PARRY: Fantasy owner gives rest of us a bad name

Published 6:26 pm Wednesday, October 23, 2013

I was all set to discuss how injuries are decimating owners teams and what to do to prepare for them in the future, and how my team got rocked this past week.

Instead I’ve changed my mind.

I will still give you some players to pick up off the waiver wire for bye-week and injury replacements, but first this needs to be addressed.

Fantasy football is four months of enjoyment for most of us.

There are the occasional leagues that play for money and we’ve even seen on ESPN where one league makes the last-place team have get an embarrassing tattoo, but the majority of the millions of football fans who take part in fantasy football are doing it as a complement to the game they already love.

But there are a few and that number is growing that frankly need to gain some perspective.

Those fantasy fanatics who feel the need to send disparaging, and in some cases, threatening tweets to players because they are injured and/or not performing for their fantasy teams.

On Monday a crazy idiot, because there really is no other way to describe someone who would do this, got on twitter and sent messages toNew York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs when it was revealed late Monday that his hamstring would make it unable for him to play in the game. This twitter user named @DMMeboo sent these tweets directly to Jacobs.

“ON LIFE BRANDON IF YOU DON’T RUSH FOR 50 YARDS AND 2 TOUCHDOWNS TONIGHT ITS OVER FOR YOU AND YO FAMILY”

FULFILL MY ORDERS STATED IN THE PREVIOUS TWEET OR THAT’S YO LIFE BRUH AND IM NOT PLAYING

There are no words ….except to say this person needs to take a good, hard look in the mirror and maybe seek out some counseling.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin discussed this on Tuesday.

“You’re always concerned about the player and his family,” Coughlin said Tuesday, via Newsday. “For young people to have to worry about things like that, it’s not necessary, it’s not a part of what we do. I’m not going to speculate on social media. I’m just concerned about however this would be revealed that it’s wrong and it has no business in our game.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Apparently this twitter user has since apologized, but it makes no difference.

Remember folks, it’s fantasy football.

We are not good enough to play in the NFL so we live vicariously through these athletes.

Please recognize this before you few zealots ruin this wonderful phenomenon for the rest of us.

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There are so many teams on a bye this week, and coupled with the carnage of injuries that occurred on Sunday, it makes for a tricky team in the fantasy world.

The one positive to this is owners were going to have to replace them anyway this week.

Teams on a bye this week: Ravens, Bears, Texans, Colts, Chargers and Titans

Teams that lost a starting quarterback, running back, wide receiver or tight end on Friday: Bears, Colts, Texans. Rams, Packers.

Those are just the ones I can remember off the top of my head. The St. Louis Rams lost QB Sam Bradford for the season; the Bears lost QB Jay Cutler for at least four weeks; the Texans lost RBs Arian Foster and Ben Tate, but both could return after the bye week; the Packers lost TE Jermichael Finley for the season.

That means the free-agent wire is in high demand this week and here are few options that you should be able to target. Note: I am leaving out obvious players who should already be owned in leagues to help you target others.

Quarterback: Jason Campbell, Cleveland Browns; Geno Smith, N.Y. Jets; Chad Henne, Jacksonville Jaguars.

Sorry, but it’s slim pickings at QB this week but all three of those listed above are slated to start for their respective teams. Campbell would be the last choice because the Browns are playing the Kansas City Chiefs and their stout defense. Smith is facing the Cincinnati Bengals, who just allowed Detroit Lions’ Matt Stafford to pass for 357 yards and 3 TDs against them last week. Henne is the wild card. The Jags are playing against the San Francisco 49ers in London. The 49ers should win easily, but Henne has shown to be a pretty good “garbage time” quarterback and might be able to get you 250 yards and a score, most of that coming when the game is out of reach.

Running Back: Roy Helu Jr., Washington Redskins; Peyton Hillis, New York Giants; Daniel Thomas, Miami Dolphins

All three intriguing options with Thomas the best of the three because the Dolphins are facing a Patriots defense that has been torched since losing Vince Wilfork. Thomas might be available too when an owner forgetting to handcuff Lamar Miller. If not, Helu Jr. and Hillis are sure to be there for bye-week fill-ins. Helu Jr. is NOT THE STARTER regardless of his three TD performance last week, but he should get looks in a game against Denver, which should be high scoring. Hillis is the lone Giants running back who is healthy and been in the end zone this season.

Wide Receiver: Brandon Gibson, Miami Dolphins; Jeremy Kerley, N.Y. Jets; Jarrett Boykin, Green Bay Packers

Gibson, Kerley and Boykin are coming off strong performances last week, but are not household names, so they may still be available. If you have a chance to get Boykin, he’s the top choice. Injuries have decimated the Packers receiving corps and he’s the next man up. Boykin finished with 8 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown last week. Gibson caught two TDs and is seemingly a favorite in the red zone of Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill while Kerley has stepped up to be Geno Smith’s go-to guy in the Jets passing game.

That’s all for this week. Good Luck.