FANTASY: First two weeks showing receivers now MVPs

Published 9:17 pm Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The NFL is changing, and if fantasy players do not realize this, they are going to find themselves where I am in my league — last place and outscored 309 to 180 in two consecutive losses. Here’s why I am 0-2 and been throttled in my first two games: I stayed with the tried and true way to win a championship. I took running backs with my first two picks.

And I am proof positive that is becoming a failed strategy in today’s NFL.

Don’t believe me?

Here are two numbers: 9, 38

9 — Number of times a player has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game this season.

38 — Number of times a receiver has gone for more than 100 yards in a game this season.

By the way, I was the benefactor of one of those 100-yard rushing performances thanks to Washington’s Alfred Morris surpassing the 100-yard mark last week. And you see how much it helped me.

Why?

I have run into a team with a 200-yard receiver in Week 1 and two 100-yard receivers in Week 2. Not surprising with 38 possibilities.

Yeah, my running backs Morris and Forte were solid, but because I waited in our 14-team league I missed out on the big receivers. And those 30 and 40-point players are ruling leagues right now.

In my Dereliction League — which I feature each week in this column and is a point-per-two reception league — there were five owners who took two running backs with their first two picks.

The combined record of those owners after two weeks is 4-6. One team, White Lines, is 2-0, but has also benefitted from Michael Vick averaging 43.5 points in the first two weeks.

What the first two weeks of the season is telling fantasy players right now is grab a running back, but make sure to also get a No. 1 receiver with one of your first two picks.

One team, the Cow Spur Coyotes, has scored 241 points in two weeks. Its running backs are Pierre Thomas and Lamar Miller. But that team also has Jordy Nelson, Dez Bryant and Stevie Johnson as its receivers.

Injuries to running backs are going to happen, but I think this year has proven that may not be as devastating as we think. Look at Chip Kelly’s high-powered Philadelphia Eagles offense. The NFL is changing and fantasy owners better adjust, or suffer the consequences.

Some players to target off waiver wire: Marlon Brown, WR, Baltimore; Andre Roberts, WR, Arizona; Eddie Royal, WR, San Diego; DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston.

Notice I do not list running backs. Go grab James Starks from Green Bay or Willis McGahee, now at Cleveland, but I would rather have Royal, who has scored five TDs in two weeks. That is more than Adrian Peterson, Doug Martin and Trent Richardson combined.