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 lineup 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, and should take precedence. But sometimes players are very close, and in those cases I'm glad to offer opinions on how I'd approach those situations. Sometimes I like certain players more or less than Ian, and sometimes I have different risk tolerance with injuries etc.
If a guy is 20 spots higher in the rankings, that's a question you probably don't need to ask. Trust the rankings. OK, on to the games.
49ers at Washington: I missed on the 49ers Defense. So terrible last year -- almost no takeaways of any kind -- I didn't expect them to be a factor this year. But they're really good, and here they're facing a hopeless offensive team. No Chris Thompson this week, I picked up Wendell Smallwood and there's some PPR appeal, but this isn't a week where Washington is going to score more than 13-14 points. I'm using McLaurin somewhere because he's great, but a tough matchup. San Francisco won't have Deebo Samuel, giving the other wideouts more of a chance to do something, but the best options are probably Coleman and Breida anyway.
Cardinals at Giants: Should be more offense than defense in this one, although there is some pass rush potential for both sides. Kliff Kingsbury is calling David Johnson and Christian Kirk gametime decisions -- so that's how it's going to be, eh? If I knew they were going to play usual snaps I'd like them both, but hard to know. Johnson was great last week and played three-quarters of the snaps, so maybe he'll be fine. Gotta watch the pregame reports. Sadly, I can't really tell you if he'll be perfectly OK or not. For the Giants, Engram and Barkley practiced all week, use 'em if you got 'em. I picked up Darius Slayton in a league where I needed a starting wideout with several on bye or injured. There are worse dart throws, I think he might have some potential in this matchup.
Texans at Colts: Good game and I'm expecting plenty of offense. I think I'm dipping far enough into the Colts to use Nyheim Hines in a league, he should catch a handful of balls. Hilton, Hopkins, obviously, and maybe even Jacoby Brissett are viable. Held my nose and picked up Darren Fells in dynasty yesterday, needed a tight end and he's producing these days. Which means he'll probably do nothing this week and Kenny Stills will go off. Some dart-throw appeal with Stills, too.
Raiders at Packers: No Tyrell Williams, no Davante Adams, probably no Geronimo Allison and maybe no Marquez Valdes-Scantling. So just a comically thin wide receiver corps for each team in this game. I saw some funny stuff this week championing Allen Lazard because Aaron Rodgers had been talking him up. Have people really forgotten the preseason when Rodgers was singing the praises of MVS, Kumerow, and the equipment guy? He's full of crap. That said I do like Lazard, but people need to drop this narrative of Rodgers talking guys up. A lot of passes to running backs and unstartable guys like Marcedes Lewis probably. For the Raiders, I don't much like their receiving options. It's a bold owner who puts Trevor Davis into a lineup.
Vikings at Lions: Man did the Lions get rooked on Monday night. I think they can win this game, it seems like they can win or lose any game. Tough matchup though. Injuries not as much of an issue in this one, at least.
Jaguars at Bengals: It's a week to use Jaguars where you can. I'd consider Dede Westbrook, DJ Chark, and am all over Leonard Fournette. I have Josh Oliver on a roster but I think you need to see him in a game before actually using him. For the Bengals, Tyler Boyd obviously, maybe Auden Tate. Hard to feel confident about Joe Mixon but bye weeks, etc., some of us have no choice.
Dolphins at Bills: The Bills are this week's beneficiary of facing the "rebuilding" Dolphins. Frank Gore, Devin Singletary. Nervous about using Josh Allen and John Brown, but it's certainly possible they have big games too. Funny stuff this week about Kenyan Drake being on the trade block, and "would welcome a trade." Ya think? To me it's damning that multiple coaches have stuck him behind or in committees with Kalen Ballage and Mark Walton. Are we supposed to believe coaches are afraid of his great talent shining through, or there's just something they don't like about him. Whatever. We know any Dolphin of any ability whatsoever might be traded at any time. Ryan Fitzpatrick starts and I actually have to use him in a league where my quarterbacks are Newton and Brees, and I've been using Kyle Allen with both hurt. That's right, a fantasy professional starting Ryan Fitzpatrick this week. There's no other NFL starter available to me.
Rams at Falcons: So Malcolm Brown is doubtful i.e. won't play, but Todd Gurley returns and Darrell Henderson picks up those No. 2 snaps. I spent probably too much money picking up Henderson this week, but he has limited appeal with Gurley available. Although at least they're facing a garbage defense. Remarkable since the Falcons are actually trying and have a defensive minded head head coach. Thumbs up on Rams. And their defense not playing well either so I'll sign off on starting Falcons.
Chargers at Titans:Ugh. Something about the Titans being involved in a game just sucks the life out of it. They'll play good defense and limit the Chargers offense, and their own dreadful offense will underperform and it will be a thrilling 19-16 affair. I'm not overly high on anyone. Delanie Walker is questionable, he'll probably play, but not an exciting choice. Hunter Henry, sure, and Keenan Allen has to rejoin the season eventually.
Ravens at Seahawks: Should be some offense in this one (a change from a few years ago when you'd expect it to be 17-14). But with Marquise Brown unlikely to play the Baltimore offense should be Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews and Mark Ingram, and that's it. For Seattle, I saw Jaron Brown get picked up in a lot of leagues. His 2 TDs last week will probably never be repeated. Rather than adding Luke Willson, I suggest a pickup of Ed Dickson, who should be the main tight end if he comes off IR in two weeks.
Saints at Bears: No real interest in the Bears offense this game. Maybe Allen Robinson, who's good and a go-to guy. But a committee backfield against a good run defense is unappealing. For the Saints, no Alvin Kamara, so at least Latavius Murray should play full-time. But a tough matchup. Pretty much Michael Thomas is the best bet. Probably a low-scoring game, Saints have already played a couple of those.
Eagles at Cowboys: Tough one. Not for the Eagles, who we pretty much know that Wentz, Jeffery, Ertz, and to a lesser extent Howard and Sanders (I'm using him somewhere) are viable. But for Dallas you've got the Amari Cooper question -- he's hurt, but will at least try to play. I think he should be avoided; too much risk of him playing a handful of snaps and then hobbling off the field. Love Michael Gallup here though. Earlier in the week I was intrigued by Tavon Austin, but that was when I figured Cooper and maybe Cobb would be out. Since they're not, he can't be relied on. And it's a night game, so we don't even have the luxury of knowing who will be inactive when making decisions. So you don't have to ask, I personally believe Cooper is too risky to start, but everyone need not feel the same.
Patriots at Jets: I'd really like to have a word with the NFL about these primetime games. This is already New York's second time hosting a Monday night game this year. This is New England's third primetime game in seven weeks. When they were drawing up the schedule, which I understand is difficult, were they really saying, hmm, Pats-Jets, that should be a great one. Jets are better against the run, I wouldn't consider Sony Michel. James White, yes. Josh Gordon likely out, making Jakobi Meyers a viable dart throw. Jets offense gets a tough matchup, I think just LeVeon Bell is OK, Crowder-Thomas-Anderson more desperation plays. Gotta respect the New England defense, even while acknowledging they've had a favorable schedule.
Will do my best to answer questions. Remember, the rankings are your friends, use them and then blame us if they let you down. Enjoy the games.