Fabiano’s Fantasy Focus: Week 9, Volume II

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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 31st) with the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association Hall of Famer.

Did the Cowboys mis-handle the Ezekiel Elliott situation? “Well, from a fantasy perspective everyone was somewhat hoping this would be delayed until next year and weren’t prepared for it. So, there’s no good way to replace Elliott. He’s one of the three or four best running backs in football. He’s been unreal the last few weeks. So Alfred Morris projects to be the starter.”

What’s your view of Marlon Mack with the Colts? “Most talented running back in Indianapolis. Three of his last four games he’s had double-digit PPR points and a player I think could see end up getting more work down the stretch because the Colts are a team not likely to make the playoffs and with Andrew Luck probably unlikely at this point to come back, you could see the Colts start using some of these younger players and see what they have because Frank Gore is 34 years old and who knows if he comes back next season. Marlon Mack could be their guy. They want to see what they have in this kid and he’s an explosive rookie.”

What do you make of Jimmy Garoppolo landing with the 49ers? “It’s a huge upgrade over a rookie quarterback. Will Garoppolo be as good as everyone thinks he can be? Time will tell. He’s in a good spot with a good offensive mind as his head coach and an offense that’s going to get better talent-wise through the draft over the next year or two and potentially through free-agency. He’s also has the advantage of being under the tutelage of Tom Brady. So I like it as a long-term play. I don’t know about it as a short-term play. We’ve seen several quarterbacks break out this year and so the need isn’t going to be there as much for QB’s once we get through these bye weeks. I wouldn’t add him just yet. I really wouldn’t unless you’re in a deeper league.”      

Are there any “big name” receivers who you simply can’t trust anymore? “At this point, T.Y. Hilton and Amari Cooper, if you decided to bench them, I would not argue with you. I’m talking about benching them for guys like Paul Richardson and Robby Anderson who are likely going to be added off waiver wires in a lot of leagues this week. This year has been the further deterioration of the wide receiver position.”

Are you buying JuJu Smith-Shuster in Pittsburgh? “Yes. He’s a talented player. I picked him up and I started him and he had a pretty good week for me and a lot of people. With Martavis Bryant sort of being phased out of the offense, all of a sudden JuJu’s worth a waiver wire claim.”      

I’ve got Keenan Allen off. Is Ty Montgomery a good play this week? “Ty Montgomery is hard to start. The last time they played it was Aaron Jones and Montgomery did not see a lot of snaps, did not see a lot of touches. Montgomery to me is a desperation play at this point and it’s too bad because he started off the season pretty well but right now, as it stands, Aaron Jones is the guy to start there in that backfield.”

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