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 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 I don't get to your question, either I missed it (it happens) or the rankings are very clear. OK, on to the games!
Colts at Vikings: Weather won't be a factor, defenses have their flaws (Colts defense has played better at home), so worth starting key players in this game. I'm a little concerned about who Indy's No. 1 wideout actually is, but the matchup could not be better. I like both running backs, and presumably no one is benching either. Vikings last in pass defense, so Matt Ryan has some value, unless the Colts favor the run so Ryan won't have a typical Ryan 2022 game.
Ravens at Browns: Might be a little weather in this one, particularly wind, just in case you needed a reason to be cool on either passing game, led by one quarterback who's shown more as a runner than passer lately, and also Tyler Huntley. Seeing J.K. Dobbins pull up on that long run last week is concerning to me and probably the Ravens, but I don't have any special insight here and he's the starter. But if you're wondering why Dobbins isn't ranked higher, that's why. Tough matchup for the Browns offense which is why they're ranked low.
Dolphins at Bills: Snow is a certainty. Does the NFL want games to be affected by weather? I think it's cool to watch on TV, but I feel like the NFL would be just as happy if all games were played in climate-controlled domes. Which is why I think it's a little weird they scheduled the Bills in primetime at home in mid-December. Could have been avoided. Allen (who will run) and Diggs and Tyreek (who are elite guys) are all ranked favorably, but non-runner Tua and non-elite or banged-up guys (Gabe, Waddle) aren't. And I don't think it would hurt to check out the pregame and maybe have alternatives lined up even for those elite guys if the weather looks really, really bad. (Saw a picture of how it looks right now, and it's bad enough that I'd at least consider sitting down everyone -- I'm going to look for a Tyler Bass fill-in right now.) Big game. Bills don't officially wrap up the AFC East with a win, but the fat lady will be warming up the vocal chords.
Falcons at Saints: Desmond Ridder's first NFL start, which is nice for me in a dynasty league where my other quarterback was Kyler Murray. I think expectations should be modest, just because I like to see guys actually play a game before using them, and the Saints defense is a credible group when it feels like it. Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave are the best options here.
Steelers at Panthers: Carolina being a game out of first after trading away their starting running back and one of two wideouts at the start of the year and cutting their starting quarterback is the perfect NFC South story. I like Pittsburgh's running game here, especially since we don't know who their quarterback will be and won't be happy with the answer either way. Diontae Johnson has been productive lately, George Pickens not as much. Pat Freiermuth fine. Next year. Panthers might use a running back committee, but D'Onta Foreman is the one I trust.
Eagles at Bears: Justin Fields (for his running), David Montgomery (for playing full-time) and maybe Cole Kmet (with the TE position a wasteland and him their only viable receiver) are the Bears to consider. No Equanimeous questions please. With the Eagles the question is if they just run wild, or if they run wild and put up good passing numbers to remind everyone how good they are. I fear they might have an eye on next week's much bigger game in Dallas, I hope not because I need the Philly points this week. Dallas Goedert, maybe. I'm a little concerned he'll play limited snaps if he's activated.
Kansas City at Texans: Thumbs on Isiah (have to look up that spelling every single time) Pacheco. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and perhaps JuJu too, with the small concern that Kansas City won't have to pass too much. But Houston competed with Dallas last week and should/could have won, so you never know I guess. For Houston, Chris Moore is the lone player of note I would start. He'll be their No. 1, and Houston will be passing a lot. I know running back is hard to fill but I will not be recommending Rex Burkhead unless your alternative is really, really bad. As in, worse than Rex Burkhead bad.
Cowboys at Jaguars: Players from both offenses look good here. Should be some yards and points in this one, Dallas throughout and Jacksonville maybe in garbage time, primarily. Nothing special to add, most players are ranked pretty well.
Lions at Jets: Lions offense gets a tougher matchup, and it's hard to know how they'll divvy up running back work. Amon-Ra the only guy I feel good about starting. For the Jets, I'll start Zonovan and Garrett Wilson, yes even with Zach Wilson returning at quarterback, but recommendations end there. Might be a lower-scoring game, lower-scoring than most Lions games certainly.
Cardinals at Broncos: No Kyler Murray and no Russell Wilson, which severely reduces the interesting players going in this game. Jerry Jeudy, Greg Dulcich, and James Conner and the main Cardinals receivers look fine, but definitely an all-around dull game. According to Nathaniel Hackett, Wilson cleared the concussion protocol but the team made an "organizational decision" to keep him out. This raises many questions. Is Hackett still involved in organizational decisions? Like, will be consulted as to his eventual firing? And if clearing the protocol doesn't get you back in the lineup, are the Broncos saying the NFL's concussion protocols are ineffective? You either clear them and are OK to play or you don't, right? Whatever. Very little Denver has done on or off the field this season has made much sense.
Patriots at Raiders: Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to questions about Patriots running backs. I would say that none should be made until we see who's actually active. I believe that Damien Harris will be the best option. But with him and Rhamondre both questionable, I won't really know until the inactives come out. I know Kevin Harris scored last week, but there are no circumstances where I'd recommend him. Pierre Strong, sure, if the other two are inactive. Davante and Josh Jacobs are the good options in this game. If Darren Waller is activated I'd probably use him, sure.
Titans at Chargers: No Treylon Burks. I think the Titans to consider are Derrick Henry, obviously, and Chigoziem Okonkwo. I will go thumbs up on all the key Chargers -- quarterback, wide receivers, runner, tight end. Not that Titans defense is bad, but they're struggling against the pass, and the Chargers should be doing plenty.
Bengals at Buccaneers: Bucs defense may be able to hold scoring down here, but I'm starting Burrow-Mixon-Chase and yes Tee Higgins anyway. Higgins carries risk but surely the team won't screw us a second week in a row. Right? If I had a comparable option I'd use it but I do not. Bucs running back committee who have value in PPR league, I am fine with Brady-Godwin-Evans, the latter of whom is due.
Giants at Commanders: Big game, and even though they played just 14 days ago, an interesting one. I like all three running backs, Terry McLaurin, and the defenses, especially Washington. Things get a little risky after that.
Rams at Packers: It's the Monday game so I'm assuming both teams will play for pride even in their disappointing seasons. Christian Watson has been too hot not to use, and I suspect Aaron Jones will also be very good. For the Rams, I guess Cam Akers, but wading into the receiving corps looks dubious. Allen Lazard and AJ Dillon are viable if not outstanding options.
Enjoy the games, and good luck.