My Friday Discord AMA has a new home as of this week. After beginning the year by answering questions in the general AMA section, you can find my AMA in the Shepardson AMA channel on Fridays at 3:00 p.m. ET. This week’s questions weren’t as narrowly focused on a tight cluster of players as in previous weeks. Nevertheless, a few players were the subject of multiple questions, and they’re featured below.
Friday’s Fantasy Football Discord AMA Recap
Is DeVonta Smith a Buy-Low Player?
It’s always an excellent idea to buy low on an underperforming player. Unfortunately, I’m not optimistic about DeVonta Smith’s rest-of-season outlook. Gamers shouldn’t do anything rash, such as giving him away or cutting him. Still, Smith has a Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown-sized problem.
Among 39 quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks this year, Hurts is PFF’s 32nd-ranked passer. Yikes. Per Pro Football Reference, Hurts is also only 17th in passing yards per game (218.0).
Smith is a talented player. Yet, he’s conclusively the No. 2 wide receiver when Brown is healthy. According to the data suite at Fantasy Points, in Brown’s three healthy contests, the physically imposing wideout is first on the Eagles in air yards (333), first in air-yard share (56.3%), first in target share (31.1%), second in targets per route run (0.29), first in end zone targets (two), first in first-read percentage (41.3%), first in receptions (16), first in receiving yards per game (108.0), first in yards per route run (4.15) and first in touchdown receptions (three).
Smith’s numbers are considerably less impressive. In that three-game period, Smith had 98 air yards, a 16.6% air-yard share, 17.6% target share, 0.16 targets per route run, zero end zone targets, 23.9% first-read percentage, 11 receptions, 146 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Smith will have better days. Still, Brown is a genuine alpha, and Smith is the Robin to his Batman. Moreover, Philadelphia’s offensive tendencies are suboptimal for Smith’s outlook. According to RotoViz’s pace app, the Eagles are tied for the second-lowest situation-neutral pass rate (48%) this year.
Circling back to Hurts and Barkley, they’re also a thorn in Smith’s side. According to Fantasy Points, the Eagles have the fourth-lowest pass rate (33.3%) inside the 10-yard line this year. Smith is a hold or sell-low option.
Can Chuba Hubbard Overcome Carolina’s Offensive Ineptitude?
Unfortunately, Carolina’s offense is in trouble. Bryce Young will start this week after Andy Dalton hurt his thumb in a car accident. In Young’s two starts this season, the Panthers scored 10 and 3 points, amassing 193 and 159 total yards, per Pro Football Reference.
In the first two weeks of the season, Chuba Hubbard was the RB40 in standard points per game (4.5), the RB41 in half-point per reception points per game (5.5) and the RB41 in PPR points per game (6.5). Hubbard wasn’t useful in fantasy during Young’s starts.
Since there aren’t any byes this week, gamers should have better options for RB2 or the flex than Hubbard. For instance, one Discord user asked about Hubbard versus Chase Brown this week, and Brown is a much more appealing starter in Week 8. Another user asked if they did well selling Hubbard before Jonathon Brooks‘s return, and the short answer is yes. Sadly, Hubbard might not have much value going forward, and gamers should bench him until he demonstrates he can overcome Young’s and the offense’s ineptitude. By that time, Brooks might be ready to cut into his workload.
Is Anthony Richardson a Better Fantasy Option Than Tua Tagovailoa, Drake Maye or Streamers?
The Anthony Richardson experience has been nauseating for fantasy gamers this year. He exploded for 27.1 fantasy points in Week 1. Richardson’s scoring in Week 1 is 45.2% of his scoring output this season. It’s Week 8. Suffice it to say things aren’t going as planned for him.
Joe Flacco has outplayed Richardson. The athletically gifted second-year pro has scored fewer than 9.0 fantasy points in three straight games. There isn’t a positive way to spin Richardson’s play this year. While the Colts will likely stick with him since taking a long-term approach is more important than winning a few extra games with Flacco, it doesn’t mean gamers should stick with Richardson.
The speedy quarterback’s rushing ability can only carry him so far when his passing is pathetic. Thus, gamers would be better served with Tua Tagovailoa, Drake Maye or even streaming. Gamers in super-flex leagues with two excellent starting quarterbacks ahead of Richardson can keep a light on the for the youngster and hold him on their bench. Otherwise, it’s time to pull the plug on Richardson.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
