RADIO
This week I want to focus on some really big name players. Why? Because it's almost playoff time, and trade deadlines are approaching in most fantasy football leagues.
Every NFL player listed this week is someone I'd be trying to sell on their name value faster than you can finish reading this sentence. I'll get into the details below, but this is crunch time so let's clean up those rosters for the fantasy football championship run.
Players That Are Making Me Nervous For Week 11
Brandon Marshall (WR, CHI)
Here's a quick story for you all. In the Rotoballer expert 14 team fantasy football league, I drafted Brandon Marshall with the 14th overall pick, and thought I had gotten a steal. A league of "experts." How could that be when they let me get a guy who had 100 receptions, 1295 yards receiving, and 12 touchdowns the previous year so late in a PPR league draft? Well, fast forward to now and they all look fairly smart for letting Marshall fall to me.
I bet none of you would have believed me if in the preseason I told you that in ten weeks of football, Brandon Marshall would only have two games where he had over 100 receiving yards. Heck if I said that to myself, I would have also believed I had three eyes. But that's the case. Marshall has only had over 100 yards receiving against the Falcons and Green Bay this year. Let's be honest, those two teams' secondaries are not exactly scaring anyone this year so Marshall's minor accomplishments seems even less impressive.
So what's wrong with Marshall? Did he never really get over the ankle injury he suffered against the Jets? Is age finally starting to catch up to him? Or maybe, just maybe, Jay Cutler is too busy being a hilarious internet meme to be a good quarterback? Who knows?
Regardless of what theory you subscribe to it's clear that Brandon Marshall hasn't been what you drafted him for. I don't see him returning to be your lineups' knight in shining armor either. The Bears looked like cubs against the Packers this past Sunday. The team seems to have no desire to win anymore. Add in the fact that Marshall just injured his other ankle and you have a recipe for disaster.
Luckily, Marshall still has a ton of name value so you should be able to sell him fairly easily. Don't go selling him for pennies on the dollar since obviously he has a world of talent, but do yourself a favor and see if someone will take him off your hands. Championships are not often won with older players on bad teams who are injured no matter how talented they are.
Giovani Bernard (RB, CIN)
I think tonight's theme is draft mistakes I made in the Rotoballer league. Remember how I said I took Brandon Marshall with my 14th overall pick? Well, when it snaked back I took Giovani Bernard with the 15th pick.
Don't get me wrong, it worked out for most of the season because he either had a ton of all purpose yards or he had a touchdown. But then he had to go do a silly thing like injure his hip. Doesn't he know us fantasy players need him!? I'm not sure how you missed it if you play fantasy football but Bernard has not played since week eight of this year.
Not only did I draft Bernard in our Rotoballer experts league, but I made the same mistake in three other leagues as well. You know what happens in week 8-10? A lot of playoff ground is gained or lost. Not having Bernard was a huge hit to my team and I imagine anyone else who owns him.
I don't have good news for my fellow Bernard owners. Reports are now surfacing that he won't play in week 11, and could reportedly miss even more time. Try to sell Bernard to a team that owns Jeremy Hill and is a playoff lock. They'll probably still pay a lot for him because they think he'll seal their road to glory if he returns. They may even be right, but if you're not a lock for the playoffs you need someone that will help you produce now.
Lamar Miller (RB, MIA)
Lamar Miller was probably one of my biggest surprises of the season. I sold him early in my dynasty league because it seemed like the Dolphins hated him and were going to roll with Knowshon. Well, once Knowshon got injured Miller certainly made the most of his opportunity.
In fact for the season Miller has been a pretty solid RB2, never totaling less than 50 all purpose yards and contributing 6 touchdowns. So why is he on this list? Because he injured his shoulder against the Chargers and also because he rushed for only 10 yards against the Lions. To be fair, I couldn't rush for 10 yards against the Lions run defense when healthy but for those that don't know me I'm not a well toned 211 football running back. Shocking I know.
Have you noticed a common theme? Banged up players are riskier plays as the season goes along because they are playing in higher pressure games and therefore putting more stress on their bodies. Being injured is not the only reason that Miller makes this list though. Most fantasy leagues end around week 15 which means that in two of Miller's remaining five games he faces the Bills and the Jets. Both teams are among the top rated run defenses in the entire league. The Dolphins never rushed that much in the first place, and they just lost their best offensive line player for the season in Brandon Albert.
What does that all mean for Miller's value? He's not worth much more than a can of Miller Light. OK, not seriously but Lamar Miller will probably see some serious regression. I'd sell him to a team that is desperate for any kind of solid running back. Unless you are that team, in which case, good luck to you pal!
Closing Thoughts for Week 11
I realize this article was a bit tougher on players than in the past. Maybe it's because I'm bitter and lost in a bunch of my leagues this week. Maybe it's because as the playoffs approach I've become more critical of players who were supposed to be dependable. Or maybe it's secretly my way of inspiring the players to do better for my team just to spite me. Reverse jinxing still works even when you own up to it right? That's definitely how it works!
Anyway, until next week guys you can catch me on twitter @RekedFantasy.
