Gridiron Challenge: Week 6 previewBy Jim McCormick When it comes to certain purchases in life, you just can't go cheap. Using supermarket logic, it's unfathomable to walk away with the cut-rate orange juice. Trust me; the extra $1.81 or so you drop on the good stuff will prove worthy in crunch time, when on that early morning, the "from concentrate" swill clearly would let you down. This theory of discretionary budgeting extends into all realms, as I feel equally impassioned about budgeting my Gridiron Challenge roster. I've preached it previously, but my mantra bears repeating, as my adherence to it has paid off with some sustained success: Do not spend more than $14 for the sum of your kicker, defense and tight end. To be specific, go store-brand, double-coupon crazy with your weekly kicker spot, like I have with the Kansas City Chiefs' Ryan Succop, who cost me just $2.90, compared to the $4 and change you would have to drop on a more proven leg. The cash you're left to play with can net you those favorable matchups that lead to huge returns from your team. By going economical at a fickle spot like kicker, I allow myself to spend some coin on a legitimate fantasy defense like the Philadelphia Eagles and their savory meeting with the Oakland Raiders this weekend, while also spending top dollar on my position spots with talents like Maurice Jones-Drew and Randy Moss. Now that's some good juice. Bull MarketInvestments that should bear out as the season progressesMatt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Seahawks (5.5 price tag): The bald one was bodacious in a beatdown of the Jacksonville Jaguars in his return from injury Sunday. Hasselbeck has put up seven touchdowns and around 250 yards per game in the two games in which he's played a full four quarters, and has some uniquely vulnerable secondaries on the schedule in Arizona, Dallas and Detroit. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos (5.9 price tag): If being informed is a crucial discipline of a savvy Gridiron GM, it's fitting that Moreno's first name is derived from his father's moniker, "Knowledge." If you had the knowledge that Moreno has become a key element of the Broncos' offense and that he's facing the profoundly porous Chargers defense, you'd likely feel compelled to consider adding him to your portfolio. While Correll Buckhalter likely will return to the field this week, it seems Moreno will run with the feature gig. Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers (6.1 price tag): While Grant has disappointed fantasy investors, he makes for a clever addition this week against the permeable Detroit Lions defense. As proof of what a consistent diet of touches can do for a tailback's year-end totals, it should be noted that Grant is on pace for nearly 1,400 total yards and eight scores despite the lack of a single impressive outing. With the bye in the background and the Cleveland Browns following the Lions on the schedule, Grant is an ideal upside investment to consider. Nate Burleson, WR, Seattle Seahawks (5.2 price tag): Burleson has averaged more points per game in Gridiron Challenge this season than either Hines Ward or T.J. Houshmandzadeh but comes at a significant discount. With the capable Matt Hasselbeck back in tow and three of the most generous secondaries to opposing wideouts on the upcoming schedule, Burleson is a model investment to pair with an expensive, big-named receiver for the next several weeks. Brent Celek, TE, Philadelphia Eagles (5.1 price tag): Lots of targets and some banged-up Oakland Raiders linebackers should lead to another big outing for this breakout talent. Expect continued opportunities for Celek, as he's the rare consistent force over the middle for Philly while its lithe speedsters at wideout go deep and to the outside. Philadelphia Eagles Defense (5.5 price tag): As previously mentioned, if you can create some change to play with by going frugal at kicker and either tight end or the second receiver slot, you can afford a top-flight fantasy defense like the Eagles, a unit that assuredly will give the incompetent Oakland offense more than it can handle. Weekly WondersPlayers who face favorable matchups and come at a discount but aren't trustworthy on a weekly basisMarc Bulger, QB, St. Louis Rams (4.2 price tag): Bulger was perfect on all seven pass attempts for 88 yards and a touchdown in spot-play Sunday. This week, he gets the start against the Jacksonville Jaguars' amazingly generous secondary and could make for a shrewd signal-caller investment if you have the intestinal fortitude and the desire to go premium at other positions. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants (5.5 price tag): He's wily, illusive and, most importantly, productive. Can we get this guy a nickname, already? I'll offer my own concoction: "Mad Brad." No? That's cool; he still is a desirable investment, and will be asked to tote the rock early and often this week in a battle with New Orleans. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (4.0 price tag): Even Donovan McNabb's detractors must admit the man throws a mean deep ball. Maclin should be the beneficiary of McNabb's profound parabolic skills as the Eagles take a cue from the New York Giants last week and air it out on the talented, but gambling, Oakland Raiders secondary. New York Jets Defense (5.1 price tag): The pass rush hasn't been consistently productive, and neither has the ball-hawking secondary, but with Buffalo and Oakland in the next two weeks, there are few savvier buys than Rex Ryan's talented group. Jim's Week 6 LineupMy squad, "I'm a man, I'm Forte," has yet to roster its namesake Matt Forte but currently is cruising with 638 total points, good for the 99.3rd percentile and 1,502nd overall. Scores have ranged from 109 to 145, but the majority of weeks, I've hovered right around 130. Given some unsavory matchups and a number of bye weeks, a major roster overhaul was called for, and executed. While I lost out on some margins I had enjoyed, like the money I was saving on Adrian Peterson, it was time to pursue the best lineup for this week, rather than the long haul. As you can see, I'm really aiming for some inviting matchups across the roster, with my quarterbacks facing off against generous secondaries, and my running backs facing the likes of the Rams and Lions. QB: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: 82 year-to-date points; 6.6 (locked price)/6.6 (market price) Jim McCormick is a fantasy football analyst for ESPN.com as well as the editor and publisher of BLITZ Magazine, a print and online publication covering football from prep to pro. |
Overall Leaderboard
| RNK | ENTRY, OWNER | PTS |
| 1 | fol299 , fol299 | 1514 |
| 2 | jcviking81 1, jcviking81 | 1491 |
| 3 | Shark Attack, annadrew1004 | 1489 |
| 4 | deasonlovescowboys, dwpowell08 | 1481 |
| 5 | E-ville Dynasty, the_educated_opinion | 1478 |
| 6 | Nanny Repeat, Nanny720 | 1471 |
| 7 | MrOJ21, tmay119 | 1470 |
| 8 | Pimps up, Hoes down, ErnestM23 | 1469 |
| 9 | MichaelMini2, TheBangers2 | 1466 |
| 9 | Featured Attraction, CGarner96 | 1466 |
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Prizes
Play Gridiron Challenge for your chance to win a $1,100 Best Buy Gift Card and the Ultimate Fan Pack.
Total ARV is $2,500

