Fantasy Football: It's time for them to go long

Unproductive stars should be released

By STU ROSENBERG
srosenberg@modbee.com

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Knowing when to let go can be the first step toward getting where you need to go.

Nearly two months have gone by and many of us are still wondering when our supposed stars will stop making us look bad. But it's already Week 8, time is fleeting and if it looks and smells like a flop, then ...

At the risk of being Roy Oswalt-ed, here are some underachievers we say need to go faster than the meat loaf you stuck in the fridge and forgot about four weeks ago.

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LARRY JOHNSON, RB, CHIEFS -- After he rushed for just 96 yards in KC's first two games, a reader asked if we were serious when we recommended sticking with Johnson, saying he appeared slow and looked like he was done. I countered that Johnson was paying the price for the Chiefs' anemic passing game and that he hadn't logged enough NFL miles to be done.

The next two weeks, LJ went for 121 and 198 yards and scored three touchdowns. Then the bottom fell out. A seven-carry, two-yard performance against Carolina was followed by a one-game suspension in Week 7 for violating team rules. The Chiefs suspended him again this week for allegedly getting into a physical altercation with a woman in a night club. Again. And the NFL could suspend him even longer for violating its Personal Conduct Policy. Don't let the suspense kill you, say goodbye and move on.

CARSON PALMER, QB, BENGALS -- If you're waiting for the stud version of Palmer from 2005-2007 to emerge, you're wasting your time because he isn't coming. A bum elbow has cost Palmer three games, he's already been ruled out for Sunday's game at Houston and Tommy John surgery could be on the horizon. Check please.

TONY GONZALEZ, TE, CHIEFS -- There's nothing wrong with Gonzalez that a good quarterback couldn't fix. Unfortunately Kansas City doesn't have one, and Gonzalez's stats and owners are paying a huge price. Gonzalez still has value, but rather than cutting him (and getting nothing back), your best bet is to gauge his value to others and explore trade possibilities.

TORRY HOLT, WR, RAMS -- It appears our little Third Round Curse didn't die, it just switched sports. We're sitting Holt -- who has yet to have a 100-yard game this season -- this week (which, of course, means a guaranteed 150 yards and two TDs) and he's likely made his last appearance in our starting lineup. Fellas, have I got a deal for you.

MARVIN HARRISON, WR, COLTS -- Harrison, like Holt, is no longer the fantasy game-breaker he once was. His two-TD effort against the Ravens two weeks ago gave owners hope, but the truth is that Harrison is now the Colts' fourth receiving option at best and the end is near.

Stayin' alive

The bad news is we didn't play LenDale White and his 156 yards and three TDs in Week 7. The good news is we played Mewelde Moore and his 134 yards and three TDs, which helped us not only stay afloat with top guns Tony Romo and Willie Parker out, but move within 640 points of the lead.

What were we thinking by not starting White against the Chiefs? We couldn't risk Chris Johnson having a 40-carry, 300-yard, five-TD day and White throwing down hot dogs Kobayashi-style on the sideline by the end of the first quarter.

That's the last time thought will be our guide.

OUR WEEK 8 LINEUP -- QB: Jeff "Good Call, 49ers" Garcia (at Cowboys); RB: Earnest Graham (at Cowboys) and LenDale White (vs. Colts); WR: Antonio Bryant (at Cowboys) and Derrick Mason (vs. Raiders); TE: Jason Witten (vs. Bucs); K: Nick Folk (vs. Bucs); D/ST: Steelers (vs. Giants).

Stu Rosenberg's fantasy sports column runs Fridays.

He can be reached at srosenberg@modbee.com or 578-2300.