Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition. Trey Benson's prospects for next year. How much is an offense affected by traveling cross country? Mulling a lesser trifecta of running backs for Week 6. And the guy who gave away Ja'Marr Chase for a sack of 2026 beans.
Question 1
Are the West Coast/Pacific time zone teams traveling even more this season? by my unofficial count, the Seahawks have 6 games in the Eastern time zone, the Rams have 5 plus London, the Chargers have 4 plus Brazil and the Raiders and 49ers each have 4. That's a lot of miles and jet lag. I don't think any of the 18 NFL teams located in the Eastern time zone have the same travel burden going West?
Peter Chen (Palo Alto, CA)
First of all, congratulations. I saw that your Blackout team, Highway to Goodell was able to put together the high score for Week 5. Well played.
Your letter got me wondering (if I can change the question slightly) about the impact of travel. Looking at recent numbers, it hasn’t been much of a disadvantage. In the 2021-24 seasons, West Coast teams went 102-102 when playing at home in the Pacific Time zone. Those same teams went 46-31 when playing on the road in the Eastern time zone. (Why it’s not instead either Pacific/Atlantic or Western/Eastern, I don’t know).
Those West Coast averaged slightly fewer points in those games (23.2 rather than 23.9, but they averaged almost 2 fewer points defensively (20.9 rather than 22.6).
Via the numbers I looked at, East Coast teams were more affected. They went 289-242-2 when playing at home in their own time zone (I left out “home” games in Europe), but only 27-39-0 when on the road on the Left Coast.
While losing more often, East Coast teams actually scored slightly more points in those road games (23.3 rather than 23.2). It was the defenses that fell apart, allowing over 4 more points per game (25.9 versus 21.1).
These numbers aren’t what I was expecting at all. For fantasy purposes, they suggest we shouldn’t be too worried about offenses making cross-country trips. And when an East Coast defense is playing out west, that’s one to think about going after.
Question 2
So I made a "blockbuster" trade in a HPPR Keeper League that got a few guys fired up. My team is near the bottom of the league after trading Javonte Williams for Higgins (pre-injury Burrow). Chase and Henderson were my first 2 picks. Chase obviously under the same Burrow effect, Henderson has been a bust. I hate keeper leagues and never focus on keepers but decide to go after one now. We get 2. So I gave up Chase, Etienne and Kamara for Bucky, Trey Benson, and Pacheco (garbage). Bucky will be an 11th-round pick next season which feels extremely solid. How do you view Benson's keeper value as a round 7 pick next year? Other keeper stashes I have would be Kendre Miller as a Round 10 pick next year or Tre Tucker as a Round 10 pick next year. Trying to decide which of these guys would be expendable to drop for waiver pickups.
Rich Wiegard (Frisco, TX)
We’ll see how things play out in the remaining 12 weeks, but right now I would guess Bucky Irving will be a second- or third-round pick next year. So to secure him in the 11th round will be a nice start for your 2026 team. Things are more fluid with Benson. Let’s see what he looks like the final month of this season, and let’s see who else is in that backfield in 2026. James Conner is 30. I’m guessing they’ll either bring him back or obtain some other viable back to pair with Benson. And are we sure who’s coaching the team? But I think Benson will be starting in 2026, and that he’ll be going a few rounds earlier than the seventh in drafts. He averaged 5.5 yards per attempt in his last 10 games last year, and he was averaging 5.5 this season before he got hurt. I think he’s ready to start. But if Joe Flacco elevates Ja’Marr Chase back up into the top 5 among wide receivers, you’ll be hearing about it all year long.
Question 3
I'm 4-1, 12 teams, basic scoring, all TDs 6 points, 3 points when reaching 100 yards rushing or receiving, 1 point for every 25 yards after. Which 2 RBs do you recommend starting this week? C. Skattebo, R. White, Z. Charbonnet, or H. Haskins? This is our 38th season!
Manuel Madrid (San Tan Valley, AZ)
None of those guys are going to run for 100 yards. I would just focus on touchdowns. White is definitely a starter, unless Bucky Irving somehow miraculously makes it back. He’s not practicing today. For the other spot, I wouldn’t be opposed to going with any of them. Skattebo has been playing the best; maybe he can put together a little Thursday night magic. But he’s on a low-scoring offense with a running quarterback, which I’m not crazy about. Charbonnet has been getting the goal-line touches for Seattle, but they’re on the road against a defense that’s a lot better against the run than the pass. Haskins isn’t much of a player; he’s been bouncing in and out of the league. But the Chargers are playing a defense that let Rico Dowdle run for over 200 yards last week. In your scoring format, I wouldn’t be against taking a wild flyer on him.