As the fantasy football season nears its halfway point, some desperate owners may be ready to sell off their best assets if they've struggled. Today, I'll identify the top buy-low candidate at each fantasy position for those looking to make season-changing moves.
Quarterback
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Brees' yardage has been fine this season, but he hasn't thrown more than two touchdowns in any game this year, and has been intercepted in all but one game. His last time out, a Week 5 overtime win over the lowly Buccaneers, Brees tossed an unsightly three interceptions at home.
His early issues were blamed on a combination of road games and tough competition. Once he struggled at home, that was a cue for some to sound the alarms. On top of that, tight end Jimmy Graham may miss time with a shoulder injury.
So why is he a buy low? Because he's thrown for more than 5,000 yards in each of the last three seasons, rookie Brandin Cooks is the most dynamic wide receiver he's had in years, and four of his next six games are in New Orleans. The Saints still have the fifth-ranked offensive line in terms of pass protection per FootballOutsiders.com, so there's no reason to think Brees' inaccuracy is anything more than a blip.
Running Back
Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
It's been pretty ugly for Lacy owners in 2014. Chances are they drafted him fairly high in Round 1, and he's rewarded them with five performances in which he totaled less than 50 yards. He had a breakout performance against the Vikings two weeks ago, when he ran with power, tallied 105 yards and scored twice, but he followed it up with a dud.
For the year Lacy's averaging just 3.8 yards per carry and he's been a non-factor in the passing game. He has also failed to score a touchdown in four of the Packers' six tilts.
Take into account his schedule though. Green Bay opened the season against three straight Top 5 run defenses (Seattle, New York Jets, Detroit), and then an average run D in Chicago. When he finally ran into a porous run defense, Lacy gashed them for his breakout game. Their next matchup was against the Dolphins, currently ranked sixth by Football Outsiders.
Lacy's schedule eases up the next few weeks, and owners can expect him to settle into a groove where he piles up touchdowns. There's always the threat of low yardage when QB Aaron Rodgers has it going, but red zone chances still belong to Lacy. Buy low if you can.
Wide Receiver
Michael Floyd, Arizona Cardinals
Floyd has been disappointing in some aspects this season, as he scored his first touchdown of 2014 just last week. It has become clear, however, that he has passed Larry Fitzgerald as the top receiver on the team and done so with shaky quarterback play.
With Carson Palmer in Week 1 Floyd ripped the Chargers for five receptions and 114 yards. Palmer missed the next three weeks with a nerve problem in his shoulder, and Floyd tanked. In two of those three weeks Floyd mustered just two catches and 26 yards combined. Palmer returned this past Sunday and voila! Floyd caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Palmer's nerve problem may be touch-and-go, but in Palmer's two games he has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes and posted a 100.5 QB rating. Owners may see the low touchdown totals, and the multiple outings of essentially zero production, and deal him for safer options.
Be the owner getting the best player in the trade.
Tight End
Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns
Cameron finally was healthy last week, and rewarded patient owners with a five-catch, 102-yard performance in which he also scored a touchdown. Owners may still be smarting from the first few weeks in which Cameron did next to nothing because of a bum shoulder, but he's back to being Brian Hoyer's No. 1 target in an offense that's better than you think.
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