Fantasy High 5: Jordy Nelson and RB Backups

Fantasy High 5: Gridiron Experts weekly article where we discuss popular fantasy football topics and make predictions about the week to come. Feel free to send us a tweet/question anytime at @GridironExperts

What are we to do with Jordy Nelson?

Jody Smith: Keep trotting him out there. He’ll still be the Packers number one receiver as long as Greg Jennings is struggling to stay healthy. Green Bay’s schedule is about to ease up a bit, so he should still have some significant value.
Robert James: I guess that depends on who you have on your team. If your loaded at WR, then maybe trade him if your light at RB or another position. If you play in a flex league, rotate him in or out based on the match up.
Mike Rodriguez: I have to agree with Jody, fantasy owners have to tough it out. In the Packers loss to the Colts and in the loss to the Seahawks Jordy Nelson was a ghost, someone needs to tell the Packers squad that this guy can move the chains. When he is productive the team wins games.
Brian Jerzak: Now with Cedric Benson out, the Packers will have to rely even more on the pass. That’s bad for the Packers’ offense, but good news for Jordy Nelson’s targets and fantasy owners. Don’t give up on Nelson just yet.
Shawn Li: Jordy Nelson’s real value is he and Greg Jennings are playing together. Jennings has the size and athleticism to out duel top DBs and Nelson has the quickness to elude his defender. When Jordy is stacked against the top DB, he doesn’t have the attributes to beat them. You can’t trade him, so you have to keep playing him.

Do you see RB Fantasy value in the next man up for the Packers or Cardinals?

Jody Smith: Only in the deepest leagues would I worry much about William Powell. Arizona’s line is so bad that it really won’t matter who lines up in the backfield. Alex Green looked good in limited duty last week and should be able to grab more playing time that James Starks. Green in worth a waiver-pick in deep leagues.
Shawn Li: It was not worth starting Ryan Williams, Beanie Wells, or Cedric Benson. Unless you are completely out of other options should you consider starting either of these teams new starting RBs
Robert James: Not really, the Cardinals are a mess in the back field, and the Packers aren’t much better. If you were affected by the injuries to Williams or Benson, and needed someone, my bet would be to go with Alex Green. Teams still have to plan for Rodgers and the Packers passing attack, which is more potent than the Cardinals, so Green may have some success.
Chris Strong: Both teams don’t really have a solid rushing attack and while Packers backup Alex Green did decent in his limited time against the Colts, I still think it might take him a few weeks to really comprehend and mesh with the offense. Both teams offensive lines are very shaky and need to improve first before the running backs can improve their game.
Brian Jerzak: I don’t see much upside to either. The Cards’ offense has not been great all year, I don’t see a move to the third man up to making the running game or offense much better. The same type of thing can be said for the Packers situation. There is a reason they picked up Benson – they didn’t have anyone else and still don’t.
Sean Herman: I think William Powell is going to get more out of his touches than LaRod Stephens-Howling, but that still does not make him appealing behind that O-Line. I see Powell as a weak flex or bye week replacement and Howling as strictly a bench warmer (really not worth a hand-cuff on two backs from the same crappy backfield). Unless you are really thin at RB and there is no one else out there, I do not think Alex Green is worth adding (although he has more value than Howling) except for in the deepest of leagues.

Name a Fantasy sleeper at TE worthy of a bench spot for insurance purposes

Robert James: Jared Cook – He is owned in less than 60% of most leagues, and if you need a TE for a bye week or a better match up play, then Cook may be your guy.

Mike Rodriguez: Kyle Rudolph is owned by only 50% of fantasy owners. He has been a favorite target of Ponder and the Vikings are starting to really gain momentum. I see his fantasy value increasing. In PPR leagues it’s hard not to like Jermaine Gresham. The Bengal Tight End has 5 catches in his last three games and seems to float in around the 40-60 yard mark.
Zhan Mourning: Rob Housler. I guess this would be more of a stash for dynasty league purposes, but he is a great pass catcher and his targets continue to increase. If the Arizona Cardinals ever get a quarterback that can play, we could be looking at a top tier tight end.
Shawn Li: Joel Dressen – Jacob Tamme maybe the “starter in Denver,” but Joel has TDs in three-straight games. If you are out Olsen or Graham this week due to bye, he is a decent fill-in.

Is it crazy to consider sitting players like Aaron Rodgers or Calvin Johnson for better match-up options now?

Jody Smith: Yes. Stick with your studs. Over-thinking things is one of the biggest mistakes casual fantasy football owners make. If you have such great options that you’d consider sitting those guys, you should be trying to trade for other weaknesses your squad might have.
Robert James: It’s not crazy, but it can be dangerous and back fire badly. I have done it twice this year already with Andrew Luck, by starting him over Tom Brady, and both times it has worked out fine. I don’t feel it’s over-thinking or a mistake to do it, if given the right match up. The only reason to give up that good bench player right now is to solidify a position that you are struggling with.
Chris Strong: It’s definitely not crazy, but then again you have to think about who these players are going up against. Aaron Rodgers and Calvin Johnson haven’t been the same this season, but that doesn’t mean you should bench them right away. If you don’t have the bench players to perform better in their spots, then stick with these elite players. The Packers schedule is easing up a bit and I see Rodgers having a big game or two in the next couple of weeks. Calvin Johnson is due for a big game, the Lions have an explosive offense that we’ve yet to see this season. Both of these guys are due…just be patient.
Brian Jerzak: I am all over the board on the Packers this week, but I don’t think sitting Rodgers once in a while is a bad idea. Something has been off with the Packers’ offense all year and part of it has been the offensive line. Against a tough defense – like the Seahawks – Rodgers is going to spend a lot of time on his back. Because of that putting him on the bench – in an extreme case – is not crazy.
Shawn Li: Aaron Rodgers and Calvin Johnson have been a little disappointing so far, but do not fret! Besides a few games (most specifically this week with GB and Hou) both guys toughest section of their schedule is behind them. They have shown signs of life the last few weeks and you drafted them for a reason. If you are going to make it to fantasy glory this year, it will be because Stella got her groove back and not because you benched your first-round pick.

Name one team you predict will fall apart and tailspin in the next coming weeks

Jody Smith: Arizona looked terrible last week and look at the remaining schedule: @MIN, SF, @GB, @ATL, STL,@NYJ, @SEA,DET,CHI,@SF. That’s looks like 7 or 8 losses.
Robert James I completely agree with Jody, so let me add another team who I think may struggle over the next few weeks; the Seattle Seahawks. As great as the defense has been, the only thing they have on offense is Marshawn Lynch. Now that may be good enough on some weeks, but their next four games are no cake walk; NE, @SF, @DET, and MIN; I see 3 very possible losses there.
Mike Rodriguez: The Eagles schedule only gets harder after the Lions. Andy Reid has his magical stat of being perfect off a bye week, but against the Falcons it’s sure to be tested. After DET & ATL the Eagles play the desperate Saints on Monday night and then the Cowboys week 10. If Mike Vick hasn’t mastered the kung-fu grip by then, a losing streak could torpedo the season
Chris Strong: The Arizona Cardinals looked sloppy in their game against the Rams last week and I agree with Robert that the Seahawks are heading for a tailspin as well, but I’d like to point out the Minnesota Vikings and the Carolina Panthers. The Vikings are 4-1 and look extremely good, but are they really that good? Yes, they beat the Niners, but still have to play the Packers and the Bears in the division. I see things getting tougher for Minnesota down the line. The Panthers are already in a tailspin now, but it seems a lot of people expected them to do better this season. At 1-4 the Panthers have a lot of work to do in the next couple of weeks and Cam Newton might be having his sophomore slump this season.
Shawn Li: I am going to go way out on a limb and say the San Francisco 49ers. I know that is a crazy thought. Hear me out! They play three division games in the next five weeks plus the Giants and the Bears. If they lose one or two division games, plus split with the Giants and Bears, they could be two-three games behind Arizona and maybe tied or a game behind both St Louis and Seattle. It seems like a long-shot, but if there is one team on top that I think is vulnerable, it is San Francisco in my opinion.
Sean Herman: I agree with Mike here… The Eagles are going to have a tough time from here on out. They are arguably in the toughest division and have barely even beaten the teams they have faced so far. They have won 3 games by a total of 4 points and lost twice by a total of 23. For those stat aficionados, like myself, that is a -19 point differential for an above .500 team. Something’s got to give.

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