After two weeks of NFL games, it can be difficult to stand by players who have been disappointments for your fantasy football team. You are told to be patient, but when you see unheralded players outperforming those on your roster, the natural inclination is to abandon the sinking ship and grip tightly to a lifeboat.
Just ask anyone who drafted Russell Wilson. The Denver Broncos have been a veritable disaster thus far, but before you even think about dropping or benching Wilson, take a long look at what the oddsmakers are saying in Las Vegas. A rebound is right around the corner.
Point spreads and game totals aren’t just reserved for sports wagering. As a fantasy manager, they can tell you a lot about how a game is expected to go. For those ready to pull the plug on Wilson or any other Broncos player, ask yourselves the following question: If the Broncos are so bad and the 49ers, now with Jimmy Garoppolo under center, are so good, why is the line just 1.5 points?
The general public will look at this game line and throw their money at San Francisco. The Broncos may be 1-1, but their offense hasn’t scored more than 16 points in a game, new head coach Nathaniel Hackett is being vilified for his poor clock management and coaching ineptitude, and this offense is as bland as hospital food.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are riding high after losing Trey Lance to injury. They are coming off an emotional victory over Seattle, and fantasy managers can’t stop talking about how Garoppolo’s presence elevates the values of Deebo Samuel and their other weapons. These two teams are trending in opposite directions, yet Vegas is telling you that this is going to be a close battle.
Take what Vegas is telling you and feel confident in starting Wilson and the rest of your Broncos. The 1.5-point spread tells you it will be a close game, and the game total of 45 indicates there will be some decent scoring by both teams. Don’t let the past two weeks cloud your thoughts. Always look forward and keep your ears open. The voice of Las Vegas is speaking loud and clear.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy sports advice, player projections, injury updates and more.
