You pick up the phone and call the want-a-bee’s, “Yoh! I spanked your butt three colors of red my boy. I am 10-2 and just about clinched best record overall and that first round bye. Do you want to name your first born after me as I think I am the greatest fantasy manager ever.” You are becoming more obnoxious and talking more trash then TO. Your love affair is in stage three, falling in love with your team even more than when you first drafted it. As your thinking what brilliant cheap shot about your opponents team you can make next, your buddy says. “Did you here your star LT strained a knee in practice.” The cell phone bounces off the keyboard as it starts falling to the floor in slow motion. Your beautiful wonderful explosive club is free falling and you keep grasping for air as the phone and your club hit’s the floor. NOOOO! With the bye weeks coming to a close next weekend, it is time to start planning your roster for the playoffs. One of the biggest threats to your team falling apart down the stretch is injuries. Last year, Carson Palmer, Marc Bulger, Priest Holmes and LT were all banged up down the stretch. Many a teams dream season has been demolished with a stud injury or two. So what do you do?
It is time to invest in an injury insurance policy or two. As you look at your number one players at key positions, you need to decide will you commit to that player starting every week for the rest of the year. The answer for some backs is yes, like LT , Shaun Alexander and Edgerrin James just to name a few. These three backs are the top three rushers so far this year. All three clubs are tremendous rushing teams and rank in the top 10 in rushing. If LT, Shaun Alexander or Edgerrin James got hurt would you commit Harri Karri or …?
Depending on your depth in your current backfield situation you might be able to weather the storm. However, I would suggest you handcuff the position and have the option of starting their backups. Michael Turner, Maurice Morris, and Dominic Rhodes would all make solid starters and should see goal line duty. You want to pick these players up now since the byes are over and you have more roster flexibility. If you wait and your player gets hurt, depending on your leagues waiver wire, you could get burned by a sly GM who is watching the waiver wire for injuries to find the weekly injury play (Marion Barber).
This can also work to a lesser degree at the QB. Carson Palmer comes to mind with an experienced Jon Kitna behind him. Peyton Manning with Jim Sorgi, Mike Vick and Matt Schaub (better passer), Marc Bugler and Jamie Martin (Martin will be better with Torry Holt back) and David Carr and Tony Banks (just seeing if you are paying attention). You get the idea. If the QB has a top receiver he will still throw TD’s based on that players ability alone.
Don’t let the phone bounced off the floor and find yourself in a catatonic stare mumbling ACL, ACL, all off-season. Good luck and Good health.