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Aaron Rodgers has been one of the most valuable fantasy football players for half a decade now. The Green Bay Packers quarterback was one of the first two from his position taken in nearly every draft this year, usually right around the middle or end of the first round.
His fantasy (and real life) credentials have been unquestioned – until a broken collarbone sidelined him in a Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears. Now we’re entering the stretch run for the fantasy playoff push, and past performance doesn’t mean a sack of potatoes when you’re looking for fantasy glory. So, is it okay to drop a superstar like Rodgers?
Well, the answer will obviously depend on your needs, but it’s looking more and more like his fantasy value, at least for this season, is waning enough to warrant opening up his roster space if it’s needed.
Here’s what we do know: he’s not playing this week against the Minnesota Vikings. He’s got to be considered doubtful at best for a Thanksgiving Day tilt against the Detroit Lions. He has said he needs at least one practice before taking the playing field, which would be tough to do on a short week.
By then we’re getting to Week 14, otherwise known as fantasy football playoff time. Are you willing to roll the dice in your do-or-die fantasy playoff on a quarterback who wouldn’t have seen game action in two months?
Assuming he did play that week against the Atlanta Falcons, and assuming you are still in the fantasy chase, he would go up against an average Dallas Cowboys D in Week 15, followed by an improving Pittsburgh Steelers squad in what would be your fantasy championship. These aren’t horrible matchups, but they certainly aren’t slam dunks.
And you can’t overlook the worst-case scenario – that the Packers tank the next few weeks and decide to put their best player on the shelf for the season in the hopes that he’ll return fully healthy for next year.
If you are able to stash A-Rod, or if you’re in a keeper format where he’s eligible next year, by all means hold on to him. But many of us don’t have the luxury of holding a roster spot, and the time to act might be now.
