Welcome back fellow corralers. Week 6 is now in the rear view mirror. If you won this week, good for you. If you lost, don't worry, still plenty of time to make a move. Either way, it's time for forget about Week 6 and set our focus on Week 7. So let's get started.
No, corralers, I did not typo. For those that are just waking up for the first time since Sunday, the big news from yesterday was that Carson Palmer was traded to the Oakland Raiders. Yes, Mike Brown actually traded him. This just shows that everyone has a price, and when someone is met with that price, they will budge.
In exchange for Palmer, the Bengals will receive a first round pick in 2012, and a conditional pick in 2013. The condition is that if the Raiders make it to the AFC Championship Game either this season or next season, the Bengals receive a first round pick in 2013. If not, the pick is a second round pick.
Pretty nice haul for someone who vowed he wasn't trading Palmer. But can you blame Brown? His Bengals are off to a 4-2 start with Andy Dalton at quarterback. He has a very young, up and coming offense, and a strong defense, which currently ranks 2nd in the NFL in yards per game allowed. Only the Steelers have allowed fewer. And now with one, possibly two, first round picks coming, this team is on the rise.
As far as Oakland is concerned, they clearly are in a win now mode. This move comes after Jason Campbell suffered a broken collarbone in Week 6 against the Browns. If they didn't land Palmer, they were possibly looking at Kyle Boller as their starter. So, I think we can see why they made the move. Say what you want about whether the Raiders overpayed for Palmer, but they usually say a franchise QB is worth two first round picks. Time will tell if Palmer holds that statement true for the Raiders.
As far as fantasy purposes go, how much value does Palmer now hold? It was originally thought that Palmer would not be the starter until Week 9, as the Raiders have their bye in Week 8. But now reports are coming out saying Palmer will start this week against the Chiefs. Obviously, Palmer may have a bit of rust he will have to shake off, having not played since Week 17 of last year, but this is a guy who finished with the sixth most passing yards last season with 3,970. He also did throw 26 touchdown passes. The only downside was that he threw 20 interceptions.
It's also very possible Palmer learns this offense fairly quickly. And if he does, all the better. He certainly now has the weapons to work with. Darrius Heyward-Bey finally looks like the receiver Oakland thought they were getting back in 2009, Jacoby Ford has the speed to break open any play, and Denarius Moore has turned into a pretty good receiver as well.
So, while Palmer may not be an absolute fantasy starter right away, he is absolutely a QB2 with upside, and certainly worth a roster spot in most leagues, if not all.
That's all for now, corralers. See you real soon.
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