Who can make a difference as we move forward?

By Martin Richardson

We are over halfway through the season now, and chances are you have a clear picture of whether or not you are in the playoff hunt or you are already looking to next season as this one has escaped you. Ah, how Fantasy football can give and take every year. Hopefully, you are in a positive position going into week 10, with a few more wins on the horizon to sure up your productive season.

You may well be in need of pick ups or trades to make sure you consolidate that positive set of results so far, but rather than go for those top pickups that could well cost the earth (we’ve all got that one person who has the worst trade terms, you know that guy…) I’m taking a look at some more low stakes moves that could well have an upside, or even ones that you need to consider moving on from if they don’t show signs of improvement.

RACHAAD WHITE

Yes ok, I’m starting with a Buc, but with good reason. Everyone kind of expected to have Bucky Irving back in their line ups this week, but it looks like he will miss at least one more.

When White stepped into the fray and replaced the injured Irving, things looked rosy for Fantasy players, coming in and getting two touchdowns against a really good Seahawks team. he then followed that up with a touchdown against the 49ers, keeping him Fantasy relevant.

But since then, it has gone the usual way for White in recent times, he has fizzled out to be someone who is not producing in a consistent manner. His 38 and 35 rushing yards against the Lions and Saints shows he cannot get the ball moving for Fantasy players when they need it. Id even go so far to say that his ability as a catching back is diminishing as her is not getting nearly enough opportunity to succeed in that area anymore.

Going forward, White now faces a stern test against the Patriots and he will need to be able to get that separation from the line in order to make those Fantasy points appear on the board for you and the Bucs. A tough run follows that as the Bucs face the Rams and Bills, both contenders for January football.

White and his Bucs are certainly ones to watch over the next three weeks to see if they too can be considered contenders, but also to see if Bucky Irving is out longer than he already has been and if White can be Fantasy relevant for players.

DALTON KINCAID

In the summer, there were questions about just exactly what the Bills offense would look like, with people wondering how the likes of Kincaid, Cook and Coleman et al would share the load. Well, it is no surprise to see that Kincaid has become a major part of the offense this season, scoring 4 touchdowns this year so far. But, he is also a very productive part of the offense when it comes to moving the chains and getting those Fantasy points for yardage.

Kincaid and the Bills have a really good chance to cement their standings atop their division with matchups against Dolphins, Bucs and Texans, all before a big divisional game with the Patriots in week 15. Kincaid will no doubt continue to be a big part of the offense with that red zone threat, and with an average yardage over 15 yards per carry, he certainly has plenty of Fantasy football upside going forward.

BREECE HALL

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To quote Bane: ‘they expect one of us in the wreckage, brother’ and this feels like what has happened to Breece Hall now that defensive stalwarts Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner have been traded away for multiple draft picks.

Hall wanted to be traded away, and given how the Jets have gone about things in recent times, I don’t blame him. However, for Fantasy football, he is someone who can absolutely depend on. Even with only two touchdowns all year, both of which coming in week 8, Hall sits in the top 20 of RBs in Fantasy football purely because he gets those big yards, with multiple games this season showing over 100 total yards on offense, which is money for Fantasy players who need that solid RB2 as the season progresses.

However, like Rachaad White, Hall has some tricky matchups coming his way, with the Browns, Patriots and Ravens all on the horizon, Hall faces a challenge to maintain his positive form this season. What I will say, is that if anyone can perform well against teams like that, irrespective of their league form, Fantasy football Breece Hall can probably work some magic for players everywhere.

brian thomas jr

I think now is the time to worry about Brian Thomas Jr. With only game where he has hit double figures in terms of Fantasy points, Thomas Jr is fast becoming Fantasy irrelevant. Thomas Jr is such an interesting Fantasy option because when you look at the numbers, he has the potential to be so productive for players everywhere. with an average yardage of over 14 yards, he certainly makes the most of those catches when they happen. The issue here is that he is not getting his hands on the ball enough. Drops have been costly for him this season and that hope for a breakout season from Thomas Jr seems very unlikely. Added this to the rumour mill of him being touted out to teams before the trade deadline and things don’t seem great for the Jags wideout.

You would have thought that the news of rookie hybrid Travis Hunter heading to IR, Thomas Jr’s stock would be on the rise. However, the Jags have now thrown draft capital at wantaway WR Jacobi Meyers which is a massive concern for those of you who have Thomas Jr on your team as Meyers is now going to get some of those targets that were aimed at Thomas Jr. My only positive here is that maybe this frees up Thomas Jr in different coverage packages so that he may be open more at points in the game; as long as he catches the ball…

TIME TO CHECK IN…

I want to end with a little bit of a personal message to all who have read my articles over the years and have in whatever way used them or referred to them or laughed at them over years. I want to say a massive thank you and I want to check in with you all and hope you are all doing ok.

The news this week of Marshawn Kneeland shook me because it was such a shock to NFL community. I want to pass on my thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and teammates at such a truly tragic time.

Chances are you in a Fantasy football league with friends who you have known for some time, or maybe you are new to it and want to see what all the fuss is about. You’ll all have those funny comments that you can relate to. In my league, we still laugh for far too long at the fact that someone drafted, by choice, Tre McKitty. You’ll all have similar memories and you’ll refer back to them over and over and it just makes you chuckle and remember those good times. But what you never think of is: is that the last time?

Do me a favour this week and check in with your friends, see how they are doing. You might be checking in at the right time and can help make a difference to someone’s day. It may be a small gesture, but it could mean the world to that person.

Hope you’re all ok. I’ll check in next week with more Fantasy talk.

MARTIN RICHARDSON

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Yorkshireman living in Lancashire, Martin is a massive NFL fan but his heart belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also a huge Fantasy Football enthusiast and spends far too long crunching the numbers! Follow him at @MRBucsFan31

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