Bears Blitz

Published by Michael McNeil on October 29, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Sometimes you just have to know when to say goodbye.

Every year, a handful of first, second, and third-round picks disappoint fantasy owners. The honeymoon starts to wear off after the second or third poor performance of the early season. And by the time midseason arrives, some of these players have found their way to the bench.

For every early-round stud there are almost an equal amount of early round duds.

Steve Slaton may have been that guy for your fantasy team a few weeks ago. His average draft position peaked near the late part of the first round in standard leagues this summer but his season got off to a rather lukewarm start.

He has since turned it around and hopefully you took my advice to buy low on Slaton a few weeks ago.

The problem most fantasy owners have at midseason with under-performing big name draft picks, like Slaton was earlier this year, is what to do with these players? Bench, cut, stick it out, or trade?

Benching the player is usually the first sign the honeymoon is well over. Frustration is well-embedded once a fantasy owner gets to this stage. The big-name draft pick likely laid a couple of eggs that may have cost an owner a win or two.

Cutting the player outright is difficult for most owners. The feeling that this guy could bounce back and be who-you-thought-he-was still exists deep in the fantasy subconscious.

Only the most audacious owners actually cut one of these guys. And those who do incur the risk of watching this guy blow up—you knew it!—as a waiver wire gem on somebody else’s roster.

Some decide to stick it out. You drafted these guys to anchor your fantasy teams and would hate to see them end up being productive on another owner’s roster. Besides, loyalty is an important quality for your fantasy team.

Another option—one detailed in some length below—is trading these players now . Despite the ineffectiveness of some of these guys, fantasy owners still may be in a position to make a playoff push.

Trading some of these big names (perhaps for a handcuff or two? ) could land fantasy owners an up-and-coming prospect with more promise down the stretch.

 

Players with Big Names to Sell

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers

A quarterback change—though not happening this weekend —could be imminent in Carolina. Smith’s situation could go from bad-to-worse with a change now, though it is hard to believe it gets much worse than Jake Delhomme right now.

The one redeeming quality of Delhomme is he tries to get the ball to Smith. Who knows if the same synergy will develop between Smith and whomever becomes the starting quarterback once Delhomme gets the hook?

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Cardinals (8), Falcons (10), Buccaneers (13)
Potential Beasts: Jets (12), Vikings (15), Giants (16)

The Cardinals are hard to figure right now and could abuse the Panthers this weekend. The Falcons and Bucs are torch-able opponents. The Jets, Vikings, and Giants figure to be tough down the stretch.

 

Brian Westbrook , RB, Eagles

Complicating matters for Westbrook right now are the implications of the concussion he incurred during Monday Night Football against the Redskins. The Eagles have not ruled him out for this weekend yet.

Chances are Westbrook misses at least a week if not more. LeSean McCoy would start in his place. Might be kind of hard to move him after the injury but perhaps the McCoy owner would be interested in some insurance.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Chargers (10), Bears (11)
Potential Beasts: None

Whoever starts at running back for Philly has a nice schedule down the stretch for the most part. None of the match-ups are uber scary, but that does not mean a dominant performer will emerge out of the Eagles backfield every week.

 

Brandon Jacobs , RB, Giants

Few have underperformed on Jacobs’ level so far this season. I mean, the guy is supposed to score touchdowns. Forget the yards. Just get the touchdowns.

He has a grand total of two touchdowns this season. TWO.

That is awful for a guy considered by many to be the league’s best goal line running back. And what is more frustrating for fantasy owners is the Giants’ insistence to get Ahmad Bradshaw involved, even near the goal line.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Chargers (9), Cowboys (13)
Potential Beasts: Eagles (8), Eagles (14), Vikings (17)

Dallas has been decent against the run of late but Jacobs usually plays well against the ‘Boys. It might be hard to trade him after this weekend, but the match-up with the Chargers should allow Jacobs to rebound some value.

 

Matt Forte, RB, Bears

Forte has one studly game to his credit this season. He is ranked in the 30s among running backs in most standard-scoring leagues. He has two double-digit performances to date.

Not the kind of production fantasy owners expected of this mid-first round draft pick.

The Bears get a gift on the schedule this weekend with Cleveland coming to town. Forte should pick up his third double-digit fantasy day of the season. After this weekend, ship him out of town.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Browns (8), Rams (13), Lions (17)
Potential Beasts: Eagles (11), Vikings (12), Packers (14), Vikings (16)

Forte also gets the Ravens in Week 15, whose defense is hit-or-miss this season. That could be one heck of a playoff slate for Forte with the Packers, Ravens, and Vikings in consecutive weeks. It should be noted that Forte’s final cupcake comes in Week 17, at which time most fantasy leagues have already crowned a champion.

 

LaDainian Tomlinson , RB, Chargers

A week after taking Tomlinson out at the goal line in favor of Darren Sproles , the Chargers gave him the keys to the offense near pay dirt against the Chiefs.

And he failed. Miserably.

Tomlinson owners who watched the box score know of the misery inherent in seeing your back stuffed, over and over again, inside the five-yard line.

It was not his best day as a professional football player and perhaps a sign that, yes, LT2’s best days are now well behind him.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Raiders (8), Chiefs (12), Browns (13), Titans (16)
Potential Beasts: Giants (9), Eagles (10), Broncos (11)

Tomlinson has some nice games on the radar but will he finally start to produce against inferior opponents? The old LT2 used to feast on these teams. The Broncos, fighting to secure playoff positioning, will be a tough draw for the Chargers.

 

Greg Jennings, WR, Packers

Some fantasy pundits blame the Packers’ lackluster offensive line for Jennings’ poor start to this season. His play certainly is not what most fantasy owners thought it would be by midseason of the 2009 season.

Unless he switches roles with Donald Driver as the short-route, possession-type receiver in the coming weeks, Jennings should continue to be too hit-and-miss for his owners. A top-tier wide receiver should not be this inconsistent.

Analyzing the Schedule

Potential Cupcakes: Buccaneers (9), Cowboys (10), Lions (12), Bears (14), Seahawks (16), Cardinals (17)
Potential Beasts: Vikings (8), Steelers (15)

Pitch the upcoming schedule when trying to trade Jennings. He does have some tasty match-ups that could be enticing to an owner who still believes in him. Even the Vikings’ game this weekend could be decent in the home confines of Lambeau Field.

Fantasy owners still should be able to get some decent value out of Jennings in trade.

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