On Touchdown Wire back in June, I walked through why three NFC East players would be sure-fire fantasy busts: Malik Nabers, Terry McLaurin, and Jayden Daniels. Managers now recognize the risks of all three. Here's why Daniels' somewhat shocking impending return increases his rest-of-season fantasy risk.
Some sit/start questions are difficult to answer because certain players have vast realistic ranges of outcomes. Dak Prescott might not be startable every week in every league. But in general, managers recognize that his floor is high enough to make him "safe." Cam Skattebo might be comparably safe at running back, for example, based on assumed high volume.
But Daniels has already dealt with two serious injuries in his brief career. One concern
is that he'll run less when he's back. The coaching staff might want him to limit his injury risk, and/or he might opt to play more conservatively when possible—for example, running out of bounds after a two-yard gain rather than turning downfield, initiating contact, and pushing for a few more yards.
There's also increased concern that he could exit a game early. That's happened three times in the past 12 months, cutting into his fantasy output and leaving managers wondering, "What might have been?"
Sometimes clean breaks lead to more confident fantasy decisions. If Daniels were out for the season, managers could look elsewhere. Instead, managers who drafted Daniels face a dilemma: start him with confidence when he returns, or burn a valuable bench spot during bye weeks in hopes he eventually reclaims his rookie-year glory.
Check out this recent podcast episode for more on Daniels' fantasy outlook.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: The risks confronting fantasy managers by stashing Jayden Daniels
