Two-Minute Warning: Last-Minute Fantasy Football Decisions
By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Posted Oct. 19, 2019.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Welcome to the Two-Minute Warning for Week 8. Below I will go through most of the relevant injuries for fantasy football and their fantasy implications.
David Johnson is a game-time decision with an ankle injury. If he can’t go, Chase Edmonds would once again become a good play, even against a stout Saints defense. Johnson didn’t practice all week, so the odds of him being a full go if he does play are slim. I would lean toward Edmonds even if Johnson suits up.
Drew Brees will start against the Cardinals this week. He helps the offense as a whole and could make Ted Ginn a useful play. This is a good matchup, so if you need him, start him.
Alvin Kamara is a game-time decision after getting a couple of limited practices in this week. The Saints decided to go with Drew Brees despite a bye coming up, so it wouldn’t be that surprising if they give Kamara the go ahead, but he also will get hit much more often than Brees. If Kamara plays, you play him as usual, and if he doesn’t, Latavius Murray becomes a great start.
Christian Kirk is a game-time decision and his coach said he was “hopeful” that he’d play. Kirk had been seeing big target numbers, but not much efficiency before he left with an ankle injury. He’ll be risky if he plays, but he should be reinserted back as a main target if he does.
Matt Ryan has been ruled out against the Seahawks. He probably would have played in a bigger game, but their record and a bye on the horizon makes this the prudent move but also pushes a stud fantasy player out for two weeks in a row. Matt ‘pick-six’ Schaub will get the start. He might be able to get something going, but we don’t have any concrete reason to believe he will, as he’s been awful for years now. Downgrade all of the Falcons’ fantasy players and bump up Seattle’s D/ST.
Emmanuel Sanders was traded this week from the Broncos to the 49ers. His absence from Denver will push enough targets to Courtland Sutton to make him matchup-proof, while Kyle Shanahan says that Sanders will play “a lot” in his first game with the 49ers. Both are playable, but Sutton is the safest play with good upside while Sanders will need to fight for targets in an offense that rather get a lead and run the ball.
Kerryon Johnson was placed on injured reserve, which pushes Ty Johnson into the lead role with J.D. McKissic as his backup. It’s yet to be seen how much of a split this backfield will render but Johnson was the clear lead back with Johnson hurt last week.
Davante Adams is doubtful and looks to be getting close to playing, but not this week against Kansas City while Marquez Valdes-Scantling was taken off the injury report. Geronimo Allison and MVS should lead the way with Allen Lazard in the mix this week.
Will Fuller has a hamstring injury that could keep him out a while, so Kenny Stills will take over the No. 2 job with Keke Coutee working out of the slot. In a great matchup against the Raiders, the Texans’ pass catchers all have value.
Jack Doyle is considered questionable after popping up on the injury report on Friday with a groin. If he can’t go, Eric Ebron becomes a strong play against Denver.
Parris Campbell looks like he will play this week after missing time with an abdominal injury. If he plays, he makes it tough to trust Zach Pascal after he went off last week.
Dede Westbrook is questionable to play against the Jets, but his coach expects that Westbrook will play. If he does play, he makes for a good start, as he leads the team in targets and is coming off a 100-yard game.
Patrick Mahomes practiced this week, but will not play. The early side of his recovery is three weeks, so it didn’t seem prudent to get him back so quickly, but I suppose there is a chance he beats the three-week mark.
Sammy Watkins will play after practicing in full this week. Unfortunately, Tyreek Hill is now back, and Patrick Mahomes isn’t. He’s only useful in desperation this week.
Keenan Allen popped up on the injury report with a hamstring injury this week and his coach says that if he plays, he would have his snaps limited. That all sounds bad against the Bears in Chicago. Austin Ekeler, Hunter Henry and Mike Williams should all get bumps, even if Allen suits up.
Malcolm Brown remains out this week due to an ankle injury. Darrell Henderson should see 8-12 touches against a bad Bengals defense, so has some flex appeal in Brown’s absence.
Josh Gordon was put on I.R., which helps Phillip Dorsett continue to see useful work. The Patriots also traded for Mohamed Sanu, who will likely hurt Dorsett’s target numbers.
Rex Burkhead is questionable to play against the Browns this week. If he can’t go, James White would likely continue to see the biggest bump in usage.
Sterling Shepard remains out with a concussion. Golden Tate and Darius Slayton get the biggest bumps in his absence.
Chris Herndon won’t play this week. We’ll have to wait another week to see him take the field.
Tyrell Williams is questionable to play, but it looks as if he will be able to go. He’s been relying on touchdown receptions to keep him fantasy relevant, but he has been getting those. This game has the second-highest over/under of the week, so I’d feel OK starting him as long as he’s active.
Josh Jacobs didn’t practice this week with a shoulder injury but is expected to suit up against the Texans. This isn’t the greatest situation for him, especially with Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington are involved, but he still should be started in most leagues if he plays.
DeSean Jackson remains out this week with an abdomen injury. The only receiver who seems to get a boost right now is Alshon Jeffery, but this is a tough matchup for him.
Jaylen Samuels practiced in full this week but is listed as questionable. He must be ready to return, so if he does, Benny Snell needs to be dropped and Samuels has a little appeal in a matchup with the awful Dolphins defense.
Mason Rudolph and James Washington will both return this week. Their upside remains low, but if you are desperate in a big league, throw them out there.
O.J. Howard is out this week with a hamstring injury. That should give Cameron Brate the starter’s snaps in a decent matchup. Throw him out there in DFS and as a streamer in redraft.
Delanie Walker is out this week, which will boost Jonnu Smith up to starting snaps. His usage wasn’t great with Walker out most of last week, but he caught all three of his targets for 64 yards. Tampa Bay has allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends.
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