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.
Broncos at Colts: We've had almost a week and a half to recover from the ugly display of football the Broncos managed against Kansas City. Not enough time to get really excited about anyone on Denver's offense, and now they don't have Emmanuel Sanders anymore. Courtland Sutton should get a lot of targets, there's that. For the Colts, Jack Doyle got hurt in practice yesterday, he might not play, don't use him regardless. Denver defense not so scary so I'm fine using Brissett, Hilton, Mack.
Bucs at Titans: You may ask, Andy, would you really use Ryan Tannehill? In fact, I picked him up and am using him over gimpy Matt Ryan and planned backup Philip Rivers. We'll see, but matchups count for a lot. (Why all these stories about Kirk Cousins' improved play bug me -- he put up poor stats against good defenses and is putting up great stats against poor defenses -- this isn't complicated.) Bucs don't have O.J. Howard, who you didn't draft if you used our rankings. Tough situation for Derrick Henry, great for Tennessee passing game. I'm fine using Bucs passing game, not the running back committee.
Cardinals at Saints: So on Friday night Ian and I spend some time discussing questionable guys -- will they play or won't they? He thinks it will be Bridgewater starting. I think it will be Brees. Unless Brees is inactive, I wouldn't use Bridgewater. If Brees is active, I'd still be a little nervous about a possible setback. I have Kamara in a league and am benching him regardless. My lean is he'll be inactive, and if active I think he'd play sparingly if at all. Why rush a running back back from a high ankle sprain when he can get two extra weeks if you hold him out (bye in Week 9). Makes no sense. With the Cardinals, nobody who started David Johnson last week is using him this week. Most likely he ain't playing, and Chase Edmonds is the guy to use.
Bengals versus Rams: I'm not really sure why some London games start at 9:30 a.m. and some start at 1 p.m., like this one. Anyhoo, Rams should run wild in this game and I will endorse No. 2 Darrell Henderson and Todd Gurley. I'm using Cooper Kupp but worried a little that passing won't be as great here. I'm also making the once unthinkable move of benching Joe Mixon. I've had it, and the guy needs a good game (which he'll probably have on my bench) before getting in my lineup again.
Jets at Jaguars: Jets look pretty sorry right now and I'm not too keen on any of them. Workhorse role for LeVeon Bell makes him viable but that's about it. New York best against the run but Leonard Fournette's full-time role make him OK. Dede Westbrook is questionable, comes off a good game and presumably the same injury, but a little more risk with him and I'd use a comparable player if I could. Jaguars defense looks great.
Giants at Lions: Giants defense looks laughably weak in a lot of games so I'm gung ho on key Lions, including new starting running back Ty Johnson. If you picked him up this week and are waiting for a sign to use him, the Giants team bus pulling up to the stadium is it. Also like Stafford and the main wideouts, with the lone concern being how much Daniel Jones has struggled lately -- will New York's offense be able to push the Lions to keep the foot on the gas? Will sign off on Barkley obviously and also Tate and Engram. Lions a weak defense also.
Chargers at Bears: Things looked so great for Keenan Allen a few weeks back. Now he's done nothing for weeks and is injured besides, "on a snap count if active" according to one report. Since it's a tough defense and he's been struggling, I have no problem benching him. And I'm using Tannehill over Rivers. Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler and Hunter Henry; those are the Chargers I'd start in this game. For the Bears, it's pretty much just Allen Robinson.
Eagles at Bills: I like (and have to use, over gimpy Matt Ryan) Josh Allen here. John Brown too. Cool on the running game. For the Eagles, well, looks tough for everyone on the road against a good Bills defense. Probably won't be a high-scoring game. I think you use Zach Ertz and cross your fingers, mebbe Carson Wentz and Alshon Jeffery, but with lowered expectations.
Seahawks at Falcons: Atlanta defense a disaster so Carson, Wilson, Lockett and probably Metcalf all viable. For Atlanta I think you're using Julio and Hooper definitely and Ryan and Ridley (gets a boost from Sanu trade) if necessary. Dan Quinn used to coach in Seattle, will be ironic if this team helps usher him out the door. Although what's the point in firing a coach midseason of a 1-7 team; there's no turnaround coming and it's not like the players despise him. I don't think.
Panthers at 49ers: Call this the Defense game. Just saw this thing on Twitter listing Jimmy Garoppolo as a Comeback Player of the Year candidate. What? Obviously you're using McCaffrey and I think Tevin Coleman and to a lesser extent Breida OK, with Carolina suspect against the run. And Emmanuel Sanders should be busy. Nice week for Sanders and Sanu, going from struggling teams to undefeated ones. Would avoid all other pass catchers besides George Kittle this week.
Browns at Patriots: Yeah this should go well. Browns offense against a Patriots defense playing lights out. I suppose maybe we get a bizarre upset like when Cleveland went into Baltimore and stunned everyone (that game is why I don't talk about my Survivor Pools anymore, there aren't any), but probably not. Yes, I'd be fine sitting Odell Beckham here. Nick Chubb I'd probably use since he'll catch some passes, but touchdowns against New England aren't really happening these days. For the Patriots, usual, Brady and Edelman and White and perhaps Michel though I don't really trust him. Will you get the 3-TD game or the Bolden/Brady snipe game, only Belichick knows for sure.
Raiders at Texans: Could be somewhat higher-scoring. Raiders defense not too good, offense playing fairly well. Lesser skill position guys for the Raiders (not exactly sure who we should consider the No. 2 wideout, Tyrell Williams is the only guy on the roster over 115 yards). Williams and Jacobs both questionable but I'm assuming they're playing. Kenny Stills as the No. 2 looks good, not gonna argue the high ranking, use him if you've got him.
Green Bay at Kansas City: This could have been a fantastic game. Instead it's Aaron Rodgers versus Matt Moore who was out of the NFL entirely not so long ago. Disappointing. Rodgers and Aaron Jones fine, figuring out which Green Bay receivers will be good is trickier. Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be great, could be quiet, not a go-to guy. Investing in Kansas City offense requires a leap of faith in Moore I'm not willing to take. I'm using Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce and LeSean McCoy against a soft Green Bay run defense, and that be it. I could see Andy Reid pulling out all the stops and tricks to get a win here, but hard to have confidence in it working for four quarters. And we know the Kansas City defense is ungood.
Miami at Pittsburgh: I am well aware the Dolphins are tanking. But no one told Ryan Fitzpatrick, and he doesn't give a damn where Miami is drafting next season, so Pittsburgh really shouldn't be a 16-point favorite in this game, with Mason Rudolph at quarterback. I think it will be a closer game. As for players to use, James Conner yes and JuJu Smith-Schuster. I'll pass on Rudolph. Not interested in Miami's running back committee, if Kenyan Drake barely plays I guess he'll be traded the next day, we can hope.
Enjoy the games.