Each week the Noise will guide
desperate, deep-thinking owners into the dark corners of the waiver wire to
mine a last-minute diamond. Turn on your helmet light and pack a pickaxe. We’re
digging for drop-jaw surprises owned in fewer than 10 percent or started in
five percent or less of Yahoo! Plus leagues. (NOTE: Owners with teams still alive this time each year are generally blessed with several useful options. Due to this, we’re loosening the rules to accomodate the fortunate. Call it a kinder, gentler Shocker.)
Joshua Cribbs(notes) is a textbook chameleon.
He doesn’t possess zygodactylous feet, stereoscopic eyes, an
elastic tongue or the ability to change color, but he’s a highly adaptable player who can alter styles and blend into various situations with
ease. Despite his unique set of skills, the Browns’ most dangerous weapon,
started in fewer than 30 percent of Yahoo! Plus leagues, is still largely
camouflaged.
That all could change this week.
Primarily employed as a Wildcat gimmick and occasionally as
a receiver, Cribbs is undergoing a transformation. With Jamal Lewis’(notes) career
finished and Eric Mangini’s job in jeopardy, the barkless Chihuahuas have entered an experimental phase.
Young, unproven players and well-rounded veterans have been provided opportunities
to see how they will be utilized, if at all, next season. Cribbs, who is one of
the league’s supreme special teamers, has finally received the chance to
showcase his exceptional talents at an unusual position, running back. Mangini
said earlier this week he will "continue to explore" ways to hand
Cribbs the football. Cleveland’s
MVP is confident the switch will be smooth. From the AP:
"I feel like that’s one of my
abilities," he said. "My position is running back. I was a running
back, back in the day. The wildcat is me at running back. It’s a straight
handoff. It’s not like we’re trying to fool you with the quarterback being in
the mix. I’m getting the ball and I’m running it."Try to stop me."
While enrolled at Kent State,
Cribbs played quarterback. As a Golden Flash he set school records in just above every
major passing category. He is also the only player in NCAA history to lead his
team in both rushing and passing in four consecutive seasons. It’s not uncommon
for athletic collegiate passers to transition into a different position at the
NFL level. Anquan Boldin(notes), Drew Bennett(notes) and Antwaan Randle El(notes) did so with much
success. But sliding into a physically demanding spot five years into your
professional career is unheard of. Either Mangini has completely lost his
marbles or Cribbs is that special. The former may hold some weight, but the
latter is unmistakably true.
At 6-foot-1, 215-pounds, the shape-shifter is a thickly-built
player with enough strength, stamina and athleticism to handle a rigorous
workload. He’s displayed noticeable elusiveness, power and amazing vision operating
primarily out of the Wildcat. Running behind a decent, not extraordinary,
offensive line, he’s averaged an insane 7.3 yards per carry, far and away the
highest mark among rushers with at least 125 rushing yards.
The fantasy masses witnessed Cribbs’ potential first-hand
last week against one of the league’s stingiest run defenses. In a game with a
throwback feel, the 26-year-old channeled Jim Brown, rushing for 87 yards on
just eight carries versus Pittsburgh
(Highlights here). His eye-opening performance once again proved he’s the best
kept secret in football, fantasy or reality.
This week in Kansas
City, the Cribbs experiment at RB will likely undergo a trial run. Lab rats will don Chiefs red.
Since Week 9, KC has surrendered 5.0 yards per carry, 196.6 total yards per
game and nine scores to rushers, equal to the second-most points allowed.
Assuming Cribbs accumulates at least 10-12 touches, he should post excellent
numbers, especially if deployed as a WR3 in 12-team and deeper standard
formats.
With an expanded workload, this week the Chameleon could be
the color of money.
Week 15 Fearless
Forecast: 11 rushes, 91 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 9 receiving yards, 1
touchdown, 16 fantasy points
For those that prefer animated pictures over words, here’s more Cribbs propaganda. (WARNING: Playing the follwing video at high volume could attract canines, shatter eardrums, break glass…)
SILENCE THE NOISE
CHALLENGE
Each week one lucky aspiring fantasy prognosticator is
chosen to go toe-to-toe against the Noise. If you want to be a guest
"expert" submit your Week 16 flames, lames (1 QB, 3 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE
for each, 16 total) and shocker special (one player at any position) along with
a valid email address and your location here
no later than 7 PM central time on Thursday. Oh, and please, no long
dissertations to justify your picks. All that’s required are your player
selections and projections. Winners earn a league spot to compete against yours
truly next season. Good luck!
Week 15 contestant: Adam in Cleveland, OH
Flames:
QB: Matt Hasselbeck(notes), Sea, 21-26, 226 yards, 3:0 td:int, 15% started
RB: Knowshon Moreno(notes), Den, 21 carries, 113 yards, 1 td, 56%
RB: Laurence Maroney(notes), NE, 15 carries, 64 yards, 1 td, 49%
RB: Tim Hightower(notes), Ari, 12 carries, 58 yards, 1 td, 40%
WR: Mike Sims-Walker(notes), Jac, 5 catches, 68 yards, 1 td, 34%
WR: Steve Breaston(notes), Ari, 5 catches, 90 yards, 1 td, 23%
WR: Kevin Walter(notes), Hou, 6 catches, 77 yards, 1 td, 22%
TE: Jeremy Shockey(notes), NO, 5 catches, 66 yards, 1 td, 47%
Lames:
QB: Aaron Rodgers(notes), 20-33, 190 yards, 1:2 td:int, 86%
RB: Matt Forte(notes), Chi, 16 carries, 46 yards, 10 receiving yards, 0 tds, 63%
RB: Brandon Jacobs(notes), NYG, 15 carries, 72 yards, 0 tds, 63%
RB: LaDainian Tomlinson(notes), SD, 20 carries, 52 yards, 0 tds, 80%
WR: Brandon Marshall(notes), Den, 6 catches, 69 yards, 0 tds, 91%
WR: Calvin Johnson(notes), Det, 3 catches, 33 yards, 0 tds, 75%
WR: Santonio Holmes(notes), Pit, 5 catches, 52 yards, 0 tds, 73%
TE: Brent Celek(notes), Phi, 3 catches, 31 yards, 67%
Shocker Special: Malcom Floyd(notes), SD,
4 catches 47 yards, 1 td, 2%
Week 14 results: Kevin from Soldotna, Alaska
Flames (3-6): W –
(Quinton Ganther(notes), Ahmad Bradshaw(notes), Fred Davis(notes)); L – (Alex Smith, Chester Taylor(notes), Devery
Henderson(notes), Kevin Walter, Eddie Royal(notes), Josh Morgan(notes))
Lames (3-4): W –
(DeAngelo Williams(notes), Calvin Johnson, Heath Miller(notes)); L – (Tony Romo(notes), Joseph
Addai(notes), Cedric Benson(notes), Sidney Rice(notes)); (DNP – Devin Hester(notes)).
Noisers Season:
Flames (42-76, 35.6%), Lames (53-48, 52.5%)
Winners: Matthew
in Colden, NY, Micah in Shelbyville, TN, Brian in Colorado Springs, Sean from
South Brunswick, NJ, Alan from Ithaca, Matt from Washington
—
Image courtesy of AP