FFS Roundtable: Week 2
With an exciting week one in the books we put together an FFStatistics roundtable to discuss some of the most burning questions. Week 1 saw some noteworthy storylines such as Antonio Brown being released and signing with the New England Patriots. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens decimated the Miami Dolphins in an offensive explosion. Finally, in Jacksonville, we saw Nick Foles fall victim to a broken collarbone and be placed on IR. FFStatistics workhorse @FFJeffSmith joined me to discuss these topics.
How does the New England Patriots addition of Antonio Brown affect the Patriots other skill players?
The addition of AB to the Patriots is likely to muddy the waters of all of the fantasy-relevant pass catchers from New England and will likely relegate Phillip Dorsett and Jakobi Meyers to the waiver wire or the deepest of benches in dynasty leagues. It has to impact the number of targets that Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, and even James White will see as well. It is certainly a boom to TB12’s value, but guessing which pass-catcher will hit every week is nearly an impossible feat.
- Jeff Smith (@FFJeffSmith)
The Patriots addition of Antonio Brown has a wide range of impacts for the Patriots skill players. Tom Brady is now a weekly QB1 as he now boasts the most talented wide receiver room in football. Julian Edelman should get more cushion in the middle of the field as opposing defenses will be concentrating on stopping Brown and Josh Gordon. Edelman remains a high-end WR2. Josh Gordon should still be an effective WR3 but no longer has the low-end WR1/high end WR2 ceiling some had envisioned for him when they drafted him. Demaryius Thomas, Phillip Dorsett, and Jakobi Meyers will be reduced to low snap rotational roles.
Sony Michel who struggled with stacked boxes last season (3.0 yards per carry) will now rarely see eight-man fronts. He stands to lose some volume but will look to make up for it via efficiency. He is still a good bet to crack the 1,000-yard barrier. James White and Rex Burkhead both stand to lose some target volume and have both dropped a peg fantasy value-wise. James White remains a WR3/flex option. Rex Burkhead is a deep league flex3 or depth piece. With the Patriots expected to run less Damien Harris will have a more difficult time earning a role.
- Raju Byfield (@FantasyContext)
Buying or Selling the Baltimore Ravens offense?
I am in a holding pattern on this Ravens offense. It is hard for me to get too high or low on them after a Week 1 matchup against a completely revamped Miami team. Miami only returned 31 of the active 53 players from last season, bringing in some players in just as recently as a week ago. While it was encouraging to see Lamar Jackson hit on some deep balls, I want to see what he does when under duress.
- Jeff Smith (@FFJeffSmith)
I am buying the Ravens offense. I have been beating the Lamar Jackson drum all summer and he is the quarterback I have the most shares of in redraft leagues. He proved he could pass at Louisville and his ability to hit Jaylen Smith on much of the same routes Marquise Brown is running now gave me hope for the young wideout. They will not explode for a franchise record in points every week, but there are more good times ahead. Lamar could have had an even bigger day but was pulled for RGIII with the game well in hand. Jackson’s chemistry with Mark Andrews was on display once again in week one. With an Arizona team missing all-pro corner Patrick Peterson on the slate for this week there could once again be plenty of fireworks from the Ravens offense.
- Raju Byfield (@FantasyContext)
How will the Nick Foles injury affect the Jacksonville Jaguars skill players?
If the Jags defense continues to struggle as they did in Week 1, there could be some value had from the receivers on the Jags. Gardner Minshew showed good chemistry with Chris Conley and DJ Chark. I think Leonard Fournette may actually suffer the most damage from this injury from a fantasy perspective.
- Jeff Smith (@FFJeffSmith)
I will start with the disclaimer that I have never been a Nick Foles fan. Gardner Minshew is nothing special as a quarterback but similar to Foles he has spot starter talent. He is superior to Foles in the short and intermediate game and proved it in his first NFL action by going 22/25 with two touchdowns and an interception. Foles has him beat on the deep ball which means D.J. Chark’s fantasy value takes a bit of a hit. Minshew played all of the first-team snaps this offseason and is more than ready to take the reins of this offense. A quarterback controversy is brewing in Jacksonville. I am not downgrading any of the other Jaguars skill players aside from Chark.
- Raju Byfield (@FantasyContext)