Burning Questions: Week 8
“Burning Questions” following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Follow our contributors for this week’s Burning Questions: Keaton Denlay (@keatondenlay), Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive) and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)
1. Who looks like a RB owners can trust moving forward after Week 7?
“I’ll avoid Jay Ajayi because I’m sure you’re gonna hear that a lot. I’m gonna say LeGarrette Blount. There were concerns about his role once Brady came back but he has scored a TD in every game since #12 returned and has the same amount of TDs with or without Brady. He is on pace for 18+ TDs and the Patriots still have no timetable on Dion Lewis. Blount is safe to roll out regardless of matchup.” -Ryan Weisse
“Frank Gore. Even though he has some tough matchups to come, I’m done doubting this guy. He has turned 19.5 touches/game into a top 15 RB performance so far this season. Gore is on pace for his 9th 1,000 yard rushing campaign.” -Keaton Denlay
“It’s weird saying a player who was cut in the preseason by the lowly Bears is now a RB you can trust… but Jacquizz Rodgers is looking like an every week start. With Doug Martin’s status up in the air, Rodgers has gone over 100 yards his last 2 starts. I love the Bucs’ upcoming schedule (at home vs OAK and ATL) as well as their playoff schedule. For now, plug Rodgers in every week as a viable RB1.” -Kyle Borgognoni
2. What should fantasy owners do about Allen Robinson?
“You gotta hang on to Robinson and pray at this point. You probably paid a high price and his value couldn’t be lower. If you’re in a playoff hunt with him playing this bad I’m not moving him because there are better days ahead and you deserve them. If you’re just outside the playoff race, it might be time to see if someone in your league is a Jags fan.” -Ryan Weisse
“Get out! Get out while you still can… if you still can. If you can cash in on the remaining name value, do it. A-Rob still has 4 matchups against top 3 defenses in defending WRs (HOUx2, MIN, DEN).” -Keaton Denlay
“As the resident ARob owner, it gives me night terrors knowing that my 1st round pick has failed to materialize in the down-the-field TD monster that he was last year. A lot of the frustration can be pointed to Blake Bortles. I’m hanging on to him rather than selling him at .50 cents on the dollar. The next two weeks against the Titans and Chiefs should bear fruit.” -Kyle Borgognoni
3. Which player’s preseason hype is starting to materialize into real fantasy production?
“I feel like a lot of the hype is starting to materialize but I’ll go with Randall Cobb. We were all expecting a bounce back year and now that the Packers have no RBs he is looking like the target monster he once was. On a negative note, Matt Jones is living up to his “fumbler” hype which is starting to lead to Chris Thompson / Rob Kelley production.” -Ryan Weisse
“Jay Ajayi. A long time ago, Ajayi was heralded as a talented player with a featured role. However, since then Miami drafted Drake, signed Foster, and Gase expressed his discontent with Ajayi’s attitude. Ajayi truthers were despondent. But, Ajayi got a second chance. Over the last 3 games, Ajayi has 68 touches for 465 yards to go with 4 TDs.” -Keaton Denlay
“New Orleans’ Michael Thomas was a highly rated rookie who was picked as a late-round flier for most people as their WR5. However, he looks like he has won Drew Brees’ confidence as he had 10 catches for 130 yards against Kansas City while leading the team in targets 3 out of the last 4 weeks. He looks like a solid low-end WR2 the rest of the year in my book.” -Kyle Borgognoni
4. Who had one of your favorite stat lines of the weekend and why?
“My favorite stat is a continuation of a streak: Mike Evans hit double-digit targets again in Week 7 and has done so every game since Week 2. He is the only WR to do that this year and is now tied for #2 in targets despite already having his bye. Evans is a beast!” -Ryan Weisse
“Kevin Hogan, backup QB for the Cleveland Browns had more rushing yards (104) than 15 NFL teams in Week 7 (including the rest of the Browns).” -Keaton Denlay
“This one might go unnoticed but Redskins’ RB Chris Thompson was a PPR stud for Week 8 finishing with 18.3 points. He led their backfield in touches (19) while finishing with 113 total yards and 7 catches. With Matt Jones suffering from fumbilitis once again, he needs to be added in all leagues as the perfect RB3/FLEX option.” -Kyle Borgognoni