DLF’s Weekly Impact Events

Ryan McDowell Posted On November 15, 2013

jarrett_boykin

The 2013 fantasy football season is nearing an end. As you march towards the playoffs, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of the news. You have to pay close attention to everything to stay on top of your dynasty league. For most of us, we do well to steal some time away from our families and jobs to watch the games on Sunday. It becomes difficult to monitor the daily happenings around the league and even more demanding to process how that news affects your dynasty team. That’s why we’re here! Each week there are many news items that are important and helpful in the day-to-day managing of your fantasy team, yet have little affect on the dynasty value of players. Because of this, I will not be mentioning those here.  Here is a quick look at the events of the past week and how they impact the players on your team.

Arian Foster, RB HOU

The Houston Texans placed running back Arian Foster on the injured reserve list and he will require back surgery. Foster had also been dealing with recurring hamstring injuries before the news of his back trouble was revealed. This will be a situation to watch for the remainder of the season and into the off-season. Ben Tate, who is a free agent following the season, will finish out as the starter and if he plays well, its conceivable that the Texans could choose Tate over Foster. It’s already clear they’ll be moving on from former starting quarterback Matt Schaub, so maybe the team chooses to rebuild and go with the younger back. Foster’s value is plummeting thanks to his age and those consistent injuries that have finally caught up to the former All-Pro.

David Wilson, RB NYG

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Giants running back David Wilson has been told by doctors that if he continues to play football, he is at risk for further damage to his injured neck. Despite the warning, Wilson is expected to return to the field next season, but the report is clearly very serious for Wilson and the Giants, and also has to be considered by dynasty owners when assessing Wilson’s value. After being one of the hottest commodities of last off-season, Wilson was a total bust before suffering the neck injury that eventually landed him on the injured reserve. If you own Wilson, you’re likely stuck with him, as he essentially has no dynasty value at this point. Andre Brown has returned from his own injury and has a chance to stake his claim on the starting job for 2014 if he can stay healthy.

Tavon Austin, WR STL

It came much later than many expected, but Rams rookie wide receiver Tavon Austin had his breakout game last week, totaling 314 all-purpose yards, one of the highest single game totals in NFL history. Among the 314 yards was a 98-yard punt return for a touchdown and two more receiving scores. It’s validation for the Austin fans, but Austin needs to be more consistently used in the Rams’ offense before his dynasty value can really be impacted.

Jarrett Boykin, WR GB

Packers wide receiver Jarrett Boykin had another nice game last week, hauling in eight balls for 112 yards. Boykin has been a terrific fill-in player with injuries to James Jones and Randall Cobb to the point that he is very likely earning a more significant role for the 2014 season, when Jones is rumored to be leaving town via free agency. Boykin is a player that can be had at an inexpensive cost right now even after a solid performance and it has been proven time and again that the Packers offense can support multiple fantasy receivers.

Jake Locker, QB TEN

Titans quarterback Jake Locker suffered a Lisfranc injury and will be lost for the season. Locker had already missed a pair for games this season with a hip injury and will miss the final seven as well. Locker also missed five games last season and the team will now face the huge decision this off-season regarding the future of their quarterback position. With a deep rookie class, it will be tempting to draft a new quarterback and move on from Locker. Obviously, Locker’s dynasty value, which was already in limbo, takes a huge hit. He is barely worth a roster spot at this point.

Mike James, RB TB

Tampa Bay rookie running back Mike James, who had played so well in Doug Martin’s place, suffered a broken ankle last week and will miss the remainder of the season. James still was able to prove himself a reliable backup and, as a result, his dynasty value is on the rise. Even though he won’t see the field for the rest of the year, he is worth rostering in deeper leagues, especially for Martin owners. If the James owner panicked and dropped James, scoop him off the wire and hang onto him for 2014. The Buccaneers will now turn to a committee of Brian Leonard and Bobby Rainey. While both could be decent flex options down the stretch, neither player has much dynasty value.

Follow @RyanMc23 on Twitter

[ad3]

Author
Recent Posts

Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.