It’s Saturday morning, week six of the Fantasy Football season as I grab my coffee and open up my computer.  Like most teams, I’ve been decimated by injuries as I search for a replacement for a banged-up wide receiver, a kicker lost to the bye week, and any other bargains I can find among the add/drop menu.

Losing Courtland Sutton to a season-ending injury and having Dalvin Cook miss a game due to a groin pull isn’t helping things, but I’m not alone.  With injuries to players like Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, and Dak Prescott, the entire league is spending countless work hours scanning the waiver wires.

Dropping players isn’t an issue as five weeks is more than enough time to realize that Marvin Jones Jr., Cam Akers, and Braxton Barrios lack the production to deserve a roster spot.  But adding players to complete my roster is a different story.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is available, but he’s pretty inconsistent. Christian Kirk is an option, but he doesn’t get a ton of targets.

And of course, there’s always number 19.

In Fantasy Football number 19 is a definite game changer.  Added to your roster he can ruin your lineup.  Picked up by another team and it could guarantee you victory.  He’s inconsistent at best, unpredictable without question, and impacting the game like no other.

He’s COVID-19 and this year’s MVP of the Fantasy Football season.  The Most Vindictive Pandemic.

• The Tennessee Titans have just reported that ten players and staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The Titans close their facility as do the Minnesota Vikings, who the Titans had played just prior.  Tennessee’s upcoming game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers is postponed.  As for my fantasy team, my running back tandem of Dalvin Cook (MN) and James Conner (Pitt) is in serious jeopardy as I pick up a few free agents and adjust my lineup.
• My fantasy team catches a break as the Kansas City vs New England game is also postponed due to COVID-19 and my opponent has Pat Mahomes. My break is short-lived as the game is only moved to Monday night. The Tennessee versus Pittsburgh matchup was not so lucky.

• New England quarterback Cam Newton has COVID-19 forcing the team to close their facility. The Denver Broncos versus New England game is rescheduled.  My fantasy team kicker and third wide receiver play for the Broncos and again, I drop a few players, pick up a few new guys, and adjust my lineup.
• The Tennessee Titans have finally been cleared to play as their scheduled game versus the Buffalo Bills will take place on Tuesday night. Two thoughts go through my head as I look at my fantasy lineup. Do I stick with the Buffalo Bills as my defensive team and risk one more positive test canceling the game?  And if Thursday Night Football is the start of week five, and Monday Night Football is the end, what is Tuesday Night Football?  The last game of week five, or the first of week six?  Unwilling to risk it, I put the Bills on my bench and pick up the Saints.
• The Indianapolis Colts close their facility but re-open after COVID-19 results were false-positives, meaning that no one had actually caught the virus. This had nothing to do with my fantasy lineup, but I’d like to point out that my tight end, Zach Ertz (PHI) is also a false-positive as I was positive he’d be productive this year.  Which was false.  And my third receiver, Jerry Jeudy (DEN), hasn’t caught much of anything.

As I prepare for week six of the Fantasy Football season I nervously watch the COVID-19 list.  The Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons both closed their facilities last week due to concerns.  The Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens both had a player test positive.  The Denver Broncos announced their running backs coach has the virus.  And I need another wide receiver due to the bye week.

I drop one underachieving player, add what will probably be another, and press submit.  The transaction is denied as I have already exceeded my limit on league roster moves and additions.

COVID-19 has claimed another victim.

Images via sportingnews.com, latimes.com, thebostonglobe.com, wlwt-cincinnati.com, twincities.com.

Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship