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.
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 answer your question, either I missed it (it happens) or the rankings are very clear.
Vikings at Steelers: I have family in Ireland, one of whom did some promotional work for this game, so it's kind of exciting. So is the game, with some receiving talent on both sides and uncertain defensive acumen. Pittsburgh has the better quarterback, Minnesota seemingly the better defense. Biggest issue I guess is whether Jordan Addison should be started in his first game off suspension. I'm not, but if I had no other good option I might. Oh, and Jaylen Warren is questionable. Probably playing, but inactives will need to be confirmed.
Commanders at Falcons: No Jayden Daniels and no Terry McLaurin. That's two games out of four that Daniels has missed, making Joe Burrow just one of two elite quarterbacks to miss time so far. Marcus Mariota can run the offense fine, so I'll be using Deebo and Zach. Key Falcons, sure, though I'm a little concerned about Michael Penix. You never like when the head coach has to commit to you as his starter after Week 3, Luke McCaffrey a desperation fill-in for McLaurin, though I think he's more someone to stick on the bench of a deep league and wait and see.
Saints at Bills: Bills the Survivor pool favorite and they are one of my two picks (Denver being the other). Seems like a week where you can get burned if you try to get too cute. Juwan Johnson, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, sure. For the Bills, I'm down on all the wideouts. Matchup fine and the Bills will be scoring, but there's no go-to. I'm interested in Dalton Kincaid. If I don't talk about obvious starts like James Cook it doesn't mean I'm down on them, just no one needs help there.
Browns at Lions: The Lions are the other popular Survivor pick. I have two worries, one being Cleveland's really good defense and the other being a possible letdown from the Lions after a big win on a short week. But realistically, they're big favorites for obvious reasons and should be fine. If I had Quinshon Judkins I'd probably use him, starting running back. But big numbers dependent on the Browns not falling way behind (with Cleveland's offense, way behind is 7-10 points). A note on Jameson Williams, who I frequently get questions on. Just not a guy I'll ever roster. He averages under 3 catches per game, this season and for his career. Comes off 1,000-yard season and already has a 100-yard game this year, but I hate the down weeks.
Titans at Texans: Apparently the Texans are another popular choice. They're probably gonna win, but maybe Tennessee makes a game of it. Betting on an 0-3 team in a Survivor Pool feels like bad business. No noteworthy injuries in this one.
Panthers at Patriots: I suppose there will be TreVeyon Henderson questions. I was going to start him in a flex spot but am now benching him for Deebo Samuel, with McLaurin out. No one can tell you how Mike Vrabel will use his backfield this week. Rhamondre will probably start, but will also probably be on a short leash. If you tell me, I think Stevenson will fumble in the first half, then big thumbs up on Henderson. Otherwise, we've got a 2- or 3-back committee. Patriots tough on the run so far, plus Chuba Hubbard (calf) is hurting, so we need some positive injury updates to consider him too strongly. The Panthers will probably have to pass so I'm interested in Tetairoa McMillan, but he also has a calf injury apparently. Lots to manage with this one. Patriots passing game, Maye and Hunter Henry look valid.
Chargers at Giants: That Justin Herbert touchdown to Keenan Allen last week really was something else. An impossible throw but he jammed it in there. Big-time stuff. Chargers offense looks fine, just tough with three good receivers and the guy people initially viewed as the 1 now more of a 2 or even 3. Giants starting Jaxson Dart. I don't love the matchup. He'll run some, and there will be easier matchups in the future, but not a week to start him. Just hope he pumps lots of passes to Malik Nabers. Cam Skattebo, sure, he's their guy at the moment, with Tyrone Tracy out. Just don't count on a big rushing game, but he'll catch some passes and play the most.
Eagles at Bucs: There are six undefeated teams and two of them play here. No Mike Evans. Chris Godwin probably returns, I would not use him. Or Sterling Shepard, unless Godwin inactive. Eagles healthy at the skill positions.
Colts at Rams: Davante Adams has a hamstring injury. Worth monitoring the game-day morning reports, but I expect he'll play and be fine. Not a believer in the Colts defense (or Daniel Jones, really), but I guess we'll see. Jones ranked as a serviceable starter, he'll run a little and the Rams D has its merits but isn't a shutdown group. No Alec Pierce, pretty sure no one was counting on him.
Jaguars at 49ers: San Francisco a surprising 3-0 given all the players they're missing. I've been a skeptic, but hard not to see them keeping it going against a mediocre seeming Jaguars team. I imagine people are pretty discouraged about the low ranking of Brian Thomas. I'm not going to argue it though there are some people ranked ahead of him I'd at least consider starting him over. (Jameson and Keon stand out for me.) But a good San Fran defense and underperforming Jags offense. San Fran also has banged-up receivers in Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. I like Pearsall more and would use him as ranked, but you've got to monitor the injury updates on Sunday, a little tricky.
Ravens at Kansas City: That's some early schedule the Ravens drew. Three of their first four games are against three of the four teams who won at least 13 games a year ago. Seems tough for that to happen by chance. Their next two (Texans, Rams) are also against division champs from a year ago. One of these teams will be 1-3 after this game. I will not be starting or recommending Xavier Worthy. Not how I run my teams. Hollywood Brown looks safer, healthy and facing the team that drafted him. Ravens healthy. No, I wouldn't use Isaiah Likely.
Bears at Raiders: Like the Bears offense here. D'Andre Swift (hip) questionable, I'm assuming he's good since the drill was the same with him last week and he played throughout. Like the Raiders offense with Bears D being leaky, that includes Tre Tucker as ranked. If I had Ashton Jeanty anywhere, I would start him this week in this matchup before giving up.
Packers at Cowboys: Packers favored as they should be with Dallas missing its best wideout and having a leaky defense. For Green Bay, I'd chance Matthew Golden and to a lesser extent Romeo Doubs, and Jordan Love, just considering how much Dallas has struggled on that side of the ball. For Dallas, Javonte and Jake Ferguson and George Pickens.
Jets at Dolphins: Another doubleheader Monday. I guess the benefit of putting two games on Monday is that if you happen to get a late-September matchup of two lousy, 0-3 teams, like this one, people who have to have a game to watch on Monday night have a Plan B that kicks off just an hour later. Jets get Justin Fields back against a crummy defense. Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, sure. For Miami, the main wideouts and Achane. Probably won't be much defense in this one.
Bengals at Broncos: Denver's offense should be good, but it needs Bo Nix to play better than he has thus far. Bengals defense will help some. For Cincinnati, bad as they were last week, no one should be sitting down Ja'Marr Chase, and I'd probably be using Chase Brown (PPR), albeit not with much joy. Tee Higgins a tougher sell. J.K. Dobbins, Courtland Sutton and both Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims are guys with lots of upside potential, even knowing one will probably be left out.
Enjoy the games.