| SUNDAY SALUTES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks | Pass-Rush | TD |
| Jaylen Daniels | 275-74 | 3 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 269-60 | 3 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | 317-(-2) | 4 |
| Caleb Williams | 340-33 | 2 |
| Sam Darnold | 330-(-1) | 2 |
| Running Backs | Yards | TD |
| Josh Jacobs | 26-106 | 3 |
| Bucky Irving | 12-87 6-64 |
1 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 21-90 3-9 |
2 |
| Tony Pollard | 24-119 3-10 |
1 |
| Saquon Barkley | 26-255 4-47 |
2 |
| Wide Receivers | Yards | TD |
| Jordan Addison | 8-162 | 1 |
| Courtland Sutton | 8-97 | 2 |
| Jaylen Waddle | 8-144 | 1 |
| D.J. Moore | 7-106 | 1 |
| Keenan Allen | 9-86 | 1 |
| Tight Ends | Yards | TD |
| Trey Mcbride | 12-133 | 0 |
| Jonnu Smith | 9-87 | 1 |
| Noah Gray | 4-66 | 2 |
| George Kittle | 6-82 | 1 |
| T.J. Hockenson | 7-114 | 0 |
| Placekickers | XP | FG |
| Will Lutz | 2 | 5 |
| Daniel Carlson | 1 | 4 |
| Eddy Pineiro | 1 | 4 |
| Nick Folk | 3 | 3 |
| Jake Elliott | 4 | 3 |
| Defense | Sack – TO | TD |
| Cowboys | 4-3 | 2 |
| Seahawks | 5-1 | 1 |
| Texans | 8-3 | 1 |
| Dolphins | 4-2 | 0 |
| Buccaneers | 4-1 | 0 |
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Gardner Minshew – Collar bone
RB Brian Robinson – Ankle
RB David Montgomery – Shoulder
RB Austin Ekeler – Head
TE Ja’Tavion Sanders – Neck
WR Josh Downs – Shoulder
WR Romeo Doubs – Concussion
Chasing Ambulances
RB Brian Robinson – The Commander’s back appeared to have a serious ankle injury when he was tackled on his first carry but was able to walk off. He returned for four carries and one catch but was then ruled out of the game near the end of the second quarter. His status for this week will be determined later in the week.
RB Austin Ekeler—He returned the final kickoff and was flattened in the process. He appeared to be temporarily unconscious but was eventually able to walk off the field, though he looked groggy. The expectation is that he had a concussion, and he went to a local hospital for observation.
RB David Montgomery – He caught a screen pass and gained 14 yards when injured. He did not appear to be hit that hard and he did not show any signs of pain, but he pulled himself out of the game and did not return. His status for this week versus the Bears will be determined later.
TE Ja’Tavion Sanders – The Panthers’ rookie tight end landed on his head and appeared to jam his neck as well. He went to the hospital but was discharged shortly after. The early expectation is that he’ll miss the game against the Buccaneers this week.
WR Josh Downs – The Colts’ slot receiver went down with a shoulder injury on a seven-yard catch in the fourth quarter and did not return. Downs is also the punt returner for the Colts, so he’ll have two roles to replace this week in New England if he cannot play.
QB Gardner Minshew – The Raiders quarterback was knocked from the loss to the Broncos late in the game and Desmond Ridder had to finish. Early speculation is that he has a broken collarbone and is lost for the season. That will likely mean that Ridder will get the start, but playing in Kansas City will not likely be productive.
WR Romeo Doubs – Suffered a concussion on an incompletion. That’s a bigger problem because the Packers play on Thursday, and there is not expected to be enough time for Doubs to get through the concussion protocol. Dontayvion Wicks or Bo Melton would help to replace him.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
RB Jonathan Brooks – The Panthers’ second-round pick made his NFL debut a short 12 weeks into the season. The ex-Longhorn only ran twice and gained seven yards, while Chuba Hubbard still shouldered the primary workload with 16 carries for 58 yards and one score. It was just the first game for Brooks after recovering from his knee injury of last year, but it also suggests that we may never see Brooks with a full-time load this year, and it would not make sense to leave him open to injury much with Hubbard already effective as the running back.
TE Noah Gray – He’s spent his time in Kansas City being “not Travis” and it was a surprise when he collected four passes for 23 yards and two scores in the loss to the Bills in Week 11 while Kelce only managed one catch. Against the Panthers, Kelce was better with six catches for 62 yards but Gray repeated his previous week when he caught four more passes for 66 yards and two more touchdowns. He’s scored four times in two weeks, while Kelce only totals two scores on the year. Patrick Mahomes finally has a full house for wide receivers and he’s thrown four of six touchdowns to Gray.
WR David Moore – The Panthers finally got Adam Thielen (3-57) back after missing the last nine weeks, but Bryce Young suddenly turned to Moore as the primary receiver, leading the team with ten targets and six catches for 81 yards and their lone passing touchdown. The Chiefs brought one of the better defenses to the game, but apparently not the sense that a trap game could almost happen. Moore only had 13 catches on the season and no previous scores, so he was just one of many “go-figure” players from Week 12.
TE T.J. Hockenson – He hasn’t been a huge factor since returning three weeks ago, but Hockenson blew up for seven catches for 114 yards in the win over the Bears. He’s heating up just in time to help fantasy owners reach their playoffs, and he’ll be playing the Cardinals, Falcons, and Bears again all at home.
QB Caleb Williams – Granted, the Bears will lose the game in the final minute even if it takes overtime, but at least the rookie quarterback finally threw a touchdown after four scoreless games saw him thrown onto many fantasy league waiver wires. But he passed for 340 yards and two touchdowns versus the Vikings, and that included DJ Moore (7-106, TD) and Keenan Allen (9-86, TD) who had also gone a month without a score or any notable yardage. His next three games are all on the road while facing the Lions, 49ers, and Vikings again. The need to throw will be high in each.
QB Anthony Richardson – He was already benched once this year for poor passing, and in Week 12, he only completed 11-of-28 for 172 yards in the loss to the Lions. He added 61 yards on 10 yards, but Michael Pittman (6-96) was the only receiver with more than three catches or 39 yards.
WR Jaylen Waddle – The Miami wideout had just one score on the year and one 100-yard game back in Week 1. Against the Patriots, Waddle posted eight catches for 144 yards and a score to lead the Fins. Now if Tyreek Hill could only match that, since he’s not broken 100 yards since Week 1 as well.
QB Tommy DeVito – The Giants released Daniel Jones and went with DeVito instead of Drew Lock because he “gave us the best chance to win.” Apparently, it is still not a great chance because DeVito Part II only passed for 189 yards and no scores, while the passing stats fell off even worse than when Jones played. Worse yet, Tyrone Tracy Jr. was limited to only nine runs for 42 yards and caught four passes for 28 yards – all late in the game. And they not only lost 30-7, DeVito passed against one of the worst secondaries in the NFL.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin – The Denver backfield is always changing, and usually not for the best. Javonte Williams (8-(-2)) was a flop against the Raiders and gave way to McLaughlin (7-44) and Audric Estime (3-15) which is all to say there nothing reliable in the Denver backfield. Much less an actual touchdown.
RB Dylan Laube – Crafty waiver wire hounds snapped up Laube last week with the news that Alexander Mattison and Zamir White were out, but crafty waiver wire hounds are not always right. Laube returned a kick for 59 yards in the first quarter and never touched the ball again. Sincere McCormick was promoted from the practice squad and led the Raiders with five carries for 33 yards.
QB Brandon Allen – His first start in three years could have gone better. Allen passed for 199 yards and one score, but most of that went to George Kittle (6-82, TD), while Deebo Samuel (1-21) and Jauan Jennings (5-40) were the top wideouts. Even Christian McCaffrey was held to 31 rushing yards and three catches for 37 yards. Brock Purdy suggested he may be back next week in Buffalo, and they’ll need him to have a chance there.
Jordan Addison (MIN) – Justin Jefferson (2-27) was quiet against the Bears on Sunday, but mostly because Addison turned in a career-best performance with eight catches for 162 yards and one touchdown. Addison’s previous high yardage for the year was only 72 yards, and he caught a 69-yard touchdown to kick off his big day.
Huddle player of the week
RB Saquon Barkley – You have to think he doesn’t miss New York much. Barkley Set a personal best when he ran for 255 yards on 26 carries with touchdowns from 70- and 72-yards. He also added four catches for 47 yards which all rolled up into 46.2 fantasy points in reception-point leagues. That’ll make a difference.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
| Comedy | Yards | TDs | Tragedy | Yards | TDs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Caleb Williams | 340-33 | 2 | QB | Jared Goff | 269 | 0 |
| RB | Ameer Abdullah | 8-28 5-37 |
1 | RB | R. Stevenson | 8-13 | 0 |
| RB | Jaylen Warren | 11-45 3-19 |
1 | RB | Brian Robinson | 5-13 1-11 |
0 |
| WR | Keenan Allen | 9-86 | 1 | WR | Deebo Samuel | 1-21 | 0 |
| WR | David Moore | 6-81 | 1 | WR | Justin Jefferson | 2-27 | 0 |
| WR | Calvin Austin | 3-78 | 1 | WR | Jayden Reed | 3-26 | 0 |
| TE | Noah Gray | 4-66 | 2 | TE | Sam LaPorta | 3-19 | 0 |
| PK | Will Lutz | 2 XP 5 FG | PK | Graham Gano | 1 XP | ||
| Huddle Fantasy Points = 163 | Huddle Fantasy Points = 37 | ||||||
Now get back to work…