ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly from training camp through Super Bowl with answers to a new question being posted Thursday morning. How the guest experts responded when we asked them: Which underachieving star will turn things around the rest of the way?
SCOTT SACHS
There doesn't seem to be a lack of candidates this season, does there? QBs are the obvious top choices though. There is no way Andrew Luck can stay this bad. Colts just need to shotgun more to make up for the lack of the run game and a porous O-line. They started 0-2 last year and stepped it up, so no need to panic yet. Drew Brees has a great run game, plus Brandin Cooks, so he should bounce back, too. The Saints D (for Dismal) is the league's worst, so Brees should continue to have plenty of chances to pile up numbers--despite the inexplicable trading of Jimmy Graham. As for NYG fans, don't worry, Eli's coming! With Dallas and Philly dropping back to the pack, plus Washington potentially respectable, look for Eli Manning to rebound big-time, starting on Thursday night.
With two perfect seasons to his credit, Sachs runs Perfect Season Fantasy Football, featuring LIVE Talk & Text Consulting & Advice. He was the 2011 winner of Fantasy Index's Experts Auction league, as well as the winner of the 2012 Experts Poll. In 2013, he finished 2nd in the Auction and 3rd in the Draft league; in 2014, 3rd in the Auction league.
DAVID DOREY
I have to believe that DeMarco Murray is going to be used correctly and successfully. He’s far too talented and being paid far too much money to struggle as he has. The Eagles have problems to be sure but they will improve and Murray will at least return to RB2 value.
Dorey is the co-founder and lead NFL analyst for The Huddle and author of Fantasy Football: The Next Level. He has projected and predicted every NFL game and player performance since 1997 and has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, radio and television.
IAN ALLAN
I think Andrew Luck is still in the mix to possibly be the No. 1 quarterback. He’s happened to run into a pair of really good defenses (Bills and Jets), but the schedule gets much more favorable going forward. Ten of the remaining 14 games are against teams in the two South divisions, and I think there’s only one credible defense in there (Carolina). I expect Luck will have plenty of games with 300-plus yards and multiple touchdowns, and he’s also productive as a runner. Should be fine.
Allan is the senior writer for Fantasy Football Index. He's been in that role since 1987, generating most of the player rankings and analysis for that publication. His work can be seen in Fantasy Football Index magazine, and also at www.fantasyindex.com.
JOSHUA SIMMONS
Jimmy Graham's allure heading into the season was as an every-week starter, at a volatile position folks otherwise tend to plug & play from the waiver wire. In drafting Gronkowski, Graham, Kelce, somebody of that ilk ... you felt secure in knowing that barring injury, tight end is locked down for your team. Turns out that just two weeks in, Jimmy is outside the fantasy TE1 bubble looking in. When you pause to consider Seattle's situation, though, there is reason for optimism. It just so happens that two of the stoutest defenses on their slate came in Weeks 1 and 2, which should explain part of Graham's lackluster receiving numbers. Also, the team's bread & butter offensively has been running the freakin' football. Seeing as Marshawn Lynch is having difficulty finding the usual running lanes and more is being asked of Russell Wilson as a passer, it seems inevitable that Jimmy's target count will see a healthy uptick. If Pete Carroll and Darell Bevell are intent on getting back into the business of winning games, that is.
Simmons has been a contributor for FantasySharks.com since 2007. His responsibilities include dynasty rankings, weekly projections-driven content and staff representation in various leagues.
ALAN SATTERLEE
I am torn between answering C.J. Anderson or DeMarco Murray who both have had slow starts. Anderson has averaged just 2.3 YPC this year and Ronnie Hillman is nipping at his heels but Anderson will have better days as the Broncos' offense smooths out plus Anderson has battled a nagging toe injury. Amazingly, DeMarco Murray has just 11 rushing yards on 21 carries. He'll improve and Philadelphia is bound to rebound at least some from the insane horrid performance this week so don't over-react too much. Murray still has 2 TDs this year and he has been involved in the passing game. Hold steady on Murray and potentially buy low on Anderson.
Satterlee is a co-owner and senior writer for Dynasty Football Warehouse. DFW is comprehensive site covering dynasty, redraft, IDP and Daily formats. DFW has a large writing crew with many people from the DFW community contributing to the insights and discussion. Alan is also the Fantasy Football Insider for the Charlotte Observer and is syndicated in a few other newspapers in the southeast.
SAM HENDRICKS
Anyone with Jimmy Graham on their roster can vouch for the fact that he has been a dud so far (TE18 with 7 catches on 10 targets and 62 yards plus a token TD). He is not happy with his role this season with his new team. Blocker and decoy come to mind when watching the game film. Things should turn around for him soon. SEA faced two tough road games in STL and GB. Now they have the Bears minus Cutler and Detroit at home. Add in the fact that Head Coach Pete Carroll knows Jimmy is more valuable when more involved and I predict a great mid season turnaround.
Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Basics, all available at ExtraPointPress.com, at all major bookstores, and at Amazon and BN.com. He is a 20-plus year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th and 16th overall in the 2008 and 2009 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC). He won the Fantasy Index Open in 2013. Follow him at his web site, www.ffguidebook.com.
ANDY RICHARDSON
Things have to get better for Marshawn Lynch. He looks fine, and the matchups will get better. It will start this week against the Bears. I believe Andrew Luck will start cranking out big games too ...buy low if you can.
Richardson has been a contributing writer and editor to the Fantasy Football Index magazine and www.fantasyindex.com since 2002. His responsibilities include team defense and IDP projections and various site features, and he has run the magazine's annual experts draft and auction leagues since their inception. He previews all the NFL games on Saturdays and writes a wrap-up column on Mondays during the NFL season.