A big shoutout to Matthew Stafford and Michael Pittman for proving me wrong in last week’s ‘Fades’ article. The goal this week? To ensure that everybody I list down below proves me right (just kidding, I’m always rooting for the players, but the fantasy world makes things tricky so sometimes it looks like you’re straddling the fence).
Without further ado, here are my biggest fades (at cost) at every position entering Week 2 (all salaries courtesy of FanDuel).
QB: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys ($7,400, QB10 at cost)
Nothing against Mr. Prescott, but if Josh Allen is going to turn the ball over four times (along with a pedestrian QB rating of 62.7) and single handedly cost his team a football game against the New York Jets in Week 1, how do you think the 2022 league leader in interceptions is going to fare against a defense that’s looking like one of the best, if not the BEST unit in all of football?
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While Prescott hasn’t always been a turnover prone QB throughout his career, this Jets defense is no joke and could very realistically have Prescott looking like he’s seeing ghosts ala Sam Darnold.
Not only that, but Prescott could also be without a weapon in Brandin Cooks, who is dealing with a sprained MCL. Considering his price tag as the 10th-most expensive QB in DFS, there are plenty of QB’s you should consider inserting into your lineups at a much cheaper price who have matchups not nearly as daunting as Dakota’s.
RB: Dalvin Cook, New York Jets ($6,800, RB14 at cost)
One could argue that the Cowboys’ biggest weakness on defense last season was their subpar ability as a unit to stop the run. We’re only through Week 1 so it’s early, but the Cowboys only gave up 65 yards rushing to Giants RBs (on 15 total carries) to open the season, which doesn’t bode well for Dalvin Cook.
You know what else doesn’t bode well for Cook’s fantasy prospects? The presence of Breece Hall as his backfield mate. Having only finished with three more carries than his counterpart in the backfield, it is expected that Hall will play more of the snaps after having exploded for 127 on just 10 totes. Oh, and Hall’s surgically repaired knee is only going to get better as the week progresses.
Another factor hurting Cook’s fantasy value? The uncertainty revolving around his QB. Given that the Cowboys are almost SURELY going to load up the box to stop the run, running room could come at a premium.
Sure, Cook is likely to be used more out of the backfield, but if Zach Wilson can’t improve upon what he’s shown throughout his career, he’s going to hold everyone back alongside him on the offensive side of the ball.
WR: Garrett Wilson, New York Jets ($7,400, WR10 at cost)
I promise I don’t hate the New York Jets’ skill position players, but I do hate the matchup this week: Dallas. About as brutal as it gets! (the New York Giants will tell you all about it)
Like I mentioned above with Dalvin Cook, everything about the Jets offense has lost its luster since Aaron Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles and that includes entering-the-season fantasy darling and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson. Stephon Gilmore.
Trevon Diggs. Zach Wilson. Those are the only three names/reasons you need to fade Wilson this week. A top-10 option at his position playing for an offense that will struggle to score points all season long at $7,400??? No thank you.
TE: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons ($5,600, TE6 at cost)
So, you’re telling me the Atlanta Falcons drafted elite pass catching prospects top 10 in back-to-back years only to have them RUN BLOCK OVER 50% OF THE TIME? My goodness, what are we doing here? Wouldn't you have been better off drafting offensive linemen or trading up for a QB?
(See my rant on our NFL Fantasy Fire and Ice episode from this past Wednesday).
While Pitts fared a little better than Drake London, two catches for 44 yards isn’t nearly enough when factoring in his price point. Until the Falcons show more competence and a willingness to involve their prized possessions at pass catcher, I’m staying away from both Pitts and London, despite the massive upside and talent they possess.
FLEX: WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons ($5,800, WR38 at cost)
If you do the math, 80% of this article is made up of either Falcons or Jets, so shout out to those organizations for their help in contributing to this article.
Jokes aside, the same logic I used for Pitts applies to London. Not only is Atlanta allergic to passing the football, the jury is still out on QB Desmond Ridder. When he does pass the football, the RB’s are the primary targets.
Not to mention, do-it-all weapon Cordarrelle Patterson is expected to make his season debut, clouding the value of both London and Pitts even further.
And one more thing, Jaire Alexander is on the other side of the football waiting anxiously to make things hard for the second-year pro out of USC. I’m avoiding London in ALL FORMATS of fantasy this week.
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