Sports

Make right call with early audibles

You’ve pored over various fantasy Web sites. You’ve watched countless hours of analysis on ESPN. You’ve religiously read the Fantasy Tracker.

By now, you’ve got a handle on who the top players are and where they fit into your lineup. But though you can bury yourself by bungling your draft, that’s not when you win your league. A championship-caliber team needs to be fortified through the proper transactions throughout the year.

With the preseason now in two-minute mode, here’s a look at some moves to ponder heading into the start of the season.

GULP FICTION

Last season, Shaun Alexander ruined many seasons. A top three fantasy pick in 2006, he was beset by injuries. He went from John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever” to the 1980s John Travolta of straight-to-DVD release. We expect this season to be his “Pulp Fiction.” Alexander should be back to prime form. Yet he slipped to the back end of many drafts. Use this faded view of Alexander to your advantage. Try to low-ball the owner to deal for the back. Much like Travolta’s post-“Fiction” career, Alexander will slowly fade away after this campaign. But he should be solid at least one more year.

GOING DEEP

Wide receiver notoriously produces a deep but inconsistent class. This year is no different. As such, there plenty of late-round targets with big upsides. You just can’t count on them every week. They are to fantasy squads what Bruce Willis is to the film industry. For every blockbuster “Die Hard” and “Sixth Sense” performance, there’s a “16 Blocks” or “Hart’s War.”

With that in mind, what might otherwise be labeled “scrub” receivers could actually have some value. If you’re looking for a throw-in to even out a deal, check out Joe Horn or Greg Jennings. In fact, Jennings might even be undrafted. He was very productive early last season before an ankle injury, which plagued him the rest of the way. Healthy again, he should return to form as Brett Favre‘s No. 2 target behind Donald Driver.

Horn is the Falcons’ only legitimate WR, and even Joey Harrington has to complete a pass to a wideout every now and again.

You don’t want these guys as starters, but they could be useful as bye-week fill-ins and have a good upside deep on your bench.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Somehow, Julius Jones is still expected to get plenty of work in the Cowboys backfield, even though it’s clear to everyone outside of Big D that Marion Barber III is the better back. Barber’s TD production alone vaults him ahead of Jones, but the platoon situation has pushed Barber’s value down. If we want one on our roster, it’s Barber. But we’re not going to pay much for him. If you can swing him on the cheap, do so – say, a straight-up deal for Jamal Lewis. As for Jones, find an owner that likes him and take what you can get.

MURKY WATERS

Two of the most difficult backfield forecasts are in Atlanta and Carolina. Jerious Norwood looked good last year, but Warrick Dunn has returned from back surgery and will be able to start the season. We still like Norwood better, but his unknown workload undermines his value. If you can get quality in return for him, do it now. Once other owners see how many touches Dunn is going to get, Norwood’s value will dip even lower.

The Panthers have a new zone-blocking scheme, which is sort of like installing a new computer system. Sure, it may work better eventually, but first everyone has to learn how to use it. Expect some early struggles from both DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams. So don’t rush out to acquire either one. Wait a few weeks into the season, then offer something meager in a deal. DeBacks’ owners likely will be itching to part with their DeSappointments.

dloftis@npyost.com