Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in every so often over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
Our official rankings and projections are in Fantasy Index Weekly. That's the content you're paying for. My goal here is to answer questions on players who are close, and on occasion I will have opinions that clash with the rankings -- sometimes I like a player a little more than Ian. Or a little less.
Any Sports Illustrated readers out there? Couple of good articles on football in the new issue. Story about the changing viewing habits of NFL watchers (hint: it involves your phone), and a column about the eyesore that is Thursday Night Football. I know few of us have time to read magazines anymore (we're looking at our phones), but whenever I sit down with an issue I usually find something worth reading.
Kansas City at Falcons: If I were a Broncos fan I still don't think I'd be over that loss to Kansas City last week. And I'm still sky high about starting Tyreek Hill -- I'm sure my opponent in a playoff semifinal still can't believe he lost that way. I'm starting Hill AND Taylor Gabriel in that league. Touches aren't guaranteed, that's a problem, but they're big-play guys whose teams are getting them some chances, and I think it's worth taking them for the potential over starting some random player who you know has no big-play ability. Running games also viable here. I dropped Jeremy Maclin last week, so he won't be starting even though he'll apparently return.
Dolphins at Ravens: This has the feel of a 20-17 game, at most, and I'm wary of various players. Steve Smith and DeVante Parker are both banged-up and I'm avoiding them. Like Kenneth Dixon more than Terrance West but definitely risky putting him too high. Jay Ajayi, very tough matchup.
49ers at Bears: Snow is possible here, in case you needed an extra reason to be wary of the passing games. If you start Kaepernick it's because he might run for 80 yards, that's it. Jordan Howard and Carlos Hyde should both be solid. Vance McDonald leaps to mind.
Eagles at Bengals: Jordan Matthews a gametime decision, which to me means he's out of the discussion. It's funny, on the one hand these games are more important and we agonize over lineup decisions, but if your team are like mine, enough players are hurt this time of year that there aren't as many choices. I'm starting Wendell Smallwood, though it's a little worrying with the committee. I'm also using the Bengals D (over Pittsburgh) and definitely Jeremy Hill.
Texans at Packers: So the Packers knocked me out of one Survivor Pool, but I'm going with them this week in the one I'm still alive in. Just can't see Brock Osweiler winning at Lambeau. Houston has played the pass well but I'm not betting against Rodgers and his wideouts the way their offense has been playing. Lamar Miller and maybe DeAndre Hopkins given the way Green Bay's pass defense has generally struggled.
Broncos at Jaguars: Lot of injury issues here. No Trevor Siemian, no Chris Ivory, no Allen Hurns, no Julius Thomas against his former team. Probably Ivory and maybe Thomas the only ones anyone considered starting anyway. It's a downgrade for Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. Devontae Booker should be busy. T.J. Yeldon apparently healthy enough to start, but I wouldn't recommend him. Kind of ugly situation for Jacksonville's offense, and Denver's because of the Lynch unknown. Won't be a shootout.
Rams at Patriots: Your guess is as good as mine on some of these injured Patriots. I expect Edelman and Bennett will be fine. Hogan I'd avoid because Malcolm Mitchell might be better. Would not use White or Lewis, Blount sure. For the Rams, I suppose Gurley is a starter in most leagues though he won't do much, and Kenny Britt has some value. No Tavon Austin, as if you were considering him. Eric Dickerson angry at Jeff Fisher, he can join the club.
Lions at Saints: New Orleans defense has played a little better recently. I'd happily be using Stafford and Riddick (alas, I'm facing Stafford) and Ebron and maybe Tate, while I'm kind of intrigued by Cooks under the squeaky wheel theory. Michael Thomas of course, and Coby Fleener gets a boost from the matchup. Start Ingram if he's active, but he's questionable, so have to monitor those inactives. If he's out, Hightower.
Bills at Raiders: I can't trust Sammy Watkins. Too much risk of limping off for my liking. Raiders passing game and LeSean McCoy, that's about it for me.
Washington at Cardinals: Interesting game. Washington offense has been pretty great, but so has the Arizona defense (until getting rolled in Atlanta last week). I kind of think Washington wins this game, though I'm content to use Larry Fitzgerald (and obviously David Johnson). Tough matchup but I'm using Robert Kelley and Jamison Crowder. And Vernon Davis, with Jordan Reed sidelined.
Giants at Steelers: Here is a great game; too bad my son has a basketball game that starts about half an hour after kickoff. I'm thinking it will be a high-scoring, fun one to watch, with big-name players doing big things. Quarterbacks, Bell and Beckham and Brown obviously, and maybe Sterling Shepard and Rashad Jennings chip in some production. Would be watching if I could.
Bucs at Chargers: Two teams that think they can make the playoffs. Chargers are probably better, they've just frittered away a few games they should have won (while the Bucs have won some they should have lost but will likely slip down the stretch). This could also be a higher-scoring one, tricky part is guessing which Chargers receiver has the biggest game. Tyrell Williams the best but he's hurt, making him a trifle risky. I dislike starting banged-up players who end up not playing the full game, so I'll be wary recommending him. But him playing makes Travis Benjamin/Dontrelle Inman less appealing. If I can avoid the situation, I am.
Panthers at Seahawks: It's a lousy matchup for Cam Newton and company, I know. But I'm still considering him, because it's primetime and Carolina's last gasp for the season; when they lose, it's over. Newton, Olsen, Stewart and Benjamin all have some value here, despite the tough matchup. For Seattle, give me Wilson-Baldwin-Graham. No thanks to Thomas Rawls. Should be a good game, maybe slightly more points than you'd expect if I'm right about Carolina pulling out all the stops.
Colts at Jets: Apparently Brandon Marshall iffy for this one, so let's check those Saturday practice reports. It's over for the Jets and Marshall is definitely a guy to worry about maybe not playing through an injury he would play through if New York were in contention. For the Colts I think Hilton will be fine, and Moncrief looks great. Not idea for Frank Gore. Luck should be good to go, but let's make sure he gets final clearance today.
Enjoy the games.