Five Burning Questions
I don’t think it would be an overstatement to call Burning Questions the most important weekly in-season series in the history of fantasy football. If anything, that is underselling the importance of what you are about to read. Don’t believe me? Here are some of the things we discussed last year:
- Carlos Hyde is the next Jim Brown
- On 17 separate occasions, Brian Quick
- A stolen Hawaiian shirt
If that isn’t enough to convince you, I re-wrote A Christmas Story just to see if I could get away with it. (I did.)
As amazing as I was last year, 2016 is a whole new ball game. I’m playing for keeps, you guys, so buckle up. Seriously. I am not moving this car until you are all wearing seatbelts.
Is Thomas Rawls or Christine Michael the running back to own?
If you’ve been listening to the DLF Podcast, and shame on you if you haven’t, you’d know that most of us are huge fans of Rawls, myself included. If you’ve been reading me or following me on Twitter, and shame on you if you haven’t, you’d know I am not a Christine Michael guy.
With all that in mind, it may come as no surprise that I think Rawls comfortably leads the backfield in touches. But, but, but, I am also sorta hopping on the Michael train. If that sounds halfhearted, it really just comes down to Michael’s complete inability to do anything his entire career until now. Plenty of guys figure it out (and he might have), but I know Rawls is an early down stud, so I’m hitching my wagon to him.
I’m expecting a solid low-end RB1 season from Mr. Rawls, with sights on a better 2017 after Michael potentially moves on (he is a restricted free agent after the season).
What is the deal with Laquon Treadwell?
As great as the 2014 wide receiver class was, it did fantasy owners a great disservice. Our patience is far too short with a position we didn’t used to expect much from until year three. So far I haven’t seen much grumbling about Treadwell being buried on the depth chart, but I promise you his owners are secretly nervous.
When you look back to last year, it took rookie stud Stefon Diggs forever to get on the field. Even after he did, they used him far too inconsistently considering their lack of better options in the passing game. I’m not sure if that means there is a culture of burying rookie wide receivers with the current Minnesota regime, and I’m not trying to create a narrative here, but we have seen this before so it isn’t unreasonable to wonder if we are seeing it again.
At this point, there are too many plausible explanations to worry much. I’m still holding him somewhere in the 20’s of my rankings.
Is Jeff Fisher worse than small pox?
Yes.
Did I miss my chance to sell Devonta Freeman?
A lot of people are going to disagree with me on this, but, yeah, you did. Despite an electric 2015 season, Freeman is nothing more than the pass catching half of a committee both from a skill and a real life what is happening in Atlanta right now sort of way. As much as I’ve never been on the Tevin Coleman bandwagon, he is far and away better at the running part of the running back position, something Freeman struggles with mightily. The Falcons’ brass knows this and is acting accordingly. You should, too.
I have consistently been the lowest on Freeman among DLF rankers. He was my RB12 coming in to the season, a ranking that is going to drop precipitously if week two resembles week one (it will).
Can Jordan Matthews continue to produce?
Two years ago, many saw Matthews as the guy to get after Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans. By October of last year, Matthews was the 16th overall pick in our mock drafts. The sophomore rewarded those who believed in him with 232 PPR points, good enough to be the WR17. Fast forward to week one and he saw 14 (!) targets, many of them from the outside, a position people said he couldn’t play. The other stats (114 yards and a touchdown) were just fine, too.
I’ve never been a first class passenger on the Matthews train, but he is so clearly the best wide receiver there, I don’t see how this one-week trend doesn’t continue throughout. Even if DGB or Nelson Agholor develop into a threat in 2017, this season should insulate Matthews’ value for the next 12 or more months, giving you a free ride in the interim. Enjoy the production knowing Matthews will likely have more value this time in 2017, even if his situation is more murky.
When Jamaal Charles comes back, will he be the guy?
Two weeks ago, I would have said yes. Now, I’m not so sure. Spencer Ware seems to be the real deal, and if so, what incentive would Andy Reid have to run Charles into the ground? I wish we had any level of certainty on the situation, but that isn’t happening until such a time as Charles laces up his cleats on a Sunday. Really, anything more than what I just said is speculation.
- How to Win Without Watching Football - July 22, 2021
- 2018 Summer Sleeper: Chicago Bears - July 9, 2018
- NFL Draft Aftermath: Winners and Losers from the AFC North - June 18, 2018
