John Laghezza answered your fantasy football lineup questions leading up to kickoff.

John Laghezza

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Onto the games!

Allen Lazard activated for Jets

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Allen Lazard is active again after being benched last week due to poor performance, sending Randall Cobb back to the healthy scratch list. Neither of the former Packers have been particularly good this season without Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. It’s unclear exactly how big of a role Lazard will actually play as the Jets have tried to give undrafted rookie Jason Brownlee more playing time in his place.

Jets' inactives:

• WR Randall Cobb
• OT Billy Turner
• CB Bryce Hall
• QB Zach Wilson
• OL Austin Deculus
• LB Zaire Barnes
• DE Carl Lawson

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BLITZ MODE (cont.)

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Q: Trey McBride or Gerald Everett? McBride has been limited all week but is potential TE1. — Grayson L.

McBride whenever healthy.

Q: Standard scoring Malcom Brown or Jayden Reed — Daniel P.

Jayden Reed by a country mile.

Q: Half PPR: De'Von Achane or Javonte Williams in the Flex? — Benjamin S.

Williams for the projectable volume.

Q: Josh Downs or Puka Nacua? — Peter B.

Downs versus the Titan secondary.

Q: For my QB2 spot ... Matt Stafford or Will Levis? — Todd S.

Sigh. Levis I guess against IND to avoid the Browns pass D.

Steelers inactives vs. Cardinals

Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams will miss his fourth consecutive game with an ankle injury. The veteran defensive lineman carried a "questionable" injury designation, but will not be in uniform for the fourth consecutive game. In his place, rookie Keeanu Benton will make another start. He has played very well in an expanded role, as the injury has been a bit of a silver lining for Pittsburgh.

Here's the full list of Steelers inactives:

• QB Mason Rudolph (3rd QB)
• CB Darius Rush
• RB Anthony McFarland
• ILB Blake Martinez
• DT Montravius Adams
• T Dylan Cook

Lions inactives vs. Saints

Lions inactives: LB Alex Anzalone, DT Isaiah Buggs, CB Steven Gilmore, WR Antoine Green, DT Brodric Martin, DE/LB Julian Okwara, DT Levi Onwuzurike.

The Lions will be without Anzalone, who injured his hand last week vs. the Packers, didn’t practice all week and didn’t make the trip. Expect Jack Campbell to step in for Anzalone. One notable player not listed here is LG Jonah Jackson, who’s active this week after missing the last two games. We could also see Bruce Irvin, signed to boost Detroit’s pass rush, get some real snaps this week.

BLITZ MODE

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Q: Half PPR. Pick three RB from Austin Ekeler, Travis Etienne, Kyren Williams, Rachaad White and David Montgomery? — Michael M.

Going with projections and sitting White and Montgomery.

Q: Half PPR: Tyjae Spears, Royce Freeman or D’Ernest Johnson? — Jonathan C.

Johnson for second-half mop-up duties in a blowout.

Q: Tee Higgins, Josh Downs or Jayden Reed? — Kevin J.

Big Josh Downs day incoming ...

Falcons WR Mack Hollins inactive vs. Jets

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mack Hollins will miss his third straight game Sunday due to an ankle injury. Hollins, who is the second-leading wide receiver on the team with 17 catches for 247 yards, had hoped to return to the field but is on the team’s inactives list today ahead of its 1 p.m. game against the Jets.

Cornerback Mike Hughes also is on the list, which likely means more opportunities for rookie Clark Phillips III backing up Dee Alford at the nickel position.

Offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn, tight end John FitzPatrick and defensive linemen Travis Bell and Joe Gaziano also are inactive for the Falcons today.

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Risk it to get the biscuit

Q: I need to decide between Josh Downs, Rashee Rice and Jerome Ford in my Flex. Half-PPR 10-team league. The team I am playing against just had DK Metcalf put up 34 points on Thursday so I would probably lean toward ceiling vs. floor. Thanks! — Joseph F.

Given it’s only 0.5 PPR you’ll need touchdowns to bridge this gap, so I’d start the RB. Interestingly enough, I have both Rice and Ford projected for the exact same score. There’s a chance however that Joe Flacco gets Ford eight targets on his way to the same 25 touches he got versus ARI and breaks the slate.

Patriots vs. the softest defense in the league

Q: With Dalton Schultz out, rank Tyler Conklin, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Hunter Henry or Brevin Jordan relative to floor/ceiling/boom/bust in PPR. — Matt

If available, Juwan Johnson’s the streaming answer at tight end today but given those names, your league’s likely deeper than most. I’d roll with Henry on the Patriots. New England’s missing Demario Douglas, facing the softest defense in the NFL and we’ve seen Henry soak up end-zone targets — which is all you can ask from a desperation tight-end play.

Ticket for one, please

Q: Pick one: Cooper Kupp, Christian Kirk or Rashee Rice? — Rick W.

Talk about a tough choice Rick. Any of these WRs make a tough sit. Hats off to you for what must be an amazing fantasy roster.

I’ve been the high man in the industry on Rice since early September but I’m not just chasing the breakout game he delivered last week. For the first time all season, Rice led the Chiefs in route participation from 2-WR sets and we saw what happened. KC’s in desperate need of a playmaker to produce on the business end of throws from the best QB in the universe — and I want front-row seats.

The great quarterback debate

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Q: Trevor Lawrence or C.J. Stroud? — Josh B.

A QUESTION FOR THE AGES, JOSH! For the record, I am the hype-train conductor and chapter president of the C.J. Stroud fan club. That said, I hate going against my favorite generational talent but the answer this weekend is Trevor Lawrence. The matchups could not be more disparate — the Broncos recently awoke from their defensive slumber with a terrible resolve as the Bengals seriously tailspin into oblivion.

I actually tweeted about the Bengals recent woes if you’d like to see more details but I must warn you if you’re a fan; bring a doggie bag.

Say it with me, we're sitting De'Von Achane

Q: Half PPR. Bijan Robinson, Zack Moss, Jaylen Warren or De’Von Achane. Need three. Thanks! — Ben Z.

Unless you’re already way behind on the back of a Thursday night massacre, I’m sitting Achane for sure. The Dolphins have the highest spread on the board and could run away with this game early. If they start lapping the Commanders don’t expect to see a lot of Achane coming off an injury. He’s going to need uber-efficiency to move the needle for you with Jeff Wilson in the mix as well.

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When picking a WR from waivers

Q: Due to bye weeks, I’m forced to choose a wide receiver from waivers. I’m looking at Jonathan Mingo, Tyler Boyd, Zay Jones, Greg Dortch, Tutu Atwell, etc. Which would you pick? — Cyrus K.

(Incoming shameless self-promotion) Check out my “Next Weeks Waiver Wire” column Cyrus, we comb the darkest depths of the statistical leaderboard for hidden gems.

Even with Hollywood Brown trending toward playing for Arizona, Michael Wilson is not, so you have to add Dortch for the volume alone — he’s leading the team with a 27.3 percent target/route and 6.3 YAC/reception over the last three weeks.

Flex Javonte Williams?

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Q: You’ve been great and hoping you will help again. Need two of three of these upside specials ... But I’m looking for best floor. Half PPR. Nico Collins, Josh Downs or Adam Thielen. Plus for Flex, the leftover or Javonte Williams. Thank you! — David C.

Aw shucks, David. Thanks, I’m especially proud of the waiver wire column and the work that went into it. If you’re looking for the highest floors, I’d target high-probability conversions and roll with Downs plus Thielen over Collins. Each project for double-digit targets and a chance to get into the end zone. However, if we’re adding Williams into the calculus I’d slot him over Thielen. We’ve seen the Panthers’ floor as an offense and it’s in the basement’s basement.

Ekeler is disappointing, but not enough to drop lower than RB2

Q: Austin Ekeler has been disappointing. Who are a few folks you would sit him for and how far down would you say his floor is? Half PPR. Play De’Von Achane instead? Too far? Where's your line? — Beth H.

Ekeler has absolutely disappointed fantasy gamers lately with what I think are the lasting effects of the high ankle sprain he suffered. That said, you can’t really project him any lower than RB2 because the volume, pass-catching snaps and goal-line work are still intact. Injuries decimated the Chargers’ skill positions yet again so the offense will run through Ekeler by hook or by crook.

As far as some relative perspective on the position, check out my rankings at the top of the feed. I wouldn’t veer too far from projections, Ekeler could score twice today and we wouldn’t blink twice.

Snow game in Green Bay?!

Q: Will weather impact Jordan Love's performance on Sunday? — Stanleigh W.

According to my favorite NFL meteorologist Kevin Roth, “It's going to snow in GB on Sunday, with models showing a healthy burst of snow in the hours leading up to the game. By game time, though, the precipitation should be cleared out, no more falling snow, with temps around freezing and light winds. I don't expect any real impact.

So it’s not the weather I’m worried about, Stanleigh. It’s the Kansas City defense. This isn’t our Uncle Charlie’s high-flying Chiefs anymore; they actually run the ball and play stout defense. On the season KC has held opposing QBs under a 62 percent completion rate with an 84.6 passer rating and only 176 yards/game. I think the Packer’s cheese stagecoach turns into a pumpkin.

Somebody understood the assignment

Q: Eight-team PPR. Dominated the wire early season. In the race for playoffs, a win will clinch a spot. Sitting De’Von Achane due to recent uncertainty around usage coming back from injury (Got burned playing him two weeks ago). Need to sit one: Rachaad White, Alvin Kamara, Kyren Williams or Zach Moss? — John F.

First things first, John. Let’s all take a second to recognize the excellent job you did in understanding the assignment. When you never stop adding RB talent to your fantasy roster, you can end up in enviable spots like this.

Not to blindly lean on the projections but White’s the only player I have outside the RB1 range. I get Williams facing the toughest defense, but I’d still counter his sheer workload too massive to fade.

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For anyone who faced DK Metcalf this week ...

Q: Half PPR. Need one of D’Andre Swift, Breece Hall or Ja’Marr Chase. Starting in a 35-point hole after DK Metcalf’s performance Thursday night. — Matt B.

Tough spot Matt, injuries really hurt so you’ll need Touchdowns. I’m holding my nose starting any of these guys today but I’d roll with Chase. The Jake Browning experience has been pretty rough so far but the Bengals should be playing from behind and throwing non-stop against a Jaguar pass defense that’s seriously struggled lately, allowing a 130.8 passer rating, over 12 yards/completion and a nearly 73 percent completion rate over the last three weeks.

What to do with De'Von Achane

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Q: How strong will De’Von Achane be? Should I start him over Jaylen Warren, Rhamondre Stevenson or Devin Singletary? — Johnny R.

Achane’s such an interesting fantasy asset because his ceiling is literally as high as anyone on a per-touch basis. That said, he doesn’t possess the one thing we need to start him with confidence — projectable volume. I mentioned Achane by name at the onset as a “break glass in case of emergency” player for this reason. Unless I’m trailing in my matchup and in catch-up mode I wouldn’t start him over those other RBs. The Dolphins are among the largest favorites on today’s board and if they get ahead early, I’m struggling to envision Mike McDaniel risking Achane coming off an injury.

Sell high on the Packers this weekend

Q: Full PPR, I need two: Rashee Rice, Jayden Reed and Josh Downs. Thank you! — Johnny R.

I’m starting Rice and Downs — they’ve got the higher Vegas team totals and project significantly higher than Reed. For the first time last week, Rice led all Chief WRs in route participation from two-wide sets so I’m treating him as a borderline WR1 until we see a change. I covered Downs earlier in these threads if you want to scroll down. Long story short, the Titans funnel their opposition into pass-heavy approaches and Downs stands to have a huge day in PPR from a volume standpoint.

Green Bay’s certainly improved the last few weeks, though admittedly facing weaker competition which will not be the case against this Kansas City defense. Sell high on the Packers this weekend.

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