. Hightower was slowly getting more and more carries, to the point that James had no fantasy value before this decision was made. He'll get more than zero carries most games, but not enough to make you play him or keep him.
4. Kyle Orton - He was having the dream season that we thought Cutler was going to have. This ankle injury is certainly a set back. Good news for Orton, though, is that Grossman is the guy filling in for him. He should get his job back.
5. Oakland Running Backs - They couldn't run against Atlanta, we don't know who is going to play, let alone get carries, and they have a quarterback that doesn't threaten to throw the ball. That adds up to a problem. Without an air attack, play action doesn't work, meaning eight men are in the box to shut down the Oakland run game.

 

You Shouldn't Trust the Performance of...

...Ray Rice. I like Rice, and in keeper formats I'm crazy about the guy. That said, we've discussed how bad it is to be involved with the Denver running game. This one is almost as bad. Willis McGahee dresses, but doesn't play.

Some games you get Le'Ron McClain, some you get Rice. The issue is, you won't know until the game starts which back gets the carries. Not a fun time.

 

I'm Most Concerned About...

...two quarterbacks: Ben Roethlisberger and Jay Cutler. Roethlisberger has an obvious concern with the injury. He's struggled and really shouldn't be as widely owned as he is at this point. 93 percent of Yahoo! teams have this guy on a roster.

With his lack of production, that percentage seems very high at this point. Leftwich won't steal his job, but it should make owners re-evaluate Big Ben's value.

Jay Cutler, on the other hand, is getting the opportunities and continually blowing them. Cutler was as white-hot as you could be early in the season, but in Weeks Seven through Nine, he threw five interceptions and just three touchdowns.

Cutler hasn't been able to get the ball to Marshall and has missed his tight ends. While still a play, I'm growing more and more concerned about the offense in Denver.

 

Workin' the Wire

• Greg Camarillo - 11 catches this week for 111 yards. Miami has a very soft schedule the rest of the way. Five of their opponents are Oakland, Seattle, St. Louis, Kansas City, and San Francisco. Something worth noting—it goes for Chad Pennington, too.
• Tyler Thigpen and Mark Bradley- I'm not sold on Thigpen yet, but this is two solid games for the quarterback. He seems to have found some rhythm with Bradley as well. Bradley has two touchdowns in his last two games. Fill-ins they certainly are.
• Kevin Smith - Still only 60 percent owned, meaning there is a primary running back available that is scoring touchdowns. With Culpepper learning the offense, there will be immediately more running in the short-term.
• Jeff Garcia - If you lost Orton, there are worse options at hand than looking at a guy that does nothing but throw the football deep. The Bucs aren't a great team, but they will put up points through the air.
• Derrick Mason- As Joe Flacco grows into the offense, the primary beneficiary is Mason. He cracked 100 yards again, and is available in 40 percent of leagues at this point. Look to him if you could use some help in your flex spot, especially in PPR leagues.