2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

[Blzer]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

I had to wait till today to know, because all three are still listed as questionable. Pick two:

Carlos Hyde
Sammy Watkins
Demarius Thomas

I'm interested in playing Watkins because of the media thing this week, despite the fact Jones will probably be covering him today. Manning has also been targeting Sanders a bit more lately, and he also has Daniels to go to in the red zone... plus Hyde has come off some good starts as well. It concerns me benching Thomas though when 98% of Yahoo is starting him haha.


Also... man, I hate saying this one because I know how all ya'll are here with me on it, but I have Russell Wilson and my opponent has Jimmy Graham in that league, and in the other league there is Marshawn Lynch. I don't care as much about the Lynch factor when it comes to a matchup, but now i have to sit around and think about the fact that if Wilson ever throws to Graham (especially as TD's), I am automatically being hit. And I just don't think that he'll get any rushing TD's or anything now that Lynch is back.

If it helps, my other QB is Bradford.

[og236]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

LeGarrette Blount or Gio Bernard, Standard ESPN


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[phenom1990]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

I had to wait till today to know, because all three are still listed as questionable. Pick two:

Carlos Hyde
Sammy Watkins
Demarius Thomas


I'm interested in playing Watkins because of the media thing this week, despite the fact Jones will probably be covering him today. Manning has also been targeting Sanders a bit more lately, and he also has Daniels to go to in the red zone... plus Hyde has come off some good starts as well. It concerns me benching Thomas though when 98% of Yahoo is starting him haha.

Start Thomas and Hyde. You should start Thomas everytime he suits up. I can't see the Bills being able to move the ball enough with all their injuries to justify starting Watkins over either Hyde or Thomas.

Wwharton, I would start Gates over Olsen. I think he has the higher ceiling this week and I think Carolina will struggle to get over the 50 in Seattle; which wouldn't allow Olsen many scoring opportunities.

[Blzer]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

I don't know how it helps show ignorance when it comes to determining whether certain people should play/sit because of who their opponents have. Not that I'm going to win this week in one of my leagues anyway, but when my opponent has Graham and Lynch (yep, they had him but he was benched earlier until they brought him up), Wilson may have the game of his life but it will probably be a result of both of those players also racking up points as well.

Any passing TD Wilson throws to Graham automatically gives my opponent at least two more points than me. I don't see how that works in my favor. The questions I would ask here would be: "How often do you think Graham and Lynch will be targeted?" The answer is "a lot."

I probably should have started Bradford, but it would not have mattered this week anyway. I just want to justify what I sometimes ask on here, because I think it's a big part of the strategy and is very important to help you win in any given week.

[redsox4evur]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

Any passing TD Wilson throws to Graham automatically gives my opponent at least two more points than me. I don't see how that works in my favor. The questions I would ask here would be: "How often do you think Graham and Lynch will be targeted?" The answer is "a lot."

It gets you 4 points. That's how it works in your favor. Would you rather have Wilson throw 3 TD's to Graham and Bradford throw 0 and you lose by 1 point because you were too afraid to start Wilson when your opponent had Graham or start Wilson and actually get the win? Because that what it comes down to.

[Blzer]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

It gets you 4 points. That's how it works in your favor. Would you rather have Wilson throw 3 TD's to Graham and Bradford throw 0 and you lose by 1 point because you were too afraid to start Wilson when your opponent had Graham or start Wilson and actually get the win? Because that what it comes down to.

I guess it depends on how you see the head-to-head. The way I see it, I'm "down two more points" than I would be per TD because of that. The question is always regarding how bold you want to go: are you willing to accept the net loss of two points per TD (or more per Lynch rush TD which means zero for Wilson on that drive), or do you want to take the risk and go to an independent source of play and just hope that not only your guy flourishes, but that all of Seattle tanks in general? Because now your net gain is high if that happens.

Again, it's about how bold you want to be. I never said "I shouldn't play him," I'm saying "It should be a permissible conversation and strategy in FF." Other people are saying try and get as many points as possible, and I say you have to beat your opponent. Everything is based on how you anticipate/hope results will pan out, and not have to settle for them to outscore you when you choose who to play.

It's iffy logic, but it's not flawed. That's why I ask those questions and IMO they are valid questions.

It like if you have a QB for one team and a defense that is playing that QB also on your team. Even if they gave you the most points in hindsight because of how good they both are, that is very hard to come by unless your QB racks up a bunch of yards, maybe gets a rushing TD, and your RB/special teams gives up the rest of the TD's to the defense somehow. That's just too hard to wish to make all happen. So, either you accept chewing off points, or you go bold and start somebody else hoping they will outscore those other guys, especially since defense and QB aren't directly related anymore.

[phenom1990]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

Start Thomas and Hyde. You should start Thomas everytime he suits up. I can't see the Bills being able to move the ball enough with all their injuries to justify starting Watkins over either Hyde or Thomas.

Wwharton, I would start Gates over Olsen. I think he has the higher ceiling this week and I think Carolina will struggle to get over the 50 in Seattle; which wouldn't allow Olsen many scoring opportunities.

Well it looks like I was wrong on Gates vs Olsen.

If it was PPR league then the order was D Thomas, Watkins, Hyde. I thought Hyde would do better against Baltimore run D. In a non PPR league, the difference between the 3 was not that much.

[wwharton]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

I had to wait till today to know, because all three are still listed as questionable. Pick two:

Carlos Hyde
Sammy Watkins
Demarius Thomas

I'm interested in playing Watkins because of the media thing this week, despite the fact Jones will probably be covering him today. Manning has also been targeting Sanders a bit more lately, and he also has Daniels to go to in the red zone... plus Hyde has come off some good starts as well. It concerns me benching Thomas though when 98% of Yahoo is starting him haha.


Also... man, I hate saying this one because I know how all ya'll are here with me on it, but I have Russell Wilson and my opponent has Jimmy Graham in that league, and in the other league there is Marshawn Lynch. I don't care as much about the Lynch factor when it comes to a matchup, but now i have to sit around and think about the fact that if Wilson ever throws to Graham (especially as TD's), I am automatically being hit. And I just don't think that he'll get any rushing TD's or anything now that Lynch is back.

If it helps, my other QB is Bradford.

I don't know how it helps show ignorance when it comes to determining whether certain people should play/sit because of who their opponents have. Not that I'm going to win this week in one of my leagues anyway, but when my opponent has Graham and Lynch (yep, they had him but he was benched earlier until they brought him up), Wilson may have the game of his life but it will probably be a result of both of those players also racking up points as well.

Any passing TD Wilson throws to Graham automatically gives my opponent at least two more points than me. I don't see how that works in my favor. The questions I would ask here would be: "How often do you think Graham and Lynch will be targeted?" The answer is "a lot."

I probably should have started Bradford, but it would not have mattered this week anyway. I just want to justify what I sometimes ask on here, because I think it's a big part of the strategy and is very important to help you win in any given week.

I see you still want to dwell on this, lol. First, I would've started Bradford over Wilson anyway. The expected points in tonight's game are much higher than that SEA/CAR game and you'd expect a lot more plays to be run... specifically a lot more passing plays.

Your analysis is still very flawed. You still speak as if you have some power in the outcome of the games based on who you put in your lineup. Wilson is going to throw tds to Graham no matter whether or not you start him. But even what you describe as a real life hypothetical is only half the story. You talk about Graham getting points off your QB but your QB also gets points off of Graham. If I go into a week against a Graham owner and I predict Graham to go off, I'd be MORE likely to start Wilson, because I know if Graham goes off, then Wilson has a good game. At the end of the day, it is only about having as many points as your roster can make (all of your highest scorers in your starting lineup), and hoping that total is more points than your opponent... that's it.

Side note to your original question (sorry wasn't around before you had to make the choice), Thomas is definitely hurting. I can't remember him dropping so many easy passes. He's still at the point where I wouldn't sit him for anyone but definitely keep an eye on news about him.

Well it looks like I was wrong on Gates vs Olsen.

If it was PPR league then the order was D Thomas, Watkins, Hyde. I thought Hyde would do better against Baltimore run D. In a non PPR league, the difference between the 3 was not that much.

It's all good... I stuck with Olsen so that worked out, but Gates had 95 yards himself. He just didn't get a TD. I did really like Gates' match up, but as tough as SEA's D is, they struggle against TEs.

[cam21224]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

I'm stuck between SEA receivers or 49ers receivers for a Thursday match up.

Should I split one and one, maybe Boldin and Baldwin/Lockett?

[mb625]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

I have an abundance of talent on one of my teams and need some WR/Flex advice. Need 1 WR and 3 Flex plays out of this group (1 point per reception):
WR:
A. Brown (Pit)
O. Beckham Jr.
J. Brown (Ari)
B. Marshall
A. Cooper
T. Benjamin

RB:
D. Freeman (he's locked in as my starting RB.)
M. Lynch
A. Foster
T. Gurley

Quite frankly, I have no idea where to go with all this, BUT, right now I have ODB at WR and Marshall, Foster and Gurley as the flex plays.

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[wwharton]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

I'm stuck between SEA receivers or 49ers receivers for a Thursday match up.

Should I split one and one, maybe Boldin and Baldwin/Lockett?

Ugh. You have to start 2? And is this all you have (do you have Smith too)?

I'd rather have either of the SF WRs but I'd rather have the match up of the SEA WRs. I guess I'd split and go with Boldin and Baldwin... and hope the rest of my team can make up the needed points.

I have an abundance of talent on one of my teams and need some WR/Flex advice. Need 1 WR and 3 Flex plays out of this group (1 point per reception):
WR:
A. Brown (Pit)
O. Beckham Jr.
J. Brown (Ari)
B. Marshall
A. Cooper
T. Benjamin

RB:
D. Freeman (he's locked in as my starting RB.)
M. Lynch
A. Foster
T. Gurley

Quite frankly, I have no idea where to go with all this, BUT, right now I have ODB at WR and Marshall, Foster and Gurley as the flex plays.

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Actually not that hard (imo) besides the RBs. First, the WRs... I think you have that on point. The other options are great, but considering what you're choosing from, I think that's how it should be. You may regret sitting Brown, but without Ben back, it's worth being safe considering your other options.

I guess you could start all 3 RBs and sit Marshall, but he's playing better than anyone listed recently so that idea is out. I think Lynch has to sit in a similar way that Brown should this week. He's a good option but slightly dinged, I think the others are just better options.

[cam21224]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

Ugh. You have to start 2? And is this all you have (do you have Smith too)?

I'd rather have either of the SF WRs but I'd rather have the match up of the SEA WRs. I guess I'd split and go with Boldin and Baldwin... and hope the rest of my team can make up the needed points.

Yes unfortunately, I can pick any two receivers from either team. Leaning towards your suggestion of Boldin/Baldwin. Thanks

[King_B_Mack]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

Not sure how I want to attack this week.

Standard scoring league. 2 backs, 2 WRs, 1 TE and a Flex spot.

RBs: Arian Foster, Dion Lewis, Justin Forsett, Ahmad Bradshaw and Karlos Williams

WRs: Amari Cooper, Steve Smith Sr, Martavis Bryant, Allen Hurns, Anquan Boldin, Tavon Austin

TEs: Jimmy Graham, Gary Barnidge

Obviously Foster is a start and I'm thinking Lewis in the RB2 slot since I don't anticipate NE pounding away with a huge lead with Blount? My head is telling me Forsett as my Flex, but my gut says against Arizona that may not be all that smart?

Wideout I'm thinking Bryant and Cooper because I'm not all that sure about Smith's matchup with Peterson, though Smith is kind of a beast.

Tight end I feel like I have to ride Barnidge's hot hand? But I like Jimmy's matchup with the Niners. Maybe go 2 tight ends this week with one at the Flex or maybe Cooper, Bryant and Smith combo?

[wwharton]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

Not sure how I want to attack this week.

Standard scoring league. 2 backs, 2 WRs, 1 TE and a Flex spot.

RBs: Arian Foster, Dion Lewis, Justin Forsett, Ahmad Bradshaw and Karlos Williams

WRs: Amari Cooper, Steve Smith Sr, Martavis Bryant, Allen Hurns, Anquan Boldin, Tavon Austin

TEs: Jimmy Graham, Gary Barnidge

Obviously Foster is a start and I'm thinking Lewis in the RB2 slot since I don't anticipate NE pounding away with a huge lead with Blount? My head is telling me Forsett as my Flex, but my gut says against Arizona that may not be all that smart?

Wideout I'm thinking Bryant and Cooper because I'm not all that sure about Smith's matchup with Peterson, though Smith is kind of a beast.

Tight end I feel like I have to ride Barnidge's hot hand? But I like Jimmy's matchup with the Niners. Maybe go 2 tight ends this week with one at the Flex or maybe Cooper, Bryant and Smith combo?

I'm gonna make it even more complicated because I think I'd go with Cooper and Hurns. I know Bryant had a huge week last week, but it wasn't volume... and with Ben still out, I'd like to wait a week before automatically plugging him in there.

Either way, I think it's smart to be worried about the Ravens players. With the options you have I'd sit both of them. So throw Graham in the flex.

[thefakeJTS]

Re: 2015 "Who Should I Start" Thread

So I'm having a little bit of a difficult situation this week. My league features defenses pretty prominently. Another team dropped the Dolphins D and I can have first dibs at claiming them.

Would you guys trust the Dolphins D against Houston or the Eagles D against Carolina this week?

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