With just a few weeks left before the playoffs, it’s time to start thinking about a playoff run if you’re among the top teams and time to make some moves if you need help getting there. In the League of Champions, 10 of 12 teams have between four and seven wins so plenty can still happen in the coming month. This week, the XN Sports fantasy crew hit the waiver wire and the trade block, looking to pick up anyone that could be of service for a run. Let’s take a look at what your favorite football analysts are doing in their league and some lessons you can apply in yours.
Studfeldsville (Salvatore Stefanile) traded Andre Brown to Make It Wayne (Igor Derysh) for Jason Campbell
Sal needed a bye week quarterback replacement and I had Tom Brady, Eli Manning, (a then healthy) Seneca Wallace, Matt Schaub, and Campbell. In other words, I was in a pretty good position to move a quarterback. Unfortunately, I got Brown too late to start him on Sunday but his 30+ touch effort certainly made me feel confident that this was a good trade. You can read Sal’s more extensive breakdown of the trade as well.
Brykno Rhinos (Bryan Knowles) added Ryan Fitzpatrick, dropped Jake Locker
Locker is out for the season which means it’s time to grab Fitz. Bryan, stuck with EJ Manuel and Josh Freeman, has rarely been able to put out two starting quarterbacks all season and got a solid 14 point effort out of Fitz on Thursday.
Coconut Pete (Tom Fitzgerald) added Bobby Rainey, dropped Mike James
With Mike James out for the season, Bobby Rainey figures to be the early down back for an offense that runs quite a bit. It was difficult to figure out whether you should grab Rainey or Brian Leonard, I have more on that here.
Studfeldsville (Salvatore Stefanile) added Tavon Austin, dropped Tim Wright
Tavon had a monster two reception, 138 yard, two touchdown day against the Colts last week and certainly was a hot pickup right after. At the same time, Tavon only saw three targets in that game and hasn’t surpassed 40 receiving yards since Week 2 so his value the rest of the season seems about the same as before. Meanwhile, Wright saw just one target on Monday against the Dolphins.
Make It Wayne (Igor Derysh) added Nate Burleson, dropped Darrius Heyward-Bey
Burleson is on his way back and I’m hoping that he can pick up right where he left off. Before breaking his forearm, Burleson had 19 receptions on 23 targets for 239 yards over just three games. I was hoping DHB would see more looks after Wayne went down but he has put up 51 receiving yards over his last three games so there’s no point in keeping him.
Coconut Pete (Tom Fitzgerald) added Brian Leonard, dropped Jerricho Cotchery
Tom isn’t going to take guesses on the Tampa running back situation and grabbed both Rainey and Leonard. Leonard figures to be the passing down back and could have some PPR value but that position battle will play itself out on Tom’s bench.
Make It Wayne (Igor Derysh) added Santonio Holmes, dropped Seneca Wallace
Santonio is back on Sunday after missing four weeks with a hammy injury and the last time he played Buffalo, he caught five passes on 10 targets for 154 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Seneca was placed on IR after just one drive as the Packers’ starter.
Coconut Pete (Tom Fitzgerald) added Rishard Matthews, dropped Peyton Hillis
Matthews had a monster game on Monday against the Bucs, catching 11 passes on 14 targets for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He had just 16 targets on the season coming in so we’ll see if he’s for real against the Chargers. Meanwhile, Hillis finds himself behind Andre Brown and Brandon Jacobs so he’s no longer worth having around.
Fantasy Foundation (Rich Hribar) added Texans D/ST, dropped Dolphins D/ST
Oakland has already allowed some big games to opposing defenses and now the Texans face a hobbled Terrelle Pryor who was sacked four times and threw a pick. The Raiders also lost a fumble, allowed a defensive touchdown, and had a punt blocked.
Brykno Rhinos (Bryan Knowles) added Scott Tolzien, dropped Matt Bryant
With Seneca Wallace hitting the IR, Tolzien figures to start until Aaron Rodgers returns, giving Bryan two starting quarterbacks in his lineup for the first time in a while.
Derwood #Degenerates (C.D. Carter) added Giants D/ST, dropped Jermichael Finley
Of course, with Tolzien at the helm, it’s worth taking a shot on the Giants defense coming off that big game against Oakland. Tolzien threw two picks in his first NFL action against the Eagles and the offense scored just 13 points.
Fifty Shades of Cats (Felipe Melecio) added Stephen Gostkowski, dropped Adam Vinatieri
Gostkowski has been one of the better kickers in the league but Felipe did miss out on Vinatieri’s three field goal, three extra-point game on Thursday against the Titans.
Blurred Goal Lines (Tony Consiglio) added Michael Crabtree, dropped Marlon Brown
Crabtree figures to be back soon and while it’s unclear how the Niners will use him along with Anquan Boldin and Mario Manningham, his upside is higher than Brown’s who has seen limited opportunities since Jacoby Jones returned from his knee injury.
Blurred Goal Lines (Tony Consiglio) added Jets D/ST, dropped Steelers D/ST
The Bills have given up 42 fantasy points to opposing defenses over the last three weeks so the Jets could be in line for a strong defensive effort.
4th and Goal (Neil Parker) added Leonard Hankerson, dropped Dexter McCluster
Hankerson has seen 10 receptions on 11 targets over his last two games but he has yet to surpass 61 yards since his big Week 1 effort.
4th and Goal (Neil Parker) added Nick Novak, dropped Dan Bailey
The Dolphins have given up double-digit fantasy points to kickers in four of their last five weeks so Novak could be in line for a big game.
Coconut Pete (Tom Fitzgerald) added Rob Housler, dropped Montee Ball
The Jags have given up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends so Housler has a great looking matchup this week and has seen at least five targets in three of his last four weeks.
Blurred Goal Lines (Tony Consiglio) traded Jason Witten to Make It Wayne (Igor Derysh) for Chris Ivory
After getting Andre Brown, I had running back depth to deal. Tony proposed a few different trades for my running backs but we ultimately settled on Witten for Ivory since he needed a running back and I needed an upgrade over Heath Miller without giving up one of my top guys.
Make It Wayne (Igor Derysh) added Nick Folk, dropped Justin Tucker
The Bills have given up double-digit points to opposing kickers in seven of their 10 games this season. Folk has yet to miss a field goal attempt this season and has notched 13+ fantasy points in three straight weeks.
Make It Wayne (Igor Derysh) added Scott Chandler, dropped Heath Miller
Since I got Witten (but on a bye week), I could rid myself of Miller. Chandler is my tight end sleeper this week with Robert Woods and Stevie Johnson hurt against a Jets defense that has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. The last time he faced the Jets in Week 3, he put up five receptions for a season-high 79 yards and a touchdown.
