Randy Moss to Titans: Fantasy Implications

Randy Moss to Titans: Fantasy Implications

Win My Fantasy League writer Rizzla chimes in with his own thoughts on the Randy Moss trade and the fantasy football implications.

Randy Moss has been claimed off of waivers by the Tennessee Titans and goes from a 2-5 team to a 5-3 team.

Randy Moss should make quite an impact on the Titans especially with breakout receiver Kenny Britt expected to miss multiple weeks.

The Titans are on a bye week and this will allow him more time to get immersed in the offense and get comfortable with the playbook.

Vince Young has a stronger arm and seems to be the quarterback that fits Randy Moss’ style of play more suitably than Kerry Collins, and is likely to take the reigns whenever healthy.

Strangely he gets to line up beside the consensus top two running backs in all of the NFL, and both the running back and wide receiver saw increases in fantasy value in both scenarios.

I have been getting a lot of reader comments and questions regarding why Randy Moss was released by the Vikings, and him ‘dissing’ the food served post-practice last Friday was only one factor. Him throwing Brad Childress under the bus, showing affection for his old team, incessant complaining, entitled attitude, dwindling production, telling teammates he was one-and-done that he could not play for coach Childress and his reported negative influence on Percy Harvin were all correlative factors.

Fantasy Implications:

Randy Moss gets a boost from being on the waiver wire where he had no value, and even though he is leaving Brett Favre, his production in Minnesota was rather pedestrian when talking about Randy Moss, one of the all-time greats at the WR position.

Moss should see 6-8 targets a week and should be the teams main vertical threat and red-zone target until Kenny Britt returns at which time they will share red-zone duties.

Kenny Britt’s fantasy value actually gets boosted with this news, as when he does return he will not have to face the coverage he would of after his week 7 breakout performance in which he accrued more yards and TD’s in one game than Randy Moss had in 4 full games with the Vikings. He will likely become a consistent top-20 option at WR with Moss in the lineup. Call it the Wes Welker effect but we have seen Moss benefit both Welker and Harvin and there is no reason he wont do the same for Kenny Britt.

Chris Johnson stands to be the greatest beneficiary of this waiver claim as the running lanes he is used to seeing will widen considerably with most opposing D’s committing at least two defenders in an attempt to cover Randy Moss.

Justin Gage takes a serious hit with this news and figures to see some time in the slot where he is probably best suited with Randy Moss and Nate Washington lining up outside.

Damian Williams disappointed in week 8 and he seems more suited for a #3 job than a #2 job at this point in his career and makes for a nice buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues as Williams is one of the most talented receivers from the 2010 class and on the Titans (#3 behind Moss and Britt).

Nate Washington’s value seemingly takes the biggest hit with this news as he will be relegated to #3 WR duties once Kenny Britt returns and he is no longer the teams top vertical threat. He is still flex worthy until Britt returns and makes for a good sell-high candidate if you can find a buyer.

Vince Young and/or Kerry Collins both also get a fantasy boost with this news as Randy Moss makes the passing game that much more explosive and actually stands to make Vince Young and Kerry Collins low-end QB1’s on some weeks depending on match-ups.

Brett Favre takes a mini hit with this news but the fact that Sidney Rice has been activated from the PUP list and that Childress says Harvin will find a way to play bodes well for Favre’s fantasy value.

Percy Harvin takes a major hit as he was enjoying more success beside Moss than without him, benefiting from the double coverage Randy Moss would draw. Sidney Rice is close to a return and hopefully this will allow him to stay near the same fantasy value.

Vinsanthe Shiancoe is the main beneficiary on the Vikings until Sidney Rice returns and will presumably take over the #1 target role with opposing D’s now focusing their attention on shutting down Percy Harvin. Shinacoe suffered the most from Randy Moss joining the Vikings and looks to see some of that fantasy value return with Moss now in Tennessee.

Sidney Rice’s value gets a major boost as he was expected to be no better than 1b or even the #3 with Randy Moss in town. It would have been nice to see Rice and Moss on the outside with Harvin in the middle but it just wasn’t to be. He has been activated from the PUP list and is reportedly running and cutting at full speed and should be ready for game-action sooner than expected this morning before practice.

Adrian Peterson takes a mini-hit in standard leagues with running lanes set to close up with Moss no longer on the field. However his PPR value actually stands to rise as he will get more targets and thus receptions in the passing game.

Brad Childress is probably coaching the Vikings for his last season and that does not bode well for Childress favorite Tavaris Jackson’s long-term value.