Weak One
September 13, 2005
You know the guy that started Willie Parker over Domanick Davis even though Davis was his second round pick? The same guy who took Patrick Crayton with the last pick in the draft? The one who started Larry Johnson, backup and all? Yeah well, that wasn’t me.
You see, I am the guy that knew enough to grab Willie Parker off the waiver wire when I heard he was starting but didn’t quite know enough to start him over the two backs I grabbed in rounds one and two of the draft. It’s always nice when a sports experience helps define the exact boundaries of one’s knowledge. In this way, it’s like a life-lesson that I can carry with me in all future endeavors.
Of course, who gives a crap about life lessons when you’re 0-1. But, hey, at least I have the top waiver wire position. Yuuuup, top of that heap. Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair! What will I do with all that power?
I'm thinking I might pick up a wide receiver. Did I mention I drafted Javon Walker in the third round and was all happy about it? Taste them apples.
Javon’s season ending ACL injury put not only a slight damper on my chance to win in weak one (whoops, week one—can you have Freudian slips while typing?), but it puts a big, big damper on my chances for the season as a whole. And to add insult to injury, he hurt it on a 55 yard catch…that was called back because of an offensive pass interference call. So I also lost those yards.
I regret that that sounds shallow. But we’re all a little shallow when it comes to fantasy points. And an important part of my particular shallowness is maintaining an appearance of not being shallow. So I regret it even more. I want everyone to know that I feel simply awful for Mr. Walker, just awful. But really, I think there needs to be a little more attention given to the pain that this injury is causing me.
I also took one Dallas Clark in the middle rounds figuring that with Pollard’s departure and Indy’s love of the air attack, this would be a solid TE without spending a high pick on him. It may still turn out to be the case but he was a little concussed Sunday night and didn’t play. Thank goodness I had the foresight to take him out in time to play Jermaine "now that Randy’s gone I will get a lot more looks" Wiggins. Thank goodness I made that move, otherwise I wouldn’t have had gotten that 1 single point he scored for me. Difference makers, that’s what it’s all about. Ya gotta have difference makers.
I’m thinking of changing my team name. “Snakebit” seems like a good choice. Maybe “Waiver Wire #1”.
I was also pleased to see the normally reliable Matt Stover missed three field goals. Three at negative three points apiece. Thank goodness he made the point after on the late score. Actually, if he’d missed, I’d have had a starter who actually scored in the double digits. They’d have been negative but they’d have been double digits.
There is good news for my boys, though, I drafted Larry Johnson. And yes, I have high hopes for him this season as a number 3 back on my team. I didn’t have high enough hopes to actually start him this week but he does at least seem like someone I ought to keep. Just a hunch.
Chances are unless Priest gets hurt, those kinds of numbers won’t last. I mean 9 carries for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns! I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Larry will not average 12.2 yards per carry this season and score 32 touchdowns while splitting time. That said, even if Priest is healthy all season, I bet this isn’t Larry’s last 100 yard effort.
There was a downside to Larry’s scoring, even more of a downside than the fact that he scored more on my bench than both my starting running backs combined: all the touchdown-ing he and Holmes did meant that Trent Green didn’t actually manage to throw for any scores. Which is good since he was my starting quarterback and I’d hate to get points from that position.
So the equation went like this: Two running backs who don’t score plus a QB who hands off real well added to a top wideout’s injury and the second wideout’s playing the Bills (Andre Johnson didn’t have his best effort for me) all times Matt Stover equals me being the guy who went into the Monday Night game down by a mere twenty points. If Stover had made his three field goals, I would’ve been in the lead thanks to bonus points for the 40-plus yarders. Not that I’m bitter or anything.
But, it wasn’t over. After all, he still had Warrick Dunn left to play while I had…well…no one. Let’s see, more math--twenty points means that if Dunn runs for 0 yards and loses ten fumbles, we’ve got ourselves a tie! Go Eagles D!
Well, one morning later and I see that I came ever so close, I was only 117 yards and ten lost fumbles away. I coulda been a contender.
Normally a week one loss in fantasy football isn’t cause for alarm. Football has too many highs and lows to let a single week rattle you into dropping a stud for some no-name who blew up on Sunday. But there are a few fixes that just ought to be done. First, if you have Javon, go get Ferguson unless you’re in a very shallow league with only two starting wideouts. If nothing else, you’re getting a starter who does have the potential to go big.
Second, if you don’t have Willie Parker, go get him. Not only has he earned another start but he is quick and that offensive line is terrific. As for Patrick Crayton, Drew Bledsoe seemed to be looking his way an awful lot and I’d be very tempted. Then again, I just lost by some thirty points, so maybe you ought to keep Walker, not get Parker, and ignore Crayton.
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So, I want to hear who your goats were. It's time to play the blame game. Odds are good mine wasn't the only team hurt by Stover's innacuracy but who else you got?
Fantasy Football 
I am taking it as pun intended? Good article.
then theres my bench RB. I started JJ arrington and Brian Westbrook along with Fred Taylor. Westbrook gave me solid numbers and taylor solid yards, so no mistakes there, right? wrong! I had stephen davis and LJ on the bench. Nate burleson had a stellar game! except he only got me like 3 points when I had plax and his 70 yards plus a TD or soon my bench