In week 1 the Bears put up 59 points, their highest total in more than 45 years. And guess who tied for eighth on their receiving list that day? You did! You and Colston Loveland and billions of other people who racked up a 0-0 stat line. But to be fair, Loveland scooted past you in week 2 by picking up one catch for three yards. Not exactly what you thought you were drafting if you picked him, of course.
And how ‘bout them Cowboys? Dak Prescott has six TD passes and more than 450 passing yards. And George Pickens has almost 15 percent of that! The yards, that is; no touchdowns yet. But he’s closing in on 70 receiving yards headed into week 3. How do you feel about that pick right about now? It’s still a young season, but the early returns aren’t great on some of these guys. What’s worse, some of them are on teams that are producing stats for other players; just not yours. So why haven’t you been invited to the party?
It’s one thing if your guy gets hurt during a high-scoring contest. The Bills hung 41 points on the Lions, and DJ Moore actually had a negative effect on fantasy teams due to an AC joint sprain. You would have done better starting Herman Moore. Or maybe the team itself has gotten off to a slow start. Terry McLaurin has fewer yards than Pickens, but the Commanders haven’t done much for any fantasy managers. And Marvin Harrison’s 1-33 stat line looks appropriate for the first drive of the season, but not after two games. So what are you supposed to do?
Be patient, of course. It’s simple advice, but it’s what you need to hear right now. Many players start off slow and end up being very productive over the course of the season. Don’t believe me? Check out your copy of the Fantasy Index magazine. When I first started reading it (back in the 90s) one of my favorite parts was the table for each team showing how each skill player fared over the course of the season. It became easy to see which players had huge variations in their weekly production, and which ones were more reliable and steady without providing those monster weeks we all appreciate. All 1,200-yard seasons are not alike, and sometimes you have to weather a few bad weeks to enjoy the rewards you were expecting from the very beginning.
Or not. Maybe you drafted a dud. We’ve all done it. The thing is, it’s too early to tell. Quarterback health plays a role, so I’m not extremely confident in the Bagent-Loveland connection. Then again, I didn’t think Drew Lock would have managers starting Smith-Njigba this happy, either. And it could all reverse in week 3, with Loveland breaking out and Smith-Njigba struggling. You never know.
And you never, ever know after week 2. For now, fight that temptation to write off a player who’s only played on a couple dozen drives (or fewer) so far. Trust that they’ll be part of the game plan. If you don’t, other vultures…I mean, managers, will be whispering in your ear soon enough. More on that next week.
If your players are in a shootout in week 3, may you actually be a part of it. Good luck this week.
Which of your players are losing your confidence? Which ones are still in your good graces despite a slow start? Which injured player is most likely to come back and rescue fantasy teams? Share your thoughts below.
