Burning Questions: Week 9
We tackle another week of “Burning Questions” following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Follow our contributors for this week’s Burning Questions: Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive), Travis Strickland (@DFS_Travis), Keaton Denlay (@keatondenlay), and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)
1. What QB established himself as a worthy every week start after his Week 8 performance?
“Blake Bortles…just kidding, he’s still terrible. I’m sure people are salivating over Derek Carr but he has Denver next week, a bye after that and still plays KC, Houston, and Buffalo, all decent defenses. I’m going to say Jameis Winston. He had a mediocre Week 8 and still finished as a QB1, he’s already had his bye and has a playoff schedule to die for. I will be running Jameis out every week in my home league.” -Ryan Weisse
“The first name that jumps to mind is definitely Derek Carr. He’s actually played better on the road than at home, but whether home or away I’m starting him with a fair amount of confidence at this point.” -Travis Strickland
“Phillip Rivers. The bolo tie wearing signal caller just survived his 2nd meeting with the Broncos, posting a respectable 267 passing yards and 2 TDs. With his toughest matchups behind him, Rivers has a much easier schedule ROS, including Carolina, Oakland and Cleveland in the fantasy playoffs.” -Keaton Denlay
“Dak Prescott seems to have established himself as a solid fantasy option with a relatively safe floor. Philadelphia had given up the fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs entering into Sunday night’s game. All Prescott did was throw for 287 and 2 TDs while adding 38 yards and another score on the ground. Think Russell Wilson in his rookie year in Seattle. He gets Cleveland and Pittsburgh the next two weeks and I’ll be using him in a couple leagues as Jerry Jones stated he will be the starter.” -Kyle Borgognoni
2. What juicy matchup from Week 8 did you not see turning into a fantasy dud?
“I really expected more out of Seattle @ New Orleans. The Seahawks defense is usually more beatable on the road, Brees had multiple TDs in 4 straight games coming into this one, then you have the fact that seemingly everyone scores a ton against New Orleans and a Jimmy Graham revenge game…the script wrote itself. And then we got a 25-20 snooze fest where the defenses and kickers scored more points than the offenses.” -Ryan Weisse
“Has to be NOS vs SEA. Drew Brees at home and ‘Rushell Wilshon’ with a juicy matchup seemed promising but it never came to fruition. With only 1 TD thrown in the entire game the biggest thing that I took away from this matchup is that Wilson is not to be trusted. It’s time to look elsewhere if he’s the QB that you’ve been counting on to turn things around.” -Travis Strickland
“Mike Evans. Evans can be inefficient at times but he had 5 quarters on Sunday against a suspect Oakland secondary and still only managed 4 receptions for 50 yards on a healthy 11 targets. Unacceptable.” -Keaton Denlay
“Man…. I thought DeAndre Hopkins was going to get back on track against a Lions secondary that had allowed the most passing TDs in the league. Nuk caught 4 of 7 targets for only 44 yards. He’s averaging just 12.7 PPR fantasy points per game, which banishes him to low-end WR2 terrritory. Forget 2015 and realize that with Brock Osweiler throwing him the rock that Nuk is not a fantasy difference maker this season.” -Kyle Borgognoni
3. As many owners approach their trade deadlines, who should owners be selling high on?
“Might be time to move Julian Edelman. He scored a Week 8 touchdown which should get you some value but Edelman said himself “There are too many mouths to feed in that offense.” The targets have been there but there is no yardage to speak of and this was his 1st TD of the season. Move him if you can.” -Ryan Weisse
“Christine Michael, Ryan Mathews and Jeremy Hill all came away with a TD this week and are sell high candidates to me if you can still get RB1 value for them.” -Travis Strickland
“I think the time is right to sell high on Matt Forte. Over the last three weeks Forte has averaged just 3.1 ypc but has been saved by a large workload. I fear the risk for injury/breakdown on the heels of this heavy workload. Additionally, Forte has yet to have his bye. If you can flip him for players who have already had their week off, you will net instant profit.” -Keaton Denlay
“I would definitely be selling Christine Michael right now with Thomas Rawls scheduled to return in the next weeks. Buffalo and New England are not great matchups coming up either, while it also seems C.J. Prosise is starting to get much of the passing downs work. Michael’s value has been propped up with TDs while his yards from scrimmage have not been all that impressive. Sell sell sell.” -Kyle Borgognoni
4. Looking ahead to Week 9, who is a sneaky FLEX start going into another Bye-pocalypse?
“After seeing what Cooper and Crabtree did to Tampa Bay, I’m loving some Mohamed Sanu in Week 9. It looks like he and Matt Ryan are clicking after a 9 catch 84 yard and 1 TD performance in Week 8. Atlanta is coming off of a big win and gets Tampa Bay in a short week after a humiliating loss. Sanu should eat again and he’s only owned in around 50% of leagues.” -Ryan Weisse
“If you’re desperate for a TE play it might be time to blow the dust off the early season hype around Virgil Green. The Raiders are currently the 6th worst team at defending the position and it appears that Green is back and healthy.” -Travis Strickland
“It’s tough to gauge the injury situation this early in the week but I’d look to Charcandrick West (vs JAX) or Kenneth Dixon (vs PIT) as possible Week 9 fill-ins. Each has a favorable matchup and are behind starters who are dealing with various ailments. If you’re looking for a pass catcher, Kenny Britt gets a beatable Carolina defense and has 8 targets in each of his last two appearances.” -Keaton Denlay
“This is for the DFSers out there but Tyrell Williams’ line against Denver (1 catch for 4 yards on 6 targets) looks like a giant poo stain. However, he was an obvious sit against that Broncos secondary. I like him to get back on track against the Titans this next week. Owners will most likely have a bad taste in their mouths after last week’s line so expect low ownership percentages.” -Kyle Borgognoni