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August 14, 2009

Preseason battles have fantasy implications

By Jim Rueda

The first full weekend of preseason NFL football is underway and that means its time for fantasy football players to start doing their homework. Here’s a look at some of the key preseason battles to keep your eyes on that could have significant fantasy implications.

Running backs
Tim Hightower vs. Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells in Arizona: Wells will win the battle in the long run but Hightower has been looking good in training camp and may be able to fend off the rookie for a large chunk of the season. Wells is nursing a sprained ankle which could delay his arrival.

Derrick Ward vs. Earnest Graham in Tampa Bay: Ward was signed as a free agent from the New York Giants and probably has the edge on the starting job. Graham may be slightly better suited to be the goal line guy so watch how the Bucs are using the duo for the rest of the month.

Honorable Mention: Two other teams — Baltimore and New England — also have running back battles in camp, but they are likely to use the committee approach which gives just about all of them minimal value.

Willis McGahee, LeRon McLain and Ray Rice are vying for playing time with the Ravens while Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney are doing the same with the Patriots.

Wide receivers
Rashied Davis vs. Earl Bennett in Chicago: The winner will likely start opposite Devin Hester in the team’s new-look offense that features quarterback Jay Cutler. If Cutler looks productive in the preseason, then it stands to reason the Davis-Bennett winner will have value, too.

David Patten vs. Mohammed Massaquoi vs. Brian Robiskie in Cleveland: The winner gets to start opposite Braylon Edwards. Like Chicago, the value of the wideouts come draft day will be determined by how well the team’s quarterback play is during the preseason.

Domenik Hixon vs. Steve Smith vs. Hakeem Nicks vs. Sinorice Moss in New York (Giants): Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer are gone. That could open the door for two of these guys to start and both should have value with Eli Manning behind center.

Quarterbacks
Alex Smith vs. Shaun Hill in San Francisco: The winner of this QB derby will be considered, at best, a back-up fantasy quarterback. Still, with Frank Gore running the ball and Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan catching passes, there’s some decent potential at the QB spot.

Brady Quinn vs. Derek Anderson in Cleveland: Whoever emerges as the starter should be a low-end No. 1 but more likely a No. 2 fantasy quarterback.

Sage Rosenfels vs. Tarvaris Jackson in Minnesota: Fantasy owners will only want the winner as a back-up. All Day Adrian Peterson will keep Rosenfels or Jackson from putting up quality fantasy numbers consistently.



Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. His fantasy forum column was run every Tuesday during the football season beginning Aug. 18. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@mankato freepress.com

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