Burning Questions: Week 13
Our “Burning Questions”series continues following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Follow our contributors for this week’s Burning Questions: Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive), Nate Hamilton (@DomiNateFF), Keaton Denlay (@keatondenlay), and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)
1. Should owners banish Allen Robinson and Brandin Cooks to the bench after this week’s fantasy embarrassment?
“Well, Brandin Cooks would’ve never found his way off my bench if I owned any of him. He proved to me last year that he can’t be trusted. I’m still rolling ARob out as a WR2. Week 12 was horrible for the entire Jags offense against a very good defense. The schedule doesn’t get any easier but Robinson will at least see targets, which is more than I can say for Cooks.” -Ryan Weisse
“Both are definitely hard to trust heading into the playoffs. I would not invest a roster spot on any Jacksonville WR at this point. The Jaguars will face the top 3 defenses against the WR position in the next 3 weeks. Stay clear of Robinson. Cooks has been pretty consistent, especially in PPR formats. I know Brees spreads the ball around a ton but I would still consider Cooks to be a viable option moving forward. Don’t let 1 zero be the reason you bench him, only do so if you have a legitimate WR to play instead of him.” -Nate Hamilton
“Don’t overreact to one week. Cooks is still a top 12 WR while Robinson is top 24 on the season. Robinson, however, is benchable given his brutal schedule (Den, Min, Hou). I’m still confident in Cooks as a WR2 with big upside.” -Keaton Denlay
“Despite the Saints putting up 49 points, Cooks’ zero target week is an absolute outlier and statistical anomaly. Watching the game, it was clear he was open a couple of times but Brees looked at the other side of the field. Chalk this up as the random number generator giving Cooks a goose egg for the first time in his career and definitely start him next week at home versus Detroit. Allen Robinson is simply not getting enough downfield targets to be relevant. He’s topped 100 yards only once this season and facing Denver, Minnesota and Houston definitely screams a benching until he’s back in good graces. He’s a low-end WR2 at best the rest of the year.” -Kyle Borgognoni
2. Which lowlife QB will be more fantasy relevant for 2QB leagues the rest of the year, Jared Goff or Matt Barkley?
“No way I’m starting a Jeff Fisher QB not named McNair in fantasy football. Barkley has a decent ROS schedule so, if I were desperate, I could start Barkley…but I’m not gonna be happy about it.” -Ryan Weisse
“Jared Goff is the easy choice here, simply because he has the most collective talent to throw to. This is not an over-reaction to what he accomplished Week 12 and I would not be crazy about starting either, but if the choices are between Goff and Barkley, the advantage goes to Goff.” -Nate Hamilton
“Barkley played at USC so… I’m going to side with Goff. On a more serious note, Goff has been groomed and prepared for his opportunity while Barkley has been thrust into his role unexpectedly. Give me Goff.” -Keaton Denlay
“Barkley’s game might look like a fluke but I’ll definitely side with his schedule as the Bears take on the 49ers, Lions, Packers, and Redskins coming up. He wasn’t afraid to chuck it 54 times versus the Titans and I imagine he’ll continue to face negative game scripts as the Bears are going nowhere. Yes, the passing options aren’t great (Deonte Thompson? Marquess Wilson?) but I think he’s a sneaky low-end streamer.” -Kyle Borgognoni
3. Which Week 13 game has the chance to be a “fantasy bonanza” in your opinion?
“Everyone is going to pick Detroit @ New Orleans and they are right, start everybody there. But don’t sleep on Giants @ Steelers. Should be a high scoring game with plenty of fantasy points to be had.” -Ryan Weisse
“Detroit at New Orleans. Matthew Stafford is due for a big fantasy game and there isn’t a better time than in a dome against the spotty Saints defense. Drew Brees will look to have another monster game against a very weak Detroit defense. There are just too many fantasy players to name in this matchup for this not to be the biggest fantasy game Week 13.” -Nate Hamilton
“This is a total softball. The answer is Detroit @ New Orleans. Not even close. Brees is averaging 357 yards/game at home. Stafford has the arm and weapons to keep up. Start everyone.” -Keaton Denlay
“Beyond the DET-NO matchup, I also love the potential of a shootout between the Buccaneers and Chargers. Jameis Winston has been solid recently and I know Philip Rivers isn’t afraid to run up a scoreboard. The current line is only 47 and I’d be taking the over. I think this has some underrated potential to be a fantasy bonanza if you want to pivot away from everyone who’s banking on the Saints and Lions.” -Kyle Borgognoni
4. Colin Kaepernick was started in only 9.3 percent of ESPN leagues on Sunday. Is he a weekly start the rest of the way?
“Absolutely he is. The 49ers play 3 bottom 10 fantasy pass defenses to end the year and Kaepernick has a ton to prove to keep his job next year. He’s scored more than 15 fantasy points in every start this season and could help some teams win a championship…in fantasy. He isn’t going to win anything in real life.” -Ryan Weisse
“Colin Kaepernick is easily a weekly start the rest of the way. He has been very consistent from a fantasy standpoint the last 4 weeks and has some nice matchups in the next 3 weeks; at Chicago, vs NYJ, and at Atlanta. He adds value running with the ball as well. I don’t expect him to throw for 3 TDs every game but he is very capable of throwing for multiple TDs and rushing in a few as well over the rest of the season. He should be a lock for 20 plus fantasy points each game from here on out.” –Nate Hamilton
“Kaepernick has been an impressive QB in fantasy football but I can’t imagine him being a weekly start at such a deep position. He will likely rank outside my top 12 each week. Especially next week on the road in the Windy City.” -Keaton Denlay
“The floor seems to be intact for 18+ points per week which says a lot about his ability to rush the ball. Kap has averaged 62 yards on the ground per game, better than Todd Gurley, Jonathan Stewart, and Frank Gore. That’s an “extra” TD each week which basically makes Kap a QB1 each week as long as he contributes one other passing TD. I would love starting him each week with the added upside of having a monster game like we saw in Week 12 versus the Dolphins.” -Kyle Borgognoni