Bench Devonta Freeman, Darrell Henderson, or Melvin Gordon?

Welcome to the Fake Teams’ fantasy football mailbag! If you want to send in your questions for next week’s mailbag, here are the ways to join:

• tweet @petemrogers or @Faketeams using #FTFFmailbag
• email at ftffmailbag@gmail.com
• leave your question in the comments!

Onto the mailbag:

Q: full ppr - should I trade Carson and Cole for J. Jacobs and either Ridley or Dionte Johnson? 14 team league my top WR is Edelman and I have D. Henry as well
— @412RayInThe703

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: I don’t think your trade partner would accept that trade.

I would highly doubt anyone would want to trade Calvin Ridley right now, nor should you. YOU SHOULD NOT TRADE CALVIN RIDLEY DESPITE HIS DUD WEEK 4. Just wanted to shout that out into the world quickly. Selling high on Chris Carson and trying to buy low on Josh Jacobs isn’t a bad call. Adding Diontae Johnson to the return is icing on the cake. That I can get behind. The Steelers haven’t played in two weeks and Johnson has missed time so people might forget that he is the Steelers NUMBER ONE receiver who leads the team in targets, target share, and air yards. He’s a big play waiting to happen.

So, all this to say, yes. Yes you should send a Chris Carson and Keelan Cole trade for Josh Jacobs and Diontae Johnson but I would expect negotiating.

Q: I have to bench one this week: Freeman, Henderson, Gordon, OBJ
— @andrew_schuba

Well, I can say for certain you shouldn’t bench Odell Beckham. Honestly, I think the play might be benching Henderson. I don’t love either of Devonta Freeman or Melvin Gordon’s matchups BUT, they are both the clear lead backs in their backfield. Even against a tough matchup, they seem locked in for at least 15 touches a piece. Meanwhile, who knows what the Rams backfield will look like this week with Malcolm Brown fully back AND Cam Akers set to return to the field. We saw Darrell Henderson snaps and touches drop big time last week with Brown back in the fold and I’m worried we’re back to the Rams being a three back committee that you have no idea who’s going to get touches when.

Q: I am loaded at WR (zero RB) but I’m not sure who to start this week. I need 4: Evans, Michael Thomas, Lamb, Parker, ODB and Justin Jefferson. Thanks!
— @StillyRyan

Good LORD that is the definition of loaded. Please, PLEASE comment with who your running backs are because if they are at least mildly good, I’m never drafting running backs ever again. Holy buckets that is a stacked receiver room.

Now, Mike Evans has already played given that today is Friday—which brings up a quick side note: should I start releasing the mailbag on THURSDAY so you can ask TNF questions? I’ve put a poll at the end of the mailbag for your votes—and he put forward a solid game catching five balls for 41 yards and a touchdown. So even if you started him, not the end of the world there.

If Micheal Thomas takes the field Monday, you should start him. The Chargers defense have given up the 10th most yards to wide receivers this season and even still recovering from injury, Thomas is a must-start. The Saints however might hold him out yet again, especially since they have a Week 6 bye. So, IF you didn’t start Mike Evans and Michael Thomas is out (something we’ll know by the end of today), then your decision is made for you.

For the remaining four games, let me list their names in the order of priority for must-starting:

1. Justin Jefferson - The Seahawks are giving up the most fantasy points to wide receivers and Jefferson has been BALLING OUT the last two weeks.
2. CeeDee Lamb - Lamb hasn’t seen under five catches and 60 yards in a game this season. This Giants secondary isn’t going to be the first team to prevent him from reaching those numbers.
3. Odell Beckham Jr - I’m fully onboard the Odell train as a reliable week-in, week-out WR1. Yes the Colts defense is legit, but they’re also tied for 5th in most passing touchdowns surrendered to opposing wide receivers this year.
4. DeVante Parker - Even with all the injures, the 49ers pass defense is still top 10 in fewest fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. I think Parker will fall just outside WR2 territory this week.

Q: 1/2 ppr-I have so many RB whose snaps could be limited due to other backs returning or even games being cancelled due to covid. Which 2 do you start? RoJo (Fournette out?, mckinnon (mostert back?), singletary (gonna play?), and Gordon (Lindsey?/covid)? Thx
— @DVScrilla

Again, another question with TNF involved (VOTE BELOW! and also vote in this coming election). Personally, I would’ve told you Ronald Jones and Devin Singletary. Hopefully you started Jones? If not, I still like Jerick McKinnon to have a role against the Dolphins and just because Raheem Mostert is practicing, doesn’t mean he’s a lock to get a huge workload come Sunday.

Have fantasy football questions? You can email them into FTFFmailbag@gmail.com or tweet them at @petemrogers or @faketeams using the hashtag #FTFFmailbag.