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This week we discuss the following:
- Patriots RBs
- Eagles QBs
- Fill-In Tight Ends
- Marques Colston
- Brandon Jacobs
- Top-Tier QBs
- Vikings Offense
- Packers WR injuries
- Falcons WR injuries
Patriots RBs
Is Stevan Ridley his team's clear no. 1 RB for now, or is that status subject to weekly change in New England this season?
Chad Parsons: The key part is 'for now.' The Patriots backfield is rarely clear-cut. The difficulty as a fantasy owner is about the time owners of a New England back feel comfortable putting him in their lineup, the dynamic changes and it becomes murky. LeGarrette Blount and Brandon Bolden are still in the mix and Shane Vereen is projected to be back later in the season. Ridley is still a back without much value in the passing game, so volume and regular goal line looks for vital to his success. That dependency makes me uneasy viewing him as anything more than a boom-bust option as an RB2.
Jeff Pasquino: I agree with Chad here to a degree, but Ridley is definitely the guy they want to get going. Bolden is more of a receiving option, and Vereen will impact him more. Ideally, the Patriots would use Ridley as their between the tackles hammer and use Vereen as a receiver when he gets back. Ridley was a force last year when New England ran him often in the second half to close out games, and if Brady and Gronkowski can get the offense going again I expect more of that down the stretch this year.
Kyle Wachtel: I do think that Ridley's season is on the upswing. I wouldn't expect much versus the Jets this week, but I like him to get between 15-20 carries per game until Vereen returns, which is enough to start Ridley as an RB2 in the meantime. As long as Vereen gets healthy, the Patriots will likely prefer his more dynamic ability and he should grab the reins in the backfield.
Stephen Holloway: Ridley is the current lead back, but you almost need to be psychic to know when that will translate to solid production. Ridley has gotten at least nine carries in every game that he has played, but has only 4 receptions on the season. His last game featured his heaviest usage at 20 carries and he averaged 4.8 yards per carry, but that one big day brought his average on the season only up to 4.0. Like others have said, Ridley's lack of use in the passing game has him being frequently replaced, currently by Bolden. Speaking of Bolden, he has averaged 5 carries per game over the last three weeks and has 14 receptions in the four games that he has played. Vereen will also return at some point and be an even greater encroachment to Ridley's opportunities. If I was forced to start one Patriot running back, it would be Ridley, but he has not moved into must start territory for me after one big game.
Greg Russell: Ridley is one of the backs who I would love to have as my RB3 but who I do not want to have to rely on starting. New England views their running backs as too interchangeable based on what their game plan will be. I would expect Ridley to lead most of the games in carries, but he would put up too many non-quality starts for me to want to rely on him as more than a filler for bye weeks or injuries.
Jeff Haseley: There are only three games remaining for the Patriots until Shane Vereen returns. Like several have said, it’s difficult to predict value for New England’s running back crew. Ridley looks like he may have resuscitated his season, but in the same breath, Brandon Bolden also played a key role in the comeback against New Orleans. If I had to play someone this week, it would be Ridley, but his fate could change with a lost fumble.
Eagles QBs
In redraft leagues, which side of a Michael Vick-for-Nick Foles trade would you rather be on right now?
Chad Parsons: I may be slow to adapt to the current state of affairs, but I want Michael Vick. His range of outcomes for the rest of the season is wider than Foles, but I do not want to take shots on a QB10-20 performer at this stage in the season, which is the future for Nick Foles if he remains under center. Vick may end up as the backup in Philadelphia. He is also the one that I would want to start in a potential 'must win' game down the stretch over Nick Foles.
Jeff Pasquino: Vick's fantasy value was always more as a running threat, but Chip Kelly is trying to have LeSean McCoy run the ball more and reduce Vick's running this year. Foles looked very good last week against Tampa Bay, but let's not get crazy here. Foles has two career wins now -- both against the Buccaneers. The passing game is more of a pocket QB game with Foles, and he gets the tight ends and other receivers not named DeSean Jackson involved. I do not know if he can keep up the production against tougher competition, but against favorable matchups Foles is a QB2 with solid QB1 upside. If you are looking for high ceilings, Vick has a higher one, but Foles has a lower floor. I would probably hitch my team to Vick over Foles if I had to choose between the two, but I would hope that I had a better Top 10 QB option overall on my squad.
Kyle Wachtel: As a major Vick supporter heading into the season, this dilemma is something that I know too well and it's a situation overflowing with uncertainty. I'd give the slight edge to Vick, but would prefer to be proactive and if I was unable to pick up Foles, then I'd look to deal for him now. If Foles is named the starter, his price tag will rise substantially and I'd rather protect my investment on the Eagles' quarterback position than end up with nothing.
Stephen Holloway: I still lean to Foles over Vick as the better NFL quarterback for the Eagles, primarily due to better accuracy and fewer turnovers. Vick's ability to run seems to sway more fantasy interest in him though. Vick to date has completed 53.8% of his passes while Foles is at 67.2%. Even though Vick has more than twice the pass attempts, Foles has 6 passing TDs and no interceptions compared to 5 and 2 for Vick. Vick also has lost two fumbles.
Greg Russell: I like how Stephen put the Vick vs. Foles situation in that Foles might be the better NFL quarterback. But it is still so difficult to make up for those rushing yards when we turn our focus to fantasy value. I would have to go with Vick. I think as the veteran he will continue to have an edge in getting the actual NFL start, and the times that I would look to him to start against weaker defenses, he is more likely to go off and have a big game.
Jeff Haseley: My gut says Foles will be the one who leads the Eagles the rest of the way, but conventional wisdom and siding with athleticism leads me to believe Michael Vick will regain his job once he’s healthy. Usually, the quarterback who has most recently found success and the win column wins the quarterback controversy battle. In this case, I’m not so sure.
Fill-In Tight Ends
Who's the better Week 7 fill-in for Jimmy Graham owners: Joseph Fauria, Garret Graham, Jordan Reed, or Dallas Clark?
Chad Parsons: Despite the dud in Week six, I like Garrett Graham. Houston was a train wreck last week against St. Louis on an entire team level and I am not holding that against Graham. The offensive success will be better, even against Kansas City this coming week. I like Fauria quite a bit, but more in a dynasty setting as he develops into a less streaky weapon there in Detroit.
Jeff Pasquino: No question -- Jordan Reed. Reed looked fantastic against Dallas and has passed Fred Davis as the TE1 in Washington. I think Fauria is a flash in the pan (remember Eddie Royal?) and Dallas Clark is not a viable option. Graham is a wild card, but I think the Texans are looking at Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins first and second in the passing game. Reed has a tougher matchup against Chicago, so I might go off of this list and consider a different tight end if I needed a fill-in for this week like Coby Fleener against Denver or even Tim Wright against Atlanta -- but I would rank those three as Reed first, Fleener second and Dwight as just a waiver add. It will be interesting to see which Eagles tight end gets more work (Brent Celek, Zach Ertz) as Dallas just gave up a solid performance to Reed last week.
Kyle Wachtel: Chad and Jeff have already picked out the top-two options, with Graham and Reed respectively. Both TEs face tough match ups this week, but I'd go with Graham, whom I like to see more than a few check down targets against the Chiefs.
Stephen Holloway: I'll agree with Jeff here and take rookie Jordan Reed to fill in for week 7. He had six targets in Washington's last game and seems to becoming more involved in the offense each week. Griffin also seems to gain confidence by the week and their offense should continue to improve. In addition to that, Washington is facing Chicago and their 23rd ranked passing defense in what could be a high scoring game. Graham would have been considered, but Houston seems ready to implode and they face the Chiefs' 3rd ranked passing defense.
Jeff Haseley: I still have to side with Garrett Graham here. I don’t see the Houston offense changing their philosophy around of utilizing the tight end often, simply because Owen Daniels is out. Graham is a capable replacement who can fill Daniels’ shoes just fine, in my opinion. I would give him one more chance. If he can’t come through this week, then move on.
Marques Colston
We've discussed Dwayne Bowe's 2013 disappearing act a few times this season, but Marques Colston has been just about as invisible lately. Will he bounce back, or is it time to sell him for whatever you can get and move on?
Chad Parsons: I rarely sell at the bottom of a player's season. Colston is a popular name to rag on with his disappointing game even with Jimmy Graham disappointing in Week six. Colston is locked in to a starting role with a great quarterback. There are better days ahead and selling now, other than to a staunch New Orleans homer in a league, would be giving too much of a discount compared to his rest-of-the-season value.
Jeff Pasquino: You just cannot sell the #1 WR for Drew Brees at this stage of the year. With Graham now injured, Colston will get more work. As defenses start to cover Graham more, the wide receivers will get more love going forward. Brees is practically a lock for 300 yards a week, and 75 of those should head to his top wideout most weeks.
Kyle Wachtel: There's no way I'm trading Colston, either. Separation was never his strong suit as he instead used his big frame and reeled in tough passes from the slot. Throughout his career, he has averaged about a top-15 finish among wide receivers in fantasy points, including top-twelve in each of the past two seasons. I'd say the odds that he bounces back soon are pretty good.
Stephen Holloway: Colston has been quiet the last two games, but he averaged 5 catches for 75 yards per game with 1 touchdown over the Saints' first four games. With Jimmy Graham missing the next game (and possibly more), the targets and production may return as soon as this weekend. I would hold Colston and keep him in my fantasy lineup.
Greg Russell: As a Colston owner who has wide receiver depth to trade, I have been torn over what to do with him. I agree that the Jimmy Graham injury should help Colston's value, to the point that I probably will not trade him now, though I was close to doing so before. One part of the situation in New Orleans that bothers me, though, is the depth I see in the Saints receiving corps. Kenny Stills and Nick Toon have not been particularly fantasy relevant, but for young receivers they have done a good enough job plugging the holes that even with Lance Moore missing, Drew Brees has not had to lock in on Colston.
Jeff Haseley: I think Marques Colston is a good buy low candidate, especially if Jimmy Graham’s injury is more concerning than we realize. Passes to WRs have definitely been down for the Saints this year, but I’m betting on Colston seeing more involvement in the coming weeks. I say he bounces back.
Brandon Jacobs
Where do you rank Brandon Jacobs among this week's fantasy RBs?
Chad Parsons: The Giants are a complete wildcard week-to-week on offense, but Jacobs and the offensive line actually looked legitimate. Jacobs, and rookie Michael Cox, are the last standing running backs for the Giants and Minnesota is a great matchup in Week seven. Jacobs is a rock-solid RB2 start in PPR leagues and sneaks into the low RB1 discussion in non-PPR. While I expect Jacobs to be a short-term fantasy starter as the season progresses, he will be in a lot of lineups in the next couple of weeks considering the dearth of automatic starts at running back in fantasy right now.
Jeff Pasquino: If he was 100%, I would put him as a RB2/flex considering that there are bye weeks and that he is the only real option for the Giants. In PPR his value drops as Jacobs has stone hands, but New York needs to run the ball to keep the defense honest and from getting after Eli Manning every snap. Jacobs is elated to be back as a Giant and is making the most of that opportunity. If you have a RB on a bye, he is a must start this week.
Kyle Wachtel: Although the Vikings have allowed the most points to RBs this season, much of that has been through the air, which is not Jacob's niche. Minnesota has actually held RBs to 3.81 yards-per-carry, which ranks as the ninth-best mark in the league. With that being said, as the Giants starting back, Jacobs is locked in as a top-24 RB for me as well, which makes him a solid start across the board.
Stephen Holloway: I agree with Kyle's assessment that the Vikings' defense is pretty stout against the rush and with Jacobs lack of involvement in the passing game, he will be less effective this week than last. The Giants best offensive players are their wide receivers and with the Vikings giving up over 300 yards per game, expect the Giants to go to the air early and often, if Eli Manning can throw it to his teammates. Jacobs would rank in the high 20s for me in week 7.
Top-Tier QBs
After Peyton Manning, who are your next four or five fantasy QBs in redraft leagues going forward?
Chad Parsons: Drew Brees is my number two. Despite Colston struggling and Graham dealing with an injury, Brees always makes the offense run with the weapons available. After that, I like Tony Romo. DeMarco Murray's injury pushes the offense more towards the pass in the short-term. The development of Terrance Williams and a dash of Gavin Escobar give Romo a huge allotment of weapons added to a now healthy Miles Austin and, of course, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. I'll go with Aaron Rodgers at number four. The loss of Cobb is big without a clear option to replace him and may lead to a more run-heavy approach, but Rodgers is one of the best in the game that can put up a huge fantasy day any given week. Cam Newton rounds out my top five. Philip Rivers could go here for some, or Stafford, but I am sticking with Newton's rushing ability and ability to win a fantasy matchup with a huge game. There is a clear top-4 going forward in my eyes, so the waters are murky at this point and would consider great matchup plays over QB5 and lower in a given week.
Kyle Wachtel: You'll never have to worry about passing volume with Brees, but his schedule includes some tough games versus the Jets, 49ers and Seahawks. Rodgers, on the other hand, will face the Browns and Bears in two of his next three games, but then ends the season will a very welcoming slate of games. Even with the loss of Randall Cobb, I still place him and Brees on level ground in fantasy and they round out the elite QB1s.
Just behind them, I have a tier that includes Romo, Newton, Tom Brady and Robert Griffin III III. Chad outlined the arguments for both Romo and Newton, but Brady's rocky season should soon stabilize as he continues to develop rapport with his young receivers and maybe, just maybe gets Rob Gronkowski back. Robert Griffin III III has his legs back underneath him and is fresh off a season-high 77 yards rushing. Washington should be involved in plenty of shootouts and fantasy points should begin to flow.
Stephen Holloway: Drew Brees will remain an easy choice for the top five, even if he loses Graham for a while, but without Graham, Brees definitely comes back to the pack a bit. Stafford remains a solid pick as well as the volume of passes thrown in the Lions' offense continues to be among the league leaders and his TDs have bounced back. Romo's pass attempts lag slightly behind the leaders, but he is completing 70.2%, has an abundance of productive players to target and Murray could miss some games. Aaron Rodgers definitely remains in the top five, but the Packers have lost Randall Cobb for a while so James Jones needs to return quickly and Nelson and Finley will have to be consistent producers.
A guy that just missed my list is the biggest surprise of 2013: Philip Rivers. I expected him to bounce back last season off his poor 2011 campaign. Instead, he waited an extra year, but is back in 2013. Rivers is second to Peyton Manning in completion percentage at 72.8% and is averaging over 8.2 yards per attempt. Antonio Gates has been reliable and now Keenan Allen has put solid games back to back and looks comfortable in their offense. Woodhead is an excellent receiver and already has 36 catches.
Greg Russell: I'm fine with putting Rivers in the list. The addition of a reliable threat out of the backfield like Woodhead does wonders for a passing game. But one of the biggest reasons for Rivers' success is better play by the offensive line and getting rid of the ball quickly. Last season Rivers was sacked 49 times. This year the Chargers are fourth-best in number of sacks given up and Rivers is on pace to be sacked around 27 times. Rivers' opponents the rest of the year are not quite a murderer's row of defenses, either. Other than playing Kansas City twice -- including week 17 when many fantasy leagues are already finished -- all of Rivers' opponents are either middling or poor in pass defense.
Jeff Pasquino: For me, top quarterbacks need to have most of these several things: good receivers, a weak ground game, a weak defense, a pass-catching tailback to boost numbers, and the ability to run. That last one is probably the least important. It's a bonus, but as you can see with Peyton Manning, it isn't a requirement.
So my list after Peyton Manning begins with Drew Brees. He has everything on my list except for the weak defense. Brees is nearly a lock every week for 300 yards and two touchdowns, and having Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston, Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas spreads the ball around. If he can ever get Lance Moore back, he distances himself from the rest of the pack and starts to approach Manning.
After that, I like Matthew Stafford. Calvin Johnson is a force and both Reggie Bush and Joique Bell can put up 100 yards receiving in any given week. Detroit is often in a high-scoring game and their running attack is not all that. Sure, the loss of Nate Burleson hurt, but the Lions are creating receivers almost out of thin air.
I'll take Philip Rivers next. The Chargers defense is better than expected (arguably much better), but the ground game is iffy. Ryan Mathews looked good against the Colts, but Danny Woodhead is boosting Rivers' numbers. Antonio Gates and the emerging Keenan Allen elevate Rivers as well.
Tony Romo is next on my list. Demarco Murray is out. That pushes the ground game to almost nada, giving Romo license to throw as much as he wants. Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and now both Miles Austin and Terrance Williams are all threats in the receiving game. The 500+ yard game aside, Dallas has to throw early and often going forward, and Romo could have 400 yards again this Sunday against Philadelphia.
After that it gets a bit murky. It could be Rodgers, but he just lost too many options and the ground game is improving. Eli Manning has been far too inconsistent. Matt Ryan lost Julio Jones. So here I am going with.... Jay Cutler. He has two top receivers (Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery), a decent tight end (Martellus Bennett), and Matt Forte can catch the ball well out of the backfield. Chicago will have to put up 25+ points against Detroit and Green Bay, so shootouts are probable.
Jeff Haseley: I agree that Drew Brees is number two after Peyton Manning. His pedigree and the Saints' desire to pass the ball way more often than most teams tells me that Brees will continue to be a top-flight quarterback. I'd take Philip Rivers next. Mike McCoy is doing a great job in San Diego, letting Philip Rivers play to his strengths. He has great weapons and the perfect makeup for a team destined to throw often. I say the ride continues with Rivers.
Then Tony Romo. The NFC East has no defense and Romo will continue to exploit that. The uncertain health of DeMarco Murray is just another reason to remain on board his train. Aaron Rodgers is easily one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but the increase in the running game and loss of key receivers should result in a drop in his value. Having said that, I still like him to stay in the Top 6. Matt Stafford rounds out my list. The Lions passing offense is still operating at a high level despite injuries to Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson this year. When both are back healthy, we’ll see an even more potent passing game.
Vikings Offense
As badly as Josh Freeman played earlier this year with the Buccaneers, is there any reason to expect him to be an upgrade over Christian Ponder or Matt Cassel for the Vikings?
Chad Parsons: I would say there is a slight chance that Josh Freeman breathes some life into the Minnesota offense. Ponder and Cassel are just that bad and replaceable.
Kyle Wachtel: I'm with Chad in thinking that if any of the Vikings' quarterbacks will improve the offense, Freeman has the best shot. Although Freeman played very poorly with the Buccaneers, Greg Schiano seems to have created an incredibly toxic situation in Tampa Bay. There's still a chance the young quarterback can salvage his career, becoming a viable NFL starter and matchup based QB2 in fantasy football.
Jeff Pasquino: If Ponder was all that as a quarterback, this would not be an issue and Freeman would not have been signed in the first place. Cassel once again lost his opportunity to take over this job, which keeps the door open for Freeman. Can he be an upgrade? Absolutely, with solid receivers in Greg Jennings and Kyle Rudolph plus Jerome Simpson. If Freeman can get back to how he played a few years ago, he can be an instant upgrade with Adrian Peterson a triple threat for the ground game, as a receiver and also opening up play action.
Stephen Holloway: I don't know what is going on inside Freeman's head, but he definitely has the talent to be far more effective than Ponder and Cassel have been this year for Minnesota. Freeman should be extremely grateful for the very early opportunity to put this season at Tampa Bay behind him. A lot will depend on whether Freeman is a quick study and also the coaching staff's ability to give him plays that everyone can get on the same page. The combination of Freeman's talent, the skill position players at Minnesota and the early opportunity to prove Tampa Bay wrong could be the perfect situation for Freeman and the Vikings' offense to shine.
Jeff Haseley: I am excited to see Josh Freeman on a different team, with a different coach on a different offense. I think a change in scenery is not only what he wanted, but what he needed. From a talent perspective, Freeman has done some good things on the field and he has elevated the games of several players. He helped Mike Williams reach 11 touchdowns in his rookie year, plus catapulted Vincent Jackson into a Top 10 wide receiver.
I fully expect to see Freeman gain control of the offense, especially when defenses have to be aware of Adrian Peterson on every play. The trickle-down effect will improve Freeman's decision making, thus increasing the value to Greg Jennings, Kyle Rudolph and Jerome Simpson. I would be shocked if the offense doesn't improve, particularly the play of Jennings and Rudolph. His ability to stretch the field also has a direct effect on Peterson. There may be some early growing pains for Freeman as he learns the offense, but ultimately I see him being a big factor in the offense going forward. From a fantasy perspective, I see him as a low end QB1 at best, which is a big step up from their current situation.
Is Adrian Peterson still your #1 fantasy RB going forward (PPR and non-PPR)?
Chad Parsons: Adrian Peterson is not my no.1 back as I would prefer Jamaal Charles or LeSean McCoy if drafting today. Peterson has such a challenge in that offense and I see his road to a difference-making fantasy performance being much more difficult than life in the Kansas City or Philadelphia offense.
Kyle Wachtel: Adrian Peterson is still my #1 RB in standard scoring, but Jamaal Charles and LeSean McCoy are now very close to his stature. In PPR formats, Charles, who is on pace for 88 receptions, has become the clear top-choice for myself.
Jeff Pasquino: In non-PPR, yes. In PPR, I would lean towards Jamaal Charles, with LeSean McCoy a close second. Arian Foster would make this list if Houston was more consistent and Ben Tate wasn't as big of a threat.
Stephen Holloway: Peterson continues to be in the conversation as the top fantasy running back. He is a much more effective receiver than his usage indicates. With a new quarterback in town, the play book could be reduced which will likely provide Peterson with more opportunity to produce high numbers. I also think Foster should be included as the Texans may become more run-dependent to limit turnovers.
Greg Russell: Peterson is still at the top of the heap for me in standard scoring leagues, and I agree with putting McCoy and Charles in the top three, including at the top in PPR leagues. As others have brought up Arian Foster, right now the biggest issue is not his yards per carry or loss of touches to Ben Tate as most of the preseason discussion centered around. Foster's biggest fantasy issue is the lack of touchdowns. In his three seasons as an elite back Foster has averaged about one touchdown a game, but this season only has two in six games. The Texans still turns to him in the red zone, but have not managed to move the ball down inside the five very often.
Jerome Simpson is leading Greg Jennings in targets 39-33 on the year so far. What's the fantasy potential for each of those guys with Freeman at QB?
Chad Parsons: I flat-out do not trust Jerome Simpson in the slightest. Jennings may not make as many highlight-type plays down the field, but I would feel slightly less uncomfortable with him in my lineup going forward. Jennings would be a WR4-type play through this bye week stretch of the season.
Kyle Wachtel: I'm unable to insert Simpson into my lineup with any bit of confidence, either. Jennings is a stronger receiver and I still expect him to lead this receiving corps in targets by the season's end with a chance to perform as a low-end WR3.
Jeff Pasquino: We talked about this a month ago, when Simpson was slightly ahead back then too. Jennings needs a bigger arm and playmaker back there under center, and Freeman will improve Jennings' value going forward. Simpson should decline some with Kyle Rudolph getting a boost.
Stephen Holloway: I have been surprised at the lack of targets for Jennings and expect that his ten targets in week 6 may be the norm for the rest of the season, particularly if Freeman can take on the entire offense. If Freeman can be successful, Jennings should be a consistent producer for the remainder of the year and a better option than Simpson.
Kyle Rudolph had been pretty quiet this season until his breakout game in week six. Was that just a random aberration, or does he have legitimate fantasy value going forward?
Chad Parsons: Kyle Rudolph's breakout game was very fluky. He got in the open field for a big play, which is not a regular part of his game. I chalk it up to being an aberration. I like Rudolph as a 'buy' in dynasty leagues with the arrival date back to weekly starter in 2014+, but in redraft he is in the muddled mess in the TE7-20 range where there are a couple good games in the remaining ten weeks that will be completely unpredictable.
Kyle Wachtel: Rudolph has only eclipsed three receptions in two of his five games this season. There is a "muddled mess," as Chad put it, of borderline TE1s and going forward, Rudolph's inconsistencies plant him closer to the lower end of that contingent in the 15-18 range.
Jeff Pasquino: Five catches last week in the fourth quarter in a lopsided (28-3) contest is an aberration. Minnesota was throwing as much as they could late in the game but the score and game was well out of hand and the Panthers were in prevent defense. Rudolph should get more value going forward with Freeman at quarterback.
Stephen Holloway: Rudolph is capable and just needs more opportunity. Similar to expectations for Jennings, Rudolph should be in line for improved production as long as Freeman can play well.
Greg Russell: I have to admit I am a bit undecided on Rudolph's outlook. I do agree that Freeman should be at least a slight upgrade at quarterback. The part that gives me hesitation is how much Freeman will look to his tight end. Kellen Winslow Jr. fared very well in Freeman's early years in Tampa Bay with 77, 68 and 75 receptions. There were generally a lack of other quality receiving options, however. Jennings and Simpson at receiver and of course Peterson at running back are upgrades over what Freeman had in years when he did feed passes to the tight end. If Freeman struggles to pick up the offense he might look to Rudolph as a safety blanket, but barring that I don't see Rudolph's receptions climbing very high.
Packers WR injuries
Randall Cobb is out 6-8 weeks, and James Jones is dealing with an injury as well. How does this affect the fantasy prospects of Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley, and Eddie Lacy? Is Jarrett Boykin worth a pickup?
Chad Parsons: Aaron Rodgers takes a hit for me as they are more committed to the running game than in the past and I have concerns that Jermichael Finley or Jarrett Boykin can fill the void of Cobb and possibly James Jones being out. Rodgers turns from automatic start weekly to one in the QB3-8 range where a fantasy team could have a better option on a few occasions. This boosts the value of Jordy Nelson and Eddie Lacy. Boykin I would not use a waiver wire pickup or blind bidding dollars on at this time.
Jeff Pasquino: First, Boykin is definitely worth a pickup. The Packers only dressed 4 WRs last week, which forced Boykin onto the field. Jones may be back soon, but Jordy Nelson cannot do this alone. I'm sure that Green Bay wished that they had a few more options (it felt like they were overflowing with receivers last year), but now it is down to Nelson, Boykin and Jermichael Finley. Andrew Quarless could see the field more often in 2 TE sets, and I bet that he will as the Packers will play more balanced offense with much more emphasis on the ground game. Aaron Rodgers' value will take a hit as only Nelson can stretch the field, but Finley will see more targets. Lacy (and possibly Franklin) will be more involved going forward, which will lower Rodgers' numbers, certainly below pre-season expectations.
Jeff Haseley: I agree with Chad in that Aaron Rodgers could take a hit with this news. I thought that before the injuries to Randall Cobb and James Jones. Like Chad mentioned, the running game is starting to become more prevalent in the offense, which has affected Rodgers' numbers. He has not thrown more than one touchdown pass in each of the last three games. Incidentally, the Packers have had a running back rush for 99 yards or more in each of the last four games. I would be a little more than a tad concerned about Rodgers' fantasy outlook going forward, not just because of the running game increasing, but also because of the injuries to Cobb and Jones. Jones may only miss a game or two, but the Cobb injury stings. As for Brandon Boykin, I would not go out of my way to acquire him. I do see Jermichael Finley getting a bump in production, for he'll likely see a lot of time in the slot, which has historically been a position of wealth for Green Bay receivers.
Kyle Wachtel: The injuries to Cobb and Jones will surely be a small knock on Rodgers' value, but I still place him inside the top-three at the position and would not be surprised to see him use his legs a little more. Nelson is more than capable of a larger role and Finley can handle an increased workload as well, which is a boost to both of them. I'm not sure Boykin will be relied on much and when Jones returns Boykin will be an afterthought. The Packers also have a very friendly schedule from Weeks 10 through 15, which should be a nice stretch for fantasy production from the offense.
Stephen Holloway: I agree with everyone that Rodgers will slide slightly back to the pack with the loss of Randall Cobb. Lacy could be the beneficiary. He has had 23 carries in each of the two games since he returned, but has only two targets and two catches. He could and should be more involved in the passing game. Jordy Nelson will likely be the first receiving option, similar to 2011 when he caught 15 TD passes on 102 targets. Finley also should get a few more passes thrown his way.
Falcons WR injuries
Julio Jones is out for the year, and Roddy White is still struggling to get healthy. How will those injuries affect the Falcons offense going forward?
Chad Parsons: The bye could not come at a better time for Atlanta to adjust to the absence of Julio Jones and for Roddy White to get healthier. I do have concerns that White will be physically compromised coming out of the bye week and his additional usage on offense could hamper his recovery. On the flip side, owners have been waiting for a month and a half to have a useful White in the their lineups. Week seven is the time to get him in there. It is hard to imagine Tony Gonzalez receiving any more coverage than he did in Week five. The volume of targets will be there, so his status as a top-5 tight end this season remains unchanged. Harry Douglas has had chances to start as an outside receiver in the past and did not show he would be an impact fantasy option in that role. I see Douglas as a decent third receiver on an NFL team, but one that would/will disappoint with a larger share of the offense. Matt Ryan takes the biggest hit as Jones was their downfield option and fewer big plays means more field goals and fewer drives getting into the red zone. Ryan is a good, but not a Peyton Manning that can deliver countless double-digit play drives through the teeth of a defense. Consider Ryan a low-end QB1 to play the matchups with for the time-being.
Jeff Pasquino: I've been asked about Harry Douglas for two weeks now regarding the injury woes in Atlanta and if he is worth a waiver wire move. In my mind, yes, but not much. Douglas is not that explosive and he certainly is not an NFL WR1, so he needs either Jones or White to threaten the defenses to create space for shorter routes. I think of Douglas as a less impactful Anquan Boldin type. White should have rested more, but what done is done and the bye week came at a very opportune time for Atlanta. White will be more of a force in the second half of the year, but he needs to have that top gear to take the top off of defenses and create space for Douglas and Tony Gonzalez. The one wild card here is the second tight end for the Falcons, Levine Toilolo, who has two touchdowns already this year on limited work, and he could be an even bigger factor with fewer receiving options for Matt Ryan.
Jeff Haseley: I think Roddy White took the wrong approach to his injured ankle. He tried to play through the pain, which is very admirable, but it has hurt his team in the process, plus it likely played a key role in his hamstring injury. Looking ahead, it may take White a while to be fully healthy. We may not see him at 100% until week nine or ten, possibly even later. If White continues to play at a sub-par level, I fully expect to see Harry Douglas more involved in the offense. Douglas is someone that I targeted in multiple leagues. I don't see Douglas as someone who can develop into an elite receiver, but he does have the opportunity to see an increase in targets and be a serviceable fantasy option, given Atlanta's need for healthy receiving options. I also would not be surprised to see one of Kevin Cone, Drew Davis or Brian Robiskie find some success that might be sustainable. I think we all can agree that Tony Gonzalez will see an increase in looks, but that also means that defenses will be keying on him. Gonzalez is no stranger to double teams. There may be some growing pains at first, but ultimately I think he'll produce quality numbers going forward.
Kyle Wachtel: I fall right in line with the thinking that White could have handled his ankle injury better and may have already been flirting with WR1 value after putting that behind him. The hamstring injury just added on to the recovery timetable and the latest reports described him as "hobbling" around the locker room, which is disconcerting. He still seems set on playing through this injury and as much as I'd like to have faith in him, I can't expect him to recover quickly. Just like Jeff, I also targeted Douglas as a pickup in leagues because the volume alone is enough for him to float around WR3 production. Chad nailed my thoughts on Gonzalez right on the head, stating "It is hard to imagine Tony Gonzalez receiving any more coverage than he did in Week five." He should be force fed the rest of the season, resulting in a bump in his PPR value.
Stephen Holloway: Atlanta's play has been far less than expected and if the Giants were not 0-6, more people would be discussing the losses thus far. Chad hit the nail on the head regarding the timing of the bye week. It is difficult enough to play through an injury as the second wide receiver, but if White continues to be limited, the Falcons could be in danger of falling by the wayside soon. It's a good thing that Tony Gonzalez can still play like he is 30, but if teams continue to double team and mug him like the Jets did, how long can his body handle that? I agree that Douglas is a nice pick-up, but I am having trouble seeing the Falcons turning this around and making the playoffs.
Greg Russell: I also think Harry Douglas can be a decent option, both NFL and fantasy, if obviously not filling the shoes of Julio Jones. But let me add a Falcon who has not been mentioned yet, Jacquizz Rodgers. We have seen how small, quick players like Wes Welker, Darren Sproles, and Danny Woodhead can be effective weapons in an era when NFL rules limit contact down the field. I don't know if Atlanta's coaching staff will increase Rodger's usage, but he could be an effective weapon after double-covered receivers clear out underneath for him to work in.
That will do it for this edition of the Footballguys Roundtable. Please join us again next week.