Three and Out: Is Wilson an elite fantasy QB?

Each week, TSN.ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen and NFL Editors Ben Fisher and Mike Hetherington discuss three hot fantasy football topics.

Does Russell Wilson belong in the elite fantasy QB group alongside Tom Brady and Cam Newton this year, or is he still in that second tier?

Cullen: For sure Wilson is in that class, but it’s only in the last four weeks that he’s arrived there, which makes it kind of tough if you were a fantasy owner. If Wilson was your starter through the first 10 weeks of the season, you probably struggled and it might have been too late for this four-week run to provide the help needed in the standings but, if your team managed to hang around, Wilson is now a high-end QB1 option. Also, with a depleted backfield missing Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls, the running game could be questionable too, which might push Wilson to throw even more.

Fisher: There’s elite and then there’s whatever Brady and Newton are doing. Each year it seems like there are two quarterbacks that just go off, leaving the rest of the QB class – even the elite ones – in their wake. Two years ago it was Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Last year Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers and this year it’s Brady and Newton.

To get back to Wilson, yes he’s elite, and belongs in the conversation for top QB off the board next year, but he’s not on that highest level – that appears to be reserved for two quarterbacks per year at most.

The Seahawks are on fire right now and I expect Wilson to finish the year third in QB rankings but while he’s been great, I can’t put him on the Brady-Newton level. He’ll be in the mix for “Top 2” next year though.

Hetherington: Wilson has been on a tear as of late, but I think Brady and Newton are still above the rest in 2015. Despite four straight weeks with 25+ points, Wilson still sits 30 points back of Brady and Newton, sitting soundly among Carson Palmer and Aaron Rodgers in the second tier. If the Panthers and/or Patriots rest starters in the final weeks of the season, Wilson could finish as fantasy’s top quarterback, but make no mistake, this was the year of Brady and Newton.

Is Isaiah Crowell with a full workload an RB1?

Cullen: Crowell had a terrific game against San Francisco, but it’s a reach to immediately make him an RB1 based on that, even with a bunch of the top runners injured.  If we presume that Crowell gets a starter’s workload the rest of the way, he’s a useful RB2, but I need to see much more before considering him for a higher slot.

Fisher: If you project Crowell’s production out to a full season for a bell cow running back, he’s right on the RB1 bubble – expect around 170 points, good for 10-12 in the RB rankings most years. But it’s tricky projecting a part time player playing a full season, with a full workload. Tons of things can go wrong including injuries and durability/burn out concerns leading to decreased production. So for that reason, I’m much more comfortable projecting a full workload Crowell as an RB2.

Hetherington: I don’t think I’m ready to declare Crowell an RB2 with a full workload. Crowell shined against the San Francisco 49ers as took 20 carries and racked up 145 yards and two touchdowns. But that 7.3 yards per carry average is an anomaly. On the season, Crowell’s YPC average is 3.7 yards – and sat at 3.2 entering Sunday’s contest. Prior to his standout game, Crowell had never owned a 100-yard game and his season-high in yards was 72 on 15 carries against the Tennessee Titans. Crowell put together a great performance on Sunday, but he is barely on my fantasy radar this week against the Seahawks.

Who is the best fantasy WR tandem in the NFL?

Cullen: This isn’t a real slam-dunk answer because there are few teams that have two strong WR options, but I think the Jets’ pairing of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, who have combined for 20 touchdowns, have to be the best wide receiver tandem. I’ll put them ahead of the Allens, Robinson and Hurns, in Jacksonville. Incidentally, for a late-season fantasy push – and related to the Russell Wilson question – the Doug Baldwin/Tyler Lockett tandem in Seattle could be interesting.

Fisher: In terms of production, it’s a close battle between the Jets’ tandem – Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, and the Jaguars’ Allens – Robinson and Hurns, but my pick is the Steelers’ duo. Antonio Brown has finished atop the fantasy WR rankings before and is right there again, behind only Odell Beckham Jr this year. His running mate, Martavis Bryant, is a four-game suspension away from likely being a Top 10 fantasy WR himself, so for me the choice was easy, so long as Bryant keeps his nose clean.

Hetherington: For me, there are four tandems in the conversation, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, and Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown. In my opinion, though, the top fantasy tandem is Robinson and Hurns, who have a combined 20 touchdowns this season. While Robinson was pegged for a breakout season, Hurns has proved to be more than just a flash in the plan and has to put together a top-end WR2 season. It’s hard to believe, but the Jacksonville Jaguars may own the best fantasy offence in the NFL between Blake Bortles, TJ Yeldon, Robinson, Hurns and Julius Thomas. Though Robinson and Hurns are my top choice, I’ll keep the Steelers tandem of Brown and Bryant as a very close second and likely to be my top tandem in 2016.