We're continuing along with our fantasy football AMA recap series, into the thick of NFL training camp and preseason play. Week 2 of the preseason is pretty crucial since they stopped playing four tuneup games before the regular season. This is where we should see the most starters and players competing for roster spots or positioning on the depth chart (once we get into Week 3, we should see very few meaningful fantasy players in games).
As we get closer and closer to fantasy drafts, you're going to want the most insight as possible. This week, Hayden Winks joined the Yahoo Fantasy discord to offer his advice. Check out some of the highlights from the AMA below.
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Question: I have the 11th pick in a 12-team league ... I HAVE to take a RB with one of those picks, don't I? The format is 2 RBs, 3 WR, TE, Flex and half-PPR.
Winks: Only realistic option would be CeeDee Lamb/Justin Jefferson, but I have a lot of RBs in that range. I'm in on Kenneth Walker III and De'Von Achane with that 2.02 pick. Order: Walker, Lamb, Achane, Saquon Barkley, James Cook II, Chase Brown, Derrick Henry, Jefferson in half-PPR.
Question: In a .75-PPR league with an extra flex and yardage bonuses for like 80+ yards, who would you pick between Achane, Barkley, Brown and Henry?
Winks: Achane. He's going to catch the most passes by far, and people are sleeping on what the Dolphins' run game can continue being with Malik Willis helping out. Left side of the offensive line is stacked. LT Paul broke out. LG Proctor in Round 1. C Brewer was best in the NFL.
Question: I feel like this year the consensus has been over-indexing on the RB spot and historically healthy seasons the last two years has made it even more pronounced. Not going to ask if you believe we will have more injuries but do you subscribe to the RB dead zone and has this dead zone shifted somewhat to where these RBs could still be viable?
Winks: I still think some of the RBs are going too low, to be honest, at least in half-PPR. We forget about how many WRs bust in that Round 4-8 range. To me, the Breece Hall, Travis Etienne Jr., Javonte Williams, etc. picks are still really good. I don't see the backups stealing work from them. Paid too much by their teams.
I think the Bhayshul Tuten/TreVeyon Henderson/Bucky Irving tier is riskier, and I have been leaning on WRs/Jaylen Warren/Lamar Jackson over them whenever I can. The real dead zone is Jonathon Brooks, Tony Pollard, J.K. Dobbins, Rico Dowdle, etc.
Question: I'm interested to know how you feel about the Christian McCaffrey situation in San Francisco and the 49ers' outlook, as in, should I look too deep into how they are managing his reps in practice and limiting the veteran to some extent? What are your expectations or predictions for the running back and should I have a solid backup plan for him due to his usage in past years experience?
Winks: I'm worried about the 49ers this year far more than in previous years. Another year older. Schedule toughened up versus 2025. CMC dealing with tightness is always a concern, but there are only so many players with his median and upside projections, that I can only move him down so far. I flipped Jonathan Taylor for now. I could understand JSN and Amon-Ra St. Brown also being drafted ahead of him in full-PPR. The tier down from that just doesn't have the clean pathway to being the fantasy MVP like he does. We're trying to come in first place, right?
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Question: Hey Hayden! I have the 1.05 in my home league. Half-PPR. JT in the 1.05 over CMC or did you flip back to CMC? Looking forward to the Sunday morning shows for you and Josh to answer my hard-hitting lineup questions.
Winks: Tough call. Either works. I'm ranking Taylor ahead until I see CMC on the field. Sunday show will be even better than before btw. We're starting earlier. Will have other analysts in the mix, and then still answer a bunch of Qs.
Question: How much does the Jayden Higgins injury move the needle for Nico Collins in Houston? I find it very hard to imagine they will be any better on offense this year than last.
Winks: I moved Collins to WR7 in half-PPR. He is going to completely dominate targets. I think the Texans will pivot to even more 2- and 3-TE sets without Higgins. Not believing in Jaylin Noel/Tank Dell/Xavier Hutchinson as volume plays. I can see Kayshon Boutte/Darius Slayton-type joining, but those are pure deep threats. Nico could be one of the rare 30+% target share guys. I think losing Higgins helps Collins, even if the Texans are slightly worse. I want the volume more than anything.
Question: Personally, I love Giants TE Isaiah Likely this year and I think he can be a league-winner. What is your opinion on him?
Winks: Likely is a good, not great player. The Giants will be among the most run-heavy teams. Lots of FB/TE2 involved, and Likely won't be out there to block. He's basically a part-time slot receiver, at least that's what the preseason showed. He'll be out there for 75-80% of routes or so, which is enough to be a low-end TE1 but I'd fade anything higher than that. I like Bills TE Dalton Kincaid more in a very similar role. Kincaid is a better receiver on a better offense.
Question: What's the read on the Buccaneers backfield? Feel like I could get 3 yards behind that line.
Winks: OL is stacked. Bucky Irving on early downs. Kenny Gainwell in receiving role. And the mystery is who gets the goal-line carries. After injury last year, Sean Tucker was a real vulture. He is bigger than Bucky so hard to say if it'll continue or not. If so, then Irving is a tough click. Bucky's shoulder history with his size and play style has me a little nervous as well. I have him in Round 6.
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