Fantasy Football Q&A, 8/15: Ezekiel Elliott's Suspension and 2nd Overall Pick
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 15: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks with Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys before the NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium on January 15, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

In the latest installment of the Fantasy Football Q&A, we figure out what to do with Ezekiel Elliot and the best options for the second overall pick.

Ezekiel Elliott’s six game suspension pushes him down on the draft board. Despite being the top rusher last year, he will be out for over half of the fantasy football regular season (six games for the suspension plus his bye week).

For this reason, I wouldn’t take him in the first round at all. He can help your team in the playoffs, but investing your first pick in a player that will miss half your regular season puts your chances of making said playoffs very low.

I wouldn’t take Elliott before the third round, probably not even until the fourth. Will this hurt your chances of getting him? Yes. But I’d rather use my high picks on players who are going to play the entire season.

Avoiding a player as talented as Elliott is tough to do.

But I hate the idea of my first round pick not playing. Give me players who can get plugged in right away over players who are going to take up a bench spot for six weeks due to a suspension.

If you have the second pick in your fantasy draft, the Elliott suspension will hurt. It cuts down the chances of Le’Veon Bell being there, who I like better than Elliott in PPR (more on that here).

With him suspended, I would bet on one of Bell or David Johnson as the first one off the board. Given your choice of the two, I’d take Bell. He averaged more yards and more receptions per game than Johnson did last year.

There is some temptation to take one of Odell Beckham Jr., Julio Jones, or Antonio Brown here — but if Bell is gone, Johnson is probably the best bet. With the depth at wide receiver more robust than running back, you can find better value pass catchers in the late rounds then you can rushers.

If Bell is somehow there at two, take him. If not, Johnson is a lot more than a consolation prize.

I’m taking the over.

Jay Ajayi had 1,272 rushing yards in 15 games last season. With Ryan Tannehill out for the year and Jay Cutler spending most of the offseason in retirement mode, the Dolphins running game may be the most important aspect of the offense.

And it wasn’t like Ajayi was the workhorse all season long, either. He lost some early-season touches to Arian Foster, who saw his fair share of carries before an injury midway through the season forced him into retirement.

Ajayi should get the majority of carries and has more experience under his belt. Plus, most backs take a big jump in their second year as the lead back.

As long as he stays healthy, Ajayi should pass 1,100 yards.

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