Fantasizing about handcuffs

THERE IS A scene in the old TV show "M*A*S*H" where Charles Winchester, the rich snob from Boston, chuckles because some farmers in the United States were wiped out by a tornado or something. Winchester owned stock in the farmers' direct competitors and the disaster resulted in a windfall for the heartless doctor. "They have their interests," he sneered. "I have mine."

When star players get suspended or go on injured reserve or whatever, there is an opportunity for fantasy leaguers to pounce on the misfortune - often by grabbing that player's direct backup. It's known as handcuffing in the fantasy world; you tether a star to his replacement in hopes of getting similar production. It's most popular in football, but also goes for other sports.

Ever heard of a baseball player named Johnny Lindell? He had the best season of his modest 12-year career in 1944 when he hit .300 and drove in 103 runs as the Yankees centerfielder. Lindell was playing only because Joe DiMaggio enlisted to fight in World War II. Now there's a handcuff with honor.

This has been one of the most unfortunate months in NFL history and the ugliness has seeped into fantasy leagues.

Ray Rice gets released, Bernard Pierce's stock goes up. Wes Welker gets caught using PEDs, Emmanuel Sanders becomes popular. Adrian Peterson gets banished by the Vikings, does anyone have Matt Asiata? There's such a vacuum at the running back position, there's even been interest in Jerick McKinnon, who is Asiata's backup.

Now why would any fantasy leaguer consider adding McKinnon, a 5-9 rookie out of Georgia Southern who has three career carries? Because Asiata is marginal, McKinnon has potential and a smart fantasy player is always looking for an edge, even amid the troubling accusations swirling around Peterson. It's a reasonable criticism of fantasy sports, but one that must be endured.

The pros have their interests. We have ours.

It's almost impossible to bench Peyton Manning, who seemingly can throw three touchdowns in his sleep, but it has to be considered this week with the Broncos playing at Seattle.

CenturyLink Field is a graveyard for quarterbacks. In the last 2 years, the only opposing quarterback to throw for more than one touchdown in a game was Tampa Bay's Mike Glennon, who had two. Mike Glennon? Is he still in the league? Drew Brees was held to one scoring pass - twice. Colin Kaepernick had one TD pass and five picks in two appearances. Counting postseason, quarterbacks are averaging 178 yards passing in the 13 games, with nine total touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

Manning is not been one of those beleaguered QBs . . . yet. He had 280 yards, one TD, two picks in last year's disastrous Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks was in North Jersey.

Meanwhile, Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman was a bit angry after being called overrated by the Chargers, who coincidentally (yeah, right) are division rivals of the Broncos.

Play Broncos with obvious caution this week.

Remember when that neck injury cost Peyton Manning the 2011 season and threatened to end his career?

Since then, in 28 games, Manning has 98 touchdown passes. Doug Williams and Jim McMahon, who each won Super Bowls, had exactly 100 in their careers. Manning needs three touchdown passes for 500 and should eclipse Brett Favre's record of 508 before November.

There was a thought that Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles would be out a month or so with a high ankle sprain. He was a limited participant at practice yesterday but his status is uncertain for Sunday's game at Miami . . . Jets WR Eric Decker is dealing with the same injured right hamstring he had in training camp . . . Though New Orleans seemingly will never have a No. 1 RB, the broken hand suffered by Pierre Thomas should result in more time for Khiry Robinson, a second-year pro out of West Texas A&M who should be owned in all PPR leagues . . . Those in deep leagues also ought to consider Stepfan Taylor, who was elevated to backing up Cardinals RB Andre Ellington in the wake of Jonathan Dwyer's troubles. Running backs are dropping like flies and Ellington already is dealing with a sore foot . . . The stock is rising for Cincinnati wide receiver Mohamad Sanu, in light of A.J. Green's annoying turf toe. Last week, Sanu became the first player since New England's David Patten in 2001 with a 75+ yard touchdown catch and a 50-yard completion. Sanu is a borderline WR3 if Green plays. A decent WR3 if he doesn't.

The most popular (and unpopular) players on the waiver wire this week, according to ESPN.com:

Most Added

1. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers

2. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Colts

3. Matt Asiata, RB, Vikings

4. James Jones, WR, Raiders

5. Knile Davis, RB, Chiefs

Most dropped

1. Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens

2. Allen Hurns, WR, Jaguars

3. Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals

4. Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints

5. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Panthers

QUARTERBACKS

1. Drew Brees, Saints vs. Min

2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers @Det

3. Andrew Luck, Colts @Jax

4. Matthew Stafford, Lions vs. GB

5. Peyton Manning, Broncos @Sea

6. Matt Ryan, Falcons vs. TB

7. Cam Newton, Panthers vs. Pit

8. Jay Cutler, Bears @NYJ

9. Tom Brady, Patriots vs. Oak

10. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers @Car

11. Nick Foles, Eagles vs. Was

12. Philip Rivers, Chargers @Buf

RUNNING BACKS (Based on point-per-reception scoring)

1. LeSean McCoy, Eagles vs. Was

2. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys @STL

3. Matt Forte, Bears @NYJ

4. i-Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks vs. Den.

5. Eddie Lacy, Packers @Det

6. i-Arian Foster, Texans @NYG

7. Le'Veon Bell, Steelers @Car

8. Knile Davis, Chiefs @Mia

9. Giovani Bernard, Bengals vs. Ten.

10. Frank Gore, 49ers @Az

11. Terrance West, Browns vs. Bal

12. i-Andre Ellington, Cardinals vs. SF

13. Montee Ball, Broncos at Sea.

14. Darren Sproles, Eagles vs. Was

15. C.J. Spiller, Bills vs. SD

16. Alfred Morris, Redskins at Phi

17. Rashad Jennings, Giants vs. Hou

18. Joique Bell, Lions vs. GB

19. Zac Stacy, Rams vs. Dal

20. Khiry Robinson, Saints vs. Min

21. Bernard Pierce, Ravens @Cle

22. Doug Martin, Buccaneers @Atl

23. Matt Asiata, Vikings @NO

WIDE RECEIVERS (Based on point-per-reception scoring)

1. Calvin Johnson, Lions vs. GB

2. Dez Bryant, Cowboys @STL

3. i-Brandon Marshall, Bears @NYJ

4. i-Julio Jones, Falcons vs. TB

5. Jordy Nelson, Packers @Det

6. Antonio Brown, Steelers @Car

7. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos @Sea

8. i-A.J. Green, Bengals vs. Ten

9. Randall Cobb, Packers @Det

10. i-Roddy White, Falcons vs. TB

11. Keenan Allen, Chargers @Buf

12. Reggie Wayne, Colts @Jax

13. i-Andre Johnson, Texans @NYG

14. Julian Edelman, Patriots vs. Oak

15. i-Michael Crabtree, 49ers @Az

16. Michael Floyd, Cardinals vs. SF

17. i-Alshon Jeffery, Bears @NYJ

18. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles vs. Was

19. Percy Harvin, Seahawks vs. Den

20. i-DeSean Jackson, Redskins @Phi

21. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers @Atl

22. Pierre Garcon, Redskins @Phi

23. Mike Wallace, Dolphins vs. KC

TIGHT ENDS

1. Jimmy Graham, Saints vs. Min

2. Julius Thomas, Broncos @Sea

3. i-Rob Gronkowski, Patriots vs. Oak

4. i-Jordan Cameron, Browns vs. Bal

5. Zach Ertz, Eagles vs. Was

6. Greg Olsen, Panthers vs. Pit

7. Martellus Bennett, Bears @NYJ

8. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings @NO

9. Jason Witten, Cowboys @STL

10. Antonio Gates, Chargers @Buf

11. Dennis Pitta, Ravens @Cle

12. Charles Clay, Dolphins vs. KC

i: Dealing with injury.