The Observer, November 16, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 11
Fantasy Tips: Week 11
Filled with football and food, the best Thursday of the year is just around the corner. Thanksgiving isn't just a break in school before the final stretch before finals. It is the time to eat great home cooking, get together a little touch game in the backyard, and then sit around and watch TV all day as a family. Don't forget to set your teams early and these tips should help you win over the holiday.
QB
Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears – Rex is just gross, man. Zing. Coming in after Brian Greise's shoulder injury this past week, Grossman found himself leading the Bears back from a fourth quarter deficit to win 17-6. Though his big pass to Bernard Berrian came at an opportune time in the game, Rex's performance was not impressive. The reasons for Bears coach Lovie Smith to bench Rex are still there and probably have not been solved over the past couple weeks over the bench. Though the word on the street is that the Bears might be putting their offense on the arm of Rex once again because of their non-existant running game, I have my money on Grossman not succeeding as the Bears' QB. WATCH OUT.
Brodie Croyle, Kansas City Chiefs – The short reign of Damon Huard in K.C. is over. They will now see what they have in Brodie Croyle, a third year QB out of Alabama who has thrown only 54 passes in the league so far. The Chiefs chose Huard over seasoned veteran Trent Green at the end of last season, and the decision has not worked out well. Though this move makes it seem as though the Chiefs are marking this season down as a loss and looking ahead to the future, they are still very much in the playoff hunt. With a 4-5 record, they are only one game behind the Chargers, who they beat earlier this season. It will be hard for Croyle to succeed due to the lack of weapons around him, but he is a better option for the Chiefs than Huard. Like most experiments, Croyle has a chance to be great as well as a bust. PICK UP.
RB
Chester Taylor, Minnesota Vikings – With the emergence of Adrian Peterson earlier this year, Chester Taylor was dropped by most fantasy owners due to the lack of touches. Now that A. Pete is injured with a partially torn ligament in his knee, Chester Taylor is going to spring to the top of the Vikings depth chart. Taylor's early decrease in playing time was not due to his inability to move the ball, but the insane ability of Peterson. Averaging five yards a carry, I expect Taylor to have very good success especially against the Raiders this week. But with the return of Peterson still up in the air, the question for fantasy owners is if he is worth dropping a player for an undetermined amount of starting time for Taylor. I believe he is. (P.S. I told you so.) PICK UP.
