Every Saturday, Sportsnet fantasy analyst Andy McNamara will answer all your fantasy football questions ahead of Sunday’s slate of games. If you’re looking for fantasy football advice, message him on Twitter using #AskAndy.
There’s good news and bad news, fantasy owners.
The good is that this is the last week for byes and your full arsenal of players will be available moving forward. The bad is that Week 12 has some serious weapons missing as the Chiefs, Vikings, Cardinals and Chargers all take a seat.
As always, we’ll get through this together.
From @gxrnv – Hey Andy should I trade DeShaun Watson Jaylen Samuels and Stefon Diggs for Lamar Jackson and James Conner in a 10-team PPR. Thanks
After receiving this tweet I asked who his other wide receivers were. The answer was Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, OBJ and D.J. Moore. With this information the answer is definitely yes.
Lamar Jackson’s a consistent top weekly fantasy play, while Watson’s been on a bit of a roller coaster. James Conner’s shoulder continues to effect him, and he’s out this Sunday so essentially you’re trading for Jackson. Diggs is always a home-run threat, but your WR depth is good enough. You get the best player in the deal. Accept!
From @Jor_Henry – #AskAndy I have Kirk Cousins on bye this week, Jameis, Garoppolo, Darnold, Goff all available on the wire but I’m starting Driskel. Am I insane?
Driskel’s been surprisingly fantasy efficient as a dual threat and does have a decent matchup versus Washington. I’d still suggest going with Sam Darnold instead.
The Jets pivot has produced 21.7 and 26.42 fantasy points over the past two games and plays the Raiders, who are allowing the eighth most fantasy points to QBs. Stack him in DFS contests with Jamisson Crowder.
From @ChrisMcMillan29 – Would you start N’Keal Harry or Darius Slayton over Taylor Gabriel or Curtis Samuel? I need help, I am the Kevin MaCarthur of my League.
I always appreciate a “The League” reference, well done! I want nothing to do with that Bears offence so I’d play Slayton over Gabriel and it’s a toss up over Samuel. Remember, the Giants are down to their third-string TE and it’s Shepard’s first action in six weeks, which means Slayton’s target share should stay intact.
Harry could pop, but he’s more of an add-and-stash for now until we see how the Patriots continue to work him into game plan.
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From Jeff on Instagram – With Tyreek Hill on bye, I’ve got a real wide receiver dilemma on my hands. Pick two of the following: Courtland Sutton, Tyler Boyd, Hunter Renfrow and Sterling Shepard. Standard league. #AskAndy
Honestly Jeff, these choices are not great. If it was PPR then Hunter Renfrow would be one of my choices, but he’s unusable in standard formats. Sutton appears to be QB proof as he continues to deliver into the mid-to-high teen fantasy points even with the pedestrian Brandon Allen under centre. Buffalo’s defence is legit, but under your circumstances you need to slot in Sutton.
Boyd’s only appeal comes in that A.J. Green and Auden Tate are both sidelined for the Bengals. The Steelers secondary has become a turnover machine over the past month and rookie quarterbacl Ryan Finley is too much of a liability to be trusted to get anyone the ball for Cincinnati. That leaves Sterling Shepard, who’s coming off of two concussions and hasn’t played in over a month against a tough Bears defence.
Slot in Sutton and Shepard.
From @C_Rollands3 – Who is the better flex play this weekend in standard scoring. DJ Moore or Tevin Coleman? I also have Sutton, but concerned about his matchup. #AskAndy
Coleman has major bounce-back appeal versus the Packers, but his usage and production’s been too volatile lately for my liking. Moore’s volume is consistent even with a sporadic quarterback. Pick D.J.
From @robertfgray1 – I picked up Brian Hill last week cuz Cook is on a bye this week. Should I give him another shot after his poor showing? Or grab someone else like Cohen or Edmunds? #AskAndy
Brian Hill duped us all after flashing explosiveness as a rusher and pass-catcher two weeks ago only to come out flat last Sunday. He’ll face Tampa Bay’s second-best fantasy run defence and it sounds like the Falcons will go into more of a RB rotation – stay away!
James Conner is out for Pittsburgh meaning that we have the fantasy owner death phrase of “backfield by committee.” The only running back to own is Jaylen Samuels in PPR formats.
That leaves Tarik Cohen as the best choice out of the options you provided. While Chicago’s offence is infuriatingly inefficient, Cohen gets touches in multiple ways and provides the most upside.
From @dpsMule – In my wide receiver position, should I be playing John Brown against Denver, or Josh Gordon against Philadelphia? #AskAndy
Absolutely Buffalo’s John Brown. Josh Gordon is still being worked into Seattle’s game plan and his usage is a pure guess at this stage. Brown is Josh Allen’s top target and has comfortably delivered double-digit fantasy points in all but one game this season.
