Those of you know have read my articles or listened to my show on SiriusXM radio, then you know that I tend to have some strong opinions. Every now and then I will rant and rave about a topic that is important to me. Luckily (or unlucky I suppose) as Assistant G.M. subscribers you will receive one of these rants in your email box every week. It’s a little thing that I like to call: One MANS Opinion.

 

A Few Words About Overreaction

When you first have kids and you bring them home from the hospital, everything they do makes you nervous to your very core. You watch them closely as they take their breaths, you schedule every moment of their day and you jump at every sound they make. Believe it or not, your fantasy football team is a lot like that newborn baby.

Think of all the attention you pay to your team in the beginning of the year. You put a crap ton of work into the draft and then obsessively fawn all over it right up to the start of the season. Then, no matter what happens in the first week you will panic and most likely overreact. Even if your team tears it up and you are sitting on a lineup consisting of Matt Ryan, Le’Veon Bell, Calvin Johnson and Brandin Cooks and you will say that your bench is thin.

I can’t even count the number of “should I trade Jamaal Charles” questions that I have received already this season. One bad game and we’re ready to trade the player we took with the first overall pick in many leagues. It’s ridiculous.

Those that keep their cool wind up winning. This is true at many aspects of life including fantasy football. Just think of the first time your kid got a fever or for those still single, the first time you puked because of drinking. Did you feverishly panic and start ripping apart the room and rush to the hospital? Yeah you possibly did, didn’t you? Do you remember what was learned but overreacting? In either situation the doctor likely just told you that this was completely normal and just a part of life.

It’s the same with a week one loss. Last season Zac Stacy lead many to fantasy football championships. But in week one he had just one carry for four yards. Stacy didn’t even play in week two. Keenan Allen had just three catches through his first two games last year. Josh Gordon didn’t even play in the first two games last season. Each of these players went on to have monster seasons and help their owners win championships.

So just stay the course. Have faith in your draft and all of the research that you put into it. The absolute worst thing that you can do is start chasing the previous weeks results. This is like a dog that chases its tail, it never really gets anywhere and it looks ridiculous.

 

NFLPA To Vote On New Drug Policy

By the time you are reading this it could be announced that the NFLPA has agreed to a new drug policy. Players such as Wes Welker & Orlando Scandrick would be cleared to return to activity if the policy is enacted as suspected. I doubt that anybody cleared to return to work would actually suit up on Sunday though that is possible. Wes Welker is the guy who could all of a sudden be in demand this week if he somehow returns to game action.

The one guy that won’t be playing this Sunday or for many Sunday’s still to come is Josh Gordon. As I have told anyone that would listen for the past three months, Gordon has more legal battles than just his NFL ban. He is a four time offender of the NFL’s previous substance abuse policy and he also has a DWI on his record. Even with the adjustment to the drug policy, Gordon is going to be out at least six games this season. Spending all of your FAAB to acquire him is a terrible move that could have dramatic consequence on the rest of your season.

 

In Cam I Trust

I’ve been hearing a lot of hesitancy from folks about starting Cam Newton this week. What makes me curious is which QB’s everybody would rather start over Newton? Phillip Rivers against the Seahawks and Matt Ryan against the Bengals both are tougher matchups than Cam Newton against the Lions.

I understand that people are nervous about Newton’s rib injury but you have to know that he was well enough to play last week. The extra week of rest will assure him of not only playing but playing at a regular Cam Newton level. The team with take extra precaution in order to protect their franchise QB as well. To think that Newton won't run at all is naive. He's going to play his game no matter what. That includes taking off from time to time and moving the chains via his legs. With a flack jacket on and at home against the Lions, I am perfectly fine playing Newton this week.

 

Run And Hyde

Start Carlos Hyde this week. The Bears defense is so awful against the run and the 49ers offense is so good at running the ball that this is pretty much a match made in heaven. Sure Frank Gore is going to be heavily involved early but the ‘Niners have already shown that they are going to use Hyde in the red zone.

The 49ers are going to be able to handle the Bears handily and that will lead to a lot of garbage time yards from Mr. Carlos Hyde. This is a big upside play but one that takes some balls. I am sure that you have other RB’s like Fred Jackson, Danny Woodhead and Alfred Morris but none of them have the upside of Carlos Hyde in this matchup.