- by Caleb McKee

Fantasy football is a love song.

No, I don’t like that. Fantasy football is a soap opera. We’re one episode in and everybody took away something a little different. Some fans are hooked and they love the starring cast. Others… have dreams of a re-cast and maybe a little character development with the bench players. We aren’t sure if we’re going to like it or not, and we don’t really know who’s who yet. We do know it promises a plethora of protagonists and antagonists. Heroes and villains. And for good measure, deaths (suspensions) are never final in the NFL.

Let’s Meet the Cast:

Last week in my Guide to a Successful Season I told you about The Flash. A man who could very well wind up breaking your heart in week 2 if you put him in your starting lineup. We have a couple candidates for that spot here:

Allen Hurns (JAC/WR)

If you watched any of the game breaks on Sunday you’ve heard of him. And no doubt, you saw him and became excited. After all, he produced 110 yards on 4 receptions and added 2 touchdowns to go along with that. 4/110/2 is an incredible statline. Especially for an undrafted rookie playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has the frame to be a number one receiver at 6’3 and 195 lbs. Here’s the problem. All of his stats came in the first half. He had two touchdowns on only four receptions, which indicates he is a boom or bust player--which is awful for consistent wins. Lastly, he started in place of the oft-injured Cecil Shorts, so when Shorts is on the field expect less playing time from Hurns.

Isaiah Crowell (CLE/RB)

He’s less notable, but if you’re looking on the waiver wire and you see him, keep on looking. He had five carries for 32 yards and 2 touchdowns. He’s the third string running back in Cleveland, and even when Ben Tate gets hurt you can expect Terrance West (16 carries for 100 yards) to get the bulk of the carries.

The commonality between the two Flash candidates is TD dependency. Which is fluky at best, and won’t (generally) lead to a fantasy playoff spot. If you are deadset on picking these players up, leave ‘em on your bench for at least another week. Let a trend develop before putting your fate in their hands.

Who You (Might) Want Because of Suspensions

Josh Gordon (CLE/WR) is currently selling cars at a dealership in Ohio. He’s serving a year long suspension of testing positive for marijuana...again. When he has played he has been one of the most electric wide receivers in the game. The NFL and NFLPA (player’s union) is currently working (and claim to be close) on a deal to change the substance-abuse policy. What you need to know is: the change could bring Josh Gordon back to football as soon as they come to an agreement. Which means whoever has priority that week if he isn’t stashed away on your bench will get him. If you’ve got a player you have no faith in, or who has little upside, you may want to consider dropping him and reserving a place for Josh Gordon.

Ray Rice’s two-game suspension just became an indefinite one when the video came out of him punching his then-girlfriend in an elevator. He, also, is no longer on a roster. So if you demand to have a Baltimore running back, Justin Forsett appears to be your guy. Bernard Pierce had been starting in place of Rice, but looked absolutely terrible on Sunday and Forsett had 11 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown to go along with that.

Patience

I feel like I shouldn’t need to say this, but be patient with your elite players. Jamaal Charles didn’t get more than a handful of touches on Sunday and is still the most explosive running back in the league. Aaron Rodgers faced a tough defense and should be markedly better in week 2. Even non-elites. If you have faith, or had faith and they just didn’t jump out at you, give it another week or two before kicking them off the island. Fantasy Football is unbearably unpredictable and infuriating and chaotic and one of the funnest ways to pass the time. Good luck.

 

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