Dynasty Football and Keepers: Q&A Mailbag with Scott Engel

Every week here on RotoBaller, I will personally help you make those tough fantasy football keeper league decisions and answer any dynasty-related questions you may have. Football season never stops for dynasty owners and neither do we!

I’ll be your Assistant GM as you work through the fantasy football offseason. Even if your question is not answered directly in this column, my in-depth answers should be absorbed by all keeper and dynasty owners who may be interested in the players covered.

To have your dynasty league questions featured in my next Q&A mailbag, just follow me at @scotteTheKing on Twitter and fire away with any questions that you have!

Two 49ers Wide Receivers

kiz817: I need your keeper help. Do you like Dante Pettis over Marquise Goodwin for next year?

The King’s Keeper Call:

Goodwin was a highly-regarded upside play entering the 2018 season but injuries and the loss of Jimmy Garoppolo put a big dent in his production. By the end of the year, he was clearly behind Pettis and other less-heralded pass-catchers on the depth chart. Goodwin was always a speed merchant with not much promise to be dependable and Pettis has already flashed big-play ability and the potential to find the end zone.

I believe Pettis will develop into a better all-around WR than Goodwin, who may have to fight his way back into the mix with the 49ers next season. He could actually get buried on the depth chart if the Niners acquire another significant pass-catcher, as they have been rumored to be in the hunt for some big names such as Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr.

Rebuilding and Quarterbacks

Jim Strathmore: I inherited a keeper team and I have a lot of work to do to make it competitive. We have to keep 10 players and (except for James Conner, Brandin Cooks and Chris Godwin) I have a really mediocre roster. Would you keep Lamar Jackson or Andy Dalton?

The King’s Keeper Call:

Well, I guess the Dolphins and Raiders aren’t the only ones rebuilding. Much like Jon Gruden, you have a lot of work ahead of you, but at least you already have Conner and Cooks to build around. You are going to have to work hard during the offseason to build depth around those guys, and you’ll have to take some leaps of significant faith in your draft.

Trading for rookie draft picks can be a consideration as well. You may want to shop Jackson, because he has a lot of future promise as a guy who can really add to his basic totals with rushing ability. He already had a nice floor as a rookie because of his legs. I would much rather outright keep Jackson than Dalton, who has never been anything better than a high-end QB2. But QB is so deep that you can stream Dalton and another passer and remain competitive.

You may be able to deal Jackson for more important RB or WR help, or for a formidable rookie draft return. Jackson has so much promise in your type of league, it may be hard for you to think about moving him. But acquiring a RB2 or WR2 or putting yourself in position to nab a prime draft choice has to be considered when you have a decent fill-in alternative to go with. In the real NFL, franchise QBs are hard to land. In Fantasy Football, you can get by with a decent guy in a situation like yours, especially if Zac Taylor injects new life into the Bengals offense.

Saints Running Backs

Frank81A: King, I know you liked Dwayne Washington a few years ago. Do you think he’ll do anything in New Orleans if Mark Ingram walks? I just picked him up off the waivers - didn’t cost me anything. Thanks

The King’s Keeper Call:

Frank, thanks for reminding me that I whiffed on that deep sleeper call in the 2017 preseason (j/k). But when you consider Washington rushed for 108 yards in New Orleans’ regular-season finale, which was treated like an exhibition game, I can see why you issued this question for dynasty purposes.

I did like what I saw of Washington in past preseasons at times, but I get the strong sense that he is now the type of player that will be rostered in the NFL as a third running back, a guy a team like the Saints turn to only in instances of desperation.

If Ingram leaves, I would expect the Saints to sign a safer backup to Alvin Kamara or draft an RB for depth and/or upside. In the best-case scenario, I could see Washington as a backup for Kamara, but I even think that appears to be a long shot. Washington may have proved he belongs on the roster but not in any sort of significant role.

Keeper Round Values

David Reitz: 10-team .5 ppr, can keep three. My best choices and their rounds for next year (move up two rounds each year) are: Mahomes-11th, Chubb-12, Tyler Boyd-11, Will Fuller-7, Dede Westbrook -12, Marlon Mack -11, James White -8. and Spencer Ware-12.

The King’s Keeper Call:

Mahomes is very obvious to keep because of the round value, whether it is four points or six for a TD pass. He is the one true fantasy superstar on your listing. After that, it’s about knocking off the guys who don’t figure at all in the final decision.

Ware may land as a backup outside of Kansas City in free agency, or at best compete for a starting job with a new team. Westbrook has yet to really make a significant impact and Fuller obviously has a lot of trouble staying healthy. The signing of Kareem Hunt gives me obvious pause on Chubb. Mack is more of a lock, it seems, as a featured runner and the round value is only one earlier. So Mack would be my second choice.

White would be a stronger consideration in a full PPR. I really want to go with Chubb but Boyd is on the rise and the round value is comparable. Having Mahomes, Mack and Boyd gives you one quality option at three different positions and provides a solid core to enter your 2019 draft with.

Scott Engel is a 20-plus year veteran of the fantasy sports industry and an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association’s (FSWA) Hall of Fame.

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