Aaron Rodgers Is Done But What About The Rest Of The Packers?

He’s been a popular guy to pick up in traditional and daily fantasy leagues for years. But after getting slammed by Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr Sunday, Aaron Rodgers is as good as done for the season. However, while daily fantasy players may not like losing a good option at quarterback, there are plenty of other good ones out there.

The real problem going forward is figuring out how the rest of the Green Bay Packers should be viewed for daily fantasy purposes.

To start or not to start?

Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, and Randall Cobb are worth considering on any given Game Day. If one of those guys was hurt, Geronimo Allison became a viable option. But that was with Aaron Rodgers in the lineup. Now the offense will be led by former UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley.

So—is it safe to start a wide receiver playing for the Green Bay Packers?

Of course not!

Aaron Rodgers is one of the best in the NFL today and one of the best in recent history. With his instincts and athleticism, he could turn a busted play into a touchdown with ease. Without much of a running game to speak of, the Packers offense has depended on his ability to do that a few times a game.

That hasn’t always been the case. He needed time to develop into the star that he is today. But for the Packers offensive weapons to mean anything for daily fantasy purposes, they will need him to play like one.

Can he?

All you have to do is look at his day against the Vikings to know the answer to that one (18-33 for 157 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions).

But that was one game and he hadn’t been practicing with the first team. Surely, he’ll be better next week—right?

Believe that if you wish, but the smart play would be to leave the Green Bay Packers alone for the next couple of weeks. Hundley is like most backups. More often than not, he is going to check down and throw the safe, short routes. He’s done it when he’s played in regular season games and he’s done it during preseason play.

Defenses are going to key on that and shut him down.

Kevin Hogan Worth Starting Against The Houston Texans This Week?

On a normal week and under normal conditions, this would not even be a question. Starting any offensive players from the lowly Cleveland Browns against the Houston Texans defense would be foolish. But the conditions are far from normal.

J.J. Watt is out for the season as is Whitney Mercilus. The defense proved last year that it could survive without Watt. But can it manage without Mercilus as well. Their replacements, Kendall Langford and Lamarr Houston, will likely get a fair amount of playing time even though they were just signed.

But they were not on a roster for a reason. If they were the studs the Texans are going to need them to be, they would not have been waiting for someone to call.

Safe to bet against a depleted Texans D?

So, it is not hard to imagine the Texans defense is not going to be as good as it normally is going forward.

But we are still talking about a guy, Kevin Hogan, playing for one of the worst teams in the NFL. Do the Texans need their ‘A’ game to shut him down?

It will be Hogan’s first start, but when he has played, he’s looked pretty good. Last week, after replacing an ineffective DeShone Kizer, he went 16-19 for 194 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. In limited action this season he has completed 26 of 38 passes for 377 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.

He doesn’t have much of a history to review, but what history he has is pretty good. The Jets defense is considered one of the better ones in the league, and he shredded them for a half. What’s to say he can’t do the same against a depleted Texans defense?

Is it safe to start Hogan?

It sounds like a crazy notion, but it is not hard to imagine him having a decent day against the Texans. So— should you start him in your daily fantasy lineup?

No, but only because there are definitely more reliable options out there. But if you decide to go all in on your receivers and running backs, he could be an affordable option with a ton of upside. However, in starting him you also take on a huge risk.

While it is not hard to imagine him having a good day, it is also not hard to imagine him getting pummeled by the Texans.

So, proceed with caution but go with someone else if you can.

Has National Anthem Protests Impacted Daily Fantasy Values?

Much like last season, the various players protesting racial inequality and police brutality/protesting President Trump/supporting Colin Kaepernick has taken center stage. Many support the players for making the most of their platform. But many do not.

Then there is the segment of the population that just wishes football could be about football—and not politics.

The protests have definitely affected the popularity of the game and that of the players involved, but has it affected the product on the field. To be more specific, has it impacted daily fantasy football?

Rather than go crazy trying to track each and every player that has protested, the focus will be on the teams/players that kneel during the National Anthem and not those linking arms, raising a fist, or staying in the locker room.

The teams/players in question

Are as follows:

• Miami Dolphins— Kenny Stills, Julius Thomas, and Mike Thomas:

• San Francisco 49ers— approximately 25 players knelt prior to game against Colts. Many did the week before as well.

• Seattle Seahawks defensive line knelt prior to Week Four’s game, but stood to honor the victims of the Las Vegas tragedy last week.

• Prior to Week Four’s games, several Baltimore Ravens players knelt as did many from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Several Buffalo Bills players did as well.

• The Steelers stayed in the tunnel prior to Week Four’s game with the exception of one player, Andrew Villanueva.

• Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch has been sitting for the anthem, and last week decided to wear an “Everybody vs Trump” t-shirt to the game.

• Many of the Colts did prior to Week Three’s game.

• Many New England Patriots have knelt before games this year.

So—has the protests affected daily fantasy play?

In just about every case, the answer is no. None of the teams involved have many (if any) players that are worth considering in daily fantasy games. If anything, they were already struggling for well-known reasons.

Jay Cutler is killing the offense in Miami. San Francisco has been terrible for years and still is. Indianapolis is as irrelevant as they come in daily fantasy play this year.

The Seahawks struggles have been more on offense, and can be attributed more to poor offensive line play. Marshawn Lynch has not been good all season either.

Jacksonville’s defense is carrying that team and it is not clear if Leonard Fournette has been kneeling.

New England’s defense was terrible before anyone started kneeling.Tom Brady will always make sure the offense is fine.

According to some stories in the media, conflict over how the team has handled the National Anthem protests has led to some of the struggles the Pittsburgh Steelers have endured. But at the same time, the problems could be attributed to Le’Veon Bell holding out and skipping training camp and Ben Roethlisberger considering retirement.

Have the protests played a factor?

No.

The teams protesting were already having trouble, including the Steelers. If anything, the protests have only put a focus on some of the worst teams in the NFL this season. Their football is lacking, so people needed a reason to pay attention to them.

Ezekiel Elliot A Safe Start Against Green Bay?

When it comes to daily fantasy, it probably doesn’t get much safer than a guy like Ezekiel Elliot, right? The big running back is the cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys offense. If he doesn’t get the ball moving early on, the Cowboys offense tends to suffer. So, you know he is going to get the touches that you want to see one of your starting running backs get.

But he may not be as safe a start as you might think.

With how he has played this season and the changes on the Dallas offensive line, he may not be on the top of everyone’s list right now anyway. He only has one 100+ yard rushing day this season and only two games where he had 100+ total yards. But with Elliot, fans will always consider starting him since they know he has the potential for a breakout game every week.

Could this week be just such a week?

Green Bay hasn’t been one of the best teams against the run this year (19th; 111 yards/game). They haven’t allowed a 100+ yard rusher yet this season but in a day and age where most teams take a running back by committee approach, that isn’t too surprising. None of the four teams they’ve played has a true featured running back.

But the Dallas Cowboys do, and he happens to be one of the best in the game today. Oh, and his offensive line is awesome.

So—should you start him?

Elliot ran really well against the Packers in Dallas’ regular season win over them (28 carries for 157 yards) last year, and in the playoff loss (22 carries for 125 yards). So, he has a really good track record against Green Bay.

But this time he’s nursing bruised ribs.

Bruised ribs can be nothing. But they can also make it hard to breathe. When it’s hard to breathe it can be hard to run through people. However, even though he was listed on the injury report Wednesday, he was a full participant in practice.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett doesn’t foresee Elliot having any trouble playing Sunday— and neither should daily fantasy players.  With how well he’s run against the Packers in the past, he’s a borderline must-start player. Did the Pros recommend him in the Lineup Builder?

What Does Mitchell Trubisky Mean For Daily Fantasy Values of His Offensive Teammates?

Mike Glennon knew his time was going to be short when the Bears traded a boatload of picks to move up one slot to take Mitchell Trubisky in the draft. After Trubisky looked excellent during the preseason, many thought Glennon would start the season on the bench.

But John Fox gave him a shot, and in Week One against the Falcons, it looked like a smart call. Fast forward to Thursday night’s game where Glennon committed four turnovers in an ugly 35-14 loss, and the hook had to be imminent.

As it turns out—it was. ESPN and other media outlets began reporting Monday afternoon that Trubisky is getting the start in Week Five.

The question now is

What the change will mean for the daily fantasy values of the Bears offensive players.

For now, fans and daily fantasy players shouldn’t expect anything. Mike Glennon will obviously have no value going forward. None of the wideouts have been especially impressive so far, this year, and not because of Glennon. They lead the league in dropped passes, so far, this season with 9.4 percent.

However, if there is anyone that could see an uptick in value immediately it is Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen. The Bears have been doing a good job of running the ball this season (4.6 yards/carry; seventh in the NFL). The best way to make life a little easier for a young quarterback is to establish a running game.

But teams are likely going to stack the box to stop the run and force Trubisky to beat them. The question will then become whether the Bears offensive line can impose their will and keep the run game alive.

And the verdict is…

So—what impact will Mitchell Trubisky have on the daily fantasy value of his teammates? The only players worth paying attention to when Glennon was playing were the running backs, Howard and Cohen. Going forward, that will still be the case.

Tarik Cohen could end up becoming his favorite target. He already has nearly as many yards receiving (150) as rushing (181), and only six more carries than receptions.

Howard will definitely see the ball more, but it is not hard to imagine Cohen being more productive in the passing game. As for Trubisky, wait a couple of games before even thinking about starting him. Check out my article on Dalvin Cook and what if, if any RB plays are there from the Vikings.