Fantasy source.(Fantasy)(fantasy football)

PLAY ACTION

by ROB HURTT

Fantasy owners won't shed any tears when they say goodbye to the off-weeks after Week 10. In fact, many will welcome the opportunity to shed excess players from their rosters.

While having a deep bench is critical in September and October, it's less imperative once teams quit having open dates. Maximizing the on-field talent becomes key. Owners need to recognize this midseason change in philosophy and prepare early.

Depth isn't a bad thing, of course. A solid backup is necessary to take over when injuries strike or awful matchups occur. However, owners need to be smart about how they use that depth. Having too much of a good thing could keep you from having a great starting lineup. Why let that quality player rot on the bench down the stretch? Try packaging him with another part-time starter to net a great player you can use every week.

Would you rather head to the playoffs with two stars and a scrub (LaDainian Tomlinson, Edgerrin James and Miami's running back du jour) or travel with three middle-of-the-road options (Rudi Johnson, Travis Henry and Duce Staley)? I'd take my chances with the elite players and hope they stay healthy.

Owners with four high-quality receivers might decide they have no need to carry a sixth or even a fifth. If your starting defense can shut down any team in the league, why own two? These lineup spots could be put to better use.