Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition: Is Josh Jacobs a bell-cow back? What's wrong with Kerryon Johnson? Weighing the KC wide receivers. Is it time to move on from Todd Gurley? And is Andy Dalton this year's sleeper quarterback?
Question 1
It looks like Oakland won’t use Josh Jacobs as a pass-catching back when they’re in a bad game script. I think Oakland will be losing a lot and it seems like Richard and Washington are going to get the pass catching work. What do you think about offering Josh Jacobs for Mike Evans in a PPR league?
Jordan Simons (Kohler, WI)
I think they’ve going to use Richard in a lot of obvious passing situations. Jacobs currently has some kind of groin injury, but I noticed in the Kansas City game, than Richard was getting on the field early in their third-and-long situations (he was not coming in at that time because Jacobs was dinged). There’s been a lot of feel-good talk about Jacobs being a three-down back, and his hands are fine, but that’s tough to pull off, especially for a rookie player. Jacobs was never a full-time player at Alabama. He never led Alabama in rushing in a season (remarkably, he never even ranked 2nd). So it would be a surprise if he suddenly turns into another LaDainian Tomlinson now. It also seems like his physical measurements are off. He’s listed at 5-10 and 219 pounds, but he doesn’t look like he’s any bigger than Richard or Washington (who are both listed at 5-8 and 205). I would not be excited about using Jacobs on Sunday at Minnesota, especially with him having some kind of groin injury and saying he’s sick. Nor would I be excited about using Jacobs in a lot of their other upcoming games. They’re at Indianapolis in Week 4, then they’ve got Chicago’s tough run defense in Week 5. A bye in Week 6, then at Green Bay and at Houston. But I wouldn’t trade him for Mike Evans, who’s got his own issues. That looks like a lateral move, and it’s harder to find running backs than wide receivers.
Question 2
What are your thoughts on Kerryon Johnson? Aside from his usage being limited. Is he still an acceptable RB2 or someone that should be pawned off when he has a good game? Also, are you recommending to stash A.J. Green and Gallup on the bench? I'm wondering if Green is going to purposely lengthen his return because of the contract.
Bill Petilli (Harrison, NY)
I don’t have any complaints with Kerryon Johnson. This isn’t a situation where he’s trying to play hurt or showed up 20 pounds overweight. He looked fine on the pass play last week where he turned it into a 36-yard touchdowns. He’s got big-play ability, and we saw that multiple times last year. They just need to get their running game dialed in, and they’re working on it. Patience, I think, is the way to go. But while you wait, probably best to plug in another back for Week 3 if you have that option. Over the last two years, the Eagles have allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league – that’s a defense that tends to force you to pass. But with the pickings pretty slim at running back right now, you may just have to go with him. He’ll catch some balls. And Philadelphia also has lost a couple of big-time defensive tackles in the last two weeks, with Malik Jackson and Tim Jernigan suffering foot injuries. With the receivers, I will take Gallup over Green; I like what I saw in those first two games – looks like a breakout kind of guy.
Question 3
Any updated thoughts regarding Mecole Hardman vs. Demarcus Robinson? They both had big games with the same number of targets. Which one makes the better add via waiver wire? Thanks.
Kevin Johnson (Rio Rancho, NM)
I think they both look good. Hardman had a touchdown called back against the Raiders. If we give him that one, they finished 2-2 on Sunday. Robinson has more experience and know-how; he’s worked with Mahomes the last two years, while Hardman wasn’t even playing wide receiver when he first got to Georgia. With Hardman, he comes with some extras – might score on a kick return at some point, and they’ll probably put the ball in his hands on an end-around in most games. Hardman scored on one of those running plays in the preseason, and he averaged over 20 yards on punt returns one year in college.
Question 4
I have Todd Gurley in a Dynasty League that is TD dependent for points. His usage with Malcolm Brown is concerning especially around the goal line. Would you try and trade him for Joe Mixon or some other RB?
HOWIE FISHMAN (Hermosa Beach, CA)
I’m open to trading Gurley. He’s only 25, but I don’t know that he’s ever going to get back to being an uber-elite back. With the knee issues, which I believe are chronic, I think he’s played his best ball. I don’t think they’ll be asking him to be a full-time back again. I think it’s a time-share with Brown now, and I’m not sure there’s a big difference in ability between those guys. When Darrell Henderson is properly prepped up, I imagine they’ll work him in as well. Of course, if you’re going to move Gurley, you have to find a trading partner. Unlikely that anybody is going to hand over a king’s ransom. Mixon comes with his own issues. Gurley looks a lot more promising for Week 3 than Mixon, so you’re getting into taking a step back in hopes of taking 2 steps forward in the future. (If it’s a dynasty league and we’re drafting, I’m taking Mixon before Gurley.)
Question 5
What do you think about taking a flier on Andy Dalton, and hoping for a top-10 QB? How bad is his offensive line for pass protection? I know you don't have him ranked highly in the redrafter, but he's put up big numbers, he's got a very good set of receivers, and A.J. Green is supposedly returning soon. Also, they can't run the ball, and the D is bad so they have to try and score a lot.
Craig Rinne (Lake Worth, FL)
Sounds good to me. Dalton has thrown for 729 yards and 4 TDs so far, and his receiving corps will be looking pretty sweet when it’s healthy – Green, Tyler Boyd and John Ross is a nice trio. They’ve also got backs and tight ends who can help out. As you point out, they can’t run the ball and will be trailing plenty, which should translate into good passing numbers. But I was not overwhelmed by this last game. Dalton finished with 311 yards and 2 TDs, but he was helped along by a fluky 66-yard touchdown with 45 seconds left, with Ross turning a catch into a long touchdown. If we replayed that final minute over and over, the more usual result would be Dalton finishing with 245 yards and 1 TD in a 41-10 loss at home – how would you feel about that game?
Question 6
Second time questioner, long time reader. After scoring 0 points in week 2, I'm worried about keeping O.J. Howard on my team. I've got Hooper on the bench and Waller is a free agent. Would you drop Howard and pick up Waller playing both TEs as the matchup dictates?
Darren VITBERG (Niagara Falls, NY)
Jared Cook caught 68 passes for 896 yards for the Raiders last year. Darren Waller can do all the same kind of things. He’s caught 6 and 7 passes in his first two games, so right now he’s on pace for 104 catches. He’s the same kind of a player – leaner, and really more of a wide receiver than a tight end. Oakland doesn’t have much at wide receiver other than Tyrell Williams, so I expect they’ll continue to use him heavily. He’s definitely catching a lot more passes than Howard. Maybe Hooper as well. There is one thing, however, that bugs me. With the way the schedule is laid out, Oakland won’t play another home game until November. With Cook last year, all of his good games came at the old Alameda Coliseum. He averaged 93 receiving yards in his seven games there. He averaged only 27 yards away from home, finishing under 50 yards in all nine of those games.
Question 7
I have Hopkins, Allen Robinson, Lockett and just picked up Damarcus Robinson on waivers. Who to use as flex position is tough for me. Do I leave Allen Robinson at flex, or should I put in Demarcus Robinson, Carlos Hyde, Peyton Barber or Kenyan Drake at flex this week?
Jim Furry (Myrtle Beach, SC)
I wouldn’t be looking to bench Allen Robinson. Chicago’s offense has sputtered the first two weeks (in low-scoring games against Green Bay and Denver), but he looks like he’s going to be more of a clear-cut No. 1 receiver for them. He’s still caught 11 passes for 143 yards. To me, he looks like an every-week starter who’ll pay off big in a lot of games. I would be nervous about sitting him down on Monday night against a Washington defense that’s already given up 6 TD passes to wide receivers.
Question 8
Like many, I am trying to figure out AB's value. In a 14-team PPR where I already have Edelman, I am tempted to let him go. Is someone like Mike Evans a fair return?
Thomas Hawkins (Peachtree City, GA)
I would be leery of operating under the assumption that Antonio Brown will be available for the entire season. The NFL is investigating sexual assault allegations by a former trainer. Whether she’s credible or not, I have no idea, but at this time next week, Brown could be suspended indefinitely. I would not select him in a PPR league before either Edelman or Evans.
Question 9
After two weeks have you seen anyone who you think has become a winning sleeper that still may be on the waiver wires? Perhaps someone to stash away based on schedule or bye weeks?
TIM ZEUCH (Mason, OH)
James Washington could be ready to start making an impact. As poorly as Donte Moncrief has played, I expect the Steelers to make a lineup change there, with Washington becoming a starter and Moncrief moving to the bench. Washington caught a bunch of long bombs from Mason Rudolph in the preseason, and they were a good combo in college. Chris Herndon has two games left on his suspension. He’ll be back in Week 6, and he might be a top-10 tight end from that point on. He’s got good pass-catching ability, and he had a nice rapport with Sam Darnold last year.
Question 10
Same problem as last week, probably going to have this problem every week. Hooper or Ebron?
David Hogshire (Plymouth, MN)
If you want to play for catches, Hooper is your guy. He’ll catch more passes most weeks. On that front, Hooper is ahead 13-4 after two weeks. If you’re looking for touchdowns, Ebron makes more sense. He’s a bigger part of what the Colts are trying to do when they’re around the end zone. Since the start of last year, Ebron has outscored Hooper 15-4. I do think, however, that Hooper will be used more around the end zone than he has been in the past. Matt Ryan tried to jam a ball into him in the end zone on Sunday night on a throw that was intercepted.
Question 11
Should I drop Hunter Henry? Is he worth the bench spot?
Chris Clay (Los Angeles, CA)
If you’re in a 12-team league with each franchise carrying two tight ends, I think Henry makes sense as a second tight end. He may miss another 4-6 games, but if he can get back to full strength and confidence, he could be a top-10 tight end in the second half of the season.
Question 12
Need a flex option: I have Adrian Peterson, Emmanuel Sanders, and Dede Westbrook. Thoughts? By the way, I've been with you since I took rookie Jerome Bettis in the third round so long ago, on you advice.
BRAD NIELSEN (Kansas City, MO)
Bettis, that’s going back a lot of years. He came out of the 1993 draft. His college teammate, Irv Smith, was also chosen in the first round that year, and Smith’s son is now starting his own NFL career (with the Vikings). But I digress. Peterson is going to have a few good games; he’s a starter now. But he has to be used in the right spots. That’s not this week, playing against a Chicago defense that’s almost impossible to run against. Westbrook, I think, is a hold player right now. In the preseason, he looked like he was going to be clearly Jacksonville’s best pass catcher. But that hasn’t happened yet; they’re playing him in the slot, and everything he’s catching has been painfully short. Two other receivers on his own team – Conley and Chark Attack – have had over twice as many receiving yards in both games. You can wait on Westbrook, hoping he comes around, but I wouldn’t be excited about putting him in a lineup. Sanders doesn’t have a great matchup either (playing at Green Bay) but has least played well two weeks in a row. I guess he would be the best option for Week 3 (unless you can find something better on the waiver wire).
Question 13
Lost Roethlisberger in a start 2QB league. Most QBs are taken. So now my choice for a spot starter (bye) comes down to Jones and Rudolph. Both play Miami once. Both have play similar "toughness" teams in my BYE weeks. I have not seen either play. Who should I take for the rest of the season?
Jim Backstrom (Henderson, NV)
I think they have similar. Long-term (2020 and beyond) I would go with Daniel Jones. For 2019, I’d lean towards Mason Rudolph. I like that’s been around for a year, with a chance to better learn the offense. He showed up dramatically improved in the preseason, connecting on a lot of deep passes with his former college teammate, James Washington.