Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

With Week 1 laid to rest, we can start to dig into the questions that will be high on fantasy football manager's minds early in the season. Things like, could A.J. Brown be a WR2/3 for the rest of the year? Are the Browns going to flop, even with all of that rostered talent?

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Listen to the Fantasy Finish Line, 9/11/2019: Week 2 Preview: A Deep Dive

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drinkfive.com contributor and college football expert Shawn Foss joins your hosts Dave and Jason on the podcast this week to discuss the fantasy production so far of this year's draft class. We'll also touch on the usual topics, including injuries, trends, and matchups to exploit in Week 9.

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Listen to the Fantasy Finish Line, 10/30/2019: Week 9 Preview: The Deadline Looms...

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to get notifications whenever we release a new episode. We also broadcast the shows live at http://www.mixlr.com/drinkfive on Wednesday nights. Feel free to browse over and join in the discussion in the chat room!

For more in-depth analysis and discussion of these injury scenarios, tune in to the Fantasy Finish Line Podcast, Week 9 Preview: Rookie Report Card

QUARTERBACKS

Joe Flacco (neck) – Herniated disc? Not sure about that one.. Frankly, it’s just not working out with Flacco under center for the Broncos and it’s just as likely that the extent of the neck injury is being inflated in order to have an easy excuse to rule Flacco out and make a change at the position, on the way to Drew Lock starting in a few weeks. In the meantime, Brandon Allen (who was a Los Angeles Ram earlier this year up until Blake Bortles took his backup spot behind Jared Goff) will start. Allen was originally drafted in 2016 by the Jaguars in the 6^th round and has not yet played a snap in the NFL outside of preseason games. The most likely scenario here is that Allen puts up below average numbers for a few weeks before Drew Lock steps in for his turn to run the offense. Lock will have to wait 3 weeks before being added to the active roster, that timer starting as soon as he practices. Why throw Lock to the wolves against Minnesota and Buffalo in weeks 11 and 12 following the Broncos’ bye? I’m betting on Lock getting his first start against the Chargers in week 13.

Cam Newton (foot) – After Kyle Allen’s dismal performance against the surging 49ers (19/37 for 158 yards, 0 TDs and 3 INTs), the consensus around the NFL is that Cam Newton will be slotting back into the lineup shortly. Allen will still start against the Titans in Week 9 but that will likely be his last start this season (unless Newton suffers a setback in his rehab). Cam is only 42% owned right now, and that will only go up as he gets closer to a return. Should you grab him if he’s available on the waiver wire? In Superflex leagues, absolutely!

Patrick Mahomes (ankle) – It’s still unclear if Mahomes will start in Week 9 against the Vikings but seems less likely as we approach the weekend. Matt Moore was the QB to address the media today after practice, and I think Mahomes fantasy owners may need to find a fill-in for one more week. On a positive note, Moore performed admirably against the Packers (24/36 for 237 yards and 2 TDs) and would be a serviceable QB2 this week as well.

Case Keenum (concussion) – Haskins is not yet ready to start, that much is painfully obvious. But Keenum has yet to be cleared from a concussion that he suffered in Week 8. If Keenum can’t start, Haskins might be thrust into a horrible matchup with the Bills and all fantasy value from the Redskins (really only Adrian Peterson and Terry McLaurin at this point) will take a further dive.

RUNNING BACKS

David Johnson (back/ankle) – He was a limited participant in practice today and is trending toward a game-time decision. This is a short week, however, and with Chase Edmonds (hamstring) also injured, this situation is trending toward being a RBBC featuring the newly acquired Kenyan Drake as well as Zach Zenner and Alfred Morris. Brand new RB? Playing against the 49ers? The smart move will be to avoid this whole mess and circle back next week.

James Conner (shoulder) – Conner put up some impressive stats against the Dolphins but was injured in the last 2 minutes of the game when he fell on his shoulder. Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday when he addressed the media that the injury was to his AC joint and that he would be held out early in the week but still has a chance to practice and play on Sunday if his shoulder progresses enough. For the time being, the only running back on the Steelers both relevant (sorry, Trey Edmunds) and healthy is Jaylen Samuels – who would be an immediate RB2 against the Colts if Conner has to sit this week out.

 
Royce Freeman (shoulder) – A shoulder issue that he picked up in Week 8 could linger, causing Freeman to be held out against the Browns this week – but it’s more likely that he pushes through it and the running game from Freeman and Lindsay will be extremely important for the Broncos with first-time starter Brandon Allen at Quarterback. Watch the news this week to make sure that Freeman is practicing leading up to the game.

Matt Breida (ankle) – Week 8 was all about Tevin Coleman (11 rushes for 105 yards and 3 TDs, 2 receptions for 13 yards and 1 TD), and Coleman will be out there again – but we could also get fantasy production from Brieda (ankle), Mostert (knee), or Wilson (neck) if they are able to play against the Cardinals this week.

Miles Sanders (shoulder) – 118 all-purpose yards and a TD last week for Sanders added up to his best game so far as a rookie, but Sanders left the game in the 3^rd quarter with a shoulder injury. He didn’t practice today, but beat reporters suggest that he’s not in danger of missing Week 9 against the Bears. Sproles is also back at practice this week, so we could see more of a RBBC developing again, similar to how the position looked earlier in the season.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Marquise Brown (ankle) – We should see Brown back in action this week after he returned to practice today, but he’s not someone to use this week against the Patriots unless you have a serious need at WR. Even then I would suggest trying to find someone else. Brown had been trending down in fantasy production even before his injury.

 
Davante Adams (toe) – Adams participated in practice today “without any visible signs of limitation” and Adam Schefter already reported this past weekend that Adams return in week 9 against the Chargers “is likely”. Averaging about 7 receptions for 90+ yards in each of his first four games, expect more of the same if he suits up this week.

Dede Westbrook (neck/shoulder) – Westbrook tried to tough it out this past week but didn’t end up playing past the first half. He has been disappointing this season and ceded most of the available fantasy production to D.J. Chark and Chris Conley.

A.J. Green (ankle) – Green is practicing and should be good to go against the Ravens in Week 10. After the Bengals declined to trade him, it looks like there will be some kind of long-term extension offered to Green when he becomes a free agent at the conclusion of the 2019 season. In the meantime, a healthy Green returning next week should provide an immediate boost to the offense in general, regardless of who is under center (which will be rookie Ryan Finley, at least in week 10).

Brandin Cooks (concussion) – It’s a bye week for Cooks, but he is off visiting a series of specialists to discuss his history of concussions (he’s had a total of 4 known concussions including the one that he suffered last week). It is now a possibility that Cooks will take multiple weeks to recover, or even be put on IR based on the conversations that I’m hearing from the team and surrounding sources. Obviously what’s important here is that he can get healthy ASAP.

Sterling Shepard (concussion) – Speaking of concussions, Shepard hasn’t played since week 5 but it looks like he’ll be back in uniform along with the rest of the Giants’ offensive pieces. It will be interesting to see how everyone is used in this matchup against Dallas on Monday.

DeSean Jackson (abdomen) – Another WR that has been missing for quite some time, Jackson adds a lot to the Eagles’ offense when he is able to stretch the field and it looks like he will be back for Week 9’s bout with the Bears.

TIGHT ENDS

Chris Herndon (hamstring) – Limited in Wednesday’s practice. He looks like he’s on track to play in Week 9 against the Dolphins. Darnold excelled with Herndon last season, and the matchup with the Dolphins would be a great place to enjoy a get-right game for Darnold and the Jets’ offense in general. This would be the first game that the 2018 fourth-round pick has played this year after a suspension and injury.

O.J. Howard (hamstring) – Looks like Howard is a long-shot to play in Week 9 against the Seahawks, but I doubt he’s even on most rosters after a very slow start to the season (41% owned). Cameron Brate is a toss-up sort of play in this matchup, with both Anthony Auclair and Tanner Hudson also getting a decent share of snaps in this offense.

Here we go, onto Week 8! I hope that your team has managed to get into a good position so far this season, but there is still time to right the ship if you're a few games behind. Don't listen to the hype out there - make smart, rational decisions on your pickups and weekly starts and with a little bit of luck your team will be packing to head to the playoffs later this year! Listen to or watch the Fantasy Finish Line podcast to stay on top of the latest news and analysis - we broadcast live on YouTube weekly on Wednesdays at 9pm CT.

Guys that jump out to me this week to overperform expectations: Joe Burrow, James White, Marquise Brown, Mike Gesicki, and New England Patriots DST.

Pay attention to these rankings throughout the season, as they will continue to evolve based on the latest injury updates, news, and player analysis. Have any specific lineup questions? Feel free to tweet us @drinkfive with any of your questions or comments!