Now THAT is a crazy day of football. Huge NFL performances. Huge fantasy performances. And some sad and disappointing injuries. No time to waste, let's take that whirlwind tour through all of yesterday's games.
Lions vs. Kansas City across the pond: There was one sad sack struggling team in this game, and there was also Kansas City. Andy Reid's team is only 3-5 but had a couple of convincing wins the last two weeks over Pittsburgh and Detroit. No margin for error, but stranger things have happened. Another nice game for Charcandrick West, touchdowns for Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce in a game Alex Smith didn't have to do much, and the Kansas City D. ... For Detroit, well, a few days isn't enough time to change the offense dramatically. Matthew Stafford still got hit a ton. Detroit apparently used its second-round pick on a running back they're going to use solely on kick returns. Six more meaningless receptions for Theo Riddick, though you got 9 points in PPR, so there's that. Fortunately the Lions are on bye next week and you don't have to start any of these players.
Buccaneers at Falcons: Huge games for Julio Jones and Jacob Tamme, the latter of whom I most regrettably benched for Danny Amendola. We all make mistakes, right? And they never, ever feel good. Productive game for Matt Ryan and (ultimately) for Devonta Freeman, though he didn't score. I know some people have been disappointed by Matt Ryan (and he had some turnovers again today) but I'm still comfortable starting him most weeks. Although I may need to reconsider benching Carson Palmer for him ever again. And the Falcons lose, looking more like the team we thought they would be than the undefeated team of a few weeks back.
Chargers at Ravens: Every week the Chargers put up big offensive numbers, and almost every week they lose a close one. Similar story with the Ravens, actually, so one of them had to win. Big story here is Steve Smith tearing his Achilles, which could be it for one of my all-time favorite wide receivers. (Obviously it's it if he does indeed retire, but he's hedged on that recently. If he changes his mind, it's a tough injury for anyone to make it back from.) Big numbers for both quarterbacks, a huge game for Malcom Floyd after Keenan Allen (spectacular leaping touchdown catch) was sidelined. No big surprises, unless it's the amount of work Melvin Gordon got relative to Danny Woodhead. Not sure why (and Gordon wasn't effective enough to suggest they'll stick with this change).
Vikings at Bears: Only caught highlights of this game. Another awesome touchdown by Stefon Diggs, breaking several tackles along the way. Big game from Alshon Jeffery, nice to see. Matt Forte left with a knee injury, we'll see how serious it was; they're saying MCL rather than ACL. Lesser outing from Martellus Bennett, guess I need to consider benching him for Tamme going forward, too. And Adrian Peterson (1o3 yards) and the Vikings roll on.
Cardinals at Browns: Entertaining game with more fireworks from the Arizona offense. John Brown active but didn't actually play, the bane of all fantasy coaches. Hope you benched him. Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald both caught touchdowns; Troy Niklas a pair. Palmer having a big year except the weeks I start him, I think. Chris Johnson didn't score but went over 100 and sadly had a touchdown erased by a penalty. Saw some of Andre Ellington in a pass formation near the goal line, and drew an end-zone target, but not playing enough for anyone to actually consider him. Two TDs for Brian Hartline, who nobody started. Cleveland's running back did nothing. At all. Duke Johnson had a nifty run after a screen pass reception, the only back anybody should consider. Gary Barnidge scores again, remarkable.
Titans at Texans: Brian Hoyer is dealing out there. Pretty touchdown throws to DeAndre Hopkins and Nate Washington. I think that's basically everything there is to say about this game. Tennessee's offense makes Houston's defense look good. Neither running game did anything. Alfred Blue got slightly more chances than Chris Polk, neither was very effective. Antonio Andrews is kind of the lead back for the Titans. You're not winning with these players.
Giants at Saints: Wow. Had a hunch Odell Beckham would break out here and that both passing games would be good. But this? Brees and Manning just marched their teams up and down the field. Brandin Cooks, Marques Colston, Benjamin Watson, Beckham, Dwayne Harris. Only passing game disappointment was Rueben Randle, who somehow manages to disappear even with Manning putting up huge numbers. Lots of highlights, lots of passing. Orleans Darkwa got hurt in this game, helping Rashad Jennings be the lead back (though New York still used all four of 'em). Game seemed headed for overtime until the Giants gave up a punt return and a face mask penalty in the final seconds, setting up the winning points. Tough loss, but two really poor defenses right now. No idea who's gonna win the NFC East. Or the South, really, though Carolina looks good. (So they'll lose to Indy tonight, probably.)
Bengals at Steelers: We tend to downplay rust with players coming off injury, but it definitely showed in Ben Roethlisberger, who made some uncharacteristically poor throws. Including throwing the ball out of the back of the end zone on a last-gasp chance at a winning touchdown. Poor game for Andy Dalton, who can't blame rust, but he got the win and got big numbers out of A.J. Green. And oh yeah, ugly knee injury for LeVeon Bell; he's out for the year, so go get DeAngelo Williams. Also noteworthy: big game for previously invisible Heath Miller with Big Ben back; pick him up if he's been dropped.
49ers at Rams: A big game for Todd Gurley, again; how can you not start him regardless of other options or scoring format. A big 2-TD game from Tavon Austin, how can you start him, with his chances and big plays quite unreliable. Somehow the NFC West suddenly has what appear to be three of the league's best teams. And San Francisco. The 49ers lost Reggie Bush (knee) and Mike Davis (hand) to injury in this game. We'll find out today what the story is on both, but next in line is apparently Kendall Gaskins. Though after he ran 5 times for 6 yards, we'll see, they might need to find somebody else.
Jets at Raiders: Might have made a lot of money yesterday had Ryan Fitzpatrick not been injured. Rest of my lineup very strong. Oh well. That's two bad games in a row for the Jets Defense, while the Raiders are looking legit on offense and defense these days. Impressive. Geno Smith looked like Geno Smith. Just doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game. Crazy throw on fourth down with five minutes left and the Jets down two scores; i.e., still in the game if he completes that pass. With Revis on Amari Cooper, Crabtree had a big game.
Seahawks at Cowboys: Kind of a painful game to watch. Is Dallas defense that good, or Seattle offense that bad? Probably a little of both. If you started Darren McFadden, you got decent points, especially in PPR, thanks to him catching 6 passes. Had a nice long run wiped out by penalty, too. If Tony Rom doesn't get injured I think Dallas is probably 5-2 right now. Instead of 2-5. Unfortunate. For Seattle, decent PPR game for Jimmy Graham, predictable modest outing for Russell Wilson, who I believe has thrown for nearly the exact same yardage in every game.
Packers at Broncos: OK, NOW the Broncos have played a very good offense, and we can say for certain that they should be avoided in fantasy matchups. Holding Aaron Rodgers under 100 passing yards; that's '85 Bears territory right there. Impressive. Denver finally got its ground game really going, and you got good production out of both (though C.J. Anderson was more effective). Maybe Hillman still the No. 1, but looks like it will remain a committee. Denver and Peyton Manning but their bye week to good use. Packers have another tough matchup against Carolina next week, but I think they'll bounce back.
Monday, Monday: Ah, Carolina. Can they do to Andrew Luck what most teams have been doing to Andrew Luck? I think so. Carolina isn't as tough against the run so I'm thinking the Colts should lean on Frank Gore, control the clock, win a lower-scoring game than expected. I'm betting on the Panthers D, some opponents are counting on Greg Olsen (I am too in Super League, where I'm over 200 currently), and Indy better win this one if they want Chuck Pagano to make it through the bye week as head coach. (Denver next week.) I'll take Panthers, 23-17.