Sunday Morning Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em: Melvin Gordon, Tom Brady, Doug Baldwin & More

by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)

Just hours before the start of Week 11′s Sunday action I know many people have questions running through their heads. Who should I start? Who should I sit?  Let’s take a look at how some of the recent news changes things:

Melvin Gordon – Running Back – San Diego Chargers
Adam Schefter (via Twitter) is reporting that:

Chargers’ RB Melvin Gordon, listed as questionable for Sunday due to knee and hamstring injuries, plans to play vs. Cardinals, per source. Gordon convinced coaches this weekend to give him a chance, despite some organizational interest in resting him for maintenance.

Obviously things are always subject to change, depending on how he feels in pregame warmups.  That does complicate things, as the Chargers aren’t scheduled to play until 4:05 PM EST against a Cardinals’ defense that has allowed the third most points per game to opposing running backs (1,286 rushing yards is the second most, behind Oakland) including 13 total TD.

If healthy and on the field Gordon is a must play option.  This all comes down to the alternatives you have at your disposal as to whether or not you “gamble” on Gordon.  As long as he’s playing, even in a limited role, he should be a productive option so unless the rhetoric changes more likely than not he should stick in your lineup.

Verdict – Start ‘Em (viable RB2, even with the questions)

Matt Breida – Running Back – San Francisco 49ers
With Pierre Garcon out and Marquise Goodwin moved to doubtful due to a “personal issue”, the 49ers receiving corps is left to be some type of ugly mixture of:

1. Dante Pettis
2. Kendrick Bourne
3. Trent Taylor
4. Richie James

It obviously is impossible to trust any of those options, as the offense will focus on George Kittle (already a must use option) and Breida.  Those in PPR formats may not have been quite as high on Breida, but he should see additional pass catching opportunities and is coming off a game where he racked up 3 catches, 31 yards and 1 TD (to go along with 17 carries for 101 yards and 1 TD).  Over the past four weeks Tampa Bay has allowed the fourth most points per week to opposing running backs, and overall they’ve allowed 17 TD.  Breida was always a viable RB2, but he could easily amass RB1 numbers this week.

Verdict – Start ‘Em (borderline RB1/must start in all formats)

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Doug Baldwin – Wide Receiver – Seattle Seahawks
According to Ian Rapoport (via Twitter):

#Panthers WR Torrey Smith, questionable with a knee injury, is slated to play against the #Seahawks, I’m told. … For Seattle, despite promoting WR Keenan Reynolds as insurance, the #Seahawks believe WR Doug Baldwin (groin) has a good shot to play, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 25, 2018

Even if Baldwin does play you have to wonder if he:  

• Will he be limited in any fashion?
• Will get enough opportunities to be productive?

He is coming off his best game of the season, turning 10 targets into 7 receptions, 52 yards and 1 TD (his only touchdown of the year).  With Tyler Lockett and David Moore in the mix, as well as a suddenly deep running game, you have to wonder if Baldwin will be used more as a decoy than an actual option.  Given his general performance this season there’s simply too much risk to trust him.

Verdict – Sit ‘Em  

Jimmy Graham – Tight End – Green Bay Packers
You would think that a broken thumb would keep a pass catching tight end on the sidelines, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.  According to Ian Rapoport (via Twitter):

#Packers TE Jimmy Graham, dealing with not only a knee injury but also a broken thumb, is actually on track to play tonight against the #Vikings, source said, barring any complications. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 25, 2018

Of course over the past four weeks the Vikings have allowed the fewest points per week to opposing tight ends and Graham has been a complete bust in three of his past four games (1 reception in each of those games with 21 yards or fewer).  Considering the injury and the production, even at a shallow position he’s impossible to trust.

Verdict – Sit ‘Em  

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Tyler Boyd – Wide Receiver – Cincinnati Bengals
There was hope early in the week that A.J. Green would return to the field, including opening the week listed as questionable.  However he ultimately didn’t practice, was downgraded to doubtful and is highly unlikely to take the field.  That leaves Boyd as Cincinnati’s top receiving option against a Cleveland defense that’s been middle of the pack against opposing wide receivers this season.

While they haven’t always been efficient opportunities, Boyd has been targeted at least 10 times in two of the past three games (and at least 7 times in seven of the past nine).  Considering the matchup it’s more likely that he turns those chances into at least solid (if not above average) results.

Verdict – Start ‘Em (solid WR2)  

Tom Brady – Quarterback – New England Patriots Brady has dealt with a variety of issues this week, as noted by ESPN’s Mike Reiss:

Tom Brady, who was on the injury report as a limited participant due to his knee the last two days, has an “illness” designation added to the report today. Brady did not practice Friday and the Patriots are officially listing him as questionable for Sunday vs. the Jets. — Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) November 23, 2018

That just adds to the concern that fantasy owners already had with Brady, who hasn’t been very good over his past three games (1 TD vs. 0 INT).  The Jets have been better against opposing quarterbacks than you’d think and Brady hasn’t been particularly good on the road against the Jets (as per Michael Giardi via Twitter):

Tom Brady and the #Patriots haven’t found Jersey (vs. the #Jets) much to their liking, at least compared to other venues. Since 2009… pic.twitter.com/EGcnQZKypd

— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) November 25, 2018

That’s not to say that he’s unusable, especially with Rob Gronkowski expected to return (and he’s a viable TE1 given the questions at the position), but he’s more of a low-end option as opposed to a trustworthy must start.

Verdict – Start ‘Em (though it depends on your alternative)

Sources – ESPN, NFL.com

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Make sure to check out all of our Week 12 rankings: