General Fantasy Football Analysis – Page 5

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Trevor Lawrence	262-17	4
Brock Purdy	333-14	3
Justin Herbert	260-73	2
Josh Allen	275-15	3
Lamar Jackson	264-54	2
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Saquon Barkley	14-83 4-57	2
Jaylen Warren	9-129 3-16	1
Jahmyr Gibbs	8-36 6-59	1
Christian McCaffrey	21-78 5-25	1
Gus Edwards	12-62 2-8	2
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Calvin Ridley	7-103	2
Tyreek Hill	10-146	1
Tank Dell	8-149	1
Keenan Allen	10-116	1
Brandon Aiyuk	5-156	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
George Kittle	8-89	1
David Njoku	7-56	0
Stone Smartt	1-51	1
Dalton Schultz	2-32	1
Logan Thomas	5-58	0
Placekickers	XP	FG
Tyler Bass	2	4
Cairo Santos	2	4
Jason Meyers	1	3
Justin Tucker	4	2
Jason Sanders	2	2
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Bills	6-4	0
Giants	4-6	1
Cowboys	6-2	1
Cardinals	4-3	0
Bears – Comm	2-4	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Geno Smith – Elbow
RB D’Onta Foreman – Ankle
RB De’Von Achane – Knee
RB Aaron Jones – Knee
RB Kenneth Walker – Oblique
WR Darius Slayton – Arm
WR Cooper Kupp – Ankle
WR Tyreek Hill – Wrist

Chasing Ambulances

QB Geno Smith – Injured his elbow and left the game. Drew Lock played for two series in the fourth quarter, but Smith returned for the final drive and got the Seahawks in position for a 55-yard field goal that was missed and prevented a win. Smith has bruised triceps, and his status for Thursday night isn’t certain. Lock would replace him if needed.

RB D’Onta Foreman – He injured his ankle early in the game but returned. He later reaggravated the same ankle and was held out for the rest of the contest. He’ll be examined on Monday to determine the severity. Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson take up the slack if Foreman misses any time.

RB De’Von Achane – The rookie hurt his knee when he was tackled, and HC Mike McDaniel said that Achane wanted back into the game, but was held out because “I was a little worried with the rust.” Which sounds more proactive and preventative than reactive to a serious injury. Practice reports will indicate how much of a setback Achane has (or doesn’t have). Raheem Mostert just handles all the touches if Achane isn’t back this week at the Jets.

RB Aaron Jones – He was no longer on the injury report from his season-long hamstring issue but then injured his knee in the win over the Chargers. He was carted to the locker room, though HC Matt LaFleur said he didn’t believe the issue was severe. AJ Dillon takes over in any absence of Jones, though earlier this year, it happened, and Dillon wasn’t much of a factor. Jones himself said he feared it was an ACL at first but that he didn’t think it would be anything serious. He’ll have an MRI on Monday to determine the prognosis.

RB Kenneth Walker – Injured his oblique and was in a lot of pain. HC Pete Carroll said that Walker’s injury was significant and that he may miss games. Zach Charbonnet will replace him for any missed time, and the Seahawks did not bump up any other backs’ workload. Charbonnet will see a workhorse role if Walker is out.

WR Cooper Kupp – He only caught one pass before the injury when he was blocking for Royce Freeman. HC Sean McVay said after the game that Kupp wanted to return but that he wasn’t 100% healthy, and they held him out. McVay said he did not know how severe the ankle injury might be. We should know more on Monday. Austin Trammel replaced him for the rest of the game. Puka Nacua caught his first touchdown in five games.

WR Tyreek Hill – Left the game in the second quarter with a wrist injury that sent him to the locker room, presumably for X-rays. He returned in the third quarter but then had no catches in the fourth quarter when the Dolphins went to a run-heavy script to finish the game. Apparently, there were no fractures, but it is unknown what soft-tissue injury may still exist.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Trevor Lawrence – He was the top fantasy quarterback for the week despite having been given up on by fantasy owners tired of single-touchdown efforts with 200 yards or so. He threw for 262 yards and two scores to Calvin Ridley and ran in two scores – his first rushing touchdowns of the year. That did reflect a down game for Travis Etienne.

QB Tommy DeVito – Another player that entered Sunday with no expectations and yet left after passing for 246 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Commanders. The game was still almost entirely about Saquon Barkley as a rusher and a receiver, but DeVito was not a liability like he had been the previous week when he had totaled just 86 passing yards.

RB Devin Singletary – Dameon Pierce disappointed this year and is currently out on injury. But Singletary took the primary role in Week 10 and ran for 150 yards and a touchdown. Yesterday, he gained 112 yards on 22 rushes and another score. His only two starts resulted in the only 100-yard games by a Houston rusher this year. The Texans’ next games are at home versus the Jaguars and Broncos.

RB Ty Chandler – He is still the No. 2 guy in Minnesota, but he just rushed for 73 yards on ten carries at the Broncos and caught a season-high four passes for 37 yards. He had 14 touches to only 15 for Alexander Mattison.

Bears backfield – Khalil Herbert returned from injured reserve and ran 16 times for 35 yards in the loss to the Lions. Roschon Johnson gained 30 yards on six runs, while D’Onta Foreman only ran for 14 yards on six carries but bulled in the score. Foreman injured his ankle, and his status for the matchup with the Vikings this week won’t be known until later, but Foreman is the best back for inside and goal-line work as the most physical rusher. And the Bears are willing to use all three backs, and they still combine for less than what Justin Fields (18-104) turned in as the leading rusher.

QB Jordan Love – Granted, it came at home against one of the worst secondaries in the NFL, but Jordan Love turned in a season-best 322 passing yards and two touchdowns for his best performance of the year. It was his first 300-yard game and primarily relied on the wide receivers who caught both touchdowns.

WR Tank Dell – The Texan’s rookie now owns three 100-yard games and he just turned in a season-best eight catches for 149 yards and a touchdown – his third straight game with a score.

WR Odell Beckham – He played back on Thursday, but he’s one to remember for free-agent pickups. He was just another over-the-hill player latching on to what he described as potentially his final year, and for the first half of the season, that looked like a reality. But he scored in Weeks 9 and 10 with around 50 yards in each. And against the Bengals, he caught four passes for 116 yards. He injured his shoulder, but it’s been described as not an issue. The loss of Mark Andrews means other receivers have to step up. Beckham looks like the most likely of the bunch.

WR Jayden Reed – The Packers’ wideout turned in marginal stats this year but then posted 80+ yards in three of the last four games and scored in both Weeks 10 and 11. Romeo Doubs has been the primary target in the red zone, but now Reed is scoring weekly and gains more yards than the other Green Bay receivers.

Huddle player of the week

Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Ridley – He was much-maligned after six sub-40-yard performances that left him unreliable for a fantasy start. Facing the Titans seemed like just another chance to be disappointed but Ridley led all NFL receivers with seven catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns, plus an 18-yard run. That happened on many, many fantasy benches this week, but there had to be a few fantasy owners that started him from a lack of other options and discovered that they had “the guy” for the week.

Salute!

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

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Tommy DeVito	246-7	2	QB	Joe Burrow	101-7	1
RB	Jaylen Warren	9-129 3-16	1	RB	De’Von Achane	1-1 1-4	0
RB	Devin Singletary	22-112 2-6	1	RB	Kenneth Walker	4-18 1-(-2)	0
WR	Calvin Ridley	7-103 1-18	2	WR	Cooper Kupp	1-11	0
WR	Khalil Shakir	3-115	1	WR	Garrett Wilson	2-9	0
WR	Darius Slayton	4-82	1	WR	Stefon Diggs	4-27	0
TE	Stone Smartt	1-51	1	TE	Mark Andrews	2-23	0
PK	Cairo Santos	2 XP 4 FG		PK	Greg Zuerlein	nope
Huddle Fantasy Points = 157				Huddle Fantasy Points = 28

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

The season is just about two-thirds done on the fantasy calendar, and playoffs are starting to come into view in the distance. Some large contests start in Week 14, and most leagues happen in Weeks 16 and 17, so there is still time to move up the standings. But the waiver in your league is likely bare outside of some bonehead dropping a fantasy starter.

Defenses and kickers still offer worthwhile finds, but only injury will uncover a new starter. The rest of the way is more about making optimal starting decisions and starting to look toward matchups your players will have in your playoffs.

Injuries continue to degrade all positions, and quarterbacks seem to have an unusual number of injuries. Ten have missed at least one game, and that is eleven if Joe Burrow misses time with the wrist injury he suffered last night. That’s one in three quarterbacks that have been injured, and there are eight more games in the season.

The topic for this week is NFL backfields and how they continue to change. After ten games, some teams have soured on their Week 1 starter and others just see more from the No. 2 guy. Here are my Top-6 backfields that are – or may be – in transition for the next few weeks and could heighten the fantasy prospects for one back while decreasing the other.

Tony Pollard / Rico Dowdle (DAL) – The Cowboys rushing offense apparently left with Ezekiel Elliott. What was once a strength is now a weakness. Tony Pollard turned in 1,007 yards on 193 carries (5.2 YPC) last year under a different coach and as the No. 2 back. He’s gaining 3.9 yards per carry, looking like a No. 2 miscast as a No. 1 back. Last week, the Cowboys clobbered the Giants 49-17, and Pollard only had 15 runs for 55 yards. Rico Dowdle had a career-best 79 yards and a score on 12 rushes. Chances are high that neither back is going to shine, but at least Dowdle looks likely to get more work at the expense of Pollard. It was very telling when Pollard couldn’t score from the 1-yard line on a fourth down. Dowdle later scored from the 1-yard line on a first down.
D’Onta Foreman / Khalil Herbert (CHI) – Herbert has been on injured reserve since Oct. 13 with an ankle injury, but he’s entered the 21-day window to be activated and just had a full practice last week. Herbert averaged 5.7 YPC last year and 5.3 YPC through Week 5. But D’Onta Foreman has been very effective and handled 20 carries the last two weeks. At this point, it is most likely to see Foreman remain the primary but cede touches to Herbert and Roschon Johnson. The backfield cannot be truly evaluated until Herbert proves 100% healthy and is no longer being eased back in. The next two weeks should set the stage for expectations for after the Week 13 bye.
De’Von Achane / Raheem Mostert (MIA) – All eyes are on the Miami backfield. Achane is expected to return and add to his ridiculous 12.1 YPC. But Raheem Mostert is there and still healthy, amazingly enough. After his breakout in Week 3, Achane and Mostert split carries 11:10 and 8:7. They faced the visiting Broncos and Giants and did much less at the Bills. More soft matchups await for the next month and we’ll see how long Achane needs to be active and at full strength endurance. Miami will split their workload and doesn’t like a workhorse. Facing the Raiders this week is another soft matchup, so it should be productive. But the key will be the total amount of carries in this pass-first offense.
Dameon Pierce / Devin Singletary (HOU) – It appears that Pierce is no lock to return this week from his ankle injury. And in his absence, Singletary ran for 150 yards and a score on 30 rushes (5.0 YPC). The Texans host the Cardinals and their No. 32 defense versus running backs, so Singletary should really shine again. But the Houston O-line is one of the worst, and Singletary only totaled 62 runs for 209 yards through Week 9 (3.4 YPC). In Week 9, he was alone versus the Bucs and only gained 26 yards on 13 rushes. The passing game is improved in Houston as well. The most that will happen is that these backs start to split 50:50 and negate what minimal fantasy value there was.
Kyren Williams / Darrell Henderson (LAR) – Williams is expected to return in Week 12 when he is eligible to come off injured reserve where he landed with a high-ankle sprain. Henderson and Royce Freeman have filled in, and Henderson logged 18 rushes for 61 yards and a score versus the Steelers, while Freeman totaled 66 yards on 12 runs. Freeman scored in Dallas but that game went sideways early. Williams should return to his same role, and both Henderson and Freeman should take a step back to just relief work. HC Sean McVay is already talking about his excitement in getting Williams back. The backfield should look good this week versus the visiting Seahawks, who are weak versus the run, but whatever happens won’t dampen the switch back to Williams when he is active again.
Jaylen Warren / Najee Harris (PIT) – Last year, the Steelers’ run game took off in the second half of the season, and it appears that it may be repeating. The offensive line is playing better and Jaylen Warren is tearing off as many longer runs as anyone lately. The duo started the year with Harris as the 3:1 lead, but they have morphed into a true committee now with their best game of the year in Week 10 when they split 31 carries for 183 yards and two touchdowns versus the Packers. The last few games were at home and the next two are at the Browns and Bengals. The remaining schedule is better than most, though, and for now, these two swap out regularly. That helps Warren and dings Harris.

About last night…

Bengals 20, Ravens 34

There were more points than most Thursday games, but it is the aftermath of that game that will be more important. Joe Burrow injured his throwing wrist and he’ll be examined on Friday. The outward signs suggested it was a serious enough injury that he could miss a game or more. Mark Andrews had his ankle rolled up on a tackle and left the game after two catches. He’s expected to be out for the rest of the season with a high-ankle sprain “plus more.” Losing Anderson puts a ding in the Ravens’ offense, but one that the rest of the receivers can try to compensate for. Losing Burrow for any time sinks the fantasy value of the entire Bengals’ offense and signals that the 5-5 Bengals likely face the reality that the postseason is out of reach.

The Bengals had enough trouble moving the ball with Burrow, and after he left, Jake Browning took over with minimal success. Tight end Tanner Hudson led the Bengals’ receivers with four catches for 49 yards – the second-best performance of his four-year career. But Tyler Boyd (3-22) and Ja’Marr Chase (2-12, TD) were little used, and Chase’s score was with one minute left in the already-decided game. Joe Mixon was the only Bengal that met expectations when he ran for 69 yards on 16 rushes and caught a team-high five passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. The 5-5 Bengals host the Steelers in Week 12.

Lamar Jackson turned in a standard performance. He ran for 54 yards and threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson Agholor (1-37, TD) and Rashod Bateman (1-10, TD) caught those, while Odell Beckham (4-116) led all receivers before leaving with a shoulder injury. Zay Flowers (3-43) was quieter than expected. The win boost the Ravens to 8-3 still atop the AFC North and they head to Los Angeles to face the Chargers.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Dak Prescott	404-17	5
Justin Herbert	323-15	4
Sam Howell	312-17	3
Joshua Dobbs	268-44	2
Geno Smith	369-8	2
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Brian Robinson	8-38 6-119	1
Jahmyr Gibbs	14-77 3-35	2
Devin Singletary	30-150 1-11	1
Austin Ekeler	19-67 4-48	1
Christian McCaffrey	16-95 6-47	0
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Keenan Allen	11-175	2
CeeDee Lamb	11-151 1-14	2
Brandin Cooks	9-173	1
Amon-Ra St. Brown	8-156	1
Mike Evans	6-143	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
T.J. Hockenson	11-134	1
Trey McBride	8-131	0
George Kittle	3-116	1
Jake Ferguson	4-26	1
Dalton Schultz	4-71	0
Placekickers	XP	FG
Jason Meyers	2	5
Dustin Hopkins	1	4
Matt Prater	1	4
Riley Patterson	5	2
Chris Boswell	2	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
49ers	5-4	0
Colts	5-2	0
Ravens	4-2	1
Buccaneers	4-1	0
Browns	3-2	1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Derek Carr – Shoulder / Head
QB Taylor Heinicke – Hamstring
QB Baker Mayfield – Thumb
QB Deshaun Watson – Ankle
TE Gerald Everett – Back
RB Alexander Mattison – Concussion
WR Michael Thomas – Knee
WR Jamal Agnew – Shoulder

Chasing Ambulances

QB Derek Carr – Injured his shoulder and potentially was concussed. Jameis Winston came in and threw two second-half touchdowns and two interceptions. The Saints are on their bye in Week 11, so Carr has two weeks to heal up.

QB Taylor Heinicke – Hurt his hamstring and did not return to the game. Desmond Ridder replaced him in time to ensure the eventual loss to the Cardinals. Like Derek Carr, the Falcons have their bye this week and Heinicke will have two weeks to heal. But HC Arthur Smith also has two weeks to decide what he wants to do.

QB Baker Mayfield – Hit his hand on the facemask of a defender and injured his thumb in the middle of the fourth quarter. He still finished the game and later said it was okay. The Buccaneers play in San Francisco this week, so he’ll need to be healthy to keep the Bucs in that matchup.

QB Deshaun Watson – Injured his ankle in the second quarter during a rough tackle (one of many), but still played the balance of the game. It became notable when he left the locker room with a walking boot but said that he’d be fine. It is something to track this week and the Browns face a critical matchup when they host the Steelers.

RB Alexander Mattison – The Vikings starting running back left in the third quarter of the win over the Saints with a concussion. Ty Chandler replaced him and rushed for 45 yards on 15 carries with one touchdown. Mattison will enter the protocol this week and his availability to play in Denver on Sunday depends on how he progresses.

WR Michael Thomas – Left the loss to the Vikings early in the first quarter after taking a hard hit and hurting his knee. He was officially ruled out in the second half. He already had a legal situation with an arrest last week. The Saints enter their bye, so he has time to heal up and deal with any repercussions from his arrest.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Ty Chandler (MIN) – The Vikings already lost Cam Akers, and then Alexander Mattison suffered a concussion in the win over the Saints. Ty Chandler ran for 45 yards and a score but never had a target. The Vikings play in Denver this week and will go against one of the worst defenses versus running backs. He’s a need pick for the Mattison owner but a luxury for any other fantasy team unless Mattison misses games.

QB Bailey Zappe (NE) – Bill Belichick benched Mac Jones in the loss to the Colts, and Zappe only completed 3-of-7 for 25 yards during the matchup in Germany. But the Pats slipped to 2-8 and the time to get desperate has already passed. The Patriots, shockingly, are reaching the point where changes need to be made, if only to look like they haven’t given up. That could involve Zappe or any of the Pats’ other players. This is all new territory for the Patriots and a situation that Belichick hasn’t dealt with in decades.

QB Joshua Dobbs (MIN) – Playing in his first start with the Vikings, the ex-Cardinal threw for 268 yards and a touchdown, plus rushed for 44 yards on eight runs. He’s slipped in quickly and already engineered a win. Dobbs not only has his next opponents of the Broncos, Bears, and Raiders, he may be getting Justin Jefferson on the field this weekend.

RB Devin Singletary (HOU) – Dameon Pierce was inactive this week so the Texans had to rely on Singletary. The ex-Bill responded well to his first start in Houston when he ran for 150 yards on 30 carries and caught an 11-yard pass. Pierce is out with an ankle injury and never practiced last week. The Texans’ next three opponents are all at home – Cardinals, Jaguars, and Broncos. The Jags are above-average against running backs but the Cardinals and Broncos are two of the worst.

RB Rico Dowdle (DAL) – The Cowboys dominated the Giants on Sunday, but Tony Pollard only gained 55 yards on 14 rushes (3.7 YPC). The Cowboys stuck with Pollard in the first quarter when they reached the Giants’ goal line but turned the ball over on downs, unable to score. Dowdle was given 12 rushes and gained 79 yards (6.6 YPC) and punched in a one-yard score in the fourth quarter. Dowdle saw more use in this blowout, but he had been limited to just five carries in all previous games. This week, the Cowboys play in Carolina against the No. 30 defense versus running backs. Pollard was unsuccessful at home against the No. 26 defense, so maybe Dowdle is slowly buying more playing time.

WR Noah Brown (HOU) – He replaced the injured Nico Collins in Week 9 and gained a career-best 153 yards and a score on six catches in the Texans win over the Panthers. With Collins out again, Brown turned in seven receptions for 172 yards. The ex-Cowboys is buying himself more playing time. Nico Collins missed the last two practices last week with a calf injury. He’ll start against the Cardinals this week if Collins remains out.

WR Brandin Cooks (DAL) – Entering into Week 10, Cooks had not gained more than 49 yards in any game for the Cowboys but had scored in Weeks 6 and 8. Facing the Giants, Cooks abused them for 173 yards and a touchdown on nine catches. His three scores over the last four games are more impressive than the high-yardage blip from last Sunday.

QB Kyler Murray (ARZ) – The Cardinals quarterback debuted against the Falcons on Sunday. While he only threw for 249 yards and an interception, he scored on his six runs for 33 yards and led six drives that ended in scores, including the drive in the final 2:33 in the game when he brought the Cards down to the ATL 16-yard line where they kicked the walk-off winning field goal.

TE Trey McBride (ARZ) – Expectations for the second-year tight end were higher this year and he already had a 95-yard performance in Week 8. His first game with Kyler Murray this season resulted in a career-best 131 yards on eight receptions in the win over the Falcons. They play in Houston this week against the No. 31 defense against tight ends.

Huddle player of the week

Dak Prescott – After starting the year with marginal passing stats, Prescott perked up against the Rams and Eagles. He just upped those games with 404 yards and four passing scores versus the visiting Giants and even ran in a touchdown. The Cowboys had the game already well in hand before the second quarter but continued the bombing while scoring the entire game through the final two minutes. Fantasy football loves a big score and the NFL’s absence of a mercy rule.

Salute!

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

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Joshua Dobbs	268-44	2	QB	Trevor Lawrence	185-7	0
RB	Brian Robinson	8-38 6-119	1	RB	Derrick Henry	11-24 1-(-4)	0
RB	Devin Singletary	30-150 1-11	2	RB	Tony Pollard	15-55	0
WR	Brandin Cooks	9-173	1	WR	DeAndre Hopkins	3-27	0
WR	Noah Brown	7-172	0	WR	Terry McLaurin	4-33	0
WR	Jayden Reed	5-84	1	WR	Drake London	3-36	0
TE	Trey McBride	8-131	0	TE	Mark Andrews	2-44	0
PK	Jason Meyers	2 XP 5 FG		PK	Brandon McManus	1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 197				Huddle Fantasy Points = 45

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

This should be a brutally low-scoring week in fantasy football with the bye week for Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Tua Tagovailoa, Raheem Mostert, Tyreek Hill, Jalen Hurts, D’Andre Swift, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. That’s three of the Top-4 quarterbacks and all of their beneficiaries.

We’re on the verge of seeing players return from injured reserve, though it never seems clear until the last minute. Once they have spent their four weeks on the list, they have 21 days to be activated or they are out for the year.

Devon Achane is hoped to return in Week 11. James Conner, Khalil Herbert, Justin Jefferson, and Deebo Samuel will soon return. That serves to improve their teams but degrade their replacements.

We’re onto the backside of the season, and you’ll notice the waiver wire gets thinner every week. There are fewer, if any, difference makers you can grab, and attention should turn to those players who have a better outlook in the back half of the season as their situations and maturations change. Here are six players that I expect to see improvement down the stretch.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) – The first wideout drafted this year has started very slowly but he is picking up some steam and starting to contribute more. 31-year-old Tyler Lockett could be gone next year, and the rookie’s development is critical. He scored in two of the last three games, with 13 catches for 162 yards. The Seahawks’ schedule is ripe for improvement with games against the Commanders, Rams, 49ers, Eagles and Titans coming up. The Seahawks are heading to the playoffs, so they won’t emphasize Smith-Njigba just to develop him, but the schedule is encouraging and the need to pass will be high.
RB Alexander Mattison (MIN) – It was a plus for Mattison’s fantasy outlook when Cam Akers suffered his most recent Achille injury and he waited until after the trade deadline. No one on the Vikings roster is more than just a relief back. Switching to Joshua Dobbs at quarterback should mean more reliance on the run and more potential for dump-off passes. He faces the Saints this week for a challenge, but his next three games are against the Broncos, Bears, and Raiders. He may not be the primary back next year, but he’s all that they have for now and the schedule is getting lighter.
WR Marquise Brown / Michael Wilson (ARI) – The return of Kyler Murray may take a week or two (or more) to get him back into top gear, but Marquise Brown already has chemistry with him and the rookie Michael Wilson is looking better. The next few weeks are tougher but starting in Week 13, they face the Steelers, 49s, Bears, and Eagles. So, there are plenty of reasons to throw, and the final four defenses are a fantasy advantage for receivers. Week 14 bye is not a great time in most fantasy leagues, though.
RB Tony Pollard (DAL) – The Cowboys moved on from OC Kellen Moore because he wasn’t conservative enough and now the Cowboys fell from the No. 1 fantasy backfield to one of the worst. Pollard looks like the classic “better as a 2 than a 1.” But – the Cowboys did not acquire any more help so Pollard is going to be the primary workhorse. He gets a sweet stretch the next month facing the Giants, Panthers, Commanders, Seahawks, and Eagles. Recent improvements in the Cowboys’ passing offense only help.
RB Rachaad White (TB) – There is no arguing that White hasn’t met expectations after taking over as the No. 1 running back this year. And the Bucs are on a four-game losing streak as their playoff hopes have already disappeared in the distance. But the Buccaneers have done nothing to upgrade the backfield, and White just had a season-high 20 carries in Houston. He caught 13 passes over the two previous games. He has one of the lighter remaining schedules with only Week 14 and 17 against tougher run defenses and yet he will face the Colts, Panthers, Packers and Jaguars.
WR Brandon Aiyuk (SF) – He hasn’t scored since Week 1 and only logged two high-yardage games. But he comes off his bye and will face a very attractive stretch against the Jaguars, Buccaneers, Seahawks, and Eagles. His Week 17 opponent is the Commanders. The 49ers need a turnaround on their three-game losing streak, and the schedule lightens up in a way that should benefit Aiyuk – and Deebo Samuels as well.

About last night…

Panthers 13, Bears 16

These Thursday games have been ugly lately. The only exciting play in the entire game was the 79-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter that would be the only by the Panthers. Bryce Young was largely ineffective, completing 21-of-38 passes for 185 yards and no scores or turnovers. Adam Thielen (6-42) is the only Carolina receiver who offers any fantasy value, and he had a down game. Mike Strachan was called up from the practice squad and led the Carolina receivers one catch for 45 yards.

The backfield is unchanged. Chuba Hubbard (9-23) was sprinkled ineffectually throughout the game, while Miles Sanders (2-(-5)) didn’t even show up until the second half but at last, he caught two passes for 15 yards to prevent negative fantasy points. The Bears’ defense is one of the worst in the NFL and yet looked up to the task against the visiting Panthers who fall to 1-8 and host the Cowboys next week.

Tyson Bagent threw for only 162 yards and no scores or turnovers. DJ Moore faced his old team and led the Bears with only five catches for 58 yards. Cole Kmet ended with 45 yards on five receptions but no other receiver gained more than 15 yards.

D’Onta Foreman also faced his old team and ran for 80 yards, which included the only Bears touchdown on his 21 carries. Foreman was the only running back in the game that looked prepared and capable. The Bears rise to 3-7 and play in Detroit for Week 11.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
C.J. Stroud	470-10	5
Joshua Dobbs	158-66	3
Dak Prescott	374-14	3
Jalen Hurts	207-36	3
Tyson Bagent	220-70	2
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Rachaad White	20-73 4-46	2
Rhamondre Stevenson	9-87 4-42	1
Josh Jacobs	26-98	2
Keaton Mitchell	9-138 1-(-4)	1
Aaron Jones	20-73 4-26	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
CeeDee Lamb	11-191	0
Tank Dell	6-114	2
Noah Brown	6-153	1
Amari Cooper	5-139	1
Diontae Johnson	7-90	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Dalton Schultz	10-130	1
Cade Otton	6-70	2
Cole Kmet	6-55	2
Jake Ferguson	7-91	1
Jonnu Smith	5-100	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Younghoe Koo	2	4
Chase McLaughlin	4	3
Justin Tucker	4	3
Daniel Carlson	3	3
Greg Joseph	2	3
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Browns	7-3	0
Colts	4-3	2
Raiders	8-2	0
Ravens	4-2	0
Saints	2-5	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Jaren Hall – Concussion
QB Daniel Jones – Knee
RB Cam Akers – Ankle
RB Kendre Miller – Ankle
RB Cordarrelle Patterson – Ankle
WR Mack Hollins – Ankle
WR K.J. Osborn – Concussion
WR Marquise Goodwin – Head
WR John Metchie – Ribs
WR Josh Downs – Knee
TE Dallas Goedert – Forearm
TE T.J. Hockenson – Oblique/ribs
PK Ka’imi Fairbairn – Quad

Chasing Ambulances

QB Daniel Jones – The fear is that he tore his ACL and would be lost for the season. The Giants passing offense has been one of the least productive and devoid of reliable fantasy value. If Jones is gone, the Giants only have the rookie Tommy DeVito or Matt Barkley for when they play in Dallas for Week 10.

RB Cam Akers – He injured his left Achilles, and the severity will be determined on Monday. He already tore his right Achilles while with the Rams, and any time that Akers misses will benefit Alexander Mattison more as he would inherit back some of the workload that Akers had taken.

WR K.J. Osborn – The Vikings wideout was carted from the field after temporarily laying motionless. He appeared to have a serious concussion and Brandon Powell would later catch a touchdown at the end of the game to provide the winning margin. Jalen Nailor is the primary backup for Osborn, but Powell is more likely to see expanded use. Justin Jefferson will return at some point as well, but for this week versus the Saints, Powell is the most likely to see a bump in targets.

WR Josh Downs – The rookie was already questionable entering the game with a knee injury he suffered in practice on Thursday. He was active for the game in Carolina but left after one catch with a knee injury – assumedly the one that hampered his practices leading up to the game. Isaiah McKenzie will replace him if needed.

TE Dallas Goedert – He injured his forearm which was awkwardly caught underneath him as he was tackled. He was immediately brought back to the X-ray room and ruled out. The Eagles are already without Grant Calcaterra (concussion) but the Eagles head onto their bye for Week 10. If Goedert missed any time, his targets would more likely shift to the wideouts and running backs than be directly applied to a backup tight end

TE T.J. Hockenson – He injured his oblique and ribs but was able to finish the game. That suggests he’ll be good to go for the Saints this week, but it bears tracking in practice.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Joshua Dobbs (MIN) – The rookie Jaren Hall only lasted for nine passes before suffering a concussion. Dobbs entered the game having never had a practice rep with the Vikings. He completed 20-of-30 for 158 yards and two passing scores, plus he ran for 66 yards on seven runs with another touchdown. Imagine what he can do when he practices, learns the plays, and knows the names of his teammates. Justin Jefferson is eligible to return next week, but that may not happen.

QB Tyson Bagent (CHI) – He is improving. The undrafted rookie threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns in the loss at the Saints, and he ran for 70 yards on eight scrambles. They host the Panthers this week, so Bagent has a shot at another decent performance.

RB Keaton Mitchell (BAL) – The rookie finally had his first carry of the year and ended with nine runs for 138 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for a four-yard loss. He was popular with fans in the summer but suffered a shoulder injury and later a hamstring strain. The East Carolina back runs a 4.37 40-time . He broke a 60-yard run and later ran 40 yards for a touchdown in the win over the Seahawks. And it wasn’t just late fourth-quarter mop-up duty. Mitchell had runs in every quarter. Gus Edwards scored twice on his five runs for 50 yards and the Ravens let the rookie get more reps in the game that was decided early.

WR Noah Brown (HOU) – He’s only played in four games, but Brown led the team with 153 yards on six catches with a touchdown against the Buccaneers. His previous best was only three catches for 57 yards (Week 8). That’s probably a single-game performance, but it was impressive on a day when C.J. Stroud passed for 470 yards.

TE Cade Otton (TB) – The Texan defense is actually good against the pass but weakest versus tight ends. That showed up on Sunday when the Bucs’ Otton caught six passes for 70 yards and two scores – all season-high marks. He’s seen more use in the last three weeks, and the success of Week 9 should help him stay in the game plan.

QB Taylor Heinicke (ATL) – Hidden behind the defensive collapse of the Falcons was Heinicke’s first start. He replaced Desmond Ridder, who had a 28-24 lead over the Vikings with only two minutes left to play. He played without Drake London and passed for 100 yards to Jonnu Smith while Kyle Pitts (4-56) was better than usual. HC Arthur Smith said Ridder remains the starter, so they may return to him at the Cardinals this week. But their personnel decisions are often surprising, like letting Tyler Allgeier (12-39, TD) carry more often than Bijan Robinson (11-51) despite the greater effectiveness of Robinson.

RB Aaron Jones (GB) – After disappointing over the first eight games of the season, Jones ran 20 times for 76 yards and a touchdown, plus caught four passes for 26 yards. Jones had never had more than 11 touches in a game, so it is encouraging to see him with a heavier workload.

RB Rachaad White (TB) – The Bucs starting running back hasn’t set the world on fire and had not scored since Week 2. But he was better for two weeks with around 100 total yards and then became the No. 1 fantasy running back for Week 9 when he ran for 73 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns and caught four passes for 76 yards. He’s taking over the backfield and getting more touches. The Bucs still handed out seven carries between Chase Edmonds (3-(-5)) and Ke’Shawn Vaughn (4-9) but White is rising in the rankings.

RB D’Onta Foreman (CHI) – The Bears lost to the Saints, but Foreman carried the ball 20 times for 83 yards – more carries in a game than any other Bear this year. Roschon Johnson only ran twice for six yards and caught a nine-yard pass. Foreman is looking good for this week at home versus the Panthers.

Huddle player of the week

C.J. Stroud – The rookie just set the all-time record for a rookie quarterback with 470 passing yards, breaking Andrew Luck’s 433 yards in 2012. His five touchdown passes tie an all-time NFL record for a rookie. He is only the second rookie quarterback with 400 yards and five touchdowns in a game. Stroud only needed 40 of the 46 seconds left to play when he drove the Texans from their 25-yard line and ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell with six seconds left to play.

Salute!

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

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Joshua Dobbs	158-66	3	QB	Tua Tagovailoa	193-7	1
RB	Keaton Mitchell	9-138 1-(-4)	1	RB	Kenneth Walker	9-16 1-1	0
RB	Brian Robinson	18-69 1-4	1	RB	Bijan Robinson	11-51 2-8	0
WR	Tank Dell	6-114	2	WR	George Pickens	2-(-1)	0
WR	Noah Brown	6-153	1	WR	DK Metcalf	1-50	0
WR	Odell Beckham	5-56	1	WR	Cooper Kupp	2-48	0
TE	Cade Otton	6-70	2	TE	Travis Kelce	3-14	0
PK	Chase McLaughlin	4 XP 3 FG		PK	Harrison Butker	2 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 175				Huddle Fantasy Points = 46

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

The trade deadline came and went without any real fireworks other than Joshua Dobbs switching to the Vikings for almost no cost. Dobbs gets a nice upgrade to his receivers, especially when Justin Jefferson makes it back. We saw a painful week for quarterbacks, and as of this week, eight teams will have started a different quarterback for at least one game. We haven’t seen any of the top quarterbacks miss games, though Kirk Cousins’ season is now over.

Injuries seem to be coming in waves. Two weeks ago was a very light week. But it all draws the same conclusion – you need depth. You can never let your roster just ride and not worry about upgrading it at every chance you get. True – there won’t likely be any Top-10 players waiting for you to rescue them from the waiver wire. But some players develop through the season and grow in value. And you likely have players that are not exactly who you hoped they would be.

It’s also important to consider carrying two defenses and two kickers to give you options. And upgrading those positions as well. Here’s a look at six things to follow heading into Sunday for Week 9.

QB Taylor Heinicke (ATL) – The Falcons have benched Desmond Ridder for this week (at least) and are starting Heinicke, who stepped in last week in the third quarter and completed 12-of-21 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown. It complicates evaluating Ridder because he plays in a run-heavy offense, but through eight games, he’s only thrown six touchdowns against six interceptions. Heinicke plays the visiting Vikings this week, and if he throws well, HC Arthur Smith would have to consider keeping him on the field. The fantasy futures of Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Jonnu Smith depend on it.
WR Demario Douglas (NE) – The Patriots lost their No. 1 wideout Kendrick Bourne to a torn ACL, and DeVante Parker is out with a concussion. The rookie Douglas had already seen a rise in pass targets with a high of seven last week. He’s been below fantasy relevancy but is now a starting slot receiver. JuJu Smith-Schuster is second string now, so Douglas has a nice chance to shine and this week faces the visiting Commanders’ defense, who rank No. 31 versus wideouts. Kayshon Boutte is also expected to start seeing playing time.
WR Jonathan Mingo (CAR) – The 6-0, 220 star wideout from Mississippi was the second-round pick of the Panthers. The Panthers’ passing offense is slowly improving, with Bryce Young at the helm, and Adam Thielen has already been a fantasy gem this year. Mingo is one to watch as the starting flanker. He’s only been good for around three catches in most weeks, but he ended with four receptions for 62 yards last Sunday. His 40-yard catch and run in the third quarter set up a much-needed field goal in their 13-15 win over the Texans. Facing the Colts this week and the Bears in Week 10 are worth tracking to see if he’s starting to assert himself in the second half of the season.
RB Leonard Fournette (BUF) – Chances are exceedingly high that he will disappoint every fantasy owner who waited for eight games to have him find a team or the waiver wire hound that outbid the rest of their fantasy league dreaming of the old Touchdown Lenny. He was signed to the practice squad and there is a reason why no one wanted him for eight weeks. We’re all waiting for him to be added to the active roster, and the expectation will be that he can be a short-yardage back. Bills GM Brandon Beane said, “He’s a heavy, heavy dude–mid to 230s. He looks good…just competition to the room, but he doesn’t know this playbook. And so, I think it’s good for him to come in here and start on the practice squad. He’s head down. He’s been great, and we’ll take it one day at a time with him.” Fournette may become a factor later in the year, but he’s no Week 9 consideration.

Yards per catch for NFL wideouts – Every so often if is good to review which receivers are being the most effective with their catches, especially for the younger ones who are still developing.

		Wide Receiver	Yards/Catch	Receptions	Yards
1	DEN	Marvin Mims	22.4	11	246
2	NO	Rashid Shaheed	20.8	23	479
3	DET	Josh Reynolds	18.0	22	397
4	SF	Brandon Aiyuk	17.7	35	620
5	HOU	Nico Collins	17.5	33	577
6	PIT	George Pickens	17.4	30	521
7	MIA	Tyreek Hill	16.6	61	1014
8	LAC	Joshua Palmer	16.4	23	377
9	TEN	DeAndre Hopkins	16.1	35	564
10	ARI	Michael Wilson	16.0	25	401

The above considered players with at least ten catches. Marvin Mims is starting well but the Broncos didn’t trade away any starters. Rashid Shaheen has been a factor in a few games but lacks consistency. It is a plus to see Nico Collins already connecting with C.J. Stroud. The rookie Michael Wilson is also notable since he’ll be paired with Kyle Murray soon.

QB Joshua Dobbs (MIN) – With only a few days since the trade was accomplished, the Vikings will start the rookie Jaren Hall versus the Falcons, and there’s no guarantee that the rookie doesn’t also start against the visiting Saints in Week 10. It’s not impossible that Hall does well and keeps the job – but it is less likely. Justin Jefferson has missed three games with a strained hamstring and only has to miss this week. Ian Rapoport reported that Jefferson is “coming back sooner than later.” Dobbs may be stepping in at a very opportune time in Week 10. What Jaren Hall does this week will be a key to what happens with Dobbs.

About last night…

Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Titans 16, Steelers 20

The Will Levis Experience apparently does not include four touchdowns every week, and while he did not throw any, he was still admittedly impressive with his 262 yards and one interception that ended the game. DeAndre Hopkins (4-60) still had several nice catches and Kyle Phillip (4-68) turned in a season-best but no one else had more than 30 yards. Levis cooled off without those touchdown bombs to Hopkins, but he still looked more poised and capable than someone in their second career start.

Derrick Henry ran for 75 yards on 17 rushes with one touchdown, and even added three catches for 27 yards. Tyjae Spears handled five carries for just 18 yards and caught four passes for just four yards. The Titans were in the game until the final seconds and Levis took over with 1:44 left to play at their own 15-yard line and drove the team to the PIT 24-yard line with 11 seconds left to play when he threw an interception instead of a game-winning touchdown.

Kenny Pickett only passed for 160 yards and one score, with Diontae Johnson (7-90, TD) as the only receiver with more than 25 yards. George Pickens almost caught a touchdown but settled for only two catches for a net one-yard loss. Jaylen Warren (11-88) and Najee Harris (16-69, TD) split up the backfield workload. This was a low-scoring game with minimal fireworks, but it was a Thursday game.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Sam Howell	397-11	4
Josh Allen	324-41	3
Dak Prescott	304-19	4
Jalen Hurts	319-6	3
Joe Burrow	283-43	3
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Christian McCaffrey	12-54 6-64	2
Gus Edwards	19-80 2-14	3
Alvin Kamara	17-59 4-51	2
Travis Etienne	24-79 3-70	1
Austin Ekeler	15-29 7-94	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
CeeDee Lamb	12-158	2
DeAndre Hopkins	4-128	3
A.J. Brown	8-130	2
Tyreek Hill	8-112	1
Ja’Marr Chase	10-100	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Trey McBride	10-95	1
George Kittle	9-149	0
Taysom Hill	9-63 1-14	2
T.J. Hockenson	6-88	1
Evan Engram	10-88	0
Placekickers	XP	FG
Brandon McManus	0	4
Brandon Aubrey	5	2
Younghoe Koo	2	3
Cameron Dicker	3	3
Jake Elliott	5	1
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Broncos	3-5	0
Cowboys	2-1	1
Jaguars	3-2	0
Vikings	4-1	0
Steelers	3-3	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Matt Stafford -Thumb
QB Kirk Cousins – Achilles
QB Tyrod Taylor – Ribs
QB Kenny Pickett – Ribs
QB Desmond Ridder – Benched
QB Patrick Mahomes – Flu
RB Damien Williams – Foot
RB Travis Etienne – Ankle
WR DeVante Parker – Head
WR Kendrick Bourne – Knee
WR Drake London – Groin
WR Curtis Samuel – Toe
TE Darren Waller – Hamstring

Chasing Ambulances

QB Matt Stafford – He was already playing through a hip injury and left the Cowboys matchup when his thumb hit a helmet. He remained sidelined with a taped thumb after they examined it in the locker room but the Rams would not make a statement about it and Stafford did not talk to the press. Brett Rypien is the only other quarterback currently on their roster. Stetson Bennett is on the reserve/non-football illness list but the Rams have not disclosed exactly why. If Stafford misses any time, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua will likely suffer a decline.

QB Kirk Cousins – He suffered what is feared to be a season-ending Achilles injury. For a team already missing Justin Jefferson, this is catastrophic. The only healthy quarterback on the team is the rookie Jaren Hall. Sean Mannion is on the practice squad and Nick Mullens is on injured reserve. At 3-4, do they give up and make do with what they have or do they try to acquire or trade for someone? The worst part is that Cousins likely takes the Minnesota passing game with him, impacting Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Jefferson when he returns.

QB Tyrod Taylor – The Giants quarterback suffered a rib injury and was brought to a local hospital. He was already replacing Daniel Jones who is out with a neck injury. The Giants are down to Tommy DeVito who entered the game and completed 2-of-7 passes for a net loss of one yard. The expectation is that the Giants will bring in free-agent quarterbacks though the shelves are rather bare. The Giants cannot afford to have yet another step downward in their passing offense.

QB Kenny Pickett – The Steelers quarterback left with a rib injury and the immediate concern is how quickly he will heal since the Steelers host the Titans on Thursday. Mitchell Trubisky will take the start if Pickett cannot play. More should be known on Monday.

QB Desmond Ridder – Was evaluated for a concussion and did not return to the loss to the Titans. HC Arthur Smith said that Ridder was held out for health reasons and not as a benching. Taylor Heinicke took over and completed 12-of-21 for 175 yards and a touchdown. Barring new information, Ridder remains the starter and will play if healthy. Practices will indicate if Ridder or Heinicke are most likely to start against the Vikings this week.

RB Travis Etienne – He left with an ankle injury but later returned and scored a 56-yard touchdown on a catch. He is fine.

WR Kendrick Bourne – The Patriots’ No. 1 receiver was injured in the fourth quarter, holding his right knee in obvious pain. He was able to walk to the medical tent and was ruled out of the game. He is due to have an MRI on Monday and the hope is that it is just a sprained MCL. DeVante Parker was hit helmet-to-helmet as well and is expected to be diagnosed with a concussion. That would be serious since he missed games due to a concussion in 2022. JuJu Smith-Schuster has been a disappointment since joining the Pats and had his own health issues. But he received more playing time after Bourne left and caught a three-yard touchdown on his only reception.

WR Drake London – The Falcons star wideout left the game and was looked at by the trainers. After visiting the medical tent, he was ruled out with a groin injury. London claimed that he was fine after the game, but he’ll be evaluated Monday and his status will be clearer later in the week. If he is out for the Vikings matchup this week, Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, Mack Hollins, and Van Jefferson would have to take up the slack but London is the difference-maker out of all receivers.

TE Darren Waller – Suffered a hamstring strain and left the game. His status will be updated later this week, but the Giants’ problems at quarterback are an equally troublesome development for Waller’s fantasy value.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

New starting quarterbacks – The worst injury situation appears to be Kirk Cousins and the situation they are in if he cannot play as expected. The Vikings are likely to bring in veteran quarterbacks who will carry some fantasy value, but watch what moves they make in the early week. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, so we’ll know quickly if they acquire any notable replacement.

QB Will Levis (TEN) – The 2.02 pick by the Titans in the NFL draft was the fourth quarterback selected. Levis took his first NFL start and threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns – three on deep passes to DeAndre Hopkins. Ryan Tannehill only totaled two touchdowns after six games. Levis has to be the ongoing starter. He became the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for four touchdowns in their first start.

RB Emari Demercado (ARI) – The Cardinals have turned to Demercado as the full-time back with 20 carries for 78 yards versus the Ravens on Sunday. He also caught one pass for one year. James Conner remains out for at least two more weeks and it could be longer since the Cardinals have not been very forthcoming about Conner’s prognosis.

TE Trey McBride (ARI) – The Cardinals placed Zach Ertz onto injured reserve and that left second-year McBride as the primary tight end. He responded well, leading all fantasy tight ends with ten catches for 95 yards and a score against the Ravens. McBride was drafted last year in the second round and this was the sort of development they were hoping to see.

TE Taysom Hill (NO) – The Swiss Army knife of the Saints already scored last week on five rushes for 18 yards and gained 50 yards as a receiver. Against the Colts, Hill ran for 63 yards and two touchdowns on nine rushes and caught a 14-yard pass. He’s always been inconsistent, but that’s two straight fantasy-relevant performances. He has been shifted to being a quarterback on some depth charts but remains a tight end on many.

RB Miles Sanders (CAR) – He missed Week 6 with a shoulder injury but had a bye to help him heal. He was removed from the injury report and was expected to resume his role as the starter, along with Chuba Hubbard. But Sanders only carried twice for no yards, and Hubbard ran 15 times for 28 yards. Sanders is far too risky to merit a fantasy start until he can prove to be healthy and a part of the game plan.

WR Demario Douglas (NE) – The Patriots rookie hasn’t scored and topped out in Week 7 with four catches for 54 yards. Against the Dolphins, he ended with five receptions for 25 yards but it was notable because his seven targets were three more than any other Patriot receiver. And Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker both were injured last week.

RB Gus Edwards (BAL) – He’s been consistent with around 50 yards in most games and scored only in Week 2. But these last two games, Edwards has his best performances of the year. In Week 7, he ran in a score, rushed for 64 yards and caught an 80-yard pass. For Week 8, he produced a career-best three touchdowns on his 19 rushes for 80 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards. Jackson dialed back his role as a rusher for these last two weeks and Edwards has feasted.

WR Tyreek Hill (MIA) – He currently has 1,014 receiving yards and is the first player to do that in their first eight games in the last 62 years of NFL history. He is on pace to gain 2,154 yards on the season.

Germany Alert! – The NFL returns to Europe this week with their first-ever game in Germany. The notable part is that they are showcasing the NFL by playing the Dolphins and Chiefs. That means there are a lot of fantasy team owners who need to get up well before 9:30 AM EST (6:30 AM EST) and check their lineups or risk missing an inactive.

Huddle player of the week

CeeDee Lamb (DAL) – The Cowboys No. 1 receiver already gained 117 yards last week, and he upped that mark against the Rams when he caught 12 passes for a career-best 158 yards and two touchdowns. After a three-week lull in production, Lamb is turning in big stats for multiple weeks and just led the NFL in fantasy points.

Salute!

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

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Sam Howell	397-11	4	QB	Patrick Mahomes	241-20	0
RB	Javonte Williams	27-85 3-13	1	RB	Isiah Pacheco	8-40 3-(-3)	0
RB	Rachaad White	9-39 7-70	0	RB	Kenneth Walker	8-66 1-4	0
WR	DeAndre Hopkins	4-128	3	WR	Cooper Kupp	4-21	0
WR	Jahan Dotson	8-108	1	WR	Zay Flowers	5-19	0
WR	Rashid Shaheen	3-153	1	WR	Puka Nacua	3-43	0
TE	Trey McBride	10-95	1	TE	Dallas Goedert	4-36	0
PK	Brandon McManus	0 XP 4 FG		PK	Ka’imi Fairbairn	1 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 206				Huddle Fantasy Points = 52

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

The trade deadline is next Tuesday, Halloween, at 4 p.m. EST. It is a time when a few players get to recharge their careers elsewhere and leave opportunities behind for someone else. Most of the moves are not fantasy-relevant but a few can be. Mecole Hardman is back at the Chiefs, though his prospects aren’t any better than the first time he was there.

Chase Claypool was sent to the Dolphins, and… No. I don’t know why, either. He was essentially free with the cost of swapping a sixth-round pick for a seventh. Cam Akers lands on the Vikings, where he’s probably going just to limit Alexander Mattison. Van Jefferson was sent to Atlanta, which is marginally better than being buried on the Rams depth chart.

What to watch on Sunday is for any different usage of a player – particularly under-using them to keep them healthy for a trade. It is time for bad teams to get some value for players who likely won’t be there next year.

Here are the Top-6 trade candidates I’d like to see moved.

Derrick Henry – This appears to be a lock according to most pundits and every anonymous poster on X-Twitter. He won’t be back in Tennessee next year, and they could get something for him. The Titans are 2-4 and looking worse. 2024 will be a rebuilding year anyway. Henry turns 30 next year, and while he’s only been injured once of note, there are a lot of miles on those tires. He’s a perfect fit for a playoff-bound offense lacking talent in the backfield. The Ravens are expected to be interested, but the Bills and Buccaneers could use a boost when they run.
Saquon Barkley – He says he won’t move, and the Giants said they won’t move him. He is never going to play in a Superbowl for the Giants, and he turns 27 next year. Barkley has one more good contract left (probably), but he isn’t driving up his value by staying. He signed a one-year $10M to stay this year, but the Giants will not commit to him long-term anyway. I’d guess he’ll stay, but he would be a difference-maker. Imagine the Bills with the dual-threat Barkley. Or the Cowboys or Eagles.
Darnell Mooney – He is in the final year of his rookie contract, and what little passing the Bears ends up with DJ Moore or Cole Kmet. At 5-11 and 173 pounds, he was miscast as a primary wideout in the past but makes a speedy complement (4.38 40-time). He turned in an 81-1055-4 stat line in 2021. The Chargers are a possibility since losing Mike Williams. The Chiefs would have been before taking Mecole Hardman back, and maybe are still a possibility since Mooney played with the Chiefs’ OC Matt Nagy. His fantasy value would skyrocket, swapping Justin Fields for Patrick Mahomes.
Marquise Brown – It would seem a surprise to get rid of the Cardinals’ No. 1 wideout right when Kyler Murray is getting nearer to return. But the 1-6 Cardinals are already done, and the rebuild should be in full force next season. The Cardinals may not move him though, and his departure strips the receivers of talent for the rest of the year. But if the right deal were offered, Arizona would have to consider it. And there’s speculation that the Cards might end up with a new franchise quarterback from the 2024 NFL draft because they are headed to a very early pick – if not the No. 1 pick.
Hunter Renfrow – The Raider slot receiver posted 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine scores in 2021 when the Raiders ran out of receivers. For the two seasons with HC Josh McDaniels, Renfrow sees minimal use. But he’s only 27, and there is an out in his contract next year anyway. His relationship with McDaniels is described as “fractured.” One potential landing spot is with the Saints, where he could reunite with Derek Carr. He could also end up with the Bears as a replacement for Darnell Mooney if he was traded. Renfrow is too good and too young to waste away on a roster.
Jerry Jeudy – He’s been rumored to be traded since the start of last summer, and the 2-5 Broncos will not be busy in January. The former first-round pick could net the Broncos a middle-round pick for a team that needs to refresh their roster. He’s rumored to be another possible add by the Chiefs, but several NFL teams could be willing to upgrade their receivers because Jeudy needs a change of scenery and system. The Broncos will accept less for him than last summer.

About last night…

Buccaneers 18, Bills 24

The Buccaneers played tougher than expected, but the Bills also failed at the goal line in the first half and left with no points. Baker Mayfield ended with 237 yards and two scores between Chris Godwin (5-54, TD) and Mike Evans (3-39, TD), who caught his touchdown with only 2:44 left to play to salvage what had been an invisible game. Rachaad White didn’t score, but he ran for 39 yards on nine carries and led the receivers with seven catches for 70 yards in his best showing of the season. The Bucs still ended up with a Hail Mary pass into the end zone that somehow landed there without anyone touching it. Chris Godwin was the closest.

If the Buccaneers were to end up with Derrick Henry or another running back before the trade deadline, White would at least retain the third-down role. The 3-4 Buccaneers head to Houston for Week 9.

It was a standard night for Josh Allen. He ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on his seven rushes. He passed for 324 yards and two scores between Greg Davis (9-87, TD) and Dalton Kincaid (5-65, TD). Khalil Shakir almost doubled his 2023 stats when he led the team with 92 yards on six catches. Stefon Diggs started slowly but ended up with nine catches for 70 yards. The Bills never trailed, but the Bucs tied the score 10-10 in the second quarter before the Bills pulled away. They rise to 5-3 and head to Cincinnati for next week’s Sunday night game.

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

The NFL had a rash of injuries to quarterbacks last week, so let’s hope that’s just an aberration and not the start of even more players getting hurt. The scoring has been down overall, and the incidence of monster performances by fantasy players have also declined. That makes for less fantasy points to go around, and yet amplifies the impact for when a player can log multiple touchdowns or pile up the yardage.

One of the more important facets of Week 7 is that the looming trade deadline is 4 p.m.. on October 31st. – the Tuesday following the Week 8 games. We saw a number of trades last season and it feels like that will repeat, since several top-record teams still have glaring holes to fill if they want to do anything in January.

To start, let’s look at why waiting in defenses and kickers may seem hard for some, but it is reasonable. And kickers are the worst.

How we did on fantasy defenses – The Top-5 are the difference makers and in a position that is typically the lowest scoring in most fantasy leagues, anything beyond those first five are not that different – usually a point or two per game overall. Here are how the Average Draft Position (ADP) shook out against the current Points Per Game (PPG) for the defense.

ADP	PPG	Draft Rank	PPG	ADP	Actual Rank
1	14	49ers	1	11	Steelers
2	9	Eagles	2	3	Cowboys
3	2	Cowboys	3	4	Bills
4	3	Bills	4	7	Jets
5	30	Patriots	5	16	Seahawks
6	10	Ravens	6	17	Bengals
7	4	Jets	7	9	Saints
8	11	Jaguars	8	20	Chargers
9	7	Saints	9	2	Eagles
10	20	Commanders	10	6	Ravens

The Cowboys and Bills were the only two that have delivered so far, the Cowboys are starting to fall after the effect of their first three weeks starts to be watered down. Three of the Top-8 have delivered so far, but teams that reached for the 49ers a few rounds earlier than the rest should regret spending too much. That’s almost always the case for the first defense drafted each year.

How we did on fantasy kickers –

ADP	PPG	Draft Rank	PPG	ADP	Actual Rank
1	15	Justin Tucker	1	ND	K. Fairbairn
2	29	Daniel Carlson	2	11	Jake Elliott
3	13	Tyler Bass	3	ND	Brandon Aubrey
4	24	Evan McPherson	4	ND	Brett Maher
5	5	Harrison Butker	5	5	Harrison Butker
6	8	Jason Myers	6	10	Greg Zuerlein
7	19	Cameron Dicker	7	ND	Nick Folk
8	28	Younghoe Koo	8	6	Jason Myers
9	10	B McManus	9	14	Jake Moody
10	6	Greg Zuerlein	10	9	B McManus

Okay, so look at the above table – only Harrison Butker paid off commensurate with where he was taken. Those first four kickers taken in the Average Draft didn’t deliver as a fantasy starter, let alone yield any advantage. The Top-4 in current points-per-game were Jake Elliot taken as the 11th kicker drafted, and three other guys who were not drafted in most fantasy leagues.

WR Mecole Hardman (KC) – The Chiefs swapped late round picks to bring Hardman back to Kansas City after logging just one catch for the Jets this year. Here’s what he did in the four seasons with the Chiefs:

Year GMS Catch Yds YPR TDs Rush Yds TDs

2022 8 25 297 11.9 4 4 31 2

2021 17 59 693 11.7 2 8 46 0

2020 16 41 560 13.7 4 4 31 0

2019 16 26 538 20.7 6 4 17 0

So the question is if Hardman can do what no other Chiefs’ wideout has this year – matter. As in provide consistent fantasy relevant stats. Hardman provided about 600 yards each season, though through 2021 Tyreek Hill was there, and Hardman had a season-ending groin tear in 2022. He’s only gained 100 yards in one game, but he should provide something has been missing – touchdowns. The Chiefs wideout combine for only four touchdowns in their six games but last year, Hardman alone scored four times in the first eight games prior to injury, including in all three of his final games. It is something to watch for because the Chiefs need to improve passing touchdowns.
TE Michael Mayer (LV) – The Raiders spent their 2.03 pick on the receiving tight end that led all Notre Dame receivers last year. At 6-5, 249-pounds and running a 4.7 40-time, Mayer has all the marks of an elite NFL tight end. He’s one to watch with the Raiders that have taken to spreading the ball around more (to the displeasure of Davante Adams) and Mayer led the team last week with five catches for 75 yards against the Patriots. His involvement at the Bears should indicate if he is ready for a bigger role or if last week was just the product of a specific matchup.
WR Darnell Mooney (CHI) – The trade deadline is nearing, and Mooney getting traded seems like an ideal situation. The Bears have found their No. 1 wideout with DJ Moore, and the season is already over at 1-5. They can get draft capital for a player who hasn’t used much but who had a 1,000-yard season in 2021 and can offer a speedy field stretcher. And Mooney’s career has already peaked in Chicago, so a change in team can only be a positive.
RB Derrick Henry (TEN) – The Titans’ long-time star running back is likely heading into free agency next spring and he turns 30 in January. The 2-4 Titans could get something for him in a trade and look like a team heading into a rebuilding mode next year, even if HC Mike Vrabel reaches his sixth season. The Buccaneers lead the NFC South and yet rank No. 32 in running backs. It would take a top team to be interested in a “win now at all costs” sort of deal, and Tampa Bay is the only such team that needs an upgrade in the backfield. The Ravens could be argued as needing one as well, but they’ve slogged along with a mediocre backfield for several years.

Year	GMS	Catch	Yds	YPR	TDs	Rush	Yds	TDs
2022	8	25	297	11.9	4	4	31	2
2021	17	59	693	11.7	2	8	46	0
2020	16	41	560	13.7	4	4	31	0
2019	16	26	538	20.7	6	4	17	0

About last night…

Jacksonville 31, New Orleans 24

The game was a slow affair for the first half that ended 17-6 thanks to two rushing scores by Travis Etienne. It seemed to be another low-scoring and sloppy Thursday night contest. But the Saints came back to tie it 24-24 with six minutes left to play, even compensating for a pick-six in the third quarter. But Christian Kirk turned a short catch into a 44-yard touchdown with three minutes left to play, and the Saints marched down the field to reach the Jacksonville 6-yard line with 40 seconds left to play. Derek Carr threw four incompletions, one catchable in the end zone to Foster Moreau.

Trevor Lawrence passed for 204 yards and one touchdown thanks greatly to Christian Kirk’s (6-90, TD) 44-yard catch and run for a score. Evan Engram totaled five catches for 45 yards as the next best receiver while Calvin Ridley yet again flopped with only one catch for five yards. Lawrence may have been questionable with a sprained knee, but he led the Jags with 59 yards on eight rushes. Travis Etienne ran for 53 yards on 14 runs with the two scores, and caught three passes for 24 more yards. The 5-2 Jaguars maintain their lead in the AFC South and head to Pittsburgh for Week 8.

Derek Carr threw for 301 yards and a score but it took 55 passes. Alvin Kamara led with 12 receptions for 91 yards and Chris Olave turned a team-high 15 targets into seven catches for 57 yards. Michael Thomas (3-42, TD) caught the rare touchdown. Kamara also ran for 62 yards on 17 carries for a total of 31 plays in the game. Taysom Hill ran for a score while Jamaal Williams (5-14) finally got back to the field. The loss drops the Saints to 3-4 and they play at the Colts next week.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass-Rush	TD
Jalen Hurts	281-47	2
Tua Tagovailoa	262-0	3
Jared Goff	353-3	2
Desmond Ridder	307-18	2
Patrick Mahomes	306-31	1
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Raheem Mostert	17-115 3-17	3
Travis Etienne	18-55 3-28	2
Kyren Williams	20-158	1
Breece Hall	12-39 5-54	1
Derrick Henry	12-97 2-16	1
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Amon-Ra St. Brown	12-124	1
Adam Thielen	11-115	1
Tyreek Hill	6-163	1
Cooper Kupp	7-148	1
Drake London	9-125	0
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Travis Kelce	9-124	0
Dalton Schultz	4-61	1
Kyle Pitts	4-43	1
Jonnu Smith	4-36	1
Michael Mayer	5-75	0
Placekickers	XP	FG
Justin Tucker	0	6
Harrison Butker	1	4
Brandon McManus	4	3
Dustin Hopkins	1	4
Brett Maher	2	4
Defense	Sack – TO	TD
Vikings	5-3	1
Chiefs	4-3	0
Jaguars	3-4	0
Ravens	5-2	0
Rams	2-2	0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

This is one of the worst weeks in a long time.

QB Ryan Tannehill – Ankle
QB Justin Fields – Hand
QB Jimmy Garoppolo – Back
QB Trevor Lawrence – Knee
QB Baker Mayfield – Hand
RB Christian McCaffrey – Oblique
RB David Montgomery – Ribs
RB Kyren Williams – Ankle
RB Ronnie Rivers – Knee
RB Damien Harris – Neck
WR Chris Moore – Concussion
WR Deebo Samuel – Shoulder
WR Laviska Shenault – Ankle
WR Alec Pierce – Shoulder

Chasing Ambulances

QB Ryan Tannehill – Injured the same right ankle that he hurt last year. He’ll get an MRI when he returns home on Monday. He was on crutches and he could miss time. Malik Willis replaced him and brought some rushing ability to the position. The Titans are on their bye this week so Tannehill has time to heal.
QB Justin Fields – He dislocated the thumb on his throwing hand. X-rays were negative and he is due for an MRI on Monday. Fields wanted to return but could not adequately grip the ball. The rookie Tyson Bagent would replace him if needed.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo – Injured his back and was brought to a nearby hospital but HC Josh McDaniels said he did not have an update. Brian Hoyer played the second half of the win over the Patriots and will take over if the brittle Garoppolo misses time.
QB Trevor Lawrence – He twisted his knee at the end of their win over the Colts, and said that it was bruised. C.J. Beathard replaced him on the final drive. Even if it is just bruised, the Jaguars play on Thursday in New Orleans, so there isn’t much time to heal. We’ll know more soon since the Jags have practices and reporting requirements on Monday through Wednesday.
RB Christian McCaffrey – He injured his oblique/ribs but returned to the game temporarily before leaving for good. There was no update as of Sunday night, and Jordan Mason was effective replacing him. Elijah Mitchell has been out with a knee injury but practiced last week before becoming inactive on Sunday. Mitchell will be the primary back if healthy enough to play in the case that McCaffrey misses time.
QB Baker Mayfield – He suffered a contusion to his left hand during the second half of the loss to the Lions. He played through the injury and also had a bloody finger on his right hand. It isn’t expected to be an issue for their meeting with the Falcons this week.
RB David Montgomery – Injured his ribs but initial X-rays were negative. He’ll be examined on Monday to determine the extent of the injury but it is a positive if he has avoided any fractures. Jahmyr Gibbs was already out with a hamstring injury and Craig Reynolds would have to fill in if Montgomery and Gibbs were to be out on Sunday in Baltimore.
RB Kyren Williams – He turned his ankle, though it wasn’t certain when the injury occurred. Since Ronnie Rivers also left with a knee injury, Zach Evans closed out the game and would be the primary back if both Williams and Rivers are out this week against the Steelers. More should be known early in the week.
WR Deebo Samuel – He injured his shoulder but X-rays were negative. He’ll undergo an MRI to determine the severity of what appears to be a sprained shoulder but initial speculation is that he is not seriously hurt.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

Depending on what MRIs and such reveal this week, here are potential fantasy free agents that would move up if the injured players cannot return for Week 7.

QB Malik Willis (TEN) but Titans on bye this week.
QB Tyson Bagent (CHI)
QB Brian Hoyer (LV)
QB C.J. Beathard (JAC)
RB Jordan Mason (SF) depending on Elijah Mitchell
RB Craig Reynolds (DET) if Jahmyr Gibbs remains out
RB Zach Evans (LAR)

QB Desmond Ridder (ATL) – He’s easy to dismiss and there are still questions about much of the Atlanta offense, but Ridder threw for 300 yards in each of the last two games, and just tossed his first two-touchdown game this season. He was the fourth-best fantasy quarterback this week. He faces the Buccaneers this week, but then goes against the Titans in Week 8.

RB Kareem Hunt (CLE) – His first two weeks saw little use, but against the 49ers, Hunt ran for 47 yards and a touchdown on twelve carries, and caught three passes for 24 yards.

RB Saquon Barkley (NYG) – He missed three games with a high-ankle sprain and was a game-time decision in the Sunday night game. Barkley was active and only had 23 yards on 16 rushes at halftime. But he broke several long runs in the second half and ended with 93 yards on 24 rushes. He added four catches but only gained five yards, but looked healthy again.

TE Dalton Schultz (HOU) – His four catches for 61 yards and a score ranked No. 2 among fantasy tight ends for Week 6. He scored last week as well as the sixth-best tight end. The Texans are on their bye this week, but Schultz has to be a consideration for fantasy starts when he gets back.

QB Sam Howell (WAS) – He only threw for 151 yards in the win over the Falcons, but he passed for three touchdowns for the first time. He totaled 388 yards and two scores last week against the Bears and is showing up as one of the more productive passers. But – he’s already been sacked 34 times this year, so he may not last.

QB Kirk Cousins (MIN) – Break glass and pull lever. The Vikings are without Justin Jefferson for at least three more weeks. They faced the Bears and their No. 32 defense against quarterbacks and Cousins was limited to only 181 yards and one score. This is a very odd week and maybe it was just a throwaway performance, but the starting wideouts only totaled seven catches for 76 yards and one score. Against the Bears.

Houston backfield – Dameon Pierce has disappointed this season and had to share with Devin Singletary. While Singletary had just one play in Week 5, the Texans gave him 12 rushes to gain 58 yards and catch one pass. Pierce ran for 34 yards on 13 rushes and never had a target. Notable too was that at halftime, Singletary had 53 yards on nine runs and the one catch, while Pierce had just eight runs for 28 yards.

TE Mike Mayer (LV) – The third tight end drafted this year, Mayer will figure into future passing plans, if only next season. But he just led the Raiders in receiving against the Patriots when he caught five passes for 75 yards. And he did that against a defense that ranked Top-5 against tight ends.

Arizona backfield – James Conner is on injured reserve with a knee injury, and the natural scramble for his backup wasn’t clear. Emari DeMarcado ran for 45 yards and a score on ten carries in Week 5 and became the more popular grab. But the Cardinals used three backs in rotation and DeMarcado was the least productive with just two carries and one catch. Keaontay Ingram led the backfield with ten runs for 40 yards and two catches for 11 yards. And Damien Williams was lifted from the practice squad so he could rush eight times for 36 yards. The Cardinals also face above-average defenses in each of the next four games, so there may not be a reliable fantasy resource in the backfield until Conner returns.

Huddle player of the week

WR Adam Thielen (CAR) – Raheem Mostert and Amon-Ra St. Brown scored a few more fantasy points, but both have been noted in the recent past. Thielen is a fantasy gem that most teams picked up in the back half of their draft or even as a free agent. He caught 11 passes for 115 yards and one score against the Dolphins and is the very best of what we want in fantasy football – a player that gets an obscene amount of passes for his team and yet opponents are okay with him catching 11 passes – he’s done that in three of the last four weeks.

Salute!

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

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Desmond Ridder	307-18	2	QB	Justin Fields	58-46	0
RB	Kareem Hunt	12-41 3-24	1	RB	David Montgomery	6-14 1-19	0
RB	Chuba Hubbard	19-88 1-2	1	RB	Joe Mixon	12-38 3-24	0
WR	Kendrick Bourne	10-93	0	WR	Deebo Samuel	2-11	0
WR	Rashid Shaheen	2-85 2-18	1	WR	DeAndre Hopkins	1-20	0
WR	Tyler Boyd	7-38	1	WR	Devante Adams	2-29	0
TE	Jonnu Smith	4-36	1	TE	George Kittle	1-1	0
PK	Brandon McManus	4 XP 3 FG		PK	Will Lutz	0
Huddle Fantasy Points = 149				Huddle Fantasy Points = 28

Now get back to work…