Branch's Fantasy Football Value Out on a Limb

By now you should be aware of the continuing squabble between WR Deion Branch and the Patriots.

Yesterday, the Pats gave Branch 1 week to arrange a trade to another team (or what?). So, what does this all mean for Fantasy Football team owners. Three things:

1. Branch's value has some question to it right now depending on where he ends up. However, he is a starter and likely to have good value no matter where that is.
2. The bigger question revolves around the value of the other Pats receivers should Branch leave (more on that later). There will also be an impact to the order of receivers on any new team he might find.
3. The is a classic example of why you should schedule your fantasy draft as close to opening day as possible. I know of several leagues that drafted over three weeks ago, before the preseason even started. Many teams are going to end up with players that are injured, sitting, or may not even make the roster.

So what is going to happen with Branch? My gut feeling is that he'll stay with New England. At this point he is their only clear #1 receiver with David Givens gone. Additionally, one week isn't much time to arrange a trade in the NFL.

If, however, Branch does go somewhere else the value of players such as Kevin Faulk, Reche Caldwell, Troy Brown, Chad Jackson, and former Buckeye Brandon "Bam" Childress will increase. The question is the, by how much? Also, as talented as Tom Brady is, without both Branch and Givens, there may be a negative impact on his numbers as well.

As for Mr. Branch, I'm certainly sympathetic with his situation. The poor fellow only stands to make just over million dollars this year. I mean, how can he expect to survive on that? Let's face it, if any of us were working under a contract with our management, and we decided one day that we weren't making enough, well, they certainly would bend over backwards to give us more money, wouldn't they? Yeh, right.