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We are at the point in the fantasy season where we could see some breakout players emerge for the stretch run. I've been attempting to find trends in the last few weeks, so we can make intelligent moves for this week's games, but also identify some sleepers to stash on our bench which could be breakout studs that propel us into the playoffs or toward victory once they begin.
Also, the trading deadline has passed for CBS leagues. Meaning the only improvement you can make to your roster is through the walk-on pool.
I’m going to stick to guys in BCS conferences, as your league more than likely contains those conferences in some combination. I’m also going to try stay away from telling you it’s a good matchup to play guys against FCS teams. Use your own judgment for those plays, as some players will definitely put up stats, but will be subject to a 25% penalty. And sometimes the backups will get a lot of time.
Quarterbacks
The latest in Fantasy Football Points Fun Land (aka Texas Tech QB situation) is that Taylor Potts will regain the starting position while Stick Sheffield is out. For Oregon, Jeremiah Masoli’s status is still up in the air… as is Tony Pike’s for Cincinnati. And Ricky Dobbs is supposedly out. So you may want to look elsewhere, as you can’t risk taking a 0.
Joey Elliott, Purdue (Illinois) – “Big Ten Shootout” typically means “10-6”. But Purdue does put up offensive numbers, so I’d start either QB, if available. Juice was a highly touted guy by CBS preseason, while Elliot is ownly owned in 23% of leagues.
Kevin Riley, California (Washington State) – A Cougar is a fantastic thing to see on a Saturday. Especially as a matchup for your fantasy team. He’s only owned in 4% of leagues.
If you’re hardcore: Danny Sullivan, Arizona State (@Stanford) – I’m expecting a shootout, which would give Sullivan lots of passing opportunities. He got 22 fantasy points for his owners a week ago, and is averaging 17 over the last 3 games. You could do considerably worse.
Running backs
Baron Batch, Texas Tech (Texas A&M) – The transitive property does not apply to football, but check this out: Tech beats Kansas State 66-14. K-State beats A&M 62-14. I’m thinking Tech wins by 100. Should be plenty of fantasy points for the RB that’s only owned in 21% of leagues.
Keith Toston, Oklahoma State (@Baylor) – Baylor’s rush defense is somewhere around 100th in FBS. Toston is a solid option, and I don’t think Kendall Hunter will be back, especially back enough to cut into Toston’s production. He should have a huge game, hopefully combining his 200 yard effort of two weeks ago with a couple trips to the red zone.
If you’re hardcore: Derrick Locke, Kentucky (Louisiana Monroe) – For the season, he’s averaging over 12 points per game. Throw out the one game that was only 3 points, and he has a 14 point average. He’s an injury risk, but it’s looking like he’s going to play. And it’s tough to argue with the matchup.
Wide Receivers
Uzoma Nwachukwu, Texas A&M (@Texas Tech) – His ownership has climbed to 25%, as the back-to-back scoring weeks of 20 and 25 points got some people’s attention. After I recommended him last week, you shouldn’t be late to this bandwagon. If he becomes a breakout star for the rest of the season, you won’t want to have missed out on the opportunity to at least stash him on your bench.
Chris Owusu, Stanford (Arizona State) – I’ve been riding Owusu to domination recently in a league with few options, and his last two weeks of 14 and 17 points should earn one of your 3 starting WR spots. I’ve already stated I think this game will be a blowout.
If you’re hardcore: Marvin Jones, California (Washington State) – Should I make another Cougar joke? I’ve never been one to not overdo it. Anyway, he scored 20 points last week, so maybe it will become a trend. Washington State isn’t exactly equipped to stop him.
Tight Ends
Riar Geer, Colorado (@Kansas State) - He’s averaging over 7 points per game for the year, and 10 per game over the last 3 weeks. Kansas State certainly gave up passing yards to Texas Tech two weeks, and the Colorado quarterback uncertainty of late seems to have resulted in increased reliance on Geer. In a year with so few fantasy studs at TE, this is as good a play as any.
If you’re hardcore: Tony Moeaki, Iowa (@Michigan State) – It’s not exactly a porous defense, so this one is ‘hardcore’ for the matchup. But in his three weeks of scoring more than zero points, Moeaki has totaled 10, 22, and 11 points.
Defense / Special Teams
Nebraska (Iowa State) – They are such a good real defense that I was surprised when they were available in 13% of leagues. While playing a Big XII schedule doesn’t allow them to be useful for fantasy purposes all that often, this is the best matchup you can hope for in league play.
If you’re hardcore: Oregon (@Washington) – The Ducks always seem to get special teams touchdowns, and despite what a (delusional) Pete Carroll might say, I’m not sold on Jake Locker. And especially his teammates.
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