WNBA Best Bets (Wednesday 9/25)
Josh Gross
Every week from now till the end of the season I will break down a few moves to help you build the ultimate dynasty and rule your leagues.
As we head into Week 14 of the fantasy season and some of us may be in a win-or-go-home situation this week. This can make this week a critical week for many, if your league still allows trading it may be time to make that move to push your team over the edge or set it up for the future.
Below, I have broken down a few moves to improve a contending or rebuilding roster.
Rebuilding Moves
If you are rebuilding, the rest of the season may become less exciting, especially if your trade deadline has passed. If so, keep your eye open for some deep stash players to add to the end of your roster. On the flip side, if your league doesn’t have a trade deadline now is the time to make a few trades to set you up for the offseason and long-term success. Little has changed in the landscape this week regarding dynasty, so remember it’s always a good idea to acquire young assets and draft picks.
Acquire James Cook Sooner Than Later
It has been a disappointing season for James Cook thus far, as the second-round pick has struggled to carve out a significant role in the potent Bills offense. This was not the case in Week 13. We saw him heavily involved in the game plan, getting his largest snap share of the season at 43%. With this, he led the backfield in rushing attempts with 14, which he took for a team-high 64 yards. Additionally, he was third on the team with 6 targets and caught all of them, producing 41 yards. He posted his best fantasy day by far, finishing the week as the RB13 in PPR scoring with 16.5 points. Most impressively this was without finding the end zone.
As we head down the stretch and into 2023, Cook should only improve. He is slowly getting more involved and slowly taking over a majority share of the work for this potent offense. With opponents running different types of shell coverages against the Bills to prevent the big play, they give up a lot of space underneath. This is where Cook can do his damage, which we saw this week with his 6/41 receiving line, accounting for 10.1 of his 16.5 PPR points. With Devin Singletary set to hit free agency, we should see Cook in an expanded role in 2023, which will make him one of the best offseason targets, so be ahead of the curve and look to acquire him now.
Cash Out on Zonovan Knight
If you managed to snag Zonovan Knight in the draft or waiver wire, it’s time to move on if you are no longer contending. Knight saw his first action of the year in Week 12, when he took 14 carries for 69 yards and caught all 3 of his targets for 34 yards, putting up 13.3 PPR points. This past week he was more involved as he saw 15 carries, which he took for an impressive 90 yards and caught all 5 of his targets for 28 yards, good for 16.8 PPR points. Both were very impressive performances for the UDFA rookie, but his time is limited. He was only allotted this opportunity via a season-ending injury to Breece Hall and then a minor injury to Michael Carter. It is likely that Carter returns in the coming weeks and will extinguish a significant amount of his production if not all of it. Next year, both Carter and Hall will be back, leaving Knight as the third running back on the roster at best. Now, he has very little value due to his limited opportunity window, but adding a third-round pick or two could prove beneficial this offseason to a rebuilding roster.
Contending Rosters
As a contender, we know by now that the name of the game is – What can you do for me now? This is the mindset you should have as we head into Week 14, especially, if your roster can handle a deep run. The waiver wire can be your best friend, but with the state of most dynasty leagues, the waiver wire is likely barren. With this in mind, remember that a rebuilding roster could be a great way to acquire winnow assets.
Acquire Ezekiel Elliott or Tony Pollard
The Tony Pollard/Ezekiel Elliott is one of the greatest traditions in fantasy the year few years. But the twist is that it hasn’t mattered which side you’re on the last few weeks, with Pollard and Zeke both proving to be solid fantasy assets. Pollard has been much more productive, as he has produced 1,111 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns this year, good for 196.1 PPR points, RB9 on the season. Meanwhile, Zeke has produced 708 scrimmage yards and 8 touchdowns, 129.8 PPR points and RB24 despite missing a couple games. The advanced stats hold up as well — heading into Week 13, Pollard had 552 yards after contact and 28 missed tackles, while Elliott’s numbers sit at 398 and 19, respectively. Both backs are producing well.
The Cowboys showed just how potent than can be Sunday, as they put up a franchise record (near NFL record) of 33 points in the fourth quarter. With an offense that seems to be scoring at will right now, both running backs carry tremendous touchdown upside. That makes them the perfect targets for a playoff run as a contending team. Whichever player fits into your comfort level of price is a great addition to sure up that flex or RB2 spot.
