QB Injuries: Which Fantasy Owner Really Pays the Price?

I am a pro football fan.  From hard-hitting, smash mouth, goal-line carries to wide open passes and Hail Mary's-I can’t get enough pro football.  I like the touchdown celebrations, grand standing (to a point), and even the drama surrounding the Ocho Cincos and T.O.s of the world. 

The only down side to my football fetish is the fact that I am a lifelong fan of the Detroit Lions.  Damn you for retiring Barry Sanders! 

Adding to my misery is my unhealthy and unholy addiction to Fantasy Football, which is the closest thing a tall, skinny guy has to actually playing the game, besides Madden, which is more like crack than a video game.  It is the culmination of our collective football fanaticism.  It’s an easy bridge to cross, and once on the dark side, it is impossible to return.

In one of my leagues, which I have the third or fourth highest scoring team and a losing record, I have Marion Barber.  Talk about a man-crush.  Barber is a stud, however, he has recently been a bit lackluster in his performance and, given the fact that the Cowboys suck lately, I started wondering why.  I began looking at this a bit and have come to realize that it is entirely the fault of Tony Romo.

I shouldn’t feel too bad though, because at least I didn’t lose my number one QB like the Tony Romo owner in my league did.  I noticed that the Tony Romo owner had a capable backup QB in Chad Pennington.  How much did he lose by losing Romo? 

In weeks seven through nine, with a mix of his backup, Chad Pennington, and Gus Frerotte, a waiver wire acquisition, his QB position averaged just under 17 fantasy points per game.  

In weeks 1 through 6, Tony Romo averaged 19.10 fantasy points per game.  His team didn’t miss a beat, as his backup QB’s provided almost enough points to make up for Tony Romo’s injury. 

So who really pays when a superstar QB gets injured?  

With just a two point per game difference between the two, Romo owner doesn't suffer much, however, Cowboys Terrell Owens and Marion Barber pay a heavy toll with Romo out of the lineup.

Terrell Owens

	Avg. Y/Game	Total TD	TD/Game	Fantasy Points	Avg. Fantasy Points
Week 1 – 6	61	5	.83	72.60	12.10
Week 7 – 9	33	1	.33	21.00	7.00

The injury to Tony Romo produced a 42.1% decrease in fantasy points per week for Terrell Owens. 

Marion Barber

	Avg. Y/Game	Total TD	TD/Game	Fantasy Points	Avg. Fantasy Points
Week 1 – 6	112	6	1.00	94.70	15.78
Week 7 – 9	85	1	.33	25.75	8.58

Some people would believe that a decrease in passing would lead to an increase in the stats of the primary Running Back, but the stats above show differently.  With less pressure to contain the passing game, the opponents have been able to stack more people in the box, targeting Marion Barber.  This has led to a decrease in weekly numbers and a 45.6% decrease in average fantasy points.

Is this how it really happens?  

Another superstar QB out for the season is Tom Brady.  Does the Tom Brady owner really feel the sting of his injury as much as the Randy Moss owner? 

The Tom Brady owner in my league was able to draft a new QB this year, and ended up with Jason Campbell.  Of course, there is a HUGE difference between Tom Brady last season and Jason Campbell this season.  For that matter there is a huge difference between Tom Brady last year and any quarterback in the history of Fantasy Football, however, he could have drafted Kurt Warner or Phillip Rivers.  Anyway, to make my point, let’s look at Randy Moss, Tom Brady’s primary target last year.

Randy Moss

	Avg. Y/Game	Total TD	TD/Game	Fantasy Points	Avg. Fantasy Points
2007	93.3	23	1.44	321.65	20.10
2008	65.4	4	.44	95.45	10.60

Tom Brady’s injury has caused a massive decrease in every category for Randy Moss.  A nearly 50% decrease in fantasy points per game.  Any owner in a keeper league that has kept Randy Moss is currently less than thrilled at the season that Moss is having.  

Herein lies the real problem: How can you bench Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, or Marion Barber?  

Each of these players have the ability to produce huge numbers on any day.  If you have Marion Barber, with Brad Johnson under center, who do you have on your bench that is a better player?  Even if Magic Johnson were the QB, you'd still have to play Marion Barber. 

There are not a lot of wide receivers better than Randy Moss, how can you not start him?  It is a damn shame, because there is no way that you can bench these players. They are just too good.  If these players are hurt, then you can put in a replacement,  but you can't simply bench them, therefore, you end up cringing as your stud RB puts up three points instead of 13. 

Stop whining Tom Brady owners, because at least you have a backup QB. 

We owners of the other skill players have to watch our keepers crumble because your QB couldn't stay healthy. Our failing season is entirely your fault, or at least that is the message that I am posting on the league boards.