So, you were the one who swooped in after a dejected leaguemate reluctantly dropped Aaron Rodgers back in October. Real cool.
You sat on him all these weeks, rooting for the under-manned Packers to somehow stay in the playoff hunt. You made the playoffs yourself, short bench and all. Rodgers’ collarbone healed relatively quickly, and now he’s good to go for Week 15.
Do you actually play him?
Obviously this is an inner-ring Hall of Famer we’re talking about; an all-time great quarterback, Super Bowl champ, and solid commercial actor.
The thing is, some other quarterback got you this far. Rodgers hasn’t seen full-speed action in nine weeks, and you presumably have another decent option.
Let’s make the case for utilizing Rodgers fresh off the lot.
Green Bay hits the road this week to face a Carolina defense ranking among the top half of the league against fantasy QBs. But, that number is skewed by four instances where the Panthers didn’t allow a single score to the opposing signal caller. The illustrious list of 0-fers? Brian Hoyer, Tyrod Taylor, Mitch Trubisky and Jameis Winston.
Outside those four games, Carolina has given up multiple TD passes in eight of nine contests. Stars like Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz account for the bulk of the damage, but Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan both popped them for two passing TDs recently as well.
The Panthers offer a solid run defense — 89.5 rushing yards per game, tied with Denver for the third-best mark in the NFL — but, in this case, that just means more of Rodgers throwing the ball. Carolina’s pass D has been pretty good, too — seventh in the league at 212 yards per game — but that hasn’t stopped quarterbacks from posting a 92.7 passer rating against them.
Since all of Rodgers’ favorite receivers are still around (even Jordy Nelson, despite what your eyes have told you in recent weeks). Running back Jamaal Williams has two touchdown receptions the past three games (to go with three rushing TDs) and will be needed in pass protection, but his emergence is yet another weapon through the air.
Let’s flip it around and consider the Panthers’ chances to turn this thing into a shootout. Cam Newton and company have been on fire the past four weeks, averaging 35.5 points per game, including dropping 31 each against the formidable defenses of Minnesota and New Orleans. Jonathan Stewart is actually scoring touchdowns, and Newton is scrambling all over the field for gains. It’s like 2015 all over again.
The Packers’ defense ranks in the league’s bottom half against both the run and pass. And where it gets really bad is in the red zone, where they’re giving up touchdowns at a 69 percent clip. That’s only better than the Dolphins.
Both of these teams have little incentive to run the ball and multiple playmakers who catch it meaning itt’s going to be a fun one to watch. But will we be invested from the fantasy side?
Survey says, you’re probably not sitting Brady or Russell Wilson in favor of Rodgers. Maybe what Ben Roethlisberger did to your opponent last week is still too fresh to let go, so you roll with him too.
But ARodge vs. Philip Rivers? Newton? Brees and all his running backs?
Chop up that cheese wheel and enjoy the spoils of a savvy October pickup.
Follow Danny @_dannycross_.
