Tuesday, Sept. 27
Willis McGahee in exchange for Mike Anderson, Jimmy Smith, Fred Taylor
Analysis: McGahee is off to a decent start, rushing for 291 yards and one touchdown through three games. However, the Bills’ defense in general has struggled under the guidance of first-year starter J.P. Losman. Defenses have and will continue to stack the line of scrimmage until Losman can prove to be a consistent passing threat.
Anderson is Denver’s lead running back by default and hasn’t set the world on fire, rushing for 152 yards and one touchdown in three games. However he’s the starter until further notice in arguably the league’s most potent rushing attack, so there’s something to be said for that. Smith continues to defy age and continues to be QB Byron Leftwich’s go-to guy. Taylor has 255 yards on the ground with a touchdown and seems to be healthy.
It comes down to numbers with this trade … the owner acquiring two starting running backs and a solid No. 2 wide receiver wins, despite the fact that he gives up the best player in the deal.
Eli Manning in exchange for Peyton Manning
What would Archie do? Sure, Eli has gotten off to a decent start, throwing five touchdowns in his first three games. But let’s keep it in perspective. Peyton has frustrated owners through three weeks, throwing a mere two touchdowns. However, does anyone honestly think Eli will outperform Peyton by season’s end? Highly unlikely, although a few more weeks of Peyton scuffling and we might need to revisit this one.
Monday, Sept. 26
Laveranues Coles, Colts DST in exchange for Steelers DST
The Colts are allowing a mere 5.3 ppg, have recorded 13 sacks and have forced four turnovers while Pittsburgh’s D has eight takeaways while allowing 12.3 ppg. They also have a league-leading 14 sacks. For now, let’s consider the DSTs a wash, although you could make a case one way or the other. It depends largely on whether you feel the Indy defense is for real.
That leaves Coles, who just lost his starting quarterback and his backup. He’ll have Brooks Bollinger attempting to hook up with him this week in Baltimore and potentially Vinny Testaverde in the coming weeks. While Coles’ value is diminished, he is still a No. 2, so therefore the team acquiring the Colts DST and Coles get the slight edge.
