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What to do with Marquez Valdes-Scantling in Week 5 fantasy football

Davante Adams likely isn’t going to be active this weekend. Is that all it takes to make Marquez Valdez-Scantling a must-play?

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling catches a pass in front of Denver Broncos safety Trey Marshall during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Though its very possible that we won’t have definitive word on the status of Davante Adams until mid-afternoon on Sunday, I think we can all make the safe assumption that the Packers’ No. 1 wide receiver isn’t going to suit up this weekend against the Cowboys. Adams suffered a turf toe injury late in the second-half of Green Bay’s hard-fought loss to Philadelphia last Thursday, a contest in which the wideout had already collected a massive 10 receptions and 15 targets. He did not appear in a practice session on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, so we’re left anticipating a rather large hole in the Packers’ depth chart in Week 5. Someone has to step up and fill in the gaps, right?

It might not be so simple. First and foremost, it’s not like we really have a template for Adams’ absence. Not counting Week 17 of last season - a game where Aaron Rodgers only played a few series - we actually haven’t seen Green Bay’s All Pro quarterback take the field without his main weapon since all the way back in 2015. There’s also the matter of matchup. Dallas has surrendered just 136.0 yards per game to opposing wide receiver corps through four weeks of action - the third-lowest mark in the NFC. Essentially, if we can all agree that Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the Packers’ new top target in the passing attack, is that role even all that desirable heading into AT&T Stadium?

Fantasy Football Analysis, Green Bay Packers WR Marquez Valdez-Scantling

Valdes-Scantling leads all non-Adams Green Bay receivers in targets (28), receptions (16), receiving yards (217), and snaps (218). He and Adams are also the only two Packers’ who have accumulated more than 100 air yards so far this season, with Valdes-Scantling’s total of 344 actually placing him 28th in the league among all wideouts. He’s the obvious choice for a boost in both value and volume if and when it’s announced that Adams will be sidelined. It’s more than enough to make him viable in almost all season-long formats, however, in a far from ideal matchup, I’d be steering clear on DraftKings this Sunday.

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