In Between the Tackles: Trading Places

So Barack Obama is the next President of the USA, but he's already been picked up in your fantasy league. Where do you look? Who should you get? Just like every Wednesday, let's take a look In Between the Tackles and dive a little deeper into some of the major stories around the NFL.

Quarterback Carousels

I warned you last Wednesday that Week 10 might signal the beginning of the Brady Quinn era in Cleveland and head coach Romeo Crennel has now made that a reality. My personal opinion is that this was the plan all along by the Browns after they realized signing Derek Anderson to a three-year $24 million extension over the summer was a mistake. The Browns traded a first and second-round pick in 2007 for the rights to draft Quinn and after a disappointing start it was only a matter of time until fans started demanding that he get into some games. With questionable defenses from Denver, Buffalo and Houston on tap, this was the logical time to give the Fighting Irish alum a chance. Quinn had plenty of time to prepare behind Anderson and the schedule for the next few weeks should allow him to put up impressive statistics for the time being. (I mean the guy can throw a ball into a truck - link to video) One key to the Browns offense that has been slighty overlooked is the health of WR Donte Stallworth. If he can get healthy, expect Braylon Edwards to finally put up numbers that resemble his breakout year last season.
Verdict: Can be relied upon as a bye week replacement - becomes a riskier play once the schedule gets tougher.

The Houston Texans will also be starting a new quarterback, at least for the time being, after Matt Schaub went down with a torn MCL on Sunday. Sage Rosenfels steps in just a few weeks after ruining an excellent performance with three late turnovers against the Colts. Rosenfels has been known to gamble downfield and that could pay off for fantasy owners while Schaub is on the shelf. Unfortunately, the Texans face a daunting challenge from Baltimore on Sunday, but Rosenfels should be able to do enough over the next 3-4 weeks to create a QB controversy in Houston when Schaub returns.
Verdict: Can be relied upon as at least a bye week fill-in and maybe much more.

In one of the greatest comebacks from retirement since Michael Jordan and Mario Lemieux, Daunte Culpepper has decided to join the Detroit Lions. Okay, nevermind - You're probably wondering if Culpepper has any value at all to your fantasy team and whether he can help the Lions avoid the dreaded 0-16 season. I hate to say it, but I really don't see much potential here. The Lions are bad, we all know that. They've traded away WR Roy Williams. Rumors from sources inside the Lions organization hint that Culpepper might be relied upon to start this week. It's never easy for a new quarterback to learn an entirely different system, let alone in a matter of days. It doesn't help that the Lions will be facing Jacksonville, Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Tennessee in the next four weeks. The only positive light I can see from this situation is that there is always a chance that Calvin Johnson develops a great chemistry with Culpepper, much like he did with Randy Moss a few years ago in Minnesota. Of course that was two teams and one major knee surgery ago for Daunte.
Verdict: Steer clear

Bears QB Kyle Orton's impressive season was also derailed on Sunday with an ankle injury. Rex Grossman will take over for the next few weeks and I don't see much of a chance that Grossman recreates Orton's success while he's on the shelf. Unfortunately, his ineffectiveness also hurts the potential for all Bears receivers and RB Matt Forte's numbers before Orton returns.
Verdict: Steer clear

Extra Points

- QB Ben Roethlisberger's shoulder injury doesn't seem serious but don't be surprised if they shut him down for a week in two in an attempt to get him healthy for a Super Bowl run.
- With RB's Antonio Pittman and Andre Hall now on season-ending Injured Reserve, Ryan Torain and Selvin Young are now Denver's only options in the backfield.
- Carolina is expecting to get back C Ryan Kalil and T Jeff Otah this week which would give a huge boost to the already effective Panthers running game. Since preseason, I've felt DeAngelo Williams is primed for a breakout season - this might be his chance.
- Just when you thought Oakland couldn't get any worse, Al Davis has realized canning Lane Kiffin hasn't solved his problems and is planning to overhaul the team over the next few months. You've probably unloaded all players within arms-length of the Raiders by this point, but don't be surprised to see even more boneheaded moves in the coming weeks.

Hail Mary

Just gonna throw this up and see what happens...

Last Week: I nailed the Giants 35-14 beatdown of Dallas but was way off on my prediction of 170 yards receiving for Plaxico Burress. Instead, it was the Giants running game that dominated and combined for 200 total yards on the ground. Dallas can't get wait to get Tony Romo back, but unfortunately I think the problems with this team go deeper.

This Week: There's Hail Mary's (link to video), and then there's this pick. The easy road would be to predict an enormous day for LT against the pathetic Kansas City run defense. Instead, let's go out on a very weak limb and take Tyler Thigpen to throw for 300 yards against San Diego this week.

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