Fantasy Football: 5 Last-Ditch Moves to Save Your Season

At this point of the fantasy football season, you're either comfortably headed to the playoffs, you're fighting for a spot in the postseason or you're miserably watching the other teams in your league stomp all over your team.

If you're one of those owners who is looking to salvage your season, whether they're playoff-bound or not, here are five last-ditch strategies to save your season.

5) Play Quarterback Roulette

If you've lost a quarterback recently due to injury, here's a strategy that might work if you're hurting at the position. I'm talking to the owners who have lost Matt Schaub, Jay Cutler or Matt Cassel.

For this strategy to be successful, you're going to have to to work the waiver wire and have faith in some bad quarterbacks.

In Week 13, pick up Matt Hasselbeck. The Tennessee Titans face a Buffalo Bills defense that surrendered four touchdown passes to Mark Sanchez in Week 12.

In Week 14, pick up Rex Grossman. The Washington Redskins host the New England Patriots and their defense that gave up 400 yards passing to Vince Young and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Skins will likely trail this game from the opening drive, so expect a lot of throws from Grossman.

In Week 15, pick up Matt Moore. The Miami Dolphins have resembled a football team recently and Moore is a big reason why. The Fins face that same Buffalo Bills defense that gave up four scores to Sanchez and the Jets.

In Week 16, stay with Moore. The Dolphins travel to New England for a match-up with the Patriots. It's not likely, but there's a chance the Pats may not be playing for anything with two weeks left in the regular season (again, I doubt it). Still, New England is giving up a ton of yards and, because of their offensive success, opposing teams must play fast and loose when trying to keep up.

In Week 17, turn the starting reins back over to Jay Cutler. The Chicago Bears are optimistic that Cutler will be back in time for the Week 17 match-up with the woeful Minnesota Vikings. However, be careful with this strategy. The Bears may not be playing for anything, therefore, it doesn't behoove them to rush Cutler back for no reason.

If that's the case, pick the other quarterback in this game, the Vikings Christian Ponder. The Bears have a pass defense that is almost as bad as Minnesota's. Ponder isn't a bad play if you're truly desperate and still playing in Week 17without a starting quarterback.

4) Do the Defense Shuffle

Just like the quarterback-swapping strategy on the previous page, team defenses/special teams (D/ST) can be replaced on a weekly basis.

If you haven't been pleased with the performance of your defense recently, i.e. Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, the best strategy may be to swap those teams out for one with a favorable matchup.

In Week 13, pick up the Kansas City Chiefs D/ST. The Chiefs face a Chicago Bears team that is now being led by Caleb Hanie. Hanie threw three interceptions and was sacked four times in his 2011 debut. If the Chiefs are already taken in your league, Miami is a good option as well against Carson Palmer and the Oakland Raiders.

In Week 14, pick up the Seattle Seahawks D/ST. The Seahawks host the St. Louis Rams on Monday Night Football, which should get that loud Seattle crowd good and worked up. The Rams are struggling on offense this year and they won't have much to play for in Week 14. Another option in Week 14 is the St. Louis defense. I don't think much of Seattle's offense either. Should be a great game on national TV.

In Week 15, pick up the Atlanta Falcons D/ST. The Falcons are starting to get things together, and that includes their defense. In Week 15, the Falcons host the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have struggled all season on offense. This is another national TV game where the home crowd should be whipped up into a frenzy.

In Week 16, pick up the Tennessee Titans D/ST. The Titans D/ST have had some really good games this year, including a Week 12 performance where they returned a kick for a touchdown, recovered four fumbles, had two quarterback sacks and intercepted one pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Titans host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, which should be a favorable match-up for Tennessee.

In Week 17, pick up the Minnesota Vikings D/ST. This one comes with a couple of caveats. I like this transaction less if Cutler plays. However, I love it if Hanie is still under center for the Bears. Also, if the Bears aren't playing for a playoff spot in Week 17, this is the D/ST pick-up you want. Vikings/Bears games are always spirited, regardless of each team's records.

However, if the Bears are still in the playoff hunt and Cutler is back, pick-up Atlanta's defense against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

3) Work the Waiver Wire

Your league's waiver wire is probably picked over by now, but if you need a late-season flier who isn't a quarterback or D/ST, here are couple of players that may still be available. 

Johnny Knox, wide receiver, Chicago Bears
He was Caleb Hanie's favorite target in Week 12. Knox hauled in four passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. His ten targets were tops on the team and it came against an Oakland Raiders team that was ranked fifth against the pass. Until we're proven otherwise, consider Knox to be Hanie's favorite target.

Damien Williams, wide receiver, Tennessee Titans
A Week 13 meeting with the Buffalo Bills should be a good match-up for Williams and the Titans. Williams has scored a touchdown in three of the last four weeks, including a touchdown reception in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jabar Gaffney, wide receiver, Washington Redskins
Despite the return of Santana Moss from injury, Gaffney still saw seven targets in Week 12. Gaffney is still the best red zone wide receiver option for the Skins, which isn't saying much. But if you're desperate for a receiver, he has a nice Week 14 match-up coming up against the New England Patriots.

Daniel Thomas, running back, Miami Dolphins
Many owners dumped Thomas after he sat out Week 8 with an injury, then followed that up with a dud of a game in Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Dolphins aren't playing for anything this season and my suspicions are they'll increase the rookie's workload at the end of the season.

Johnny White, running back, Buffalo Bills
It's endorsing a guy who got one carry in Week 12, but after watching C.J. Spiller carry the ball 19 times for 55 yards, it's clear the Bills need a more physical runner. White may not be the answer for the Bills post-Fred Jackson, but neither is Spiller. Stash White on your roster for now and hope for an opportunity to start him late in the year.

2) Good Buy Guys

Depending on whether or not your league's trade deadline has passed, here are some guys worth targeting in a trade.

Keep in mind, making trades are never easy in fantasy football, so you have to be willing to give up something good to get something good back in return.

The best strategy for making a fantasy football trade is to look at the standings and find your trading partner that way. Find a team that is still in the playoff hunt, but has lost a game or two in a row. These players are likely frustrated and ready to deal.

Once you establish a trading partner, see if they have any of these four players on their roster and make an offer.

Brandon Lloyd, wide receiver, St. Louis Rams
Don't look now but Lloyd has scored a touchdown in three consecutive games. Lloyd is also getting targeted a ridiculous 11 times, on average, in the last six games. He's clearly Sam Bradford's top target and he's on a role right now.

Maurice Jones-Drew, running back, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jones-Drew is one of those players who you will need to give someone good to get. But he might be worth it. Jones-Drew has put together a good fantasy season, but not great. What makes him appealing is his match-ups down the stretch. He faces the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Weeks 13 and 14. He should be able to shred those defenses.

Steve Smith, wide receiver, Carolina Panthers
Smith's production has dropped off considerably in the past three weeks. However, Smith and the Carolina Panthers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons in Week 13 and 14. Despite the decline in offensive output, Smith is still getting most of the targets from Cam Newton.

Cedric Benson, running back, Cincinnati Bengals
Wait to trade for Benson after next week, or Week 14 if you can. Benson is coming off a game against the Cleveland Browns where he rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown. The reason you should wait on Benson is because he faces Pittsburgh and Houston in Weeks 13 and 14. However, after those two games, Benson has two very good match-ups against St. Louis and Arizona in Weeks 15 and 16. If you've already secured a spot in the playoffs, Benson is a good guy to target.

1) Goodbye Guys

In fantasy football, loyalty means little. Just because a player helped you win in Week 4 with a great performance on Monday night, that doesn't mean they can't be traded away.

Here are four players you should consider trading away before they ruin your playoff run.

Steven Jackson, running back, St. Louis Rams
Jackson has been a good fantasy running back this year, especially after his slow start. He had a stretch of five games where he was scoring double-digit points each week. However, after two games where he's rushed for 106 total yards, it's time to dump Jackson on someone else. Also, the Rams schedule is brutal in the final five weeks. They face top ten run defenses each week, which doesn't bode well for Jackson.

Ryan Mathews, running back, San Diego Chargers
Mathews rushed for a career-high 137 yards in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos, which makes now a perfect time to sell. Mathews' stock is high right now, even though the Chargers are down. Mathews is a tough one to figure out. He was expected to be "limited" against the Broncos with a knee injury, but played through the injury and played well. Mathews doesn't score touchdowns, he's hurt often and he plays for a team that looks like it's packing it in for the year. Those three things are enough for me to say sell him.

Chris Johnson, running back, Tennessee Titans
Johnson is another guy who you can sell high right now. He's coming off a season-high 190 yards rushing in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You've been waiting all year for Johnson explode, now that he has, it's time to bid him a farewell.

Matt Forte, running back, Chicago Bears
Forte got off to a great start this season and everyone was screaming "Pay the man." But recently, Forte, who's looking for a new long-term contract, has been very average. In the past two games against the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders, Forte has rushed for a total of 112 yards and zero touchdowns. Forte faces a weak Kansas City Chiefs run defense in Week 13, but after that, the match-ups get more difficult.