Fantasy football: Backup player edition
Written by Hannah Ulm, Sep 12, 2011, 0 Comments
Although the first game of the season is just one of many, it can cause you to second-guess those fantasy players you planned to start on Sunday. I’ve always been a big supporter of the “go with your gut” method, but sometimes it’s smart to reevaluate. Thursday’s season opener reminded us of one thing: big name players don’t always make the most impact.
I drafted Darren Sproles the past two years in a bench spot. He became a personal favorite (to the point where I hated Ryan Matthews simply for joining San Diego) and I felt like I betrayed him by not drafting him this year.
But my bench spots were reduced from seven to five and I felt like I just didn’t have the room, despite thinking he’d have more opportunities in New Orleans. Well, if Thursday’s game was any indication, I was right about that. And I hated myself for ignoring that thought during my draft. The minute I saw No. 43 on the field I used my phone to pick up Sproles off the free agency.
I don’t recommend making a split-second player decision the way I did. Fantasy football should be a game played with your head, not your heart. But if you really have faith in a player, don’t ignore that based on stats or a depth chart. I know 100 percent that if I had drafted Sproles he would have been on my bench this week. And he might be next week.
But I feel relieved to have him and on Thursday he showed that he is more than just a returner. On the Saints depth chart Sproles is listed as the third RB. Between rushing and receiving yards (not including returns) he had more yards than the first and second RBs combined on Thursday.
Although it is logical to use the first-string players, assuming they will see the most action, you can’t underestimate the players who have the ability to exceed expectations. If you dig a little deeper, you might have the player who unexpectedly puts up 20 points next week. Or it could be Sproles again, confirming that sometimes it’s OK to play with your heart.
