Four weeks have flown by, and we’re starting to get a feel for our teams. It’s still not time to panic, but your league mates might. In many cases, it’s way too early to jump ship. After three games last season, Trey McBride barely cracked the top 50 tight ends, and Dak didn’t even rank as a QB2. Let’s keep taking advantage of every situation and setting ourselves up to be in the best position to succeed throughout this grind of a fantasy football season.
BUY
Alexander Mattison, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Reports of an increased role for Mattison have emanated from Vegas, and that was even before Zamir White was limited in practice because of a groin issue. Mattison has found paydirt three times already this season, while White has lost two fumbles and hasn’t scored. The former Viking is less than 50% rostered on Sleeper and is on under 40% of rosters on Yahoo. Make sure Mattison isn’t on the wire in your league. If he’s rostered, target him in a trade if you have depth at another position.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
If a savvy manager in your league already snagged Mattison, consider Edwards-Helaire if you have a bench spot available. The 2020 first-round pick has been designated to return to practice after spending the first month of the season on the non-football illness list. With Isiah Pacheco out until further notice with a fractured fibula, CEH’s competition for touches are Samaje Perine, Carson Steele, and a recently signed and promoted Kareem Hunt. Hunt performed well in Week 4, averaging almost 5 yards per carry on his way to 85 total yards and two receptions, but it’s not like he has a vice grip on the RB1 role in Kansas City. CEH is only rostered in 13% and 10% of Sleeper and Yahoo leagues, respectively. Depending on his role, once he’s activated, this may be your last opportunity to get him for free.
SELL
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Uninspiring. Disappointing. Frustrating. There are plenty of ways we can describe the career of Kyle Pitts, and none of them are positive. It’s painful to watch Pitts attempt to play at the professional level, and it’s just as painful to attempt to justify using a roster spot on him. I understand you probably spent a 6th or 7th round pick on him, but do not fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy. Just cut him and move on.
HOLD
Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Unlike the aforementioned Kyle Pitts, who often looks uncomfortable doing simple things like running a quick post, Mark Andrews still looks like a football player when he’s on the field. His usage rates are cause for concern, but Lamar Jackson threw 33 passes combined over the last two weeks. That trend will not hold across the remainder of the season, and Andrews should still have plenty of weeks where he registers as a TE1. Only in the most extreme circumstances am I cutting a player of this pedigree in the current wasteland, which is the tight end position (see: Kyle Pitts), and Andrews will revert to the mean.
