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@MikeTriplett @ESPNNFL Lafell or Amendola the rest of the year in a PPR league — David King (@TheFakeKingDavd) November 19, 2015

@MikeTriplett: Although Danny Amendola seems like a natural replacement for injured receiver Julian Edelman, ESPN’s New England Patriots reporter Mike Reiss gave a stronger recommendation to Brandon LaFell -- even in point-per-reception leagues.

Reiss said it comes down to playing time and opportunity. LaFell was already starting alongside Edelman, so we know “he’s not going anywhere.” And Reiss expects a small boost in targets for LaFell.

“The receiver who we can sort of say will definitely be there all the time going forward is Brandon LaFell,” said Reiss, who also pointed out that LaFell is just getting warmed up after returning from the physically-unable-to-perform list four games ago.

“So in a lot of ways, he just finished training camp,” Reiss said. “And let’s not forget, he had 74 catches last year.”

Amendola will definitely get a boost, too, though. Reiss said Amendola might catch a few more passes than LaFell because the Patriots use their short passing game as an extension of the run game. And Amendola might be the target on those third-down, “gotta have it” plays that used to go to Edelman.

But Reiss said he doesn’t expect Amendola’s playing time to go much past 70 percent (he’s currently averaging 59 percent of New England’s snaps). He said coaches will manage Amendola’s workload to keep him healthy. Amendola could split some time with receivers like Keshawn Martin, Aaron Dobson and Chris Harper.

“They’re not just gonna have one player replace Edelman,” Reiss said. “They’re gonna split Edelman’s role into different parts.”

@MikeTriplett @ESPNNFL is Peyton Manning dropable in 12 team ppr? — Marco perez (@Droidperez) November 19, 2015

@MikeTriplett: Yes, Peyton Manning is droppable, as crazy as that sentence sounds. But only if you have a real compelling reason to do so.

ESPN fantasy analyst Eric Karabell has Manning ranked 24th among quarterbacks for the remainder of the season (the full list requires Insider access). And Manning was down to just 70 percent ownership in ESPN leagues as of Friday. So assuming you have someone else ranked in the top 15 or top 18, they’re probably a safer bet from here on out.

Even if Manning returns next week from a torn plantar fascia, there is no telling when he’ll be healthy enough to start looking like Peyton Manning again. He has reached double digits in fantasy points only twice since Week 3, according to ESPN’s standard scoring system.

But all of that being said, we are still talking about one of the greatest QBs in NFL history. Although Manning hasn’t looked that way for most of this year, these greatest-of-all-time types have a way of defying expectations.

As ESPN Denver Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold said, “It wouldn’t hurt to wait and see. There is still some thought in the building he will make it back this year. And he will try. ... I don’t think he’d like his last game to be the Chiefs (35 yards, four interceptions, no touchdowns). And he’s working his butt off in treatment, so he obviously wants to get back.”

@MikeTriplett @ESPNNFL what's the deal with Karlos Williams? Each week he's projected at 5 pts but always exceeds. Is he a start this week? — Spacebooze (@spacebooze) November 19, 2015

@MikeTriplett hi. I'm desperate & need 2. Ryan Matthews, bilal Powell, j ajayi, or karlos williams. ALSO Gates or Ebron? (.5pt PPR) thx!!! — Stephen Stevens Jr (@SPILLC_) November 19, 2015

@MikeTriplett: Well, it certainly helps that Buffalo Bills rookie running back Karlos Williams has scored at least one touchdown in all six games he has played this year.

That seems pretty unsustainable. So one of these days, he may indeed finish with just five fantasy points if he doesn’t crack the end zone. But Williams is still usable in fantasy lineups because he will continue to get a decent amount of touches along with Buffalo’s top running back, LeSean McCoy.

ESPN Bills reporter Mike Rodak pointed to Buffalo’s victory over the Miami Dolphins two weeks ago, when McCoy ran for 112 yards and Williams ran for 110.

“This offense is designed to run the ball 30-plus times if they can get an early lead in a game, and Williams has impressed enough where he’ll get at least 5-10 carries in such games,” Rodak said. “He’s also more of a red-zone threat than McCoy, so he’ll get points for touchdowns.”

So to answer the second question, I would choose Williams first among those four No. 2 running back options. Normally I would also go with Philadelphia Eagles running back Ryan Mathews, but he has been declared out with a concussion this week. So I’ll go with Miami Dolphins rookie Jay Ajayi.

ESPN Dolphins reporter James Walker wrote Friday about how running backs Lamar Miller and Ajayi have started to form a dynamic duo since Ajayi returned from a rib injury. Ajayi has 89 yards on 11 carries in two games.

Although Ajayi is a bigger back, the Dolphins have continued to stick with Miller closer to the goal line so far. But Walker said Ajayi has helped Miller stay fresh and catch more passes -- pointing out that Miller had 13 catches for 147 yards and a TD in the two weeks since Ajayi came back.