Sharing is a key part of the human experience. We share joy. We share anger. We share sorrow. Most binding of all, we share experiences.
Music has been a massive part of my life thanks to my parents (who also shared football with me) and extended family. Absorbed into a flurry of laser lights, powerfully precise percussion, sweeping guitar soundscapes and boundlessly exploratory bass playing, my first concert was amazing. I’ll never forget how three people managed to create such a monstrous wall of sound. Rush was truly amazing. They gained a lifelong fan.
After the passing of Neil Peart, my son, Merek, will never see Rush live, but sharing the experience is about more than replication. This past Tuesday, he went to his very first concert. It may have been a school night, but it was also time to pass on the tradition. The co-headliner, Coheed and Cambria, was fantastic. The opener, Meet Me @ the Altar, was a lot of fun.
The Used and their blend of infectious energy, open-heartedness and Billboard-topping hooks captured Merek’s heart ― pun intended for any fans of The Used. I’ve seen a lot of antics at shows in my many concert experiences, but I’ve never seen someone unleash a gauntlet of Fortnite dance moves in the middle of a huge crowd to a heart-pumping rock band. At least not until Tuesday night.
My son unlocked the secret of what I love more than most things in life: live music. It truly is magical to watch. Now that I’ve shared some notes on sharing with you ― and some music ― it’s time to share some takeaways from Week 2 of the fantasy football season!
Situations to Avoid After Week 2
Cleveland Wide Receivers
Whenever clear starters disappear from a roster due to injury, we wonder how the players stepping up to fill that void will share the workload. Some vultures will circle and latch on to Anthony Schwartz’s performance Week 1 or the reliance on Austin Hooper and David Njoku in Week 2 by Baker Mayfield. What you need to know is that you want none of the receivers if Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. aren’t out there.
The Cleveland Browns run their offense through Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt both literally and figuratively. Everyone else will be, at best, a convenient option until the lead receivers return. Don’t waste your waiver pickups or trade capital chasing who will get targets from Mayfield.
Las Vegas Running Backs
In the wake of Josh Jacobs’ absence, the haters were ready to see Kenyan Drake get the lion’s share of the work. What they got was a timeshare. Drake’s passing work was nice, but Peyton Barber got almost twice the rushing attempts. Since he is not Jacobs, Barber did nothing with these attempts. A week of rest should see Jacobs back out there to play against the Dolphins. Nothing to see here. What we learned is that if Jacobs is out again, neither of the other options will be a sure-fire replacement.
Busted QBs
Just a quick note since we saw quite a few quarterbacks get injured this week. Short of a miracle and Deshaun Watson playing, you want no replacement quarterbacks. In your typical 12-team redraft league, Derek Carr and Sam Darnold are two steady options that are widely available. If you are a dynasty player, you know replacement quarterbacks will disappear. They aren’t worth the Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) you will use to pick them up ― see Nick Mullens.
Pickups After Week 2
Give Me (Rondale) Moore (WR, Arizona Cardinals)
Rostered in only 19.3 percent of ESPN leagues, Rondale Moore is the player you want to grab when it comes to replacing your Cleveland wide receivers. He has had a solid share of the Cardinals’ targets and has produced flex-worthy points in Week 1 and an awesome showing in Week 2. This offense doesn’t look like it will slow down any time soon. Even when they face tougher defenses, you know Hopkins will pull the opponent’s best coverage player, leaving Moore open to feast.
Tony Pollard (WR, Dallas Cowboys)
Tony Pollard. Though his name is divisive at times, this past week looks like an obvious lesson for the Cowboys. A fresh Ezekiel Elliott is a solid Elliott. Time to share the workload.
If they are smart, and I have every reason to believe that offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is, they will continue to rotate both backs as they did this week in order to keep Elliott fresh for the game and the year. To me, this means Pollard gets enough work weekly to be a viable flex option ― not just a valuable handcuff. Get him now while you can. His rostership in ESPN is currently at 38.6 percent.
Washington Football Assets
I gotta share credit with fellow analyst Charlie “Herms” Herrman for half of this last one. Adam Humphries and J.D. McKissic are going to be involved in the Taylor Heinicke version of the Washington Football team offense. It’s that simple. We have seen Humphries be a reliable flex in the past as a possession receiver. As long as Curtis Samuel is out, he will be busy.
Unlike Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will be out for at least another seven weeks, Heinicke will use the check-down option. Offensive Coordinator Scott Turner was the quarterback coach for Heinicke in Carolina before coming to Washington. Turner knows what he has in his QB and will continue to play to the strengths and style of Heinicke. Much like last year with Alex Smith under center, we will see McKissic in the game and staying busy.
May these shares be helpful to you on your quest for fantasy glory!
Make today a great day! And don’t forget to be awesome (DFTBA)!