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What I’m Hearing: USA TODAY Sports’ Kevin Allen discusses the firing of longtime Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry.
What I’m Hearing: USA TODAY Sports’ Kevin Allen discusses the firing of longtime Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry.
We are on to Week 11, and Thanksgiving – and the fantasy playoffs – are both coming up fast.
No better time than the present to take stock what’s gone down in the fantasy season so far, and we’ll do it today through the lens of 10 surprising statistics.
We are on to Week 11, and Thanksgiving – and the fantasy playoffs – are both coming up fast.
No better time than the present to take stock what’s gone down in the fantasy season so far, and we’ll do it today through the lens of 10 surprising statistics.
Let’s dig right in, starting with …
1. Through play Sunday, Packers’ Aaron Rodgers ranked sixth among fantasy quarterbacks with 220.8 total fantasy points (Huddle Performance scoring) but only has finished among the top 12 QBs in three weeks out of 10 on the season.
And one of those weeks wasn’t Week 10 as Rodgers totaled 12.3 fantasy points in a 24-16 win over the visiting Panthers on the snowy Lambeau Field tundra. That means Rodgers has had his second- and third-worst fantasy weeks of the season the last two games and they’ve come right after a three-week tear in which he averaged 33.7 points while throwing for 1,017 yards and accounting for 11 total touchdowns in Weeks 6-8. The bottom line is that Rodgers’ consistency is far from reliable with as many sub-13-point fantasy games as 30-point plus outings and a full 61.1 percent of his total fantasy points coming in just four of his 10 contests.
2. Since his first start in Week 3 Giants rookie Daniel Jones ranks fourth among all quarterbacks with 190.6 fantasy points.
Jones’ Giants came up short in the crosstown (East Rutherford, N.J.) battle against the Jets on Sunday, but he won the fantasy QB battle outscoring counterpart Sam Darnold 33.4-24.0. Jones’ point total was only topped Sunday by studs Lamar Jackson (35.6) and Patrick Mahomes (34.3) and gave the first-round Duke rookie three games of 33.4 points or more among his eight starts. In his other five starts, though, he hasn’t topped 19.9 points while averaging 16.9. In those three big games, Jones accounted for four TDs in each one with nary an interception. In his other five contests, he has five total TDs and eight interceptions, making Rodgers’ aforementioned swings seem almost normal by comparison. With the right matchup, though, Jones can deliver, making him a prime choice – as we detailed in this space a week ago – if you’re streaming QBs and shooting for elite upside
3. Baker Mayfield came out of Sunday tied for 24th among quarterbacks with nine touchdown passes in as many games played.
As most should remember, Mayfield tossed a rookie single-season record 27 scoring passes in 13 starts a season ago. Those fantasy general managers who selected Mayfield among the first five QBs in fantasy drafts this summer certainly do, but the Browns’ QB only delivered two startable (top 12) weekly QB finishes on the season while throwing three more interceptions (12) than scoring passes. Sunday’s two scoring tosses marked his first multiple-TD-pass game of the season, but it resulted in 20 fantasy points, ranking him 13th among QBs in Week 10 and upping his season average to 17.7 per game (27th overall).
4. Sticking with the confounding and underperforming Browns, wide receiver Jarvis Landry owns more fantasy points in both standard (78.2-70.2) and point-per-reception (123.2-114.2) formats than fellow wideout Odell Beckham Jr. through nine games.
Many thought the Browns would straighten things out during their Week 7 bye, but Landry has outscored OBJ in each of the three games since then, scoring two TDs in back-to-back weeks, while Beckham remains stuck on one scoring grab, which came all the way back when the calendar still said it was summer (Week 2). In hitting a season-high, Beckham was targeted two more times than Landry (12-10) on Sunday and subsequently has two more on the season (79-77), but Landry has one more catch (45-44), 20 more receiving yards (652-632) and one more score – all to the continuing consternation of those who spent a top-two-round draft pick on OBJ this summer.
5. Packers wide receiver Davante Adams has totaled the second-most targets (57) in the league among players who have yet to notch a receiving TD.
Now, sure, Adams was sidelined with a toe injury and has missed four of the Pack’s 10 games, but this is a player who is coming off a three-year span where he ranked only behind Antonio Brown (36) with 35 touchdown grabs in 45 games – averaging .78 TDs per contest and a score every 11.6 targets. By those metrics, Adams should have around five scoring receptions right now but, instead, his lack of TDs has him ranked 31st among wideouts in terms of (standard) fantasy points per game. That said, Adams is a prime buy-low candidate if your league trade deadline has yet to arrive.
6. Chargers wideout Mike Williams is only one target behind Adams with 56 on the list of the league’s most-targeted players without a receiving score.
Yeah, we had Williams pegged for some serious TD regression after last season when 10 of his 66 targets and 43 receptions resulted in TDs – the only player in 2018 with eight or more receiving TDs and fewer than 57 receptions. But zero TDs on 56 targets and 31 receptions, including only catches on 10 red-zone targets to stand the only player with no scores among the 32 who came out of Sunday with nine or more targets inside the red zone? That’s a shocker for a still-imposing 6-foot-4, 220-pound target who has seen 12 of QB Philip Rivers’ 14 touchdown tosses go to RB Austin Ekeler (six), WR Keenan Allen (three) and TE Hunter Henry (three). We’re now expecting a Williams regression to the mean in the other direction.
7. Through Week 10, the Jaguars own the league’s most lopsided passing-to-rushing TD ratio at 14:1.
We don’t know if Gardner Minshew Mania (his 13 TD passes rank third among the league’s rookie/second-year QBs) or the second-year rise of WR D.J. Chark (six TD catches, tied for fourth among all players) are the culprits. But you can’t blame the Jags’ offensive philosophy (13th run-heaviest team at 41.9 percent) or the usage/effectiveness of RB Leonard Fournette who came out of Sunday tied for seventh in the league with 174 carries while his 4.78 yards-per-carry average ranks fifth among backs with at least 150 attempts. Fournette also was tied for seventh with 17 rushing attempts inside the opposition’s 10-yard line, but those carries shockingly have netted only four yards and his (and the team’s) one TD. It’s also why Fournette, who ranks fifth in rushing (831) and third in yards from scrimmage (1,126), ranks 11th among RBs in total standard-scoring fantasy points (118.6).
8. The Texans’ Duke Johnson leads all running backs with an average of 6.78 yards per touch.
That figure ranks 10th overall among all players, and despite averaging 5.31 yards per attempt on 54 rushes and 10.36 yards per catch on 22 receptions, Johnson ranked only 34th among running backs through Sunday with 91.5 total PPR points. Teammate Carlos Hyde is out-touching Johnson by more than a 2:1 ratio with 155 on the season, but the latter is averaging 2.10 more yards per touch and has the same number of TDs (three) while fumbling four fewer times (4-0) on 79 fewer touches. Perhaps Bill O’Brien and the Texans’ offensive brain trust took note of these very numbers during their Week 10 bye, and Johnson will at last start garnering a deservedly larger share of the team’s backfield workload down the stretch.
9. The Chiefs rank among the top four teams in scoring (28.4 points per game) and total offense (404.7 yards per game) but don’t have any running backs ranking among the league’s top 35 in terms of fantasy points per contest.
Yep, gone are the days of Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson, Jamaal Charles, Kareem Hunt and Damien Williams – at least 2018 Week 14 through the postseason Damien Williams – when rostering the lead K.C. running back had fantasy owners in near-automatic league-winning contention. Now we’re in a situation when Williams’ ho-hum 8.9-fantasy-point (standard) day led the way in Week 10 and ranked as the seventh-best fantasy outing by any Chiefs back on the season so far. It also upped Williams’ season average to 7.9 points per contest which ranks 36th among all RBs.
10. Through play Sunday, the Falcons’ Austin Hooper and the Texans’ Darren Fells are tied for the league tight end lead with six scoring receptions apiece.
To put that in proper perspective, that duo has as many total receiving scores this season as Travis Kelce, Evan Engram, Zach Ertz, George Kittle, O.J. Howard, David Njoku, Trey Burton, Ben Watson and Chris Herndon – combined. They also each lead their respective teams in scoring grabs by at least two – and no one needs to be reminded that these are teams, which feature WRs Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Calvin Ridley and Kenny Stills. Hooper entered the season with 10 career TDs in three years and is on pace to match that total this year if his knee injury sustained Sunday in New Orleans doesn’t prove serious. The 6-7 Fells also came into 2019 with 10 career receiving scores – doing so in five seasons – but has definitely taken his game up a notch or three with QB Deshaun Watson distributing the rock in MVP-esque fashion.
The 49ers couldn’t overcome a rash of injuries and lost their first game of the year Monday night.
That was the incredible, back-and-forth game everyone wanted from this once great rivalry. The rivalry appears to be all the way back, and Seattle left Levi’s Stadium with a 27-24 overtime victory that came down to the final seconds of OT.H
Here are our notes and observations from the contest:
– The Seahawks defense is fast. They’ve stuffed two runs to open the game to put the 49ers in an early third-and-10.
– Jimmy Garoppolo hit Kendrick Bourne for 16 yards and a first down to extend the 49ers’ first drive. His wiggle in the pocket was fantastic. It bought him time to find Bourne open over the middle.
– Garoppolo threw a bad interception on third-and-5, but a defensive holding call bailed him out. That’s the kind of throw he can’t afford to make where a trailing defender can cut underneath a shallow cross. It was almost identical to the pick he threw against the Panthers. He’s just finding the receiver too late.
– Garoppolo is getting whacked on this series. Seattle’s defensive line has gotten multiple free runs at him. The 49ers have to find a way to clean that up.
– The chemistry between Garoppolo and Emmanuel Sanders is remarkable. He’s made a couple passes to Sanders under pressure that took a lot .of faith in his receiver to make a play.
– Garoppolo had Goodwin on a third-and-5, but it was a little high and went off Goodwin’s hands. That’s probably one San Francisco would like him to pull down. Garoppolo made a terrific play to avoid another heavy pass rush and get rid of the ball down the field.
– Rookie Chase McLaughlin, in for the injured Robbie Gould, drilled a 43-yard field goal to open the scoring after a 13-play, 50-yard drive. They’ve got a ton of adjustments to make on offense. That drive was sustained by a couple of bad Seahawks penalties.
– DJ Jones just eviscerated backup center Joey Hunt to swallow up Russell Wilson and end Seattle’s first series. That was an incredible play.
– Deebo Samuel had a 30-yard catch-and-run. San Francisco badly needed one of their receivers to emerge with George Kittle out. A 30-yard reception will do.
– Garoppolo is dropping dimes to Sanders. He threaded the needle over a corner and under a safety for a reception. Sanders held on despite getting his helmet removed by the hit. Incredible play on both ends.
– Garoppolo hits Bourne for a 10-yard touchdown. The 49ers are torching Seattle on underneath routes. They’ve been there all night.
– Emmanuel Moseley had terrific coverage one-on-one against rookie wide receiver DK Metcalf. The pass breakup forced another Seahawks three-and-out.
– Seattle got its play action working on offense to grab a couple quick first downs on its third series. A third-down blitz and a sack by Fred Warner snuffed out that drive. It’s another Seahawks punt.
– Warner was the catalyst for the 49ers’ next stop. He batted down a Wilson pass on third-and-1. The was a a heck of a play by the linebacker. Nick Bosa wasn’t fooled by the play action and forced an early throw.
– Garoppolo got careless with the ball in the pocket. There wasn’t a flag to bail him out this time. He fumbled on a strip sack by Jarran Reed, and Jadeveon Clowney recovered and strolled in for a touchdown. It’s now 10-7, 49ers.
– Fullback Kyle Juszcyzk got open down the field, and Garoppolo threw a dime over the linebacker in coverage, but Juszcyzk dropped it. That’s where San Francisco misses George Kittle.
– Another drop. This time Dante Pettis nearly plucked a first down, but got leveled and the ball came loose as he went down.
– WOW. Jaquiski Tartt just ripped the ball away from DK Metcalf as he was going in for a touchdown. Incredible play by the safety to save a score and get the ball back with a minute left in the first half. A score there would’ve given Seattle the lead, and they get the ball to start the second half. It’d be a huge victory for San Francisco if they can get to the half with a lead.
– It feels like the air got sucked out of the 49ers defense. Wilson has time to throw and Chris Carson is finding room to run on the first drive of the second half.
– And just like that Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny put the ball on the ground and the 49ers recovered. That’s a huge play by the defense, and their second takeaway of the night.
– The 49ers couldn’t capitalize on the turnover. Garoppolo misfired to Deebo Samuel on fourth-and-2, and Seattle took over at their own 33-yard line. It’s going to be tough sledding for the quarterback without Kittle and Sanders.
– Dre Greenlaw made a great read on a screen pass to keep Seattle to a five-yard gain when it could’ve gone for a lot more. Nice diagnosis by the rookie on a well-designed screen.
– Fred Warner got Wilson again. It’s his second sack of the night and Seattle will punt on their second series of the half.
– Deebo Samuel made a terrific diving catch on second-and-7 that was ruled just short of the first down marker. Kyle Shanahan challenged the spot successfully and got San Francisco a big first down. With injuries to Emmanuel Sanders and George Kittle, churning clock and shortening the . game is going to be vital. Garoppolo also has to find a pass catcher he can trust.
– And right on cue, Kendrick Bourne has a ball slip through his hands for an easy interception and long return that put Seattle at the 49ers’ 16-yard line. It’s been a truly abhorrent showing by the receiving corps.
– Seattle scored three plays later. 14-10, and this looks dire based on how the 49ers offense has been playing since Sanders’ exit.
– Garoppolo loses another fumble. The route may be on at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers can’t block anyone or hold onto the football.
– It’s another easy score for the Seahawks. Chris Carson plows in from a yard out to make it 21-10 with 1:42 to go in the third.
– Deebo Samuel dropped a would-be first down and it nearly led to another turnover.
– Huh. Well then. Russell Wilson nearly got sacked, but his offensive lineman took the ball away from him, then Fred Warner punched the ball away from the offensive lineman, and DeForest Buckner scooped and scored. What a wild play that San Francisco desperately needed. They converted the two-point conversion as well and it’s 21-18, Seattle.
– The 49ers defense backed up the score by forcing a punt, then a shaky helmet-to-helmet call on the punt return gave the 49ers excellent starting field position. A big catch-and-run by Deebo Samuel put them in Seahawks territory.
– Another Kendrick Bourne drop on third-and-8 forced San Francisco to settle for a game-tying field goal. That one nearly resulted in an interception as well. This has been a very rough game for San Francisco’s banged up WR corps.
– Levi’s Stadium is LOUD.
– The 49ers can’t get a stop. They keep letting Seattle get into second-and-third and shorts and they keep moving the chains and eating clock.
– Well then. Wilson tried a naked boot, and Ronald Blair read it the whole way. He slung the quarterback down for a sack to bring up third-and-6. Biggest play of the game coming with 3:30 to go in the fourth.
– Another conversion on third-and-6. Seattle is going to get the final possession at this rate. It’s four and five yards at a time. Just a methodical march by a very good offense.
– Huge stop on third-and-short with 1:49 left. Seattle lined up to go for it, then called a timeout. Kicker Jason Myers drilled a 46-yard field goal to take a 24-21 lead. Gut check time for Garoppolo.
– Oof. Brutal series from the 49ers’ QB, who was so good a week ago in Arizona. He nearly threw an interception on first down, then delivered way too high on second-and-10.
– Another interceptable throw on first-and-10 after a third-down conversion. This time Bobby Wagner drops it.
– Shanahan dialed up a screen, but the Seahawks sniffed it out pretty easily. Instead it was a long-developing play that ran a ton of time off.
– Well, San Francisco got it to the Seahawks’ 29. It’s a 47-yard try for McLaughlin and he drilled it to tie. Unbelievable. We’ve got overtime at Levi’s.
– The Seahawks won the toss in overtime. That’s not great news for a 49ers defense that’s struggled to get stops late in this one.
– The 49ers sacked Wilson for a huge loss, but Seattle converted a third-and-16 with a gain of 28. That’s a back breaker after San Francisco appeared to have Wilson sacked, but he escaped, bought time, and hit Malik Turner for a big-time catch-and-run.
– Another huge play by Wilson. He avoided another sack to connect with tight end Jacob Hollister for a first down at the 49ers’ 20. Wilson is the MVP of the league because of his ability to orchestrate drives like this.
– DRE. GREENLAW. He intercepted Russell Wilson in the red zone and returned it to the Seahawks 49-yard line. Unbelievable. He is in because of the injury to Kwon Alexander.
– The 49ers got a huge 7-yard completion on a third-and-6 to extend their series. Then they churned it down to the 29 where they came up on a fourth-and-short and the 49ers will rely on McGlaughlin again from 47 yards. He missed this time and Seattle has great field position. They can win with a field goal.
– Emmanuel Moseley again. He breaks up a third-and-2 throw intedned for Metcalf. Great game by him.
– Quick three-and-out is not what the 49ers needed. Their series took 14 seconds.
– Wilson with a huge scramble for 18 on third-and-3 to the 49ers’ 39. That puts them on the edge of field goal range. The 49ers sent the house but couldn’t get home.
– A 42-yard Myers field goal with no time left in OT won it. What a game. The 49ers are still in first in the division and the conference.
Often times, the best fantasy seasons can get blown up in a one-and-done scenario and often the difference between winning and losing can come down to a single player with a favorable matchup.
Often times, the best fantasy seasons can get blown up in a one-and-done scenario and often the difference between winning and losing can come down to a single player with a favorable matchup.
It’s never too early to begin planning for the run to a championship and we’re looking at what, on paper at this time, look to be the five best closing schedules based on opponents and the five worst. The teams listed have their final four games because, while most fantasy championships are decided in Week 16, there are some leagues that play 17-week schedules or have a free-for-all game in Week 17 that can win fantasy owners some transaction money as well.
THE FIVE BEST
Philadelphia Eagles (NY GIANTS, at Washington, DALLAS, at NYG Giants) – With two games against the hapless Giants, another with Washington and games in Week 14 and 16 at home, the Eagles closing schedule is about as good as it could be.
Green Bay Packers (WASHINGTON, CHICAGO, at Minnesota, at Detroit) – With Washington and Chicago having to come to Lambeau Field in December, that is a huge advantage for the Packers and, given that they’ve owned the NFC North all season, going into climate-controlled games at Minnesota aren’t much worse.
Cleveland Browns (CINCINNATI, at Arizona, BALTIMORE, at Cincinnati) – Getting Cincinnati twice and the struggling Cardinals in the mix, this is a pretty good schedule for a team that underachieved to date and needs to finish the season strong, whether it leads to an unlikely playoff berth or not.
Minnesota Vikings (DETROIT, at LA Chargers, GREEN BAY, CHICAGO) – With three of four games at home, where Minnesota has been dominant since US Bank Stadium opened, they will be a hard team to beat or keep out of the playoffs.
New England Patriots (KANSAS CITY, at Cincinnati, BUFFALO, MIAMI) – The Patriots have three of four games at home and the only road game against hapless Cincinnati, which should play to their strengths…again.
THE FIVE WORST
Los Angeles Rams (SEATTLE, at Dallas, at San Francisco, ARIZONA) – With the Seahawks, Cowboys and 49ers on their plate for the fantasy playoffs, the road to trying to repeat at NFC champions will be a tough road for the Rams.
Buffalo Bills (BALTIMORE, at Pittsburgh, at New England, NY JETS) – The Bills have been a good story in the first half of the season, but landing the Ravens and then road games at Pittsburgh and New England will be as tough as it gets for AFC contenders.
Chicago Bears (DALLAS, at Green Bay, KANSAS CITY, at Minnesota) – The Bears have been a disappointment this season when compared to expectations and all four of their final opponents are currently set to be playoff teams
Seattle Seahawks (at LA Rams, at Carolina, ARIZONA, SAN FRANCISCO) – With road games against the Rams and Panthers to start the fantasy playoffs and closing out with San Francisco, the only saving grace here would be the Week 16 home game against the Cardinals.
Washington Redskins (at Green Bay, PHILADELPHIA, NY GIANTS, at Dallas) – The Redskins 2019 season has been a disappointment and things don’t get easier with the Packers, Eagles and Cowboys on the closing slate of games.
Here is the Week 11 Fantasy Market Report:
RISERS
Kyle Rudolph – In a year when tight ends haven’t been consistently producing huge numbers, Rudolph was invisible at the start of the season. In the first five games (he was healthy for all of them), he was targeted just eight times, catching six passes for just 36 yards and no touchdowns. When Adam Thielen went down in Week 7, Rudolph got incorporated back into the offense. In the last four games, he has caught 15 passes for 112 yards and four touchdowns, making himself fantasy relevant once again.
Michael Thomas – While Thomas has been dominant throughout his career, what he has accomplished this season is nothing short of astounding. In nine games, he has been targeted 108 times, catching 86 passes for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns – a pace that would shatter his career highs across the board. He’s on pace for 183 targets, catching 153 passes 1,826 yards and seven TDs. He has just two games with less than 11 targets, one game with less than eight receptions, one game with less than 89 receiving yards, five games with 10 or more receptions and five games with more than 110 receiving yards. You don’t hear his name in MVP discussions, but there is no more valuable receiver in the league this year to his team.
Ronald Jones – Jones hasn’t been a guy fantasy owners have wanted to start every week because he’s been in a timeshare with Peyton Barber and didn’t look worthy of his draft slot as a rooking. But, in his last six games, he has rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 142 more yards. He still isn’t a guaranteed starter in most leagues, but he’s giving owners a viable option if they need a player.
Golden Tate – Tate was kind of an afterthought after missing the first four games of the season due to suspension. But, with all the turmoil in New York, he has been the steadying influence on the offense in the six games he’s played. In the last five games, he has been targeted 54 times, catching 30 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns. He has caught six or more passes in four of those games and has 80 or more receiving yards in four of those five as well. Tate has never been a touchdown machine, but he has a history of being a volume-of-receptions guy and he is quickly establishing himself as the No. 1 receiving target in New York.
Melvin Gordon – It took Gordon some time to get up to speed after his holdout. In his first four games, Gordon rushed 44 times for just 112 yards in one touchdown – averaging just 2.5 yards a carry. In his last two games, he has looked like Gordon of old, rushing 42 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns. For a guy who was a pain for fantasy owners the first half of the season, he’s looking like his former self, which was one of the most dynamic fantasy running backs in the game.
FALLERS
Devonta Freeman – The biggest concern for most fantasy owners was whether Freeman could stay healthy for 16 games after battling injuries much of 2017 and missing all but two games last year. While he left Sunday’s win against New Orleans with an ankle injury. The fact of the matter is that he has no 100-yard rushing games through nine games, has just two games with more than 13 carries and two games with 40 or more rushing yards, has averaged just 7.4 yards per reception with just three games with more than three catches and his three TDs this season have all been as a receiver. His production had ground to a halt. In his last three games, he has rushed 30 times for just 96 yards, caught 13 passes for just 79 yards and scored no touchdowns. In this instance, an injury may be a good thing because it will end the temptation to keep him in your lineup.
JuJu Smith-Schuster – Jalen Ramsey played the “you’re no Antonio Brown card” last week before the Steelers-Rams game, but anyone who has JuJu already knows that. Without Ben Roethlisberger gun-slinging, Smith-Schuster’s numbers have suffered. In his last six games, he has three or fewer receptions in four them and yardage days of 15, 7, 16 and 44 in the mix. He has had just enough big games to keep him in lineups, but, at this point, he’s doing fantasy owners more harm than good if they continue starting him every week.
Robby Anderson – He’s been a fantasy enigma. He has a history of stringing together very productive games over the last three years, but this season has been brutal. He has two games with more than 43 receiving yards, has just one touchdown and individual yardage days of 23, 11, 16, 10, 43, 33 and 11. Most owners who had him have likely already dumped him and those who haven’t should consider it because it just doesn’t look like his typical month on fantasy dominance is coming.
Sammy Watkins – Back in Week 1, Watkins set the fantasy world on fire, catching nine passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns. In the nine games the Chiefs have played (seven with Watkins in the starting lineup, he has caught 31 passes for just 314 yards and no touchdowns. He hasn’t hit 65 receiving yards in any game despite the Chiefs slinging the ball early and often in games.
John Brown – Big things were expected from Brown in Buffalo and he showed that early. In his first two games, he caught 14 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Since then, he has been extremely consistent, catching either four or five passes in every game since and has consistent yardage numbers (51, 69, 75, 83, 54, 76 and 77), but has caught just one touchdown in those seven games. He still gets decent fantasy numbers on a weekly basis, but the big-play, huge-point games he has made a name for himself getti8ng, just haven’t materialized – he doesn’t have a catch of 30 yards since Week 1. We don’t recommend dumping him, but we do suggest managing your expectations for the huge games and big plays Brown has been known for.
What a weird week in the NFL. The 1-7 Falcons dominate the 7-1 Saints, Miami beats Indianapolis to put together a two-game winning streak and Tennessee manages to sneak by Kansas City even though Patrick Mahomes returned to the lineup and threw for 446 yards and 3 TDs.
What a weird week in the NFL. The 1-7 Falcons dominate the 7-1 Saints, Miami beats Indianapolis to put together a two-game winning streak and Tennessee manages to sneak by Kansas City even though Patrick Mahomes returned to the lineup and threw for 446 yards and 3 TDs.
For fantasy squads, there are only three regular season games left in most formats. The formula remains the same with how your record should dictate your approach to free agency. Remember that playoff potential only matters if you actually make the playoffs! Secure your berth and then look to add pieces to help you in weeks 14-17. Week 11 is the second last week of bye weeks which sees the Packers, Giants, Seahawks and Titans get the week off.
There were some hits and some misses in last week’s column. Joe Walker‘s usage plummeted by to 28% after the coaching staff asserted that he had been elevated to a starter. Haason Reddick got the lion’s share of the snaps over Walker and the stats that went with them against the Buccaneers. Walker got 1 assist to Reddick’s 7 total tackles and a PD. This might be a situation to avoid going forward. Both Brandon Copeland and James Burgess were serviceable in their effort against the Giants. Copeland played every snap and scored 7 total tackles. Burgess played every snap but one and scored 7 total tackles along with a half sack and a PD. The Jets signed former Falcon standout Paul Worrilow to shore up their ILB depth but he did not see any action on the weekend. Fred Warner was remarkable on Monday night with 7 total tackles, 2 sacks, 1 PD and a forced fumble. Dre Greenlaw was instrumental as well with 8 total tackles and a critical interception in overtime.
Nick Kwiatkoski CHI LB – 3-4 ILB Value: LB1 – LB2
If you watched the Lions/Bears game closely, you saw Danny Trevathan’s arm bend in a way that it wasn’t supposed to bend after a tackle attempt. Trevathan left the field and didn’t return. Nick Kwiatkoski assumed ILB snaps beside Roquan Smith and proceeded to log 10 total tackles, an interception and a sack on 78% usage. I’m no doctor and little details have been released but I would be very surprised if Trevathan plays next week. That landing looked ugly. You’ll have to watch the injury report for news about Trevathan’s availability but assuming that he’s out, the Bears have used Kwiatkoski exclusively in relief of either starting ILB when they have missed time. The Bears face the Rams in week 11.
Drue Tranquill LAC LB – 4-3 MLB Value: LB2 – LB3
It seems like every year I am talking about trying to get value in the Chargers LB corps because of the injury turnover and poor play. Who would have thought that a 36 year old LB with three ACL surgeries, Thomas Davis, would have been the most consistent of them all? However, besides Davis has been a question mark all season. Kyzir White, Uchenna Nwosu, Drue Tranquill and Denzel Perryman have all been given some run at the job. Perryman seems to have had the majority of the snaps prior to week 10 but a knee injury left him active but not playing. Drue Tranquill took 100% of the snaps and logged a team-leading 14 total tackles. While Perryman might be active again next week and take away the value from this pickup, it is worth mentioning that Tranquill is the only ILB outside of Davis that have played 100% of the snaps in a game this year. If the coaching staff runs with him, he is a big value play that has next to no ownership right now. Just know that he carries some risk. The Chiefs in week 11 represent some good value as they offered over 48 fantasy points to ILBs last week.
Josh Bynes BAL LB – 3-4 ILB Value: LB2 – LB3
Josh Bynes appeared very recently on the report but that was when Patrick Onwuasor was out. With Onwuasor returned from his ankle injury, I assumed that he would be a fulltime option for the Ravens and Bynes or LJ Fort would assume a 40-70% usage role. However, since then, the Ravens have deployed multiple five and six DB packages regularly with Bynes as the centerpiece. These were the LB usages against the Bengals in week 10; Bynes – 61%, Onwuasor – 29%, Fort – 21% and Board – 0%. Bynes turned that usage into 9 total tackles. It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen moving forward without any direction given from the coaching staff but the usage seems to suggest that Bynes is the guy to play if this week is representative. The Texans in week 11 should prove to be a much stouter attack than the Bengals put forward in week 10.
Both Colts defensive ends were good for a stream play in their game against the Dolphins despite the Colts losing. Justin Houston logged 4 total tackles and a sack on 73% usage whereas Jabaal Sheard logged 3 total tackles and a sack on 71% usage. Quinnen Williams logged 64% of the snaps and scored a fumble recovery as his only stat. He played much more nose tackle than fantasy owners would like him to though, leading to the weaker statline.
Maxx Crosby / Clelin Ferrell OAK DE – 4-3 DE Value: DL1 – DL2
Both Crosby (3 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble on 91% usage) and Ferrell (8 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 PD on 73% usage) are coming off of huge games against the Chargers which should increase their asking price, unfortunately. However, they are also going into a very good matchup against the winless Bengals who are top 5 in sacks allowed in the NFL. I like the high usages for both of them and would consider both to have above-average playoff schedules as well. Have a peek at your waiver wire and consider a Raider DE if you have a hole to fill.
Chris Jones / Frank Clark KCC DT/DE – 4-3 NT/DE Value: DL1 – DL2
Chris Jones has been exceptional coming off of a groin injury that saw him miss three games between week 6 and 8. Since his return, he has logged 10 total tackles and 3 sacks on 73% average usage across two games. On top of those stellar numbers, he faces a Chargers team in week 11 that just came off of giving up five sacks to the Oakland Raiders. In a similar situation, Frank Clark is coming off a four solo tackles, 1 PD and 1 sack effort against the Titans on 81% usage. Clark missed weeks 8 and 9 with a groin injury and a pinched nerve that has bothered him all season. If Clark is active, I’m starting him in this matchup until the Chargers can fix the mess that they were on Thursday.
It was overall a pretty good week for defensive backs from last’s week report. Jaylen Watkins‘ 4 total tackles on 100% usage were a little underwhelming but no defensive back scored many tackles in that game. That said, that doesn’t mean that a DB didn’t score well. Erik Harris had a game to remember with 2 total tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 PDs, 115 interception return yards and a touchdown. He almost had a third in the end zone later in the game. Despite the low tackle numbers, Harris was a DB1 in almost every format. Taylor Rapp was very solid in tackle heavy and balanced formats with 9 total tackles on 100% usage. Marqui Christian received only 49% of the Rams’ defensive snaps and as a result, only logged 2 total tackles and a PD.
DJ Swearinger OAK S – 4-3 SS Value: DB3
With the loss of Karl Joseph to injured reserve with a foot injury, the Raiders immediately signed former Cardinal DJ Swearinger to a contract. The history on Swearinger is that he is a decent tackle, sometimes to his own detriment, and a below-average coverage safety. While that hasn’t translated to NFL success, it has meant that Swearinger is a decent tackle option for IDP players at defensive back. There is still a risk of Swearinger not being inserted into the starting lineup right away but with little NFL talent and experience between him and a starting role, I feel as though he will become an option for IDP lineups soon enough. Since being elevated to 100% usage, Joseph had posted 80 fantasy points over seven games. Given Joseph’s play, I don’t see how Swearinger can’t replicate those numbers.
Jalen Thompson ARI SS – 3-4 SS Value: DB3 – flex
It appears as though Jalen has won the battle of the Thompsons at strong safety over Deionte although the latter lost his 30-40% snap share due to a knee injury. Jalen Thompson benefited in week 10 against the Buccaneers with a 96% snap share and turned in 6 solo tackles in the effort. If Jalen gets the lion’s share of the snaps again, I’d play him in a DB3/flex role against the 49ers. San Francisco is offering close 29 fantasy points per game to opposing safeties over their last five weeks. Granted Budda Baker is likely to grab the majority of those points but a double-digit fantasy point effort is probably where he ends up, hence his DB3 recommendation.
Nik Needham MIA CB – 4-3 CB Value: DB3 – flex
If you are a gambler or you play in a corner required league, you might want to pay attention to this one. Nik Needham started getting snaps in week 6 and was elevated to 100% in week 9 and 10. In those two weeks of 100% usage, Needham has scored 15 total tackles, 3 PDs, a sack and an interception. Not bad for an undrafted free agent rookie. Full disclosure, Needham’s matchup in week 11 is a bad one. Buffalo hasn’t allowed many double-digit fantasy point performances by cornerbacks this year. But the Browns and Eagles are in weeks 12 and 13. Given his past two performances, Needham might be on the watch list. Snap him up if you have room.
The Huddle presents another season of The Blitzed Podcast. In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL News, Handcuffs to target at QB, RB, WR and TE and DFS Pay to Plays, Stay Aways and Value Plays.
The Huddle presents another season of The Blitzed Podcast. In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL News, Handcuffs to target at QB, RB, WR and TE and DFS Pay to Plays, Stay Aways and Value Plays.
If you love music, then you’ll love these gorgeous hotels that house vinyl collections and instrument lending libraries, offer live performances and were a part of music history.
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Whether you want to listen to live music or your favorite artist on vinyl, or maybe learn to play guitar, these hotels will surprise and delight musicians and aesthetes with their melodies.
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For the best jazz in Shanghai, step back in time to the 1920s with the intimate jazz bar at the Fairmont Peace Hotel. The hotel’s octogenarian sextet comprise the world’s oldest jazz band, with an average age of 82, but their passion and talent are immortal. The lively music, including classics like “Summertime” and “Moon River,” continues each night until 2 am with an enthusiasm that’s contagious.
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Hotel Theodore in downtown Seattle is an artsy boutique property by Provenance Hotels known for its local brand collaborations. Recently, they partnered with Light In The Attic Records, a Seattle-based independent record label, to curate musical amenities in all rooms on the hotel’s 20th floor. Each guestroom has been outfitted with photos of musicians, turntables and a label-curated selection of vinyl from Light In The Attic’s diverse catalog of artists.
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In 1964, when The Beatles were on their first world tour, The Edgewater Hotel was the only hotel in Seattle that would accept them as guests. They famously fished out of their window from Seattle’s only true waterfront hotel and now have a suite dedicated in their honor. There’s also a Pearl Jam suite, designed in partnership with their fan club and decorated with vintage band posters. Both rock n’ roll suites have vinyl record players with the band’s albums and all guests staying at The Edgewater Hotel can rent record players and guitars with sheet music.
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Live like the King himself at The Guest House at Graceland, just across the street from Elvis Presley’s iconic Memphis mansion. Enjoy Elvis’ favorite peanut butter cupcakes before bed and sing your favorite Elvis songs during weekly karaoke night. The 464-seat house auditorium frequently hosts live performances and movie screenings and the property is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ lifestyle collection.
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Every guestroom at The Elizabeth in Fort Collins has a Crosley record player, and guests have a selection of more than 1,000 albums to help themselves to in the lobby’s vinyl library. There’s also an instrument lending library with a wide variety of first-rate string instruments (including a Fender American Vintage ’52 Telecaster) along with keyboards, amps, headphones, tuners and straps.
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Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World and the Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt capitalizes on that reputation. Local and traveling musicians perform every night at Geraldine’s, the hotel’s fourth floor restaurant, which serves Texas-inspired food beside a state-of-the-art sound stage. Brass trombone chandeliers hang from the lobby ceiling and in-house Director of Music Hannah Hagar curates musical experiences including studio tours, vinyl press tours and playlists throughout property that reflect the time of day and season.
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West Hollywood’s Sunset Marquis Villas & Suites has been a home away from home for rock stars since opening its doors in 1963. The hotel houses NightBird Recording Studio, where a whopping total of 45 Grammy-winning songs have been written and recorded. Hotel guests can try to book a recording session between celebrities (Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin are just a few famous guests) and order room service while jamming on the state-of-the-art equipment with the help of expert engineers.
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McMenamins is a quirky cult favorite in the Pacific Northwest and their newest Elks Temple Hotel is transforming the music scene in Tacoma, Washington with a 700-capacity live music concert venue in their Spanish Ballroom. The hotel itself is a boutique property, with just 45 rooms, built in a once-abandoned historic property. Guest rooms honor Tacoma musicians like Krist Novoselić, bassist and founding member of Nirvana.
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The vinyl suite at The Duniway Portland comes with a custom U-turn player with more than 900 records to choose from. But all 327 hotel rooms have access to complimentary portable record players upon request, along with customized playlists curated by local personalities like Portland’s mayor, the hotel general manager and head chef Chris Cosentino. For example, the Abigail Scott Duniway collection, inspired by the property’s namesake changemaker, features top female empowerment anthems from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Madonna.
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The Marquee is in the heart of New Orleans‘ historic theater district, less than a block away from musical performances at the Joy Theater and Saenger Theatre. Every hotel room has a Fender guitar, with access to free tutorial video lessons. Local musicians also teach live beginner lessons on a regular basis and perform on stage in the courtyard. Plus, guests can join friendly karaoke competitions on the rooftop pool deck or courtyard.
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The 65-foot-long lap pool at Park Hyatt New York is equipped with six underwater speakers that play a soundtrack of classical music curated by Carnegie Hall’s artistic team. Carnegie Hall is just across the street, but here you can enjoy orchestral symphonies and piano solos while swimming laps. The soundtrack changes a couple times per year.
10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.
Doug Marrone made a shocking discovery this past weekend when he got to sit down and watch NFL Network’s RedZone for the first time.
With the Jacksonville Jaguars having to claw for all of their victories while also dealing with the absence of Nick Foles, the trade of Jalen Ramsey and the emergence of Gardner Minshew II, it’s easy to see why coach Doug Marrone hasn’t had a lot of time to watch television. However, with the Jags on their bye week last week, he got a chance to check out the rest of the league’s teams.
In the process, he discovered NFL Network’s RedZone channel, which blew his mind.
“Well, I’ll tell you, yesterday was the first time I was able to kind of watch some stuff, and I don’t normally do it,” Marrone said about the upsets that happened during Week 10. “But I got around and I watched that NFL Network RedZone. That stuff’s crazy. It goes from game to game to game. It was crazy. I didn’t know they had that stuff.”
Yes, Coach, I completely agree, NFL RedZone is indeed crazy. It’s also been around for 10 years.
Marrone continued by stating that the upsets he witnessed Sunday are proof that each NFL organization has to bring it week in and week out. Heading forward, that will also need to be a point of emphasis for the Jags, who can’t afford to slip up like they did several times before the bye week.
“I think it goes back to the same thing I said before, I think that it is extremely difficult to win on Sundays,” Marrone said. “I know sometimes you look at it, and you look at records and all this stuff, and you’re like, ‘Well, this team should win,’ and then all of a sudden at the end of the day, get a couple turnovers, this happens and the next thing you know a team that you thought should win on paper doesn’t win.”
Unfortunately for Marrone, Sunday was probably the only time he’ll get to use his RedZone subscription this year as there is a lot of work for the Jags to do.
Here’s a look at five of those names.
The Tennessee Titans (5-5) evened out their record and put on one of the most thrilling performances in Week 10 as they defeated the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, 35-32 in Nissan Stadium on Sunday.
It was a competitive game filled with big plays on both sides, and several players stood out.
Here’s a look at five of those names.
Tannehill continues to be efficient with the reins of the offense in his hands, and was a crucial part of guiding the Titans to the win. He was 13-of-19 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three rushes for 37 yards.
The 49ers rookie linebacker came up with the biggest play of his young career in overtime Monday night.
It doesn’t get more clutch than this.
Rookie linebacker Dre Greenlaw got the start at Will linebacker for the injured Kwon Alexander. Seattle was driving, in the red zone looking to end Monday’s game on the first possession in overtime.
Wilson tried to float a pass over Greenlaw for a touchdown, but the rookie had other ideas.
BIG. PLAY. DRE ‼️@DreGreenlaw comes up BIG in OT! #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/cgDtrtBb5T
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 12, 2019
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