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 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 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.
Bills vs. Jaguars across the pond: A reminder, this game starts at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday. Not sure why they have the Jaguars playing here in back to back weeks. Team preference (get the international travel over with)? Anyway, one theory is they'll have an advantage over Buffalo, another is they'll be pretty wiped out from two England games in a week. I feel like in general scoring might be down a little here, certainly it's a tough matchup for Jacksonville's offense, and they've been a little off anyway. For Buffalo I like the big names but don't think it will be like last week.
Texans at Falcons: The Falcons have been more vulnerable to the pass than the run to this point. So we're a little higher on Dameon Pierce than the passing game components. But I think if you've been enjoying Nico Collins and perhaps C.J. Stroud, depending on who else you have, you're taking your chances. For Atlanta, Bijan Robinson seems to be the only sure option.
Panthers at Lions: Amon-Ra St. Brown is doubtful, and those guys almost never play. Jahmyr Gibbs is questionable, and he'd be an iffy choice even if he were fully healthy. That leaves us with David Montgomery and Sam LaPorta as sure starters. Carolina doesn't have any of those types of players, but I suppose you consider Miles Sanders and Adam Thielen. Detroit was the most popular Survivor pick in my pool this week (not my choice, and the St. Brown absence is a negative).
Titans at Colts: Anthony Richardson has moved into my starting lineup in the league I drafted him as a backup to Joe Burrow. Jonathan Taylor will probably return for this game. There are a range of possibilities for what could occur -- featured Taylor, featured Zack Moss, even committee -- and I think the latter is most likely, and against a very good run defense, so I'm avoiding both. Michael Pittman, Derrick Henry and perhaps D'Andre Hopkins are the players I'd consider.
Giants at Dolphins: This was my Survivor pick; if you can't count on the league's top scoring offense at home against the league's softest defense (leaving out the team Miami scored 70 against), what can you count on. I'll sign off on all of Miami's key starters. New York will presumably put up some points in a loss, but they've actually defied that in most games so far. Kind of need to see them do something before counting on it. Saquon Barkley is questionable. If I'd drafted him and he's active, I'd use him as ranked.
Saints at Patriots: Game should be very low-scoring. The only offensive players I'd feel particularly good about are Alvin Kamara (PPR), Hunter Henry (New England's leading receiver) and maybe Michael Thomas (because those are the throws injured Derek Carr seems comfortable making. Chris Olave is a talented guy and I realize everyone drafted him in the second round, but it's hard to feel good about using him. The defenses look promising.
Ravens at Steelers: Oh joy, another low-scoring game. Every week we get Ravens-Steelers, Ravens-Browns, Steelers-Browns or one of those teams against the current version of the Bengals. I hate the AFC North these days. Viable players...er. Gus Edwards. Lamar Jackson. Mark Andrews. Zay Flowers I suppose. Justin Tucker. Have I missed any points bonanza-type player? I doubt it. Even George Pickens is on my bench these days. Najee Harris (who again I'll note did look good last week) is iffy. It's just difficult to invest in an offense that seems likely to score only 13-17 points.
Bengals at Cardinals: I like the running backs. Marquise Brown, JaMarr Chase, and I'd consider Zach Ertz and Michael Wilson. Arizona's offense has exceeded expectations, in the same way that Cincinnati's has painfully underachieved. If you start Tee Higgins, you run the risk of taking a zero. We laid out how his game went when he played hurt a year ago. I understand your alternative might also be bad. But I'm not using Higgins.
Eagles at Rams: Should be a good, higher-scoring game. I agree with the rankings of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Kupp isn't ranked higher because there is some risk in him playing full-time, I think. He's ranked where he is because his upside is greater than the guys ranked behind him, and his risk is greater than those ranked ahead of him. Hope that's helpful. With his return. I'm less inclined to use Tutu Atwell or even Tyler Higbee. But I'm not sure how anyone could sit Nacua down. For the Eagles, start the usual guys and I think Dallas Goedert should have one of his better games.
Jets at Broncos: The Nathaniel Hackett angle doesn't mean much to me. Sean Payton was out of line, sure, he's said and done plenty of out of line things over the years. Hackett actually was memorably, distinctly bad as a head coach last year -- I've never seen an offense so incapable of merely getting the ball snapped before the playclock expired, 5-6 weeks into the season. In this one, it's a tough matchup for Denver's offense, and the fact that Javonte Williams might be active cools me on Jaleel McLaughlin (if Javonte is inactive with his hip/quad issue, I'm using McLauhglin). Jeudy and Sutton are possibilities. For the Jets, I like Breece Hall and would probably use Garrett Wilson, considering the matchup. But let's not get too high on Zach Wilson simply because he wasn't godawful last week.
Kansas City at Vikings: Should be a lot of yards and points in this one. Something funny about Taylor Swift. Start your key players on both teams (this doesn't include any Kansas City wideouts, too uncertain who might be the No. 1 or 2 or 3 in a given week).
Cowboys at 49ers: Game of the Week and it's the Sunday night game, very seldom does that actually work out, so yay. I'm a little nervous about using banged-up Deebo Samuel, but otherwise I'd start key Niners against Dallas's strong defense that it must be said hasn't faced a good or perhaps even mediocre offense yet. The best offense San Francisco faced, the Rams, did fine against it too. So I guess the point is don't be scared to use players in this game.
Packers at Raiders: Better offenses than defenses. I'm assuming Aaron Jones is good to go. I'm further assuming that Davante Adams will not miss this matchup. But just in case, I'd try to be lining up an alternative in this Monday game (either Meyers, or Doubs, or perhaps a player at another position in the flex) just in case. But you know Davante will do everything he can to be out there. Jimmy Garoppolo returns so at least the Raiders shouldn't take 7 sacks and fumble it a bajillion times. Josh Jacobs looked good last week and should be the clearest start here.
Enjoy the games.
56 Reader Comments:
William Hansen
Mike Conway
Fred Wright
JON CASASENT
Need 2 Rb (all close) - Harris, warren, sanders, spears, McLaughlin, bredia
Or play 3 and leave Ridley on bench
Fred Wright
Ray Sala
Also LaPorta over Kittle?
Andy Richardson
Mike in your case in this matchup I'd use Pickens.
Fred, they're both top-10 guys in our rankings. Objectively Mixon (playing full-time is "safer", but Achane has been pretty hot and he definitely has the best matchup. I think I would have an easier time benching Mixon, but both should be good.
Jon I'd use Harris and Mclaughlin if you can wait to see if Javonte is active or inactive. (And that's the only way I'll use McLaughlin - if Javonte doesn't play.) Otherwise Sanders my other choice.
Ray I'll go Doubs or Ridley. Certainly Jameson is intriguing, especially with St. Brown out. There's just so little to go on. Yes I'll take LaPorta over Kittle, I know LaPorta's getting 5-6 targets minimum, I don't know that with Kittle.
Mike Conway
MICHAEL HAMER
Andy Richardson
Mark Rapley
In standard, 2 out of Jonathan Taylor, Pollard, Kyren, or James COok? I'm leaning Pollard and Kyren. Also, Lamar Jackson or Tua?
Andy Richardson
I agree with your running back leans.
Ed Gallagher
Chris Clay
Nico Collins, Garrett Wilson, Christian Watson, Jameson Williams
Daniel Ford
Andy Richardson
Eric Pryne
Also, just FYI — I know Mostert still is highly ranked, but it’s clear Achane is cutting into his touches, especially around the goal line. I’m benching him for D Henry, D Swift and Pacheco.
Andy Richardson
Aaron Vander Vorst
Bill Rehor
Andy Richardson
David Kasch
Deebo, DHop, Pittman, Flowers
Pasquale DiGiulio
Mixon
Kamara
G Wilson
Pacheco
Andy Richardson
Andy Richardson
Bill Rehor
Louis Koutsky
My other RBs are Pacheco, Montgomery, Hubbard, and Taylor.
Standard Scoring, 14 teams 60+ RBs rostered.
CEH is 10 spots lower than Jaleel in Redrafter.
Thanks, Andy. I don't think I've ever asked a question before.
Louis Koutsky
Andy Richardson
Paul Desimone
I'm going to roll with the rankings, but I always feel a little better starting somebody who's been on a milk carton for ages when I read why he's as highly ranked this week as he is. In this case, Marquis Brown. And thanks!
Louis Koutsky
Dwight Dummer
Chris Kepler
Andy Richardson
Paul, Brown not ranked much higher than his performance, given the WRs on bye. I have nothing to add to text there.
Chris I think Pittman, but obvs we like both.
Scott Behiel
Also starting Stafford over Burrow?
Thanks for your insight over the last 20+ years!
Andy Richardson
Ed Gallagher
Andy Richardson
Ernest Freund
My dilemma: Start Z Moss in unknown committees (passing game upside?) Vs questionable MNF Aaron Jones. Deep dynasty, so I also have AJ Dillon who I have binned in the droppable category after this week.
Aaron Vander Vorst
Andy Richardson
Watson being cleared is encouraging. It’s a nice matchup. Kirk has caught 23 passes the last three weeks, I think he will be decent even against Buffalo, hard to take those short throws away.
Dean Stewart
Jack Sandler
Ted Friesen
Andy Richardson
Mostert slightly
Dean I probably wouldn’t.. I would be worried about dropping somebody who he picks up and helps his team more than mine. That said, we have Wilson higher than London in the latest ReDrafter anyway.
JON CASASENT
Also need to drop 2 - what do u think:
McKinnon or Ronnie rivers?
JON CASASENT
Andy Richardson
Jon I’ll take Breida if PPR, Sanders in Standard. I’d drop Rivers who only has value if Kyren hurt
John Ruppe
Andy Richardson
Ted Friesen
Steven Hecker
Steven Schipper
Andy, please pick 1..Thanks.
Steven Hecker
Andy Richardson
Other Steven, I wouldn’t touch Brightwell or Gray. I guess CEH
Andy Richardson