New Car Smell

Those of us that have purchased a brand new vehicle, at some point in time have experienced the “new car smell”. The flavor is not something that can be duplicated in the fragrance of a blue cardboard Christmas tree because the scent is more than what occurs in your nose. The “new car smell” is more of a memory, than a perfume. The memory is reminiscent of the time you were King for a day. You just spent five figures and your current transportation smells of success.

It is understandable that in dynasty fantasy football, many owners become obsessed with young, talented, inexperienced players, much like we do with our new cars. Ask yourself “Why wouldn’t I like the tall, fast, muscular, yet unpolished, wide receiver from that big school I like?” Everyone else does, and you should follow suit. These players are inevitably the future of the game we love and, the fact is, you really should grade those talented, budding youngsters as such. There is no disputing the compatibility between youthful, skilled players and your dynasty fantasy roster.

I’ve noticed a trend in the world of dynasty fantasy football today. Many owners will select a rookie player that is considered a project.  Often times these players are treated as such, even by their own NFL team. Now, there is no harm in taking on a project, many great fantasy players did not start for their respective teams for a year or more. The unsound portion of taking on “project players” is abandoning them too soon. If you’re going to be the owner that spends a high draft pick on a player whom is unlikely to see much of the field in their rookie year, don’t be upset when that exact scenario comes to fruition. You wouldn’t want to sell your vehicle for half price, just because the “new car smell” wore off.

Perhaps, more important to your overall scheme of success, your strategy should be to buy low on these “project” players. Many owners may have grown impatient waiting for their first round draft pick to become the next Jamaal Charles, Aaron Rodgers, or Demaryius Thomas. The fact is, not even these superstar caliber players were considered as such in their first seasons with their respective teams. If you drafted Rodgers highly in your dynasty rookie draft, you appeared about as foolish as Christopher Columbus or Galileo initially did. We now know that the earth is a spherical shape, that it has no bearing on the center of the universe and that Rodgers ended up being a decent quarterback. All of these ideas were considered ludicrous during their infant years.

You should take some time to recall the raw talent of players like Justin Hunter. The Hunter owner, in your league, probably drafted him in the first round of your rookie draft. That same owner is probably frustrated that the “new car smell” has faded from his Hunter selection. He has only has five receptions through the first nine weeks. Be sure to remind your league mate of that fact. While your opponent thinks about his wasted draft pick, you’ll be thinking about how Hunter drew comparisons to A.J. Green during the draft process. Hunter has the size, speed, hands combination that explains why the sky is the limit for this youngster. Don’t be afraid of the crowded receiving corps in Tennessee. Kenny Britt will absolutely be wearing a different NFL uniform in 2014, and Nate Washington likely will be as well. Hunter and Kendall Wright will be a couple of great targets for Jake Locker for many years. Additionally, look into the price of Wright. He has top ten ability, and currently is ranked as my WR17.

In your league, the owner of Christine Michael might be wondering why they were stupid enough to spend a first round rookie selection on him. Marshawn Lynch is one of the best running backs in the league, and Robert Turbin is no slouch in his own right. Be sure to remind that owner of their blunder. All the while, be sure to remember that when the Seattle Seahawks decided to spend a 2013 second round NFL draft pick on Michael, they viewed him as a project player. In July, I listed Michael as the third best running back in the league that wasn’t already considered the starter for their respective team (Editors Note: One Mans Trash). Lynch has an amazingly high cap hit in 2014, which is not guaranteed. Lynch also is facing DUI charges, and will likely be facing some sort of suspension early next year. It would not be out of the realm of possibilities that Lynch ends up on another team in 2014. Between Michael and Turbin, the talent level isn’t even close. Michael is the better option, and could very well end up being the starter next year.

Even Cordarelle Patterson was considered a “project player” coming out of college, and has been treated as such by the Minnesota Vikings. Patterson is having a hard time grasping the playbook right now, but don’t let that worry you. Veteran wide receiver, Greg Jennings, isn’t doing such a great job of grasping the offense either. Instead of thinking both of these players are busts, remember that this team will likely look very different in 2014. A new coaching staff, and new quarterback, could make Patterson a very intriguing option going forward.

None of these players mentioned should be considered cornerstones of your fantasy franchise just yet. The fact that they might come with such low price tags should intrigue you, though. If you’re a rebuilding team, not contending this year, or simply have some expendable veterans, take a look at these guys. Gauge the interest, and willingness, of the owners to divorce their once heralded players. Even though your opponents have only driven their new car off of the lot, they might be willing to sell it to you for half price. Remember, Galileo was shunned by his peers when he suggested that the earth was not the center of the universe. You may be trading for the next Aaron Rodgers type player at their respective position. Let time be the judge of your trade.

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