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Fantasy Football Mailbag – Trade Deadline Analysis

It's been a pretty crazy last few days in football land. Despite six teams on a bye week, half of this weekend's twelve games ended within one score, including the possible game of the year between Texans and Seahawks in Seattle.

And if Week 8 of football wasn't enough action, the last 48 hours have been a whirlwind thanks to an extremely active, and quite frankly uncharacteristic trade deadline. A date on the NFL calendar that usually comes and goes without much action, it's been anything but this time around.

This week's mailbag covers the fantasy impact of all the major moves that have been made over the last few days, plus the Zeke suspension version 3.0. This is also the space where I remind owners to make a move for players set to come off the PUP list, so if you are getting your team ready for the playoffs and have a roster spot to spare, think about scooping up Danny Woodhead or Greg Olsen if available, both set to return to their respective teams for Week 11. Don't force it if you need to prioritize winning now, but they could be the late season pickup that pushes you over the top come playoff time.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Week 9 Mailbag - Q&A

As usual, thanks to everyone who reached out with questions for this week's mailbag! Please continue to direct any/all questions to me on Twitter @adamhhammer or by emailing [email protected].

 

Who is the back to own in Dallas between Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris?

With Ezekiel Elliott's suspension finally (probably) coming to fruition, the split in the Dallas backfield is one of the top storylines to follow entering Week 9. That said, Jerry Jones has straight up come out and said that Morris will act as the team's No. 1 back during Zeke's suspension. That would make sense given that he has been active over McFadden for most of the season, but I still expect McFadden (and probably even Rod Smith) to have a role. Morris is the back to own, but this is unlikely to be a workhorse scenario.

Is Kelvin Benjamin better or worse off in Buffalo?

The easy answer here is worse, and there are a few reasons for it. The most obvious reason is that Buffalo is a run-first team. They are one of just three teams in football this year that have run rushing plays on more than half of their total offensive plays, and there's no indication of that changing as they continue to ride LeSean McCoy. Part of that is likely because they don't fully trust Tyrod Taylor, which is reason number two. That's not to say that Cam Newton has been anything more than an above average passer this year, but he's better than Tyrod. Benjamin is still playable and startable on a weekly basis for now, though probably as just a WR2/3.

Sooo Devin Funchess is finally a weekly starter, right?

I'll admit that Funchess is not really my type of fantasy player. His boom-or-bust nature reminds me a lot of DeSean Jackson, who I don't think I have had a share of in years. Even this year, Funchess' targets and yards have fluctuated. Since racking up three touchdowns in weeks 4-5, he's averaged just three catches and under 30 yards receiving per game. He's coming off his worst game of the year with just 11 total yards, and Cam Newton (aforementioned) has looked anything but accurate. All of that said, being the #1 receiver for a potential playoff team means something. So is Funchess a starter? Sure. But is he anything more than a WR3 flier until further notice? Not at all. Christian McCaffrey is probably the biggest winner in Carolina from the Benjamin trade.

Is Jay Ajayi finally going to put it together in Philadelphia and be the RB1 I drafted him as?

This is undoubtedly a good landing spot for Ajayi. He finally gets to pair up with a good quarterback on a high-powered offense, and more importantly gets to run behind a much better offensive line. The difference in Philly though, is that he's not the only usable back. LeGarrette Blount isn't going anywhere, and Wendell Smallwood will probably stay (at least a little) involved. Don't play him this week – the Eagles have a Week 10 bye and would be wise to play Ajayi only sparingly against the vaunted Broncos defense – but I like his chances to take over as the first-choice RB for the Eagles and become a more consistent fantasy option.

 

More Weekly Lineup Prep




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Quentin Grimes

Unavailable on Tuesday
Paul George

Available to Play on Tuesday
LaMelo Ball

Expected to Play on Wednesday
Brandon Miller

Ruled Out for Wednesday's Game
Kristaps Porzingis

Sidelined Again for Wednesday
Kyshawn George

Upgraded to Available on Tuesday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Expected to Suit Up Wednesday
Nathan Walker

Out for Eight Weeks
Lian Bichsel

to Sit Out 6-8 Weeks
Viktor Arvidsson

Activated From Injured Reserve
Warren Foegele

Remains Out Tuesday
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Probable for Wednesday
Valeri Nichushkin

Available After Eight-Game Absence
Gabriel Landeskog

Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog Cleared for Tuesday
Jamal Murray

Questionable for Wednesday
Tyson Foerster

to Miss 2-3 Months
CFB

D.J. Durkin Staying at Auburn Under Alex Golesh
Alexandre Sarr

Out of Action Again on Tuesday
Zion Williamson

Sidelined at Least Three Weeks
CFB

Charlie Weis Jr. Permitted to Coach Ole Miss Offense in College Football Playoff
Khris Middleton

Will Not Play Tuesday
Kyshawn George

Is Questionable Against the 76ers
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Says he's Fine After Suffering Hip Contusion
Trey Murphy III

Will Return Tuesday Night
Omarion Hampton

Likely to Return in Week 14
Yves Missi

Uncertain to Play Tuesday Against the Timberwolves
Zion Williamson

Questionable Against Minnesota
Neemias Queta

Set to Return on Tuesday
Derrick White

Will Play Tuesday Against New York
Quentin Grimes

Downgraded to Questionable on Tuesday
CFB

Five-Star Quarterback Jared Curtis Flips Commitment From Georgia to Vanderbilt
CFB

Florida Hiring Brad White as Defensive Coordinator
Kyle Schwarber

Giants Have Checked in on Kyle Schwarber
Willson Contreras

Willing to Waive his Full No-Trade Clause?
Brandon Aiyuk

49ers "Hopeful" Brandon Aiyuk Will Play in 2025
Brayden Point

Without Timetable for Return
Jake Walman

Still Out Tuesday
Mason Appleton

Misses Tuesday's Contest
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Good to Go Tuesday
Conor Garland

Out on Tuesday
Petr Mrazek

Considered Day-to-Day
Tyson Foerster

Hurt in Monday's Loss
Trey Murphy III

May Skip Another Game Tuesday
Zion Williamson

Back in Pelicans Lineup Tuesday
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Carted Off With Hip Injury on Monday Night
Edwin Díaz

Mets Still Interested in Re-Signing Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Mets
Cole Ragans

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?
CFB

Kentucky Hires Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein As Head Coach
Davante Adams

Not Dealing With a Serious Injury
Kyler Murray

Surgery Not on the Table for Kyler Murray
Marvin Harrison Jr.

in Danger of Missing Week 14?
Danila Yurov

Won't Play on Tuesday
David Pastrnak

to Remain Out Tuesday
Adam Gaudette

Iffy for Monday
CFB

Kalani Sitake the Top Target for Penn State Coaching Job
Logan Cooley

a Game-Time Decision Monday
Josh Norris

Available Monday
Neal Pionk

Remains Out Monday
Jimmy Snuggerud

to Miss Six Weeks After Wrist Surgery
Justin Herbert

Having Hand Surgery on Monday
Kyler Murray

Cardinals Won't Open Kyler Murray's Practice Window This Week
Sauce Gardner

Not a Candidate to Go on Injured Reserve
Jayden Daniels

Not Cleared for Contact, Decision on Week 14 Status Delayed
CFB

Josh Heupel Says He's Not a Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Job
Trey Hendrickson

Doubtful to Return in Week 14
Tee Higgins

Still in the Concussion Protocol
Drake London

"has a Chance" to Play in Week 14
J.J. McCarthy

in Line to Start in Week 14?
Aaron Jones Sr.

Not Dealing With Serious Shoulder Injury, Likely Day-to-Day
Sam Darnold

Dealing With Ankle Injury, "Should be Good" for Week 14
CFB

Will Stein, Brian Hartline the Top Candidates for Kentucky Job?
CFB

Nebraska Fires Defensive Coordinator John Butler After One Season
CFB

UCLA Expected to Hire Bob Chesney as Next Head Coach
Sauce Gardner

Officially Week-to-Week with Strained Calf
CFB

Lane Kiffin to Make $13 Million Salary, Ties Kirby Smart
CFB

Buster Faulkner, Joey Halzle Candidates for Florida Offensive Coordinator Job?
CFB

Kentucky Officially Fires Mark Stoops
Justin Herbert

Has Metacarpal Fracture in Left Hand
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Week 14 Availability Up in the Air
Zach Ertz

Leads Washington in Receiving in Overtime Loss
CFB

Lane Kiffin to be Introduced as LSU's Next Head Coach on Monday
CFB

Florida Poised to Land Jon Sumrall as Next Head Coach
CFB

Alex Golesh Taking Over Auburn Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Arkansas Expected to Hire Ryan Silverfield as Next Head Coach
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Ryan Helsley

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Orioles

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