Fantasy Football: Isaac Redman and Other Deep League Options

Not everybody plays in a 10 or 12-team league. Even 12-team leagues can get a bit nutty  depending on the rules and rosters. When you're in any sort of league with 20-plus roster spots, it's tough to find adequate replacements in free agency.

We haven't even talked about the really deep leagues: 14, 16, 18, even 20-team leagues. In a 20-team league, sometimes you're just desperate for any player simply guaranteed playing time. In a season where injuries have hit fantasy owners especially hard (see Jamaal Charles) and questions abound (Arian Foster), we need players more than ever.

Maybe you need a replacement just for Week 3. Maybe you're trying to replace Jamaal Charles for the rest of the season. Either way, get ready to take some chances. The deeper your league is, the wilder you're going to have to swing. Because you are swinging for the fences. Because you need to win this week. You need to win every week. Fantasy football is unique in the same way that all football is. The season is short. The match-ups are few. The margin of error is non-existent.

There are all sorts of reasons why fantasy owners can be needing to dig deep this early in the season. Maybe your draft wasn't so good. Maybe you drank too much or just plain blew it. Don't sweat it. It's a lot of fun to draft an awesome team and win most weeks. But when you're making wild plays off the waiver wire and defeating those teams it's really that much better. Like your ex-girlfriend/ex-wife's attractive sister better. There's a higher degree of difficulty here and when you succeed, you want to celebrate like Michael Phelps.

Dude in my league started Denarius Moore and David Nelson last week; in a PPR league with various bonus points. Needless to say, he won pretty handily and he would not shut up about it. No mention of how he only started those players because Knowshon Moreno and Steven Jackson were hurt. Because that really doesn't matter. All you want is that glorious "W".

So here are some players who you can start if you're in a jam or just in a really deep league.

QB

Colt McCoy (vs Dolphins) The Dolphins have allowed the 2nd most fantasy points to QB's. Some of that is thanks to Tom Brady. Most of it is because the Dolphins pass defense is terrible. Peyton Hillis has come down with an illness and probably won't be at full strength by Sunday. The Dolphins will be without their best corner .Vontae Davis. Their nickel corner Will Allen and free safety Chris Clemons were limited by injury in Friday's practice. McCoy could have one of the better days of his young career on Sunday.

Rex Grossman (@ Cowboys) We saw "Bad Rex" again in Week 2. But even he managed to pass for 291 yards and 2 TDs. If the Redskins O-line can slow down the Cowboys' pass rush, Rex can pick their secondary apart. Both starting cornerbacks for the Cowboys, Terrance Newman and Mike Jenkins are nursing lower body injuries. This in a Cowboys secondary that was the weakness of their defense to being with. Look for some of the "Good Rex" to show up this week.

RB

Isaac Redman (@ Colts) The Colts have given up the 7th most fantasy points to RB's this season. Look for them to have possibly given up the most by the end of this game. The Steelers should be able to make fairly quick work of an over-matched Colts team. That means Redman could be looking at 10+ carries and possibly even a couple of goal line looks.

Keiland Williams (@ Vikings) The Lions have been looking for a short-yardage back since Mikel LeShoure was injured. In Week 2 Williams received nine carries and scored a TD. This week, the Lions get the Vikings who have allowed the most fantasy points to RB's so far this season. Look for the Lions offense to move the ball at will. Williams should see a couple of goal line looks and could see 10+ carries if the game gets out of hand.

Danny Woodhead (@ Bills) Woodhead was dropped in a lot of leagues after two lackluster performances to open the season. But he could be a nice play in PPR leagues this week. The Bills could put up enough points to make this a real shootout. Woodhead should also see a few additional targets due to the absence of Aaron Hernandez. Look for Woodhead to be split out as a receiver far more often then he was in the first two games.

DeMarco Murray (vs Redskins) Felix Jones looks like he is going to try to play through his shoulder injury against the Redskins. He tried to do so against the 49ers, but he was extremely limited. Under Jason Garrett, the Cowboys have resisted using Tashard Choice for one reason or another. That leaves Murray. With Tony Romo nursing some cracked ribs, the Cowboys will attempt to run the ball more often. Murray should be a big part of that in this game.

WR

Nate Burleson (@ Vikings) Somebody else has to score for the Lions beside Calvin Johnson, right? Burleson has been consistent this season catching five passes in Week 1 and seven passes in Week 2. Let's call it six catches this week and he finds the end zone. That's useful in pretty much every fantasy league.

Mike Sims-Walker (vs Ravens) Sims-Walker was Sam Bradford's favorite receiver in Week 2 with Danny Amendola out. Sims-Walker had six receptions for 92 yards. The Rams could be without Steven Jackson and Cadillac Williams on Sunday. Look for the Rams to pass early and often. They aren't going to beat the Ravens trying to run the ball. Sims-Walker should be the beneficiary.

Patrick Crayton (vs Chiefs) With Malcom Floyd out, Crayton steps into the starting lineup for the Chargers. This is a risky play, but there's some definite upside here. Philip Rivers has evenly distributed the ball so far this season. The Chargers face a weak Chiefs team with Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson having both missed practices this week. Crayton could be a sneaky play in deep leagues.

Steve Smith 2.0 (vs Giants) This is the absolute "Swinging For The Fences Play". There are two reasons to consider Smith. The first being that the Eagles are going to try to protect Mike Vick. That means quick-routes where Vick gets the ball out fast. That would lead to increased targets for Smith and Jason Avant. Second is the Andy Reid "F. U." factor. It was a very emotion transaction when Smith moved over to the Eagles from the Giants. Andy Reid is the same coach who called a trick play for Mike Vick the first time the Eagles played the Falcons with Vick. That trick play was late in the game when the Eagles had a considerable lead. Look for Andy Reid to call Steve Smith's number a couple of times in an effort to get him in the end zone.

TE

Jermaine Gresham (vs 49ers) Gresham starred in Week 1 then disappeared in Week 2. Good news for Gresham, Bengals starting WR just disappeared. Poof! Right up in smoke. Gresham should slot in as the No. 2 target in the passing game behind A.J. Green. This should be one of the good weeks to start Gresham.

Ed Dickson (@ Rams) Dickson is another play who had a nice Week 1 and did nothing in Week 2. That was pretty much the entire Ravens team. With Lee Evans out this week, look for Dickson to pick up additional targets. Dickson has a legit shot at a TD and some decent yardage on a handful of catches. You could certainly do worse.

Good luck to all this week. If you have any questions or comments please comment below and I'll do my best to answer you. You can also follow me on Twitter. Stay healthy.