Eric Sorenson
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Every week during the season NFL Network and NFL.com Senior Fantasy Analyst Michael Fabiano joins Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat to share his insight on building and developing your fantasy team for success.
Here are some hi-lights from our most recent conversation (December 13th) with the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association Hall of Famer.
What was your biggest takeaway from Week 14? “Going into last week I told people there were five quarterbacks I was worried about. It was Aaron Rodgers, who ended up having a great game. But, Marcus Mariota stinker. Drew Brees, stinker. Ben Roethlisberger, stinker. Dak Prescott, stinker. If you would have started Joe Flacco or Andy Dalton or a “lesser quarterback” from a fantasy standpoint you would have had a better chance at winning.”
Any general overall advice you have for people who are still alive in their playoffs? “People have to remember Brandon Marshall is a name, he’s not a startable asset anymore. I’d rather start Tyreek Hill. I’d rather start Taylor Gabriel. I’d rather start Dontrelle Inman. So, there comes a point…you have to let it go and when a player like Nuk Hopkins is not producing…when a player like Brandon Marshall is not producing or Allen Robinson or Todd Gurley, unless the matchup is really good you sort of have to cut the cord there. The one thing predictable about fantasy football is that it’s unpredictable.”
Who are the hot names on the waiver wire this week? “Kenneth Farrow for sure in San Diego because Melvin Gordon was injured. Bilal Powell in New York because Matt Forte was injured. I mentioned Dontrelle Inman. One guy I like this week, and there’s a lot of quarterbacks who are big names and have bad match-ups, is Joe Flacco. He’s at home. He’s averaging over 18 points at home and he’s playing the Eagles who are giving up over 22 points per game on the road to quarterbacks. So if you need a quarterback, Flacco is a good option. Certainly Ladarius Green is a startable asset this week. I didn’t like him last week but I think this week he’s got a much better match-up against Cincinnati. So there are some players out there that can help you but I think typically you’re going to be sticking with the players who got you where you are.”
So Gordon is definitely not playing this weekend? “From what I’ve heard it doesn’t look good and you’ve got to go into your waiver wire thinking that if you have Gordon, you won’t have him for this week, because you always want to be sure you have insurance at that position. That’s why I tell people, once the playoffs start, grab the handcuffs of your top backs.”
How does Ryan Tannehill’s injury effect the Dolphins’ skill players moving forward? “I do think you downgrade those guys a little bit but it is a good matchup. The Jets defense is terrible and they’re playing on Saturday night on NFL Network. I had to get that shameless plug in there! Jay Ajayi is clearly playable, Jarvis Landry…especially in PPR leagues. He may not be a WR1 or WR2 but he’s a flex. I think Parker is a potential flex starter but it also depends on what you have around you. You’ve seen a lot of wide receivers emerge out of nowhere this year. It does hurt a little bit but I don’t know how many Dolphins you’re actually starting in your fantasy leagues that aren’t named Jay Ajayi.”
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