Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition: Can Chase Edmonds work his way back into Arizona's offense? Late-season waiver grabs. Teams resting players. Adam Thielen's ankle. And more.
Question 1
What are the expectations for Chase Edmonds when he comes back? I could use a roster spot but am reluctant to drop him.
Alex Konop (Northport, NY)
Kliff Kingsbury says he expects Edmonds will be activated for the Rams game. With him having been down for a month, I would think they would leave James Conner in the starting lineup for now, with Edmonds probably eased in as a change-of-pace and third-down back kind of guy. The last time Arizona played the Rams, Edmonds led them with 120 rushing yards. If you've got Edmonds, I would think you'd want to hold onto him and see how things transpire -- some chance he winds up back in your starting lineup before the end of the season.
Question 2
Thanks for all of the insight over the years. FI is an investment to being relevant late into the fantasy season. With that being said and looking ahead who will be some Week 17-18 (point based leagues) QBs that would be worth picking up to play for QBs (or other positions) that might be sitting stars?
BRIAN HOFSTAD (Seattle, WA)
Sean McVay has a long history of pulling guys whenever he gets the chance. He doesn’t like his guys playing in the preseason, and he doesn’t like using them in the meaningless end-of-the-year games. So I would see a scenario where the Rams have clinched a playoff spot, but with no chance of catching the Cardinals for the division title. If it plays out that way, I would think McVay would sit Matthew Stafford and plug in John Wolford. Similarly in Kansas City, Andy Reid likes resting players, so there’s a chance we’ll see Chad Henne start a game. I’m not sure that Wolford or Henne can help you win a championship, but they might at least get on the field.
Question 3
Will players like Adam Thielen and Kenyan Drake be put on IR? It would enable me to get two replacements from free agents.
Robert McKinlay (Belews Creek, NC)
The Vikings haven’t placed Thielen on IR. That’s a strong indication they believe there’s a chance he’ll be available in Week 16. I don’t know that he will be, and I wouldn’t think there would be much chance of you using Thielen in a fantasy lineup in Week 15 (if Thielen plays in that game, you’ll be worried sick about him being healthy enough to operate at a decent level). But Vikings aren’t ready yet to throw in the towel on his season. Raiders have placed Drake on IR. He’s out for the year.
Question 4
What are your thoughts on starting Tony Pollard over Zeke Elliott? Elliott doesn’t have much value unless he scores, though he’s still getting more touches than Pollard.
Paul Owers (Boynton Beach, FL)
I didn’t think Pollard was a lot better than Elliott last week. He had the 58-yard touchdown run, which was pretty cool – he’s got more speed than most other backs. But Pollard otherwise in that game carried 6 times for 13 yards. I would be inclined to stick with Elliott, figuring he’ll be more heavily used and perhaps a little healthier now that he’s had a break of a week and a half.
Question 5
While most of the key backups are taken and there are seemingly very few game changing surprises left, we all know that fantasy playoffs are often won with some pretty strange characters ... players you would never dream of starting, or even picking up most of the season, but here they are in Weeks 15, 16, (now) 17. While pretty speculative to pick, do you see any narrative of suppressed talent, playing out string garbage or mindful opportunity that COULD be on the horizon. I'll give you a "for instance". Ameer Abdullah; I have no regard or trust for the player, but I could be persuaded that in such a weakened state, and with Chuba Hubbard just being a guy, and with Freeman off the roster... Abdullah having one, maybe two 15 pts games in the last three based on opportunity and receiving ability...Sure Car will get destroyed 33-16 but Abdullah could prosper in the garbage opportunity of such an environment. Which if any players do you see who might fit the bill for that peculiar breed that often factors in the fantasy playoffs.
Vin Kmetz (Danbury, CT)
Abdullah has been catching some passes, so I would agree that he has some potential to be a poor man’s J.D. McKissic in some of these remaining games. And I’ll throw out a name for you. How about Rashaad Penny. He had a couple of nice runs in the second half of the 49ers game. It wouldn’t surprise me if Seattle gave him some run as a starter in the final month of the season – see what he can do. There was that game a few weeks ago where he was on the field for their first place, ripping off an 18-yard run. Had he not tweaked his hammy on that play, I wonder if he would have been their featured back in that game? Seattle is in Houston this week, playing against the worst run defense in the league. I’m not suggesting you start Penny in Week 14, but it could make sense to place him on your roster, securing his rights should be put together a viable game. There also might be a new starter in San Francisco, with Elijah Mitchell in the concussion protocol. If Mitchell can’t play on Sunday, I’m not sure if they’ll start Jeff Wilson (who’s got a knee issue) or JaMycal Hasty.
Question 6
cook not yet declared out of thursday night game light practice today (wednesday)hes played thru injury before is he worth the risk to start him or could it be a couple of carries than mattison finish the game starting rodgers,,ekeler, hilliard,d.adams,,gronk,,tucker and dallas have thielen (out)) taylor on bye need 1 more from cook or callaway td only scoring,,,, cook only 5 tds under producing from previous years just cant sit him
John Brower (Chapel Hill, NC)
We’ll see how it plays out on Thursday. I would think Cook will be inactive. If they decide to put him in uniform, and they’re saying he’ll play, I would think you’ll probably have to use him. I don’t think you’ll find a guy on the waiver wire who grades out better than a gimpy Cook.
Question 7
Couldn't think of any other site that might be able to supply this information, so let's see what you can come up with. I want "coin flip" info. When was the coin flip instituted? What is called most often? What comes up most often? What percentage of teams defer? Do the stats change with the overtime coin flip?
mark meyer ()
There are a few websites dedicated to the ins and outs of coin flipping (which date back thousands of years). There’s a website that documents the results of all Super Bowl coin flips. After games, they’ve got it at 29 tails and 26 heads, which is about what you would expect. Personally, I’d like the see the coin flip go – especially for overtime. Just give the visiting team, I think, the option of taking the ball or picking. When a team scores a touchdown in the final seconds of a game, I think it would be an improvement if that team knew if it would be getting the ball in overtime – potentially affecting its decision to kick a PAT or attempt a 2-point conversion. (You ever feel like you’re being punked?)