Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own brief 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.
What follows is a brief look at all the games with how I'd react in my own lineups to injury developments or other news. The official rankings are the ones in the Weekly. Those are the ones that subscribers are paying for. Sometimes players are very close in the rankings, and if I get questions like that, I'll offer opinions. Sometimes I like certain players more or less than Ian, and sometimes I have different risk tolerance with injuries/weather issues, etc.
Jets at Bills: Probably wouldn't have figured the Bills are the team that look like they're starting to move in the right direction and the Jets would be the ones cleaning house in the offseason. Well, maybe after the Bills crushed New York a few weeks back. I like the Bills D and Runnin' Josh Allen and maybe McCoy and (gulp) Zay Jones. For the Jets, uh, no one? Yes, no one. Do not start any Jets. Tight end Chris Herndon looks like the only player we have ranked in the top 40.
Panthers at Browns: It's not a great matchup for Nick Chubb, but I'm starting him. Cam Newton has the shoulder injury, but presumably he's OK, it's a must win and he'll be doing his usual thing. Carolina weak against the pass so there's some promise there. I didn't read the story but there's something about how John Dorsey has the Browns headed in the right direction. Well, he didn't do anything to land the No. 1 pick and all the other picks they got. Should have fired Hue Jackson last offseason. Defense poor despite plenty of talent. Other than that...
Falcons at Packers: I expect Aaron Rodgers will have a big game, free of the yoke of whatever Mike McCarthy has been doing lately. And Aaron Jones, cause the Falcons are no good on defense. I'm fine using Matt Ryan and his receivers since Green Bay has probably quit. Joe Philbin ain't coaching this team next year. Not an important game but should be offense for both sides.
Colts at Texans: This is an important game, although it would have been more so had the Colts not somehow let themselves get shut out at Jacksonville last week. I like the Indy passing game, although there's the gametime decision issue with T.Y. Hilton. I think he'll play, but if you ask me "should I use Hilton or...." I'm probably going to recommend the other guy. Might be limited, outside chance he won't even be active, depending how banged-up he is. Luck, Hines and Ebron are appealing, but the wideouts an iffier bunch. For Houston, key guys look good. D'Onta Foreman will play but I'd stash him, not use him.
Ravens at Kansas City: So Patrick Mahomes is still our top-ranked quarterback. If you ask me "should I start Mahomes or X" I'm going to say Mahomes. I'm stubborn that way. If you're instead using Roethlisberger or Rodgers, I'm not going to say Don't do that. But if I have Mahomes, I'm using him. Conversely, I don't care to use Spencer Ware in what I think will probably be a committee. I'd use Gus Edwards, but don't like that Lamar will probably score the rushing TDs. Not using Ravens receivers.
Patriots at Dolphins: I like Sony Michel here, and am OK using the passing game (but think New England will run a lot). For Miami, Drake if necessary, but I still don't trust his usage. Or the passing game, with Tannehill iffy. I guess Stills and Parker if you have no other choice, but most will be able to find wideouts that aren't connected to Tannehill having a productive game. Supposed to rain some.
Saints at Bucs: Speaking of rain. Bucs have been lousy against the run since the defensive coordinator switch, so I'm currently using Mark Ingram (and Kamara obviously). I don't love using Ingram, but Saints should run early, late, and often. For the Bucs, no DJax, so other receivers are more appealing. Peyton Barber only if you have to, with the Saints better defending the run. Good recent cover story on Drew Brees in Sports Illustrated.
Giants at Washington: Adrian Peterson is a tough one for me. I could easily see him going over 100 yards and scoring 1-2 TDs against a Giants run defense that's pretty soft. But he's running behind a gutted offensive line and taking handoffs from Mark Sanchez, so we know the holes won't be big. But should be lots of Peterson and Chris Thompson and not much from the wide receivers. For the Giants I'm reluctantly using Evan Engram. Not Sterling Shepard, OK? Probably a dull, lower-scoring type of game.
Bengals at Chargers: For Cincinnati, Joe Mixon and a to a lesser extent Tyler Boyd look OK. Mixon should have a big workload as a runner and receiver, Boyd is the only viable wideout. For the Chargers, in contrast, I'm OK using Justin Jackson and Austin Ekeler. Both running backs should be busy against a garbage defense. I'm using Philip Rivers and his model of consistency production, but think the Chargers will be able to run a ton. Keenan Allen, too, a streaky receiver.
Broncos at 49ers: Look, I love Jeff Wilson this week. Should be close to a full-time guy in a good running game for an offense that throws to its running backs. I like him more than Justin Jackson, Spencer Ware, and a lot of other fill-in guys. More of a tossup with Jaylon Samuels, so if you ask me that I'll probably give multiple answers. But I think he'll be a productive PPR running back. I also like Courtland Sutton as Denver's No. 1 wideout and of course Phillip Lindsay. George Kittle. I think that's everyone.
Lions at Cardinals: Another couple of teams playing out the string. Should be some offense from talented players against less-than-interested defenses. Kenny Golladay, David Johnson, mebbe Larry Fitzgerald. But Matthew Stafford isn't 100 percent. LeGarrette Blount has some fill-in value against a run defense that's struggled. Could be surprisingly useful.
Eagles at Cowboys: This game will probably decide the NFC East, more or less. A little while back would have figured the Eagles would take things, now the Cowboys are playing better ball. No reason to shy away from Elliott, Cooper and maybe even Dak. For Philly, it's a tough defense they'll face. Hard to be optimistic about anyone but Zach Ertz. Carson Wentz, Alshon Jeffery, Golden Tate and Josh Adams are starters, at least, against a really good defense.
Steelers at Raiders: Jared Cook is the Raider I'd use. For Pittsburgh, I'm using Jaylen Samuels. Not Stevan Ridley, though I could reasonably see him going for 50 yards and a touchdown in a committee against a really bad defense. But no catches and certainly Samuel could score the TDs. Brown, Smith-Schuster and Roethlisberger should get theirs too in a lopsided win.
Rams at Bears: So for those with continuity questions, I did in fact bench the Jaguars defense against the Titans (5 points in my league) to keep the Bears defense in my starting lineup. I'm OK with however it works out. Rams offense should be a little less than usual given the matchup, so I'd use Gurley and the two main wideouts but probably wouldn't mess about with the tight ends or Josh Reynolds. Jared Goff more iffy. For the Bears, Tarik Cohen and Mitchell Trubisky (who will run some) are about it, even though it's not a shutdown defense they'll face. I guess it's an important NFC game, though I suspect Chicago will win the North anyway because Minnesota is losing tomorrow night.
Vikings at Seahawks: Spoiler, Seattle is going to win. I kind of like Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett. Doug Baldwin is playing hurt, as usual, making him iffier to use. Wary of Chris Carson, too, against a good run defense. Yes, Minnesota hasn't been as tough the last few weeks, fair enough. For Minnesota, I like Dalvin Cook and the main wideouts, but not keen on Cousins. Will pass on the tight ends.
Enjoy the games.