RADIO
We are almost halfway through the season and we all should have a good idea about whether our fantasy teams have what it takes to make a run for the playoffs. Those who are at the bottom of the standings will need to make up some ground as we get further into the season.
Knowing which players are about to experience a nosedive is very important during this stage of the season. Some of us are a game away from playoff contention and a player busting in our lineups could be enough to keep us from seeing the postseason.
The warning signals displayed by some of these players are indicators letting us know there could be a drop-off in their production. This could be spurred by a change in their situation or just multiple games of bad play. With that being said, let's take a look at the warning signals going into Week 9.
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Quarterback Concerns - Sit 'Em For Week 9?
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Things have been looking good for Ryan. He has produced three QB1 performances in his last four games. So far, he only has two games with under 10 fantasy points. Fantasy gamers have been able to enjoy consistent production from him. His mid-level QB2 to QB1 production was a constant that fantasy managers were relying on for the rest of the season.
As we all know, a player’s situation can change at a drop of a dime. We are seeing a big change that could negatively affect Ryan’s fantasy output. His primary wide receiver, Calvin Ridley, is stepping away from playing due to personal matters. There is no timetable for his return.
With Ridley out of the lineup on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, Ryan passed for 146 yards and one touchdown while throwing two interceptions. He finished Week 8 with just 6.14 fantasy points.
This could develop into a major concern for Ryan’s fantasy production. With just 29 rushing yards on the season, Ryan does not have the rushing upside for fantasy. He needs to rely on the passing game to make an impact. With one of his top weapons out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, there’s a very good chance we see a dip in his production.
What To Do
The Falcons will be on the road this weekend to take on the Saints. Vegas is projecting this will be a low-scoring game with a 42.5 over/under. New Orleans did a good job at neutralizing Tom Brady and his buffet of talented pass catchers. Fantasy managers should think about sitting Ryan this week.
Running Back Concerns - Fade 'Em for Week 9?
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
With Miles Sanders being out of the lineup due to an injury, everyone expected Gainwell to get his opportunity to prove what he could do with a much larger workload. In Week 7 after Sanders left the game, Gainwell produced 16.1 PPR fantasy points, making him an RB2 for the week.
Fantasy gamers were expecting him to build upon his previous performance going into Week 8, but that didn’t happen. Against the Detroit Lions, Gainwell shared the backfield with Boston Scott and Jordan Howard and saw 28.26 percent of the carries out of the backfield. He was also absent in the passing offense, going the entire game without seeing a target.
It’s hard to trust Gainwell in fantasy after last week’s performance. There’s a chance that he could go back to seeing similar usage from earlier in the season. However, the coaching staff might want to ride this committee approach until it stops working, making it hard for fantasy gamers to lean on Gainwell for their lineups.
The Philadelphia Eagles will be hosting the Los Angeles Chargers this week. Vegas is projecting this to be a high-scoring game with a 50 over/under. Gainwell is a gamble this week. There’s a chance he could produce if the game script goes his way and he gets the right amount of touches. There’s also a chance the other running backs on the roster will siphon away too much of the workload, making him a touchdown-dependent option.
What To Do
If you have a safer option to plug in at running back or your flex spot, then you might want to leave Gainwell on your bench. I would only put him in your lineup if you want to take on the risk and shoot for upside or if you have to because your team is decimated by injuries.
Wide Receiver Concerns - Sit 'Em for Week 9?
Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns
UPDATE: Beckham was excused from practice on Wednesday due to a "team-related" decision. ESPN's Josina Anderson is reporting that OBJ was ready to practice and the team told him that he was "excused" from attending. Beckham and the Browns appear to be at a crossroads after the New Orleans Saints were reportedly close to trading for the receiving at the deadline on Tuesday. A later report said that coach Kevin Stefanski told the team this morning that Beckham won’t be with the team for the rest of the season.
It has been a disappointing year for Beckham. He has not lived up to the billing. The veteran wide receiver has provided WR72 production over the last four weeks. There has not been a week where he has been able to reach WR2 territory.
It’s no secret the Browns want to establish the run. They have a 49 percent run rate while in a neutral game script, which is the second-highest in the league. Their love for the run makes them one of the slowest paced teams in the league as they average 29.8 seconds between plays. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that if a team is constantly eating the clock with the run game, there isn’t going to be enough passing volume to maximize the wide receiver’s fantasy value.
Even with Beckham owning a 19 percent share of the passing targets, it’s not enough to make him relevant in fantasy. He also has a 6.8 average depth of target. With him not getting many opportunities to cash in on the deep ball, it’s even harder for him to cash in on those splash plays.
What To Do
Many fantasy gamers are thinking about dropping Beckham for other options. It’s best to at least leave him on your bench until he starts showing some signs of life. He could have a big performance sometime this season, but it’s going to be almost impossible to know when to exactly start him.
Tight End Concerns for Fantasy Football
Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers’ offense has been struggling as they have won just four of their last five games. Sam Darnold has regressed compared to his performances during the first few weeks of the season. He has seen 12 targets in his last four performances, but the production has been there considering he was only able to muster 42 yards during that timespan.
What To Do
Tremble should be on your league’s waiver wire and not on your fantasy team. He is a touchdown-dependent fantasy asset who needs red-zone targets to be able to be usable in fantasy. Those targets are few and far between with D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Chuba Hubbard stealing a large portion of the work from the passing game.
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