16 Responses to “Around the Horn: October6, 2011”

1. By Jacob on Oct 6, 2011

   Ray,
   In a 14-team league that is really being dominated by WRs (RBs get 1 point per 15 yards, 4 points per touchdown; 10 yards for a point, same touchdown, for WRs). I’ve got Calvin Johnson and just made two trades which has set me up with Megatron, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Anquan Boldin and Santana Moss. I’m trying to trade Boldin and Bryant for Andre Johnson. I know he’s out til week 8 at the earliest. I’ve got Gates too. I’m thinking go for the win and roll with C. Johnson, A. Johnson, Austin and Gates (with Cutler, Wells and a bunch of RB2s filling out my roster) for the last 5 weeks before the playoffs. Smart?

2. By Ray Flowers on Oct 6, 2011

   Jacob – Boldin/Dez Bryant for Andre Johnson.

   Adding AJ is a risk. As you noted, he’s likely to miss at least 2, probably 3, and potentially more weeks. Since you already have an injured Gates, that is rostering way too much injury risk for me to sign off on. There is a chance this deal could leave you in fantastic shape, but if both players continue to limp along, your season would be over. I simply can’t support adding that much risk to your club.

3. By wesley on Oct 6, 2011

   Hey ray i was just curious? Are you a fantasy basketball expert also? and does xm radio have fantasy basketball shows. I listen to it all the time and there’s never a mention of fantasy basketball. that of course if there’s a season

   thanks man

4. By Ray Flowers on Oct 7, 2011

   Wesley – Well, there’s nothing to talk about with the NBA right now as you are well aware. When the league finally decides to play, we’ll probably have Cory Elfrink on once a week like we did all last season. Truth is you might love NBA, and I might love NHL, but compared to football/baseball the love for the other two sports really just isn’t there in the fantasy game. I wish it was different too.

5. By Chad on Oct 7, 2011

   Ray- First time playing Fantasy Hockey. It’s a roto league so I was wondering if I should have 1 guy on my roster strictly for PIM? Any other tips you can provide?

6. By Ryan on Oct 7, 2011

   Ray, non-PPR league: currently starting David Nelson this week as one of my two WRs because of bye weeks. Manningham is available- I know he has that situation in NY with Victor Cruz- but I think he has too much talent not to turn it around. What are your thoughts? Pick him up and waive Nelson? I am looking beyond just this week- I know Nelson has an excellent matchup with Philly.

7. By Ray Flowers on Oct 7, 2011

   Chad – I prefer the all-around approach if possible. Ideally you’d have four or five guys who could give you 90-100 PIMs, vs. just going with one guy for that category. If you are looking at PIM only guys, I’d try to add them on the blue line where you’d lose the least amount of offensive productivity.

   It’s also a good idea to have players who qualify at multiple spots, just like in baseball. That way you can cover up for the inevitable injury bug that will certainly hit at some point.

8. By Ray Flowers on Oct 7, 2011

   Ryan – I’d pick up Manningham, and like you suggest, I too believe he will outproduce Cruz the ROTW. However, I don’t like the idea of dumping David Nelson to add Manningham. Isn’t there someone else you can let go? You’ll at least have to wait past this week as Nelson would be a WR2 on my board this week.

9. By Ryan on Oct 7, 2011

   Ray, only guys I could waive other than Nelson are Addai and Starks. My bench also consists of Dez and Marshall (both on byes), Gates and Matt Ryan.

10. By Ray Flowers on Oct 7, 2011

    Ryan – Make the move to Manningham by dropping Nelson. I dont love it, at all, but it seems like your only option.

11. By Dan on Oct 8, 2011

    Ray, I’m looking for a QB upgrade over Big Ben, Fitzpatrick, and Orton. I’ve been offered Rivers and Brandon Pettigrew for Orton and Gronkowski. Is the upgrade enough to offset the TE swap?

12. By Ray Flowers on Oct 8, 2011

    Dan – Big/Ben and Fitzpatrick should be plenty for you at QB. Unless you start 2 QBs, no reason to have Orton around. Rivers is clearly a better player than the Ben/Fitz, can’t dispute that, but your duo is still plenty solid. I would not trade a TE who could end the year as a top-3 for a guy who is just gonna sneak into the top-10 in Pettigrew. I’d bass on the deal.

13. By Matt on Oct 9, 2011

    Twofer: need 1 more RB – Gore or Best? need 1 more WR – Holmes, Mike Williams (TB) or Brandon Lloyd? I am thinking Gore & Lloyd.

14. By Ray Flowers on Oct 9, 2011

    Matt – If you have a football question, hit me up at @SiriusXMFantasy Sunday morning, 10a-1p. I’ll be there to answer all your queries on Twitter.

15. By Rob on Oct 10, 2011

    Hi Ray,

    Does your post to Matt mean you’re no longer taking football questions on BBG.com? I’ll follow you wherever you go, you’re the man!

    I do have a general fantasy sports question for you though, it’s about football but could be any sport. I’m the commissioner of our football league and two of our owners have just gone on their honeymoon. They’ve asked me to monitor their teams while they’re away (would be weeks 6 and 7). How “hands on” would you be if you were in my position?

    I plan to ONLY swap guys from the bench to the starting slots and vice versa as bye weeks or injuries dictate, replacing with the best available option ALREADY on their roster. I would not add/drop any of their players. This seems like basic “temporary owner 101″ stuff. But, what if a player is injured and out for the rest of the season? Do you just move them to the bench and replace with the best option from their team or do you drop that player and add the best option on waivers, either that player’s backup or the best available option at that position?

    I told them I wouldn’t add/drop anyone from their team but we didn’t discuss what would happen in a Kenny Britt/Jamaal Charles type situation.

    What are your thoughts on this? This is a 14 team league so most backups are already gone and the waiver pool is very shallow.

    I feel it’s my responsibility to drop a player if they’re out for the rest of the season but is that overstepping my bounds? I have to put myself in their shoes!

    Thanks for all your help, Ray!

16. By Ray Flowers on Oct 10, 2011

    Rob – I will still be taking football questions here. Probably best to link it to a football article though instead of a baseball one.

    The post to Matt was because he sent me a start or sit question 24 minutes before kickoff on Sunday. On Sunday’s, if you wanted my help, , hit me up at @SiriusXMFantasy Sunday morning, 10a-1p EDT. The rest of the week you can reach me here.

    As the commish in that situation it’s tough. You cannot add anyone off waivers. If one of their players get hurt, that tough for them. Just move the injured played to the bench, and replace with the next best guy. In fact, I’d argue that you shouldn’t even change their lineups. Just put in their highest scoring players and leave it. If they really wanted someone to manage the teams, they should have gotten someone outside of the league to do that for them.