Hot Pickups
The BCRT.com Fantasy Football Hot Pickups Section will feature the must add free agents in a given week.
Scorchers You Gotta Grab - Week 9 Fantasy Football Hot Pickups
If there’s one thing that drives me wild, it’s when there, sitting gingerly on the bench, is a player that just put up astronomical numbers and literally costs a win and causes a loss. I don’t think there’s anything more frustrating. This past week, again, I chose to sit a starter (Knowshon Moreno) for a back up (Shonn Greene). And yes, I know I wrote about Greene this past week as a pick up, but still, at least I practice what I preach. Nonetheless, I now sit 20 points behind the first place and undefeated team where I find myself in second place, at 5-1-1. I like to refer to this whole debacle that I’m in right now and I’m sure most of the readers out there have all been in, as an agonizing deliberation. There’s really no denying that it pains all of us to have to flip a coin on two players of the same position that are split right down the middle, either in realm of skill or match-ups. And there is also no denying that when we pick the right guy that goes off, having a career day, we gloat and bask in confidence, cockiness and carry around a swagger for 24 hours, convinced we could coach an NFL team. This isn’t necessarily being written to help any of the fantasy football managers out there, but I thought I’d empathize with all of them. Here’s who’s worth taking a look at for week 9.
Quarterback:
Matt Hasselbeck: Seattle Seahawks (Week 9 Opponent: Detroit Lions)
Surprisingly, Hasselbeck is not owned much in any sites’ fantasy leagues. And honestly, I can’t believe it! I understand that the Seahawks’ QB is notorious for being plagued with injury, but he’s actually staying relatively healthy this year. In the past three weeks, Hasselbeck has risen to the occasion and put up respectable numbers that are worthy of being either as a main starter or in a two-quarterback league. This week, he gets to rip apart a very, very, very susceptible Lions defense that has allowed 29.3 points per game and 369.6 total yards per game. The secondary is brutal and honestly, it is still the same Lions team that lost every one of their games last year. Hasselbeck has a slew of receivers to throw to including Nate Burleson, TJ Houshmandzadeh and Jon Carlson. Take this match-up for what it is, because the Seahawks are at home, in a loud stadium and will take advantage of this leaky, Lions ship.
Others to Consider: Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez.
Running Back
Jamaal Charles: Kansas City Chiefs (Week 9 Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars)
I still can’t understand exactly why people keep insisting on drafting Larry Johnson, year-in and year-out. Maybe, they’re all in hopes that a miracle of God will help resurrect his career which suddenly went into a downward spiral. It was relevant that the poor Kansas City fans felt the same way I did about Johnson as they continue to boo and curse him each time he touches the ball, which might explain his frustrations that drove him to Tweet his hate for his coach and disapproval of different sexual orientations. This act actually might be the best thing that’ll happen to the Chiefs this season, as they can finally rid themselves of the pathetic running back. Who will they get to replace him? –Welcome to the top of the depth charts, Jamaal Charles! Last year, Charles rushed for 357 yards on 67 attempts with no touchdowns. Not exactly the best stats for instilling confidence on a starter. But, there’s more. The Chiefs have been a heavy run team and average of 20 times per game. Because the receiving corps are so shaky, Todd Haley will have no choice but to hand the ball of to Charles, who will match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars defense that is ranked 25th in against the opposing team’s rushing offense and has averaged allowing 128.3 yards per game. This is an owner whose running back is on a bye’s dream. Start Charles this week. He won’t disappoint.
Others to Consider: Justin Fargas, LeSean McCoy, and Darren McFadden.
Wide Receiver
Mike Wallace: Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 9 Opponent: Denver Broncos)
This is the steal of the week. There are tons of quality starting wide-receivers on byes this week and having a guy that is guaranteed the big play will only help fantasy managers rest easy once 1:00 PM EST rolls around. The Steelers have used a two-headed monster in their games this year, either focusing on the run or the pass. As they take on the 6-1 Broncos, expect Ben Roethlisberger to try and manipulate Denver’s secondary, as he will be under constant pressure from DJ Williams and Elvis Dumervil the entire game. Also, with Champ Bailey likely covering Brandon Marshall and Andre’ Goodman working on Santonio Holmes, Roethisberger will be looking at Mike Wallace all day long. Wallace hasn’t quite received the props he deserves since being drafted by the Steelers this past year. He also hasn’t gotten the receptions he should be thus far in 2009. But, what he can do, is make the big play happen. In the weeks that he has scored, Wallace has made big time catches and taken them straight to the house. It’s logical that with the mismatch of the cornerbacks working on the above-mentioned Steelers’ receivers, Wallace will be one-on-one with the safeties, which he’ll burn right past and score. I fully expect him to put up big time yardage and score.
Others to Consider: Nate Washington, Sam Aiken, Jeremy Maclin and Ted Ginn Jr.
Tight End
Fred Davis: Washington Redskins (Week 9 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons)
There’s no doubt that the loss of Chris Cooley has only made the feeble Washington Redskins’ offense even worse. But wait, out of nowhere, comes Fred Davis. Who is Fred Davis you ask? Looking back two weeks ago, Davis, a great pass-catching tight end, filled in for the injured Cooley. Let me just say that he preformed very well in his first game as the #1 TE. Because Jason Campbell loves throwing to the tight end, Davis accumulated 78 yards and scored on eight receptions. This wasn’t necessarily a fluke, as Campbell is known to throw to his TE frequently and realistically, is the only reliable outlet he can throw to with such a terrible offensive line. The Falcons are currently ranked 31st against the pass and are very susceptible to giving up the big play by way of the deep pass. Davis will take advantage of the remaining weeks he has to fill in for Cooley. Take him if there is a need for a tight end. He’ll likely hit pay dirt in the end zone.
Others to Consider: Greg Olsen, Donald Lee, John Carlson and Ben Watson.
Got questions on who to start and sit? Looking for the perfect fit to fill in for a late-season injury? Drop a line to the Fantasy Extraordinaire at dgould112@hotmail.com, where your questions will be posted and answered on a weekly mailbag. What’s the worst that could happen?