In this weekly feature, I will discuss three of the top fantasy performers from last week and offer advice about each player.
1. QB Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
Rodgers passed for 408 yards and four touchdowns, which was good enough for a great fantasy week on its own. Add in his 36 rushing yards and two scores on the ground and he had a possible record-setting day. We’re used to John Kuhn taking touchdowns away from running backs Ryan Grant and James Starks, but Rodgers’s were a bit of a surprise.
Advice: If there were ever a time to “sell high,” this would probably be it. If you could get Drew Brees and a top three RB or WR, I would do that. If the rest of your team looks OK, just ride this out for the rest of the season. Rodgers is focused and should be a top player all year.
2. RB Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals
The top running back of the week, his performance netted approximately half of the points accumulated by Rodgers. We knew he could have the 138-yard game, but his three scores boosted his fantasy value here. I believe Arizona is still mainly a passing team, so I wouldn’t rely on multiple scores every game.
Advice: That being said, Wells does have five scores in three games right now. This is certainly a good time to sell high, as I don’t believe these numbers will hold up this season. Wells could prove me wrong, but if I could get a more traditionally consistent back who might be currently underperformaing (Peyton Hillis, Steven Jackson, etc.) and an upgrade at another offensive position, I would do it.
3. Defense – Baltimore Ravens
What a game. Two sacks, one interception, three fumble recoveries, and three scores. Aside from Week 2, the Ravens’ defense has been in the top three performers each week. You obviously can’t expect multiple touchdowns every Sunday, but Baltimore is definitely an impact, must-start fantasy option right now.
Advice: I would never trade a player for a defense. Baltimore was practically shut out in Week 2 (as a fantasy defense position), illustrating the kind of swing that is always possible with team defenses. However, if I owned them, I don’t know that I would necessarily trade this team either. Unless someone blew me away with a trade offer that I couldn’t refuse, which I honestly couldn’t see happening, I would just hold them and hope they keep putting up double-digit totals.
Mike Patton has been a fantasy enthusiast since 1997 and has won championships in baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and pick ‘em leagues. He maintains a winning percentage of approximately 80% in a dynasty football league established in 1998.
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