Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks

Going Down

Matt Hasselbeck, QB Seahawks – I see some people are counting on Hasselbeck to still be a relevant fantasy backup this season. I see some people are still too stupid to live.

How done is Hasselbeck? So much so that there is a chance Charlie Whitehurst could beat him out and be Seattle’s starting quarterback. Whitehurst sucked when he played at Clemson, so if he is gunning for your job, it’s probably time to hang it up.

Here is the thing that is going to throw some people: they are going to see Pete Carroll coming in and hear that Hasselbeck is finally healthy, etc.

It doesn’t matter. Hasselbeck is no longer a starting quarterback in this league, thus he should not be on your fantasy team. And yes, I just used “thus.”

Do yourself a favor and grab Henne, Kevin Kolb, Vince Young, Matt Cassel or Carson Palmer to be your backup. They are much better options than a guy who will be retired by this time next year.

Marion Barber, RB Cowboys – It’s pretty obvious that Barber’s carries and fantasy value is on the decline but I wanted to touch on something I don’t see anyone else talking about.

Barber dropped 10 pounds this offseason to get “quicker.” In my opinion, this has always been the cry of the truly desperate when it comes to power backs.

Think about it: Barber’s game has always been predicated on power and toughness, not quickness. Now he’s dropping 10 pounds? I don’t agree with that strategy.

Barber would be best served to realize that Felix Jones is going to be the starter and accept his role as the pounder in the Cowboys backfield. Instead of getting slimmer, Barber should have focused on just being the power back.

Now there is a chance he isn’t going to be quick or powerful. Those kinds of backs don’t get on the field very often.

I really think losing weight was a big mistake by Barber. So much so I would venture a guess that by mid-year Tashard Choice will be getting more touches than him.

I have always loved Barber but in my opinion he will end being the third-best fantasy option in the Cowboys backfield this season.

DeAngelo Williams, RB Panthers – I drafted Williams very high last season and while he had a good year, I can no longer put up with the headache of drafting a running back high and then watch him split time with another guy.

Listen, if you draft Michael Bush in Round 10 you are hoping he becomes the lead back in Oakland but if that doesn’t happen, so be it. You took a shot later in the draft and it didn’t pan out. You accept it and move on with your life.

However, selecting Williams in the first or second round is a totally different story. If I take a back that high I want to know he is going to be on the field most the time. That’s not the case with Williams, so let someone else draft him and complain when John Fox takes him out near the goal line in favor of Jonathan Stewart.

Stewart continues to get more and more carries and he is turning into a stud running back himself. I would much rather draft him two or three rounds later than selecting Williams so high.

Williams will still have some big games but he is going to be inconsistent because it’s obvious Fox is going to ride the hot hand. If you start Williams and the hot hand is Stewart that week, you are screwed.

More and more teams are going to a two-back system and as fantasy owners we just have to deal with it. However, if you want to draft a back that we know is going to split time in Round 2, be my guest.

Enjoy swearing at the TV every Sunday this fall.

Brandon Jacobs, RB Giants – Much like Barber, Jacobs can tell you he’s in great shape and all that crap but in reality, he’s all done.

The reason I really like guys like Nicks, Steve Smith and Eli Manning is because I think the Giants are going to be primarily a passing team in 2010. Listen, big backs not named Jerome Bettis that have been declining for two years don’t all of a sudden recapture their former glory. It’s all over.

Jacobs will still score a touchdown here and there but he will be a spot fantasy starter early in the year at the very best. I think Ahmad Bradshaw has much more fantasy value than Jacobs and I expect him to be the Giants starter by October.

Also, keep an eye on Andre Brown. I talked about him last summer.

I loved Brown in college but he simply refuses to stay healthy. He was always injured in college and missed all of last season as a rookie. However, the Giants really like Brown and I think he’s a deep sleeper heading into the season.

Brown has that violent running style, similar to Barber in Dallas. If Jacobs falters and Bradshaw becomes the starter, Brown would be a nice compliment as a power back. Keep your eye on him this preseason.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB Jets – I told you all this was coming last year but people didn’t want to hear it.

I told you to take LT off your draft board because he would be lucky to run for 700 yards in 2009. Well, he proved me wrong. Tomlinson gained 730 yards and averaged a whopping 3.3 yards per carry.

I don’t know how many times I have to tell people that LT’s career died that day he quit on his team in Foxboro. I was in the Chargers’ locker room after the game. I talked to the players off the record. I saw the looks on their faces when I asked them about Tomlinson. I knew that day LT would never be the same player.

I actually think the Jets downgraded at running back by replacing Thomas Jones with LT. Not only is Tomlinson done, he is all about himself. When he isn’t telling the world how classy is or sitting on the sidelines every time he stubs his toe, LT is complaining about his playing time.

The Jets made a lot of good moves this offseason to improve their team but getting LT wasn’t one of them. Shonn Greene is a stud and he is going to be the main ball carrier for the Jets. There is no question about it.

Do what I have been telling you to do for the last two years and pass on Tomlinson come draft day.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR Seahawks – Read above and you will see that either an old, crippled Matt Hasselbeck or an unproven, talentless Charlie Whitehurst will be throwing the ball to Houshmandzadeh. That’s not really a recipe for fantasy success.

Housh has been one of the NFL’s best possession receivers over the years but I think he is bordering on becoming irrelevant. Pete Carroll will help fix Seattle’s defense but their offense is going to be ugly.

About the time Houshmandzadeh goes off the board in fantasy drafts, there will be a number of better options at receiver. Pass on Houshmandzadeh and grab yourself an Antonio Bryant, Mike Wallace, Austin Collie or Michael Crabtree instead.

Derrick Mason, WR Ravens – I will never forgive Mason for dropping that touchdown pass in Week 16 against the Steelers when he was wide open by 10 yards.

When that ball bounced off Mason’s facemask, it cost me $700. I lost my fantasy title game by five points and that catch would have been worth eight. I will never, ever forgive him for that. I cry every time I see the play.

My personal hatred for Mason aside, his time is coming to an end. With the addition of Anquan Boldin, Mason’s production will drop quite a bit in 2010. He is coming to the end of his career and Mason is now the No. 2 receiver on a run-oriented offense.

Mason went over 1,000 yards last season but that’s the last time he will ever accomplish that feat. Mason offers a little more value in PPR leagues but overall his best days are behind him.

Take a pass and go with a receiver with more upside.

I am a very busy man but if you need some one-on-one fantasy help, I will try to fit you in. I have one rule: Don’t make your e-mails a book. As a freelance writer, I spend a large part of my day writing and responding to e-mails. So if you have a question, ask it. If you want to tell me how much you hate me, do it and do it quickly. If possible, try and make me laugh. If you can’t tell me that you hate me in a couple of sentences, may a suggest seeking some professional help? This is a fantasy football column. If you hate me that much, I’m guessing you have some deep-rooted issues that need to be addressed.

Anyway, if you must get in touch with me, my e-mail address is tcasale@mail.com. Also, you can now follow me on Twitter by going to  https://twitter.com/thefiresale or on on Facebook