Fantasy Football Fix August 10th 2010

Fantasy Football Fix August 10th 2010

Fred Taylor to start. Fred Taylor is currently slated to start for the Patriots and despite being the age of 34 continues to impress Patriots brass and remain atop the depth chart. This news is more an indictment of Laurence Maroney whose fumbling issues are holding him back than a promotion of Taylor, this is still a full blown RBBC and an injury will have to happen for any Patriots back to be fantasy starter worthy. Taylor currently has flex value and Maroney and Morris are only bench stashes.

Brandon LaFell is still running with the 1’s and according to John Fox has shown some flashes. LaFell is competing with Dwayne Jarrett and Kenny Moore for the #2 WR job opposite of Steve Smith. LaFell is the most talented of the three names discussed and if he is not the opening day starter, he likely will be by week 4 or 5. Coach John Fox is usually tough on rookies but LaFell’s superior talent is likely to force him on the field.

Stephen Williams an undrafted rookie at the Arizona Cardinals training camp continues to impress and it is time to take notice. Dynasty leaguers, drafting him may now be an option and he is a definite bench stash in 14+ team formats.

Ben Tate has an uphill battle to climb after missing time during the OTA’s due to a hamstring injury. Steve Slaton is proving more healthy than most anticipated he would be and Arian Foster continues to impress. Don’t be confused Tate is still the Texans running back of the future but penciling him in for opening day like we did when he was drafted may be an error in judgment. Arian Foster has a lot of fans in the Texans organization and Tate will have to pick up his training camp performance to start climbing the depth chart. Kubiak noted that Tate is the talent they drafted but that the rookie has to get it together mentally and learn how to flip the switch when necessary.

Should the New York Giants RB’s be ranked higher? ESPN Insider Fantasy analyst Eric Karabell think so and we agree. Brandon Jacobs had 15 rushing touchdowns not two seasons ago and now the former first round fantasy football pick is being drafted as an RB3..there is tremendous value here. Ahmad Bradshaw like Jacobs is healthy this season and has the potential to approach the 1400 yards from scrimmage Derrick Ward racked up in this offense two years ago before he left for Tampa Bay. Both backs should be bumped up your cheat sheets and with backs like this available at such value an RB-WR strategy is the best one to employ this year. Brandon Jacobs has RB1 upside while Bradshaw has RB2 upside but will likely end up a RB3.

Pierre Garcon is currently sitting at #2 on the Colts depth chart and it is time to bump him up your cheat sheets as Garcon is more suited to what the Colts would like from an outside receiver while Anthony Gonzalez is an ideal slot option as he has proved earlier in his career. Garcon provides a Harrison factor that Gonzalez doesn’t and this will likely keep Garcon at #2 on the depth chart.