Ian Allan answers your fantasy football questions. In this edition. What are the prospects for the two sputtering offenses in the NFC East -- New York and Washington? Is it time to dump Dez? And when is it OK to take a zero at a position?
Question 1
Please do some in-depth analysis on the prospects of the Giants offense. Should I get what I can for Manning, and bail? I swapped Rivers for him two weeks ago, and I was patting myself on the back (Re-Drafter #21 for #7!). Now I look VERY silly. In my 2-QB league, Prescott, Flacco and Siemian are available, and others might be waived.
Dan Shipley (Black Diamond, WA)
Stay the course. Manning has averaged 276 passing yards over the last two years, with 30 and 35 touchdowns. It’s always frustrating when a player underperforms for a couple of games, but I think he can get back to being that kind of guy. The offensive system is the same, and his wide receivers are the best he’s ever had. His last two were on the road against teams that will be in the playoffs, and Minnesota’s defense is remarkably good. Manning went over 350 passing yards in each of his previous two games (albeit with just one touchdown). Scheduling might help. Of the next six games, four are at home, one is at a neutral site (London), and the lone road game is at Cleveland.
Question 2
I drafted Cousins and DeSean Jackson in all four of my leagues. To date I am a little disappointed in Cousins but a lot disappointed in Jackson. I even picked up Crowder in a couple of leagues. How much longer should I wait for them to click or is the Washington passing game not going to produce the way I was hoping for? I feel like I need to make a decision soon. Would you keep any of them? Which ones should I drop and move on? Any help you give me is greatly appreciated!
Frank Catalano (Houston, PA)
I imagine they’ll turn things around at some point. That offense has the necessary personnel and system. Washington doesn’t run the ball very well, so it will always be an offense that’s scoring 70-80 percent of its touchdowns on passes. They just need to get their swagger back. I saw Cousins throw 3 TDs in a quarter against Buffalo in the preseason, and he went over 325 passing yards in each of their first three games. He’s just got to convert more of those key plays around the goal line (and not underthrow Jackson on long-bomb opportunities). Jackson, I think, is healthy and explosive and every bit as good as he has ever been. But the offense is definitely in a funk, and the schedule doesn’t look particularly good. They’re playing Philadelphia this week, and that’s been a really strong defense. They’re playing at Detroit in Week 7, and that one looks fine, but I’m not particularly excited about any of their next seven games – Cincinnati (in London), Minnesota, Green Bay, at Dallas, at Arizona, at Philadelphia and Carolina.
Question 3
I'm in a half point PPR league and I own Dez Bryant. Someone just offered me Jeremy Maclin in exchange for him. I'm on the fence because it seems that Dez is always on the injury report, but has a chance to play and he clearly has a higher ceiling than Maclin's. However, if Bryant misses many games, there's no value there. Your thoughts?
James Palmer (Chico, CA)
I’m not opposed to moving Dez. In a letter a week or two back, I signed off on swapping him for Doug Baldwin. But Maclin isn’t enough. The gap between a healthy Bryant and Maclin is too great. So in that case, I would vote to cross your fingers and hope Bryant stays healthy.
Question 4
Have you ever had a situation where, due to injuries or byes, you had to drop a player you really wanted to keep or take a 0 for that position for the week? The WRs I currently have are Hilton, Marvin Jones, and Landry. Hilton and Jones both have a bye in week 10. I realize that a lot can happen between now and then, but assuming they are both still healthy, do you drop one or take a 0 for that position? Due to roster restrictions, we have to have one and only one backup player per position.
Roy Sherman (Columbia, TN)
I would be extremely reluctant to drop any of those wide receivers. If I were in a must-win situation (my team was 4-5 or whatever) I suppose I would have to think about it. If I believed the player I was signing in Week 10 (or might sign in Week 11) was almost as good, I might think about it. But most likely I would either take a zero or look to trade one of those two Week 10 players. Starting with Week 9, Marvin Jones has a pretty ugly four-game stretch – Vikings, bye, Jaguars, Vikings. His Week 8 game might not be that great either (at Houston). He might be a guy to shop for a receiver of similar value.
Question 5
I am in a league with 12 teams with 20 roster spots each. There is essentially nothing on the waiver wire. We're so desperate we just picked up Jalen Richard because of the Latavius Murray news. So my question is that is there anyone who is basically a no name or someone who is certainly unowned in leagues right now that could be a difference maker later in the season? Maybe a guy you like but is buried on the depth chart.
JEFF CASTER (West Mifflin, PA)
Best option, I think, would be to bait your hooks with a few backup running backs. Alfred Blue and Mike Gillislee, for example, are capable runners, and I would guess one or both of those guys are available in your league. If either Lamar Miller or LeSean McCoy gets hurt, I would think Blue or Gillislee might step in and be almost as good.
Question 6
I have Cam and looking ahead to week 7, who would be a good QB pick up this week to fill in?
Grant Markgraf (Elmhurst, IL)
Alex Smith. Normally a lesser quarterback, but Kansas City that week is at home against New Orleans. He looks like the best guy who is probably not on a roster. Three other guys stand out, but they are players who might already be rostered. Marcus Mariota (home against Colts), Joe Flacco (at the Jets), and Trevor Siemian (home against his former teammate, Brock Osweiler).
Question 7
Has there been any news on Marshawn Lynch's return? I'm holding a roster spot for him in hopes of a Beast Mode 2.0. Should I keep him or drop him?
Jason Howes (Stewartville, MN)
I haven’t heard anything. I would think you’d be able to find a backup running back on some roster who’s more likely to perhaps start a few games and put up some decent numbers.
Question 8
I wanted to get your opinion on a trade offer that came in this morning. I would be giving up Olsen and either Lacy or Hyde for Graham and Gordon.
Roy Sherman (Columbia, TN)
I would do that trade. As well as Olsen played Monday night, I think Jimmy Graham is pretty similar in value. Graham has been coming on, with 100-plus yards two games in a row. So I think you can live with that switch. And Gordon is notch better than either Lacy or Hyde. Gordon is scoring lots of touchdowns, and with Danny Woodhead out for the year is also a reliable part of the passing game.