The No Huddle Episode 12-04

Philly Dave brought his 12 years of fantasy football experience to this week’s show. We discussed when you should consider giving up on a star player and move on.

Forgot to stress this on the show: Colts and Steelers have a bye. The Colts have played better than expected, sporting a 1 and 2 record. The Steelers have been underwhelming, also at 1 and 2, though they still have the talent to come out of the bye week strong.

WR Hakeem Nicks is out. The last time Nicks was out, back-up Ramses Barden went off for 10 receptions and 162 yards. Obviously that makes him a good play Sunday night against the Eagles. WR Victor Cruz and TE Martellus Bennett should also see increased production, though in Cruz’s case that didn’t happen last time Hicks was out.

WR Pierre Garcon is likely to play today, but his role may be limited due to an injured foot.

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey is out. You could look to the Raiders’ other receivers but consistency hasn’t been hallmark in Oakland, so as well as they played against Pittsburgh, you might want to look elsewhere.

Both of the Patriots TEs are banged up. Ron Gronkowski with a hip injury, Henandez with an ankle injury. Does this mean trouble for Tom Brady, or simply more targets for Wes Welker? Hard to say, but Brady is too talented to let this affect his performance. The situation is more interesting considering recently signed TE Kellen Winslow asked for, and received, his release from the Patriots after only one week with the team.

Still anguishing? Here’s a handy tool: the NFL team stats page. Simply find the team your player is opposing in their category (rushing, passing) and see how that match-up looks against the other player you’re considering. Not foolproof to be sure, but an easy way to make an informed decision, especially if kickoff is fast approaching.

Don’t forget to double-check the official injury report at NFL.com 30 minutes prior to the start of the game your player is in.

Questions? Ask away with an email TheNoHuddle@gmail.com or tweet @TheNoHuddle.

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As always, good luck in your games!