Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition. Receivers who could step up in 2026. Declining J'Marr Chase. Can Taysom Hill crawl back to relevance? And more.
Question 1
I always ask this later in the season but an open roster spot on my dynasty sparked the question. I know it’s way too early but in regard to contracts, rookies in good positions, etc. any players come to mind to grab early? you helped with a Chase Brown pickup the year early.
Graham Ginn (Ocean View, NJ)
I see three wide receivers picked in the second and third rounds who look like they’re on schedule. Definitely Isaac TeSlaa, who’s made a couple of remarkable catches and scored in three straight preseason games. It’s a question of when, not if, with him. And Luther Burden and Tre Harris as well. Burden will be starting next year for the Bears, and that’s an up-and-coming offense. With Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith (they’re other rookie) looked better early in the preseason, but Harris seems to have separated now – Keenan Allen is 33, so I’m thinking Harris will be moving into that spot next year.
Question 2
So, when is it time to officially panic about J'Marr Chase? Spending your #1 pick on him, with no Joe Burrow for months ... looks like the writing is on the wall. Trading him? What compensation would you possibly get for him?
Patrick LaMendola (Penfield, NY)
I would sure love to see Famous Jameis traded to Cincinnati. He comes with ridiculous sacks, fumbles and interceptions, but at least you know he’ll be gunning it downfield. With Jake Browning, Chase is relegated to performing like a lesser slot receiver. It just isn’t happening. There was the off-the-bench miracle against Jacksonville. I can’t explain that. And Chase and Browning got hot in another game against the Jaguars two years ago, connecting on 11 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. But in Chase’s other seven games with Browning start, he’s averaged 4 catches for 44 yards, with no touchdowns. Are we trading Chase for a ham sandwich? Well, what kind of bread are we talking about?
Question 3
One of my leaguemates is 0-4, and has Bijan and Golden on byes this week. Should I trade him Henderson and Pickens for that combo? It's a 16-team league, and so awesome RBs are pretty tough to come by. However, Pickens has been pretty studly, and maybe Henderson has room to grow still. Like that trade or don't push for it?
Greg Resin (Palos Verdes Estates, CA)
Pickens is playing really well right now, but Lamb will be back. So put me down for the Bijan side of that trade.
Question 4
Taysom Hill is eligible as a QB and TE in my PPR League, 14 teams, 28 TEs rostered ... is he worth a roster spot?
Jose Montana (Rosemead, CA)
I noticed that the Saints have opened his 21-day practice window, creating the potential that he’ll be added to the 53-man roster. He’s run for 17 touchdowns in his last 40 games, mostly as a gadget quarterback – beloved by many fans, he’s kind of their version of the Tush Push. He’s also caught 65 passes and 4 TDs in those 40 games. But he’s also 35, and the Saints are one of the worst few teams in the league. They’re not going to be spending a lot of teams inside the 5-yard line of opponents. If we’re in a 14-team league with each franchise carrying two tight ends, I wouldn’t think anybody would be considering rostering Hill.
Question 5
Hello Ian, thank you for all the work you do to try to help us navigate a crazy season. Bye week time. I need a flex, PPR league, for this week to cover the bye week. Which would you pick up between: Darren Waller, Justice Hill, Kendre Miller, Troy Franklin, Kendrick Bourne.
Scott Fitch (San Mateo, CA)
Jonnu Smith caught 7 TDs in his last 11 games last year. Now, Waller catching 2 TDs in his first game for the Dolphins. I think we’ll be seeing him so up around the goal line. But if you’re playing for catches, you’ve got those other guys to pick from. Probably 4 catches for Bourne. Franklin comes off a down game but at least saw 8 targets.
Question 6
I have Tony Franklin. Last night they seemed to split more with Mims. With T. Hill and M. Nabers out, would you try and pick up Malik Washington or Darius Slayton?
Jim Furry (Conway, SC)
“Tony” Franklin. That made smile – the thought of a barefoot kicker (a 68-year-old one at that) out there running pass patterns. No wonder Bo Nix is struggling. You are correct in that his playing time declined; he was on the field for only 58 percent of their plays, down from about 80 percent the previous two games. But I think that was more a matchup situation (against a lesser opponent) rather than a permanent shift in the offense. I think both Washington and Slayton have some value. Slayton (I posted an article on him earlier in the week) I think probably will be the Giants’ leading receiver for the duration. I think he should be rostered. With Washington, there are times where it looks like he’s got a neat chemistry with Tua, catching short balls. They connected on 3-4 passes in high-leverage moments in the preseason (including at least one fourth down). Washington also runs the ball a couple times per game and might even score on a kick return at some point. But when it comes time to actually put Washington in a starting lineup? Well … er … he’s averaging 6 yards per catch, and he’s caught only 8 of the 15 passes thrown his way so far. I will go Slayton over Washington.
Question 7
I believe you see all the games and I just watched the Cowboys block the Packers EP attempt and take it back for 2 points. There has been a rash of blocked FGs, EPs, and punts the last two weeks like I've never seen before. Do you have any insight into this? Have the defenses found a weakness in the kicking team's setup? Is it just some sort of coincidental movement toward the good ole analytical mean? All I know is that it's is a bit crazy.
Josh Obusek (Pittsburgh, PA)
I don’t have the count on blocked kicks, but it’s definitely up. It seems like special teams coaches are doing a better job of studying film and find slight flaws that can be exploited.
Question 8
I just lost Trey Benson to the IR ... available players to pick up in my league are Justice Hill, Kenneth Gainwell and Emari Demercado. What is your opinion? Gainwell does have a bye week, and I’m kinda short players with Benson out with injury and Josh Jacobs on a bye week also. Based on those factors, was wondering if I should keep Benson or drop him and who should I pick up out of Hill, Gainwell, and Demercado?
MICHAEL BERNARD (Lafayette, LA)
You could probably cut Benson and then re-sign him next week, right? He’s not so valuable that it would be a disaster if you lost him. I would be inclined to roll the dice on Demercado, for the reasons I spelled out on the website earlier in the day. I think he’ll be better than their other backs (Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight).
Question 9
Longtime subscriber (33-plus years) playing in a 2-QB ten team league. Scoring system is unique: you get 3 pts per passing TD and -2 points for interceptions or fumbles. Additionally, players drafted in Rounds 9 thru 12 can be retained for up to three years if kept on a roster continually. My starting QBs are Jordan Love and Kyler Murray. One of the other owners offered me a trade of Trevor Lawrence for Jordan Love. Is up to three years of Lawrence worth taking a hit with Love this year? Love is in his third year so he goes back into the draft pool at the end of this season.
Andrew Napoli (Woodbridge, VA)
It's a fascinating question. It will cost you this year, but it puts a quarterback in place for the next two years. It free up a good draft for you at next year’s Player Select Meeting. I guess it hinges on whether Liam Coen can get Lawrence playing something like he did in the second half of 2023. That hasn’t happened in the first month of the season, and Doug Pederson couldn’t get Lawrence to play at that level the previous year. Coen was successful with Baker Mayfield. For now, I’ve lost hope that Lawrence is ever going to be a top-10 quarterback. I think I’d just stick with one good season of Love rather than hoping for two good seasons of Lawrence.
Question 10
I want to invest in Luther Burden but we have only 5 bench spots. (Start 1 RB. 2WR/TE, 2Flex.) I would have to drop Dart, Tuten, Harvey, or Henderson to pick him up. My RB is Jeanty so I'm trying to hedge that bet. My WRs are Nabers, JSN, Allen, Pickens, Rice. QB is Herbert. I probably don't need him but I think Burden will be really good in Johnson's offense later in the season. What do you think?
Donald DeKeyser (Green Bay, WI)
He's shown a few flashes. He’s better after the catch than their other receivers. But I think we’ll looking more at next year rather than later this season.
Question 11
What are your deeper thoughts on Mooney? Is he worth holding onto with London obviously #1 right now and Mooney recovering from another injury? In the redrafter I trust, I just need you to talk me into dropping him, one of my higher draft picks, for a player like Doubs (GB WRs drove me crazy last year), Zaccheaus, Franklin, Downs, Legette, Bateman. Thank you!
Scott Fitch (San Mateo, CA)
Franklin has been pretty good for Denver. I will take that over the hope that Mooney gets back to playing more like he did last year. And I supposed it makes sense to slot Doubs higher, with him having just caught 3 TDs on Sunday night (but I think we’ll see that receiving group get more crowded, with Golden improving and Watson coming back).