A winning strategy
Zack Martin
Issue date: 10/30/09 Section: Sports
The focus of this column has generally been Cleveland's sports teams and not fantasy exploits.
However, the futility of watching the never-ending quarterback disaster we call the 2009 season has driven your loyal writer back to fantasy considerations, and I now present you with my winning fantasy strategy: start all your players playing against the Browns.
Now, this may seem like a harsh dig at everyone's favorite logo-less team. But consider this: when it's 4:15 p.m. on a Sunday, and the Browns have just been the target of a blowout, wouldn't 37 fantasy points (Week 1 - Adrian Peterson) go a long way to easing the pain? Of course, not everyone had my good fortune to have the first pick in the draft, but fear not, sleeper picks can always come up big in Northeast Ohio.
Just ask Denver running back Correll Buckhalter, who had his only game with double-digit fantasy points against the Browns in week 2. Just in case you're not sure about how well this plan would have done in some of your deeper leagues, consider my 51 points from Baltimore (defense/special teams, Willis McGahee, and Derrick Mason), which was definitely an eye-opener in week 3.
But, with football season now well established, I'm sure many of you have unproductive players just sitting on your bench, wasting space - especially if you were crazy enough to draft any of the "Mangenius" crew, other then the now former-'genius Braylon Edwards. As the remaining weeks in your fantasy leagues pass, I present to you a sampling of players who are more likely to be available and will (unfortunately) probably have a breakout week:
Week 8: Chicago Bears - Defense (D/ST) - This is primarily looking at everyone who's been relying on New England, Pittsburgh, or possibly Cincinnati for their defensive needs each week. You've got a bye. If your second option isn't a favorable matchup, consider taking a look at Chicago's. A good number of owners are dropping them after a negative outing (figuratively and literally) against the Bengals. Even without Brian Urlacher, the team is a mid-ranked defense who might be worth a week 8 spot and a bench spot afterward. There's nothing like a game against the Browns at home to bounce back with.
However, the futility of watching the never-ending quarterback disaster we call the 2009 season has driven your loyal writer back to fantasy considerations, and I now present you with my winning fantasy strategy: start all your players playing against the Browns.
Now, this may seem like a harsh dig at everyone's favorite logo-less team. But consider this: when it's 4:15 p.m. on a Sunday, and the Browns have just been the target of a blowout, wouldn't 37 fantasy points (Week 1 - Adrian Peterson) go a long way to easing the pain? Of course, not everyone had my good fortune to have the first pick in the draft, but fear not, sleeper picks can always come up big in Northeast Ohio.
Just ask Denver running back Correll Buckhalter, who had his only game with double-digit fantasy points against the Browns in week 2. Just in case you're not sure about how well this plan would have done in some of your deeper leagues, consider my 51 points from Baltimore (defense/special teams, Willis McGahee, and Derrick Mason), which was definitely an eye-opener in week 3.
But, with football season now well established, I'm sure many of you have unproductive players just sitting on your bench, wasting space - especially if you were crazy enough to draft any of the "Mangenius" crew, other then the now former-'genius Braylon Edwards. As the remaining weeks in your fantasy leagues pass, I present to you a sampling of players who are more likely to be available and will (unfortunately) probably have a breakout week:
Week 8: Chicago Bears - Defense (D/ST) - This is primarily looking at everyone who's been relying on New England, Pittsburgh, or possibly Cincinnati for their defensive needs each week. You've got a bye. If your second option isn't a favorable matchup, consider taking a look at Chicago's. A good number of owners are dropping them after a negative outing (figuratively and literally) against the Bengals. Even without Brian Urlacher, the team is a mid-ranked defense who might be worth a week 8 spot and a bench spot afterward. There's nothing like a game against the Browns at home to bounce back with.
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