Fabiano’s Fantasy Focus: Week Three, Volume I

Every summer leading into and throughout the NFL season, Sports Illustrated and SI.com Senior Fantasy Analyst Michael Fabiano joins Sports360AZ.com to share his insight on building and developing your fantasy team for success.

Here are some highlights from our most recent conversation (September 22nd) with the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association Hall of Famer.

Let’s start with the biggie – who is the Giants’ running back to roster with Saquon Barkley gone for the year with a torn ACL? “Wayne Gallman and Dion Lewis – both. I’d rather have Gallman over Dion Lewis but, ultimately, the Giants could add somebody like Davonta Freeman and that would ruin both of their values but unfortunately you just can’t replace Saquon Barkley.”  

Waiver wire will be active this week – who are some quarterbacks you’re seeing being picked up? “There are a lot of them. I can’t remember a Sunday with so many injuries but the quarterback position had Jimmy Garoppolo go down. He’s week-to-week so Nick Mullens in a two-team league. Jeff Driskel with Drew Lock out. He is a two QB option. Justin Herbert if Tyrod Taylor is unable to go. The bigger names – Ryan Tannehill who was tremendous against Jacksonville with almost 27 fantasy points. He had 19 in Week One. People just don’t believe in him for some reason. He was great in the second half of last year and he’s been playing at a high level for awhile. He needs to be added here.”

What do you make of Gardner Minshew from a fantasy perspective through the first two weeks? “The Magic Mustache! Three more touchdowns. Over 23 fantasy points. Had 20 in Week One and he’s got Miami on Thursday Night Football. That’s a great matchup so, I know Minshew had this whole campaign with Budweiser or somebody to draft him in the first round and they’ll get a case of beer. He’s definitely not worth a first-round pick but he’s playing really, really good Sande.”

With Christian McCaffrey out multiple weeks, who’s the running back to target in Carolina? “Mike Davis is going to be the big name off the wire with McCaffrey out 4-6 weeks due to that high ankle sprain. So Davis will be number one across the board.”

Can you pick the best fantasy running back option to play with the Rams? “Darrell Henderson. Although I don’t know if I believe in any one running back in that backfield in Los Angeles because it’s going to be a week-to-week situation. But Cam Akers has the rib injury and Malcolm Brown is banged up with the finger. I think he’ll play this week but Henderson was very good last week against Philadelphia.”

Same position but let’s shift to the Dolphins’ stable of running backs. “Myles Gaskin is not leading that backfield although there’s not a lot to like in Miami with that running back situation but Gaskin’s at least worth a look off the waiver wire.”

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