Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition: Can Tank Dell (and DeVonta Smith) get off the canvas? When a backup running back is more valuable than a starter. Stroud vs. Burrow. And more.
Question 1
Like many, I picked up Dell as a short-term replacement for Nico. I’ve been extremely unlucky with wide receivers this year (after drafting a murderer’s row of Tyreek, Puka, Collins and Godwin). Nico’s out for at least another couple of weeks, so do you think Dell can bounce back, or should I look elsewhere? Looking at what seems to be the weekly wide receiver devastating season ending injury list, I’d be fighting several owners for a better replacement than Dell. Tolbert is sitting there within my reach, but is he worth dropping Dell for a couple of weeks?
Robert Cummings (Los Angeles, CA)
I would put Tank Dell (pictured) and DeVonta Smith in the same bucket this week. I believe in those guys. They can play the game, and that’s been demonstrated with on-field production. Both are coming off the worst games of their careers. (Dell didn’t catch any of his 4 targets last week, while Smith actually finished with minus-2 yards.) Both guys play for teams with good offenses, and coaches with both are conceding, “Gee, we need to do a better job of getting the ball to him.” With both, I would be comfortable leaving them in starting lineups and letting that happen.
Question 2
I have Bijan, Kyren, Zack Moss, Javonte Williams and Tyler Allgeier as my five RBs. Am I better off dropping Zack Moss for Blake Corum as Kyren’s handcuff?
MICHAEL HAMER (Springfield, PA)
I think it can be considered. If Kyren (who carries an obscene workload) gets hurt, you would face considerable competition to otain Corum’s services. With Moss, he’s not playing for you unless there’s some kind of issue with one of your two starters. The worst case with Moss would involve Chase Brown getting hurt, turning Moss into more of a full-time player. But even in that scenario, I don’t think Moss would ever start ahead of Bijan or Kyren.
Question 3
Trade CJ Stroud or Joe Burrow for Jordan Love. Which, if either, would make more sense? I see Love faces some tough passing defenses in weeks 11 and 13. Stroud faces tough passing defenses in weeks 9, 12 and 15. Burrows seems to face the toughest pass defenses with top units most weeks except 10, 13 and 14. Burrow playing TEN, CLE and DEN versus fantasy playoffs have me leaning on clicking accept on Burrow for Love. Thoughts?
Scott Fitch (San Mateo, CA)
Matchups are only relevant, I think, if the players are comparable. Stroud right now is a few levels below Burrow. Burrow is balling, looking like a contender to finish the season with the league’s best passing numbers. Stroud and the Texans, meanwhile, have regressed. They’ve had pass protection issues, and some opponents have apparently picked up on their scheme. They haven’t been able to get Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz going. Sacks and interceptions are up, touchdowns are down, and he’s averaging a yard less per attempt. Some of this is tied to Nico Collins being down, of course, Stroud passed for 330-plus in the last two non-Nico games. But I don’t think anybody right now would pick Stroud before Burrow, regardless of matchups that will be happening a month or two down the road.
Question 4
I am confused with the Redrafter ranking for Jauan Jennings. In the write up you say pick up of the week. Aiyuk is out for the year, Deebo has pneumonia meaning out for 2-3 weeks. He is ranked 42nd. I would think he would be much higher. I would guess in the mid-20. Can you explain the logic in the ranking?
Edward Pena (Houston, TX)
Let’s see who’s available. I haven’t seen anything indicating Samuel is out for 2-3 weeks. And I’m not certain that Jennings is playing. Neither is practicing today. If Samuel is reasonably healthy, that will make Jennings (if healthy) less appealing. Kyle Shanahan says he expects or hopes Jennings will be playing this week. But I’m not sure Shanahan is a reliable source at this point. Earlier in the year, he concealed the severity of the Christian McCaffrey injury, and there was no mention on Saturday of Samuel having a respiratory problem that prevented him from playing much at all on Sunday. For longer-term value, I expect Jennings will be the third option in that passing game for the remainder of the season, behind Samuel and Kittle. (They may get McCaffrey back in Week 10, and he caught more passes inside the 10 last year than any of their other players – Samuel, Kittle and Aiyuk.)
Question 5
I have to waive a player, non-ppr. Josh Downs or JuJu? I leaning Downs due to Richardson being the QB. I have Chase, Kupp, and Zay Flowers as my other receivers.
Jay Sublett (Roanoke, VA)
With Hopkins heading to Arrowhead, I would be comfortable releasing both of them. There are a bunch of modest receiver options on the waiver wire this week that I would rather have short-term than either of them. Richardson right now isn’t really an NFL passer, so with Downs, I don’t think he’ll be doing much this year unless the Colts wind up putting Joe Flacco in the lineup for a run of games.
Question 6
Really? Amari Cooper at WR60 is this week's redrafter? How the heck? Do you really see him as a WR 5 or 6 for the rest of the season? I'm perplexed, baffled, especially as you all were higher than most on him entering the season. I can see not buying into him taking a big step forward, but you guys have him taking a HUGE step back.
Chris Kepler (Makawao, HI)
He's up at 40 now, after a solid debut. But I’m not sure what to make of Buffalo’s offense. Since Joe Brady took over there, they’ve tended to rely more on the run. They averaged only 233 passing yards in their nine games under Brady last year. They’re averaging only 213 passing yards this year. Josh Allen tossed 4 TDs against hapless Jacksonville, but just 7 in his other six games. They just passed for 323 yards and 2 TDs against the Titans, of course, but I don’t think that’s what they’re going to be going forward. I think we’re talking about a far more modest passing game, with plenty of weeks where the run is heavily emphasized. I don’t think it’s a great situation Cooper is being tossed into, and I think they’ve got a bunch of other guys who will continue to be used. Khalil Shakir is a solid, emerging player. I think he’ll catch more passes than Cooper. Keon Coleman just played his best game as a pro; he may grow into something. Dalton Kincaid potentially could be an above-average tight end. And they’ve still got Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, Dawson Knox and their running backs. We’ll see, but I’m not a big Cooper fan.