I know what you did last year but this is 2009

By Bill McTavish Friday, July 31st, 2009 | No Comments

Some people are inexplicably high on some players; I have to admit I’ve fallen in love with players and will over pay in trades or draft them much too early because they helped me win the season before.  It’s a horrible habit but we all do it. I’ll still waste a late draft pick on Laveranues Coles because of a huge fantasy season winning catch he made in 2005. And I’ll still jump up to Travis Henry’s defense if he’s ever bad mouthed with in earshot. I think I may owe him my first-born. I really have to be careful with my dealings while praying to the fantasy football gods but I think he has enough kids to worry about.

Here are my list of players who you should let others grab early, a couple will surprise you but based on last seasons numbers they will take a dip and not give you full value for your selection.

Joseph Addai – The Colts drafted Donald Brown in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. That’s not exactly a vote of confidence. Addai has battle injuries the past couple of seasons. I predict the Colts will go with a two RB system to keep Addai fresh for the playoffs. This is good for the Colts but bad for fantasy owners.

Willis McGahee – He’s already battling injuries before the season has even started now he has to battle young stud Ray Rice for his starting job and Le’Ron (best Frenchification of a boring English name ever) McClain for goal line touchdown runs.  McGahee could be looking for a new team in 2010.

DeAngelo Williams – I love this guy, he score 18 TDs last season while rushing for over 1500 yards. He’s young fast and everything you would want in your number 1 running back except so is his partner in crime Jonathan Stewart. Stewart. Head Coach John Fox has no intention of going with Williams fulltime, so while last years numbers were HUGE, I don’t expect him to repeat them with Stewart taking on a bigger role. If he’s still available late in the first round snatch him up but you’ll have better options with the first five selections of the draft.

Torry Holt – Holt is another player I’m guilty of liking too much. He has been a fantasy stud from 2000 until 2007, never having less than 1188 receiving yards in those 8 seasons. 2008 while saw him drop off dramatically with only 796 yards and 3 TDs. You have to ask yourself, if that’s the result of a playing for a horrible Rams team or because Holt was 32 last season. It was probably a little of both. In Jacksonville he’ll be part of n offense that ranked 20th in 08. Sadly, I don’t see him returning to his past stats.

Terrell Owens – He could be the greatest thing to happen to Buffalo since the no huddle or he could go wide right in an instant. Either way the risks outweigh the reward.

Next time I will examine some late round sleepers.