I hate Bye weeks, not so much because of the process, but because it seems no matter how hard I try I miss replacing players Even this year where I tried to be specifically careful drafting teams with the players on my squads spread out enough to not be impacted so much, but even with that I miss that I grabbed Paul Richardson out of the free agent pool to cover for Allen Hurns, but then I forget that the move does not automatically move Richardson to the active spot and Hurns to the bench.
Of course this is nothing like trying to actually manage an NFL team, and just as I was writing this piece the Niners trade with the Patriots, so let’s start with that.
So the Niners are hoping Jimmy Garropolo is the answer to their QB issues. Now, Garropolo might indeed turn into a star, but the team swapped a #2 for the guy in 2018. Now, I am not a huge C.J. Beathard supporter, but, SF did draft him #3 last year and he has had just three games to play–one of which was just the second half–before the team decided C.J. was not the future. Now this is the same team that decided Colin Kaepernick was the answer, not Alex Smith, and the same team who had Kaepernick signed, but dumped him anyway.
So, I have to question if the front office has a clue at this point as to how to handle the signal caller role. For sure the team was going nowhere this year, so why not let Beathard show what he can do? And, it isn’t like the Niners front line was that helpful in protecting or the defense could really shut anyone down, so the problems in San Francisco reach way beyond replacing the Quarterback.
As for Garropolo, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season, he is not set to start this Sunday thus far, but the week after. He makes a fine try in a Super Flex league for teams who have lost their starters due to injury, but this is not an ideal setting for any such player to get his feet wet with a new team.
The Patriots, OTOH, need a back-up to Tom Brady and the word is that Brian Hoyer, released today by San Francisco, will go to New England. Which might make it fun in so many potential ways, but, aside from Brady and Smith, no one else in this conversation is worth discussing.
Looking at receivers, Jamison Crowder made his presence known facing the Cowboys Sunday, collecting 123 yards on nine catches and 13 targets. Considering Crowder had a total of 19 receptions going into Sunday, the sudden load seems a welcome surprise and during these heavy Bye times, Crowder makes a great pick up and play.
The Jets are at least making it interesting, and Robby Anderson, a second-year receiver out of Temple who caught all six of his targets for 104 yards and a score. Anderson has been targeted 52 times this year–a lot–and has caught 27 for 435 yards and three TDs and is certainly a pick up in season long contests though Jets players are tough to pick week-to-week in DFS.
Seattle did have a monster shoot-out with Houston and Tyler Lockett finally broke out with 121 yards on six catches out of eight chances. Lockett had converted 26 of 38 for 345 yards, but no scores. But, Seattle has been a strong second half team and Lockett makes another good crapshoot during the Bye period.
Turning to RB, Alex Collins of the Ravens had his biggest week of the season rushing for 113 yards on 18 carries and grabbing a couple of passes for 30 more yards. Collins, like Lockett, has yet to find the end zone but he does seem to be the principle with 478 total yards over 80 carries making him a potentially cheap DFS exploitation and even filling a hole on your full season roster.
Finishing with where we began, Rex Burkhead was the big winner among the New England ball carriers this past weekend, with 68 yards on seven catches and 15 more gained on four carries. James White only copped one carry but he also had five receptions and a score. For the season Burkhead has 15 rushes for 64 yards and 12 receptions for 128 yards and a score, while White has 28 carries for 120 yards, but 43 catches for 365 yards and a score. Neither is worth too much consideration, though Whites receiving role certainly makes him the more attractive, but both also must contend with Mike Gillislee and Dion Lewis, so play or acquire knowing their limited role.
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