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Hopefully by now you've guided your fantasy football team to a spot near the top of the league. You may not have clinched a playoff berth quite yet, but you know you're well on your way. So what's the next step you should take to ensure continued success? With many leagues' trade deadlines fast approaching, its time to make some whirlwind deals which will improve your chances of fighting through the playoffs to the championship title. Below I'll discuss some of the unexpected players you should try to add to your team, as well as players who've been great for you all season, but whom you should try to deal away before the playoffs begin. With the new 32-team NFL, there are no longer any playoff byes to deal with, which is a very good thing for fantasy owners. Keep in mind, however, that each league has it's own playoff format, which may take place over weeks 15-16 or 16-17 in a 4-team format, or over weeks 14-16 or 15-17 in a 6/8 team format. Hopefully most league commissioners opted not to choose week 17 as their championship week, because many playoff-bound NFL teams choose to rest their stars to avoid chances of injury; but if your commissioner is a buffoon and did it anyway, I'll try to discuss week 17 a little as well. QUARTERBACK ADD: Brian Griese - Griese has improved dramatically as the year has progressed, showing more confidence in his passes and more confidence in his receivers. The emergence of Clinton Portis has also helped Griese. The Broncos face a very easy schedule for quarterbacks the during the final 4 games of the season, and will likely be in a heated battle for home field advantage during the playoffs. All things considered, Griese will be a hot start for your team. Try to add him now if you can. Jay Fiedler
- Fiedler is expected to return December 1, giving him a week to prepare
for the start of the fantasy playoffs. He
TRADE: Tommy Maddox - Pittsburgh faces 3 of the top 6 pass defenses during weeks 14-16 in Houston, Carolina, and Tampa. Sure, Maddox been amazing to this point, all the more reason he should be able to net you a pretty good pickup in exchange. He may get you to the playoffs, but he won't get you through them. RUNNING BACK ADD: Fred Taylor - Fred is fantasy football's most mysterious player. Maybe that's why I'm drawn to draft him every single year. Or maybe I'm just a sucker. Either way, I can't argue with Taylor's fantasy playoff schedule…Cleveland, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Indianapolis. Three of those defenses are in the bottom 5 in the NFL against the run. Taylor may have frustrated owners all season long with his erratic play, but he'll make them very, very happy during playoff time. Just pray that he stays healthy. Eddie George - As much as I hate to admit this, EG should produce very well for a #2 back during the fantasy playoffs. Its just too bad that those teams who drafted George probably aren't in playoff contention. Facing sucky run defenses such as Indy and New England makes George an attractive player to add for those teams that are in contention, probably for a pretty cheap price, too. TRADE: Priest Holmes - Priest has been the man this year, hands down. You're likely very close to the top of your league if he's on your team. But as hard as it is to believe, now's the time to trade him away…for 2 reasons. First, it's impossible for him to keep up the pace he set for himself in the first half. Despite how good he is right now, he's not better than Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Marshal Faulk were in their fantasy primes. He's already starting to show a little decline. Second, Priest faces the toughest fantasy playoff schedule of anyone, playing the #1, #2, and #6 run defenses during the playoffs. He'll still be good, but you can do better by trading him away. I can't even begin to imagine the talent he could net for your football team in a trade. WIDE RECEIVER ADD: Curtis Conway - The Chargers play Oakland, Buffalo, and Kansas City in weeks 14-16, all 3 of whom rank at the bottom of the league against the pass. Conway is hands down the go-to receiver in San Diego, so expect big things out of him during the playoffs. He should easily out-produce other studs like Joe Horn when it counts the most. Torry Holt - By the time the fantasy playoffs roll around, the Rams should be right in the thick of the real playoff hunt. Mike Martz loves the pass, and by this time Kurt Warner should've re-established his connection with his best receiver. Holt is too good to be this quiet for the entire season. Expect big things from Torry against the easy pass defenses of Kansas City and Arizona. You should still be able to get him relatively cheap at this point.
TRADE: Plaxico Burress, Hines Ward - (See Tommy Maddox) This duo has become the best receiving duo in the NFL this season. However there are much better options during the fantasy playoffs. Their value is extremely high right now…try to swing some deals. TIGHT END ADD: Randy McMichael - Randy will benefit more than anyone from having Fielder's presence back in the huddle. Remember how good these two were together in the beginning of the season? Expect McMichael to pick up where he left off. TRADE: Jeremy Shockey - Shockey has been on of the biggest busts of 2002. If you can still get anything for him via a trade, now's the time. If not, cut him loose because he's not even worth a roster spot anymore. While it may be funny to listen to his girly little tirades about gays and about the Eagles, its not funny to watch how much wasted potential this guy has. KICKER ADD: Olindo Mare, Martin Gramatica, Jay Feely - Everybody who didn't pick Mike Vanderjagt in the 6th round realizes kickers are always a crapshoot. That said, during the winter those kickers who play their final games in domed stadiums have a better chance of performing well than those who'll be outside, especially those playing games in Northern cities. All 3 of these guys will be kicking either in domes or in warm Florida weather during weeks 14-16. TRADE: Mike Hollis - He's been decent thus far, but playing in the wintery conditions of Boston, Buffalo, and Green Bay during the playoffs never helps a kicker's value. He'll soon realize he's no longer kicking for the Jaguars. DEFENSE ADD: Pittsburgh - Tampa Bay may have been the top defense during the regular season, but Pittsburgh has the best shot to be the most productive playoff fantasy defense. Facing such offensive juggernauts as Houston, Carolina, Tampa, and Baltimore during the final 4 weeks will make this task very easy. Washington - If your league holds its playoffs during weeks 16-17, you can't beat the 'Skins. Facing Houston then Dallas, this once-touted group will rack up the fantasy points and guide your team to a title. TRADE: Green Bay - The Packers have come on strong to be one of the best fantasy defenses of 2002, but do you really want them going against the 'Niners and Bills during your playoff run? Do yourself a favor and try to trade them for Pittsburgh, who has thus far been disappointing.
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Planning
for Playoff Success
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