1. Matt Ryan has been awful over the last four games, throwing for just 1,003 yards (250 per game) with 5 touchdowns compared to 7 interceptions. But at $6200 against Jacksonville, is he worth a shot?
Maurile Tremblay: I don't completely understand the Falcons' fall from grace, but it hasn't been pretty. There are plenty of cheaper quarterbacks I like better. I have A.J. McCarron projected to score around the same number of points as Ryan, and he's only $5,300. I like Alex Smith better than Ryan and he's only $5,700. Philip Rivers has a decent matchup and he's $6,000. For a really cheap quarterback, T.J. Yates is just $4,500, and I don't think his fantasy prospects this week are any worse than Ryan's. I'm not going to have Ryan in any of my lineups.
Chad Parsons: It has been three weeks since Ryan even hit 2x value and he hovered around the positional cash mendoza line essentially the entire season. His muted ceiling gives me pause, even against Jacksonville. Alex Smith being available for $500 less is another factor working against Ryan this week.
Mark Wimer: My perspective on the ATL/JAX game is that ATL may well be blown-out-and-blanked again this week, so I am not having any shares of Matt Ryan or Julio Jones. If Jones go off I'll have missed the boat but nobody on this team seems able to get their act together and I'm not optimistic that they suddenly regain their chemistry here in Week 15 now that Atlanta is all-but-eliminated from a legit shot at the post-season.
Andrew Garda: Yeah the Falcons sort of break your heart a little, ever since that opening run. It’s been a mess and Ryan is a huge part of it and his fall is equally baffling. Lack of front line protection, no other receivers beyond Julio Jones, and a discomfort with the new offense all play a role.
I’m with MT. All of those quarterbacks – and more – are better bets this week, especially in cash where uniqueness isn’t needed. I’d fade him in GPPs as well though.
2. With all the injuries to players again this weekend, which replacement are you looking at? Fozzy Whitacker (CAR, $2000), Denard Robinson (JAX, $3300), AJ Mccarron (CIN, $5,300) or Brandon Bolden (NR, $2900)? If “none of the above” who do you like this week that we’re missing?
Tremblay: I'll have A.J. McCarron in some lineups. He's one of the better values at quarterback this week, given the decent weapons at his disposal (even without Eifert) and his bargain-basement price of $5,300. I also think Denard Robinson is worth playing at just $3,300. I'm not on the Fozzy Whittaker bandwagon at all. I think Mike Tolbert is a substantially better player, and even if Whittaker starts, he'll get fewer than half of his team's RB touches.
Parsons: I would definitely side with Denard Robinson of the above list. The Jaguars are playing their best ball of the season, at home, and Robinson will have no competition for touches. The Falcons have been the best matchup for opposing running backs over the past three games, giving up an NFL-high five touchdowns in the process.
Wimer: I'm on the David Johnson/Denard Robinson combo - I'm plugging that one in for cash and GPP lineups a lot, and have been combining with Russell Wilson/Doug Baldwin for cash games and Russell Wilson/Doug Baldwin/Tyler Lockett super stack a good bit in GPP. I think Wilson is still a value at his current salaries, especially as he may well be the leading rusher for Seattle this week on top of his spectacular play as a passer of late.
I also agree that of the injury-related replacement players, Robinson is the guy to play the most.
I trust Robinson on a short-term basis. He was the starting back for Jaguars for a portion of last season and did well when he was relatively fresh in Weeks Seven through Ten before he wore down (see 2014 game logs HERE), Yeldon has been the workhorse during 2015 to this point, so I think Robinson is now again relatively fresh and has good upside especially against the Falcons who have been playing miserably during their losing streak. There may be a lot of opportunities for Robinson to carry the ball protecting a lead in the second half.
Garda: McCarron makes me nervous but at $5300 he’s a solid GPP play and as Maurile points out, has the weapons around him to be successful. Robinson is pretty close to a must play at this point and I have high expectations for him so I am all in on him.
3. Brandon Marshall has seen his price skyrocket (to $8,100), while his teammate Eric Decker is hovering at $6900. Decker is averaging just over 17 points a game, but has scored 18.10 and 20.40 the past two weeks. Is he the value he appears to be?
Tremblay: Marshall and Decker are both decent values. Decker is the better value because of his lower price, but he doesn't have the same upside potential as Marshall. He's also been fairly touchdown-dependent this season, and although he's been very steady so far, I don't like to count on heavy TD trends to continue. (The reverse is also true: I think guys who haven't scored many touchdowns lately, like Larry Fitzgerald and Julio Jones, are due for a revival.) That said, I think Decker is underpriced, and he's a better value than the other guys I mentioned even if his upside potential is lower.
Garda: I love Decker and more than I do Marshall, who I am excited about as well. The Jets have been surprisingly potent through the air the last few weeks and finally found some balance between the two receivers. I think both are good plays (and I think better value than a lot of higher-ranked, better-known names) and should be in tons of lineups.
Decker has paced Marshall in targets since Week 6, so both will get plenty of opportunities and as Decker costs less, I lean towards him. Ultimately though I think his value is where it should be, if not a little underpriced.
4. Russell Wilson ($8900) and Cam Newton ($8800) have each thrown eight touchdowns in the last two games. Is it safe to keep riding them, or does the high price come with a regression in their respective matchups this week?
Tremblay: There are some terrific values at QB this week, so you don't have to pay up for a top quarterback. You can go cheap at QB and pay up for studs at other positions. But if you're going to shop for bargains at other positions and have salary cap space left over for a top quarterback, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson -- along with Tom Brady -- are the safest choices out there.
Parsons: Both remain sturdy plays with quality matchups this week. The concern in playing a premium quarterback in the impact at other positions. Playing a running back combination like David Johnson and Denard Robinson this, however, alleviates the cap pressure. Also, Ben Watson and Nate Washington are cascading selections to allow for a stud quarterback.
Garda: I think both quarterbacks have finally maxed out for me. I love the TD production but I am not confident it will go on endlessly. So at the price, I will look for a value play which will produce well but not limit me at other positions.