Hello GCobb readers, beginning with this article, I’m putting a new wrinkle into the website’s fantasy section, called ‘Fantasy Scenarios’.
In this section, if I or any of the other writers are faced with a difficult call regarding our own lineups during the week, we’ll write out our scenario in an article and then open it up to you guys to sound off and weigh in on what the best possible route to take might be.
Here’s my Week 1 predicament.
In one league, (ppr scoring with bonuses for high yardage totals and long touchdowns) I’m considering sitting Green Bay running back Eddie Lacy against the Seattle Seahawks in favor of some players on my bench.
Here’s my roster:
QB1 Phillip Rivers
QB2 Russell Wilson
RB1 Eddie Lacy
RB2 Doug Martin
WR1 A.J. Green
WR2 Vincent Jackson
TE Brent Celek
FLEX Andre Ellington
K Matt Bryant
DEF/ST Cincinnati
Bench: QB Josh McCown, RB Shane Vereen,RB Danny Woodhead, WR Wes Welker, WR Anquan Boldin, WR Danny Amendola, WR Steve Smith
My predicament this week is Eddie Lacy’s match against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
While I expect Lacy to have a big year for the Packers, and Opening Night match against the Seattle run defense is about as tough as it gets, and its hard to start even the best running backs with confidence against such an elite unit. I’ve given some consideration to sitting him in favor of some of my bench guys that have more favorable matchups.
The way I see it, my top alternatives are to play Doug Martin and Andre Ellington as my running backs, while benching Lacy and using either Shane Vereen (who has a nice matchup against Miami) as my flex, or even Anquan Boldin (who has a nice matchup against a brutal Dallas defense). Keep in mind, this is a PPR league, so the value of guys like Vereen who get a high-volume of targets is increased from standard ones.
So this is your opportunity to sound off and give me some fresh, outside perspective on what my best options might be. Do I start Lacy and trust my top draft pick to be matchup-proof and deliver a solid night? Or do I go with my gut and sit him this week in favor of some of my bench options that may have potential to do more? Any other options within my bench/lineup that I haven’t considered?
Sound off below, and post any scenarios of your own that you’d like some advice on.
The thing you have to love about lacy and why you took him in the top 5 is volume both with carries and receptions. In my opinion you dont sit him against anyone no matter what ever b/c you are assured volume. I would never sit him but I hear ya with your concerns about this matchup… Considering how tough Seattles secondary is I wouldnt be surprised if he gets a TD inside the 5, it seems like Green Bay always gives Seattle a strong fight…
While its not part of your question I am also going to tell you that you have to start Shane Vereen every single week especially in ppr leagues. This guy is gonna be a top 10 rb in ppr guarenteed and im seeing top 5 potentially.
im not high on ellington at all and i think he has bust potential so week 1 if i was managing your team i would go lacy, vereen, martin.
however if you are high on ellington you could sit lacy and go ellington, lacy and martin and i wouldnt think it was a terrible decision
I agree mhenski and thanks for the input…the volume of touches is what makes it hard to sit Lacy, its hard to many guys that are going to see a comparable workload….but this matchup is just such a bad one, out on the road in Seattle and the fact that the Seahawks only allowed one team’s running backs to score last season.
I do love Vereen, and I went after him specifically for ppr, and I think he’s the most sure-thing out of all of the Patriots running backs…and if Ridley slips up with a fumble, he’ll be out and Vereen’s workload increases that much more.
I am pretty high on Ellington, so for this is going to come down to Lacy or Vereen.
Gotta Say im in the same boat. Only difference is my runningbacks are eddie Lacy, Reggie Bush, Arian Foster, and shane vereen. I always like playing a RB in my flex.
I was originally thinking Lacy, Foster, and Bush. IM to the point where im gonna gamble and go Vereen, Bush, and foster and sit lacy week 1.
grunt i would start lacy bush and vereen. i got no clue what foster is these days…
I think Foster could get out to a decent start, but fade as the year goes on…he’ll be a little refreshed now, but it won’t be long before he gets beat up and his effectiveness suffers.
Decided to stick with Lacy…at the end of the day, gotta play the guy with the most talent who is going to get the most work.
Yo Denny me and you week 1 good luck
Thanks and same to you!!
XTRA 910 Arizona’s Mike Jurecki reports Andre Ellington underwent an MRI on his left foot Thursday.
Per Jurecki, Ellington had been “dealing with some discomfort” over the past week, and aggravated the injury in Thursday’s practice. The situation has the makings of a Week 1 nightmare, but there’s no point in panicking until the Cardinals reveal Ellington’s MRI results. His status will be updated on Friday. Jonathan Dwyer is the next man up at running back for Arizona. Even if Ellington is ultimately cleared for Monday’s opener, the situation is a reminder of his fragility.
Related: Jonathan Dwyer
Source: Mike Jurecki on Twitter
Sep 5 – 1:02 AM
Ended up benching Ellington and putting in Vereen.