This week offers a perfect storm of impending fantasy protests. If Taysom Hill is in your opponent's TE slot, but he no longer qualifies at TE, should your league commissioner act? If the Ravens-Steelers game proceeds despite COVID sidelining Baltimore's two top RBs, will there be frustration that the league didn't postpone the game? If Pittsburgh faces a rash of COVID-positives next week, will there also be frustration that the league chose revenue over player safety--and for our purposes, fantasy production, since many of you will be leaning on Steeler players next week?
As I've been saying for months, each fantasy league needed to be prepared for all this. Rules are rules. In my opinion, midseason rule changes only work when they don't favor some managers over others. In other words, it's nearly impossible to make midseason rule changes without undercutting the league's integrity. Someone is going to take a hit, and someone else is going to benefit. If Thursday's Baltimore-Pittsburgh game is postponed until a newly created Week 18 of the regular season--or canceled altogether--imagine being the manager with several starters from one or both teams. If every manager understands the risks at the outset, then that's just how it goes. If rules are suddenly changed to accommodate managers hit hardest . . . well, that won't sit well in most leagues.
So here's hoping you all play in leagues whose rules are set, and where everyone understands things won't always break their way. Because it's easier to come to grips with bad luck than with bad rule changes.
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Elsewhere around the league, D'Andre Swift is on track for a questionable tag for Thursday's contest, which matters not only because he's a top-14 RB, but also because he'd face a very beatable Houston defense.
Lamical Perine is done for the fantasy regular season and possibly for the playoffs with a high-ankle sprain. Somehow Frank Gore will hit 150 rushing attempts for the 15th straight season, and might collect 250 touches for the 13th time. It boggle the mind. Josh Adams and the lower-ceiling Ty Johnson are his backups. There's nothing inherently wrong with rostering Adams in very deep leagues, since he'd have bellcow potential if Gore went down (Johnson would not).
The Packers DST has been a bottom-third option, but are headed toward potential top-5 glory at home against the Bears if Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles remain out. The undrafted Tyler Bray would be lucky to escape with a 50 passer rating, and Chicago owns the NFL's worst running game (3.6 YPC, only two rushing TDs). Even if Mitch or Foles start, Green Bay is a solid streamer.
And back to Baltimore: There will be a rush to add Gus Edwards with Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins sidelined. I won't be too aggressive. People point to Edwards rumbling over Pittsburgh in Week 8 (16-87-1 line). Well, the Ravens lost two offensive linemen that game, and since then Edwards owns a meager 3.4 YPC. He's also caught only 12 passes in 37 NFL games. You won't find many more one-dimensional starting RBs. Talented? Absolutely. But heading to Pittsburgh behind a depleted line in a game where they'll likely be playing catch-up, I don't like Edwards cracking 10 fantasy points.