After being saddled with a somewhat-lowly team, I decided to hit the free agent and trade market to improve the squad.
I reviewed my roster and realized that a number of players on the team weren’t worthy of holding a spot, so I released them outright.
Just like that, QB Jason Campbell, RB Joseph Addai and K Nick Novak were off my roster, leaving me three spots to play with.
Realizing that I only needed one kicker for now (I’d pick up a replacement during Dan Bailey’s bye week), I made the decision to use all three of my newly-acquired spots on skill position guys.
I still needed a backup quarterback after dropping Campbell. Scouring the free agent market, I found signal callers like Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson, among others.
I ended up going for old, reliable Matt Hasselbeck, who figures to be the opening day starter in Tennessee. The fact remains that Jake Locker doesn’t give the Titans as good of a chance to make the playoffs.
Hasselbeck may not be a fantasy star, but he’s good in a pinch and puts up solid numbers as a QB2. I have no problem with this signal caller.
With that, I looked over the free agents and realized that there was a lot more upside at receiver than running back. I decided to grab two receivers and worry about grabbing running backs in trades.
The first of my two receiver pick-ups was Kevin Walter. With a healthy Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson (along with Jacoby Jones gone), Walter could quietly put up big numbers in 2012.
I like what this Texan has to offer and he figures to be the No. 2 option in a wide open Houston passing attack.
The other wide receiver may be a bit of a surprise to some. Most football fans haven’t heard of Danny Coale, the third wide receiver on the Cowboys, but he is an early favorite to provide bench depth for me this year.
Coale is a little-known slot receiver from Virginia Tech whom the Cowboys drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. He’s drawn comparisons to Wes Welker for the former’s work out of the slot.
After watching Laurent Robinson rack up yards and touchdowns as the third receiver in the Cowboy offense, I see no reason that Coale doesn’t provide a solid option for Tony Romo in 2012.
Coale’s been a bit banged up in training camp, so he doesn’t look like much of a star right now, but he’s a deep sleeper and looks to make waves this year.
As for trading players, I wasn’t able to come to terms with any of the other managers in the league.
One trade opportunity, however, was very intriguing. Another manager offered me Randy Moss straight up for DeSean Jackson. A few times, I tried to get more out of him, but he wouldn’t budge on a Moss-for-Jackson deal. I ended up declining, figuring that a lot more factors are in Jackson’s favor than Moss’ for 2012.
Jackson is happy with his new contract and has a better quarterback throwing him the ball. Past that, Jackson’s offense is more conducive to production from the receiver position and I look for this Eagle wideout to outperform Moss.
On the other hand, Moss has double-digit touchdown potential and I love touchdowns in fantasy football.
I decided it best for the team to decline the offer, but I may revisit it later. We’ll see.
Though somewhat unrelated, I read Adrian Peterson’s bold statements about his fantasy value for 2012 and I’m beginning to have less and less of a problem with the running back’s presence on my roster.
Just a final note, as I’m writing this, someone dropped Brandon Jacobs. I’ll wait for the running back to clear waivers and then I may pick him up.
QB Cam Newton QB Matt Hasselbeck RB Adrian Peterson RB Jonathan Stewart RB Michael Bush WR Miles Austin WR Demaryius Thomas WR DeSean Jackson WR Davone Bess WR Kevin Walter WR Danny Coale TE Owen Daniels TE Dallas Clark K Dan Bailey DEF Pittsburgh DEF New England