ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly from training camp through the Super Bowl with answers to a new question being posted Thursday morning. How the guest experts responded when we asked them: Which backup will be productive in the coming weeks?
SAM HENDRICKS
I am going deep with Keaton Mitchell RB LAC. He outplayed Omarion Hampton this week and I think has earned a chance for more touches and the opportunity to make some much needed big plays for the 0-3 Chargers. And he has proven himself in Baltimore in seasons past. However. I realize he is not an injury replacement. So for the purist out there Braellon Allen taking over a bigger role with Breece Hall banged up gets a vote too.
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 30-year fantasy football veteran who participated 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 and 2018.
JASON WOOD
The key is to not buy into backups who are suddenly given playing time in bad team constructs. Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon fit that bill. If De'Von Achane couldn't thrive in Miami this year, why would they? I'll nominate Braelon Allen. He's an established veteran who's earned the coaching staff's trust. And the Jets are going to remain committed to a balanced approach as long as the game scripts allow.
Wood is Senior Editor at Footballguys.com and has been with the company since its start in 2000. For more than 20 years, Footballguys has provided rankings, projections, and analysis to help fantasy managers dominate their leagues.
SCOTT SACHS
With Etienne out, I really like Alvin Kamara taking over the RB1 role in New Orleans. The Saints aren't pushovers and Kamara is one of the increasingly rare 3-down backs. He's most likely going to handle red-zone duties, as well, so pencil him in as an RB2 or Flex for this week and the foreseeable future.
With 2 perfect seasons and multiple league championships to his credit, Sachs runs Perfect Season Fantasy Football, featuring LIVE Talk & Text Advice. He is a 3-time winner of the Fantasy Index Experts Auction League, as well as a previous winner of the Fantasy Index Experts Poll. Follow on X: https://x.com/ffbcoach
SCOTT PIANOWSKI
I realize Braelon Allen hasn’t been special in his three NFL seasons, but we need to keep in mind that he entered the NFL at age 20. Development isn’t always linear, and now he’s set for a role increase while Breece Hall rehabs. The Jets offense has been more fun than expected, with veteran QB Geno Smith playing well. I’m more excited about this offense now than I was a month ago.
Pianowski has been with Yahoo Sports since 2008, covering a variety of sports. On the rare occasions when the computer is turned off, he enjoys word games, poker, music, film, game theory, and a variety of condiments. He lives in suburban Detroit. Pianowski was inducted into the FSWA Hall of Fame in 2021.
ANDY RICHARDSON
A short-term option and nobody else in my leagues was interested, but I scooped up Tyler Higbee this week. The Rams love to throw to their tight ends, and both Terrance Ferguson and Colby Parkinson are hurt. Ferguson (ankle) won't play this week, and perhaps he'll miss additional time. Parkinson has showed up on the injury report with two different injuries the last two weeks, leaving games early, plus he's Colby Parkinson. Higbee, meanwhile, caught 8 passes and a touchdown at Denver, and could have a couple of more good weeks coming up.
Richardson has been a contributing writer and editor to the Fantasy Football Index magazine and www.fantasyindex.com since 2002. He is responsible for various site features, writes a weekly gambling newsletter, Index Bets, during the NFL season and also previews all the games on Saturdays.
