Ed Barkowitz: Give Moss a chance to get used to Favre, Vikings
JUST WHEN Brett Favre's slow start was enough to make you burn your Wrangler Jeans collection, the Vikings pull the switch on one of the most significant in-season trades in recent memory.
JUST WHEN
Brett Favre's
slow start was enough to make you burn your Wrangler Jeans collection, the Vikings pull the switch on one of the most significant in-season trades in recent memory.
For the Patriots, who sent Randy Moss to Minnesota to become Favre's biggest weapon, it was all about Moss' expiring contract. For the rest of us, it's all about the potential numbers.
Traded players usually need time to acclimate to their new teams to avoid miscues that mean the difference between first downs and interceptions.
So Moss owners might want to check out a few recent examples of wide receivers changing teams in midseason before posting something truly regrettable on a message board. Remember, the Internet has no eraser:
* The Dolphins dealt Chris Chambers in 2007 to San Diego, where, in 10 games, he scored four touchdowns and averaged 3.5 catches for 55.5 yards for the rest of that season. (The second-rounder the Dolphins got for Chambers turned out to be current starting quarterback Chad Henne.)
* Fantasy fans didn't see it as Roy Williams being traded to Dallas in 2008. They saw it as his being rescued from Detroit. Things didn't quite pan out that way, and Williams was a major bust. He had 19 catches in 198 yards and one touchdown, and put the "cow" in "Cowboys."
* Chambers again switched teams in 2009 following his midseason release and signing by the Chiefs. He had two 100-yard efforts and four touchdowns in nine games, but still mixed in too many mediocre games to become a fantasy starter.
* Braylon Edwards played 12 games with the Jets after a 2009 trade from Cleveland and caught four touchdowns and hit 100 yards only once.
Meanwhile, since Favre runs the Vikings offense, Moss' transition shouldn't be too difficult. It can't get much easier than, "Hey Randy, go deep."
Moss owners get one more benefit. Because he was acquired after Minnesota's bye, he has the chance to play 17 games this year, including Week 8 back at New England.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and wide receiver Percy Harvin, providing he can stay off the injury report, might be the biggest beneficiaries to Moss' arrival. Down the line, Moss could snatch some of Visanthe Shiancoe's red-zone targets.
In New England, if rookie Brandon Tate can transition from kickoff-return ace to a regular spot in the offense, the Pats might be OK. If not, slot receiver Wes Welker will have less room to work. Tate should be picked up and stashed.
POSITION WATCH
Quarterbacks: Kyle Orton, of Denver, has 1,419 passing yards through 4 weeks, second only to Kurt Warner's 1,557 in 2000. Orton had 476 yard in Week 3, which is the total number the Ravens, Sunday's opponent, has given up all season. Let's see what the kid has . . . How many fantasy players who take team quarterbacks had Max Hall penciled in as the Cardinals' starter for Week 5? Hall, an undrafted free agent out of BYU, was the best quarterback in camp, but there was too much money (Matt Leinart) and too much experience (Derek Anderson) in front of him to make him the Opening Day starter. The kid has an average arm, but is smart and old (25) for a rook.
Running backs: Marshawn Lynch's trade to Seattle makes Fred Jackson the Buffalo running back to have. (Actually, has there really been a Buffalo running back to have since Willis McGahee? ) Relying on Jackson is dicey with C.J. Spiller looming. Washington's Ryan Torain is the better gamble . . . Tampa Bay will phase out Cadillac Williams, which means more work for Earnest Graham and LeGarrett Blount, whom I just took a flier on in my 10-team league.
Wide receivers: It's tempting to bring Jets receiver Santonio Holmes off the bench as a No. 2, but expectations should be moderate. The Vikings, New York's opponent on Monday, have given up only three touchdown passes in their three games. Use Holmes as a No. 3 . . . The obligatory Andre Johnson note of the week finds the Texans star more likely to play Sunday against a Giants team ranked second against the pass thus far. *
WEEKLY RANKINGS (Based on projected production for Week 5)
QUARTERBACKS
1. Peyton Manning, Colts, vs. Chiefs
2. Drew Brees, Saints, at Cardinals
3. Matt Ryan, Falcons, at Browns
4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers, at Redskins
5. Matt Schaub, Texans, vs. Giants
6. Tony Romo, Cowboys, vs. Titans
7. Philip Rivers, Chargers, at Raiders
8. Brett Favre, Vikings, at Jets
9. Mark Sanchez, Jets, vs. Vikings
10. Joe Flacco, Ravens, vs. Broncos
11. Eli Manning, Giants, at Texans
12. Sam Bradford, Rams, at Detroit
13. Kyle Orton, Broncos, at Ravens
14. Carson Palmer, Bengals, vs. Bucs
15. Matt Cassel, Chiefs, at Colts
RUNNING BACKS
1. Chris Johnson, Titans, at Cowboys
2. Frank Gore, 49ers, vs. Eagles
3. M. Jones-Drew, Jaguars, at Bills
4. Adrian Peterson, Vikings, at Jets
5. Steven Jackson, Rams, at Lions
6. Arian Foster, Texans, vs. Giants
7. R. Mathews, Chargers, at Raiders
8. A. Bradshaw, Giants+, at Texans
9. Peyton Hillis, Browns, vs. Falcons
10. Matt Forte, Bears, at Panthers
11. Cedric Benson, Bengals, vs. Bucs
12. Michael Turner, Falcons, at Browns
13. D. Williams, Panthers, vs. Bears
14. Ray Rice, Ravens+, vs. Broncos
15. Jahvid Best, Lions+, vs. Rams
16. Joseph Addai, Colts, vs. Chiefs
17. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs, at Colts
18. LaDainian Tomlinson, vs. Vikings
19. Beanie Wells, Cardinals, vs. Saints
20. Ryan Torain, Redskins, vs. Packers
21. Pierre Thomas, Saints+, at Cardinals
22. Thomas Jones, Chiefs, at Colts
23. Michael Bush, Raiders, vs. Chargers
24. Marion Barber, Cowboys, vs. Titans
25. Fred Jackson, Bills, vs. Jaguars
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Miles Austin, Cowboys, vs. Titans
2. Reggie Wayne, Colts, vs. Chiefs
3. Calvin Johnson, Lions, vs. Rams
4. Roddy White, Falcons, at Browns
5. Randy Moss, Vikings, at Jets
6. Hakeem Nicks, Giants, at Texans
7. Terrell Owens, Bengals, vs. Bucs
8. L. Fitzgerald, Cardinals, vs. Saints
9. Mark Clayton, Rams, at Lions
10. Brandon Lloyd, Broncos, at Ravens
11. DeSean Jackson, Eagles, at 49ers
12. Anquan Boldin, Ravens, vs. Broncos
13. Greg Jennings, Packers, at Redskins
14. Pierre Garcon, Colts+, vs. Chiefs
15. M. Colston, Saints, at Cardinals
16. Donald Driver, Packers, at Redskins
17. Santana Moss, Redskins, vs. Packers
18. Jacoby Jones, Texans, vs. Giants
19. Braylon Edwards, Jets, vs. Vikings
20. C. Ochocinco, Bengals, vs. Bucs
21. Percy Harvin, Vikings, at Jets
22. Dez Bryant, Cowboys, vs. Titans
23. M. Williams, Bucs, at Bengals
24. Andre Johnson, Texans+, vs. Giants
25. Austin Collie, Colts+, vs. Chiefs
TIGHT ENDS
1. Dallas Clark, Colts, vs. Chiefs
2. Antonio Gates, Chargers, at Raiders
3. Dustin Keller, Jets, vs. Vikings
4. Vernon Davis, 49ers, vs. Eagles
5. Zach Miller, Raiders, vs. Chargers
6. Chris Cooley, Redskins, vs. Packers
7. J. Finley, Packers, at Redskins
8. Jason Witten, Cowboys, vs. Titans
9. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons, at Browns
10. Brent Celek, Eagles, at 49ers
+ Injury concerns.
Byes: Dolphins, Patriots, Seahawks, Steelers
Ed Barkowitz, who last wore Wranglers with his maroon Members Only jacket, has been writing about fantasy football for the Daily News since 2001. Send e-mail to fantasyfootball@phillynews.com.