It is late in the season and your fantasy team is beat up. They need a veteran to come into the locker room and get them back into winning form. If you win this week you are in the finals, lose and it is one more year of having to hear about how one of your friends is better than you at something that has no real bearing with reality. But isn’t that why it is called “fantasy” football? Here are my top five picks for a veteran player who can whip your team back into championship mode regardless of your injuries. Sure all of these guys have been retired for a few years, but the knowledge and insight could really push your team into the finals.
(All of these players are currently active to be claimed from waivers in ESPN fantasy football)
Chad Johnson FA WR
owned in .1 of fantasy leagues.
That’s right Ochocinco with six pro bowls and plenty of attitude, he could really get your WRs in shape. He had 750+ catches and over 11,000 yards during his career and was able to get himself talked about so much you’d think he was Jerry Jones apprentice. Throw him on your bench and receive a bonus to your teams ability to make lists and talk shit, although he might take you to the final game, you might fall just shy.
Terrell Owens, FA WR
owned in .1 of fantasy leagues, started in .2
T.O. All it takes in two letters to get your team back on top. Another flamboyant six time pro bowl receiver. He had over 1,000 catches for over 15,000 yards. He isn’t ever rostered and he has scored as many touch downs as Julio Jones has in the last five weeks! (six if you count the bye). He will boost your teams dancing ability but it will also add to the amount of penalties they get, but luckily for you in fantasy football penalties mean basically nothing.
LaDainian Tomlinson, FA RB
owned in .2 of fantasy leagues.
This is a guy who knows what it is like to have a knee injury and struggle to be relevant after being great for a few years. In other words he can boost the moral of all your injured running backs and maybe shed some insight on how to score touchdowns to some of the practice squad guys you are hoping will carry you to the finals. It is also worth noting if you have Cecil Shorts III or Julian Edelman, that LT was the 7th player the NFL to run, catch, and throw for a touchdown in a single game.
Tim Tebow, FA QB
owned in .4 of fantasy leagues, started in .4
Before Tim Tebow was born his mother was advised to have an abortion, she did not and he defied all odds, well up until he got into the NFL, but we can ignore that because we are trying to look at the positive. This former Heisman winner will bring media attention to your team, even if you don’t want him to. He will constantly kneel down for some reason, so you better hope your team is winning before you start losing rushing yards.
Tony Gonzalez, Atl TE .1 of fantasy leagues.
Gonzalez to me always did exactly what a tight end should do, get big in the end zone. He was going up for jump balls every time his team was in the redzone and guess what, he was scoring on most of them. He only missed two games in he whole career, which would put most of your team from this year to shame. Adding Gonzalez to your team will increase their ability to write cookbooks and increases their redzone efficiency.
