We’re almost there. The fantasy playoffs are nearly upon us and it’s almost bittersweet. So much has happened this season it feels like a lifetime ago when we were drafting our teams. But, before we get into the playoffs, we asked the Fantrax crew to look at some of the players they just can’t drop in this week’s roundtable discussion:
“We’re getting into the fantasy playoffs and if you have a spot, or are fighting for a spot, every bench slot is needed. There are current and future matchups to consider, injury handcuffs to hold, and maybe one of those guys we can’t quit. Who is one of those guys you can’t drop? The guy that’s in the right situation, that should be contributing, but hasn’t and you just can’t bring yourself to cut bait. Explain why you’re holding on and what he could do given the chance.”
FantraxHQ Fantasy Roundtable
Steven Toroni (@FFProfessorST3):
In the offseason, like many, I was high on the Chiefs offense. As just another genius in the industry, I am still patting my back for painting the correct picture of the ‘Patrick Mahomes Experience’ that is Fantasy Football 2018. Sammy Watkins was the guy that I said I was going to target everywhere. My initial line of thinking was, “Let everyone grab Tyreek Hill in the third round and I will scoop Watkins up in the seventh.” The big issue here was that at one point I actually thought that the two receivers would not be separated by much in terms of fantasy points by season’s end.
Boy, was I wrong.
So, of course, the Chiefs brought Watkins in with a lucrative deal (3 years, $48M). Watkins has had ‘star potential’ since he came out of Clemson as a first round pick, but has not lived up to the bill.
“Perhaps, that is because he was on the Bills” – me in June.
While that is a decent joke, it was wrong, ‘Past Steven’. Watkins was the WR15 with the Bills in 2015. “Just think what he will do with Patrick Mahomes.” As the season grew closer, Tyreek Hill shot up my rankings. In 2017, 55 of Hill’s 75 receptions were caught within 10 yards. This stat made me realize that Hill was a possession receiver with big-play capability. Everything you want in a WR1. Watkins, however, remained a back-end WR2 for me. Unfortunately, since Week 9, Watkins has remained on my bench with a total of 9.8 Fantasy points in the span of four weeks. But I can’t drop him.
In all fairness, he did not play one game, played five snaps in another, and had a BYE last week. Still, I feel as if any other player who is dealing with a serious foot injury that has clogged up a roster spot would get the boot. Yet, Watkins remains on my bench. I am even more pessimistic than most at this point because I am concerned about the foot injury. Head Coach Andy Reid said on Monday that the fifth-year wideout is still experiencing soreness.
At this point, Watkins is the WR41 on the season in .5 PPR. I should drop him. But, I won’t. The fact remains that his ceiling is so much higher than any other receiver on waivers simply because he is the starter in a Patrick Mahomes-lead offense.
This is my struggle. Yet, this is Fantasy Football. If you don’t appreciate the suffering, you will never win.
Mick Ciallela (@themick23):
Here are the eight highest-scoring running backs in fantasy this year through Week 12:
Todd Gurley
Alvin Kamara
Saquon Barkley
Melvin Gordon
Kareem Hunt
James Conner
Christian McCaffrey
Ezekiel Elliott
Here are the eight running backs who have had the most RB1 weeks through Week 12:
Todd Gurley
Melvin Gordon
Kareem Hunt
Alvin Kamara
Saquon Barkley
James Conner
Christian McCaffrey
Ezekiel Elliott
To no one’s surprise, the same eight running backs are on both lists. But the running back who is next on the list of total weeks as an RB1 might be a surprise. It is not David Johnson, Phillip Lindsay, Adrian Peterson, nor Nick Chubb. The answer is Kenyan Drake. And he is the player I just can’t drop this season.
Drake enters Week 13 20th among running backs in fantasy points, which is very respectable. But head coach Adam Gase continues to favor Frank Gore over Drake on a weekly basis. Because of this, Drake has had some rather hideous weeks. In the six games in which he has failed to finish as an RB1, Drake has averaged less than four fantasy points per game. That causes Drake to be borderline unplayable and impossible to trust in weekly formats.
The top eight fantasy running backs all rank in the top 11 in carries. Drake ranks 37th. Gore ranks 17th. Gore is a respected veteran and a future Hall of Famer, but Drake is the more talented player at this stage in their careers. Drake’s breakaway run rate (5.62 percent) dwarfs Gore’s (3.05 percent), and he has evaded tackles at a better rate as well. Drake is also the superior pass catcher and run blocker.
Drake has already proven how good he can be in fantasy. His five weeks as an RB1 this year is proof of that, as is his three consecutive weeks as an RB1 in December of 2017. All he needs is a chance. I am still holding out hope he can break out on a more consistent basis this season. But it is much more likely that he will continue to sit on my bench while continuing to yo-yo from elite to awful each week.
Also check out our Week 13 Sleepers: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends
Ready to amp up your Fantasy Football game even more? Check out The Fantasy Black Book Show, where Joe Pisapia, Scott Bogman, and The Welsh bring the goods every week.
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