Fantasy Nfl Sleepers

First, a disclaimer. This list is not necessarily a go pick this guy up right now type deal. If you play in an 8-12 team league and you don't have injury or ineffectiveness issues, this list is not for you. If you, however, play in a 16 or more team league with a deep bench, and you have been sitting there waiting on Willis McGahee to show up with a pulse for the past couple weeks, well, I may have something for you.

We call them "Hail Mary" choices because picking up some of these guys would be like throwing a Hail Mary pass. The odds of it winding up helping your team are slim, but there's enough of a chance FTW to hurl it up there. If you have dead weight on your deep bench, let us consider the following dudes.

I've attempted to list them in the order of their likelihood at helping you.

And, actually, the top guy is a sleeper is most leagues for this week ...

Maurice "MoMo" Morris, Seahawks
He's overtaken Julius Jones in the Seahawks backfield. Sure, he's done very little all season -- save for a 100-yard game in Week 12 -- but he gets the hapless Rams in Week 15. You could do worse.

The Broncos have used Michael Pittman, Selvin Young, and Andre Hall in the backfield this season, and -- aside from a few noteworthy games by Pittman -- the fantasy football fallout has been maddening. There's even been a trickle-down effect, because the Broncos inability to run the ball with any success has caused opposing defenses to back out of the box and send more men into coverage. This renders the dynamic Jay Cutler to Brandon Marshall passing connection much less prolific than they are capable.

Enter rookie runner Ryan Torain.

Torain is, in my opinion, the most talented runner of the bunch. The coaches loved him in the preseason before he cracked his elbow. Now we have this little nugget, courtesy of the Rocky Mountain News:

Selvin Young has missed a game because of a groin injury, Michael Pittman has rib and neck injuries and rookie Ryan Torain has only started practicing again after suffering a fracture just above his left elbow during training camp.

Torain figures to play Sunday against Miami and likely will get increasingly more carries as the second half of the season progresses.

Tim Hightower has been an impressive runner in his rookie season for the Arizona Cardinals. Edgerrin James, in what seems like his hundredth NFL season, has not.

Hightower's average yards per carry is low, but that's due to his usage as the goal-line back. He has scored six touchdowns already this season, the majority of which have been from inside the five yard line.

Edgerrin James is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry, and that's mostly without short-yardage touches. He's also got a ton of tread on those aging tires, as he nears 3000 carries in his illustrious career.

Common sense would dictate a change in the backfield is near ... and those thoughts are emanating from Cardinals camp this week:

(L)istening to the goings-on around the Cardinals on Monday, you got the feeling that a move from Edgerrin James to rookie Tim Hightower as the starting running back in the coming days or weeks is a distinct possibility.

The rest of the story has a few quotes from Hightower, Edge, and Coach Ken Whisenhunt ... where they basically didn't tell us anything. It was all politcal speak.

Nothing has gone right in Seattle this year. It started with an epidemic of receiver injuries in the preseason. Now, the once stout defense has sucked, the pro bowl QB is hurt, and the receivers can't stay healthy.

I, however, am using foresight to say that in fantasy football you should own Matt Hasselbeck. He's in a tenuous enough spot health-wise that you shouldn't trade anyone of value for him, but he's worth a waiver wire add -- or keeping on your roster, should you currently be holding onto him -- so you can enjoy him later in the season.

We enter Week 8 hearing that Hasselbeck might play this weekend against the Niners, but he might not. Okay, let's just assume he doesn't go. Hell, let's be conservative and assume he's not back until Week 10. Starting then, he will really help you get into the playoffs with matchups against the Dolphins (27th against the pass) in that week, Cardinals (20th) the following week, and the Cowboys (16th, with major injury issues in secondary) in Week 13. In Weeks 15 and 16, the traditional fantasy playoffs, the Seahawks face the Rams (25th) and Jets (24th).

Sure, you can wait to set your lineup until Sunday morning -- when we tailgate -- but there are other things to be done in the middle of the fantasy week.

Need advice on any trades in the works?

Are bye weeks killing your roster, meaning you're in need of a desperation sleeper option?

We will also accept lineup questions, but there is so much more going on in the world of fantasy. You can even come check in if you just want to argue with us. You'll be wrong, but it's cool to try and stuff. We've got no problem with that.

No matter the reason, stop on in and check us out.

By the way, Larry (above right) wants me to tell you he's a must-start every week. Please don't ask about him.

Matt Schaub is sick. Sick and tired of losing. Oh, and he's literally sick -- and it's bad enough that he was sent to the hospital on Saturday night.

So, yeah, in a huge divisional matchup and the team's first return to Houston since Ike hit, things are going to be a little thin at quarterback.

Schaub fell ill Saturday night, but is active as the second quarterback for this afternoon's game. Tight end Owen Daniels is the Texans' emergency quarterback.

In five starts with the Texans in 2007, Rosenfels was 4-1. He played in 10 total games and finished with a career-high 1,684 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.

Yeah, so things aren't that bad for the Texans, but we don't really know how bad they are for Schaub just yet. Hopefully he'll be fine, but until we hear more, we just have to assume that he's doing alright under medical watch.

Sage Rosenfels will start in his place and Lord have mercy on the Texans if Daniels has to take snaps.

Fantasy Spin: Obviously bench Schaub immediately, and consider grabbing Rosenfels -- he doesn't seem like a particularly attractive option but if you're facing Kyle Orton or someone of that lower end nature and he's there, well, the Colts defense isn't that stout and he does have Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter.

The Philadelphia Eagles head into Chicago tonight, seeking to take the overall lead in the NFC East, with the Dallas Cowboys losing, and they will do it without Brian Westbrook, arguably their most dangerous weapon.

That's because Westbrook is now listed on the team's inactive list.

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is out of tonight's game against the Bears with an ankle injury. The Bears will see a heavy dose of Correll Buckhalter.

[...]Devin Hester warmed up before the game and will play. How much action he'll see is unknown.

As you can also see, the Bears will have their most dangerous offensive weapon as Hester will suit up. Again though, he might not play a significantly huge role though, considering that "rib injuries + kick returns" isn't a particularly enticing formula for success.

Obviously the Eagles will miss Westbrook, and Buckhalter will get a healthy amount of carries, but I would also expect to see Donovan McNabb approach the 40 mark in term of pass attempts.

Fantasy Spin: Westbrook owners need to hustle up and get their lineups swapped. If you've got Buckhalter, obviously that's the best option for switching someone out, but otherwise you might be limited. I would suggest Le'Ron McClain, who's running for the Ravens and might split carries with Ray Rice for Baltimore. Mewelde Moore is another option though, too, considering Willie Parker's absence in Pittsburgh.

No one is saying Brady Quinn will start. Or that Derek Anderson won't play. But the Cleveland Plain-Dealer is saying that Anderson is suddenly dealing with mental scarring from the last time he played in Cincy an injury.

Anderson was added to the injury report Saturday as probable with a right forearm injury suffered in the Ravens game. He joins Palmer, who's questionable with an elbow injury.

Well, what an egg by the team on this one -- they had the full-on chance to act like Anderson had been hurt all season and give him an out (we in the baseball writing biz like to call this "Pulling a 'Druw") and instead, now there's all kinds of mixed messages coming out of the Cleveland locker room and coaches office.

For instance, Terry Pluto writes that Romeo Crennel's posturing about the starting QB was nothing more than that.

I recently learned that while coach Romeo Crennel was keeping the media and fans guessing with vague statements about who'd play quarterback today in Cincinnati, there was little discussion in staff meetings about a QB change.

It makes total sense, of course, seeing as how Anderson saved his job and made him look like a genius last year, but that's not what he told the media and the public, hinting that Brady Quinn needed to be "ready". And at this point, who isn't calling for Quinn to get some time? Okay, only Braylon Edwards, who can't seem to catch the ball.

Fantasy Spin: I'm still starting Anderson this week -- it's his last shot to have a big game and actually do something worthwhile to make us not totally regret the sixth round pick we wasted used on him. Quinn's actually a nice add, because the Browns, in theory, have a ton of offensive upside.

Everyone needs sleep. Including fantasy football teams and one-armed men. We will now discuss some ways for you to get rest throughout Week 3. Notice what annoying word I'm avoiding. One from each major position in order of league depth; I will most certainly remind you when these people have big games on Sunday.

Mucho gusto (yes, I know it's the incorrect translation) to Shane Bacon for filling in quite well last week. As with everything else in my life this week, I blame Vegas. To the picks ...

Power Naps
Derek Anderson, QB, CLE -- Oh, how I hate you, Mr. Anderson. Oh, how I hate you so much. But yet, here we are, in Week 4 and Brady Quinn is set to take your job. And you get to play against the Bungles Part II. Now or never, sir.

Selvin Young, RB, DEN -- Well, this list is already chock full of people I drafted who haven't performed well this year. Sigh. Fortunately, Kansas City is horrible at everything, including stopping the run.

Braylon Edwards, WR, CLE -- OHMIGODBRAYLONEDWARDSISASLEEPER. Seriously, see above. Start him.

As reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, the Giants' dominating wide receiver, Plaxico Burress, will be absent for the next two weeks after coach Tom Coughlin suspended him for insubordination.

"The New York Giants will not have the services of their most electrifying offensive weapon when they play Seattle after their bye week. WR Plaxico Burress will miss the game, not because of injury, but rather insubordination.

FOXSports.com has learned that the Giants have suspended Burress for two weeks for failing to show up for work on Monday and not responding to several phone calls by the team to explain his unexcused absence both Monday and Tuesday."

Proving what we already knew - that Michigan State breeds ghetto wide receivers - Plaxico apparently abused the fact that he just inked a big contract and felt that he could get away with one. It also fuels the side of the barstool debate that Plaxico was never really injured, but that he just hasn't really felt like practicing over the past couple of seasons.

No, in all seriousness, we do not know the circumstances of Plaxico's truancy, so there may well be a good reason for his missteps. We will keep you posted on any new developments.

In terms of fantasy, this could be a lot a worse for Plax owners, because the Giants have a bye next week, thus he will really only miss one game versus the Seahawks. Still, one missed game for a star wideout can present problems as the bye weeks commence. Further, it might actually present a solid opportunity to trade for Burress on the cheap.