Analysis
9/23/21
5 min read
Michael Fabiano's Fab Five: Committee in Dallas?
Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Famer Michael Fabiano will be joining the 33rd Team’s Fantasy Football coverage this season, writing a weekly column with his top fantasy observations for the week.
Here’s what’s on my mind heading into Week 3 of fantasy:
1) Don’t worry about Herbert
After two weeks, Justin Herbert is currently the QB23! This has a lot of people spooked, but remember: In Week 1 vs. WFT, he had one TD pass called back due to penalty. This past week vs. the Cowboys (which I saw live), he had two TDs called back due to penalties -- both to tight ends (Donald Parham and Jared Cook). The Chargers are an undisciplined team and that is hurting his value. Don't be afraid to play him this week vs. the Chiefs! It is insane to have Herbert at QB25 and Daniel Jones at QB4. Herbert is getting it done; his teammates let him down the first two weeks. That will turn around.
2) Pick up Pollard
I'm not ready to say the Cowboys have gone to a backfield committee, but Tony Pollard has looked really explosive! The Cowboys are down a playmaker in Michael Gallup and now they're using Pollard, who was tremendous. Pollard has looked quicker and more explosive than Ezekiel Elliott. That being said, Zeke was never an Alvin Kamara type back and has had a lot of work. I no longer have Zeke as an elite RB1; he's more of a low RB1 or a high RB2, though he has the ability to move back into the elite level later in the season. Until we see Pollard used consistently in this role, I can't run him as a stand-alone flex. This could be a one-week thing. The Chargers played really well against the pass (Amari Cooper was shut down); in Week 1, the Buccaneers shut down the run and the Cowboys threw it 58 times. That being said, Pollard needs to be owned across the board.
3) Patterson has value
Cordarrelle Patterson, the once-upon-a-time superstar rookie WR for the Vikings who never panned out is now playing RB in Atlanta and has value. He had a couple TDs last week, and even with Mike Davis getting a majority of the snaps/touches, Patterson is currently the RB9 going into Week 3. Of course, that won't remain the case going forward but he needs to be rostered across the board. He also has RB/WR dual eligibility in several platforms. That flexibility makes him a must pick-up if he is available.
4) Let’s see more of Moore
Rondale Moore! He is the WR17 with 48 snaps! No other WR in the top 20 has fewer than 95 snaps! This kid is ridiculously efficient. Moore had a play in which he juked out half of the Vikings’ defensive backs. He has quick feet, he's a play-maker. He's a flex option, but I need him to start seeing more snaps with Nuk Hopkins, Christian Kirk and A.J. Green all seeing more snaps than him. Let's hope Kliff Kingsbury can get him more involved and he will be a lock for the flex position. We need his snap count to be in the 40s on a regular basis.
5) Sutton impact
First game without Jerry Jeudy? Hello, Courtland Sutton! He was unbelievable -- 12 targets for 9 receptions and 159 yards (no TDs, though). Sutton, who was on a lot of people's radars last season before the injury, is now back on the scene. He is a very startable WR2.
Bonus: Pitts will produce
Through two game, averaging 9.7 PPG. Not terrible, but not great, and certainly not what we were hoping for. The good news is he played 56 snaps last week. Atlanta is lining him up all over the place with 37 plays in the slot and 21 more out wide. With Russell Gage hurt, that should increase his target share (though not by a lot). Obviously a TE1, I think he will average more points per week going forward.
Who is my "Buy Low" guy?
Justin Herbert. He's averaging about 14 points per game and people who are just looking at the stat sheet and not paying attention to the game might be willing to make a move. Go and get him on the cheap while you can because I'm expecting him to have a big game against the Chiefs this week and he won't be available next week.
Who is my "Sell High" guy?
Darrell Henderson was my guy last week and now he's hurt. He is really good and is often injured. If you can get anything for him, then make the move. When he's out there he will give you RB2 numbers, but he is dealing with rib cartilage issues. There is a quote from a former colleague of mine: "Injured guys stay injured." I'm not starting Henderson or Sony Michel against Tampa. I do think Michel needs to be rostered across the board.
