NFL Nation Fantasy Fallout – Brandin Cooks steps up, Trevor Lawrence hesitates

Another week of the NFL season is upon us and there is no shortage of fantasy football news to digest.

Every Tuesday throughout the season, ESPN fantasy analyst Eric Moody will ask NFL Nation reporters what they should think of the post-game fallout and what the most pressing questions are next weekend. Who is prepared for a big performance, who is affected by injuries and what roles might change? Here’s what our crew had to say about some of the biggest storylines after Week 10 as we head into Week 11.

Will Bijan Robinson be the focal point of the Atlanta Falcons offense? And does the role of the QB play a role?

In short, he should be – and indeed he has been all season, even if the touchdown/red zone numbers don’t reflect that. Robinson leads the Falcons in touches (154) and scrimmage yards (820). His 224 routes run are the most for a running back in the NFL. It shouldn’t matter who plays quarterback for Atlanta either, as the franchise uses them in unique ways in each formation. He is preparing for an impressive second half of the season in a team desperate for wins. — Michael Rothstein

Is Brandin Cooks’ big game a sign of things to come?

In a word: yes. Maybe not 173 yards again. Even Dak Prescott said it might not be like this every week, but the Cowboys know Cooks can do something. Why he didn’t get more involved is a mystery because he was so good in training camp. Because of the way CeeDee Lamb travels, defenses have to adjust their coverage plans, and Cooks still has the speed to create separation and make big plays. With difficult games ahead, the Cowboys need Cooks to be a key part of their offense. — Todd Archer

Should fantasy managers be concerned about Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense?

Yes, because the problems have persisted for nine games – with four red zone turnovers, the most in the league, 17 total turnovers, inconsistent play on the O-line and a lack of explosiveness. Getting WR Zay Jones (knee) back would help (he also has legal issues now), but Lawrence needs to take better care of the ball. He has 10 turnovers and nine touchdowns so far this season. — Michael DiRocco

What will the Minnesota Vikings running back rotation look like if Alexander Mattison misses time due to a concussion?

The Vikings would turn to Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu and possibly rookie DeWayne McBride, who spent the season on the practice squad. The plan would begin with the expectation that Chandler gets the most snaps, just as Mattison has received in nearly every game this season and Dalvin Cook has received in 2022. But coach Kevin O’Connell is also open to having the hot hand if Nwangwu, who has been primarily a kick returner in his NFL career, gets hot. If the situation gets dire, full-back CJ Ham would be the most reliable option. — Kevin Seifert

How low do the New York Jets have to sink offensively to consider benching Zach Wilson?

Wilson has led just eight touchdown drives in nine games, including none in the last 11 quarters. If he were the QB1, he would probably already be on the bench. But let’s not forget: he is the replacement player who replaced the injured Aaron Rodgers. If the Jets were to go with the third string (Tim Boyle or Trevor Siemian), it would be an act of pure desperation. Was Wilson good? No, but he threw for 263 yards in each of the last two games, meaning he did just enough to keep his job. However, if the offense continues to remain flat, the change could come in Week 13 after a mini-bye. — Rich Cimini

Will the Steelers rely more heavily on RBs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren like they did on Sunday because of the way QB Kenny Pickett is playing?

Simply put: yes. In a perfect world, the Steelers want to have a balanced offense. But the world isn’t perfect and neither is Pickett. Far from it. And the best way to get Pickett and the offense back on track is to build an identity on the ground. With rookie Broderick Jones starting at right tackle, the Steelers have set consecutive season highs in rushing yards over the past two weeks, and Warren had his first 100-yard game against the Packers. With half of the Steelers’ remaining games coming against notoriously tough AFC North opponents, expect a lot of hard work from the Steelers’ offense. — Brooke Pryor