Week 7: Pickups of the Week
QB Vince Young, ---
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The pickings are slim this week for those of you in search of quarterback help. Unless you play in a shallow league, the chances of finding a QB on the waiver wire who can help your team this weekend are not good. Keeping that in mind, it's not too early to start thinking about week 8. With the Titans now 0-6 and Jeff Fisher in the hot seat, we've almost certainly seen the last of Kerry Collins... Good riddance. Vince Young is an enigma, there's no doubt about that. But he's shown in the past that when he's playing with some confidence and a clear head, he can be a huge fantasy asset. Now is the time to stash him and see if he doesn't end up taking over for Collins following the team's week 7 bye.
RB Mike Bell, ---
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Mike Bell is back and once again cutting into the fantasy value of Pierre Thomas. As they clearly showed playing against the league's top-rated defense last week, New Orleans has plenty of weapons and each one can do damage against even the toughest of opponents. New Orleans may be a pass first team, but someone has to carry the rock for the team's many goal line opportunities and Bell has the frame and experience to get it done. The Saints have already had their bye week, so Bell has good stash-on-the-bench value going forward. You can plug him into a flex spot with confidence on any given week you find yourself short-handed.
RB Laurence Maroney, ---
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Don't expect a lot of detail (or, reliable detail) out of New England regarding the extent of Sammy Morris' knee injury. Just to be safe, why don't you just go out and pick up Laurence Maroney? With Morris banged up, Maroney once again looked like the hard running, straight ahead back the Patriots thought they were taking with their first pick in the 2006 draft. Maroney has been a big disappointment since last season, but he still has by far the most true talent of any running back on this team. He looked great romping the Titans in the snow and the Patriots would like nothing more than to have a reliable runner who can wear teams out during the winter months. Let's hope Sunday's effort gives Maroney the confidence to step up in a primary role on this already high-powered offense.
WR Josh Cribbs, ---
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His quarterback rating aside, Josh Cribbs has shown he's a playmaker. The team has little alternative but to keep giving him looks and touches in every facet of the offense and on special teams. With Braylon Edwards gone, Chansi Stuckey dropping balls and Mohamed Massaquoi suddenly facing double-teams, Cribbs should start getting more involved in the passing game. He's got big game speed and he's shown it with eight returns for touchdowns already in his brief career. In fantasy leagues that count return stats, Josh Cribbs is already a cherished commodity.
WR Lance Moore, ---
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After what Drew Brees did to the New York Giants on Sunday, you've got to consider all of his receivers as viable fantasy plays. Lance Moore had been down and out with injuries, but got back in a big way last week with a 6 catch, 78 yard, one touchdown line. A little more Moore will mean a little less Henderson now, but there's enough fantasy gold in New Orleans to go around. Look for another productive afternoon from Moore playing in the warm weather against a middling Miami secondary on Sunday.
