Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. Special mini-Saturday version, kicking around the relative keeper values of James Conner, Spencer Ware, Mike Davis and the Green Bay running backs.
Question 1
Very early dynasty league question (but we declare pretty early, so why not?). I can keep 12. QB: Brees, Winston, Keenum. RB: Kamara, Ingram, J.Williams, A.Jones, T.Montgomery, M.Davis, J.Conner, S.Ware. WR: M.Thomas, J.Jones, B.Cooks, T.Hill, K.Cole. TE: Ertz, Njoku.
John Evans (Rochester, MN)
Before your start thinking too much about needs, I think you just go with talent. And by that measure, I see nine who can put put down in ink: Brees, Winston, Kamara, Ingram, Thomas, Julio, Cooks, Hill and Ertz. By any measure, it would be ridiculous to leave any of those players behind. The strategies and discussions begin with the final three spots. Njoku might someday develop into a viable tight end; he pulled down some high balls for touchdowns as a rookie. So maybe you keep him around. Ertz is really good, but he also missed two games (hamstring, concussion). Keelan Cole played surprisingly well as a rookie, but the Jaguars have a bunch of other good wide receivers (you’re also already using four roster spots on standout players at that position).
More logically, I think you use those final three spots on running backs. You could keep all three of the Green Bay back. I don’t see much different between Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones and Ty Montgomery. They all have some ability. They’re good enough that I doubt that the Packers will bring in another significant back in the offseason – I think they’ll use a committee of backs in 2018, giving significant playing time to two of those backs in just about every game. If at some point you sour on any one of those three, you could instead plug in James Conner. He’s one of the best handcuff backs in the league. I would think that LeVeon Bell (assuming he re-signs with the Steelers) will get hurt at some point, and when that occurs, they’ll plug in Conner and he might post top-10 running back numbers while filling in. It would be nice to figure out a way to make Conner one of your 12. Mike Davis had a couple of decent appearances for the Seahawks, but I would be willing to let him go. I expect Spencer Ware will be the No. 2 back for Kansas City, but I don’t think you’ll be able to fit him into your 12.