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 slow starters will turn things around the rest of the way?
SAM HENDRICKS
Cam Newton. No one can say he is not starting slow this year with just 189 yards per game average along with .5 TDs and 1.33 INTs. Ouch! Why do I think he will turn things around after losing Greg Olsen and possibly Kelvin Benjamin for some time? Because Newton has not fully recovered from his shoulder injury and...stop this is madness. I did not draft him this year because I was afraid this would happen. So no I am not going to say he will bounce back. Instead I will defend someone I drafted a ton. Isaiah Crowell. There I said it. I liked Crowell to have a big year and despite a dismal start I still believe in him. Why? One, he is talking to the coach about more work so that is encouraging. Second, the OL has to gel sometime this year and that could mean more holes to run through. OK who am I kidding...it might mean a hole to run through as the Browns have not had any in 3 games. Finally, DeShone Kizer may get a fire burning under the Browns and inspire more from everyone including Crowell.
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 25-year fantasy football veteran who participates 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. Follow him at his web site, www.ffguidebook.com.
IAN ALLAN
I’m not giving up on Washington’s wide receivers. I still expect that will be one of the top half dozen passing offenses, with Terrelle Pryor and Jamison Crowder coming around. Washington has ranked 8th, 12th and 3rd in passing yards the last three years — 309 yards per game last year — and I think it’s still that kind of offense. Kirk Cousins should throw 2 TDs in most weeks. While Pryor and Crowder haven’t done much yet, I imagine they’ll be the guys leading the way.
Allan is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame. A co-founder of Fantasy Football Index in 1987, he generates most of the writing, player rankings and analysis for that publication. His work can be seen in Fantasy Football Index magazine and also at www.fantasyindex.com.
ALAN SATTERLEE
I could go a few ways but I’ll go curve-ball and say Hunter Henry (and the Chargers’ passing attack in general). Henry comes off another zero-catch game but he’s simply too talented not to figure into the Chargers’ game-plan over the long-haul. I also am keeping the faith on Philip Rivers (and Keenan Allen as a high-end fantasy prospect). It may be mix and match on the Chargers due to schedule and they’ve faced two tough defenses at Denver on Week 1 and this week against the Chiefs. However, I think Rivers and gang are in-store for a rebound game this week at home against the Eagles (I am going to consider Rivers to Allen in daily). Let me also give an honorable mention to two wide receivers. Amari Cooper is a fantastic buy-low prospect -- better days are ahead for the former 4th-overall pick of the 2015 draft. Terrelle Pryor will also get it figured out, playing on a new offense. He’s too talented to keep down forever (though this week at Arrowhead is daunting and then Washington has their bye, but look for things to turn around in Week 6 at home against the 49ers after the bye).
Satterlee is the Fantasy Football Insider for the Charlotte Observer and is syndicated in a few other newspapers in the southeast. Satterlee first started playing fantasy football in 1990.
DAVID DOREY
Doug Martin is so slow that he hasn’t even played! He still has one more week of suspension thanks to the unintentional Week 1 bye due to the hurricane. But in his place, Jacquizz Rodgers has only gained 3.4 yards per carry and comes off 15 yards on five runs in Minnesota. The Bucs face the Giants this week – that should be another down week for rushing. Martin looked sharp in the offseason and should have no problem taking over the primary role again. The Bucs' remaining schedule is better than average and they can use the help.
Dorey is the co-founder and lead NFL analyst for The Huddle and author of Fantasy Football: The Next Level. He has projected and predicted every NFL game and player performance since 1997 and has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, radio and television.
ANDY RICHARDSON
One guy I think will break out -- maybe starting this week -- is Joe Mixon. A coordinator switch is a great time to give up this inexplicable loyalty to Jeremy Hill and get the better running back on the field. And another guy I'm fond of (but NOT starting this week) is Marvin Jones in Detroit. He has faced a lot of top cornerbacks, but every team doesn't have such players. Once he gets through the Vikings, Jones will have a nice little run of matchups ahead of him, including Saints, Packers and Browns.
Richardson has been a contributing writer and editor to the Fantasy Football Index magazine and www.fantasyindex.com since 2002. His responsibilities include team defense and IDP projections and various site features, and he has run the magazine's annual experts draft and auction leagues since their inception. He previews all the NFL games on Saturdays and writes a wrap-up column on Mondays during the NFL season.