Championship Fantasy Sports

Economic considerations motivated the Vernon Wells trade. The Blues got out from under the last four years of his contract.

While agreeing to absorb that cost, the Angels unloaded two overpaid players – OF Juan Rivera and C-1B Mike Napoli. Both teams gained clear budgetary benefits from this trade.

The fantasy implications are much murkier, however. Will any of the traded players actually gain fantasy value?

Let’s look at those impacted:

Vernon Wells, OF, Angels: He was solid last season in Toronto, hitting .273 with 31 home runs, 44 doubles and 88 RBIs. But Wells, 32, averaged 17 homers and 74 RBIs during the previous three seasons while battling assorted injuries. And his ’10 on-base percentage was just .331, which ranked 88th among 149 qualifying hitters.

Since Anaheim underbid for free agents Carl Crawford and Adrian Beltre earlier in this offseason, Wells will face lofty expectations. On the other hand, he will get hit in the middle of an impressive offensive lineup. Perhaps the change of scenery will energize him.

“To go into a season where you're expected to win — I haven't had that in a while, and it's something I'm looking forward to,” Wells told reporters on a conference call. “The last two days have been two of the most goose bump-filled days I've had in my career.”

Juan Rivera, OF, Blue Jays: He will bid for the starting right field job in Toronto. Back in 2009, he hit .287 with 25 homers. But last season Rivera, 32, hit just 15 homers while hitting .252 and posting a .312 on-base percentage. Can he hit enough to convince the Blue Jays to keep slugger Jose Bautista at 3B?

Mike Napoli, C-1B, Blue Jays: The good news: He has topped 20 homers the last three seasons, which is notable for a catcher. The bad news: He continued a three-year slide in batting average (to .238), his career worst and on-base percentage (.316). He is a defensive liability behind the plate and he didn’t do much with his opportunity to fill in at first last season in Anaheim.

His .182 average with runners in scoring position and 137 strikeouts made him expendable. Can he earn regular work in Toronto? The Blue Jays have many 1B/DH candidates, starting with reliable Adam Lind. Toronto also has prospect J.P. Arencibia ready to step in as catcher.

Rajai Davis, OF, Blue Jays: With Wells departing, he gets an opportunity to take over in center field. “They’re making room for somebody, yeah? That’s pretty amazing; I’m speechless,” Davis told the Norwich Bulletin. “It’s something I’m looking forward to, training even more. I’m excited.” Davis hit .284 with 50 stolen bases for Oakland last season.

Jeff Mathis, C, Angels: Napoli’s exit gives him an opportunity to play more. But his .199 career batting average makes him a potential liability, so Bobby Wilson and rookie Hank Conger will be pressing for playing time as well.

For more fantasy analysis, check out the World Championship of Fantasy Sports site.

Recently ESPN.com’s Buster Olney published his of “Ten Players at Career Crossroads.” We’ve already looked at one of them, Cardinals shortstop Ryan Theriot.

Let’s consider the other nine from Olney’s list from the fantasy perspective:

Jose Reyes, SS, Mets: Back in 2008 he stole 56 bases and stroked 72 extra base hits. Then injury and illness limited him to 36 games the following season. He made a partial recovery in 2010, stealing 30 bases and delivering 50 extra base hits in 133 games. Now he is in the "walk” year of his contract, seeking to define his free-agent value. Which Jose Reyes will we see? Base stealers tend to age quickly in this sport, given the wear and tear.

Nate McLouth, OF, Braves: He crashed and burned last season, hitting just.190 in Atlanta. The Braves sent him back to the minors to relocate his stroke. He never really found it, hitting just .234 in Gwinnett of the International League. Was this really the same guy who hit 26 homers and drove in 94 runs for Pittsburgh in 2008? This might be his final chance to reestablish himself as an everyday player.

Edwin Jackson, SP, White Sox: This well-traveled power pitcher gained value late last season. He landed with the White Sox for the stretch run and struck out 77 batters in 75 innings. Back in 2009, he was 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA for the Tigers. He was terrible for the Diamondbacks last season, posting a 5.16 ERA. Then he was great in Chicago, posting a 3.24 ERA. Like Reyes, he is in the walk year of his contract. Focus should not be an issue.

Howie Kendrick, 2B, Angels: His batting averages (.295 career) and OPS (.752 career) have remained pretty consistent in Anaheim. He played full-time for the first time last season and delivered 41 doubles. But he has 1,935 career at bats and just 78 walks. His on-base percentage last season was just .313. Imagine the numbers he could post with a bit more patience!

Jeremy Guthrie, SP, Orioles: His second-hard ERA of 2.76 proved he could translate his impressive stuff into results. But pitching for Baltimore is no fun, as his 38-48 career record suggests. He was 10-17 with a 5.04 ERA in 2009. Can he pitch well enough during the first half in 2011 to inspire a contending team to rescue him before the trade deadline? As Olney notes, that might be his best shot at having a productive season.

Joba Chamberlain, RP, Yankees: By signing late-inning reliever Rafael Soriano, over the objection of GM Brian Cashman, the Yankees relegated Chamberlain to middle relief – and killed what little fantasy value he had. Soriano will set up Mariano Rivera this season. Will Chamberlain resurface elsewhere as a starter? He started 31 games in 2009 and went 9-6 with a 4.75 ERA. Will he eventually close for another team? He converted just three of seven save opportunities for the Yankees last season.

Ian Desmond, SS, Nationals: His 34 errors raised questions about his ability to play every day. But he was solid offensively in his first full big league season, offering some pop (27 doubles, 10 homers, 65 RBI) and speed (17 steals) at a hard-to-fill offensive position. He does need to improve his on-base percentage (.308 last year) and OPS (.700) to become an impact hitter.

Alcides Escobar, SS, Royals: He can defend all day, but does he have any fantasy value? We’ll see this season, since Kansas City is counting on his development. He was the centerpiece of their Zack Greinke trade. After hitting .305 in limited duty in 2009, Escobar hit just .235 with a .614 OPS last year for the Brewers in 506 at bats. He drew just 36 walks. Since Escobar hit .298 at the Class AAA level and .328 at Double-A, so there is real hope.

Randy Wells, SP, Cubs: Chicago is looking to take a big step this season. Wells could be a big part of that – if he snaps back from his 8-14, 4.26 sophomore season. He allowed a .413 slugging percentage last year. Wells was 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA as a rookie, so the high-end potential remains. The Cubs’ addition of starting pitcher Matt Garza should ease some pressure.

For more fantasy information, check out the World Championship of Fantasy Sports site.

Outfielder Carl Crawford believes moving from the Rays to the Red Sox will be no big deal,

“There won't be many adjustments, except to the cold,” Crawford told reporters at his introductory news conference. “The AL East is so exciting and I really wanted to stay in the AL East. When I heard Boston was interested, I was definitely excited.”

But as Washington Post columnist Tom Boswell observed, Boston hasn’t been kind to Crawford over the years: “In lopsided Fenway Park, which works against all his tendencies as a hitter, Crawford has only hit one home run every 85 at-bats. In 338 career plate appearances in Fenway, a large sample over many years, he has an ugly .275/.301/.406 line.

“Crawford's other flaw is that his career numbers against left-handed pitching are even worse than his stats in Fenway. Now, in the same lineup with lefties such as David Ortiz, J.D. Drew, Adrian Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury, the Red Sox will see every team's southpaws. Calling CC Sabathia. And Andy Pettitte and Cliff Lee?”

Tropicana Field was no fun for fans, but Crawford built a nice career there. It’ll be interesting to see how he adapts his offensive game to new surroundings.

Can he develop power to the opposite field? That would help him immensely in Boston, but he has just seven opposite field homers in career.

Fantasy player need to pay attention to this while building their 2011 ratings.

Elsewhere, two players could suffer while leaving Fenway Park for new homes.

Brad Hawpe is another classic example a borderline statistical commodity trying to rebuild his value in a new setting.

He got lost in the Colorado outfield shuffle last season. He moved on to Tampa Bay, where he played part-time in the loaded Rays line-up.

Now Hawpe, who drove in 116 runs for Colorado back in 2007, hopes to reestablish himself as an everyday player in San Diego. He is moving back to his original defensive position, first base, to fill a major lineup hole for the Padres.

“I'm not replacing Adrian Gonzalez,” Hawpe told reporters after signing. “He's a heck of a first baseman. I'm just going to go out and do my thing.”

PETCO Park is where fly balls go to die. But the left-handed Hawpe has actually hit pretty well there – batting .281 with a .371 on-base percentage, five home runs and 21 RBIs in 153 at-bats during his career.

“I really enjoy that ballpark,” Hawpe said. “If you're talking about hitting, the first thing I notice is the ability to see the baseball. I think San Diego is right up there with their backdrop. I've always enjoyed it there.”

Hawpe, 31, is a good bet to improve on last season’s meager production (.245, nine home runs, 44 RBIs). As a career .279 hitter, he should be worth an end-of-the-draft pick or a modest auction bid for the 2011 season.

Here are some other players looking to rebuild their fantasy value.

Many players gained fantasy value by changing teams during the off-season, but arguably none more than starting pitcher Zack Greinke.

He regressed dramatically in Kansas City last season, losing victories (16 to 10) and strikeouts (242 to 181) while gaining earned-run average (2.16 to 4.17). Escaping a perpetual also-ran should do wonders for his career.

Greinke gets a fresh start for an offensively loaded National League Central team gives him an opportunity to regain his edge win 20 games. Rather than losing draft standing after a poor season, he will actually gain value.

Here are some other players who gained value:

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox: He moves from cavernous Petco Field to cozy Fenway Park, leaving a poor offensive team to join a juggernaut. His production in San Diego was heroic: 161 homers and 501 RBIs in five seasons. A high fantasy draft pick becomes an absolutely premium selection with this scenery change. His ability to hit lefties (.937 OPS vs. them last season) makes him the perfect catalyst for this offense.

Javier Vazquez, SP, Marlins: He wasn’t equipped to handle the New York spotlight – or the heavyweight AL East hitting. Moving for Florida should allow him to approximate the success he had for the Braves (15-10 with a 2.87 ERA) pitching in the NL.

“My arm felt as good as it ever has. My velocity was there,” Vazquez said of his one season with Atlanta. “The park, Turner Field, played to my style of pitching. I'm a fly-ball pitcher and that park helped me a lot. Hopefully it's going to be the same in Miami.” He was 10-10 with a 5.32 ERA in 31 games (26 starts) for the Yankees last season.

Lance Berkman, OF, Cardinals: He moves from a part-time role with the Yankees to the regular right field role in St. Louis. He would have more offensive value as a 1B/DH in the American League, but he opted to return to the NL and a more challenging assignment. He will be 35 next season, so it’s fair to ask if his legs will hold up in the outfield.

From 2000 through 2009, he ranked fourth in the NL in on-base percentage (.413) and sixth in slugging percentage (.559). He ranked among the top 10 in OBP eight times, and in the top 10 in slugging four times. He is whipping himself into better physical shape, so don’t write him off.

Adam Dunn, DH/1B, White Sox: Dunn, 31, hit .260 with 38 home runs and 103 RBIs last season for the Washington Nationals. He has been one of the sport’s most reliable power sources, hitting between 38 and 46 home runs for the last seven years and driving in between 92 and 106 runs. Now he will tag team with Paul Konerko in a slugger-friendly environment. A 125-RBI season is not out of the question.

Shaun Marcum, SP, Brewers: Would you rather pitch in the AL East of the NL Central? Marcum made a strong comeback from Tommy John last season, going 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 31 starts for Toronto last season. “I learned a lot about how to pitch,” he said. “I think when you're in a division like, you can't just go out there and throw. You have to pitch.”

Like Greinke, he could bid for 20 victories in Milwaukee.

Zach Duke, SP, Diamondbacks: Pitching for the horrible Pirates took a toll on him. Duke bottomed out last season with an 8-15 record with a 5.82 ERA. During the last two seasons he allowed 443 hits, sixth-most in the majors. In parts of six seasons in Pittsburgh, he was 45-70 with a 4.54 ERA. He can’t help but get better, right? As a ground ball pitcher, he will benefit from having a better team behind him.

Aaron Harang, SP, San Diego: He leaves a home-run hitters park to work half his starts in a pitcher’s stadium. He allows a lot of fly balls – but PETCO Field is the place where fly balls go to die. That .379 career ground ball rate is of no concern there.

“PETCO is one of the very few stadiums left in the league that you can consider to be a true pitcher's park,” Harang said. “Most of the other parks are geared toward hitters.”

Ryan Theriot, SS, Cardinals: He appeared headed to utility work next season, but St. Louis skipper Tony La Russa believes he can handle an everyday role at shortstop and possibly hit high in the batting order. The Cardinals are hoping for the infielder who hit .284 for the Cubs rather than the one who hit .242 for the Dodgers.

Bill Hall, 2B, Astros: He moves from a utility role in Boston to a full-time role in Houston, which is starved for offense. Hall hit 18 homers in 382 plate appearances for the Red Sox last season. His power will translate well in Houston.

For more fantasy sports analysis, visit the World Championship of Fantasy Sports site.

When fantasy players needed him most, Michael Vick failed them.

Perhaps this is why Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson is so mad at him. While Vick is earning wholesale praise for turning his life around, Carlson would have none of it.

“Michael Vick killed dogs, and he did (it) in a heartless and cruel way.” He added, “I think
personally he should have been executed for that.”

That’s a bit harsh. It sounds like somebody had Vick on his fantasy team in Week 16, when the Eagles QB lost two fumbles and threw an interception. Michael has thrown six interceptions in his last five games and could have had three more Tuesday night, but for Minnesota drops.

He averaged a season-low 6.1 yards per attempt. He finished with a season-low 74.1 passer rating. “I was trying to press the issue instead of playing smart and taking care of the football,” Vick admitted. “And it cost us. I've got to do a better job of protecting the football.”

To add injury to insult, the battered Vick seems likely to sit out all or more of the regular season Philadelphia finale. He is struggling with a quadriceps strain.

Eagles coach Andy Reid wants to get him back on top of his game – and he has QB Kevin Kolb eager to showcase his talents to other teams.

“I'm a competitor,” Vick said. “I always want to play. But it's Andy's decision. I'll do whatever he wants me to do.”

Here are some other notable NFL players causing angst in the fantasy world.

For more fantasy analysis, visit the World Championship of Fantasy Sports site.

Step by step, second-year Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman has developed nicely.

But what happened in Week 16 was startling. He picked apart the hapless Seahawks, completing 21 of 26 passes for 237 yards and five touchdowns. Overall he has 23 TD passes this year against just six interceptions this season.

“He’s clutch. He’s a closer. He’s a big-time quarterback, and he’s developed into it right in front of our eyes,” Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris said. “We get a chance to see it, and it’s beautiful to watch.”

WR Mike Williams and TE Kellen Winslow each cashed in with two touchdown catches against the Seahawks. Who figured Williams would hit double figures in TD catches as rookie?

Not all the real-life NFL GMs who passed on him.

Each week ESPN.com runs a regular feature, “This Week's Horrible Fantasy Team That Crushed Your Fantasy Team.” Freeman was the field general of that squad, as you would expect.

Here were the other selections:

Correll Buckhalter, RB, Broncos: 92 total yards, 2 TDs.

Danny Woodhead, RB, Patriots: 125 total yards, TD.

Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals: 6 catches, 124 yards, 2 TDs.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers: 4 catches, 124 yards, TD.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots: 4 catches, 54 yards, 2 TDs.

Buckhalter benefited from QB Tim Tebow’s quick start as the No. 1 man in Denver, finishing off a couple of scoring drives. Woodhead, a talented third-down back this season, furthered his cult hero standing, pounding out a 100-yard game on the ground.

With WR Terrell Owens down and out for the year, Simpson stepped up with a huge receiving day. Is this the sign of things to come? Cincinnati figures to move on without T.O. and Chad Ochocinco next season, so somebody has to fill in.

Nelson also gave fantasy players something to think about in 2011 with a big-point game. And Gronkowski added to his fast finish by snagging two TD catches. Life with QB Tom Brady is very good this year.

Why in the world are the Seahawks sticking with QB Matt Hasselbeck?

Does this mean Seattle coach Pete Carroll has already given up on Quarterback of the Future Charlie Whitehurst?

Carroll had some explaining to do to the Pacific Northwest media. Here is what he said:

"Well, I think it doesn't have anything to do with Charlie. It has to do with, we think that Matt can get the job done for us. We have to keep him in good situations. We've got to play good football around him. I can't emphasize that enough. For all quarterbacks, they play with a bunch of other guys on the field as well. We have to do well running the football and protecting and all that, and then the quarterback has got to do his job, and he's got to take care of the ball. We got careless with the football when we fell behind in a couple games here that was really obvious that we pushed too much and pressed too much with it. We'll stay out of that situation, and if we do that, I think we're going to be in good shape.

“I'm excited about Charlie's growth. We trust him. We believe in him that he can come in the game. I think we could see that again last week, and if we need him, we'll call on him. He has made good progress and he has gotten better and he was very comfortable in the game last week, and that's a good sign. If we need him, he's going to jump in there and go.”

Is Carroll ready to give Hasselbeck a quicker hook?

“I plan to go play the football game to win it, and we'll see what happens,” Carroll said. “I don't have any thought at all about taking the quarterback out. Not at all. We're going with Matt. Matt's our guy. We want him to play really well, and we're going to try and build up a great plan that he can carry off and get us a great win there in Tampa. That's really all we're thinking. I don't have any plan other than that.”

In Denver, meanwhile, the Broncos had no trouble trading out the old for the young. But the dawning of the Tim Tebow Era in Denver makes us wonder what will become of QB Kyle Orton, a solid fantasy producer this season despite his team’s failure. He is owed $5.5 million guaranteed next season.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Orton told the Denver Post. “I do know I’m not the one who’s going to be making that decision. I’m not the one who made this decision. But (if) the organization wants to go a different way the rest of the year, then hey, that’s just how it is. If I’m back next year, my belief is I’m coming back as the starter.”

Lions QB Drew Stanton boosted his NFL stock and helped his future employment opportunities. After separating his non-throwing shoulder, though, he might give the job back to Shaun Hill – since starter Matthew Stafford is recovering from HIS shoulder injury.

Hill (13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in eight starts this season) is recovering from a broken knuckle on this throwing hand. “It just continues to get better,” he told reporters. “I'm still adapting to playing with it and the more time I spend on it, the better off we'll be.”

Here are some other Week 16 story lines:

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew doesn’t like to miss games with injuries, but could he sit this week with nagging knee problems? “I hope not,” Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio told reporters. “We're just, the way I look at it, we're always optimistic. We get the information to go through the week, get the feedback from the player, from the trainer, from the doctors and all that, then make a determination.”

Colts RB Joseph Addai appears to be finally ready to return from his shoulder injury. RB Donald Brown is coming off a strong performance, so Addai figures to provide depth if he is active. RB Mike Hart (ankle) is also close to coming back. This is good news for an offense dealing with the loss of WR Austin Collie (concussion) for the season.

It appears Chargers TE Antonio Gates is finally done for the year due to his nagging toe injury. He has valiantly played in pain, but even he has his limits. “Time is the key,” he told reporters. “There’s not magical treatment for an injury like this. Just because I hope to come back if we end up making the postseason, there’s no guarantee that I’ll be able to go. It gives me a chance.”

Week 16 is not an optimal time for Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew to miss a game due to his lingeringknee injury. Fantasy players everywhere are counting on his production. Titles are being decided these last two weeks.

But, yes, it appears Jones-Drew could finally sit because of a problem that bothered him all season.

“There was a bunch of talk about [the knee] at the beginning of the year, but it wasn’t hurt to the point that I couldn’t play on it,” Jones-Drew told the Florida Times-Union Friday. “But we knew that if I did play on it this could happen. I chose to do it. I wanted to play football and I love playing the game. This is the price you pay sometimes.”

His swollen knee prevented him from practicing all week. FoxSports.com reported that “barring a miracle” he would sit.

Jones-Drew had clicked off six consecutive 100-yard games before gaining just 46 yards on 15 carries against the Colts. RB Rashad Jennings (47 carries for 319 yards, TDs three consecutive weeks) got the reps in practice this week and is poised to fill in.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio prefers to sit players who didn’t practice all week, but he makes exceptions. “Some guys have earned that because you've seen them go through that and then play well,” Del Rio told the Times-Union. “If you have a history with a guy, it makes it a little easier to understand what they're capable of.”

So Drew could still talk his way into the game against Washington. “Durability was a question when I got in this league,” Jones-Drew said. “I tried everything to keep myself in the best shape possible to be able to play. It’s a goal that I’ve had. It’s tough. I’m doing everything now that I can to try and go out there and run around a little bit.”

But fantasy players should prepare their Plan B just the same.

Here are some other last-minute Week 16 story lines:

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson is expected to answer the bell. “He was able to do some things and feel pretty good about the fact he’ll probably make it,” interim coach Leslie Frazier told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I think he’ll probably make it.”

Chargers WR Malcolm Floyd has two balky hamstrings instead of one. So WR Legedu Naanee would be a good bet if you are scrounging for another starter. As noted earlier, TE Antonio Gates is out anid likely done for the season.

Cowboys RB Marion Barber could finally get some work this week. He hasn’t carried the ball since Thanksgiving, but he was back at work this week. RB Felix Jones (1,085 yards from scrimmage) missed some practice time this week but is expected to carry most of the workload.[

Jets QB Mark Sanchez expects to play despite his shoulder injury, which may include a slight cartilage tear. He closed out the practice week on a good note. “He was on point,” WR Santonio Holmes reported. “He had a couple of bad throws here and there, wasn’t trusting himself, didn’t get into the feel until midway through practice but other than that, he felt great. He threw after practice, and I think it’s all going to be fine.”

No Aaron Rodgers for the Packers during Week 15? No problem.

Fill-in QB Matt Flynn stepped in and stepped up, completing 24 of 37 passes for 251 yards, three touchdowns and must one interception.

That wasn’t quite enough to win a game for Green Bay, but his solid fantasy protection saved at least a few fantasy playoff teams out there. Teams that lost Rodgers to a concussion – and lacked a quality QB-2 – grabbed Flynn off the waiver wire and hoped for the best.

“The plan was to get out there and cut it loose,” Flynn told reporters. “The plan didn’t change because I was in. We went out and went after them.

“We did some good things. We moved the ball. But we lost, so we didn’t get it done.”

Flynn was not the only pleasant statistical surprise. Each week ESPN.com runs a feature, “This Week's Horrible Fantasy Team That Crushed Your Fantasy Team.”

Here were this week’s honorees:

Rex Grossman, QB, Redskins: 25-for-43, 322 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs.

Donald Brown, RB, Colts: 14 carries, 129 yards, TD.

Maurice Morris, RB, Lions: 15 carries, 109 yards, TD.

Mario Manningham, WR, Giants: 8 catches, 113 yards, 2 TDs.

Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars: 4 catches, 42 yards, 2 TDs.

Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints: 5 catches, 29 yards, 2 TDs.

Grossman stepped in for Redskins QB Donovan McNabb under controversial circumstances. McNabb’s apparent feud with the coaching Shanahans, Mike and Kyle, cleared the way for his unlikely ascension. Making his first start since 2008, Grossman overcame a predictably tough start to put up good numbers.

He formed connections with WRs Santana Moss (two TD catches) and Anthony Armstrong (five catches, 100 yards) again and again. And TE Chris Cooley gave him high marks.

“Rex is so fast getting in and out of the huddle,” Cooley said. “He is so intense. There is nothing laid-back. He has a quick tempo, and he gets us to the ball as fast as he can get us to the ball.”

Donald Brown gave QB Peyton Manning some much-needed offense. Fantasy players expected lots more games like from the Colts RB. During his previous three weeks, he carried the ball 30 times for just 66 yards.

After rushing for just 123 yards in his previous games, Morris nearly reached that total in Week 15. Manningham’s eight catches for the Giants nearly matched his total (nine) from the previous four weeks combined.

Walker caught two TD passes after catching just one since Oct. 31. Graham caught two TD passes after catching just one all season.

Will anybody place a bet on any of these guys in Week 16?