By Adam Helbling:

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 Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints – Brees turned in his fifth 300-yard plus passing game of the season last week and has thrown for 300 yards in five out of his eight starts. For the season, Brees is averaging 292 yards passing and 2.1 passing touchdowns per game. Fantasy owners could be looking at another big week with the Rams giving up 248 yards passing and 1.4 passing touchdowns per contest this season.

RB Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans – After two straight starts that might have single handedly carried a fantasy team, Johnson has moved into third place in scoring in ESPN standard scoring leagues. For the season Johnson is averaging 120 yards rushing and 0.8 rushing touchdowns per game. The Buffalo Bills are currently giving up 158 yards rushing and 1.5 rushing touchdowns per game to the running back position this season, giving Johnson a good shot at another strong week.

RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings – Peterson has either rushed for 100 yards or found the end zone in seven of eight games this season. He could do both and then some this week against a Lions defense that is giving up 103 yards rushing and 0.8 rushing touchdowns per contest to opposing running backs.

WRs Randy Moss/Wes Welker, New England Patriots – The Colts defense has done well in limiting production from the wide receiver position giving up 158 yards receiving and 0.1 receiving touchdowns per game. However, with both Bob Sanders and Marlin Jackson on IR and Kelvin Hayden not practicing this is an area the Patriots should look to exploit. Moss is averaging 89 yards receiving and 0.6 touchdowns per contest. Welker is averaging 71 yards receiving and 0.5 touchdowns a game.

Sell

RB Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals – Benson continued to build upon his strong season with over 100 yards rushing and a touchdown against the Ravens last week. For the year he is averaging 105 yards rushing and 0.8 rushing touchdowns per game. Considering the numbers Benson has put up this season you can’t sit him, but your expectations for this week should be lowered. He had 76 yards and a score against Pittsburgh in Week 3, but the Steelers are giving up just 56 yards rushing and 0.3 touchdowns per contest 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 Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers – Favre is averaging 241 yards passing and two touchdowns per contest this season. More importantly he has thrown multiple touchdowns in five of eight games and has just three interceptions for the season. With the Vikings facing the Lions this week, the biggest threat to Favre might be that the Vikings get top far ahead for him to contribute in the second half. The Lions are giving up 270 yards passing and 2.3 passing touchdowns a game; Favre is a solid play this week.

RB Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens – Rice’s carries had been somewhat limited due to sharing the workload with Willis McGahee, but McGhaee has just 10 carries in the last four games and Ravens HC John Harbaugh said he can’t justify taking Rice off the field as much as he used to. “It’s pretty hard to take [Rice] off the field when he’s making the plays,” he said.” That’s great news for Rice owners and the Ravens, who face a Browns defense allowing 143 yards rushing and 1.5 rushing touchdowns per game to opposing running backs. Rice, who is averaging 72 yards rushing and 55 yards receiving a game, hasn’t had a 100 yard rushing game since Week 4, but has a good shot at it this week.

WR Braylon Edwards New York Jets – Since joining the Jets Edwards has averaged 48 yards receiving per game and has scored two touchdowns through four weeks. Counting on Mark Sanchez to get him the ball consistently might worry some owners, but he has a solid match-up against a Jaguars defense giving up 176 yards receiving and 1.6 touchdowns per game to the wide receiver position.

Sell

QB Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos – Orton has struggled to produce over the last two weeks with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. This week is unlikely to be his bounce back game with the Redskins giving up only 174 yards passing and 1.1 touchdowns per game.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers – Tomlinson has been a decent flex option over the last four weeks averaging 55 yards rushing per contest with two touchdowns (both against the Raiders). You might want to consider other options, however, as he faces an Eagles defense giving up only 82 yards rushing and 0.6 touchdowns per contest to opposing running backs.

WR Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars - Sims-Walker is averaging 116 yards receiving and one touchdown per game when the Jaguars play at home. Unfortunately for Sims-Walker owners the Jaguars are on the road and he will likely be drawing Darrell Revis in coverage. For the season the Jets are giving up just 96 yards receiving and 0.4 receiving touchdowns per contest to opposing wide receivers.

WR DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles - Jackson is averaging 66 yards receiving and 0.5 touchdowns per contest this season. The biggest downside to any Eagles wide receiver is that they can be hit or miss on any given week. Look for a miss this week as the Eagles play a Chargers defense giving up only 105 yards receiving and 0.6 receiving touchdowns per game to the wide receiver position.

PENNY STOCKS

Low-priced speculative issues of stock selling at less than $1.00 a share or… you have got to be kidding, Trent Edwards?  * 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 Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills – You have to be pretty desperate to start Edwards. The Bills quarterback is returning from injury and is averaging only 164 yards passing and 0.8 passing touchdowns per game this season. But if you are in a pinch with byes (Texans, Giants are off this week), keep in mind he faces the Titans who are giving up 298 yards passing and 2.6 passing touchdowns per contest this season.

Email Bling