Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition: Can Damien Williams turn things around? Overturning lopsided trades. Does Buffalo have a can't-miss defense in Week 7? Down-the-road fill-in quarterbacks.
Question 1
Going forward how is Damien Williams stock?
Larry Gremo (Wildwood, NJ)
It’s not looking good. They can’t run the ball. The line isn’t good enough, and he doesn’t seem to be a good enough back to create yards on his own. We’re in the middle of October, and he hasn’t actually played a good game yet. He’s averaging under 2.0 yards per carry. He’s shared time with LeSean McCoy the last two games, with Darrel Williams mixed in for a few touches. His strongest attribute is his pass catching. He’s caught 13 passes for 116 yards. That’s in four games, so he’s averaging about 3 catches for 29 yards per game. Going forward, I would expect to continue to see Damien Williams and McCoy working as a lesser tandem.
Question 2
Would you give your opinion about a trade that’s about to go through in our 14 team PPR league? We start 2 RBs and 2 WRs. Chris Carson and Calvin Ridley for LeSean McCoy and Keenan Allen. Carson has been picking up steam while Allen, and the Chargers have been flat. Insider trading has been suspected in the past. :)
Jeff Emmett (Tacoma, WA)
In my opinion, the Carson-Ridley package is easily more valuable. I have those guys combining to score 295 points in the remaining games – 47 more than the Allen-McCoy tandem. But we have to respect that different owners value players differently. In this case, I would expect one of the owners is thinking back to how effective Keenan Allen was early in the season (and in previous years). He’s probably thinking Allen will get back to being that kind of guy, catching 8-plus passes every week. Or he may be of the opinion that LeSean McCoy will take control of the tailback position in Kansas City. If I were in that league, I wouldn’t question whether the trade was legit.
Question 3
Would you trade the Buffalo defense for Evan Engram and either Baltimore or Rams defense? I lost Dissly. I could pick up TJ Hockenson as well and keep Buffalo D?
WYATT KLEIN (S Milwaukee, WI)
To me, Engram looks like a franchise-type player. I think he could be a top-5 tight end in the second half of the season. So I wouldn’t hesitate to trade the Bills defense to get him. Buffalo, of course, has the cherry matchup this week, playing at home against the Dolphins. Tough to give that one up. But the Dolphins are going with Ryan Fitzpatrick rather than Josh Rosen at quarterback, and that dramatically reduces the sack potential in the game. Fitzpatrick has his flaws, but he’s among the best at recognizing pressure and getting the ball out of his hands. He’s been sacked only 6 times in 85 pass plays this year, despite playing behind that awful offensive line. Rosen has been sacked almost twice as frequently (16 times in 125 plays).
Question 4
Looking out to Week 9 when a lot of us with Ryan will need a one-week fill-in, I'm seeing Jimmy G vs leaky AZ and Cousins vs KC as best waiver wire options. In a 6-pt TD league my lean is Garopollo, as MIN might try to keep the ball on the ground and away from Mahomes, but does the KC/MIN game ultimately turn into a shootout despite MIN's best laid plans? What's your crystal ball say two weeks out?
Brian Barrett (Boulder, CO)
I think you have the same risk with both offenses. Both rank in the top 3 in rushing and both rank in the bottom 10 in passing. Minnesota offense is averaging exactly 3 TDs per week, and exactly half of the scores have come on running plays. San Francisco offense is averaging exactly 3 TDs per week, with an 8-7 mix of run-pass. If I were picking between the two, I would base the decision not on that week (since they’re similar) but on the potential of the quarterback to help you in other games. If Ryan were to get hurt, which guy would you want?
Question 5
I am 1-4 this season and it’s been a disaster. 14-team league. I have made the playoffs in every season I have ever played. Can you take a look at my roster and help me improve? QBs: Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold. RBs: Damien Williams, James Conner, David Montgomery, Malcolm Brown. WRs: OBJ, Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, Taylor Gabriel. TEs: Will Dissly, Gerald Everett, Chris Herndon. DST: Ravens. Kicker: Joey Slye. I need serious help.
Wyatt McIntosh ()
Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don’t make. There’s a lot of talent on this roster. Guys like Mayfield, Beckham, Conner and Montgomery just need to start playing like I know they’re capable of. Giving away a bunch of players in the middle of October (possibly right before they start playing well) isn’t going to solve anything. You’re in a hole; you’ll have to play your way out of it. It can be done. Hill’s back; he’s going to help you. Darnold showed on Sunday that he’s going to be able to chip in some decent games (after the Jets host New England on Monday night, their schedule gets really easy, including a pair against Miami). Dissly is out for the year, which hurts; he was looking like a top-5 tight end. But you can work around that.
Question 6
Which running back would you trade for Hopkins, C Carson or A Jones? I always look forward to your good advice.
John Lesjack (Freedom, PA)
Those three look similar in value to me. I’m not giving up on DeAndre Hopkins. I’ve still got him at the 8th-best wide receiver wide receiver on my board. He’s a talent, and I believe he’ll turn things around. With Carson and Jones, I think they both come into play about 10th among running backs (in PPR scoring, they were 10th and 11th in the product that went out on Tuesday). Jones is probably a little more explosive. They’ve been giving him plenty of carries inside the 5, allowing him to score plenty of touchdowns. And the Packers have been using their running backs a lot as pass catchers. With Carson, I think you get a little more durability, and you get a guy who’s role is a little more secure. Carson has actually been dinged more than Jones this year, but historically Jones has had more issues with injuries – a harder time staying healthy. Also with Carson, I think there are fewer issues with it becoming a one-two punch backfield. That is, I think Jamaal Williams is more of a threat to Jones than Rashaad Penny is to Carson.
Question 7
I've got a Redrafter question: I'm pretty stocked at RB, but TE has been an issue. Picked up Dissly a few weeks ago and thought I was all set, but alas. Free agency is a wasteland (Cook best available.) After some haggling I've got an offer to receive Gurley (I have M. Brown) and Mark Andrews for Conner and Ronald Jones. I'm not too worried about losing Jones; Andrews is the TE I need. How would you value the Gurley/Brown combo in relation to Conner? I took their projections, combined them and applied a .9 mod to account for the starter taking a breather. My other RB starters are Jacobs and Lindsay, and I'm set at WR. I'm about to pull the trigger on the trade, just wanted your thoughts.
Scott Anderson (Lakewood, CO)
Sounds good to me. With you already having Malcolm Brown, Gurley is a great fit with your roster. There are eight tight ends that I like, and Andrews is definitely in that group.
Question 8
Who is the best play for a #2 RB in week 7? Devin Singletary vs Miami. David Montgomery vs N.O.
DAVID MARCUS (Glenmoore, PA)
Montgomery is the safer choice. He’s definitely a starter who’ll get more playing time and more touches. Singletary has a much better matchup, running against Miami’s leaky run defense. I have Singletary a little higher on my board.