With another week of fantasy football set to begin, our fantasy guru James Morris provides his answers to several questions that have fantasy owners scratching their heads this week.
Question: Last week Reggie Bush didn’t do anything for me in my fantasy league (21 yards rushing, 1 catch for 8 yards and a fumble). Is it time to try and sell high on him or was it just an off week?
James Morris: The Dolphins actually have the 6th best remaining games Strength of Schedule for fantasy RBs, which is why I just traded Alfred Morris for him in our Dolphins NFL.com league. Bush fumbled early in the game and Coach Philbin benched him after that. Then, by the time he did get into the game it was so out of control that the run was ineffective.
The lacks of stats were more for punishment and then the need to pass than Bush being ineffective as a runner. I like him down the stretch and would hold onto him unless someone offers you a great deal.
Question: With Danny Amendola back and looking good, is it time to try and buy low on Steven Jackson?
James Morris: No. S-Jax had his best game of the season last week, carrying the ball for 101 yards and a TD. Jackson isn’t someone I am high on. If you take out the 101 yards rushing, Jackson is averaging just 50.4 YPG this season. Amendola takes the focus off the run, but he doesn’t roll back the clock and make Jackson 5 years younger in the process. I’d sell high on him now and/or leave him to be someone else’s headache for the stretch run.
Question: With Michael Vick’s concussion, coupled with his inability to win games for the Eagles, do you see him finishing out the season as the starter?
James Morris: No. What I am hearing from within the Eagles organization (yes, I talk to people too) is that Vick’s concussion is fairly serious, and they wouldn’t be surprised to see Nick Foles start the final 7 games of the season with the Eagles playoff hopes all but gone. And, even if he does come back, at what level is he playing? The last thing I want or need is a QB with cob webs in the grey matter playing pitch-n-catch with the defense during the fantasy playoffs!
Question: Greg Jennings is just a few games away from returning and with Randall Cobb and James Jones doing so well, how do you think his fantasy prospects look for the fantasy playoffs?
James Morris: This is the $60,000 question in fantasy football: Will Greg Jennings come back and be a difference maker for the playoffs? I haven’t waivered from my cut/trade rating I gave him when he had surgery on November 1st. Look, Cobb and Jones are playing at a high level and in sync with Aaron Rodgers, the Packers know they don’t have to rush Jennings back. There is a chance of aggravating the injury, so I expect them to ease him back into the flow and exercise extreme caution with him. At best you may see him hit full stride around week 15 or 16, which means he MAY help you in one or two games… if you make it that far.
Question- Ben Roethlisberger is hurt, do you know how bad and how long he will be out?
Roethlisberger has a SC (sternoclavicular) sprain in his right shoulder. An SC sprain means he sustained trauma to the joint connecting his clavicle to his sternum and there’s ligament damage. The injury usually doesn’t require surgery, but it can be extremely painful. Big Ben also sustained a rib injury on the play.
Word is that he is OUT this week against the Ravens and could miss a few more after that. The Steelers haven’t officially commented on his timetable, but I know people. If you own any Steelers player at this point I would downgrade them as Byron Leftwich is going to do more harm than good to ALL their fantasy stocks.
Be sure to check back on Friday, for James’ “Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em” lineup advice.
Also, for more fantasy advice, follow James on Twitter here.
