By Mike Donnelly
NFLPLAYERS.COM
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams is competing with six other NFL players and one fan for the right to hoist the championship trophy in the ultimate fantasy football league—NFL PLAYERS Fantasy ’09. Despite being one of the more experienced fantasy football owners in the league, Williams currently finds himself in last place. In this exclusive interview with NFLPLAYERS.COM, Williams talks about his own fantasy stock and explains some of the strategic decisions he’s made as owner of the “Odessa Cowhorns” leading up to this week’s matchup against Leon Washington.
Q: What should fantasy owners expect out of Roy Williams this week?
A: Well, if we go off of practice stats then I still lead the league. But in the games, I don’t know, I have no clue. That guy (Williams) just shows up, does what he’s supposed to do, but just can’t get an opportunity in the game. So me, personally, I would say sit the guy until he can prove that he can be that player that everybody expects him to be.
Q: Wow, so you’re your own worst critic?
A: Yeah, I mean it hurts me more than anything.
Q: I know that you’re coming off a rib injury and have been a little banged up all season long. So, how are you feeling? 
A: Oh, I’m good. I’m ready to go.
Q: Your fantasy team, the “Odessa Cowhorns” came flying out of the gate and rolled off two wins to start the season, but now, you’ve lost four in a row and suddenly find yourself in last place. What’s happened to your squad over the past four weeks?
A: We went from first to worst. You know, I gave my guys off last week and this week they showed up, but they just couldn’t pull it out in the end. So, we’re going to do what every team does when they’re in a slump, just go back to the basics and see if we can’t get this thing turned around.
Q: Has the extra work to rehab your injuries gotten in the way of spending time tending to your fantasy team?
A: Not at all. I do it every Tuesday. That’s my time off and my best opportunity to do things. But like I said, I’m disappointed in my team right now.
Q: Looking at your results in last week’s loss to Ronnie Brown’s “Miami Warphins” team, I noticed that all of your bench players were on bye. Do you regret not picking up a free agent receiver to replace Calvin Johnson, who was inactive for Detroit due to injury?
A: I like sticking with my guys. I couldn’t put any of my guys on the wire, because I feel like somebody else would pick up my guy. It might be a risk putting myself or anybody else on that wire, because if they got scooped up I would be really mad.
Q: Your starting tight end, John Carlson, is on bye this week. What are you going to do to replace him?
A: I can’t really do anything. You know the tight end position is only going to give you 5 to 10 points at best, so my team is going to have to come together and make up for those lost points. I think somebody’s going to have a big day, a 30-to 40-pointer to average things out.
Q: This week, you’re going up against Leon Washington’s “Jet Lizzle.” Are you concerned about having to face the first-place team as you try to snap a long losing streak?
A: He has a good fantasy team. I checked him out and I like his team. But you know, that’s why you play the game. With his team, you really have to pay attention to those quarterbacks of his (Donovan McNabb and Kurt Warner) and Andre Johnson. Those three guys scare me. Tony Gonzalez is Matt Ryan’s favorite target right now, but he’s going up against the Cowboys defense, so hopefully those guys can contain that guy and keep him out of the end zone. We’ll take those yards, because a tight end will give you 30 to 40 yards, and we’ll take that over a touchdown.
Q: I hear that you’ve been fairly active on the league message board. Have you been talking trash to your opponents? Do you have anything to say to Leon Washington?
A: You know what? You really can’t say much when you’re in last place. When I was 2-0, I talked trash to Dave “Ski,” and then that following week I played him and I lost, giving him his first win. So, ever since I posted that comment my team has been going downhill. So, we ate a piece of humble pie and we’re going to keep our mouth shut and play the game this week.
Q: After six weeks of NFL action, which players do you feel are on the rise from a fantasy perspective?
A: Well, Miles Austin would be a good pickup for you and also Tashard Choice. With Felix Jones still banged up and Marion Barber still a little banged up, we like Tashard Choice. The Cowboys do run the football and he’s a pretty good runner, so I would recommend those two.
Check out the league scoreboard and much more on ESPN.com’s League Page. Also, be sure to follow NFL PLAYERS Fantasy ’09 right HERE all season long as we provide access to exclusive interviews and video diaries created by the players themselves.