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 Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers – Despite getting little help from his offensive line and running game, Rodgers is averaging 284 yards passing and two touchdowns per game this season. He will get the chance to improve on those numbers against a Bucs defense giving up 223 yards passing and 2.3 touchdowns per game to opposing quarterbacks.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars – MJD is proving to be one of the more valuable fantasy players this season averaging 91 yards rushing and 1.4 rushing touchdowns per contest this year. He shouldn’t disappoint this week against a Chiefs defense giving up 123 yards rushing and 0.7 rushing touchdowns per game to running backs.

Sell

QB Matt Schaub, Houston Texans – The Colts defense has given up just 200 yards passing per game and only three passing touchdowns all season. Schaub, who has benefited from a soft schedule thus far, has seen his numbers have dip each time the Texans face a middle-of-the-road or better pass defense. Add to that the loss of Owen Daniels and Schaub might struggle to put up the 293 yards passing and two touchdowns he has averaged per game this season.

RB Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons – Save for last week’s 151 yard performance, Turner’s rushing numbers have been disappointing. He has scored a rushing touchdown in every game but one this season, but  the Redskins’ defense is allowing just 93 yards rushing per game and has given up only two rushing touchdowns this year to opposing running backs.

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 Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks – In the four games that Hasselbeck was able to start and finish he has averaged 220 yards passing and 2.3 touchdowns per game. If you have a quarterback on a bye, Hasselbeck is an option against a Lions defense giving up 260 yards passing and 2.4 touchdowns per contest this season.

RB Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants – Jacobs probably belongs in the penny stocks considering he has just two touchdowns to go with 69 yards rushing per game this season. However, he should prove his worth this week against the Chargers who are giving up 118 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown per game to opposing running backs.

RB Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers – Grant is averaging just 75 yards rushing and has only three touchdowns for the season. He should improve upon those numbers against a Bucs defense giving up an average of 139 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown per contest to the running back position this season.

WR Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs – It has been a difficult season for Bowe and his owners as the Chiefs wide receiver has averaged only 43 yards receiving and 0.6 touchdowns per game. If he is going to improve upon those numbers it will be this week against the Jaguars who are giving up 168 yards receiving and 1.6 receiving touchdowns to opposing wide receivers per contest.

WR Donald Driver/ WR Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers – If you own one of the two Packers wide receivers you should feel good about starting them against a Tampa Bay defense giving up 147 yards passing and 1.7 touchdowns per game to the wide receiver position.

WR Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars – Sims-Walker had only two receptions for nine yards against the Titans last week. He gets the chance to bounce back against a Chiefs secondary giving up 170 yards receiving and 1.3 touchdowns per contest to opposing wide receivers.

Sell

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers – It would be tough to sit Roethlisberger considering the numbers he has put up this season. With the Steelers leaning on the passing game this season Roethlisberger is averaging 295 yards passing and 1.6 touchdowns per game. This might be a good week to look at your depth as Roethlisberger faces a Broncos defense giving up only 198 yards passing and 0.5 passing touchdowns per game this season.

RB Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos – The rookie running back is averaging 60 yards rushing per game this season. Those numbers would probably be higher if he weren’t competing for carries with Correll Buckhalter. He will have more than Buckhalter to contend with this week against a Steelers defense that is giving up only 60 yards rushing per game and only two rushing touchdowns for the season to opposing running backs.

WR Steve Smith, New York Giants – The third-year pro is averaging 83 yards receiving and 0.5 touchdowns per contest. However, it should be noted that most of his production came in the first four weeks of the season where he had two 100 yard games and scored a touchdown in three of the first four weeks. Over the last four weeks he has zero touchdowns and zero 100 yard games. It will be tough to break that streak this week against a Chargers secondary giving up only 98 yards receiving per game and just four touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this season.

PENNY STOCKS

Low-priced speculative issues of stock selling at less than $1.00 a share or… you have got to be kidding, Matt Cassell? * 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

QB Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers – The Titans finally held an opposing quarterback to under 300 yards passing last week. But until they are able to do it two weeks in a row, they present a pretty good match-up for opposing quarterbacks. Smith has averaged 202 yards passing and two touchdowns over the last two weeks. With Michael Crabtree continuing to grow in the offense and Vernon Davis at tight end there should be enough weapons for Smith to put up points.

QB Matt Cassell, Kansas City Chiefs – You would have to be pretty desperate to look up Cassell who is averaging just 142 yards passing and 1.1 touchdowns per game this season. Still, if there is nothing else on the waiver wire he has a nice match-up against the Jaguars who are giving up 247 yards passing and 1.6 touchdowns per contest to opposing quarterbacks this season.

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