The PYSE: Buy/Sell advice for Week 9

November 3rd, 2009
Feel free to email me your trade scenarios, I'm happy to respond.
Sell High
Aaron Rodgers – Well… you are probably too late. I featured him here in Week 5, and he has continued to produce, but he is now nursing a sprained ankle on one stem and a sprained toe on the other. If you think this situation is going to improve, you’re dead wrong. That O-line either sucks or is banged up, take your pick. Time to grab value while you can.
Brett Favre – Also featured here in Week 5, I have much respect for what he’s accomplished, but I just don’t see this keeping up. His shoulder failed him last year, and in the 2007 season, gave out on him during the playoffs. With a bye week upcoming, and matchups vs. the Lions, Seahawks, Bears, Panthers, and the Bears again, I am not seeing the need for his heroics. Flat out, the Vikes will preserve his arm if they can. His value is at an all-time high.
DeAngelo Williams – Check out this brutal schedule… Saints, Falcons, Dolphins, Jets, Tampa, Pats, and then playoff matchups vs. the Vikes and G-men. Jonathan Stewart gets a lot of red-zone carries… too many for D owners.
Steve Slaton – The listing here is assuming he even keeps his job after his 7th fumble. Wait for the newsbreaker that announces he’s keeping his job, and then… with confidence… approach the most naïve owner in your league and settle for a WR2 or solid QB in return. The other thing you can do is trade him to whoever picks up Ryan Moats. Even if this guy keeps his job, he will always be one fumble away from losing it.
Sidney Rice – I listed him here last week, and feel compelled to do so again – as I am also again listing his buddy Brett Favre. Another reason to consider is that it looks like Favre and Berrian are finally on the same page. Too much competition for balls for Rice to finish any higher than he currently is. He’s still a hot name, so flip him now or forever hold your peace (and frustration).
LaDainian Tomlinson - The guy doesn't seem like the same player to me, hasn't for 3 years now. There is someone in your league that still has a chubby for him, and now is the time to unload this guy after a 2 touchdown game. He was only able to grab 56 yards on an Oakland defense that allowed Shonn Greene to go for 144 and Thomas Jones 121 the week before. LT#21 averaged 3.1 yards per carry last week, while Sproles averaged 7.6 - that's 4 yards a carry better... a growing trend. All three of LT's TDs have come against the Raiders. It was nice knowing ya LT.
Buy Low
LeSean McCoy – He’s buy-low relative to his overall ranking for sure. Westy suffered a nasty concussion two weekends ago, and McCoy his since stepped up, especially this past weekend vs. a tough run defense in the NY Giants.
Rashard Mendenhall – I have to list him here again because of the bye week. The hype has died on this kid, and he sits right about 20th overall. The best part? After this week’s contest in Denver, his schedule eases up a ton including matches vs. KC, Oakland, Cleveland, and Green Bay. He also faces the Ravens twice, but they aren’t quite what they once were.
Santonio Holmes – Ben looks too good and Holmes is too talented to finish outside the top-25 in 2009 – where he currently sits. I think Holmes is a prime buy low candidate and if you get creative with package deals, you can make him a throw-in as part of a larger deal you are trying to sneak in under the trading deadline.
Greg Jennings – The only risk associated with Jennings is that Rodgers is an injury waiting to happen. However, Jennings is finally fully healthy after nursing a host of injuries to take him thru the first half of the season. His value is low, despite a nice showing this past Sunday, as he currently sits at 25th overall. He’ll finish closer to the top 10 when all is said and done. Start fishing with his owner.
Roy Williams - His value is SO LOW right now that this is almost a no-brainer. This is another guy that you don’t want to try and get a one-for-one done with. As you float other deals for QBs or RBs, see if you can’t get Roy included in for next to nothing. He sits 50th overall for WRs, and was recently heard bitching about his lack of rapport with Tony Romo. I won’t defend this douche, but I will say that plastic-face Jones gave up A LOT to get him, so it only figures that they will try and integrate this tool better into the offense.
Calvin Johnson – I’m listing 'Tron as a buy-low candidate up until we stop doing this piece (probably Week 12, when most leagues put the brakes on trades for the year). With every week that passes, his value becomes less and less.
Vince Young - I guess it's hard to be too high on someone that may be available off the wire, but the guy is the #1 QB in Tennessee right now. VY has played just one game and basically handed the ball off the whole time, we understand 18 passes with 1 TD doesn't do much for you at the QB spot, but they may open it up a bit as things go on and he gets his feet under him. His running potential is off the charts for a QB; he ran in 7 TDs his rookie year in 2006.
Michael Crabtree - He's on the list of best college WRs ever. He's healthy and better yet "fresh" from sitting out all of the summer and preseason and the first 5 games of the regular season. He also led the team in catches, yards, and targets in his second game as a 49er. Move over Vernon Davis, MC#15 is the #1 on that team now.
Buy High
Tony Romo – He’s playing the best football of his career over the last three matches. His upcoming matchups are fairly juicy (Eagles, Packers, ‘Skins, Raiders, Giants, Chargers). Beware, though, as he has two road matchups in the playoffs (Saints, Skins) and I’m not crazy about those. That said, you have to get to the playoffs to give a shit about the actual matchups. So if you are not dominating your league, and Romo is on a team that is also struggling (and has a good backup), I think Romo can continue his hot streak for the 2nd half of the season.
Chris Johnson – Ohhhh the matchups. Bills, Texans, Colts, Rams, Chargers (fantasy Super Bowl week). That’s enough for me to make offers. It’s probably going to be tough to lift him now, you may want to wait a week after the Niners shut his ass down (I’ll be listing him as a Sit ‘em this week), but I still feel compelled to list him here because you’ll want to start scheming asap for the perfect sting on his owner - it may take a couple weeks to plan.
Marques Colston – Brees rules. ‘Nuff said.

