Burning Questions
Because the Star Wars Battlefront beta dropped today, I thought it would be fun to do a Star Wars-centric edition of Burning Questions. What that means exactly, I have no idea (I’m not much of a planner), but odds are good this is just a lazy attempt to dress up the article so I can get back to shooting storm troopers.
Who is the Anakin Skywalker of fantasy football?
It needs to be a guy we wanted to love, and many of us did at first, but once the newness of the concept wore off, we got bored. Then at some point, the boredom turned to grumbling, as us nerds are wont to do.
Does anybody fit that description better than Chip Kelly?
Two years ago Chip was a genius. Last year we blamed the Eagles failings on QB issues and LeSean McCoy. Now we have stopped making excuses and are beginning to realize Kelly hasn’t adjusted to the adjustments other teams have made versus his offense. This leaves us in a precarious predicament, as there are as many seven Eagles players owners were counting on in varying degrees.
While the biggest problems have been with the running game, the entire squad has been a huge disappointment. The best of the bunch has been Jordan Matthews, yet he has somehow scored 2.7 fewer PPR points than something called a Rishard Matthews. When the WR24 is your best fantasy asset, you’ve got problems (or are the Browns).
After going back and watching a bit of Eagles game film, I started feeling nauseous 10 minutes in and had to look at pictures of Tom Brady to bring myself back from the brink. Speaking of things that make me sick, I found their offensive line play to be worse than lutefisk, and I’m not the only one. Mark Schlereth went on a Philly radio station this week and proceeded to call their man blocking scheme, “stupid.” He went on to say, “They don’t understand NFL principles.” And finally, the former lineman finished up with, “WHY WON’T THE RAMS GIVE BRIAN QUICK THE BALL?!?!?!?” OK, that last quote may be something I yell to nobody in particular seven or eight times an hour, but you get the drift.
[inlinead]Because things aren’t dire enough, three of the five starters along the line are currently dinged up in one fashion or another. Jason Peters is still battling a quad issue, Lane Johnson has a sprained MCL and ankle and Alan Babre has a minor groin strain. All three figure to play Sunday, but this offense can ill-afford to have these guys at less than 100%.
My feeling is the Eagles will be better, if nothing else because they should return to health. That said, I have totally abandoned any expectation they’re going to be a major force this season. Our best case scenario is likely a repeat of 2014, with anything resembling the 2013 juggernaut well out of reach.
Do you consider putting a single Star Wars reference in the question to be a, “theme?”
Dude, I told you I’m winging it here. You’re lucky I didn’t quit halfway through the intro to pwn no0bs.
We clearly have a different definition of, “luck.”
That wasn’t a question. So, uh, bacon?
Now that the Dolphins have a new coach, will they stop being the Jar JarBinks of the NFL?
I think so, and it should start with a renewed commitment to the run. Miami has been pitiful at sustaining offense this season, which falls largely on the shoulders of their 30th ranked rushing attack. Considering they are averaging a bit over 16 carries per game, it is remarkable they aren’t dead last.
If the Dolphins can get things going in that arena, it will open up the pass game and bring the fantasy goodness so many of us thought we were getting coming into the season. I am cautiously optimistic they get it done and have sent out a handful of offers for Lamar Miller as a result. His price is likely at a season-low, so hop on the train now.
I could also see a case to send out feelers on Ryan Tannehill. Don’t scoff; he doesn’t have to be the next superstar to be a good value.
With the season a quarter of the way over, is it time to start stashing players for 2016, even if my team is winning?
Similar to adding a streaming option the week before you intend to use them, now is the time to go after backup types who are poised to see bigger roles next year.
A favorite name of mine is restricted free agent to be, Khiry Robinson. The Saints invested heavily in Mark Ingram and C.J. Spiller this past offseason, leading me to believe Robinson is likely to move on. There are a handful of interesting potential landing spots for one of the game’s better backups, including Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, Baltimore and the Giants.
Josh Gordon is another guy I am looking to tuck away for next year. I get that he is a risk and all, but considering he went six spots after total failure Michael Floyd in a recent mock I participated in, Gordon is worth the potential reward. Even if you don’t buy his story, which I sort of do, on why he is once again suspended, Gordon has kept his nose pretty dang clean since his last major slip up about 15 months ago.
I refuse to believe Gordon’s risk/reward ratio is worse than Floyd’s and many others trading at a higher price, so I’ll take my chances.
Did you abandon the theme?
I did. Turns out it was an even worse attempt at being interesting than I had thought.
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