Few events are as exciting as visiting your local amusementš park to ride a new roller coaster for the first time.
Only, notš„ every roller coaster is a thriller. Sometimes they fail to live up to expectations. Whatever thrills it does offer might not be worth a long wait in a long line. It could be closedź¦ for repair already. Maybe it is too bumpy, too slow or too tame.
If life has taught us anything, it is that not every anticipated thrilling experience is actuallyš§ø going to provide thrills.
Fantasy managers might get a taste of such disappoš§intment after this past weekās exciting wide receiver trades ā in the short term at least.
Davante Adams was traded by theā Raiders to the Jets to reuniź¦”te with his old Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
Now that is going to be an exciting ride, right? That tandem delivered league-winning production over numerous seasons in Green Bay. What couź¦ld possibly go wrong?
Well, that tandem hasnāt worked together since 2021 ā that is three whole seasons. 2024 Rodgers has yet to look anything like Peak Rodgers of Packš¼ers lore ā his stats bearing a closer resemblance to those of Zach Wilson than a four-time NFL MVP.
Adams did a good imitation of his Packers days with the Raiders in 2022, but he took a step back last season then fell off a cliff this year before a conveniently timedš hamstring injury.
So neither one has looked like their vintage selāves recently, and now we expecting both, in the golden years of their NFL careers, to suddenly recapture their youthful production? And we expect them to do it with a team as consistently snakebitten as the Jets?
Look, we donāt really subscribe to the idea of curses or karma or any events of a transcendental nature. But boy, do the Jets makeš a good argument for becoming superstitious. If ever their was a team battling opponents both real and imagined, that team is the Jets.
Thus, we have grounds for concern about this new incarnation of the Rodgers-Adams connection. Yet, desšpite ź§these forces acting against it, we donāt hate it either.
Sure, it is going to hurt the ceiling for Garrett Wilson the rest of the seasonš§. And yes, it makes Mike Williams imminently droppable in all but the deepest fantasy formats.
But Adams? He has a better chance now of living up to the expectations fantasy managers had at the time they drafted him. Maybe Rodgers gets a small bump, but letās wź¦ait and see.
Speaking of wait and see … you know everything we just said, well stick that in your memory bank and revisit it later, because for this week, we donāt think Adams is going to make a big impact.
Maybe he gets a handful of targets, probably at the expense of Wilson, but we donāt expect Adams to be overly į£productive. Nevertheless, Wilson could be more efficient in what targets he does get, since he wonāt be such a singular focal point of opposing coverage. So weāre not downgradiš“ng him just yet.
Adams wasnāt the only marquee wide receiver who got traded this week. Amari Cooper is now in Buffalo. There are a couple ofš things we like better about this situation:
1. Cooper has not ā¦seen a decline in production until this season. Granted,š° his and Adamsā production was comparable last season, Adams has been on the decline while Cooper has remained steady ā in fact, Cooper is coming off a career high 1,250 receiving yards last season.
2. We trust Josh Allen more than Rodgš§ers at this point.
3. There is no one in Buffalo who will battle Cooper for targets. Normally, this would worry us regaš”rding coverage, but with Allenās ability to extend the play, Cooper will have opportunities to get open regardless of coverage.
Nevertheless, the Bills situation has one distinct similarity to the Jetsā: Donāt count on that bump right away ā certainly not this week, assuming š Coopšer even plays.
No doubt, these deals are a new fantāasy receiver thrill ride, but you need to wait before riding.
Big Weeks
Drake Maye QB, Patriots, vs. Jaguars (N/A)
Had a nice fantasy debut last week against a vicious Texans pass rush. The Jaguars wonāt make it nearly as hard ā they give up 8.6 more points per week to QBs than the league average, ąµ©worst inā the NFL.
Austin Ekeler RB, Commanders, vs. Panthers (FanDuel $6,600/DraftKings $5,900)
Brian Robinson Jr. is questionable with a knee issue, so Ekeler could get even more work against a phantom Panthers rāun defense ā league-worst 12.1 more per week in PPR vs. opposing RBs āthan the average.
Sterling Shepard WR, Buccaneers, vs. Ravens (FD $5,000/DK $3,500)
Mike Evans could be limited or out with a hamstring problem. Expect Shepard to get some additional looks against a Ravens defense that gives šup production to WRs.
Joshua Palmer WR, Chargers, at Cardinals (FD $5,200/DK $4,400)
Quentin Johnston (ankle) and Ladd McConkey (hip) are both questionable. On a team with limited WR options ašlready, Palmer could be a target hog.
Small Weaks
Breece Hall RB, Jets, at Steelers (FD $7,600/DK $6,800)
Re-emergedš last week after a pair of awful games. Might be tough to keep it up Sunday against a stout Steelers run defense. Canāt bench him in seasonal league, but can fade him in DFS.
James Conner RB, Cardinals, vs. Chargers (FD $7,700/DK $6,700)
The Chargers have given šup just one rushing TD to an RB this season. Combined a slower pace with possibility he gets marginalized by game flow, and thiās isnāt our favorite Conner week.
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Isaac Guerendo RB, 49ers, vs. Chiefs (FD $6,000/DK $6,600)
With Jordan Mason dealing with a knee problem, maź¦ny likely picked up Guerendo as a possible fill-in. Not our favorite plan this week. The Chiefs are the leagueās stingšÆiest vs. RBs, by more than a full point per week in PPR.
Dalton Kincaid TE, Bills, vs. Titans (FD $6,300/DK $5,000)
Tennessee has surrendered exactly zero receiving touchdowns tš o tight ends. In fact, they have given up double digits to the opposing teamās TEs just once all season. Tough work, if Kincaid (collarbone) plays.
Insanityās Daily Duel
Drew Loftis and Jarad Wilk submit dueling rosters into a DFS cošŖntest:
Site: FanDuel
Slate: Sun. main (11 games)
Type: $15 tourney
Top prize: $300K
Pot: $1.5M
Drewās Crew
QB: Kirk Cousins, Atl (vs. Sea) $7,200
RB: Saquon Barkley, Phi (at NYG) $9,000
RB: Tony Pollard, Ten (at Buf) $7,100
WR: Justin Jefferson, Min (vs. Det) $9,400
WR: Darnell Mooney, Atl (vs. Sea) $6,300
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea (at Atl) $6,100
TE: Dalton Schultz, Hou (at GB) $5,200
Flex: Austin Ekeler, Was (vs. Car) $6,600
DEF: Titans, Ten (at Buf) $3,100
Wilkās Warriors
QB: Sam Darnold, Min (vs. Det) $7,500
RB: Kyren Williams, LAR (vs. LV) $8,600
RB: Tony Pollard, Ten (at Buf) $7,100
WR: Tee Higgins, Cin (at Cle) $7,800
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea (at Atl) $6,100
WR: Noah Brown, Was (vs. Car) $5,000
TE: Dalton Schultz, Hou (at GB) $5,200
Flex: Justin Jefferson, Min (vs. Det) $9,400
DEF: Giants, NYG (vs. Phi) $3,200
Late rosļ·ŗter changes, check and @nypfantasymadmanš± on Threads
Season risked: $94
Seasonās winnings: Drew $180, Jarad $113.50
