Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition. Will T.Y. Hilton get left stranded on Revis Island? Should Ryan Mathews and Kyle Rudolph be used in their first games back from injury? Dynasty prospects for 2015. And what is going on with Tim Wright?
Question 1
So I was eager to see what you guys thought about T.Y. Hilton vs. Darrelle Revis in your weekly Fantasy Index Weekly, but you didn't even mention Revis' name! What gives? Seems to me this is one of the biggest. WR/CB showdowns of the week. How do you think T.Y. will hold up to Revis' physicality? Has Revis been playing at an elite level? It seems the Pats numbers vs. the pass are skewed by the fact that they have faced a fairly weak schedule as far as passing offenses go. Can you give me in-depth analysis on this matchup please?
Sean Haider (Portland, OR)
That’s a good point. It should have been addressed. Revis is their shutdown guy, and they have tended to lock him onto opposing No. 1 receivers. He did a good job against Sammie Watkins and A.J. Green. Revis didn’t lock on one guy against Denver, and both Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders went over 125 yards. It’s my sense that Revis plays his best ball against the larger, slower physical receivers – like Brandon Marshall – but Hilton is a smaller, quicker guy, who could give him some trouble. It’s fair, I think, for those holding Hilton to be a little worried. But with the game being in Indianapolis, you’re definitely starting him. When these teams met in Foxboro in January, recall, Hilton was coming off that monster game against Kansas City. He was definitely their No. 1 guy, and the Patriots were covering him with a Revis-like cornerback, Aqib Talib. I remember Hilton catching at least one long ball, and he finished with 4 catches for 101 yards. So that was kind of a draw. He went over 100, but just 4 of Luck’s 20 completions, and he didn’t score. This one is at home on the turf, however, and he’s an awfully quick and dangerous guy.
Question 2
What are your thoughts about starting Ryan Mathews next week if he is cleared to play. I've been holding him all season for a late-season impact, but is his first week back too early?
Mary Bellanti (Buffalo, NY)
I say use him. He’s playing at home, and he’s playing against a Raiders defense ranked 27th against the run. I think they’re going to want to get him worked into the offense so he’s ready for the more difficult games coming up later in the schedule. Maybe he gets a few more touches than usual, but with the opponent being Oakland, I think he’s fair game.
Question 3
What can you make of Tim Wright's role in the New England offense? He disappeared in his last game and was pretty good in two others prior. Hard to trust him in a fantasy lineup?
David Kennedy (Steamburg, NY)
I don’t see how you can use him. At times, it looks like he’s going to fill that old Aaron Hernandez role, but too often he’s hardly even getting on the field. He caught 7 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown against the Bears, and he caught 5 for 85 and a score against Cincinnati. But in his last six other games combined, he’s caught 2 passes for 21 yards and one touchdown.
Question 4
I'm sadly out of contention in one league (I was the Peterson owner), so it's time to start looking for potential sleeper keepers for next year. We only protect a few players but it's salary-based, so finding a $1 starter can be a huge help. I've already picked up Sims and Moncrief but was wondering if you had any other ideas. One that crossed my mind was Riddick - Bush isn't worth the money they're paying him and Riddick seems to be able to do the same sorts of things. Think he could be a starter next year? Blackmon also crossed my mind. Obviously guys who are already producing (i.e. M. Bryant) are already on rosters and injured/suspended guys (like Peterson) already have huge salaries that can't be reduced. Any other ideas for unrostered guys who might take a big leap forward between now and next year?
BILL REHOR (Culver City, CA)
I posted the top 80 running backs and wide receivers for dynasty formats a couple of weeks back, so you could pick through the last thirty or so on those lists for ideas. I’m surprise Moncrief is available, given that he had a 100-yard game with a touchdown at Pittsburgh. I don’t think there’s any way Hakeem Nicks will be back, and Reggie Wayne is a fossil, so Moncrief very easily could be a top-20 receiver next. Please double-check to see if Davante Adams, Jarvis Landry, Cody Latimer and Paul Richardson (in that order) are available. Landry has been playing very well for the Dolphins. Adams looks like he could be as good as Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb before too much longer. I don’t have much interest in Justin Blackmon; maybe he eventually comes back, but is he even better than Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns? Marvin Jones caught 10 TDs last year; he’s another possibility. At running back, I really like Isaiah Crowell. My guess is he’ll have a better career than Terrance West or Ben Tate. Jerick McKinnon and KaDeem Carey also, I think, should be on rosters.
Question 5
Is this the worst season for TEs ever? What a wasteland ... you're lucky to get 5 points unless you have Gronk or Graham. What are your thoughts on Kyle Rudolph once he returns? Are sports hernia repairs such as his generally successful? Would you drop Heath Miller or Rivera for him in a non-ppr?
Scott Anderson (Lakewood, CO)
My gut tells me that Rudolph won’t make much of an impact. The team simply isn’t good enough. It scored 29 points in its last game against Washington, and it scored 41 in that route over Atlanta way back when, but otherwise the entire offense has scored only 4 TDs in its last six games. But he’s a talented guy and practiced fully on Thursday. So I guess I would take him before Miller and Rivera on the off chance the Vikings hit some kind of uptick (which is unlikely). If it’s PPR, I’d ride with Rivera continuing to catch dumpoff passes.
Question 6
In a PPR league, I've been offered Sammy Watkins and A. Ellington for Julius Thomas..since our flex can come from WR/RB/TE, I've been using JT alongside Jimmy Graham,but adding Watkins and Ellington might be too good to pass up ( my other WR's are Julio Jones and Beckham, Jr)..Last week was the first time since week 6 that JT scored double-digit fantasy pts, going 5,3,8 over that span.Without the TDs he seems like a 4-27 guy..with an eye towards the postseason matchups, what are your thoughts on this deal?
Rob Dammers (Ringwood, NJ)
Thomas isn’t catching many passes, just touchdowns. So in a PPR format (and with your flex capability) I would trade away Thomas for Sammy Watkins along. I think Watkins will be about 20 points better in the remaining games. And I think Ellington also will be 10-12 points better than Thomas going forward, so it’s really a trade where I would be trying to race the card to the commissioner.
Question 7
I'm in a 12 team PPR league that starts one RB, two WRs and a flex (RB/WR/TE). My team is relatively weak at WR (Edelman, Roddy White, Steve Smith and Wes Welker), but my RBs are very good (Matt Forte, Ahmad Bradshaw, Mark Ingram and Rashad Jennings). I'm considering offering either Bradshaw or Mark Ingram for either T.Y. Hilton or Sammy Watkins. The other side of the trade has Dez Bryant, T.Y. Hilton, Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant and Andrew Hawkins; his RBs are Lamar Miller and Shane Vereen. I'm inclined to trade either Bradshaw (preferably) or Ingram as long as I can get either TY Hilton, Dez Bryant or Sammy Watkins in return. What do you think?
Jason Curran (Bronxville, NY)
I know Ingram is playing well. He’s gone over 100 yards two weeks in a row, and he’ll probably do the same on Sunday against the Bengals. They’ve really been struggling against the run. But you said PPR. And in PPR, you want guys who are catching the ball. So it’s my belief that Ahmad Bradshaw will be about as good as Ingram going forward. Thus far, Ingram has been just a little bit better. He’s got 551 rushing yards, plus 11 catches for 67 rushing yards and 6 TDs. That in six games, so 18.1 points per game in PPR. Bradshaw in nine games has run for 421 yards and caught 34 passes for 293 yards, with 8 TDs, which clocks out at 17.0 points per game. Bradshaw has an injury history, of course, but I think he looks pretty similar durability wise to Ingram (with Ingram nursing a sore shoulder). And when the Saints get Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson back, Ingram’s playing time should decline some. So I’m fine with moving either of these backs, but you’ve got to get Hilton, Bryant or Watkins in return.
Question 8
Our league does not allow trades or waiver wire moves after the start of Sunday games for week 11 for the rest of the season, including the playoffs. Yes, I know that is archaic, but that is another topic. Last year I had Peyton, and right before the deadline I picked up Osweiler, figuring that in that offense he would be better than any QB from another team who was likely to be available at that point of the season. This year I have Brady and just picked up Garoppolo under the same premise. If I had Luck, I would be comfortable picking up Hasselbeck. I would be on the fence with Rodgers/Flynn and I don't think I would do it with Brees or Stafford. Mike Murillo just said he would not be comfortable with Osweiler should Manning go down. Your thoughts?
PHIL KEIL (Pottsville, PA)
I haven’t seen any indication that Osweiler is capable of stepping in for Manning and putting up top-15 passing numbers. He completed 59 percent in the preseason, with 2 TDs and 2 interceptions. He’s a third-year guy; he should be better than that. So the smarter option, I think is to carry an actual backup quarterback, if possible. Kyle Orton, Alex Smith, Eli Manning, Andy Dalton. Even if Osweiler winds up in the starting lineup, I imagine he’ll be getting slotted behind those guys. With Brady-Garoppolo, it’s a little different. Garoppolo is just a rookie, but he showed some ability to come in and thrive in the preseason, with 5 TDs and 1 interception. He’s shown some ability to throw a nice deep ball. Note with both of those quarterbacks, however, that it’s unlikely that either would sit down and intentionally miss a start in Week 16-17. Far more likely, they would play the first half of that final game before yielding. With another option like Orton or Alex Smith, you’re not only arguably better at quarterback, you’re also making the pool of potential quarterbacks smaller for the other franchises in your league.
Question 9
We keep 2 players and lose the round we picked them in. I am loaded everywhere but qb--Foster, ellington, nelson, julio, benjamin, Olsen and a lot of depth. My qbs are avg at best(tannehill and rg3). I have josh Gordon and would be able to keep him for a 15th next year. I'm trying to make a move for brees, Rodgers, or luck. Seems like the only way to get it done is to include Gordon. I'm in 2nd place and 1st or 2nd in pts so I'm not in panic mode. Would you include him in any trade? Right now I could get Rodgers for Gordon, benjamin and Rainey.
Troy Smith (Mobile, AL)
I’m not opposed to moving Gordon. With your roster, he’s not going to be a factor for you this year, and I’m not sure how good he’ll be next season. That’s a different team now. New offense, new coaching staff and new quarterback. So good chance he’ll be more of a top-20 type receiver next year (maybe even lower), rather than the top-5 guy you would be hoping for. Everything’s aligned for you to win a title this year, so I suggest you go all in, trying to get Rodgers or Luck. They both have favorable schedules going forward.
Question 10
Gearing up for a playoff run and have stood by Nick Novak the whole way. I just acquired Mason Crosby. If you had to pick one which one gives me the best chance down the stretch.
PAUL NICKAS (Jacksonville, FL)
You play matchup ball. Let them compete for the job each week. I’ll give Novak a slight edge this week, at home against the Raiders. Week 12 looks like a tossup for now. For Week 13, I’ll go with Crosby, at home against New England. Week 14, I’m definitely go with Crosby, at home against the Falcons. In Week 15, neither is great, but I’ll go with Novak, at home against the Broncos. Week 16, it’s Crosby by a mile, at Tampa Bay. So if I were running that franchise, I’d go with Crosby, release Novak, and pick up a lesser kicker with a good matchup to handle that Week 15 situation. Graham Gano (home vs. Buccaneers) or Matt Prater (home vs. Vikings) could be that Week 15 guy.
Question 11
I've got Manning, and my RBs are Forte, Bernard/Hill, Mathews, and Forsett. At WR I have Nelson, Evans, Sanu, Edelman, and Gordon. TE is Olsen (no backup). Basically fairly solid starters with some depth. Would you give up Forsett and Evans to get Ingram who "appears" to be an upgrade at RB giving me 2 Top 5ish RBs, but I lose Evans who's come on strong. I'm hoping my WRs come playoff time are Nelson and Gordon and I'd still have Edelman and Sanu backing them up. Basically, (I know this week's rankings show this as so), do you consider Ingram enough of an upgrade over Forsett to give up Evans too with my lineup? I think the other guy may be willing to throw in Dwayne Allen which would cover me next week when Olsen is out. I'm 9-1 so next week isn't a critical win for me to make the playoffs.
Rich Wiegard (Frisco, TX)
I’m not crazy about it. On my board, I’ve got Ingram being about 10-12 points better than Forsett in the remaining games. So that’s an upgrade. But Ingram has the bad shoulder, and when Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas come back, let’s see how much they use those guys. Ingram’s playing time should fall a tick (that potential, of course, is worked into that 10-12 point estimate). At wide receiver, however, you’re taking a downgrade. I like Evans. He’s coming on and playing well, why Josh Gordon is just a shot in the dark – that’s more of a running team that spreads the ball around via the pass. It’s my opinion that setting aside this week (when Gordon isn’t even playing), Evans is 8-10 points better for the remainder. So that makes the trade more of a wash. For you to consider it, you would need to get Dwayne Allen thrown in. Even then, I’m not sure it’s a great idea.
