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.
If I miss your question, either I didn't see it (it happens), or the rankings are very clear. I also occasionally have other commitments, but I will try to get to everything by the end of day Saturday. OK, let's go!
Saints at Falcons: Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave are both banged up. Both are questionable. I think Kamara should be OK (bruises and stuff associated with playing running back in the NFL) but Olave injured a hamstring in practice apparently, so he's iffy. Both got in limited practices on Friday, which is good. Need to make sure they're active before using them. The Falcons are banged-up on the line but should otherwise be OK, tough matchup though.
Bengals at Panthers: Bengals have to win a game eventually, but they wish they'd faced Carolina a couple of weeks ago. Offense should be good. Diontae Johnson banged-up for the Panthers, who isn't, but if active I'd use him, and Chuba Hubbard. The Red Rifle (pictured) seems to have some game left. Bengals starters good to put up numbers against a poor defense in a desperation mode.
Rams at Bears: Sounds promising for all the Bears wideouts to be on the field, which is a negative with the team not passing well enough to support even two let alone three. The major story here is the possible running back change. I picked up Roschon Johnson in a league and am starting him, but not with enthusiasm (no choice with Pacheco and Warren hurt and other backups like Jaylen Wright still backups). They're paying D'Andre Swift a lot of money and probably aren't fully pulling the plug this week. Hard to start any Rams receivers, there's not a real No. 1 at the moment.
Vikings at Packers: Was really thinking Jordan Love would return when we first did the Weekly (the gametime decision in Week 3 made it seem that way), but it's not certain, seems truly 50-50. Forced to guess I'd say Willis, given that Love hasn't gotten in a full practice. A negative for the pass catchers. I know Willis did well in Tennessee last week, but the Vikings defense has been a lot tougher this year. I'm enough of a believer in revenge games to be very high on Aaron Jones this week.
Jaguars at Texans: Those still in Survivor Pools can consider the Texans, what with the Jaguars being really bad so far. Not my choice, because the Texans haven't yet played like they're supposed to either, blown out at Minnesota and barely beating the Colts. No Tank Dell, Joe Mixon (probably; one limited practice all week) or Dameon Pierce. Even if Mixon does play, I wouldn't want to use him unless we hear really positive things on Sunday. Probably Cam Akers again. No Evan Engram for Jacksonville, so Brenton Strange an option. Jaguars have to bounce back a little this week.
Steelers at Colts: Game should be lower scoring, like all Steelers games, although the Colts do have some key defensive injuries. Jaylen Warren hurt, my window to trade him in dynasty has closed alas, so Najee Harris should be better than his usual mediocrity. I'm still starting George Pickens. For the Colts, there's Jonathan Taylor, and we're not getting as much critical mail about our modest ranking of Anthony Richardson and Michael Pittman lately.
Broncos at Jets: Realistically the Jets are winning this game and no Broncos look great. But it can also be said that Denver's defense has been better than expected and maybe it's a lower-scoring contest. Jets would be my survivor pick if I had one, but can anyone really be surprised by upsets at this point? Garret Wilson will face Patrick Surtain, Courtland Sutton will face Sauce Gardner, so I'm interested in the No. 2s (identifying them is the tricky part, with Allen Lazard/Mike Williams and Josh Reynolds/someone else possibilities). Breece a good start, Braelon and the Broncos committee less certain.
Eagles at Buccaneers: So, so many injury questions here. Eagles don't have DeVonta and probably don't have AJ. Bucs have one healthy struggling running back and one not struggling, not healthy one. I have both in two leagues and am leaving both on the bench. Passing games and healthy-ish receivers viable.
Commanders at Cardinals: Game should be a shootout, Cardinals defense hasn't been quite as awful as anticipated but the Commanders haven't punted the last two weeks. Running backs and No. 1 wide receivers yes, other Cards receivers maybe, with the great matchup and Trey McBride out. Zach Ertz viable, other Washington wide receiver iffier (not a clear No. 2). No Ekeler, and probably no defense for either team. Elijah Higgins is a deep league option but a little risky for my blood.
Patriots at 49ers: Rhamondre Stevenson and Hunter Henry the lone viable Patriots, given the limitations of the offense and the matchup. San Francisco should win, but they're also a hurting unit. May have Deebo back, will have Kittle back. I'm wary of Deebo, but if he's active, presumably he can play. Best avoided though, sticking to Aiyuk and Jennings as the best wideouts. Jordan Mason looks good, New England defense is short some key guys.
Kansas City at Chargers: Maybe this will be the week the Kansas City offense breaks out. But probably not. I am giving Travis Kelce another week, like Rashee Rice obviously, and would use Carson Steele if I had to use a KC running back. If you ask a Kareem Hunt question, I'm going to recommend the other guy. Chargers may have Justin Herbert, may not. Wouldn't want to use him regardless, or any Chargers besides J.K. Dobbins.
Browns at Raiders: A couple of injuries here. No Davante Adams, no Maxx Crosby, no David Njoku, Browns line remains banged-up, hard to say how the running backs might be used...it's a mess. Amari Cooper again viable, obviously Brock Bowers. Jerome Ford if you have to use a running back. Ugly game.
Bills at Ravens: Big Sunday night game, with these the prime threats to Kansas City in the AFC it seems. Teams mostly healthy, too, so regular starters can be used. I've benched Isaiah Likely, picked up Mark Andrews where he was dropped in one of my leagues, but don't want to use either guy at the moment. For the Bills, Shakir and Kincaid (Allen and Cook obviously), for the Ravens, Lamar and Henry and I'm still fine with Zay Flowers, even after the Dallas dud. Good game.
Titans at Dolphins: One of three different possibilities for the Dolphins at quarterback. They're all terrible (yes I realize Tyler Huntley went to a Pro Bowl once lol) so it doesn't much matter. I think if you have Tyreek and Waddle you're starting them and hoping for the best, and everyone is starting Achane too (but people aren't crowing as loudly about him this week). For the Titans I like DeAndre Hopkins and Tony Pollard, and to a lesser extent Calvin Ridley. Obviously, not a game anyone really wants to watch, which is why it's nice there's an alternative at the same time.
Seahawks at Lions: Normally I say two Monday night games sucks (last week no one got to see both the great games by Josh Allen and Jayden Daniels/Joe Burrow, they had to miss a lot of one of them), but in this case I'll accept it because no one wants to watch Tennessee at Miami. These teams have played high-scoring slugfests three years in a row. I'm not sure this will be, defenses are better now, but in general I'm starting regular starters in this game. All Lions, Seattle pass catchers. Not sure who Seattle's running back will be, but it's a bad matchup regardless.
Enjoy the games.
