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Fantasy Football Tip Sheet - Oct. 3

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By LUKE EASTERLING

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2008

We're a quarter of the way through the fantasy season, and owners are setting up their rosters for the long haul. Certain trends are becoming more concrete, some encouraging (Michael Turner, Jay Cutler, Philip Rivers, Santana Moss), while others still are disturbing (Randy Moss, Braylon Edwards, Ryan Grant). Flash-in-the-pan performers have been unmasked (Dante Rosario), and young stars are beginning to prove they're here to stay (Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Eddie Royal). Heck, we've even seen some elder statesmen churn out huge performances (Kurt Warner, Brett Favre).

As we settle in to the meat and potatoes of this season, here are some tips to take with you as you continue your title run.

FORGET-ME-NOT

Hold tight to these rules as you head through the rest of your season.

1. Hang on to your studs: Don't get trigger-happy with your underachieving top picks, unless there's concrete evidence that gives no hope that things will change for the better. If something drastic has happened to a key piece of your player's supporting cast, as it did to Randy Moss, then you might have grounds for swinging a deal. Otherwise, keep the faith with your top players and hold onto them for at least a few more weeks.

2. Pay attention to late-season schedules: This is especially important when making trades at this part of the season. Before you make a deal, look at who you're getting and who their opponents are during the final three weeks of the fantasy season. If the deal is almost even, but one player has a considerably harder fantasy playoff schedule, you would want to lean in his direction.

3. Know the needs of your fellow owners: This is key to swinging the right deal at the right time. If you know another team in your league is hurting at a particular position, make them an offer they can't refuse because of their predicament. Deals like this can bail out owners who are fighting for a few immediate wins, while building depth for you that will pay off late in the season.

4. Be a late-season meteorologist: Keep a close eye on how late-season games will be affected by adverse weather, especially in regards to your quarterbacks and receivers. Cold and/or rainy weather will likely make a huge difference in which player you start in a given week, and it can make the difference between a playoff victory and an early exit.

5. Have fun: This is a game within a game, and is meant to be enjoyed. Winning makes it easier, but don't let your fantasy matchups dictate your level of enjoyment on an NFL weekend. After the lineups are set and the last-minute injury reports are in, kick back and take in your favorite games with the appropriate culinary accompaniments.

WAIVER-WIRE WONDERS

Mewelde Moore, RB, Steelers – With Rashard Mendenhall gone for the year and Willie Parker nursing an injury, Moore will get the majority of the touches, even with the team's recent signing of Najeh Davenport. Moore isn't an ideal runner between the tackles, but his ability to make plays with his speed and agility in space make him a threat when the ball is in his hands. Grab him now, even if he goes on your bench, as he could be a valuable stop-gap solution to cover bye weeks.

Steve Smith, WR, Giants – A prime candidate for a bye-week fill-in, Smith hauled in seven passes for 60 yards in Week 3, and he will be given every opportunity to put up big numbers while Plaxico Burress serves his one-game suspension. If you need a receiver for a week, snag Smith and plug him in.

WEEK 4 GAME BALLS

Brett Favre, QB, Jets – It's not often anymore that Favre accomplishes something he hasn't done before. Last week, however, Favre lit up the Cardinals with six touchdown passes, going 24-for-34 for 289 yards. Don't count on this happening again, but it's more than encouraging to see Favre slinging the ball with such success.

Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs – Talk about a wake-up call. Johnson exploded for 198 yards on 28 carries in a huge win against Denver, finding the end zone twice on the ground. His five receptions were also helpful to some, even if they were for zero yards.

Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets – The biggest benefactor of Favre's aerial masterpiece, Coles snagged eight passes 105 yards and three scores. This is not something fantasy owners should get used to, and many owners likely had Coles on the bench, especially in smaller leagues.

Lance Moore, WR, Saints – Moore had seven receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns as the Saints passing attack continued its dominance last week. Word is that Moore will remain a starter after Marques Colston returns from injury, sending his value through the roof.

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