Fantasy Football Week 2: A Contrarian Viewpoint on Add/Drops

Fantasy Football has evolved over the last few years into the living breathing creature we see today.  

Ten years ago, if you were sharp and studied hard you could ensure that your draft would have enough depth to put you in the league's driver’s seat heading into the season.  Knowing that your draft was better than half of the league, you could afford to wait on your sleepers to come around. Add/Drops were monitored, but viewed more as bye week help than as a difference maker. 

The fantasy football landscape has changed, my friends.  Information is everywhere.  Draft rooms are constantly updating rankings with injuries and preseason performances.  Every website with a decent following is spouting sleepers for various league sizes. 

Even the most uneducated players among your league-mates will be able to instantly see on the screen or their printed list the 25 “most valuable players remaining.” The fact of the matter is that there are not many Jordy Nelsons, James Starks', or even Nate Burlesons who will fall through the cracks on draft night.

That brings us to a differing view on Week 2 Add/Drops. 

After weeks of study, analysis, draft prep and start/sit advice, here we are.

Your roster of Big Ben, Shonn Greene, LaGarette Blount, Roddy White, Dwayne Bowe et al. scored the least amount of points in the league.  An 0-1 record and last place in the league standings page stares you in the face. 

Most Fantasy Football Experts will tell you not to panic.  Start your studs.  Hold on tightly to those sleepers that should pay off down the road.  I, on the other hand, think that this is the time to pounce. 

Whether you led the league in scoring or lost in week 1 is totally irrelevant.  Each year there are difference-makers who burst onto the fantasy football scene.  In 2010 if you jumped on Vick, Blount, Peyton Hillis and Brandon Lloyd, you probably put yourself in a position of strength. 

If, on the other hand, you passed on Lloyd after remembering his previous years of fantasy disappointment and instead chose to wait on future PPR monster Devin Aromashadou, well….. 

The point here is to know when to have patience and when to strike.  Too often we convince ourselves of our own abilities and knowledge when the contrarian evidence is staring us in the face. 

The internal conversation goes often goes like this: “The Colts have an explosive offense this year and Donald Brown was drafted to take over for Addai last year.  This is the year it happens.  Addai is a bum and he can’t stay healthy.  Brown learned the blocking scheme and has his explosiveness back. Blount punched a guy in the face and was just cut by the Titans.  No way he makes it through a season, let alone become productive.  Not with Caddy there.” 

Those were my thoughts last year. 

In this world of 24/7 coverage and constantly-updating rankings, sometimes patience does not pay. You need to get while the getting is good, as they say.  You just don’t want to miss out on the next Peyton Hillis in order to hold onto preseason stud Denarius Moore, who barely saw the field in Week 1. 

Now for some Week 2 Add/Drops worth jumping up and grabbing at the expense of the bottom of your roster (12-team league):

 

Cam Newton, QB- No I don’t think this is the norm.  The title says contrarian, not idiotic.  The point here is that if you believe in him even a little, this is the week you have to get him.  And if your other options include Hasselbeck, McNabb, or Collins, you could do worse.

Chad Henne, QB- The Dolphins are letting him make audibles at the line and pass the ball a little.  I think we have established Reggie Bush the running back doesn’t work.  Those swing passes count for the QB too, you know.

Rex Grossman, QB- Has looked accurate all preseason and shredded the Giants.  You saw what Cam did against Arizona last week? 

Cadillac Williams, RB- This is more for those that have Steven Jackson.  Good all purpose yards, but that was more a function of poor Eagle linebacker play.

Darren Sproles, RB- I would call him Reggie Bush-lite, but he looked more like what we expected Reggie Bush to be and less like what Bush turned out to be

Jordy Nelson, WR- I doubt he is available, but if he is don’t wait.

Early Doucet WR- Take away that one catch and it was a pedestrian day, still the ability has been there since his days at LSU.

Meachem/Henderson, WR- Someone has to catch the ball.  Even if Moore is back he is not 100 percent.

Jermaine Gresham,  TE-Expected this production last year, but looks completely healthy this year and is a good safety valve.

Fred Davis, TE- Seems to have passed Cooley as the TE you want in Washington.  Certainly looks healthier and more athletic.