Players Who Are No Use to You Now But One Day Will Be

Whether you’re riding high at 2-0 or feeling desperate at 0-2, it’s time to start looking beyond next week’s game and focus on the stretch run. The players you win with late in the season and into the playoffs are not always the guys you drafted; as Torry Hallelujah pointed out in our Week 3 podcast, I won the RGFL last year with a RB trio of Kenny Watson, Kolby Smith, and Darius Walker. It’s easy to forget about this now, but late in the season, the starters who carried you to the top of your league are often A) injured, B) sitting out because their team has nothing to play for, or C) in jail for mistreating puppies. With that in mind, let me crack an egg of knowledge on your head by taking a look at a few commonly available players who could determine the fate of your season.

Jamaal Charles (RB – KC) LJ needs to learn that you can’t complain about PT when you rush for less than 2 yards per carry. At some point, the Chiefs are going to have to go with the back that shows acceleration and burst. Charles has used his track-star speed to pass Kolby Smith on the depth chart; it won’t be long before he starts seeing more carries.

Bobby Engram (WR – SEA) If you’ve been following the running drama that is the Seahawks’ wide receiver situation, you’ve already seen more casualties than the Andrea Doria. Engram is still a few weeks away from returning, but when he gets back he’ll quickly become Hasselbeck’s go-to guy, just like last year.

Chester Taylor (RB - MIN) Maybe Taylor’s not as far off the radar as the rest of these names, but he still warrants mentioning. The fact is, AD is not playing 16 games this year. He’s just not. His hamstring is starting to act up, so trade for The Molester on the cheap. As long as you don’t have to mortgage your starting line-up, you’ll be happy you did come November.

Chris Taylor (RB – HOU) Ahman Green is more done than a Blondies hamburger and Steve Slaton is too small to withstand the punishment of being an NFL running back. Keep an eye on Taylor, who will likely see some carries near the goal line and who could take over the job later this year.

Dominic Rhodes (RB – IND) Because Joseph Addai can never stay healthy.

Fred Jackson (RB – BUF) Because Marshawn Lynch can never stay healthy.

Sindey Rice and Bernard Berrian (WR – MIN) We were down on Berrian on Tuesday, but look how quickly things change. If Gus Frerotte becomes entrenched as the starter, both Vikings WRs become players to watch. Rice has loads of raw talent and could post second half numbers similar to the ones Brandon Marshall put up last year.

Garrett Mills (TE – MIN) Once Brad Childress realizes that Visante Shiancoe is worth about as much as a Hamlet 2 promo poster, they’ll look to the promising Mills.

James Jones (WR – GB) Donald Driver and The Talented Motherfucker, Greg Jennings, both have had injury woes in the past. Jones built up a rapport with Rodgers during their days together on the second string and could become A-Rod’s main target if he finds his way into the starting line-up. You always go with the guy you came up with, or so says Michael J. Cox, anyways.