Nov 26, 2014
Three and Out: Is Beckham the real deal?
Each week, TSN.ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen and NFL Editors Ben Fisher and Mike Hetherington discuss three hot fantasy football topics. This week they debate how good Odell Beckham can be, if CJ Anderson can sustain his success in Denver, and if Colt McCoy is a fantasy consideration.
TSN.ca Staff
Each week, TSN.ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen and NFL Editors Ben Fisher and Mike Hetherington discuss three hot fantasy football topics.
Is Odell Beckham getting too much hype over his big week and even bigger catch, or can he be a top-end fantasy WR the rest of the way?
Cullen: He's not being under-hyped, that's for sure, because a spectacular catch during a national game is going to catch attention, but the spectacular nature of the catch shouldn't detract from the real value that Beckham has as a receiver. In the past four weeks, he's been targeted 44 times, making 31 catches for 503 yards and a couple of touchdowns. It may be unlikely that he keeps that lofty pace but, particularly with the Giants facing a soft schedule coming up (Jacksonville, Tennessee, Washington), Beckham should be a high-end option at wide receiver. Congratulations to all those who plucked him off the waiver wire.
Fisher: Any receiver that can make a catch like that (reportedly) on a regular basis in practice, dating back to college, is worth a lot of hype. He’s not a top-end WR yet, prior to his huge Week 12 Beckham was performing more like a high-end WR2, but he will be. With his breakout performance, Beckham joins the cast of several rookie receivers who deserve to be keepers in such leagues.
Hetherington: Beckham is getting a lot of attention, but deservedly so, his performance on Sunday night was nothing short of spectacular. I'm not sure top-end is the right category, but I see Beckham being every-week safe WR2 for the remainder of the season. Much like fellow rookie Kelvin Benjamin, Beckham is the lone threat at wide receiver on his team. Therefore, targets are a guarantee and - as long as it's in his wingspan - Beckham will catch any ball thrown his way.
CJ Anderson finally looks like the back we expected from the Broncos' offence. Can he be trusted more than Montee Ball or Ronnie Hillman for sustained success?
Cullen: Third in line for the Broncos' running game, after Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman, Anderson has been really productive over the past three weeks, gaining 473 yards from scrimmage with a couple touchdowns on 65 touches in the past three weeks. He seems to be a good fit for the Broncos because he's a viable threat as a receiver and while he's likely to face challenges for playing time from Juwan Thompson or if the others get healthy, Anderson is a good choice right now, a productive starting running back on a premier offence.
Fisher: I’m of the opinion that big fantasy numbers out of the Broncos’ backfield should be expected, not just hoped for. Anderson’s finally doing the position justice, which is more an indictment of Ball and Hillman than it is a compliment to Anderson. Still, Anderson is doing what any running back in Denver should do – putting up points in bunches – and he should continue that relatively easy feat all season.
Hetherington: I'm beginning to think the Broncos backfield cursed. Every time a back seems to emerge, he goes down with injury. I'm going to take a guess and say the third time's the charm for the Broncos at running back and Anderson's the guy that can finally stay healthy. As long as he does, Anderson is a RB1 in an offence that scores points in bunches. Limiting Anderson's long-term outlook, however, is the eventual returns of Ball and Hillman. Though those may not come until after the fantasy season.
The Redskins are starting Colt McCoy. Should fantasy players be doing the same?
Cullen: Are we talking two or three-quarterback leagues here? McCoy has been great in his two appearances this year (36-for-42, 427 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), but I would have to be in a completely desperate situation to put my fantasy hopes on McCoy. This season's results notwithstanding, I would need to see a bunch more before starting McCoy this late in the season. Just because the Redskins are doing it doesn't mean every fantasy owner should behave so recklessly.
Fisher: McCoy has one good game on film and the fantasy scoreboard, and a whole lot of bad ones from his time in Cleveland. Owners of RG3, if there are any left patient enough to endure through his struggles, can find much better replacements on the waiver wire than McCoy.
Hetherington: McCoy would be an extreme reach of a start this week. Colt did a good job of moving the offence in his two outings with the Redskins earlier this year, but expecting more than one touchdown from him is a stretch. I don't even see McCoy on the QB2 radar this week, though he may have the opportunity to rack up fantasy points in garbage time if the Colts run up the score early. With the way the Redskins have played as a whole, I can't see McCoy playing the savior for the struggling team.