Denver Post fantasy football expert Cecil Lammey is a senior writer for and an “NFL Insider” for Denver sports radio station The Ticket, 87.7-FM.
Email your questions to lammey@footballguys.com. Please mention your question is for “Denver Post Fantasy Football.”
I have a couple of questions I need help with this week. Should I start Chargers QB Phillip Rivers or Broncos QB Kyle Orton? Which waiver wire receiver should I pick up and start — 49ers WR Michael Crabtree, Titans WR Kenny Britt, or Colts WR Pierre Garcon?
— Robert
Cecil Lammey: The weather conditions in England may prevent Kyle Orton from getting his usual production through the air. Philip Rivers should be playing without guys like WR Malcom Floyd, but I feel he’s a better start and on an incredible hot streak. The Chargers aren’t running the football effectively, and will need Rivers to carry the offense once again on Sunday.
Get Kenny Britt off the waiver wire before other owners in your league get wise to his availability. He is playing at an extremely high level, and is responding to the faith and trust shown to him by both quarterbacks Vince Young and Kerry Collins.
I need some help with a trade that was offered to me. I have Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw and Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles as my two main starters, but would like to add more depth at the position. I have been offered Redskins RB Ryan Torain for Giants WR Hakeem Nicks. Should I do this deal?
— Anne
Lammey: There is no way I would do this deal, Anne. Hakeem Nicks is an elite wide receiver, and makes for an every-week starter for your fantasy team. If you want to upgrade your RB corps by trading away Nicks then I would look for an elite RB in return. Trading Nicks for someone like Vikings RB Adrian Peterson makes a lot more sense. Ryan Torain has looked good in recent weeks, but he absorbs a lot of punishment and could break down any week.
I’m down to starting Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno or Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch because of all the bye weeks. I am really thin at all my positions because of six teams being off this week, and I need to pick the player with the highest upside between those two backs. Whom should I start?
— Dick
Lammey: Moreno’s hamstring is bothering him this week and that’s why I would start Lynch here. Lynch is going up against the Oakland Raiders, who are not strong in run defense. Yes, they looked good against the Broncos last week, but Moreno put up good fantasy points by getting into the end zone twice. Lynch is a strong runner who can grind down a defense.
The Seahawks know their best chance to win comes on the legs of Lynch. Coming over from the Bills earlier this year, the former first-round pick has a lot to prove. He has looked good during his limited time in Seattle and I expect him to grind it out in Oakland on Sunday.
I need help! Do I start Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown, Bills WR Lee Evans, or Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch at my flex position?
— T.O.
Lammey: Ronnie Brown hasn’t looked that good this year, and the Dolphins may be getting Ricky Williams more involved in the upcoming weeks. Lynch makes a strong flex play this week against the Raiders, but not as good as Evans does. Evans had a monster performance against the Ravens last week and I expect his hot streak to continue this week against the Chiefs. Bills head coach Chan Gailey knows how to make the players on his offense comfortable in the gameplan. He’s worked his magic with quarterbacks like Kordell Stewart in the past, and has done the same thing with Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bills have more edge coming out of their bye week, and their strong passing game is the best way they can win at Arrowhead Stadium.
I am getting sick of Colts RB Joseph Addai. He’s disappointed me all season long, and now he’s hurt again. I’m ready to drop him from my roster, but which player should I pick up in return? I can choose between Texans RB Derrick Ward or Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount.
— Gordon
Lammey: Joseph Addai is not a quick healer. He looks good when he’s completely healthy but rarely goes through a season staying injury free. Both of the backs you’ve mentioned have good upside, but I give a slight edge to Ward. The Bucs have used Blount as a power back to complement starter Cadillac Williams, and that role should continue for him going forward. If Williams were to go down with injury, then Blount’s role would largely stay the same as he’s a one dimensional player.
On the other hand, the Texans have proven that they can have a successful ground game regardless of who is lined up in the backfield. Arian Foster has been a fantasy darling, but Ward has seen some touches this year as well. He’s looked good in limited playing time and he would take over as the full time back for Houston if Foster was hurt. Ward is a versatile player and a good receiver out of the backfield too, and that’s why I see his upside being higher than Blount.
Please help me upgrade my TE position. I currently start Bears TE Greg Olsen each week and have lost a few games because of it. I can trade Olsen and Steelers WR Mike Wallace for 49ers TE Vernon Davis and Giants RB Brandon Jacobs. I am nervous about trading Wallace away because he’s looked good since Ben Roethlisberger has returned. What should I do?
— Jason
Lammey: This looks like a good deal, Jason. Davis is one of the best tight ends in the game today. You are seriously upgrading the position and getting a power back with a nose for the end zone in Jacobs. Davis is an elite player, yet you are not giving up an elite player in return.
Wallace is good, but his skill set is not elite and the Steelers have plenty of other options in the passing game. Most trades can be measured by who gets the best player. You clearly win that debate by adding Davis to your team.
The bye-week crunch is hurting my team. I have Giants WR Hakeem Nicks and Ravens WR Anquan Boldin on bye this week, so I need to decide between Jaguars WR Mike Sims-Walker or Packers WR James Jones. I need some defensive help as well. Should I go with the Chiefs’ defense or the Jets’ defense this week?
— Neil
Lammey: The bye weeks are a killer for fantasy owners, and navigating through them properly can help set up your team for the fantasy playoffs. I would go with Jones at the wide receiver spot. Sims-Walker finally got into the end zone last week, but that was with Todd Bouman at quarterback. Now that David Garrard is returning to the lineup it should mean more production from WR Mike Thomas, TE Marcedes Lewis, and less from Sims-Walker.
The Packers might be without Donald Driver this week, and that will mean greater opportunity for Jones. He reminds me of Boldin because of his strong lower body and run-after-the-catch ability. It will be difficult for Green Bay to run against the Jets defense, and I fully expect Aaron Rodgers to lead the team through the air.
The Chiefs’ defense might be the No. 1 fantasy defense this week. Not only are they playing better defensively, but they also have a fantastic return game led by rookie CB Javier Arenas. Playing at Arrowhead stadium will give the Chiefs a huge boost against the Bills.
What’s going on with Cowboys WR Miles Austin? I am worried about his production with backup QB Jon Kitna under center. Please talk me off the ledge!
— Broncos Fan Stuck In Texas
Lammey: The Cowboys and Austin are going to be fine. Jon Kitna might actually be a slight upgrade over Tony Romo at quarterback. He goes through his progressions well, and is a savvy veteran who isn’t going to be overwhelmed under center. Unlike Romo, Kitna will stand strong in the pocket and take what the defense gives him instead of trying to constantly force a big play when it’s not there. Fantasy owners who have Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, and Miles Austin should be happy with Kitna as the starter.
I am in a deep dynasty league, and need your opinion on a few deep sleeper running backs. What are your thoughts on Panthers RB Mike Goodson, Falcons RB Gartrell Johnson, Bengals RB Cedric Peerman, and Eagles RB Joique Bell?
— James
Lammey: James, I like all of these deep sleeper running backs in a dynasty league. Goodson is an electric playmaker who is quick and agile. He reminded many people in the scouting community of Saints RB Reggie Bush, and the comparison is quite accurate. DeAngelo Williams may not be with the Panthers next year which means a RBBC featuring both Jonathan Stewart and Goodson.
Johnson is a local favorite because of his playing days up in Ft. Collins at CSU. I saw him during the week of practice in Houston at the Shrine Game a couple of years ago and he certainly stood out among the crowd. He is a powerful back who loves to run over smaller defenders. He doesn’t back down from a challenge and is the type of back who gets stronger with more carries. Johnson’s first 10 yards are fast enough, and he has a good nose for the endzone.
Peerman was known as “Mr. Versatility” during his time in college at Virginia. He’s a good receiver out of the backfield and very instinctive when running the ball between the tackles. Peerman has looked good in the preseason, and has a good all-around skill set.
Bell played at tiny Wayne State in college, but put up huge numbers against lesser competition. I watched him carefully during practice for the Senior Bowl earlier this year in Mobile, Ala. and was impressed by his lower-body strength. He is difficult to bring down when he gets a head of steam, and could make a fine power back for the Eagles if he got his chance.
Who are the Colts going to start at running back since Joseph Addai is hurt? Should I grab Donald Brown or Mike Hart off my waiver wire this week?
— Gene
Lammey: Both of these backs are going to play on Monday night, but Hart should be the starter for the Colts. Brown has been bothered by a hamstring injury all season long and I want to see him get through a game healthy before I’m adding him to my roster or plugging him into my lineup. With the Texans defense so focused on trying to stop QB Peyton Manning I believe the rushing lanes will be huge for Hart. He makes a great flex play this week.
