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Week 7: Hurt now, helpful later
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It's a little early in the season to consider anything a "must-win," but don't tell your fantasy rivals. If they want to panic and make a bad trade, just be sure you're on the receiving end of it.
With four more teams on byes this week, the time is right to inquire about a rival's injured wide receiver. After all, can this team really afford to have dead weight filling a roster spot when healthy substitutes are needed to fill in for players on a bye?
A remarkable number of injured receivers are close to making comebacks. If you could pry even one of them from a rival who's in a "must-win" mode this week, you'll have set yourself up for a nice stretch run this season.
Here are six guys worth pursuing:
Marques Colston. Drew Brees is having an incredible season being that Colston has been out for a month and David Patten and Jeremy Shockey have missed recent weeks. Brees has made Lance Moore look like a superstar. The sky's the limit when Colston returns, which could be this week. You'll have to offer a nice package to get him, but he'd be worth it. And if you don't act now, you can kiss him goodbye.
Kevin Curtis. Along those same lines, Donovan McNabb has been nothing short of a magician this season, especially in recent weeks. The Eagles scored 40 points Sunday despite playing without Brian Westbrook and McNabb's top two receivers. Reggie Brown returned briefly from his injury and was effective, but he's out again. Now it's Curtis' turn to come back, and he should be even better than Brown was. Already a bit of an under-the-radar guy, Curtis could come cheaply and yet pay big dividends down the line.
Deion Branch. The Seahawks have had more injuries at the receiver position than anyone. That problem was compounded Sunday by Matt Hasselbeck's absence. Presuming Hasselbeck can come back in a week or two, the Seahawks should be able to pass effectively within their weak division over the second half of the season. Bobby Engram came up huge in his first game back, and as early as this week it could be Branch's turn to do the same. Now's the time to grab him.
Joey Galloway. The Bucs got their offense rolling again Sunday behind Jeff Garcia, who spread the ball around among many receivers. He won't have to do that once his primary target - Galloway - returns. His injury has lingered, which might have caused his fantasy owner to sour on him. That just might make him available this week.
Anquan Boldin. The Cardinals standout is the least likely of the receivers mentioned here to be available, but he's worth inquiring about nonetheless. Did you see the game Steve Breaston had in Boldin's position against the Cowboys? With Kurt Warner winging it again, the Arizona offense figures to be even more potent when Boldin returns, which might be this week. Act now as the window of opportunity might be slightly ajar.
Chris Chambers. Like Colston and Boldin, sometimes you don't recognize a player's value until a less-talented teammate steps in and produces monster numbers. That was the case with Vincent Jackson in Sunday night's win over the Patriots. Those same passes usually go to Chambers when he's healthy. Deal for him now if you can.
Here are some other tips for Week 7, one at each fantasy position:
