Back from vacation

I'm back from a wonderful family mini-vacation. We spent some time in Wisconsin Dells at a monsterously huge resort with several indoor water parks. It was in the upper 30's outside, so it was pretty nice to be able to hang out in the warm water. After returning from the water parks, I took an hour drive to a car dealership yesterday to test drive a 2007 Hummer H2 and a 2006 Hummer H2 SUT. I've always wanted an H2 and have been convincing myself that the $210 that I'm saving each month from not smoking would justify the extra monthly expense. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I didn't pull the trigger yesterday. The Hummers are still on the lot. So where am I going with this story? Well, the trip to Wisconsin Dells was very expensive once we got there (think $32 pizzas and $50+ dinner buffets) but was worth it to spend the time with my family. The Hummers are gorgeous (in my opinion), but with gas prices climbing, they become very expensive to own. In fantasy football, it's not uncommon to pay a high price for a player and then find yourself in a position where that "expensive" player continues to cost you points down the road.



I paid a high price for Matt Forte (my #1 pick) and he continues to cost me points each week based on the fact that I could have drafted any number of other players with that pick who have paid dividends. I paid too much for guys like Greg Jennings, Steve Smith (CAR), Brandon Jacobs, and Clinton Portis and none of them have paid off like I had hoped. So what do you do when you find yourself in that position?



Here's how I look at it. I can 1) try to trade up for one of these players based on name recognition or untapped potential, or 2) stick with the player and hope for the best. I suppose I could also drop the player for a waiver wire claim, but seriously, who would simply drop Greg Jennings for hope that a waiver claim might pay off consistently (consistently being the key word)?



All too often, we're forced to stick with that player. I have a hard time dropping a guy like Steve Smith because I know he's capable of producing monster stats and could very easily be the guy who gives me the win that week. That doesn't mean that I discount the horrible play of Jake Delhomme. Jennings is another that could give me a monster week IF the Green Bay offensive line can give Rodgers enough time to let Jennings get downfield.



If you're like me you also have a few guys who you picked up at a value that are seriously paying off right now. Ray Rice is one of those guys that I'm tickled pink to have in my lineup. Joe Flacco is another. These guys have exploded into fantasy studs but you wouldn't know it from their preseason rankings.



If I owned the Hummer H2 (that I won't be buying), I'd have to drive it every day in the same way that I'll be driving Forte, Jennings, Smith, Jacobs, and Portis each week. I'll continue to entertain trade offers in the same way that I'd have to look at trading an H2 for a Hybrid.



Until you can find an equitable trade, stick with your guys. They have the potential to have big games.

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