Fantasy Football Saturday Mailbag for Week 13
Good Morning, Footclan, and a very warm welcome to Week 12 of The Fantasy Footballers’ Saturday Morning Mailbag! It’s Saturday, it’s early, and as always, I am here to select a handful of your questions from The Fantasy Footballers’ Discord server and some of the hot topics that didn’t quite make it to that week’s edition of The Footcast. The Ballers’ Discord is home to the biggest and best online fantasy football community in the world, and is your go-to if you’re looking to talk about all things fantasy football. Head over today and get involved with thousands of members across dozens of dedicated channels for start/sit questions, trade advice, and waiver wire insights, as well as exclusive areas which are only available to members of the Footclan.
Happy Thanksgiving, FootClan! I hope that you are all enjoying a peaceful and relaxing time with family and friends, and are able to celebrate the season with plates full of succulent turkey alongside mountains of creamy mash potatoes, all smothered in gravy – or at the very least you’ve made it to your local Jack in the Box (not a sponsor) to pay homage to our resident Turkey Day rebel Mike Wright who undoubtedly paid the porcelain price for the error of his ways on Black Friday moening.
In this week’s mailbag, we try to gauge the levels of trust we can have in players who are returning from serious injury, as well as those who have let us down in recent times (I’m talking about you, Jamo). We talk trade values of underwhelming first-round draft picks, and ponder the question of whether Joe Burrow can be plugged straight back into your starting lineup (hint: the answer starts with Y and ends in ES). Grab those leftovers and unbuckle your belts…let’s dive right in!
Question #1 – Season-Long Strategy (The Jameson Williams Experience)
Hey Ballers!! What do I do with Jameson Williams? He gained my trust again, only to put up another goose egg. Do I trust him for a playoff run? – Jason’s TenderGroin
Answer: Oh, Jamo, you silly little goose! Just a few days before Thanksgiving, the on-fire Lions WR served up a fowl performance of his own, stinking the dome out in Detroit’s OT win at Ford Field against the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon. Fresh off back-to-back WR1 finishes, the 24-year-old’s stat line of 3/0/0 was classic Jameson Williams.
We’ve all seen this narrative before with the enigmatic pass-catcher, and as infuriating as it can be…it’s all part of the Jameson Williams Experience (an excellent potential name for a progressive rock band in my opinion). One week you are the best WR in football and your coaches talk to the press about getting you more involved – the next you’re the Cardio King, playing 97% of snaps (that’s a season high btw), seeing only 8% of snaps as two of your team-mates combine for 413 yards and 4 TDs from scrimmage…ho hum.
The frustration is real, and coming from a fellow Jamo manager who started him in their League of Record…and lost (against my partner, I’ll add…ouch), I fully understand wanting to drop him to the bench as an act of discipline – but don’t be too hasty.
The Lions are T1st in the NFL on total offense, 11th in passing yards, and 3rd in passing TDs – there’s plenty to go around…and there’s no way Jahmyr Gibbs is putting up 260 yards on the ground again this season. With LaPorta done for the season, Jamo is the clear No.2 target for Jared Goff and offers a deep threat that very few other WRs in the league can. Detroit’s schedule between now and the end of the season is the 5th best for wideouts… better days will return. If you need a little more convincing, take comfort in the fact that Williams scores almost six FPPG more in games where the Lions lose (13.1) compared to ones where they win (7.2) – with Detroit having the 4th hardest overall strength of schedule from here until Week 17, we may see Jamo become far more necessary down the home stretch.
If you are looking for a floor play each week, then sure, you can bench Williams for another WR2/3 caliber player…otherwise, just strap in and ride the lightning!
Question #2 – Season-Long Strategy (League Winning RB Edition)
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What kind of trust can I have in Omarion Hampton going forward? Will I ever play him over either D.K. Metcalf or Alec Pierce in my second FLEX spot? – Pronounced with a Lil Umphrey
Answer: It’s a Thanksgiving miracle…the Chargers have opened Omarion Hampton’s 21-day practice window, and all signs point to the electrifying young rookie returning to the field (and your fantasy lineups) either this week or the next.
It’s been a long, arduous wait for fantasy managers who have stashed the 22nd overall pick from this year’s NFL Draft in their IR slot – and there were times in the not-too-distant past where some legitimate concerns were raised if the former North Carolina Tar Heel would see the field again in 2025. Thankfully for the 22-year-old, the Los Angeles Chargers, and fantasy managers around the globe, Hampton has stayed true to his projected timeline and has a real chance of making his return to action following the Bolts’ Week 12 bye.
With regards to the level of trust I have in Hampton, or where he will be ranked once he retakes the field, take from it what you will, that I will be plugging him back into a starting RB spot immediately, with the view of him performing as a high-end RB2 straight out of the gate. Alec Pierce has strung together a series of serviceable performances, but neither he nor D.K. Metcalf possesses the week-winning upside that the Chargers’ rookie does on any given week.
Don’t hear what I’m not saying: I really like both Pierce and Metcalf moving forward, but with Hampton averaging an RB1-level 14.3 FPPG prior to his absence (5.2 FPPG more than Pierce and 3.8 FPPG more than Metcalf), you simply have to play him ahead of both WRs. Factoring in Indianapolis’ 5th worst strength of schedule against wideouts, and Aaron Rodgers’ lingering wrist injury – there isn’t a world where I won’t be starting Hampton over these two – or most other WRs – each and every week. Welcome back, Omarion…we missed you!
Question #3 – Trade Advice (Underwhelming WR Special)
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Hey Ballers! I have Emeka Egbuka, Nico Collins, Rome Odunze, and CeeDee Lamb as my WRs – which one (or two) would you feel okay with trading away in order to acquire a better RB? Thanks, guys, and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! – Cflip
Answer: This reads like a “who’s who” of disappointing WRs over the last few weeks. First things first, credit to you for having such a great WR core on paper…I can only assume you absolutely bossed your matchups in the opening month of the season with these four! Sadly, between injury, sub-standard QB play, and the Bears…well, just being the Bears; things have cooled off a little for this quartet since late October – so perhaps trading one (or more) away could be the right call in your quest for a #FootClanTitle – but who?
To be honest, there’s a case for all four of these pass-catchers, but the guy I have least hope for moving forward is the man who was the overall WR3 through the opening four games of the season…Mr. Rome Odunze. The sophomore wideout may be by far-and-away the leading receiver on this team (42/683/6), but with five of his last seven performances seeing him finish outside WR3 territory for fantasy purposes…just what kind of trade value are you going to get for 2024’s 9th overall draft pick?
You may have to package Odunze with another asset in order to receive anything of value in return, and my recommendation here would be pairing Rome up with underwhelming Texans’ wideout Nico Collins in an attempt to get a top-tier RB for the remainder of the season. Nico hasn’t been too bad…but he hasn’t been great either. Three weeks inside the top-5 juxtaposed with six weeks outside the top-25 encapsulate Nico’s season perfectly, with the fifth-year veteran struggling to emulate the 14.7 FPPG he has posted in his last two campaigns with the franchise, posting a modest 12.1 FPPG in his ten outings thus far. Collins has had to adjust to General Davis Mills taking charge at QB in C.J. Stroud’s absence…but this is where I think Nico managers can capitalise – after Houston’s clear No.1 posted his two best performances of the season with the back-up signal caller, the window of opportunity has creaked open.
Both the Bears (2nd worst) and the Texans (9th worst) have fairly brutal rest-of-season strength-of-schedules at the WR position, so now could be the time to package the pair up and go shopping for a low-end RB1 such as Quinshon Judkins, Ashton Jeanty, or even the above-mentioned Omarion Hampton, returning from injury. The thought of giving up two of your WRs for a top-level RB may be daunting, but it I have CeeDee and Egbuka ready to go (even with the injury to Baker Mayfield) – I would happily jettison the underwhelming duo to strengthen my core at RB.
It may take some convincing, but both Nico and Odunze have favourable matchups this week…a potential for some boom games to add to their value before shipping them out. Good luck!
Question #4 – Trade Advice (Will the Real Justin Jefferson Please Stand Up)
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Howdy ho ho ho Ballers! I’m in a 12-Team Half-PPR league. Would you trade Justin Jefferson for Saquon Barkley? My other WRs are Tetairoa McMillan, Jameson Williams, Romeo Doubs, and Chris Godwin. Happy Spatchcocking! – Concussion Protocol
Answer: I’ll be honest, I almost stopped reading this after that first sentence and was about to put your question in the Rapid Round section below with a simple reply of “SMASH ACCEPT”…but then you added your other WRs, and that had me stopping me in my tracks a bit.
Laying bare your current WR crop turns this from a simple “absolutely” into a “well, that kinda depends on your RB depth” kind of question. To say Justin Jefferson has been disappointing would be somewhat of an understatement – the consensus WR2 behind Ja’Marr Chase in fantasy draft, Jettas’ current standing as the overall WR15 isn’t exactly what managers had in mind when taking the now 26-year-old early on in the first round back in August. We can hardly blame Jefferson, however – a season littered with the inefficiencies of Carson Wentz and former high draft pick J.J. McCarthy has made it nigh-on impossible for the Jets to get anywhere near the 15-to-16 FPPG we are used to seeing him post for our rosters.
That said, J.J. McCarthy is now in the League’s Concussion Protocol (or as we call it – The Kyler Murray Protocol) and looks set to spend at least Week 13 on the sidelines, opening up the door for local lad and UDFA out of the University of Minnesota, Max Brosmer, to state his claim for the lead-passer role. If we want to believe in miracles and take a drive down Narrative Street – Vikings Head coach Kevin O’Connell compared Brosmer to Brock Purdy during the pre-season – you know, the same Brock Purdy who went from Mr. Irrelevant to Franchise QB in under twelve months? Ok, so Brosmer is unlikely to follow in Purdy’s footsteps and become the Vikings’ long-term solution at QB, but to his credit, he did look relatively sharp in his limited pre-season outings back in August, especially in the 23-13 loss in Tennessee, throwing for 161 yards and a score on 23 attempts.
Perhaps Jefferson finds a connection with Brosmer moving forward, perhaps not – but if you are absolutely desperate at the RB position, or are simply just fed up of JJ’s overall lack of production in recent weeks, then by all means…pull the trigger, but I would be hanging on for one more week just to see what this offense looks like with their 3rd QB of the season calling the shots.
It’s time for Rapid Round…
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If Joe Burrow starts on Thanksgiving, are you playing him right away? Would you start him over Jacoby Brissett? – Gunfur
Answer: Absolutely, and this Turkey Day, I am thankful for the good doctors who did the work on Joey B’s turf-toe and got him back out on the field in time for some Thanksgiving Football! Brissett has been excellent in Kyler’s absence through “injury” (he’s the QB3 since taking over the starters’ role in Week 6), but this is a day for Turkey and Football…not beef brisket. Welcome back, Joe-Cool.
I lost Tee Higgins this week to a concussion – should I roll with Ricky Pearsall or look to pick up Parker Washington, Jayden Higgins, or another waiver wire WR? – Tizzy
Answer: If you are reading this after those waivers have run, I really hope you picked up Washington or Higgins ahead of this weekend’s matchups. The talent of Ricky Pearsall is undeniable – I just don’t want to start him until we see that first breakout performance after his spell on the sidelines. In Brian Thomas Jr’s absence, Parker Washington for me is an auto-start. Since Week 7, he’s seen one-third of all WR targets from Trevor Lawrence, with that number hitting the 40% mark in three of his last four contests. It may feel nasty, but being nasty wins #FootClanTitles.
Are Tyjae Spears and Jordan Mason droppable in a redraft? Their current upsides are low, and with being on bad offenses, I feel like they’re just clogging my roster – Kittle Buff Boys
Answer: Unless you are in a super-deep league or are the Aaron Jones manager, you can definitely cut both of those guys. Tyjae Spears is in a full time-share on the worst rushing offense in the National Football League, while Jordan Mason is nothing but a handcuff to Jones in a Vikings team, who are now on their third-string QB. Drop them and move on.
Can we now ask the “Lamar Jackson or Matthew Stafford?” question? – Sir Maniak
Answer: You can ask it, and I will answer – and what I will tell you is that I am 100% starting Stafford over Lamar this week. The 37-year-old veteran has been playing out of his mind all season for the Rams, and on current form, is averaging almost 5 FPPG more than the 2024 MVP. Lamar just doesn’t quite seem himself since returning from the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 4’s trip to Kansas City. His rushing attempts per game may have gone up in the four games since getting back on the field (6.3 vs 5.3) – but his Y/A has plummeted from 7.9 to just 2.8. Without his legs, he’s just another ordinary pocket-passer with less explosive receiving options than Matty Snap-Back. Roll with Stafford until further notice.
That will do it for this week, FootClan – good luck in Week 13!