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Marcas Grant: Everything is terrible. Your team is destined for ruin. We're all going to die. Eat Arby's. In all seriousness, it's really defeatist to look at it that way. All you can do is ride the players who are having success while potentially protecting yourself against any possible future misfortune. Of course, there's a chance that DeMarco Murray could suffer an injury or Christine Michael starts losing carries to Thomas Rawls. If either of those things happen, then it's time to hit the waiver wire or try to make a deal. But it's counterproductive to fret over things which haven't yet occurred and over which you have no control. Save that worry for something else. Like ... what were these guys trying to accomplish?
M.G.: It wouldn't be my first course of action, but it's not the craziest idea I've heard recently. Derrick Henry's overall numbers might not suggest it, but he's played very well in very limited action this season. If Murray weren't playing as well, Henry might be an every-week starter in some fantasy leagues. A matchup with the Chargers portends production from both Tennessee backs. The only caveat is that Murray could once again dominate the backfield touches, leaving you lacking at one of your running back spots. If you are looking for short-term help, consider Mike Gillislee, Tim Hightower or Charcandrick West off the waiver wire before settling on Henry.
M.G.: I give the nod to Jay Ajayi here mostly because he resides in a slightly more competent offense. In a one-on-one comparison I believe Todd Gurley is the more talented running back but as we all know, even the greatest running back needs help to succeed. The Dolphins are averaging five yards per carry this season (second-best in the NFL) while the Rams are at 3.2 yards per attempt (second-worst). It's understandable why some people would still covet Gurley. A player with that kind of talent doesn't come along all the time and there's still hope that maybe he can turn things around. If you're locked into a playoff spot, you can afford to wait on him. Not everyone has that luxury.
M.G.: Between Kenneth Dixon and Chris Thompson, I'd rather keep Thompson. Washington's offense has been much more productive this season and Thompson has a much easier path to seeing snaps and touches than Dixon. There was plenty of excitement about Baltimore's rookie at the start of the year, but it's been a long, slow path back to the field. In three games this season, Dixon has yet to play more than 10 offensive snaps or have more than four touches in a game. If you're in a dynasty league, it's worth waiting on him. If you're in a seasonal league, you can move on. Just keep in mind that even with Thompson, things could get muddled when Matt Jones is back in action ... which could happen after the bye.
M.G.: Ab-so-lutely. In the past month, Thomas leads the Saints in targets, receptions and receiving yards and has quite obviously earned Drew Brees' trust. For the season, the rookie is a top-25 fantasy wideout and appears to only be getting better. His fantasy ceiling isn't as high as the elite wideouts, but he's offered a pretty safe weekly floor and has had far less variance in his performance than guys like Julio Jones, A.J. Green and T.Y. Hilton. If that's not enough for you, then how about a fantasy playoff schedule that features two favorable matchups against the Buccaneers sandwiched around a tough game against the Cardinals? Right now, Michael Thomas is a player you definitely want on your roster.
M.G.: Not unless that new offensive coordinator (Nathaniel Hackett, by the way) can somehow fix Jacksonville's quarterback. The problem with Allen Robinson has little to do with Allen Robinson or the Jaguars offensive scheme, for that matter. The problem right now is that Blake Bortles couldn't hit the Atlantic Ocean if he was standing on the beach. Maybe the personal coach that Bortles is reportedly bringing in can help fix whatever's wrong. Even then, the schedule doesn't lay out very well for the Jags. Until there is a tangible change in the offense, Allen Robinson is just dragging down your fantasy roster.
M.G.: If Julio Jones isn't enough to help you land Melvin Gordon in a trade, then that person just doesn't want to trade with you. Even if Jones' fantasy totals have fluctuated wildly from week to week, he's still a player who can win a week for your fantasy squad every time he steps on the field. This is where it pays to target tiers rather than specific players when trying to make a trade. If you can't pry Gordon out of a league mate, then try taking a run at LeGarrette Blount, LeSean McCoy or Devonta Freeman. You're still getting RB1 production and might be able to offer something less than the top wideout in the game.
M.G.: My thought is that I would reject the offer. Or at least counter-offer. It's not always easy to pick winners and losers in trades, but I never want to feel like I'm giving up the undisputed best player in any deal. That's the case here as you'd be parting ways with the No. 2 running back in fantasy for a runner who isn't guaranteed to get the most touches in his own backfield and a receiver who hasn't posted double-digits since Week 2. I don't have an issue with trading away a player like DeMarco Murray but I want to feel like I'm getting a legitimate upgrade somewhere else on my roster ... instead of feeling like I'm accepting someone else's unwanted pieces.
M.G.: As long as you were the one getting Odell Beckham, then hell yes. If you've made it this far, then you've already read my thoughts on Robinson and Thomas. You don't need me to tell you about OBJ. Without even seeing the rest of your roster, I feel pretty confident that it's an upgrade to your wide receiver corps. So ... good job by you!
M.G.: The clear winner in this group is Carolina. In Week 8, the Panthers looked like the 2015 version that dominated on the field and in fantasy. This week, that group gets to take aim at a Rams offense that hasn't been able to move the ball consistently. Even if the Panthers aren't all the way back, this is another solid matchup to exploit. If Carolina isn't available, consider the Packers against the Colts who are prone to giving up sacks by the truckload.
Bonus question:
M.G.: Nope. Remember, kids ... not doing things is always easier than doing things.
Marcas Grant is a fantasy editor for NFL.com and a man who knows that no one cares about your fantasy team as much as you do. Send him fantasy football questions or fantasy football love sonnets on Twitter @MarcasG or Snapchat at marcasg9.
