Week 6 is in the books, and it is time for our weekly joint fantasy football therapy session. Welcome to the Fantasy Football Therapy & Complaint Desk! In this column, I answer questions, concerns, and complaints from the fantasy football community that fantasy managers post in the AMA channel (general-AMA) in our Discord server. Which players ruined your week? What trade proposals are you considering? Do you have some early start/sit questions as we look ahead to Week 7? I intend to address all inquiries with the care and consideration they deserve. Let us begin. Here are some of this week’s submissions along with my responses.
- Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Therapy & Complaint Desk
Trade Questions
Keenan Allen, Khalil Shakir, and Kimani Vidal for Stefon Diggs PPR – who wins?
As this is a therapy session, I would like to introduce you to Teddy. He is our special friend who helps us here in our sessions. Now, please show me on Teddy where the letter K hurt you…
In all seriousness, even as Keenan Allen has come back down to earth, he still has more fantasy points this year than Diggs does and Khalil Shakir is not far behind. Throw in the fact that Kimani Vidal could be a starting fantasy running back for the next four to six weeks, and this is a no-go for me. With bye weeks about to impact most fantasy managers hard, this is the time of year when it is good to have multiple options at each position. I do believe Stefon Diggs is the best player in this deal. However, this is too much to give away for Diggs. I could get behind it if it were either Allen or Shakir plus Vidal. But even then, it would depend on who you replaced that player on your roster with.
5-1 in my league. However, looking ahead to Week 8, I’ll need a replacement for Kyren, who will be on a bye. These are the available RBs. Who should I roll the dice on?
First of all, let me say that I love this. Not only are you not resting on your laurels, but you’re looking ahead to Week 8 already. I dare say that your attention to detail is a significant reason for your 5-1 start.
As for the question, the person who asked this provided a screenshot of some available running backs, including Sean Tucker, Brashard Smith, Jeremy McNichols, Ollie Gordon II, Jerome Ford, Trevor Etienne, Ty Johnson, and Samaje Perine.
While I applaud you for already considering a Week 8 replacement for Kyren Williams, there are some obvious variables to consider before making a move now. One of the starting running backs ahead of these players could get hurt next week. Perhaps a trade will take place between now and then, which could change someone’s value. Assuming none of those things happen, however, I will go with Jeremy McNichols.
McNichols was the clear number-two back for Washington in Week 6. He played 21 snaps, while Chris Rodriguez played one. Number-one back Jacory Croskey-Merritt lost a fumble. I’m not saying that costs him his job, but McNichols’ role should be somewhat secure. Washington is also scheduled to play the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in Week 8. Should they fall behind, McNichols could be in line for a decent amount of work in the passing game.
ETN and Saquon for Egbuka?
NO!
In case you need more analysis than that, here goes. I wouldn’t even trade Saquon Barkley straight up for Emeka Egbuka, much less add Travis Etienne to the deal. Plus, Egbuka is probably going to miss time with his hamstring injury. The hardest of passes for me.
Bucky for Tetairoa?
We’re probably not seeing Bucky Irving back in his regular role until Week 10 at this rate. He has already been ruled out for Week 7, which is a bit worrisome. Tampa Bay has a Week 9 bye, so it is likely that Irving either sits out or is eased into work in Week 8. So, if you need short-term production, I would recommend Tetairoa McMillan. However, I still prefer Irving long-term and think he will ball out during the fantasy football playoffs.
Omarion Hampton dropped! What FAAB do I bid?
I’m generally a fairly conservative manager when it comes to FAAB, so please keep that in mind. I also think that dropping Omarion Hampton is not the craziest idea I have ever heard. Recent reports suggest that Hampton is going to miss more than four weeks. The Los Angeles Chargers have a bye in Week 12. Even if he returns in Week 10 or 11, it could be as part of a timeshare. I think there’s a real chance we do not see Hampton back in his regular role until Week 13. This is pushing us right on the edge of the fantasy football playoffs. If you are secure that you will make your league’s playoffs, I would say bid 20-25 percent. If not, 10 percent.
Who’s winning this trade? London and Carter for Ja’Marr Full ppr
As much as I love Drake London, I am going with the Ja’Marr Chase side. Michael Carter is mostly a non-factor for me when it comes to this deal. The Arizona Cardinals have a Week 8 bye, which will help Trey Benson return to the field sooner rather than later. You are probably getting 2-3 more games of Michael Carter being relevant. And even now, he is only splitting carries with Bam Knight. Unless Benson suffers a setback or his return is otherwise delayed, Carter’s time in starting lineups is winding down.
10 team PPR Dynasty – Rice for Nacua?
I’d rather have Puka Nacua. I understand the Dynasty aspect, specifically the preference for a wide receiver tied to Patrick Mahomes over Matthew Stafford. Stafford turns 38 in February, and we have no idea how long he will keep playing. However, Nacua is a monster. Additionally, I suspect that somehow, Sean McVay and company are going to ensure that even if Stafford departs, the team finds another solid option at the quarterback position in the future.
Should I trade away Emeka and Dowdle for Ceedee?
I like where your head is at, because Emeka Egkuba is questionable with a hamstring injury, and Rico Dowdle just had the best two-game stretch of his life. Meanwhile, CeeDee Lamb is on the mend and could return as soon as next week. If you want to get ahead of the Egbuka news and make the deal in anticipation of him being sidelined, I do not mind it. However, I don’t think Dowdle is necessarily going away.
I cannot imagine an NFL coaching staff watching what Rico Dowdle has done over the past two weeks and then relegating him to a backup role behind Chuba Hubbard. Dowdle has had at least 234 scrimmage yards in back-to-back games. There are only 23 other instances of a running back accounting for that many scrimmage yards in a game over the past 10 years. If you are set at running back without Dowdle, then go for it. But if you could use another RB in the mix, then I might hold off.
Drop Tuten for Monangai?
Nah. I’d rather have Bhayshul Tuten than Kyle Monangai as we progress forward. This is the kind of move that feels like making a move for the sake of making a move. Monangai did play 22 snaps on Monday night, compared to just three for Roschon Johnson. However, I think we see Johnson becoming more involved as he returns to full health. Tuten has been splitting snaps with LeQuint Allen Jr. behind Travis Etienne Jr. in Jacksonville, but he is still getting a decent amount of touches. I think Tuten is the better bet for production moving forward.
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