The fantasy football playoffs are in full swing, and there is plenty of chatter in the FantasyPros Discord server. As always, we have some great submissions this week, covering a wide range of topics. There are some start/sit questions and waiver wire queries. We also have a dynasty trade proposal and some potential shenanigans involving possible collusion among managers. Here are a few of this week’s questions, 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 Advice & Help
Waiver Wire & Lineup Advice
Should I pick up Colby Parkinson because Tyler Warren has Philip Rivers throwing him the ball? The tight end market is thin.
This question overcomplicates things. You should absolutely pick up Colby Parkinson regardless of what is happening with Tyler Warren or anyone else. I am honestly shocked he is still available anywhere. As you noted, the tight end position is quite thin. Even before last week, Parkinson was a viable streamer if nothing else. In his previous five contests, Parkinson had 17 receptions and four touchdowns. Even if you throw out the touchdowns, a 58-catch pace for a tight end is nothing to sneeze at. Depending on how things play out over the next three weeks, there will be between 10 and 15 tight ends who finish this season with 58+ receptions. So yes, pick up Parkinson yesterday.
The more interesting dilemma is whether you should start Parkinson, especially if you have Warren. Warren is currently the overall TE6 in half-PPR leagues. He has been an outstanding value for fantasy managers who grabbed him late in drafts. However, the arrow is pointing down on his rest-of-season (ROS) value. While he is currently the TE6, Warren was the overall TE3 through Week 13 and the overall TE4 through Week 14. Warren’s fantasy value has taken a massive hit since the injury to Daniel Jones. Both Warren and Parkinson have solid Week 16 matchups. San Francisco has allowed nine touchdowns to opposing tight ends, which is tied for second-most in the NFL. Seattle has given up the second-most receptions and yards to the position. I have no qualms starting Parkinson over Warren this week.
Who should I Flex week 16: Mike Evans, Brian Thomas Jr. or Marvin Harrison Jr.?
My official fantasy football rankings will be out on Wednesday, but I will say that among these three wide receivers, my answer will most likely be Mike Evans. Even if Marvin Harrison Jr. returns this week, I’m not sure how much I trust him. His results have been decent when he has been on the field. But those instances have been few and far between of late. Harrison has missed four of Arizona’s last five games. In the four games Harrison has missed, Michael Wilson has arguably been the best fantasy wide receiver in the NFL. Harrison feels like an uninspiring WR3 if he can play on Sunday.
Brian Thomas Jr. has made a few splash plays in recent weeks, but the volume is less than ideal. Thomas has caught seven out of 13 targets over his last two games. Meanwhile, Evans immediately stepped into the alpha role upon his return from injury last week. Evans earned a ridiculous 35.3% target share in his first game back. Even if that number is dialed back a bit, Evans is sure to be featured in a must-win game against Carolina. Thomas also has a much more difficult matchup than Evans. The Denver Broncos allow the fewest touchdown catches to opposing wide receivers in the NFL. These factors lead me to prefer Evans the most among these three options for Week 16.
With Christian Watson likely out, start Blake Corum this week? Or if I get Michael Carter on waivers, roll with him? Anyone else I should look to target instead of Blake Corum?
Blake Corum has exhibited some standalone fantasy value of late. He has at least 13 fantasy points in three straight games. And if anything were ever to happen to Kyren Williams, Corum would be an instant RB1. If you have an opening and an obvious drop, adding Corum is an excellent idea. Now here’s the rub. I probably wouldn’t start Corum this week. That may make adding him tricky, depending on your roster’s makeup.
First of all, Christian Watson may very well play this week, and Corum plays on Thursday night. There is a good chance we do not know Watson’s status by then. If Corum does not score a touchdown (Seattle has allowed only four rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs this year), he is most likely going to score single-digit fantasy points. Watson’s ceiling is considerably higher. The Chicago Bears have allowed 20 touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this year. That is tied for second-most in the NFL.
I am probably holding out hope that Watson plays. If you do not start Corum, and Watson cannot suit up, you would have a suitable replacement in Michael Carter as long as your waiver claim is successful. If you can only add either Corum or Carter, I would probably begrudgingly go with Carter based on expected volume.
Niners defense versus Philip Rivers or Lions defense versus Aaron Rodgers?
I picked up the San Francisco defense last week because Tennessee and Indianapolis were their next two opponents. I started them over Kansas City, a decision that cost me a 200-point week. Did I just tell you that story just to flex about nearly scoring 200 points? We may never know. What we do know is that San Francisco’s defense is low-key bad. They rank 25th in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) and 27th in fantasy points.
Say what you will about Philip Rivers, but he is no dummy. He is going to get the ball out quickly. The Seattle Seahawks D/ST leads the NFL in fantasy points by a sizable margin this year. And yet they only scored four fantasy points last week. Two were on a last-second desperation heave that went for an interception. And their only sack happened because Rivers tripped while dropping back to pass.
Of course, most of these things can be argued on the other side as well. The Detroit Lions rank 19th in the NFL in fantasy points by a defense/special teams unit. They are better in real life, though, ranking eighth in the NFL in defensive DVOA. Aaron Rodgers is also quite adept at avoiding mistakes. He has only been sacked 23 times and thrown seven interceptions in 13 games this season. I am going to go with Detroit because they have multiple pass-rushing threats, whereas San Francisco is severely lacking in that area. The Lions could force Rodgers into that one key mistake that can lead to their defense putting up fantasy points. I do not have as much confidence in San Francisco doing the same.
I’m currently second in my Superflex league and got a bye this week. Have Dak Prescott and had Daniel Jones, and this guy in 11th place has been picking up quarterbacks off the waiver wire. I suspect collaboration with his buddy, who’s in the playoffs. Whatcha think?
I think that you are almost certainly correct in your analysis. It feels like collusion that a team in 11th place would be grabbing quarterbacks left and right. Here’s the thing, though. If the rules of your league allow non-playoff teams to make roster moves, I’m afraid there is not much you can do about it. It sucks, but it is what it is.
Consider this a lesson going forward. My response every single time someone asks me to join a league is, “Send me the rules.” Once I get the rules, I ask if certain aspects that I disagree with are up for debate, etc. Then I decide whether to join the league. Fantasy football is meant to be enjoyable. It is not worth the aggravation of being saddled with corruption.
Trade Advice
Given the Patrick Mahomes news, would you trade Rashee Rice for Jaylen Waddle and next year’s 1.10?
I might be wildly off-base here, but I do not think Rashee Rice is going to lose a ton of dynasty value based on Patrick Mahomes’ torn ACL. Rice is still Kansas City’s most consistent receiving threat, and there is a very good chance Travis Kelce retires at the end of this season. Rice’s position at the top of the food chain as the Chiefs’ top wideout should remain intact. There is also a non-zero chance Mahomes can return for the start of next season. Even if that is not the case, whoever Kansas City’s quarterback is will feed Rice plenty of targets.
Having said all that, Jaylen Waddle plus a first-round pick next season is a solid return. Waddle is most likely a WR3 next season, and there are also mitigating factors on that side of the equation. Tyreek Hill could return or retire. Miami could try to find an alternative solution at quarterback, though that seems unlikely considering Tua Tagovailoa‘s contract situation. At the end of the day, I would prefer to keep Rice. But it probably depends on how much you value the 10th overall pick for upgrading your roster.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
