Roundtable Week 9: Second-Half Slump Candidates

Matt Waldman's Roundtable Week 9: Second-Half Slump Candidates Matt Waldman Published 11/02/2023

Welcome to Week 8 of the 2023 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.

This week's roundtable features these four topics:

Let's roll.

Second-Half Slump Candidates

Matt Waldman: Name two players you believe are about to fizzle in the second half of the fantasy season or at least see a notable decline in production (by at least a tier in a 12-team PPR format, think RB1 to RB2 or WR3 to WR3, etc.)

Gary Davenport: The fact that Moss has been a top-five running back over the first eight weeks of the season might be the biggest surprise at running back this year. But if last week was any indication, Jonathan Taylor is 100 percent. Shane Steichen isn't going to give Taylor one second-half carry every week—I think. I mean, what was that?

Jordan Addison has certainly impressed as a rookie, and the idea of him and a healthy Justin Jefferson playing together should terrify the rest of the NFC North for 2024—provided the Vikings have a decent quarterback next year. But right now, the quarterback situation in the Twin Cities is a mess, and so-so WR2 numbers are likely the best-case scenario with Josh Dobbs or Jaren Hall running the offense.

Chad Parsons: Tua Tagovailoa has the toughest strength of schedule slate over the next month for quarterbacks. The same applies to their wide receivers. The offensive line has started to become an issue, and Tagovailoa is an injury risk, which generally gets washed down the river since he has been healthy for a couple of months. Washington in Week 13 is the lone strong matchup left for Tagovailoa.

Davante Adams has to deal with an unsettled quarterback situation with Jimmy Garoppolo being benched, Brian Hoyer flopping in his spot start, and now Aidan O'Connell gets his shot on the floundering Raiders. Adams also has the second most difficult strength-of-schedule slate over the next month for wide receivers, including stingy matchups against the Giants, Jets, and Chiefs.

Already a subscriber?

Continue reading this content with a PRO subscription.

Photos provided by Imagn Images

More by Matt Waldman

 

Chubb and Hopkins, the Expendables: The Gut Check No. 647

Matt Waldman

Fantasy football has written off Nick Chubb and DeAndre Hopkins. Matt Waldman sees potential draft-day steals.

07/03/25 Read More
 

Jalen Milroe Was the Right Pick: The Gut Check No. 646

Matt Waldman

Jalen Milroe going to Seattle in the third round may prove to be the best investment in a rookie QB in the NFL and dynasty football in 2025.

06/26/25 Read More
 

Luther Burden III: All-In? The Gut Check No. 645

Matt Waldman

Luther Burden III is a compelling candidate to become the most productive rookie fantasy receiver in 2025. Matt Waldman explains why.

06/19/25 Read More
 

Replacements: Week 18

Matt Waldman

The weekly list of preemptive additions before their fantasy emergence and candidates who could contribute due to unexpected late-week events.

01/03/25 Read More
 

Replacements: Week 17

Matt Waldman

The weekly list of preemptive additions before their fantasy emergence and candidates who could contribute due to unexpected late-week events.

12/27/24 Read More
 

The Gut Check No.644: What We Got from Michael Penix Jr.

Matt Waldman

Matt Waldman breaks down what fantasy GMs got from quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s first start and what to expect moving forward.

12/24/24 Read More