Value Machine checks out the overall perceived value of fantasy players. If you want to commit a fantasy felony, you'll sell high on the up arrow guys and buy low on the down arrow guys.Well, that sucked. I'm not one to hide my mistakes, so I'll link the post where I pleaded with fantasy owners to not bench Calvin Johnson. He awarded owners with less than three measly points. Hey, I stand by my reasons. The Bears had been awful against the pass, Nathan Vasher was going to sit, and Charles Tillman was even questionable. So what happened? The Bears defense just physically dominated the Lions offense. Maybe they were tired of giving up passing yards and stepped up their game. Maybe Jon Kitna was too teary-eyed after the departure of Matt Millen. Whatever the reason, Johnson's fantasy owners suffered along with Lions fans in Week 5.
If you stumble across an irrational Johnson owner, now is the time to strike. He's uber-talented and the Lions are always going to be playing from behind. You'll see many more 15-plus point weeks over what you saw last week. Go get him.
Other
value after Week 5:Jon Kitna - As I said, they are going to be throwing with a huge deficit a lot this year.
Trent Edwards - He's going to be fine with a bye this coming week. The concussion effects will have disappeared before the next time he plays ... which will be at home.
Matt Schaub - He's going to be fine as well. At least you don't have to be worried about Schaub losing his job to Sage Rosenfels anymore.
Matt Hasselbeck - The Giants are a really tough defense on opposing QBs, so that game shouldn't have been a huge shock -- except to Chris Berman, who, for some godforsaken reason, picked the 'Hawks.
Donovan McNabb - Redskins D is tough, he'll be fine.
Adrian Peterson - Aberration City.
Larry Johnson - And I'm not one bit surprised. Hope you sold him after he shredded the Broncos.
Marshawn Lynch - It's going to be a rare occurrence when the Bills have to throw all game while playing catchup. Great buy-low if the owner overreacts.
Deuce McAllister - Just as we warned you, you can't run up the middle against the Vikes. Deuce is a very tasty buy-low.
Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, and Eddie Royal - Don't count them out just yet.
LaDanian Tomlinson - Says his toe is hurting him, and it shows.
Santonio Holmes - Seems like Big Ben prefers Hines Ward, but Santonio has much better game-breaking ability.
Santana Moss - It was Clinton Portis' day Sunday, but Moss is still the top receiving option for Jason Campbell.
Chad Johnson - Don't buy. He sucks.
Antonio Gates - That was a bad game all-around by the Chargers, so it's hard to blame Gates.
value after Week 5:Brandon Jacobs - I love him, but it's doubtful you'll see many more 25-plus point weeks.
Aaron Rodgers - Looks like the shoulder is fine after all.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh - Looks like the Bengals passing offense still has a pulse. Unlike Ocho, he's a good option moving forward and I wouldn't sell.
Roddy White - He'll get a lot of attention against the same Bears who shut down Calvin Johnson.
Chris Cooley - Now, there he is! Let's hope we continue to see more of his numbers and less of his man-parts.
Bernard Berrian - Time to bail. Most of the time the Vikings are going to run the football, but that game last night was all upside-down. The Saints showed that you can throw all your weight at Adrian Peterson and still lose, so teams won't be rushing to abandon Berrian deep.
Ronnie Brown, Matt Forte, and Steve Slaton - Hold. For the rest of the season. Please.
Domenik Hixon - Sell now, with Plaxico Burress' impending re-arrival.
Devery Henderson - That was nice if you happened to be starting him, but next time you plug him into your lineup you'll get a two-point clunker. Make him someone else's problem.
Matt Ryan - The rookie is showing more and more on a weekly basis.
Felix Jones - Not often he'll outscore Marion Barber, but he did it.
Greg Camarillo - Better numbers than Anthony Fasano.
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