Head2Head Tips: No thanks for all the bye weeks

November 27th, 2008 by Topher Dean

This week’s approach to Head2Head College Salary Cap Game is a little different. Say goodbye to a couple of mainstays whose seasons have concluded without bowl eligibility. Kansas State QB Josh Freeman bounced back nicely tallying 41 after carrying out a string of four horrible games. He ends his season as the eighth best value in H2H. Purdue RB Kory Sheets also went out with a bang putting up 29 in Purdue’s finale, finishing the season as the sixth best value.

Finally, some of the more familiar names (Britt, McCoy, Brown, Gronkowski, McCoy, and Shipley) will be omitted from this list due to midweek games and the short schedule this Saturday. Why should half the list include players that can’t help with your playoff push?

Let’s get to it:

10) Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State (10.0M, 54.35 efficiency rating)

Oregon State tailback Jacquizz Rodgers (1) scores against USC (Icon SMI)

Rodgers left the game last Saturday with what is being called a sprained AC joint. However, head coach Mike Riley is optimistic that Rodgers will be able to go against rival in-state rival Oregon this week. He’s averaging about 22 points per week and should see significant carries in an effort to keep the ball out of the Ducks’ hands. Also keep in mind Beaver quarterback Lyle Moevao could be sidelined for Sean Canfield which could mean an increased workload for Rodgers.

9) Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland (3.7M, 54.57 efficiency rating)

To be honest, the only reason Heyward-Bey is an option is because of his ridiculously low salary of 3.7M. He’s only averaging about 13 points per game but the sky would be the limit if Maryland could just figure out how to get him the ball more. He’ll face a Boston College team this week that has only surrendered seven passing touchdowns on the season good for third best in the country. He should really only be considered an option if you’re planning on coupling Harrell and Bradford this week.

8) Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech (14.00M, 54.82 efficiency rating)

We saw what a good defense can do to Crabtree when Oklahoma kept him in check. However this week he’ll face a Baylor squad which he should have no problem carving up. Look for Texas Tech to pour it on to pad the fading Heisman resume of Harrell and for Crabtree and you owners to be the beneficiaries.

7) Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri (18.8M, 56.26 efficiency rating)

Starting Daniel this week is a bit of a risk because they are playing in what amounts to an essentially meaningless game as they’ll face Kansas in the Border War. This game could turn into a blowout quickly and Gary Pinkel might pull Daniel to preserve him for the Big XII championship. Use at your own risk as the matchup is terrific but the timing is horrible.

6) Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State (10.0M, 56.66 efficiency rating)

Hunter suffered a bruised quad two weeks ago in a win over Colorado. There hasn’t been any breaking news saying Hunter can’t go this week against Oklahoma, so with the magnitude of this game I would expect Hunter to play. The Sooners aren’t the easiest team to run against but the Cowboys have had two weeks of preparation for this game. He’s averaging close to 23 points per game and if the Cowboys want to pull off the upset he’ll need a lot more than that.

5) Cedric Peerman, RB, Virginia (5.2M, 60.88 efficiency rating)

The senior tailback was my sleeper last week in his final home game but was a disappointment only putting up 12 points. He’ll face a tough defense in Virginia Tech this week. If you need a cheap replacement for Sheets in order to get the high dollar players at other positions, Peerman is by far your best option.

4) Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State (11.2M, 75.69 efficiency rating)

The gap between Peerman and Bryant is huge which is testament to how valuable the players that are regularly on this list are. Bryant has a tall order this week facing a Sooner team that shut down Michael Crabtree last week. However, with the amount of time the Cowboys have had to prepare for this game, I definitely think Bryant should be in your lineup this week.

3) Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech (20.0M, 84.68 efficiency rating)

For the first time this season Graham Harrell looked completely frustrated by an opposing defense in Oklahoma. Baylor is no Oklahoma so look for Harrell to put up his usual 40 and then some. With his Heisman hopes fading after the Sooner loss, Mike Leach may just let Harrell throw for a mile in order for his Red Raider team to regain their swagger.

2) Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (17.8M, 88.37 efficiency rating)

What else can you say? Bradford was simply outstanding against Texas Tech. From an H2H standpoint he could have been even more so had the running game not stole five touchdowns from him. Now the front runner for the Heisman, Bradford will face an Oklahoma State team that has given up the third most passing touchdowns in the conference. If you bookended your lineup with Harrell and Bradford last week, I see no reason to deviate this Saturday.

1) Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri (5.2M, 90.60 efficiency rating)

Head coach Gary Pinkel insists that Coffman will play this Saturday against Kansas. The problem is he has all but done so in previous two games only to have Coffman wandering the sidelines and putting up goose eggs for owners. At this point I would lean to him playing, but keep a close ear to the goings on in Columbia. Now is not the time for you have zeroes in your box score.

Honorable Mention: DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma; Tim Tebow, QB, Florida; Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor; Dezmond Briscoe, WR, Kansas; Derrick Washington, RB, Missouri; Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma; Todd Reesing, QB, Kansas; Percy Harvin, WR, Florida; Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri; Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State.

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