Fantasy lesson: Pick up the old guys

We might have learned nothing in class last week, but everyone should have gained one fantasy… We might have learned nothing in class last week, but everyone should have gained one fantasy lesson after week four: Don’t party too hard on Saturday night. Well, if you do, make sure you wake up Sunday morning before 1 p.m., just in case your starting quarterback decides he doesn’t feel like playing. Carson Palmer’s late scratch single-handedly killed multiple fantasy teams this week because owners simply didn’t recheck their team before rosters became finalized. Don’t let Palmer or any other questionably hurt players be the Bill Romanowski of your fantasy team. I hope every fantasy player watched Terrell Owens’ postgame rant after the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the Washington Redskins. Owens said after the game that he didn’t get enough touches to help the Cowboys win. His philosophy actually applies to fantasy football, not the NFL. And if players like Deuce McAllister, Warrick Dunn or Le’Ron McCalin are stealing touches away from your starting running back, you should think about grabbing one of these guys. Here are some other names I would look at picking up this week or in the future: Bobby Engram [WR, Seattle Seahawks] Didn’t he retire? No, you can’t get rid of him, Joey Galloway or Joe Jurevicius. Unlike those fossils, the 35-year-old Engram has hot fantasy potential right now. Engram produced 94 catches for 1,147 yards and six touchdowns last year and will play against the New York Giants on Sunday. Don’t expect anything huge this week, but he should be consistent the rest of the year if he’s healthy. Derrick Mason [WR, Baltimore Ravens] Another player who gets a senior discount at Wal-Mart, Mason, 34, had eight receptions for 134 yards on Monday against the Steelers. Nobody can ignore his performance. Last year, he silently recorded 103 catches, 1087 yards and five touchdowns with the three stooges (Steve McNair, Kyle Boller and Troy Smith) as his quarterbacks. With an improving Joe Flacco at quarterback, and Mark ‘Amelia Earhart’ Clayton at the opposite receiver, Mason should put up similar numbers the rest of the year. Brian Griese [QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers] One more old geezer, Griese might help someone who drafted Tom Brady, Derek Anderson or Carson Palmer. It won’t be pretty, but Jon Gruden will let him throw the ball, and he’ll give you enough numbers to put you in a decent position to win. Hey, it’s better than Gus Frerotte. Lance Moore [WR, New Orleans] His name would be perfect in a boy band, but he might also be a perfect fit for your fantasy roster if you have some players with bye weeks. Marques Colston remains injured, and after putting up seven catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns, Moore looks like a good play on Monday if Drew Brees decides to air the ball out against the run-stopping defense of the Minnesota Vikings.