Category: General Fantasy Football Analysis

 

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Jayden Daniels	206-34	4
Russell Wilson	414-3	3
Caleb Williams	256-39	3
Lamar Jackson	237-79	2
Josh Allen	148-18	3
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Bucky Irving	25-152 3-33	1
Bijan Robinson	26-102 6-33	1
Najee Harris	16-75 6-54	1
Joe Mixon	20-101 4-18	1
Josh Jacobs	19-43 4-74	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Terry McLaurin	8-73	2
Mike Evans	8-118	1
Keenan Allen	5-73	2
Parker Washington	6-103	1
Adam Thielen	8-99	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Brock Bowers	10-140	1
Trey McBride	12-96	0
Jonnu Smith	10-113	0
Mark Andrews	6-67	1
Pat Freiermuth	6-68	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Chad Ryland	1	5
Chase McLaughlin	2	4
Chris Boswell	5	3
Brandon McManus	3	3
Eddy Piniero	2	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Steelers	4-3	1
Cowboys	6-2	1
Chargers	1-4	1
Jets	3-2	1
Seahawks	2-2	1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Trevor Lawrence – Concussion
RB Christian McCaffrey – Knee
WR Ladd McConkey – Knee
WR Noah Brown – Rib
WR Calvin Austin – Head
WR Rashod Bateman – Knee
TE Taysom Hill – Knee

Chasing Ambulances

QB Trevor Lawrence – He was in the process of sliding down when the Texans’ defender hit him in the head which caused his head to snap back into the turf. He appeared to be temporarily unconscious but managed to get up and sit in the cart. He was already questionable to play with a shoulder injury and now has a concussion. Mac Jones is likely the starter this week at the Titans.

WR Ladd McConkey – He was tackled with his legs awkwardly bent underneath him and limped off. He’s been dinged up this year with a balky hip and a sore shoulder but had aseason-best nine catches for 117 yards in the win over the Falcons. No early word was given about the severity, so expect to hear more after Monday.

TE Taysom Hill – A week after his career-best game, Hill (5-37) was the leading receiver for the Saints in their loss to the Rams. He went down with a knee injury that will be examined on Monday, but early speculation is that he likely tore ligaments or at least has a bone bruise. He’s probably gone for the rest of the season in either of those cases. An MRI will determine what the damage is.

RB Christian McCaffrey – He looked great for the first quarter in Buffalo, gaining 53 yards on seven carries, but he went down untouched in the San Francisco backfield after being tossed the ball. He’ll get an MRI on his knee but a non-contact knee injury is never good news.  More should be known on Monday. Jordan Mason took over once McCaffrey left and would be the primary back again if needed.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Drew Lock – While the Giants lost to the Cowboys last Thursday, Drew Lock took his first start and threw for 178 yards and one interception that was returned for a critical touchdown. Lock also ran for 57 yards and a score on just four scampers. He kept Malik Nabers (8-69) still worthy of a fantasy start.

RB Raheem Mostert – He had nearly disappeared from the game plan for most of the season, but Mostert showed up against the Packers with five rushes for 19 yards to lead the backfield. De’Von Achane only ran for 14 yards on seven rushes. Mostert added two catches for 15 yards. He still fell below fantasy startability, but at least he’s back in the box score.

TE Jonnu Smith – His career-best season continues with a team-leading ten catches for 113 yards in the loss to the Packers. That was four more catches than Tyreek Hill. Tagovailoa has been throwing shorter routes since he returned from his most recent concussion, and it has directly benefitted Smith.

RB Isiah Pacheco – His first game back since breaking his leg in Week 2, Pacheco ran well with seven rushes for 44 yards, though 34 yards came on one carry. But that compared to Kareem Hunt’s seven carries for only 15 yards. Pacheco added a five-yard catch as well. The Kansas City backfield likely remains a committee to help keep Pacheco healthy for the playoffs, but he’s justified a starting role in fantasy lineups after owners waited a long time. The problem is that Hunt is still involved, but becomes a very risky consideration.

QB Aidan O’Connell – The newest starting quarterback for the Raiders passed for 340 yards and two touchdowns in Kansas City last Friday and connected well with the only two Raiders who have fantasy value – Brock Bowers (10-140, TD) and Jakobi Meyers (6-97). He’ll play in Tampa Bay against a far weaker secondary this weekend.

RB Sincere McCormick – The Raiders’ undrafted rookie gained 33 yards on five carries in Week 12, and then led the backfield against the Chiefs with 12 rushes for 64 yards versus the No. 1 defense against running backs. He’ll face the No. 26 defense in Tampa Bay this week.

Chargers Backfield – J.K. Dobbins landed on injured reserve after a productive season that lasted longer than usual.  The new backfield was little used but still effective with Gus Edwards (6-32) and Kimani Vidal (4-20). Edwards had just one catch on the only pass thrown to a running back.  Edwards has been a plodder this year, but the rookie Vidal deserves to be on fantasy rosters. The Bolts host the Bills this week and their only defensive weakness is against running backs.

QB Russell Wilson – The Steelers-Ravens tilt turned into a shootout, and Russell Wilson continues to reinvent his career with 414 passing yards and three touchdowns in Cincinnati. He hit ten different receivers, and none gained more than 74 yards.

QB Mac Jones – Entered the loss to the Texans after Trevor Lawrence was concussed. He threw for 235 yards and two scores in little over two quarters to bring the Jaguars to within three points. He is likely to start again this week at Tennessee and potentially even longer, depending on how quickly Lawrence recovers.

RB Antonio Gibson – The Patriots rely on Rhamondre Stevenson as the primary running back, but Gibson is seeing an increase in touches lately. After six runs for 31 yards and a 14-yard catch in Week 12 in Miami, he logged seven rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown on Sunday versus the Colts.  Stevenson still ran the ball 18 times for 73 yards, but Gibson was allowed the score and played a bigger role than in the past.

RB Chris Rodriguez – Austin Ekeler landed on injured reserve and Washington used two players to replace him. Jeremy McNichols (6-32) and Chris Rodriguez (13-94, TD) both saw use in the 19-42 beatdown of the Titans. But Rodriguez showed up at the start of the fourth quarter, so his big day was entirely during the ample trash time in the game. McNichols saw most of his use in the first half.

RB Bucky Irving – The Buccaneers rookie took over the backfield a few weeks ago and just posted his first 100-yard game when he ran for 152 yards and a touchdown with three catches for 33 yards. Rachaad White ran for 76 yards on 11 carries, but Irving was used less near the end of the game as he had injured his hip but played through it.

QB Bryce Young – The Panthers have shown grit and heart continuing to play well  despite their 3-9 record. They brought the Buccaneers into overtime before losing 26-23. Young played well, throwing for 298 yards and one score, and rushing for 17 yards and a touchdown. He’s looking much better.

RB Blake Corum – There have been plenty of questions from fans and the media about why the Rams rarely use their prized rookie running back Blake Corum who only ran once in Week 12 versus 16 carries by Kyren Williams. Playing at the Saints this week, Corum handled eight rushes for 42 yards versus 15 runs for 104 yards by Williams, who also scored once. That’s still short of being a fantasy option, but it is encouraging to see them ramp up his usage and gives more confidence if Williams was to be injured, which happened last year but not yet for 2024.

Huddle player of the week

Brock Bowers (LV)  –  The Raiders’ rookie has far exceeded all expoectations and wasted no time in being the No. 1 fantasy tight end – and he just gets better and widens the gap below him. Against the Chiefs, the Raiders lost but Bowers turned in 10 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. He was drafted this summer as a backup and became the premier tight end.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to  cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Jayden Daniels	206-34	4	QB	Justin Herbert	147	0
RB	Chris Rodriguez	13-94	1	RB	Chuba Hubbard	12-43	0
RB	Isaiah Davis	1-4 3-28	1	RB	Ken Walker	16-49 2-(-3)	0
WR	Keenan Allen	5-73	2	WR	Tank Dell	1-23	0
WR	Parker Washington	6-103	1	WR	Cooper Kupp	3-17	0
WR	Tre Tucker	1-58	1	WR	CeeDee Lamb	2-39	0
TE	Jonnu Smith	10-113	0	TE	T.J. Hockenson	3-28	0
PK	Chad Ryland	1 XP  5 FG		PK	Jason Sanders	1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 160				Huddle Fantasy Points = 39

Now get back to work…

 

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…

 

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Jared Goff	421-21	4
Anthony Richardson	272-32	3
Bo Nix	307-5	4
Matthew Stafford	295-4	4
Joe Burrow	356-28	3
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Saquon Barkley	26-146 2-52	2
Breece Hall	16-78 7-43	2
David Montgomery	15-75 3-20	2
Josh Jacobs	18-76 4-58	1
De’Von Achane	17-73 4-32	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Amon-Ra St. Brown	11-161	2
Cooper Kupp	6-106	2
Jerry Jeudy	6-142	1
Tee Higgins	9-148	1
Ja’Marr Chase	7-75	2
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Taysom Hill	7-138 8-50	3
Brock Bowers	13-126	1
Jonnu Smith	6-101	2
David Njoku	9-81	0
Zach Ertz	6-47	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Chris Boswell	0	6
Jake Bates	7	1
Jason Sanders	4	2
Joey Slye	1	3
Matt Gay	1	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Denver	4-1	0
Buffalo	2-2	0
Pittsburgh	2-3	0
Minnesota	5-1	0
LA Rams	3-2	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

How great is this short list?

RB Alexander Mattison – Ankle
RB Zamir White – Quad
RB Tyjae Spears – Head
WR Darnell Mooney – Hamstring

Chasing Ambulances

RB Alexander Mattison –  Left the loss to the Dolphins after five carries and his status will be determined on Monday. The Raiders turned to Zamir White, who was lost with a quad injury. This is the No. 30 fantasy backfield, but it is notable when they lost their top two backs in the same game.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

WR Christian Watson – The oft-injured Watson turned in his annual big game, turning four catches into 150 yards in the win over the Bears. He caught passes for 17, 25, 48, and 60 yards. Before you grab your wallet and run to the waiver wire, that was roughly the same yardage he totaled from all games since Week 3. He managed that against a Bears secondary rated No. 3 versus wide receivers, so it was impressive. The question is whether it can be repeatable.

WR Brian Thomas Jr. – The Jaguars rookie led the team with five catches for 82 yards, though most of that came later in the humbling beatdown by the Lions. He was the only Jag with more than 30 yards in the game, and even with seven more games to play, the Jaguars looked like they were breaking camp and folding up the tents. Like Malik Nabers, we cannot know how good Thomas is while starting his career on a sinking ship.

HC Doug Pederson – Already expected to be on the chopping block, losing 52-6 should see him fired this week. The Jags will turn the team over to an interim coach and whoever that is, it cannot be any worse than what the Jags have become this season.

TE Brock Bowers – The Raiders may be yet another team in a slow-motion crash-and-burn, but the rookie tight end has been a saving grace, catching 13 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown versus the Dolphins.

RB Ameer Abdullah – While this backfield may not produce any fantasy-relevant numbers, injuries to Alexander Mattison (5-19) and Zamir White (5-9) were both injured in the loss to the Dolphins.  Abdullah only ran once, but he caught three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown later in the game.  Dylan Laube was a preseason sleeper who hasn’t been involved and was inactive last Sunday. But the Raiders may need to scrape their depth chart for running back help when the Broncos visit this week.

TE Jonnu Smith – The Dolphins have relied on tight ends as just blockers during the rein of HC Mike McDaniel, but Smith has been consistent with four or five catches per game. Facing the Raiders, he just turned in a career-best game with six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns. The Miami offense has not thrown as well to their wideouts, but Smith has been the best tight end they’ve thrown to in years.

QB Jameis Winston – The Browns rushing offense appears to be on a permanent vacation this season, but Winston is posting surprising stats as their season swirls down the drain. He passed for 395 yards and two scores in their loss to the Saints and passed scores to Jerry Jeudy (6-142, TD) and Elijah Moore (6-66). Even David Njoku (9-81) turned in big stats. The  Browns’ NFL season may be realistically over, but their fantasy output has been stronger with Winston as the starter.

QB Anthony Richardson – That two-week “think about it” vacation seemed to work. The second-year player faced the Jets in New York and left with a win and the best performance of his career. Richardson completed 20-of-30 for 272 yards and one touchdown pass, plus rushed for 32 yards and two scores on ten runs. The top three receivers were all the starting wideouts. He played noticeably better.

QB Russell Wilson – There was plenty of anticipation about what he could do versus the Ravens’ worst secondary in the NFL. Ends up not much, but just enough. The Steelers took the 16-18 win but Wilson only passed for 205 yards and one interception. George Pickens (8-89) shined, but no other receivers did. The Steelers’ defense played one of their best games of the year, and that depressed the needed scoring. However, the Steelers will continue to rely on their backfield and defense to win most games.

WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine – The Titan scored in five of the last six games but rarely has more than two receptions. He did it again against the Vikings with two catches for 117 yards, including a 98-yard touchdown catch.  Calvin Ridley (4-58) provides the No. 1 wideout role but has just three touchdowns on the season.

QB Bo Nix – The Denver rookie is everything we hoped (from Caleb Williams) and totaled 13 touchdowns in the last seven games. He boosted that progress with a healthy 307-yard, four-touchdown effort in the win over the Falcons. Nix passed to ten different receivers and none had more than 78 yards. His development has already exceeded expectations.

RB Audric Estime / Javonte Williams – In Week 10, Javonte Williams was scaled back to only one rush and two catches, while the rookie Audric Estime ran a season-high 14 times for 53 yards, including five carries in the final drive that should have won the game (blocked field goal). The expectation was that the more effective rookie would take over the primary role but that was premature. Williams started the game with three carries in the opening drive, while Estime showed up for the second series. But Estime only gained 16 yards on six runs while Williams gained 59 yards on nine runs with one score. He also caught four passes for 28 yards compared to three receptions for nine yards from Estime. The bad news is that both runners are involved in the committee and limit each other. There is no good news.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – He was a disappointment as a rookie but certainly not a bust. He logged seven catches for 180 yards and two scores in Week 10, then led the Seahawks with ten receptions for 110 yards in the win over the 49ers. DK Metcalf (7-70) was back on Sunday, so Smith-Njigba’s recent success isn’t from a lack of options for Geno Smith.

WR Xavier Worthy – His four catches for 61 yards and a score paced the Chiefs in their loss to the Bills. Worthy also ran once for seven yards. The only real hole in the offense for the Chiefs is a lack of a top-flite wideout. DeAndre Hopkins (3-29) was ineffective versus the Bills defense, so any improvement from Worthy will make a difference.

RB Isiah Pacheco – He is expected to return for Week 12 after rehabbing his broken fibula and getting in practices last week. Kareem Hunt (14-60) may have just had his final game as the clear primary back, but it is highly unlikely he will stay on the sideline. The Chiefs play in Carolina and are coming off a loss, so there should be plenty of touches to share. For this week, anyway.

Huddle player of the week

Taysom Hill (NO)  –   With Chris Olave out, the psuedo-tight end Hill has been worth around 50 yards per game but only scored once since Week 4. That level of production likely left him on many fantasy benches for Week 11 when he thrashed the Browns who had been rated as the No. 5 defense against tight ends. Hill ran for 138 yards on just seven carries with three touchdowns, plus caught eight passes for 50 yards. That was a career-high in catches, touchdowns, and rushing yards. He heads onto his bye, so he gets to enjoy this landmark game for two weeks.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to  cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Jameis Winston	395-8	2	QB	Lamar Jackson	207-46	1
RB	Cam Akers	10-25 2-11	1	RB	Tony Pollard	9-15 2-14	0
RB	Ameer Abdullah	1-1 3-16	1	RB	Aaron Jones	15-39 1-4	0
WR	N Westbrook-Ikhine	2-117	1	WR	Terry McLaurin	1-10	0
WR	Christian Watson	4-150	0	WR	Jaylen Waddle	2-37	0
WR	Elijah Moore	6-66	1	WR	Garrett Wilson	4-18	0
TE	Taysom Hill	7-138 8-50	3	TE	Travis Kelce	2-8	0
PK	Chris Boswell	6 FG		PK	Justin Tucker	1  XP 1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 165				Huddle Fantasy Points = 46

Now get back to work…

 

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Joe Burrow	428-3	4
Jalen Hurts	202-56	4
Kyler Murray	266-21	3
Lamar Jackson	290-33	4
Brock Purdy	353-17	2
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Bijan Robinson	20-116 3-28	2
Chuba Hubbard	28-153 4-16	1
Chase Brown	13-42 9-52	1
James Conner	12-33 5-80	1
Rachaad White	10-31 6-39	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Ja’Marr Chase	11-264	3
M Valdes-Scantling	3-109	2
Calvin Ridley	5-84	2
George Pickens	5-91	1
Tylan Wallace	3-115	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Travis Kelce	8-64	1
Mark Andrews	6-68	1
Tanner Hudson	6-42	1
T.J. Hockenson	8-72	0
George Kittle	3-57	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Joey Slye	1	4
Tyler Bass	3	3
Jake Moody	2	3
Jake Elliott	4	2
Harrison Butker	1	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Eagles	3-5	0
Patriots	9-0	0
Bills	4-4	1
Vikings	3-3	0
Texans	0-5	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

Delightfully light.

RB Miles Sanders – Leg
RB Tank Bigsby – Ankle
RB Aaron Jones – Chest
TE Dalton Kincaid – Knee
TE Sam LaPorta – Shoulder
GM Jerry Jones – Microphone allergy

Chasing Ambulances

RB Miles Sanders – Carted from the field with what is expected to be a serious injury to his leg. His absence won’t mean much to the Panthers who should be bringing Jonathan Brooks into the active lineup very soon, and Chuba Hubbard has been very strong.

RB Tank Bigsby – Had to be helped from the field after the second drive of the game with an ankle injury. He was already questionable with an ankle injury entering the game. He later re-entered the game for one carry in the second quarter but then was not used. The ankle is an ongoing problem for Bigsby, who may not be fully healthy until after their Week 12 bye.

RB Aaron Jones – Took a massive hit to his right ribs and was in much pain. He was carted to the locker room. He later returned to the game and carried four times near the end of the game.

TE Dalton Kincaid – Twisted his knee in the second quarter, then returned for one third-quarter incompletion and then ruled out of the game. Dawson Knox steps up if Kincaid cannot play against the Chiefs this week, but expectations would be low.

TE Sam LaPorta – Left the game after scoring once, but injured his shoulder and did not return. There wasn’t much said about him in the late game on Sunday, so more information should be known on Monday.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Cam Akers – Aaron Jones ran 17 times in the win over the Jaguars but was banged up for part of the game. Cam Akers handled 13 carries for 38 yards, while Ty Chandler ran just four times for 18 yards. The Vikings are comfortable leaning on Akers when they have to, and he is a must-add for the Jones owner. He could offer standalone fantasy value if Jones misses time.

RB Chuba Hubbard – Playing in Munich, Germany, the Panthers opted to make the rookie Jonathan Brooks inactive again this week and that left Hubbard with 28 carries for 153 yards and one touchdown, plus four catches for 16 yards and the primary weapon in their second-consecutive win. The Panthers enter their bye and then host the Chiefs in Week 12. By this point, why bother with Brooks? Then again, what changed in Hubbard’s fourth NFL season?

QB Joe Flacco – The Colts are riding the veteran the rest of the way and facing the Bills. Joe Flacco passed for 272 yards and two scores. He used his wideouts almost exclusively. That involved Alec Pierce (4-81, TD), Josh Downs (7-72), and Adonai Mitchell (6-71) who all offered moderate fantasy points. There are no stars here, but three fantasy options for receivers. Flacco also threw three interceptions, but only two were his fault.

TE T.J. Hockenson – Finally returned from his 2023 knee injury in Week 9 but only managed three catches for 27 yards. Facing the Jaguars weak secondary, Hockenson rekindled pre-injury form when he led the offense with eight catches for 72 yards. That didn’t take long.

RB Javonte Williams / Audric Estime – The Broncos backfield has struggled to produce this season, and Javonte Williams has been the primary back. Until now. Williams had been used for 12 to 17 carries weekly, and Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin shared the scraps. Facing the Chiefs, Williams was only given one first-quarter carry for five yards. McLaughlin only ran twice. But Estime carried 14 times for 53 yards. The trio will continue to exist, but the playcalling has swung to favor Estime, and he is the back of the future.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling – With the Saints already down three starting wideouts and suffering through their seven-game losing streak, they acquired MVS after the Bills released him after they traded for Amari Cooper. He only caught one pass in his debut last week, but MVS caught three against the Falcons for Week 10. They included a 40-yard touchdown, a 67-yard gain, and a 2-yard touchdown for a total of 109 yards and two scores. All three catches were within an eight-minute span in the second quarter.

RB Christian McCaffrey – After waiting just nine short weeks, McCaffrey owners got to click that START box for the first time and any points would be more than what McCaffrey offered in return for likely the first pick in a fantasy draft. He ran for 39 yards on 13 carries, while Jordan Mason owners only got one run for five yards. But McCaffrey offered six catches for 68 yards. His 19 touches were great to see in his first game back and he’ll face a weak Seattle run defense this week.

WR Jauan Jennings – Brandon Aiyuk is on injured reserve but Jennings returned after missing three games and took over the split end spot and led the 49ers with seven catches for 93 yards and was thrown 11 targets, four more than anyone else. Granted, it came against the weak Buccaneers secondary, but Jennings should figure in more for the stretch of the season as Aiyuk’s replacement. The rookie Ricky Pearsall (4-73, TD) also showed up in Week 10, making an impact from the slot.

WR Mike Williams – He was traded away by the Jets after they acquired Davante Adams and he was active on Sunday despite only having a few days with the Steelers. He only caught one pass – a beautiful 32-yard bomb thrown by Russell Wilson that provided the winning points with just two minutes left to play. That should accelerate his role in the game plan.

RB Gus Edwards – After landing on injured reserve in Week 5, Edwards was finally active for the Chargers again on Sunday. And he did exactly what no one wanted to see.  He gained 55 yards on ten catches while J.K. Dobbins gained 50 yards on 15 runs. Edwards also was given several goal-line carries though none were successful. Kimani Vidal was inactive and it’s back to the maddening committee approach.

RB Tyjae Spears – Also out injured since Week 6, Spears returned against the Colts and ran six times for 27 yards, while Julius Chestnut returned to zero touches. Tony Pollard (9-44) was banged up coming into the game, so Spears was likely a little busier than usual.

QB Cooper Rush – The Cowboys are 0-4 at home and the first week of Cooper Rush shattered any hopes for the Cowboys, their fantasy players, and their season-ticket drive next spring. He completed just 13-of-34 for 45 yards and was later benched so that Trey Lance could go 4-of-6 for 21 yards and one interception. The fantasy fallout spread to Jake Ferguson (4-24) and CeeDee Lamb (6-21).

WR John Metchie – The Texans bumped him up the depth chart after Stefon Diggs was lost in Week 8 and Nico Collins was already on IR. Metchie only caught three passes for 29 yards in Week 8, and then failed to catch either of his passes in Week 9. That landed him back on most waiver wires. But against the Lions, Metchie led the Texans with five catches for 74 yards and the only passing score by C.J. Stroud. That’ll get him picked up, again, from the waiver wire at least for this week in Dallas.

Huddle player of the week

Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)  –  This was not the week to face Chase in your fantasy league. Chase could practically build a career just facing the Ravens. In Week 5, he caught ten passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 10, he racked up an astounding 264 yards and three touchdowns on 11 catches. That’s 55 points in a PPR league for those of you who did not go against him. In his eight games not playing the Ravens, Chase totaled 45 catches for 524 yards and five touchdowns.  In two games versus Baltimore, he had 21 receptions for 457 yards and five scores.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to  cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Derek Carr	269-17	2	QB	Jayden Daniels	202-5	0
RB	Jaylen Warren	14-66 2-29	0	RB	Saquon Barkley	14-66 1-12	0
RB	Chase Brown	13-42 9-52	1	RB	D’Andre Swift	16-59 1-6	0
WR	M Valdes-Scantling	3-109	2	WR	DeVonta Smith	2-14	0
WR	Calvin Ridley	5-84	2	WR	D.J. Moore	3-24	0
WR	Tylan Wallace	3-115	1	WR	CeeDee Lamb	6-21	0
TE	Tanner Hudson	6-42	1	TE	J Ferguson	4-24	0
PK	Joey Slye	1 XP   4 FG		PK	Justin Tucker	3  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 153				Huddle Fantasy Points = 50

Now get back to work…

 

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Joe Burrow	251-11	5
Jalen Hurts	230-67	3
Geno Smith	363-16	3
Daniel Jones	174-54	3
Josh Allen	235-7	3
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Saquon Barkley	27-159 3-40	2
De’Von Achane	12-63 8-58	2
Alvin Kamara	29-155 6-60	0
Chase Brown	27-120 5-37	1
Derrick Henry	23-106 1-27	2
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
J. Smith-Njigba	7-180	2
Garrett Wilson	9-90	2
Zay Flowers	5-127	2
Demarcus Robinson	6-94	2
Courtland Sutton	7-122	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Mike Gesicki	5-100	2
Brock Bowers	5-45	1
Jake Ferguson	7-71	0
Theo Johnson	3-51	1
Trey McBride	3-35	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Evan McPherson	5	2
Justin Tucker	5	2
Tyler Bass	1	3
Blake Grupe	1	3
Austin Siebert	3	2
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Rams	7-3	1
Chargers	6-3	0
Cardinals	6-0	0
Jets	8-1	0
Jaguars	3-1	1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Dak Prescott – Hamstring
WR Chris Olave – Concussion
WR Drake London – Hip
WR Cedrick Wilson – Shoulder
WR Jaylen Waddle – Ankle
WR Puka Nacua – Ejected
WR A.J. Brown – Knee

Chasing Ambulances

QB  Dak Prescott – He appeared to have injured his throwing hand but then they ruled him out with a hamstring injury. He’ll have an MRI on his leg on Monday, but he said that he “felt something that he never felt before,” which sounds concerning.

WR Chris Olave – He was carted from the field on a backboard and sent to the hospital for evaluation. He was later released but will enter the NFL concussion protocol, and there was nothing that seemed “mild” about that hit. This could end up more than just one week.

WR Drake London – Caught a touchdown in the win over the Cowboys but landed on his hip. He rode a stationary bike on the sideline but was ruled out. He’ll be evaluated on Monday, but initial speculation is that it is not a very serious injury.

WR Jaylen Waddle – Had a Bills defender blocked into him step on his ankle and seemed to be in much pain initially. He later returned to the game,  so he apparently was no worse for the injury.

WR A.J. Brown – Was initially evaluated for a concussion but was cleared, only to be later ruled out with a knee injury. It did not seem bad, and there is speculation that he was held out more as a precaution, but more will be known after Monday.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Cooper Rush/Trey Lance – The Cowboys may be without Dak Prescott, depending on further news about his hamstring. Cooper Rush entered the loss to the Falcons and finished the game with 115 yards and a score. The Cowboys face the Eagles, but at 3-5, the game has lost much of the luster. Barring more information, the fear is that the Cowboys could try both quarterbacks during the game.

WR Darnell Mooney – After Drake London left the win over the Cowboys, Mooney took over as the primary receiver and led the Falcons with five catches for 88 yards and a score. He fielded nine targets – six more than any other Atlanta wideout. Notable, too, was Kyle Pitts reverting back to only one catch for 11 yards. Mooney was already fantasy-relevant for next week but becomes a must-start if he is the top receiver against the Jaguars.

QB Derek Carr – Faced the weak Panthers’ defense in his first game back from injured reserve but only passed for 236 yards and one score. This was one of their softest matchups of the year, but it was a surprise that the top receivers were Alvin Kamara (6-60) and Taysom Hill (4-41).  Kamara also ran for 155 yards on 29 rushes to handle the bulk of all offense. But it was still disappointing to see that no wideouts stepped up after Chris Olave was lost.

TE Ja’Tavion Sanders – The Carolina rookie is still far too inconsistent to merit a fantasy start, but he’s had two games with five catches before this week and led the team with four catches for 87 yards in the win over the Saints. When he whiffs, it can be a one-catch dud but he is improving. With Diontae Johnson gone, the Panthers have to redistribute the passes, and for one week, Sanders did the most.

QB Desmond Ridder – The Raiders already traded Davante Adams away and they never had a highly-rated quarterback. Now Gardner Minshew has been benched mid-game again. Ridder entered the game near the end of the third quarter and completed 11-of-16 for 74 yards and one score. The Raiders go onto their bye for Week 9 and need to figure out how to be at least competitive in games.

TE Mike Gesicki – The Bengals tight end already caught seven passes for 73 yards in Week 8 when Tee Higgins was out. For Week 9, he again helped cover for the missing Higgins with a team-best five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns as the top fantasy tight end for the weekend. With rumors of Higgins being on a trading block, Gesicki’s role may continue to be used more.

WR Quentin Johnston – The first-round pick of 2023 hasn’t met expectations and never managed more than 52 yards in any game this season. In Week 9, he led the Chargers with four catches for 118 yards and one score. It was his career-first 100-yard performance but Ladd McConkey had two more targets (5 vs. 7) and gained 64 yards on five catches. Justin Herbert passed for 282 yards and two scores on the road versus an above-average defense.  Johnston finally turned in stats worthy of that high draft pick.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Speaking of 2023 first-round wideouts, Smith-Njigba struggled through a disappointing rookie season and hasn’t done that much this year. But he just reached a career-high, by a large margin, when he ended the overtime loss to the Rams with seven catches for 180 yards and two scores. Tyler Lockett (3-63, TD) was next best and all others were meaningless. DK Metcalf was out and Smith-Njigba took advantage.

WR Puka Nacua – He was limited to only one catch for 11 yards in the win over the Seahawks because he ran a deep route that was intercepted. A defender continued to block Nacua beyond the end of the play, and well beyond the point that caused him to choose violence, and he punched the defender, which led to a disqualification. He was already questionable coming into the game with his knee bothering him again but he was still active. Hopefully, the visiting Dolphins won’t set him off again. In other news, Cooper Kupp caught 11 passes for 104 yards.

RB Cam Akers – He was traded to the Vikings, and against the Colts he carried for 46 yards on six rushes, ripping several chunk plays. Aaron Jones was the lead rusher with 21 carries for 64 yards, but the Vikings are ready if they need to replace him. Akers looked so good that he might take a few more touches from Jones than originally thought.

WR Demarcus Robinson – After trudging through the season with sub-10-point fantasy scores, the Rams receiver scored twice in Week 8 on his two catches for 35 yards. On Week 9 Sunday, he had a career-best fantasy performance when Puka Nacua was out and the Rams threw him nine targets to catch six for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the overtime win at the Seahawks. Robinson never scored more than four touchdowns in any of his seven previous seasons, and just logged four in the last two weeks.

Huddle player of the week

Saquon Barkley (PHI)  – Imagine what could have been had Barkley been drafted by the Eagles instead of languishing in New York for six years running behind a terrible line on a team with no other weapons that concerned the defense. Barkley just ran for 159 yards and a score on 27 rushes in the win over the Jaguars, and added three receptions for 40 yards and a second touchdown.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to  cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Daniel Jones	174-54	3	QB	Kyler Murray	154-6	0
RB	Emari Demarcado	4-59 2-21	1	RB	Nick Chubb	15-39 1-(-4)	0
RB	Ray Davis	4-20 2-70	1	RB	Tank Bigsby	8-22	0
WR	Demarcus Robinson	6-94	2	WR	Puka Nacua	1-11	0
WR	Quentin Johnston	4-118	1	WR	Chris Olave	1-13	0
WR	Courtland Sutton	7-122	1	WR	A.J. Brown	2-36	0
TE	Mike Gesicki	5-100	2	TE	Sam LaPorta	2-28	0
PK	Evan McPherson	5 XP   2 FG		PK	Jason Meyer	2 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 176				Huddle Fantasy Points = 30

Now get back to work…

 

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Jalen Hurts	236-37	4
Bo Nix	284-4	4
Kirk Cousins	276-13	4
Trevor Lawrence	308-10	3
Matthew Stafford	279-(-4)	4
Running Backs	Yards	TD
James Cook	17-111 3-22	2
De’Von Achane	10-97 6-50	1
Josh Jacobs	25-127 1-(-2)	2
Rhamondre Stevenson	20-48 3-17	2
Joe Mixon	25-102	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Ladd McConkey	6-111	2
Cedric Tillman	7-99	2
Calvin Ridley	10-143	0
Marvin Harrison Jr.	6-111	1
CeeDee Lamb	13-146	2
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Cade Otton	9-81	2
Kyle Pitts	4-91	2
Travis Kelce	10-90	1
Trey McBride	9-124	0
George Kittle	6-128	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Jake Elliott	4	3
Brandon McManus	3	3
Austin Siebert	0	4
Ka’imi Fairbairn	2	3
Dustin Hopkins	2	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Lions	1-4	1
Broncos	2-2	0
Bills	1-2	0
Texans	5-2	0
Chiefs	5-1	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Drake Maye – Concussion
QB Jordan Love – Groin
RB Rico Dowdle – Illness
RB Kendre Miller – Hamstring
RB Jordan Mason – Shoulder
WR Sterling Shepard – Hamstring
WR Stefon Diggs – Knee
WR Gabe Davis – Shoulder
WR Brian Thomas Jr. – Chest
WR Christian Kirk – Shoulder
WR Deebo Samuel – Ribs

Chasing Ambulances

QB Drake Maye – Left the win over the Jets during the second quarter and did not return. He was listed as a head injury but is expected to have suffered a concussion.  Jacoby Brissett wasn’t that productive but did not lose the ball. Maye could miss Week 9 at the Titans, and Brissett would again replace him.

QB Jordan Love – Injured his groin in the second quarter and did not return. Love had previously injured his knee this season and he seemed to have re-injured his left knee in the first quarter but continued to play. He came out with a groin injury after getting shoved on a pass attempt. Malik Willis replaced him, but the Packers lost. This injury could not be timed worse – the Packers play the Lions this week.

WR Sterling Shepard – Injured his hamstring after three catches in the loss to the Falcons. He later returned to the game after receiving treatment but the Buccaneers wideouts are still sorting out what they have to work with.

WR Stefon Diggs – The Texans were already without Nico Collins, and then Diggs pulled up lame with a non-contact injury to his knee during the second quarter. That is never good. An MRI will be performed to determine the exact injury and severity, but first glance suggested that he would miss time with the same knee that he’d injured twice before and missed time after those.

WR Brian Thomas Jr. – Injured his chest on his third-quarter touchdown catch and did not return to the game.  It did not initially appear to be severe, but he’ll be further examined to determine the extent of his injury.

WR Christian Kirk – The Jaguars lost both starting wideouts in the loss to the Packers. Christian Kirk had caught two passes for 59 yards and was injured on a deep incompletion in the fourth quarter. He landed hard on his left shoulder and was in a lot of pain. He immediately grabbed his collarbone and then went straight into the locker room. Kirk was rumored to be the subject of a potential trade to the Steelers, but that’s likely no longer a consideration.

RB Jordan Mason – The 49ers tailback was forced from the game with a shoulder injury in the first half and while he was never listed as out, he did not play again while the 49ers just turned to Isaac Guerendo instead. Mason injured his shoulder earlier this year but played through it. The 49ers head onto their bye week, and Christian McCaffrey might actually show up by then. His health is worth tracking since McCaffrey may not return to an immediate full load whenever he returns.

WR Deebo Samuel – He was unable to finish Week 7 because of his pneumonia but was active and turned in four catches for 71 yards in the win over the Cowboys. He left the game late with a rib injury. He heads onto his bye week, so his health will be assessed for Week 10 during their time off.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Jameis Winston – With Deshaun Watson lost for the year, Winston was handed the reins of the Browns and he had the good fortune of playing one of the worst secondaries in the NFL of the Ravens. Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, even though Watson’s high-game was just 196 yards and two touchdowns.  He’ll go against a Top-10 defense of the Chargers next week, but it will be another home game.

WR Cedric Tillman – The Browns traded Amari Cooper away, and Cedric Tillman stepped up as his replacement. Tillman caught eight passes for 81 yards last week versus the Bengals, and on Sunday, he led the Browns with seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Moore (8-85) also had his best game of the season, but again, they faced the No. 32 defense versus fantasy wideouts.

WR Calvin Ridley – The first week without DeAndre Hopkins saw the Titans face the No. 29 defense versus fantasy wideouts and that showed up with Ridley gathering 15 targets to catch 10 for 143 yards. That was more yardage than his last five games combined. His previous high on receptions was just four. The Titans play the Patriots this week, and while their defense is at least marginally better than the Lions, Ridley has instantly become the primary target on every pass play. No other receiver managed more than three catches or 39 yards.

WR John Metchie – Stefon Diggs was injured near the end of the third quarter and his backup Metchie entered the game and caught three of his four targets for 29 yards.  Diggs plays the important slot role, and his injury seems likely to make him miss time. If he does, Metchie will join Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson as the starting wideouts for their trip to play at the Jets this week. Hutchinson replaced Nico Collins but only caught one pass for 19 yards.

WR Parker Washington – The Jaguars had injuries to Brian Thomas Jr. (chest), Christian Kirk (shoulder), and Gabe Davis (shoulder) all left the loss to the Packers with injuries. That is all of the starting wideouts. Washington (3-46) replaces Kirk as the backup slot receiver. Depending on what happens with the three injured starters this week, Washington may end up as the primary wideout at the Eagles.

QB Tua Tagovailoa – He’s back but went against the No. 29 defense versus quarterbacks and only managed 234 passing yards and one score. He brought Tyreek Hill back to life (6-72), but no other receivers gained more than 45 yards. Probably rust.

TE Kyle Pitts – Maybe it was National Tight End Week, but Pitts turned in a career-best performance when he caught four passes for 91 yards and his first two-touchdown game.

Buccaneer wideouts – Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were gone, and yet Baker Mayfield still passed for 330 yards and three touchdowns in the close loss to the Falcons. There was no standout replacement for the two star receivers. Rakim Jarrett (3-58), Sterling Shepard (3-18), Jalen McMillan (4-35), Trey Palmer (2-29), and Ryan Miller (3-19) were all involved. And that was every active wideout that the Bucs had on their roster. And still, not one of them with any real fantasy value. Mayfield tried them all.

WR Ladd McConkey – He’ll be a hot property on the waiver wire after logging six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Saints. Realize he only averaged 44 yards per game coming into this week, but he also just bought some confidence from Justin Herbert.

QB Bryce Young – Yes, the Panthers lost 28-14 to the Broncos, but Young threw for 224 yards and two scores. That may not sound like much, but his first four starts contained no passing scores and never more than 161 passing yards. That was also more than what Andy Dalton did in any game other than his first start.

WR Jakobi Meyers – He was questionable coming into the game but he caught a team-high six passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. In the post-Adams world, Meyers stepped up as the new primary wideout.

RB D’Andre Swift – He had scored in the last three games entering Week 8. Swift made it four straight and ran for a season-best 129 yards on 18 carries in the loss to the Commanders. For the last month, Swift has handled at least 21 touches in every game and is one of the busiest running backs in the league. Swift a workhorse? Go figure.

National Tight End Day – Not only did the day set the NFL record for tight end touchdowns (16) and tight end catches (177), but the “holiday” was invented by George Kittle, who was also the top tight end on the day with six catches for 128 yards and a score.

RB Isaac Guerendo – The rookie stepped in for the injured Jordan Mason and rolled up 85 yards on 14 carries (6.1 YPC) with a touchdown against the visiting Cowboys and even added three receptions for 17 yards. He looked great and picked up chunks of yardage. The 49ers go on their bye, and Christian McCaffrey may be back in Week 10. But Guerendo did himself a favor by creating confidence whenever they need to turn to him again.

Huddle player of the week

WR CeeDee Lamb –  The Cowboys dropped below .500 with their loss to the 49ers, but at least Lamb finished with 17 targets for 13 receptions, 146 yards and both Dallas touchdowns. His scores came  in the final eight minutes of the contest and nearly made a game of it. He got paid this year, he disappointed to start the season but he should have been thrown every pass on Sunday night.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to  cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Bo Nix	284-4	4	QB	Jordan Love	196	0
RB	Bucky Irving	9-44 7-40	0	RB	Ken Walker	9-12 4-33	0
RB	Jaleel McLaughlin	8-47 1-9	1	RB	Nick Chubb	16-52	0
WR	Ladd McConkey	6-111	2	WR	Michael Pittman	1-16	0
WR	Cedric Tillman	7-99	2	WR	D.J. Moore	2-27	0
WR	Calvin Ridley	10-143	0	WR	Drake London	4-34	0
TE	Adam Trautman	4-85	1	TE	Cole Kmet	1-16	0
PK	Jake Elliott	4  XP   3 FG		PK	Cairo Santos	1  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 182				Huddle Fantasy Points = 39

Now get back to work…