After all the offseason studying, draft-day worrying and waiver-wire scouring, it's finally time. Week 1 is upon us, fantasy friends.
As usual, I had several issues with my lineup for Week 1. Eric Decker or Ahmad Bradshaw at my flex spot? Jared Cook or Martellus Bennett at tight end?
Thanks to the NFL's Thursday-night schedule, the Decker decision had to be made earlier.
At any rate, I get into that and much more this week in my question-and-answer segment. With so many questions pouring in (thank you all), the bulk of this week's column will be devoted to answering your questions. Keep 'em coming!
1. Kenny C:Should I start Eddie Lacy or Lamar Miller as my second running back this week? ... Until Miller shows me something and the Dolphins offense shows its acceptable, Miller should be out of fantasy lineups. I don't even like him as a flex play until he's more established. Thanks to DuJuan Harris' injury, Lacy is the guy in Green Bay. It's a brutal matchup this week against the 49ers, and Miller's matchup against Cleveland made me think for a minute. But, the Packers want Lacy to shine. They'll give him every opportunity to get out of the gates strong.
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2. Ilan F from Mexico City:Someone is offering me David Wilson for Lamar Miller and Tavon Austin. Should I do the trade? ... Knowing a little background on Ilan's league helps complicates things here. On its face, I would say, CLICK YES NOW!! But, it's a 12-team league that starts three wide receivers. Ilan's got a couple of fantastic receivers in Brandon Marshall and Randall Cobb but is starting Austin in the third spot, and the roster drops off significantly after that spot. The person who offered this trade obviously is trying to trade David Wilson at his highest value, with running mate Andre Brown on the sidelines due to a broken leg. That said, I'm not a Lamar Miller guy. He still hasn't fully beaten out Daniel Thomas, and the Dolphins are far from a top team. So, even if Ilan must hit the waiver wire for a third receiver, I say pull the trigger because I love the upgrade at RB2 more than the loss at WR3 scares me.
3. Kasey K:Obviously, Adrian Peterson is the top running back in the league (and this is even
coming from a Packers fan), but in a non-PPR league who would you rank as running
backs Nos. 2-5? ... Kasey, I'll continue to say this: I don't go by what the fantasy experts say. And that especially goes for running backs. So my rankings look much different than many highly regarded websites. To me, the running backs from No. 2 on down through about No. 14 are muddle mess of upside and potential, with none of them truly falling into the elite category. All that said, here's how I ranked them on draft day: 2. Doug Martin; 3. Marshawn Lynch; 4. Jamaal Charles; 5. Arian Foster.
4. Trevor B:Who should I start at my flex, Tavon Austin, Chris Ivory, Mark Ingram or Kenbrell Thompson? ... Everybody is high on Austin. Everybody but me, of course. While I'm not high on Austin, he's an intriguing play, and given your other options, I think he's your man. If he's as good as the Rams think he is, then Austin is in for a big year. He's the kind of explosive offensive player the Rams desire, and they'll find ways to get the ball in his hands. But he could be a boom or bust guy every week, which makes him perfect for the flex spot. If he gets off to a hot start, I'd consider trading him, because I still don't trust the Rams offense.
5. Matt S:Who do you think is the better flex option for me this week, Ahmad Bradshaw (vs. Oakland), Lamar Miller (vs. Cleveland) or Tony Gonzalez (vs. New Orleans)? ... Bradshaw is on my team, and I debated using him in my flex spot this week. My decision was easier because my other options were better (Eric Decker, DeSean Jackson). That matchup against the Raiders is juicy. But Bradshaw just got back to full-contact practice this week, and he did not take first-team reps. That scares me, even against a Raiders defense that will be lousy again in 2013. So, it's unfortunate, but I'd keep Bradshaw on the bench for this week because it's just too risky. The safest play is Gonzalez. He's on a good team, and the Falcons will be in a shootout this week with the Saints. A touchdown and 80 yards is what I expect, and that would be fantastic production from your flex spot.
