The DLF Mailbag

Eric Hardter

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Welcome to the latest edition of the weekly mailbag.

Send me your questions using the DLF Mailbag Form and I’ll include the best in future articles.  Remember the guidelines to have the best chance at seeing your question get posted:

1.) Dynasty questions only, no start/sit questions

2.) Help me help you by providing sufficient information about your league (e.g. line-up requirements/PPR or non-PPR/etc.), and include your first name and where you’re from.

3.) Your chance of getting your question answered is inversely proportional to the length of the question.

Let’s get to it!

*Editor’s Note – For total team evaluations, please be sure to use the DLF Newsletter Team Advice Form!*

  1. With Christine Michael going to Dallas I’m not sure what to do with him. I invested a lot to get him a couple years ago and my league mates are pretty savvy so I doubt I’ll break even in a trade for picks. I’m a believer so I’m fine standing pat, but I can’t help but wonder if I could/should trade him for another upside guy like Josh Robinson. I’m fine at running back, but much like Dallas, I’m exploring my options for depth. How would you compare him to other upside running backs out there?Jason in OH

Pretty much at the bottom of the barrel. I’m a firm believer that actions speak louder than words, and in this case said actions resulted in a former second round pick getting sold for a conditional seventh round selection, at the expense of a 34-year old running back (Fred Jackson) and an UDFA (Thomas Rawls). Continuing, this trade was between conference rivals and contenders, and I simply refuse to believe a marquee player would be involved if he could make his former team worse and his new team better. Whatever the reason – mental, physical, attitude – I just don’t think Christine Michael has what it takes to be a contributor at the NFL level. I currently have him ranked as my dynasty RB60, and would truly take any of the guys above him (Josh Robinson included) in a one-for-one deal. To quote Mean Girls, dynasty owners need to “stop trying to make C-Mike happen – it’s not going to happen!”

  1. In a keeper league (26 players) I need a running back. Is Jeremy Hill worth two first rounders if I’m in a win now mode? I’ll likely be drafting near the end next year for rookies. What are the options next year if I don’t make the trade?Dong in WA

I think it’s a fair deal, if you truly believe they’re going to be late first round picks. I have Bengals running back Jeremy Hill ranked as my dynasty RB5, as he’s one of the few true young bellcows in the league. Will you have the chance at such a player next year (our dynasty scouts can help elucidate that question)? Perhaps, but there are no guarantees and it won’t help you win now. Nearly all the time I prefer the bird in the hand versus the two in the bush, especially when said bird is an ostrich on (metaphorical) steroids like Hill.

  1. I am a serious contender this season with a weak/young running back corps that consists of CJ Anderson, Todd Gurley, Tre Mason, Cameron Artis-Payne, Benny Cunningham, Buck Allen, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Mike Davis and Zach Zenner. Working on something with the league bottom dweller, where I would trade Gurley and Mason for Marshawn Lynch and his 2016 first round pick (which would most likely be top five). Is this a no-brainer? I’m a little nervous to give up Gurley so early but I also need the production.Casey in OR

lynchAs a staunch dynasty conservative I’m fine with the deal. Marshawn Lynch is one of the best in the game, and even in a “slow” week versus the Rams he still accounted for 15.4 PPR points. In other words, his fantasy floor is higher than the ceiling of your average RB2! Yes, Todd Gurley has the look of a very good running back, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assert his ceiling might not approach that of Lynch in his (continuing) prime. You’re also getting a top-flight asset (a high first round pick) back in return, ensuring you’re not selling out completely in order to attempt to win now. I understand why trading a guy like Gurley can make anyone squeamish, but winning any dynasty league is hard to do – why not give yourself the best chance to do so?

  1. I’ve seen a lot about Matt Jones possibly passing up Alfred Morris (who is on my team). Should I try to sell Morris? And if so what should I be looking to get in return?Kyle in MN

I wouldn’t be. Redskins starter Alfred Morris put on a show in week one, averaging 4.8 YPC (across 25 carries) against what was supposed to be an improved Miami defense. Not only that, backup Matt Jones didn’t even have a quarter of Morris’ carries (six total), and didn’t do anything in the passing game. Quite simply he didn’t do anything to lead us to believe he should be siphoning work away from the starter anytime soon. Morris is never going to get the respect he deserves in fantasy, and as so I really can’t advise selling him when you’re not going to get any commensurate assets in return. I’d look to keep riding the lightning while the masses ignore Morris’ “boring” consistency and viability.

  1. I have good receivers, but my running backs are not as good. I have started talks with the owner of Le’Veon Bell and Eddie Lacy, but he is valuing them very highly. My latest attempt is Alshon Jeffery, Davante Adams, Chris Ivory and a fourth round pick for Le’Veon Bell, Kevin White and a sixth round pick. Is this a fair deal? Should I give up if he rejects this proposal?Asger in Denmark

I think it’s a very fair deal. Alshon Jeffery and Le’Veon Bell are roughly similar in value, and the combination of Davante Adams and Chris Ivory is likely work more than injured Bears rookie Kevin White right now (out of sight, out of mind after all). You could always try adding a tiny bit more on top, but adding any other semi-valuable assets to the deal seems like overkill. It’s my belief the best dynasty deals are those that work well for both team involved, and there’s no need for you to overpay just because your potential trade partner wants to “win” the deal.

  1. I traded away LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles and now I’m being accused of tanking by a few owners. I traded them because I didn’t believe I had a chance to compete without “selling the farm” to get better receiver talent, so I traded them now in order to “maximize value” for what would amount to roughly three first rounders, two second rounders and a third round pick. Basically, I’m asking if what I did should be considered tanking, or should this be considered a sound dynasty football strategy?Jarid in PA

[inlinead]Though I do think you might’ve effectively pre-determined your seasonal destiny by trading your top assets away so early, I don’t see anything wrong with your trade. The fact is “aging” running backs, no matter how talented, are essentially persona non grata in the minds of many dynasty owners – and no matter how good they are (I’m looking squarely at you, Jamaal Charles), it’s a near certainty they’ll lose value no matter the statistics they produce. So cashing out now (especially given how LeSean McCoy has looked dating back to last season) is certainly a good process if your goal is to get younger and accumulate assets. As for your league-mates, my guess is they wish they were bold enough to do what they needed to do with their rosters – it’s been my experience critical comments from owners who weren’t involved in the deal are typically made out of jealousy, so I’d wear it as a badge of honor.

  1. I had a very dominant team in a 10-team, 2QB league going into this season, but have since lost Jordy Nelson and Kelvin Benjamin for the year, and now am out Dez Bryant for essentially half the season. Do you have any advice on situations where you are a contender and your studs are dropping like flies? Do you sell injured players for under market value to try and compete for a title, or do you take it on the chin and hope you can come back next year?Brock in IL

I think you have to stand pat here. Dez Bryant and Kelvin Benjamin likely won’t lose much (if any) value due to their respective ages and ascendant trajectories, and even though Jordy Nelson is “over the hill” (massive quotation fingers here), his injury occurred early enough in the pre-season that I have no doubt he’ll be ready to go come 2016. Yes, you could likely trade them for 90 cents (at best, in the cases of Benjamin and Nelson) on the dollar, but if you don’t win it all you’ll be looking at a weaker roster next season. Instead, I’d look to buy some cheaper players who can potentially get you by until Bryant returns – think guys like Pierre Garcon, Allen Hurns and the like. This can at least help you stay in the hunt, and you won’t lose your assets on your way to another championship run next year.

  1. I somehow lost Dez Bryant, DeSean Jackson and TY Hilton in one week (the fantasy gods are angry at me!). The Dez offers have been flying in for me, but the best I’ve received is John Brown and Keenan Allen. I know it’s tipped in their favor quite a bit, but there are really only two teams that trade so it’s slim pickings. I know dynasty is about long-term value, but I still want to win every year. I’m stacked at tight end and running back, and still have Antonio brown. Do I accept the trade?Sean in NY

See the above, rinse and repeat. In fact, relatively speaking, you’re actually not in such a bad position – it’s looking like TY Hilton might miss a game or two at most, and DeSean Jackson should be back in a month at worst. You still have Antonio Brown to hold down the fort, and given his prolific ways I think you could still get by with a few warm bodies surrounding him. So no, as much as I like Keenan Allen, I don’t think I’d do the deal – it’s my belief if you’re trading a stud, you should be getting one in return, so I’d want to receive a player like Alshon Jeffery or Randall Cobb at the minimum. I know you want to win now (I obviously approve of this strategy), but Dez is still Dez – your team is always going to be better with him still on it.

Editor’s Note: We have another great fantasy football webcomic from our friend Brad @thefantasydraw  Make sure you follow Brad on twitter and visit thefantasydraw.com for more fun.

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Editor’s Note: Last week 201 DLF community members split $7,000 in prize money in the first week of the DLF Football Championship. A first-time-ever DFS player took first place winning $700 and a spot in the $20,000 championship round. You too can compete and win in WEEK TWO of the DLF Football Championship. The prize pool for week two remains unchanged, so you too can jump in and have a shot at some great weekly prizes. Because this is a contest for DLF patrons and not advertised to the general public, there are fewer entries, increasing your odds of winning. So go check out the contest for more information, and good luck!  fdchart

 

eric hardter