POP! Just like that, a season is destroyed. And weâre not talking about the Patriotsâ year.
New England has won enough Super Bowl titles to rob us of any sympathy. What the Tracker is concerned about are the ramifications of QB Tom Bradyâs season-ending knee injury to your fantasy team. Thereâs no easy way to put this: If you have Tom Brady (and likely spent a first-round pick to get him), your team is in trouble. Trying to duplicate his impact would be like recasting the Joker for the next Batman film (note, link is fan-fake poster).
Donât panic and trade away the farm for a replacement. Your best bet is to go after another ownerâs quality backup. If you can get David Garrard or Jake Delhomme, or even Marc Bulger or Matt Schaub at reasonable cost, do so. Itâs sort of like casting Joshua Jackson â these guys are marginally better than their name recognition. They should keep you on the fringe.
If you donât have the depth to build a workable trade, there are some options on the waiver wire. This is the best option for Vince Young owners (both of you). But â no surprise â they all come with risks. Youâre better off promoting your current No. 2 QB then use the waivers to find a new backup.
Chad Pennington and Trent Edwards can be your William H. Macy. They canât carry you on their own, but they work well as bit players. It could pay to take a flier on Kerry Collins. He should be more productive than Young has been. As for this episode of âThe Young and the Restless,â itâs impossible to know how the soap opera will play out.
MISSING MARQUES
Saints WR Marques Colston will be out for 4-6 weeks. This elevates the value of Devery Henderson and Jeremy Shockey. You may even be able to find David Patten on waivers. It also drags QB Drew Brees down a bit. Give it a week or two for Brees owners to get antsy, then try to trade for him when his value is low.
BIG WEEKS: RB Chris Johnson (Titans, at Bengals); QB Aaron Rodgers (Packers, at Lions); WR Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs, vs. Raiders); QB Eli Manning (Giants, at Rams).
BIG WEAKS: QB Carson Palmer (Bengals, vs. Titans); QB Brett Favre (Jets, vs. Patriots); WR Chris Chambers (Chargers, at Broncos).
SURVIVOR PICK
Last weekâs pick: San Diego over Carolina. Record: 0-1. Well, that was quick. Weâll start anew come Week 9.