By Winsto (10/30/2022)
What to Do with Green Bay and Los Angeles Rams?
The offense of Green Bay continues to not look like the offense we have grown accustomed to over the last several years. Aaron Jones (RB) has been solid this season. A. J. Dillon (RB) has been a slight disappointment as a stand-alone player, but remains a premium hand-cuff. Aaron Rodgers (QB) continues to not look like a top 10 QB in fantasy, and the reality is I do not see any reason why that will change. The offensive line has some issues, but the receiving corps has had issues with injuries and inconsistency. On top of that, Rodgers is also not playing at the level he has in the past. That said, he has had 2 TD games in 6 of his 8 games, but still, he has not topped 255 passing yards this season. We keep looking for the “next Davante Adams” on this offense, but there just isn’t one. Romeo Daubs (WR) occasionally flashes talent but has not proven reliable. Christian Watson (WR) continues to have bad luck with injury, as he was forced from the game early in the 1st quarter. Samori Toure (WR) who caught a TD, entered the game with only 1 reception all season. Allen Lazard (WR) has proven solid when he plays, but he has been often injured and he has not proven to be anything more than a low end WR2. I think we were all hoping for more from one of these receivers, but that has not happened. Given their loss to Buffalo and their record falling to 3-5, will they even be players for a wide receiver before the trade deadline? I am not sure. Is there still time for one or more of these receivers to become fantasy relevant? Yes. But, could there really be nothing here for this fantasy season? Yes.
As for Los Angeles, have we gotten to the point, from a fantasy football perspective, that it simply may not matter who else is on the team besides Cooper Kupp (WR)? Allen Robinson (WR) was okay, going 5 receptions for 54 yards, but he has yet to top 63 yards in a game this season. Matt Stafford (QB) had his second best game of the season in the loss to San Francisco, and it was just decent. It is painfully obvious that the coaches simply do not believe in Darrell Henderson (RB), as he was out-touched 12 to 6 by practice squad call up Ronnie Rivers (RB). Neither did much with their touches. Cam Akers (RB) is also still on the team, but will it matter? I am not sure. Given Los Angeles’s struggles to run the ball, unless there is one back that takes over, there is little value in this backfield. My guess is that rookie Kyren Williams (RB), if/when he comes off the IR, which could be next week, may get an opportunity. Will it matter? Maybe not. Still, Williams may be worth a stash. He flashed some elusiveness in college.
What to make of the New York Jets?
It’s a shame that we can put a man on the moon, develop a vaccine for polio, and create the turducken, but we cannot fix torn ACLs to make them 100% in a week or two. New York’s offense, without Breece Hall and with an injury riddled offensive line, did not look good. Yes, they were playing New England, who has dominated the series in recent years, but this was the same New England team that Chicago ran all over the week before. New York, with Michael Carter (26 rushing yards) and James Robinson (17 rushing yards), could only muster 51 rushing yards as a team. Not good. What makes this worse is their next two games are against Buffalo and New England again (after a BYE week). This is another backfield that may not be worth the headache unless one of the backs takes over. Carter did add 4 receptions for 35 yards while Robinson did not have a catch. I still think Carter is the preferred option of the two going forward, but again, it may not really matter. Zach Wilson (QB) to put it simply, did not have a great day, and to be honest, has not had a good season. Against New England, he did throw for 355 yards and 2 TDs, but he also threw 3 INTs and completed less than 50% of his passes. Again, not good. Would I be shocked if the coaching staff benches Wilson in the near future? No. The bright spots for New York today were Garrett Wilson (115 receiving yards) and Tyler Conklin (79 receiving yards and 2 TDs). Elijah Moore (WR) may still be a candidate to be traded, given his lack of usage today. In essence, there is not much here. Wilson is good, but has not proven to be reliable for fantasy, though he may get more opportunities moving forward with the lack of a run game. You could do worse as your tight end than Conklin.
Other Thoughts
- I do think Chuba Hubbard will have a role when he returns from injury, but D’Onte Foreman may have taken over the alpha role of Carolina’s backfield.
- Who would have guess that all that was needed to make D. J. Moore fantasy relevant was P.J. Walker? I cannot imagine Carolina going away from Walker at this point.
- Apparently, Washington’s coaching staff does not hate Antonio Gibson. He is looking like a decent Flex for the foreseeable future.
- If you do not have a top 6 tight end, or you need a Bye week fill in, run to the waiver wire and grab Greg Dulcich from Denver. If you miss out on him, jog quickly and grab Isaiah Likely from Baltimore. There is a chance Mark Andrews may sit next week, as Baltimore’s Bye week is the following week.
- Stay the course on George Pickens (WR-Pittsburgh).
- Las Vegas was shut out. Derek Carr threw for 101 yards and an INT. Davante Adams had reception for 3 yards. Josh Jacobs had 54 total yards. Not good. Not good at all. I think it was just one of those weeks.