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.
There are a lot of injured players this week. For me, they've actually made my decisions easier -- I had a really tough choice for a flex spot before Isiah Pacheco was ruled out; now I don't have any extra options. Yay? Kind of a good news, bad news thing.
Bucs at Falcons: Nothing special to say about this one. Game could go either way. Neither offense or defense is great. Starting running backs look fine. One of these teams should win the NFC South and get a quick exit at the hands of a wild-card team, like say Dallas perhaps. There are worse weeks to start Drake London, but I think we know the hit or miss nature of Falcons receivers.
Rams at Ravens: I have a lot of respect for the Ravens defense. I'm using Puka (over Adam Thielen, so not a difficult choice), and would use Kyren for his all-around involvement, but in general the Rams offense could/should struggle and I want no part of Stafford and don't love Kupp either. No Higbee. For Baltimore, both running backs and Zay look viable, maybe OBJ, perhaps Likely, definitely Lamar. Should be raining throughout this one, if you're debating a couple of similar wideouts and one is in this game.
Lions at Bears: Probably higher scoring. Haven't seen the Lions play good defense in quite a while. Problem with the Bears is the uncertain committee backfield. I like Fields and Moore and Kmet, wary of the running backs. Detroit's offense should be fine, Bears tough on the run but few will actually be able to sit guys like Montgomery and Gibbs, with them still grading out as starters in most leagues. Lions passing game looks best.
Colts at Bengals: I won't argue the high ranking of Zack Moss. He let me down when I started him last week, but a great matchup this week, and he's all the Colts have at the position. Obviously Michael Pittman starting, Josh Downs an option, I'm starting Minshew somewhere where injuries have forced my hand. For the Bengals, I was high on Jake Browning last week, but the matchup (Jaguars tough on run, vulnerable to pass) was part of that. I think JaMarr Chase fine and would consider Tee Higgins, but Browning throwing for over 300 again seems unlikely, better matchup for ground game.
Jaguars at Browns: Travis Etienne, sure, but I really want no part of a quarterback playing through a high ankle sprain at Cleveland. You don't need to ask. I'll pass on Lawrence and don't love Calvin Ridley either. Evan Engram, sure. For the Browns, Amari Cooper (concussion) might not play, other wide receivers don't seem viable, Elijah Moore best. David Njoku, sure, Jerome Ford too. But a lower-scoring game, I think.
Panthers at Saints: Similarly, I want little to with the Saints passing game. Or either passing game. Both teams weak defending the run, so Chuba Hubbard and Alvin Kamara look best. I have no problem not using an injured Taysom Hill or an injured Derek Carr. The only receiver I'd want to use is Chris Olave. I might have to use Adam Thielen somewhere but not with enthusiasm.
Texans at Jets: It's supposed to rain throughout this game, and the Jets are much better defending the pass than the run. It gives me pause with C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins, but it doesn't mean I'd bench them. Especially Collins, who will see a lot of Sauce Gardner but is the clear No. 1. (I'm wary of banged-up Noah Brown.) Houston running game viable, but probable committee. Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, Wilson looks better, Hall struggling, Texans better against the run, Jets are apparently desperate enough to give Dalvin Cook a little more work. Brevin Jordan a PPR option.
Vikings at Raiders: Both defenses have exceeded expectations, but in general I don't think you can be afraid to use star players. I'm forging ahead using Josh Jacobs and rolling the dice with Justin Jefferson, just hoping he doesn't aggravate anything and leave early or something. I drafted him 1st overall and have made it this far without him, here's his chance to help me out. Davante also looks like a starter, Hockenson obviously.
Seahawks at 49ers: If you actually needed a reason not to use Seahawks at San Francisco, Geno Smith being hurt and both running backs potentially being available is all the more reason not to. I don't think you can actually bench Metcalf off last week's monster game, but matchup tough, quarterback hurting, not great. I'd only even consider a Seattle running back if the other one is inactive. For San Francisco all the key guys look good, just hope the one you start doesn't get left out.
Bills at Kansas City: Saw something saying this game isn't getting much hype. One problem is the schedule makers seemed to stack a lot of the best matchups late in the year. Eagles, Bills, Kansas City, Cowboys -- all playing each other the last couple of weeks. Feels like we could have used more of these matchups in Weeks 5, 6 or 7. Anyway, no Pacheco, so CEH steps in as the main back. Saw a comment about him not doing much lately. I mean of course, he was the backup. This week he's the starter. He's getting a dozen carries and probably 3-4 receptions. If he scores he'll be very good, if he doesn't he'll still get you a dozen points. Should be a good game, obviously a must-win for the Bills.
Broncos at Chargers: Must-win for both of these teams, one will be in the playoff picture, one won't be. I'm using Austin Ekeler and hoping, at least the matchup is fine. Probably won't be a wild shootout but neither defense is a shutdown group. Broncos passing game looks better than running, with the committee the main negative. No Joshua Palmer, so Allen and Everett the only receivers to really want to use.
Eagles at Cowboys: Should be higher-scoring. I won't argue against anyone. I'm in an FFPC league championship and I've got Prescott, my opponent has Hurts, game on. All key starters on both sides looking viable to great. Big game fatigue only concern I think, with both these teams having lots of these kind of matchups lately. Dallas could sneak up and steal the NFC East if they win this game, that would be kind of crazy.
Titans at Dolphins: Two Monday night games at the same time this week. I don't know why. Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins viable, also Tyjae Spears for receiving after Miami takes a big lead. All Dolphins look good. Which brings us to the other, uglier Monday night game....
Packers at Giants: Saquon Barkley is the lone Giant I'd consider here. The Packers are the trickier one, with Aaron Jones uncertain to be available. If he's out, I'd use AJ Dillon, if he's active, probably not and maybe neither in a committee of banged-up players. Jayden Reed and Jordan Love, yes. Two Monday night games not ideal for those of us trying to get a Weekly out Wednesday morning, but I'm sure the NFL doesn't care and who doesn't want two Monday games at the same time? Or who does. Should be cold for this game, as you might expect for an outdoor night game in mid-December in New Jersey.
Enjoy the games.
