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.
Saints at Falcons: Important NFC South game. Derek Carr good to go, playing well less certain. With no Michael Thomas, New Orleans' other main wideouts look better, though I personally have been burned too much by Rashid Shaheed lately to use him. Desmond Ridder returns, he'll run some, making him an option. Drake London and the TEs face a secondary missing Marshon Lattimore. Alvin Kamara and Bijan Robinson still look like the best options.
Steelers at Bengals: Kenny Pickett against Jake Browning, hooray. I am still using Ja'Marr Chase, and I'm still not using George Pickens. Running backs looking good for both teams. Diontae Johnson will catch some balls, touchdowns less likely. Steelers D appealing.
Jaguars at Texans: Good NFC South matchup. I'm using components from both passing games. No Noah Brown. Running backs don't look as good, both teams better defending it, and since Dameon Pierce returns it's a little less attractive to use Devin Singletary, might be more of a committee. Using Travis Etienne, Trevor Lawrence and most key Jaguars.
Bucs at Colts: Colts have been soft enough defensively that most Bucs have value. Actually starting Baker Mayfield in my league that lost Anthony Richardson and Burrow, what are you gonna do. Michael Pittman and Josh Downs viable, Bucs better against the run, but a featured Jonathan Taylor should be fine. Still going with the Bucs as the NFC South representatives, but they've got to win this one for that to be realistic.
Pats at Giants: As noted earlier in the week, both defenses have value in this matchup. I don't think it matters much who New England starts at quarterback. Demario Douglas is the only receiver to consider -- from either team. No Darius Slayton for the Giants. Three running backs have value here, Barkley obviously, Rhamondre a little less obviously, and I'd even consider Ezekiel Elliott as a deep league option -- I expect New England to call 30ish running plays in this game.
Panthers at Titans: A week to use Derrick Henry and maybe Tyjae Spears. Neither defense has played well, Carolina versus the run and Tennessee versus both the run and the pass. But with Carolina having a lousy offense, Adam Thielen the only player I'd actually want to use, and am. Tennessee was a popular pick in the Survivor Pool I got bounced from last week. Home against a 1-win team that seldom scores is a decent choice. I thought picking against a Giants team that seldom scores was a good move last week, of course.
Rams at Cardinals: Cooper Kupp is playing, so I guess it's OK to use him. Surprising but if he weren't OK I think he'd be inactive. Kyren Williams returns and I'd definitely use him too. Arizona might not have Hollywood Brown. Hard to lock in on the other wide receivers but if Brown actually inactive (Michael Wilson out too) then Greg Dortch and Rondale Moore the main guys. Neither defense has played well so all the key guys viable choices, James Conner and Puka and Trey McBride too.
Browns at Broncos: Not hearing as much lately about how unjustly Nathaniel Hackett was done by Sean Payton. As for the game, should be lower-scoring, with both defenses playing better and both offenses either conservative these days or limited. But Courtland Sutton too hot to sit and Denver defense has been weak against the run, so Jerome Ford looks fine. David Njoku has been busy with the rookie quarterback. Defenses look viable.
Kansas City at Raiders: Good game for Isiah Pacheco, I think/hope. I also have to use Josh Jacobs, hoping for better than last week. Not a great situation for Davante Adams, but I'd use him if I had him and hope. Kansas City wideouts, there's Rashee Rice and a bunch of guys who either drop passes or get yelled at on the sidelines, not crazy about them. Kansas City defense looks good against Aidan O'Connell.
Bills at Eagles: Pretty big game for the Bills, who need to win a game against a good team to get some confidence back. Buffalo's defense hasn't played well enough to be concerned about using any key Eagles. Might be raining during this game, but nothing I'm too concerned about. Bills have a tough schedule to get into the playoffs but I think they can win most any game, including this one.
Ravens at Chargers: Good Sunday night game, at least for the Ravens, with the Chargers defense really struggling. Facing Lamar Jackson in an important matchup, so hoping it's more of a Gus Edwards/Keaton Mitchell game. Already benched Herbert for Dak, good on me. Keenan for the Chargers and Zay for Baltimore main wideouts. Isaiah Likely, we're cool on, and I'm not gonna argue that. I wouldn't mind rostering him but I wouldn't actually start him this week, let's see how he gets used before putting him into a lineup.
Bears at Vikings: I'd say a higher-scoring Monday night game, but the earlier meeting wasn't and the Vikings have generally played good defense lately. But Chicago is weak against the pass so Joshua Dobbs and key Vikings receivers have value. I don't expect Justin Jefferson to play, and if he does I'd need to think long and hard about using him. For Chicago, Khalil Herbert should be the main back and DJ Moore and Cole Kmet and Justin Fields look good, while acknowledging the matchup isn't as great as figured a month or so ago. Not the best or the worst Monday night game of the year. Oh yeah, some are making the Vikings their Survivor pick. Not my favorite choice, Fields gives the Bears a puncher's chance, as shown in their near-upset of Detroit last week.
Enjoy the games.