Fantasy Fools: Nothing goes as expected — as usual

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Bills running back Mike Gillislee (above) could see more action after starter LeSean McCoy aggravated his hamstring injury. | AP

One of the things I love most about fantasy football is that it’s so predictable.

Take, for instance, the demise of Matt Forte. We all knew that he had hit the dreaded 30-year-old RB wall and that the Jets’ backfield would be handed to Bilal Powell on a silver platter.

We’ve all seen the overwhelming evidence that something is wrong with Aaron Rodgers. His arm isn’t as strong, he’s getting rattled in the pocket and he’s just, frankly, lost his mojo. Hey, it happens to all the great ones.

DeMarco Murray left his best days behind when he took the money and ran out of Dallas.

Golden Tate is done. Obviously.

With Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Julius Thomas, the Jaguars’ passing attack just might be the most lethal in the NFL.

Drew Brees can’t be trusted on the road.

If Jay Ajayi was so great, the Dolphins wouldn’t have let Lamar Miller go, or bring in Arian Foster. And they sure wouldn’t have left Ajayi behind on their season-opening trip to Seattle.

Melvin Gordon doesn’t score touchdowns.

Le’Veon Bell. Now that’s a guy who racks up touchdowns!

And nothing is more certain than a veteran kicker such as Steven Hauschka or Chandler Catanzaro lining up for a chip-shot field goal to win a game.

Catch ’em while you can

Mike Gillislee, RB, Bills: Gillislee was a hot commodity late last week when it appeared LeSean McCoy would miss the game against the Dolphins with a bum hammy. He’s still available in the vast majority of leagues and is worth another look now that Shady has aggravated his injury.

Davante Adams, WR, Packers: Adams is, and probably will continue to be, an exercise in frustration. But we can’t ignore that he has found the end zone in four of the Packers’ six games, punctuated by his 13-catch, 132-yard, two-TD outing Thursday night. Though Jordy Nelson’s disappearance in that game can be written off as an aberration, it does appear that Adams will be the next-most-valuable Packers receiver moving forward.

Jack Doyle, TE, Colts: Andrew Luck loves his tight ends, and Doyle is living proof. With Dwayne Allen sidelined by a high ankle sprain, the fourth-year receiver is getting his chance to shine. After racking up 13 receptions and a pair of TDs in the last two weeks, Doyle has vaulted onto the fantasy radar. Tight-end-challenged teams would be well-served grabbing him, at least until Allen returns.

Don’t be fooled

Blake Bortles, QB, Jaguars: I admit it. I thought Bortles was going to build on his breakout 2015 season thanks to his outstanding receiving corps and mediocre running game. But it ain’t happening. His matchup Sunday with the Raiders on his home turf should have been epic, but Bortles flopped. Again. With as many interceptions as touchdowns to his credit, there’s no reason for Bortles to take up valuable roster space any longer.

Arian Foster, RB, Dolphins: He still is owned in more than three-quarters of all leagues. After Jay Ajayi’s second consecutive game with more than 200 rushing yards, you have to ask yourself why. “Self, why?”

Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, RBs, Raiders: With his 18-carry, two-TD outburst Sunday, Latavius Murray put to rest any notion that the Raiders’ backfield would be a three-headed monster upon his return from injury. As long as Murray is healthy, there’s no reason to own either of his rookie backups.

Follow me at the Fantasy Fools blog (fantasy-fools.blogspot.com), on Facebook and on Twitter (@ladd_biro).

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