This is the “Fantasy Football: Two-minute drill,” a close look at Falcons players for Week 4.
One of the biggest nightmares in fantasy football is having an injured player who is a “game-time decision” —- and that game is either on Sunday night or Monday night.
Why is that? Because you have limited or zero options to pick up another player that late in the week in case your star player is ruled inactive.
This week is a difficult scenario for people who own injured players for the Falcons vs. Patriots on Sunday night.
Not for the Falcons, but for the Patriots.
Both New England tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Danny Amendola are questionable, and their status will unlikely be known until shortly before kickoff.
“Gronk” hasn’t played yet this season, but is the more likely of the two to play on Sunday night, according to ESPN. If neither play, then wide receivers Julian Edelman, Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson will continue to have added value as WR3s (although Edelman is a WR2).
What about the Falcons?
WR Julio Jones: He's a WR 1 and clearly one of the top five WRs in the NFL. Be thankful that he's on your team with all the injuries.
WR Roddy White: Unless you're desperate, he's on the bench until he proves he has healed enough from the high-ankle sprain.
WR Harry Douglass: His stock is falling after catching only 1 of 6 targets last week. He's a WR4, and there's probably much better pickups on your waiver wire.
TE Tony Gonzalez: Last week was supposed to be a breakout game for ageless Tony but it wasn't. Maybe age is finally catching up with him? Or maybe it was part of the game plan? Right now, he's a low-end TE1.
QB Matt Ryan: There's a lot of concerns about Matt's blocking protection, absence of scoring weapons and untimely interceptions. But he's still putting up numbers as a solid QB1 in Fantasy.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers: Flip a coin with either Rodgers or Snelling as Steven Jackson's backup as the two share the rock. I'm going with Rodgers, who got 18 carries last week, compared to 11 for Snelling. But Snelling is a both a goal-line vulture and threat to catch passes out the field. Both are low-end RB2s or Flex options.
Falcons D: Too many injuries, but they might be worth considering if Gronk doesn't play. After Sunday, the Falcons have favorable matchups against the Jets and Buccaneers.
AJC staff writer Michael Carvell, who covers recruiting, still finds the time to participate in seven NFL fantasy leagues.
