Regina George is gonna be so mad.
Rachel McAdams’ protagonist in the 2004 film “Mean Girls” did not take kindly to efforts by Plastics pal Gretc💖hen trying to start a trend and get her slang use of “fetch” to become hip, because that would be “so fetch.”
Gretchen kept trying and trying,🔜 but, as Regina finally scolded🐟, “Stop trying to make fetch happen!”
Fantasy football has its own forms of “fetch.” For multiple seasons, pundits have to🧸uted players who keep failing to live up to the hype. Maybe Curtis Samuel will finally stay healthy and become a hybrid fantasy stud. That would be fetch. Over 𝓀and over, Miles Sanders has tempted then disappointed fantasy managers. J.K. Dobbins also falls into that category.
There was a thought he could have big upside and perhaps take over the Ravens’ backfield as a rookie in 2020. He played 15 games, and had a modest 134 carries, but an impressive 805 yards on those carries. He also scored nine times. But backfield committee mate Gus Edwards h𓄧ad slightly more carries, and neither of them had as many as QB Lamar Jackson.
It wasn’t the breakout campaign some had hoped for, but it was good enough to barely crack into RB2 territory. Dobbins ranked 24th among running backs in PPR formats, though his 1💖1.2 per-game average was 33rd among RBs.
But he was a rookie. 🅺Surely he would be even better in Year 2. Only there was no Year 2. He tore his ACL in the preseason and never got on the field. In fact, he still hasn’t. But this week, there is hope.
Dobbins practiced fully t꧙his week for the first time, increasing the chances he will make his season debut this week against the Jets. Couꦉld he finally be arriving? Ready to contribute to your fantasy success? Is fetch finally going to happen?
Not so fast, whippersnapper. First, as of this writing, it was still unclear if Dobbins will play this week. But the following applies esཧsentially for whenever he debuts, so if not Sunday, keep it in t🦋he back pocket of your mind.
With Jackson in the backfield, 🦩hogging so many carries and being such a threat to vulture🍬 touchdowns from RBs, the value of anyone in the Baltimore backfield will be undermined, even if they do land on a true feature back.
Also, Kenyan Drake got the lion’s share of the work last week. It is unlikely he will disappear immediately upon Dobbins’ return. Expect💜 it to take a least a couple-few weeks for Dobbins to get into the flow. And when he does, we still don’t know if he is the type of must-start some believe him to be.
It’s not a matchup issues — this week they face th﷽e Dolphins, who were middle-of-the-pack versus RBs ꧑last season and are there again after Week 1 this season. The issue is the usage and the potential. And both need time to grow.
For now, leave Dobbins on your bench. If you have him on IR, leave him there as long as you can. And when he does plaꦯy, don’t rush him into your lineup. Make him prove he’s worth it first.
In other words: Stop trying to make fetch happen.
Big Weeks
Jamaal Williams RB, Lions, vs. Commanders (FanDuel $6,400/DraftKings $5,400)
Williams had just four f🦂ewer carries than D’Andre Swift last week, andꦗ he vultured a pair of TDs. Swift has been dealing with an ankle injury this week. Even if he plays, expect Williams to have a significant role.
Darrell Henderson Jr. RB, Rams, vs. Falcons (FD $6,200/DK $5,700)
Whatever you were expecting out of feature-role Cam Akers, just shift those expectations to Henderson. And keep pꦏlaying him until he proves unworthy.
Antonio Gibson RB, Commanders, vs. Lions (FD $7,400/DK $6,200)
As long as Brian Robinson is out, and in game Washington s🐟hould remain competitive, Gibson will be quite useful.
Jarvis Landry WR, Saints, vs. Buccaneers (FD $6,100/DK $5,000)
Got more targets and catches and yards than Michael Thomas last wee𓂃k, and looked better doing it, despite MT stealing the TDs.
Small Weaks
Ezekiel Elliott RB, Cowboys, vs. Bengals (FD $7,100/DK $5,900)
Expecting to see more Tony Pollard in the Dallas offense than we saw last week, plus Cooper Rush will be at QB.🎶 If you have Zeke, wait for one good game then put him on the block.
Jeff Wilson Jr. RB, 49ers, vs. Seahawks (FD $6,300/DK $5,100)
If you snagged him to replace Eli Mitchell, you did well. But that doesn’t mean y🐼ou have to force Wilson into your lineup. They’re still going to use Trey Lance and Deebo Samuel plenty🦂 in the run game.
Jahan Dotson WR, Commanders, at Lions (FD $5,500/DK $4,200)
What a great debut by the rookie — two TDs and nearly 20 PPR points🐭. But he did it all on just two catches, and just three targets. Need more volume 𒁃to confidently start.
Amari Cooper WR, Browns, vs. Jets (FD $6,300/DK $5,400)
He notoriously is feast-or-famine throughout his career. With Jacoby Brissett at QB, 𓆉prepare for less feas🔯ting and more famining.
Fantasy Insanity’s Daily Duel
Site: FanDuel
Slate: Sun. main (12 games)
Type: $5 tourney
Top prize: $1M
Pot: $2.5M
Drew’s Crew
QB — Derek Carr (LV, vs. Ari) $7,300
RB — Christian McCaffrey (Car, at NYG) $9,000
RB — Saquon Barkley (NYG, vs. Car) $8,800
WR — Davante Adams (LV, vs. Ari) $8,800
WR — Curtis Samuel (Was, at Det) 5,700
WR — Greg Dortch (Ari, at LV) $5,500
TE — Darren Waller (LV, vs. Ari) 6,800
Flex — Parris Campbell (Ind, at Jac) $5,100)
DST — Lions (Det, vs. Was) $3,500
Wilk’s Warriors
QB — Carson Wentz (Was, at Det) $7,400
RB — Saquon Barkley (NYG, vs. Car) $8,800
RB — Antonio Gibson (Was, at Det) $7,400
WR — Davante Adams (LV, vs. Ari) $8,800
WR — Courtland Sutton (Den, vs. Hou) $6,800
WR — D.J. Moore (Car, at NYG) $6,200
TE — David Njoku (Cle, vs. Jets) $4,900
Flex — Curtis Samuel (Was, at Det) $5,700
DST — Bengals (Cin, at Dal) $3,900
Season risked: $10
Season winnings: Drew $0, Jarad $0
