This upcoming week is an important one in fantasy football. The standings start to clear up and the top dogs emerge while the bottom feeders realize that a turnaround needs to happen fast. If you are a top dog, my advice is to not sit around. Make sure that the appropriate moves are made to protect your top players and ensure you’ll be at the top for playoff time. If you are falling behind, my advice would be to start making moves now, start offering trades and get a win on the board this week and work your way up to .500.
Pickups and Plays of the Week:
Le’Ron McClain (RB) – Willis McGahee is getting more attempts, but McClain has been more productive. He has scored and rushed for more than 50 yards in each of the last three games. This week, Baltimore faces Indianapolis, which is giving up the most rushing yards per game in the league. Consider him a solid second running back.
Kyle Orton (QB) – To be honest, I never thought I’d put him here as someone to play, let alone pick up. Usually, when Orton’s name is mentioned, it involves laughter – and not in a good way. But he has been one of the best fantasy QBs over the past three weeks and faces Atlanta, which is in the bottom half of the league in passing yards given up per game.
Bernard Berrian (WR) – The former Bear has found his groove ever since Gus Frerotte became the QB of the Vikings. Last week he had his best performance, catching six passes for 110 yards and a TD. This week he is set to run wild in the Detroit secondary, making him a very solid third WR.
Injuries and Solutions:
Tony Scheffler and Eddie Royal – The Denver receiving core took a hit last week when Scheffler suffered a groin injury and Royal a sprained ankle. Both players are slated to miss Week 6, meaning that backup tight end Nate Jackson and veteran WR Brandon Stokley should become more involved in the passing game.
Brian Westbrook – He appeared on this list two weeks ago with an ankle injury. This week he is doubtful with a pair of broken ribs. Once again, Correll Buckhalter will take over. He was serviceable in Week 4 when Westbrook was out tallying 66 rushing yards, 24 receiving yards and a TD. He looks to be a good bye fill-in this week as Philadelphia visits San Francisco.
Time To Give Up On:
Laurence Maroney – When you take a player in the first three rounds of your draft you expect solid production. Unfortunately, fantasy owners have missed production from Maroney all season due to injuries and shared carries. I know with 12 weeks to go it’s easy to say he could turn it around, but let’s look at the facts at hand. When Tom Brady was playing, it took tons of pressure off the running game. Now, with a more balanced attack, defenses are keying into stopping the Patriots running game. It also looks like Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk will continue to cut into Maroney’s carries. I’d try to trade him for as much as you can get, or cut him altogether.
Have any roster problems that were not addressed? Since I can’t look at specific roster needs I’d be happy to give any advice on your potential pick-ups, trades and sit-start decisions through e-mail. Good luck this week. Here are the byes: Buffalo, Tennessee, Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
Mat Adams is a mathematics junior and a Mustang Daily sports columnist. He can be reached at madams03@calpoly.edu.