Line is...

 

QB, 1 or 2 RB, at least 3 WR/TE, K, DST. You can go with 1 RB and 4 WR/TE, or 2 RB and 3 WR/TE. You do not have to start a TE.

 

Last week I started

 

Carson Palmer

Frank Gore

Ronnie Brown

Calvin Johnson

DeSean Jackson

Steve Breaston

Rob Bironas

49ser DST

 

Reserves

Matt Stafford

Marion Barber

Donald Brown

Michael Bush

Brandon Jackson

Chris Chambers

Vincent Jackson

Mario Manningham

 

I'll be the voice of opposition then...I'd take the trade with little hesitation. Since you can only play 2 RB's (max) in any given week, I don't think you need Brandon Jackson, so like you, I think the trade comes down to Flacco/Welker for Palmer/Breaston. Personally, I like the former duo much, much better for fantasy purposes.

 

I don't expect anything from Vincent Jackson or Roy Williams, so those two are wash. I suppose Vincent Jackson present more potential should he get on the field at some point. Slaton only has value if Foster goes down, but if that happens, he could be decent. Jackson is unproven...and as much GB is saying they love him, he sure didn't see much action when Grant was healthy. He could be good, but I think you have enough RB's to make him expendable.

 

So, Flacco and Welker vs. Palmer and Breaston...

 

Flacco looked pretty good to me, and threw for 248 yards. He won't face a tougher matchup, IMO, than what he saw Monday night. I like the weapons around him better than what Palmer has. Boldin looked good. He's always had a good chemistry with Mason. TJ will get worked into the picture, and Ray Rice is the best pass catching lead back in the league. He'll help pad Flacco's yardage totals. I don't think the Bengals will fall behind 31-3 very often this season, so I don't expect them to pass as much as they did against New England. I still think they'll be committed to Benson and the run, while I expect Baltimore to shift a little more toward relying on Flacco and the passing game.

 

As for the WR's, Welker is Brady's favorite target. He caught 8 passes on 11 targets in Week One. Last season, excluding the game he was injured in, the lowest amount of targets he had in any game was 9. He gets the ball thrown his way a lot, and he should get better as he gets further away from the injury. Breaston had a big week, but St. Louis is as good a matchup as anyone can get. He caught 7 passes for 132 yards. He was targeted 7 times. I don't think you can count on him catching every pass thrown his way going forward. Fitzgerald was targeted 15 times. Breaston isn't a bad option, but in a league that starts 3 WR's, I think upgrading to a guy like Welker would be a huge benefit for your team.

 

Just looking at the possible starting lineups...

 

Flacco, Gore, Brown, Johnson, Jackson, Welker

 

or

 

Palmer, Gore, Brown, Johnson, Jackson, Breaston

 

I like the first a lot better. And, you still have Barber and Michael Bush, who I think could still be a sleeper.

 

I've rambled a bit, but just trying to let you know what I'm thinking.

Jackson is unproven...and as much GB is saying they love him, he sure didn't see much action when Grant was healthy. He could be good, but I think you have enough RB's to make him expendable.

 

Which, to me, is exactly why he is so valuable. GB primarily sticks with just one main ball carrier and doesn't spread the ball around out of the backfield much. They'll do the same with Jackson, if for no other reason than they don't have anyone else at the moment to make him share carries with. He darn sure looked pretty solid last week when he replaced Grant.

Which, to me, is exactly why he is so valuable. GB primarily sticks with just one main ball carrier and doesn't spread the ball around out of the backfield much. They'll do the same with Jackson, if for no other reason than they don't have anyone else at the moment to make him share carries with. He darn sure looked pretty solid last week when he replaced Grant.

 

Yeah, but that's the first time in how many opportunities? He's done zero over the past four years despite multiple opportunities to win the job outright from Grant. Methinks the Pack will be looking to make a trade.

Yeah, but that's the first time in how many opportunities? He's done zero over the past four years despite multiple opportunities to win the job outright from Grant. Methinks the Pack will be looking to make a trade.

 

:thumb:

Which, to me, is exactly why he is so valuable. GB primarily sticks with just one main ball carrier and doesn't spread the ball around out of the backfield much. They'll do the same with Jackson, if for no other reason than they don't have anyone else at the moment to make him share carries with. He darn sure looked pretty solid last week when he replaced Grant.

 

Solid, sure. 3.5 yards per carry, 75 total yards, 0 TD's.

 

He'd be a nice guy to have, but what he presents westsider is a perfect opportunity to upgrade at WR in a league that only allows him to play 2 RB's, but plays 3 or even 4 WR's.

 

 

It's all about his roster for me...he doesn't need Jackson, and likely won't be playing him much if he keeps him. If he gets Welker, he'll be starting every week, and there's a good chance he'll be his best WR. And, I think Flacco is an upgrade over Palmer. I think the trade significantly improves his starting lineup, and the only cost, IMO, is a little depth at RB...where he'll still have some depth without Jackson.

 

I may be crazy, but I'd take this deal in a heartbeat.

Yeah, but that's the first time in how many opportunities? He's done zero over the past four years despite multiple opportunities to win the job outright from Grant. Methinks the Pack will be looking to make a trade.

 

When were all these opportunities? Grant was the full-time, unquestioned starter in 2008 and 2009. In limited carries in 2008, Jackson rushed for 5.5 yards per carry. His rookie season was 2007 and he was given 3 starts. He did not fare particularly well in them, but that's not all that uncommon for a rookie, especially one on a team that was all about passing. The fact of the matter is that he's going to be given every opportunity to be an every down back and his upside potential is huge given there is no one in GB to press him for playing time and GB's coach has already stated as much. These days there aren't all that many teams that don't heavily split carries in their backs, making it tougher for FFL purposes. It appears he is going to get a ton of touches. Maybe he makes the most of it, maybe he flops. But he's worth the shot and I don't think he's failed so miserably in the past to conclude he destined to fail with this opportunity.

Solid, sure. 3.5 yards per carry, 75 total yards, 0 TD's.

 

He'd be a nice guy to have, but what he presents westsider is a perfect opportunity to upgrade at WR in a league that only allows him to play 2 RB's, but plays 3 or even 4 WR's.

 

 

It's all about his roster for me...he doesn't need Jackson, and likely won't be playing him much if he keeps him. If he gets Welker, he'll be starting every week, and there's a good chance he'll be his best WR. And, I think Flacco is an upgrade over Palmer. I think the trade significantly improves his starting lineup, and the only cost, IMO, is a little depth at RB...where he'll still have some depth without Jackson.

 

I may be crazy, but I'd take this deal in a heartbeat.

 

I'm not sure I'd consider his WR's any worse off than his RB's currently. Calvin Johnson and Desean Jackson are first rate, though obviously a bit of a concern now with Detroit's situation. But ultimately, they have to pass and he'll be the target on the vast majority. Breaston isn't a bad option at all. Clearcut #2 on that team and will benefit from Fitz getting all the double teams. But I agree that Welker would upgrade his WR options. Gore is a stud, or at least should be, but their offense might end up woefully bad with Alex Smith at the helm. And you just don't know with Ronnie Brown. As soon as you peg him for an every week 20-carry guy, they hand the ball to Ricky 15 times and Brown 8. His other options at RB are fairly weak should he get an injury to his starters. Oh well, enough said about this. Hard to make these calls one week into the season. I sure as heck had no idea that Jamal Charles was going to take a back seat to Jones and that Jerome Harrison would split with the incomparable Peyton Hillis. :irked:

I'm not sure I'd consider his WR's any worse off than his RB's currently. Calvin Johnson and Desean Jackson are first rate, though obviously a bit of a concern now with Detroit's situation. But ultimately, they have to pass and he'll be the target on the vast majority. Breaston isn't a bad option at all. Clearcut #2 on that team and will benefit from Fitz getting all the double teams. But I agree that Welker would upgrade his WR options. Gore is a stud, or at least should be, but their offense might end up woefully bad with Alex Smith at the helm. And you just don't know with Ronnie Brown. As soon as you peg him for an every week 20-carry guy, they hand the ball to Ricky 15 times and Brown 8. His other options at RB are fairly weak should he get an injury to his starters. Oh well, enough said about this. Hard to make these calls one week into the season. I sure as heck had no idea that Jamal Charles was going to take a back seat to Jones and that Jerome Harrison would split with the incomparable Peyton Hillis. :irked:

 

It's impossible to predict. You just have to go with what you think is best. That's another reason I like Welker so much in this deal, with Brady at QB, he's as safe a WR as you can get, IMO.

 

I also agree that after Gore, there are no sure RB's on his roster. The difference is, I don't view Brandon Jackson as a sure thing. I'd group him right there with Brown, Barber and Bush...which, IMO, makes him expendable when the payoff is adding another top notch WR in a league that plays more WR. If it was a standard league with 2 RB's, 2 WR's and a RB/WR flex, I wouldn't make the trade.

I'd probably do it. You'd have Ronnie Brown's handcuff and one of those two are going to produce. I think Flacco is going to have some monster games this year because of his receiving core and Welker is a major upgrade over Breaston I think. Where you can only start 2 RBs at max, I'd think long and hard about doing it.

I think I would do the trade, it might hurt your Rb depth a bit but Welker trumps Breaston by a mile.