Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition. When do you give up on a season? How will the Julio Jones injury affect the Atlanta offense? And when do you veto a trade?
Question 1
How will the Julio Jones injury affect the rest of the Falcons offense? Does Harry Douglas become a top 15-20 WR? Is Matt Ryan still a top 10 QB? What about the affect on Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White (once he's healthy)?
Chris Thompson (LOS ANGELES, CA)
The Falcons are a disaster. No offensive line. No pass rush. Now their No. 1 playmaker is gone. All of a sudden, they’re just really sort on talent. Ryan doesn’t have mobility, so he’s going to be running for his life, taking too many hits, and trying to hook up with lesser pass catchers. He doesn’t have that Julio threat who’s going to turn a completion into a 70-yard touchdown every three weeks. Ryan was up in the elite class of quarterbacks – a second-tier guy. Now he’s looking a lot more like Andy Dalton and Sam Bradford; guys like that. If you have Ryan, you should be willing to trade him at a discount. Gonzalez should be OK; fewer touchdowns (probably) but may catch a few more balls. White should be very good when he’s healthy, catching a ton of balls. My gut tells me that Harry Douglas will be a top-30 receiver, but not a breakout-type superstar. He’s shown some ability. You may recall two years ago that he had a big game when Jones was hurt. He caught 8 passes for 133 yards in a game against the Saints. White has been hurt this year, so Douglas has gotten more looks. He’s done alright; 4 catches for 93 yards against the Saints, and 5 for 68 against the Patriots. He’s had some other chances to take on a bigger role and hasn’t been as successful. That’s an awfully crappy team.
Question 2
Is WR Drew Davis from Atlanta, worth a pickup in any league's scoring format? He's the listed #3 on that team's depth chart & Roddy White doesn't seem to be, "out of the woods" with his hamstring issues. Thanks for the best insight in the business.
Donald McCown (CHICAGO, IL)
It’s a clever idea. Stranger things have happened. Julio Jones is definitely gone. Roddy White is banged up, and what happens if those injuries linger for another month or more? Harry Douglas is the first guy to consider. He’s their No. 3 receiver and has at least shown some ability. But what if Douglas isn’t quite up to snuff? Next in line are their two young guys, Drew Davis and Kevin Cone. I don’t know much about them. Cone is a little bigger. Davis was a little more productive in the preseason, and I think he’s a little faster. Davis caught 7 for 109 in the preseason. I remember him making a catch in one of the exhibition games where I thought, “hmm, he looks pretty good.” Would have to be a big fantasy league, however, to take a flyer on either Davis or Cone.
Question 3
Hey Ian. Fan of the product. I'm in a few leagues, not having my best year. Should have pulled the trigger on Manning when your product told me to. But I didn't. 12 team, standard yahoo with .5 ppr. Looking at the re-drafter I see Bernard well above Richardson. Well I have a trade up for just such an occasion. Also he would be trading me his keeper value (round 8) for next year. Right now I am riding the train into oblivion with Kap, Bush, Lacy, Richardson, Fitzgerald, S Johnson, and Gonzalez. Lowest scoring a couple weeks now. Thinking about putting Bush up on the block for a decent receiver as well. Thoughts?
Aaron Davitian (CHULA VISTA, CA)
It’s a bold move, trading away Trent Richardson for Bernard. Richardson was the 3rd pick of the NFL draft a year ago – a can’t-miss superstar, right? But we can’t ignore what we’re seeing. He keeps averaging 3 yards per carry. Doesn’t seem to have the instincts and visions, and he isn’t even running with the nastiness and speed that we saw early in his career. He looks like a very nominal back. Bernard, on the other hand, looks like a very safe bet to be another Ray Rice type guy. He’s going to catch a lot of passes there for a lot of years. His role will grow. And this is a keeper league – you’re getting Bernard for next year. I think you strike while the deal is there. If you wait a few more weeks, the offer might be gone. You’re in the same position that Mike Lombardi was in in Cleveland. On the one hand, could he have waited until the end of the year before trading Trent Richardson to Indianapolis? Maybe. But what if Richardson gets hurt? Or what if he has a lousy year. At the end of the season, Richardson might no longer be worth a first-round pick. Lombardi decided to make the move; I suggest you do the same. And if you’re starting to play with an eye on next year, keep your ears open for possible trades involving Reggie Bush and Tony Gonzalez.
Question 4
My league members have the power to veto trades. I'm in a PPR/flex league and I just lost Julio for the year. My best available flex plays are D.Richardson(bust) or G.Jennings on my bench. I traded R.Bush and J.Bell handcuff for R.Wayne/G.Bernard/B.Bolden. My league members are saying I gave up too much and are vetoing. Would you veto the trade?
Gary Goodrich (CLINTON, PA)
No. I would even consider using a veto. I would veto only if I believe either you or the other owner didn’t make the trade in good faith – that you’re intentionally making a bad trade to undermine the league. Maybe you’re pissed off that Pete, a guy you can’t stand, is in first place and might win it? Or maybe it’s pretty clear that both you and Steve have lesser teams, so you’re kind of joining forces. That’s when you use a veto. So it’s not even in the mix here. As for the actual trade, I’m not sure which side I would prefer. Bush is a very good running back in a PPR format. Injuries are the issue, but with the Bell handcuff in there, that’s a nice side. On the other side, you’ve probably got a top-20 receiver (Wayne) and a running back who could grow into something good (Bernard). Bolden will be a depth guy, serviceable in PPR, until Vereen comes back in a month.
Question 5
Who would you rank higher in a dynasty keeper league Eddie Lacy or LeVeon Bell. Also, I never traded Foster for Lacy but I still may do it but Foster has looked better. Would you still do that trade in a dynasty league?
BRIAN ROWELL (SAINT JOHNS, MI)
In a dynasty league, I will take Lacy before Foster. A lot less wear on his tires. Little difference between Bell and Lacy. My gut tells me to go with Lacy – better team – but they’re similar.
Question 6
I'm curious on Kendall Wright. He's a first rounder with two other serviceable WRs on that team; Washington and Hunter. Is he working as their slot? If so, does the insertion of Fitzpatrick up his value for the period of time Locker is out? It seems he's getting the targets and wondering if he's a dink and dunk slot guy in that system or if its how and when the QB is getting him the ball. My WR5-6 (we start 5) is Tate and I'm considering making that switch.
Phil Eichorn (ROCKY RIVER, OH)
Yes. You make that change. They haven’t been able to get it going in Seattle. They’ve got lots of different guys involved, and their big guy will be back in a couple of week (Harvin). They have the offensive line issues, with both tackles out. Other than the Jacksonville game, Russell Wilson has been running for his life in every game. That is, on 70-plus percent of their pass plays, he’s not setting up in the pocket and looking for guys, running the scripted plays. Instead, he’s darting around, trying to find guys, scrambling and trying to grab bag his way down the field. Wright’s an upgrade over that. He’s caught 5 and 6 passes in his last two games. The Locker injury doesn’t hurt him – it might help. And Justin Hunter, while he has a bright future, isn’t ready to do much of anything right now. I have him as just kind of a guy they can maybe use for some big plays and lob balls in the end zone. Their other reserve receiver, Damian Williams, is a bigger part of that offense. It’s the Wright-Washington show in Tennessee. Those are the guys who should be on fantasy rosters. I think they’ve kind of just moved on from Kenny Britt. They should be burning up the phones, in my opinion, seeing if they can send him to Atlanta or Detroit for a fifth-round draft pick. The deal would be contingent, I suppose, on Britt being able to drive to the airport without hitting any pedestrians or getting pulled over for speeding.
Question 7
I have an offer to trade Alf Morris and get D. Martin in return it is a 10 team ppr with added points for distance on TDS should I pull the trigger, or will Muscle Hampster remain caged for the remainder of the season?
CHRIS HAMBY (GLYNDON, MD)
They’re interchangeable on my board. Morris will run for more yards and score more touchdowns. Martin will catch more passes, which is important in the PPR format. I’ve got them both just inside the top 15 among running backs in that format. Numerically the trade is a wash, so it’s akin to taking a stick, poking it in the nest and seeing what happens.
Question 8
Since using the Index I've been in the playoffs every year (6 years) and the championship twice. You've been great to me! This year, I'm currently in first, and I'm still running with Chris Johnson. I recently picked up Danny Woodhead. Would you start Woody ahead of CJ this week in a 1 pt. PPR?
Rick Hoeninghausen (YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WY)
Johnson should eventually come around and help you, but right now he’s just a streaky hit-or-miss guy – far more likely to miss. The correct play is to put Woodhead in the lineup and take his half-dozen catches. In a PPR format, Woodhead has been far more productive thus far than Johnson – 81 to 51 points.
Question 9
My season is all but over so I'm looking to make some moves out of desperation. Backs are Doug Martin, MJD and Daryl Richardson (and Benny Cunningham). Receivers are AJ Green, Garcon, Stevie Johnson, Amendola and Edelman. I'm setting league records for low point totals. I put everyone on the trading block and I've been offered Ray Rice (I have Pierce) and Nate Washington in exchange for MJD and AJ. What do you think? Rice has been awful, but I would think he'll come around and be an upgrade over MJD. Enough to warrant the receiver downgrade with Nate?
Jeffrey Damiani (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
I checked my numbers. It’s my belief that the Rice-Washington combo will be worth 30 more points than MJD-Green the rest of the way – 230 to 200. Nate Washington is a lot closer to Green than Jones-Drew is to Rice. The Ravens have a bottom-5 running game right now, but they’ll get that figured out. Rice will be fine.
Question 10
Ian, I am in a 10 team keeper league. My season is essentially over. I have Chris Johnson and Julio Jones on my team, and I am 1-4. Instead of praying each weekend that can gut out wins with my lesser team, I hope to trade my talent away to improve my chances next season. We can keep four players (one has to be a rookie) and you give up the round that player was drafted the year prior. I understand that it is pretty difficult to determine who to keep the next year, so I am going to avoid that topic for the moment. I have the opportunity to sell players and reserve them as a potential keeper for next season (loaning) or sell them entirely and lose their right. I am hoping to get next year's draft picks for my current players. What round draft pick for next year would you request for the following players. Rnd 1) Chris Johnson Rnd 2) Julio Jones Rnd 3) Eddie Lacy Rnd 4) Antonio Brown Rnd 5) Matthew Stafford Rnd 6) Giovani Bernard Rnd 7) Justin Blackmon Rnd 8) Jason Witten Rnd 9) CHI DEF Rnd 11) Stevie Johnson Rnd 12) Alshon Jeffery Rnd 14) David Wilson Rnd 19) Russell Wilson Rnd 19) Julian Edelman Rnd 19) Terrance Williams Rnd 19) Jonathon Franklin Rnd 19) Andre Ellington Rnd 19) Harry Douglas
John Evans (PENSACOLA, FL)
Why are we folding up the tent? Why not rear up on our hind legs and fight? I see a talented roster. In Lacy and Bernard, you’ve got two of the elite rookie running backs, and those guys are just starting to hit stride. Blackmon just came back from his suspension. Antonio Brown and Jeffery are just starting to get warmed up. Chris Johnson can still come around. I’m not ready to send up the white flag. Maybe you could work a combination of both? David Wilson will be a lot more valuable than the 14th round next year. Maybe you could trade him, not sacrificing the possibility that you can still salvage the 2013 season.
Question 11
Ian, I have been victimized by CJ2K, D.Richardson and Eli/R.Wilson. I am now 2-3. I pulled the trigger and traded CJ2K for Brady. This QB guessing game is just torture. I still have Charles and Moreno. I had to do something. I know the numbers don't lie, but something is telling me to try and trade Moreno. Do you think Moreno and T.Smith for L.Bell or Ridley and Colston is a good deal for me ROS? This is a standard league. I also have D.Thomas, Blackmon and Amendola. Or do I just stay with Moreno and trust he's the guy the ROS there?
Bill Petilli (LARCHMONT, NY)
If you could work Moreno-Smith for Bell-Colston, go for it. I have Colston and Smith as a wash. Those are similar guys. On my board, I’ve got Bell being worth 16 more fantasy points than Moreno.