The Fantasy Football Sherpa

Hi everyone,

Here are the latest batch of players who’ve had their preseason projections updated:

• Sam Aiken (WR, NE) - added to database (moved up depth chart)     
• Richard Angulo (TE, Jac) - removed from database (cut)
• Devin Aromashodu (WR, Chi) - added to database (moved up depth chart)    
• Todd Bauman (QB, Jac) - removed from database (cut)
• Michael Bennett (RB, SD) - added to database (moved up depth chart)  
• Troy Bergeron (WR, Atl)  - removed from database (cut) 
• Lorenzo Booker (RB, Phi)  - removed from database (cut)
• Marty Booker (WR, Atl) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Brian Brohm (QB, GB) - removed from database (cut)
• Thomas Brown (RB, Atl) - removed from database (cut)
• Matt Bryant (K, TB) - removed from database (cut)
• Eldra Buckley (RB, Phi) - added to database (moved up depth chart)
• Aveion Cason (RB, Det) - removed from database (cut)
• Keary Colbert (WR, Det) - removed from database (cut)
• Daunte Culpepper (QB, Det) - revised projections downward (moved down depth chart)
• Ronald Curry (WR, StL) - removed from database (cut)
• Tony Curtis (TE, Phi) - added to database (signed)
• Chris Davis (WR, Ten) - removed from database (cut)
• Carey Davis (RB, Pit) - removed from database (cut)
• Jason Davis (RB, NYJ) - added to database (signed)
• Jeff Dugan (RB, Min) - added to database (moved up depth chart)
• Julian Edelman (WR, NE) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Dominique Edison (WR, Ten) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Yamon Figurs (WR, Det) - added to database (signed)
• Arian Foster (RB, Hou) - removed from database (cut)
• Sam Gado (RB, StL) - revised projections upward (moved up depth chart)
• Quinton Ganther (RB, Ten) - removed from database (cut)
• Brandon Gibson (WR, Phi) - added to database (moved up depth chart)
• Earnest Graham (RB, TB) - projections revised downward (moved down depth chart) 
• Cortez Hankton (WR, TB) - removed from database (cut)
• Marcus Henry (WR, NYJ) - removed from database (cut)
• Noah Herron (RB, Cle) - removed from database (cut)
• Kareem Higgins (RB, TB) - removed from database (cut)
• Nate Hughes (WR, Jac) - added to database (moved up depth chart)
• Chad Jackson (WR, Den) - removed from database (moved up depth chart)
• Darnell Jenkins (WR, Hou) - removed from database (cut)
• Ian Johnson (RB, Min) - removed from database (cut)
• Taurus Johnson (WR, KC) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Mark Jones (WR, Ten) - removed from database (cut)
• Aaron Kelly (WR, Atl) - removed from database (cut)
• Jordan Kent (WR, Sea) - removed from database (cut) 
• John Kuhn (RB, GB) - added to database (moved up depth chart)
• Keon Lattimore (RB, Dal) - removed from database (cut)
• Jamall Lee (RB, Car) - removed from database (cut)
• Byron Leftwich (QB, TB) - revised projections upward (named starting QB)
• Ashley Lelie (WR, KC) - removed from database (cut)
• Greg Lewis (WR, NE) - removed from database (cut) 
• Brandon Lloyd (WR, Den) - added to database (moved up depth chart)
• Kregg Lumpkin (RB, GB) - removed from database (cut)
• Dicky Lyons (WR, Atl) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Ruvell Martin (WR, GB) - removed from database (cut)
• Justin McCareins (WR, Ten) - removed from database (cut)
• Luke McCown (QB, Jac) - acquired in trade from TB
• Marcus Monk (WR, Car) - removed from database (cut)
• Devin Moore (RB, Sea) - removed from database (cut)
• Mike Nugent (K, TB) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Jake O`Connell (TE, KC) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Chris Ogbonnaya (RB, StL) - removed from database (cut)
• Kevin Ogletree (WR, Dal) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• David Patten (WR, Cle) - removed from database (cut)
• Alvin Pearman (RB, Jac) - removed from database (cut)
• Antonio Pittman (RB, StL) - removed from database (cut)
• Brandon Rideau (WR, Chi) - removed from database (cut)
• Ryne Robinson (WR, Car) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Dantrell Savage (RB, KC) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Matt Schobel (TE, Phi) - removed from database (cut)
• Kory Sheets (RB, Jac) - removed from database (cut)
• Antone Smith (RB, Det) - removed from database (cut)
• Terrell Smith (RB, Det) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Matthew Stafford (QB, Det) - revised projections upward (named starting QB)
• Isaiah Stanback (WR, Dal) - removed from database (cut)
• John Standeford (WR, Det) - removed from database (cut)
• Frank Summers (RB, Pit) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Tyrell Sutton (RB, Car) - added to database (signed) 
• Brett Swain (WR, GB) - added to database (moved up depth chart) 
• Marcus Thigpen (RB, Phi) - removed from database (cut)
• Tiquan Underwood (WR, Jac) - removed from database (cut)
• Josh Vaughan (RB, TB) - removed from database (cut)
• Justin Vincent (RB, Pit) - removed from database (cut)
• Derrick Ward (RB, TB) - projections revised downward (moved down depth chart)
• Chauncey Washington (RB, Jac) - removed from database (cut)
• Ernest Wilford (TE, Jac) - added to database (moved up depth chart)
• Cadillac Williams (RB, TB) - revised projections upward (moved up depth chart)
• Jarvarris Williams (RB, KC) - removed from database (cut)
• Danny Woodhead (RB, NYJ) - removed from database (cut)

Please let me know if you see any moves I may have missed, and I’ll be happy to update the database.

More updates to come as developments warrant.

Until next time,

The Sherpa

Fantasy Football Sherpa

The Fantasy Football Sherpa’s blog

@fantasy_sherpa on Twitter

4 teams have their byes Week 5: Cleveland, NY Jets, Oakland, and St. Louis.  Unless you’re in a league that’s so competitive that team owners speculate on players with bye weeks, I’d avoid picking up anyone from any of these teams this week.

Here’s a list of players who are probably on a roster in your league and will need to be replaced because of the bye week if they’re in a starting lineup:

Quarterbacks

Derek Anderson, Brett Favre

Running Backs

Jamal Lewis, Thomas Jones, Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, Stephen Jackson

Wide Receivers

Braylon Edwards, Laveranues Coles, Jericho Cotchery, Torry Holt

Tight Ends

Kellen Winslow

Kickers

Josh Brown
Defenses

None

Here’s a list of recommended free agent/waiver wire pickups who may be available in your league.  I’ll give an indication of whether I believe these players should be picked up for just the short term (ST), for the long term (LT), or as speculation plays (SPEC).  Short term recommendations are players who should help fantasy owners in the next few weeks (due to injuries, benchings, suspensions, favorable schedules, etc.) but who will probably drop in value again later in the season.  Long term recommendations are players who have the potential to help their owners’ fantasy teams for the remainder of the current season.  Speculation plays are players who are unlikely to help your fantasy team in the short run (barring injuries, benchings, suspensions, etc.) but may have value later this season or in future seasons (for those in Keeper leagues).

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton (LT), Chad Pennington (ST), Gus Frerotte - assuming he’s healthy enough to play (ST), Matt Ryan (SPEC), Chad Henne (SPEC)

Running Backs

Correll Buckhalter (ST),  Mewelde Moore (ST), Najeh Davenport - just signed by Pittsburgh (ST), Cedric Benson - just signed by Cincinnati (SPEC), Jamaal Charles (SPEC), Fred Jackson (SPEC), Lamont Jordan (SPEC), Ray Rice (SPEC)

Wide Receivers

Kevin Walter (LT), Devery Henderson (ST), Lance Moore (ST), Jordy Nelson (SPEC), Michael Jenkins (SPEC), Ted Ginn (SPEC)

Tight Ends

Greg Olsen (LT), Visanthe Shiancoe (ST), Alex Smith (ST), Robert Royal (ST)

Kickers

Rian Lindell (LT), Shaun Suisham (LT), Ryan Longwell (ST), Matt Bryant (ST)

Defenses

Seattle (LT), Atlanta (ST), Washington (ST), Denver (ST)

Until next time,

The Sherpa

Since Wednesday is often the day that fantasy football leagues process their free agent/waiver wire claims, today I’ll focus on some potentially useful players who may be available in your league.  Many team owners are wondering where to turn after injuries to Tom Brady, Nate Burleson, Maurice Morris, Marques Colston, Darren McFadden, and others - the Sherpa is here to help!

Quarterback

Amazingly, Jon Kitna and Kurt Warner are still available in a number of leagues.  I’d describe them as the “anti-Roethlisbergers” - they’re more useful to a fantasy team than they are to NFL teams (imagine if you were penalized even more for interceptions/fumbles in key situations in your fantasy league!)  If either happens to be available in your league this week, he’s definitely worth a pick-up (especially if you were a Tom Brady owner).  I doubt you’d find any other QBs available this week who are capable of throwing for 3,500+ yards and 30+ TDs!  If Kitna and Warner are already taken in your league, other widely-available options include Trent Edwards, Matt Ryan, and JaMarcus Russell.  I’d take a chance on Matt Cassel only if the previous options were all unavailable.  I’d steer clear of Tarvaris Jackson and Joe Flacco.

Running Back

Depending on the number of teams and bench spots your league uses, the pickings could be pretty slim here.  In the unlikely event Justin Fargas or Julius Jones are available in your league, they’re definitely worth a claim.  Titans’ rookie Chris Johnson is also likely unavailable in your league.  More likely options include Sammy Morris, Steve Slaton, Tim Hightower, Pierre Thomas, Jamaal Charles, Brandon Jackson, and Leon Washington.

Wide Receiver

Rookies Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson both had impressive debuts this past weekend.  With Brandon Marshall returning this week for Denver, I think it’s highly unlikely Royal will approach his Week 1 stats anytime soon again.  However, I do like Jackson’s potential to continue posting impressive stats throughout his rookie season.  Royal becomes more attractive than he would be otherwise in leagues that give individual players Kickoff Return yardage, but I still prefer Jackson.  With Marques Colston out for an estimated 4-6 weeks, see if any of the Saints’ WRs are available (David Patten, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, in that order).  Kevin Walter, Matt Jones, Devard Darling, and Courtney Taylor are some other potentially useful WRs who may be available in your league this week.

Tight Ends

I like Anthony Fasano, Chris Baker, and Marcedes Lewis more than I like Dante Rosario.

Kickers

Unless you had Mike Nugent on your team, you probably aren’t (and shouldn’t be) looking for a replacement based on just one game.  However, if you did have Nugent on your team (or don’t wish to heed my previous advice), Jason Hanson, Steve Suisham, John Carney, Matt Bryant, and Matt Stover would be my recommended options based on their teams’ matchups this week.

Defenses

As with the Kickers I wouldn’t be looking to make any changes here after one week (even if you own the Rams’ defense!).  If you like to switch Defenses from week to week based on matchups, some Defenses that may be available whose matchups I like this week include Arizona (vs Miami), Carolina (vs Chicago), Detroit (vs Green Bay), Houston (vs. Baltimore), Oakland (at Kansas City), and Kansas City (versus Oakland - yes, I don’t expect much offense in this game!).

Good luck with your claims!

The Sherpa