Sell high on Texans
Your surefire second-half fantasy football MVPs: Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson &Calvin Johnson
Calvin Johnson will continue to soar above the competition at wide receiver.
Drew Brees will rebound, just be careful of Week 15 against Baltimore.
Philip Rivers isn't about to slow down though.
Michael Turner will eat up on the Falcons soft second-half schedule.
We’re about halfway through the fantasy football season, and, for most of us, our rosters, and our fates, are pretty much sealed.
Still, even though the best free agents have long ago been scooped up, trades can still be made. Knowing that, it’s important to think of players now based not on their reputations, nor on their performances so far this season. The bottom line is: How will they perform from here on out?
With that in mind, here are predictions on who will be the finest performer from this point at each of the three main fantasy positions.
QUARTERBACK CANDIDATES: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers
Rivers has a bye coming up in Week 10 next week, but that’s immediately followed up by four of five games at home in weather-friendly conditions against weak opponents. He’s also getting Vincent Jackson back, but the big negative is the injury to Antonio Gates ( who was inactive for Sunday's game against the Texans). Manning’s schedule isn’t too bad, but all of those injuries at receiver are a bit troublesome.
Brees, on the other hand, should be getting some players back from injury after his week 10 bye. The main concern is a potentially tricky matchup at Baltimore in Week 15, right in the heart of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues.
THE VERDICT: Brees, by a nose, although you can’t go wrong with any of these three. They’ll be head and shoulders above the other quarterbacks from this point.
RUNNING BACK CANDIDATES: Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, Arian Foster, Frank Gore
I’d be trying to trade Foster if I had him; his schedule gets significantly harder, and his defense can’t stop anyone, which makes Texans reliance on the running game unlikely. Johnson doesn’t have an overly difficult schedule, but his yards per carry is down so far that it appears that defenses just aren’t going to let him beat them this year, Randy Moss’ presence notwithstanding.
Turner might seem like a surprise in here, but the Falcons’ schedule is pretty soft. Same goes for Gore with the Niners, and he’s been tough to stop this year regardless of his team’s woes. Peterson can say the same.
THE VERDICT: Peterson, barely over Gore, based on his big-play ability, nose for the end zone, and the feeling that the Vikes might just pull together against all odds.
WIDE RECEIVER CANDIDATES: Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Lloyd, Greg Jennings, Reggie Wayne
What’s interesting about this group is how many of them wouldn’t have been anywhere near this list at the start of the season. I’m not willing to bet my fortunes on Lloyd, even with his stunning success. Fitzgerald is hamstrung by his QB woes, and Andre Johnson is banged up, which knocks out the two preseason favorites.
Someone has to catch Aaron Rodgers’ passes, so Jennings could be ready to explode. The ruggedness of Nicks’ division argues against his continued brilliance. Wayne and White might be the most consistent of the bunch, while Calvin Johnson is on fire.
THE VERDICT: With receivers, the best player usually ends up with the best numbers. Right now, I feel like the best receiver in the league is Calvin Johnson, so this is Megatron’s year.
Next week, we’ll take a look at some potential second-half sleepers. Until then, here’s hoping that you start the winners, and leave the bums on the bench.
