Fabiano’s Fantasy Focus: Week 8, Volume I

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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 (October 24th) with the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association Hall of Famer.

We are at the halfway point of the 2017 season–who have you completely given up on? “Matt Ryan is on that list. Unfortunately, you have so many teams on a bye this week he’s going to be active in a lot of fantasy leagues but this is sort of what I projected. He had that magical season. Now what we are seeing is the real Matt Ryan. At least what he’s been for most of his career. Terrelle Pryor, especially after what we saw last night, see ‘ya! He’s on Waiver Wire Island at this point. He should not be on fantasy teams. You’re in that same boat with a player like Isaiah Crowell who has been an enormous bust. He got a lot of volume last week in terms of touches but he’s not getting into the end zone and he’s not putting up the numbers we sort of expected from him this season. There are a number of players who were drafted high and have not produced in the stat sheets at every position.” 

I’m thinking about trading Julio Jones. Does it make sense to deal him now? “It really depends on what the offer is. I personally traded him a couple of weeks ago in a league. I packaged Julio and Terrelle Pryor and Buck Allen and I got back Todd Gurley. I loved making that trade but it really depends. Julio Jones’ schedule is going to get better. But the Atlanta offense as a whole, I don’t know if it’s Steve Sarkisian or what, but they just haven’t looked good. It’s been very mediocre. So it really depends on what you’re trying to get for Julio.” 

I’m seriously considering adding C.J. Beathard this week. Am I crazy, Fabs? “There are six teams on a bye. There are going to be quite a few people who are absolutely desperate for quarterback help, especially if you’re in a super flex league or you start two quarterbacks. I mean, I’m not saying I would go and play him but this is where we’re at.”

I suppose the same can be said for tight end, as well? “It’s worse at tight end. Some of the tight ends that are going to be started this week will shock you. That position is very thin.”

Where are you on Willie Snead? Should I add Kenny Stills? “I would. Snead is not right. The hamstring is continuing to be an issue and hamstrings can linger. As long as DeVante Parker is sidelined with an injury of his own, Kenny Stills is going to be a viable flex option in fantasy leagues now. He’s not going to put up the numbers he did last week every single game but he’s at least rosterable right now. Again, I’ll say this 100 times this week, there are six teams off so you’re going to see a lot of players picked up off the waiver wire who are going to be active in lineups this week.” 

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