Risk Management is a weekly article dedicated to making sure that you get the most out of your fantasy roster and waiver wire pick-ups. It will feature Blue Chips (Studs), Defensive Stocks (Mid-tier players), and Penny Stocks (players likely available on your waiver wire). A player listed in the ‘buy’ section of the article is a player that has a favorable match-up going into the week. A player listed in the ‘sell’ section has a match-up that you might want to avoid.

Keep in mind that simply because a player is listed as a ‘sell’ does not mean he should be absent from your starting line-up. Who you have (or don’t have) in reserve matters just as much as any match-up does. Another important thing to remember is that just like on the stock market, a Blue Chip can have a bad week and still out-perform Defensive Stocks and/or Penny Stocks.

BLUE CHIP STOCKS

Stocks of leading and nationally known companies that offer a record of continuous dividend payments and other strong investment qualities or…fantasy football studs..

Buy

QB Eli Manning, New York Giants – Manning was on the sell side of this article last week and after his 178 yards passing and one touchdown performance it proved to be a good call. We are moving him to the ‘Buy’ side this week against a Cardinals defense that is allowing 286 yards passing and one touchdown per contest over the last five weeks.

RB DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers - Williams averaged over five yards-per-carry last week on his way to 152 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He should turn in another strong performance this week as he faces a Bills defense that over the last five weeks has given up 187 yards rushing and 1.4 touchdowns per contest to opposing running backs.

WR Steve Smith, New York Giants – No longer “The Other Steve Smith”, the third year rising star is averaging 89 yards receiving and 0.8 touchdowns per contest over the last five weeks. He faces a Cardinals defense that is giving up 174 yards receiving and 1.3 receiving touchdowns per contest to opposing wide receivers this season.

TE Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers - At this point last season Miller had a total of 18 targets. This season he has 40.With the Steelers more reliant on the pass Miller is on his way to a career year. Over the last five weeks he has averaged 50 yards receiving and 0.8 touchdowns a game. He should have another good week against the Vikings who are among the worst in the league defending tight ends, allowing 89 yards receiving and 0.6 touchdowns to the position over the same period of time.

Sell

QB Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles – Lost in the disaster that is the Washington Redskins is the fact that their defense has actually performed rather well this season. Over the last five weeks they have given up just 168 yards passing and 0.8 passing touchdowns. McNabb has averaged 267 yards passing and 1.5 touchdowns per contest during this same period of time (two games), but if you have better options you might consider it.

RB Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons – If you drafted Turner he probably isn’t going to be on your bench unless injured. However, expectations should be low this week as he faces Dallas which has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season. As well, the Cowboys have given up 80 yards rushing a game to opposing opposing running backs.

RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings – Peterson had only his second 100 yard rushing game of the season last week against the Baltimore Ravens. He will face perhaps his toughest test of the season this week against the Steelers defense, which is giving up just 50 yards rushing and 0.2 touchdowns a game to running backs over the last five games.

DEFENSIVE STOCKS

A stock purchased from a company that has maintained a record of stable earnings and continuous dividend payments through periods of economic downturn….or fantasy players without the flash of the studs, but steady contributors when you need them.

Buy

QB Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears – Cutler had 300 yards passing and two touchdowns in the Bears’ 21-14 loss to the Falcons Sunday night. This week Cutler faces a Bengals defense that has given up 277 yards passing and 1.6 touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks over the last five weeks. With the Bengals placing defensive end Antwan Odom (Achilles) on the IR list, the unit’s pass rush could suffer and make life easier for Cutler.

QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons – Ryan has averaged 261 yards passing and 1.5 touchdowns per contest over the last five weeks of the season. He faces a struggling Cowboys pass defense that is giving up 262 yards passing and 1.8 passing touchdowns to the position over the same period of time.

RB Thomas Jones, New York Jets – We had Jones as a ‘Buy’ last week and he came through with over 200 yards rushing and a touchdown (guru). You shouldn’t expect another week like that from Jones who has averaged 75 yards rushing and 0.8 touchdowns per contest over the last five weeks. However, another good week could be in store as he faces an Oakland defense giving up 142 yards rushing and 0.8 rushing touchdowns per contest over the same period of time.

RB Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts - Even with Donald Brown poaching carries, Addai has been a valuable asset over the last five weeks averaging 72 total yards and 0.8 touchdowns per game. During this same period of time the Rams defense has given up 145 offensive yards and 1.6 touchdowns per contest to opposing running backs.

WR Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers – Jennings is averaging a disappointing 50 yards receiving over the last five weeks of the season. What’s more worrisome for Jennings owners, he has failed to find the end zone since Week 1. His prospects look good this week against a Browns defense giving up 184 yards receiving and 0.8 receiving touchdowns per contest to the wide receiver position over the last five weeks.

TE Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins – Cooley has averaged 49 yards receiving and 0.2 touchdowns a game over the last five games. Those numbers could get a boost this week against an Eagles defense giving up 91 yards receiving and 0.8 touchdowns per game to the position over the same period of time.

Sell

RB Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins – Brown has averaged 100 yards rushing and 1.5 touchdowns per game this season. He could struggle to hit those numbers this week against a Saints defense allowing only 79 yards rushing and 0.5 rushing touchdowns to the position during the same period of time.

WR Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers – The “Old Steve Smith”, once a stud, has yet to find the end zone this season and has averaged just 60 yards a game this season. He had a great match-up last week against Tampa Bay and failed to produce. Things get tougher this week against a Bills defense giving up just 72 yards receiving and 0.3 touchdowns per contest to opposing wide receivers during the same period of time.

TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers – Davis has been one of the few consistent weapons in the 49ers passing offense. Over the last five weeks of the season he has averaged 56 yards receiving and 0.6 touchdowns per contest. He could have a tough go of things against a Texans, who over the last five weeks have given up an average of 30 yards receiving and zero touchdowns to the position.

PENNY STOCKS

Low-priced speculative issues of stock selling at less than $1.00 a share.  * Due to the fact that these are the type of players you would only start with a good great match-up there will be no ‘Sell’ section for Penny Stocks.*

Buy

RB Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots – Maroney’s value depends on the extent of the injury to Sammy Morris. Should Morris’s injury keep him out this week (likely), Maroney makes a nice option against a Tampa Bay defense who over the last five weeks has given up 159 yards rushing and one touchdown a game to opposing running backs.

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