Eric Sorenson
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Every week during the season NFL Network and NFL.com Senior Fantasy Analyst Michael Fabiano joins Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat to share his insight on building and developing your fantasy team for success.
Here are some hi-lights from our most recent conversation (November 18th) with the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association Hall of Famer.
Initial thoughts on Tony Romo’s long-awaited return to the Cowboys this weekend? “I know he’s not elite from a fantasy perspective but he’s not far off. He’s always a Top 10 fantasy quarterback and the matchup is really good this week against Miami. They’ve struggled against quarterbacks…this is a guy who can help you over the next several weeks and into your fantasy playoffs.”
Is Brock Osweiler worth adding in Denver? “Well, let’s put it this way. He can’t be worse than Peyton Manning, can he? Nine touchdowns, 17 interceptions. Listen, Peyton Manning’s the greatest fantasy quarterback of all time. I’m not taking that away from him. He’s been fantastic…but what has he done since maybe Week 12 or 13 of last year? Osweiler you would at least think would be a little more accurate. Peyton Manning was throwing a lot of those flutter balls. Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas were both targeted a lot but when those targets are being thrown over your head, short of you or to the other team…I’m not playing Brock Osweiler but as a fantasy owner who might have D.T. or Sanders-assuming he’s healthy enough to play, I feel a little bit more optimistic.”
I owned Edelman—looking for some options to at least somewhat off-set his loss. “Well, clearly [Danny] Amendola is the first guy you’re going to consider. Unfortunately, if you didn’t put a claim in for him [Tuesday] night he’s probably long gone. Lamar Aiken is someone you can pick up. Dorial Green-Beckham is another player you can pick up. I know Tayvon Austin is available in a bunch of leagues and they’re playing Baltimore this week and they don’t have a good pass defense. So you do have some options out there but you’re not going to be able to replace Julian Edelman. That guy is too good. Even Amendola—if you think he’s going to put up Edelman numbers the rest of the season, I think you’re crazy but at least he is catching passes from Tom Brady and that certainly helps his value.”
What wide receivers have favorable match ups this weekend? “Mike Evans is a must-start, so is Jarvis Landry. The Cowboys are really struggling against number one wide receivers this year. Sammy Watkins is a good play as is Steve Johnson. Guys to consider benching: Randall Cobb–he’s averaged fewer than 40 yards in games against Minnesota. Jeremy Maclin has a bad match up.”
Who are some starts/sits at quarterback you like heading into Week 11? “Remember last week I told you to start Kirk Cousins? Uh, this week don’t play him. Not against the Panthers. Not on the road. I don’t like the matchup for Jay Cutler against Denver. I think last week he got lucky. Zach Miller and Jeremy Langford both made big plays that sort of inflated his stat line. I think bad Andy Dalton is back. Don’t play him. Don’t play Tannehill or Flacco. Quarterbacks I’m starting: Derek Carr…Carson Palmer. I like Romo. I like Matt Ryan this week, as well.”
How about at running back? “I like Chris Ivory and Darren McFadden this week. Charcandrick West has become a virtual must-start. Guys with bad match ups: Justin Forsett, Doug Martin, Jeremy Hill who’s barely even rosterable right now. If Eddie Lacy is back I’m still not playing him this week because well, he’s a little heavy. He’s in a committee and he has been maybe the biggest bust in fantasy football this year, although there have been quite a few.”
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