Tag: Caleb Huntley

Ex-Falcons RB Caleb Huntley to visit with Baltimore Ravens

Ex-Falcons RB Caleb Huntley is set to meet with the Baltimore Ravens for a second time

Former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith failed to develop a competent passing attack during his three years in Atlanta. Still, the running game was consistently among the best in the NFL under Smith, regardless of who lined up at running back.

Cordarrelle Patterson had a breakout year in 2021, Tyler Allgeier led the team in 2022, and rookie Bijan Robinson took over in 2023. Former Falcons running back Caleb Huntley became the forgotten man in this group after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.

Huntley, a former undrafted free agent out of Ball State, rushed for 366 yards and one touchdown over 12 games in 2022. The Falcons released Huntley after a failed physical last year, but he may soon get another chance with the Baltimore Ravens.

According to Huntley’s agent, the Ravens are set to bring him in for a second visit.

Huntley is just 25 years old and still has a lot of upside, assuming he’s fully healthy. The trio of Patterson, Allgeier and Huntley helped Atlanta finish second in total rushing yards in 2022.

Patterson signed a two-year deal with the Steelers, joining former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and wide receiver Van Jefferson in Pittsburgh. Atlanta will rely primarily on Robinson and Allgeier this season.

Falcons RB Caleb Huntley out for season with Achilles injury

#Falcons RB Caleb Huntley is out for the season after suffering an Achilles injury during Sunday’s loss to the Saints

Atlanta Falcons running back Caleb Huntley is likely out for the season after suffering an Achilles injury during the first quarter of Sunday’s 21-18 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Head coach Arthur Smith seemed baffled by the injury during his Monday press conference. “I don’t know how the hell it happened,” said Smith, per team reporter Tori McElhaney.

Huntley had been an effective change-of-pace back behind Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier. The former Ball State standout will finish the season with 366 rushing yards on 76 carries (4.8 yards per carry) and one touchdown.

Look for RB Avery Williams to get more work over the final three games now that Huntley has been ruled out.

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Falcons RB Caleb Huntley ruled out for game due to ankle injury

Falcons RB Caleb Huntley injured his ankle against the Saints and has been ruled out for the game

The Atlanta Falcons have ruled out RB Caleb Huntley for the remainder of Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints after he suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter.

Huntley has been a key part of Atlanta’s ground attack this season, racking up 364 rushing yards while averaging nearly five yards per carry. Look for Cordarrelle Patterson and rookie Tyler Allgeier to get additional touches with Huntley sidelined.

The Falcons currently trail by 14 to the Saints in the second quarter.

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A pair of rookies are helping the Falcons survive Cordarrelle Patterson’s absence

The Atlanta Falcons have found a pair of diamonds in the rough to help spark their offensive backfield

When Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson went down with a knee injury in Week 4, there was concern about how to replace such a dynamic playmaker in what was becoming a flexible and shifty offense for the Dirty Birds.

What they have found in the search to replace his production, however, is two rookies who have changed the way they play ball.

Running backs Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley have stepped up in a big way for the Falcons, helping to pave their road to success after a nail-biter of a win against the Carolina Panthers that put them atop the NFC South. Both rookies have spearheaded an Atlanta attack that has now become a run-first offense, utilizing their backs in a variety of schemes and formations, and even deploying them as primary weapons in the passing game.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Allgeier has been particularly impressive out of the backfield, catching five passes for 71 yards, including an incredible 25-yard catch-and-run where he burst past multiple Panthers defenders before heading into the end zone late in the third quarter. Huntley has assumed the role of power back, and at 5-10 and 230 pounds, he’s excellent working between the tackles. Huntley could be the Falcons long-term short-yardage back, given what he’s shown so far this season.

This development lends credence to the notion of finding effective running backs outside of the early rounds. There also needs to be credit given to the Falcons’ coaching and front office staff for finding diamonds in the rough on Day 3 and after the draft, understanding how to most effectively use a pair of rookies to completely transform an offense with a star like Patterson out of the lineup.

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Fantasy Football: 11 utilization stats to know from Week 8

The most important utilization stats to know from Week 8 action.

With eight weeks of NFL action in the books, several intriguing players are starting to show signs of life as well as create developing trends.

Week 9 brings “bye-mageddon” with six squads on vacation, and gamers will be digging deep to fill key roles in their lineups. That means we’ll be forced to gamble a little more, and assessing some recent utilization data can help mine the waiver wire for a few unconventional plays.

PFF Grades: Damiere Byrd, Caleb Huntley led Falcons in Week 8

PFF Grades: Damiere Byrd, Caleb Huntley and Chris Lindstrom were the three highest-rated Falcons in Week 8

The Atlanta Falcons got some lucky breaks during their 37-34 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, but you don’t apologize for winning in the NFL. At 4-4, the Falcons are in position to win their first NFC South title since 2016.

Before we begin to look ahead to Week 9, let’s check out the top performers from Atlanta’s victory over the Panthers. WR Damiere Byrd, RB Caleb Huntley and RG Chris Lindstrom earned the team’s highest overall Pro Football Focus grades on Sunday.

Here’s a look at PFF’s 20 highest-rated Falcons from Week 8.

Tunnel Vision

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

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Tua Tagovailoa  382-19 3
 Kyler Murray 326-36 3
 Jalen Hurts 285-10 4
 Dak Prescott 250-34 3
 Marcus Mariota 253-43 3
Running Backs Rush
Receive		 TD
Derrick Henry 33-219
1-9		 2
Alvin Kamara 18-62
9-96		 3
Tony Pollard 14-131
1-16		 3
Christian McCaffrey 18-94
8-55		 3
D’Onta Foreman  26-118 3
Wide Receivers Yards TD
A.J. Brown 6-156 3
Jaylen Waddle 8-106 2
DeAndre Hopkins 12-159 1
D.J. Moore 6-152 1
Tyreek Hill 12-188 0
Tight Ends Yards TD
Tyler Conklin 6-79 2
Kyle Pitts 5-80 1
Isaiah Likely 6-77 1
Evan Engram 4-55 1
George Kittle 3-39 1
Placekickers XP FG
Nick Folk 1 5
Younghoe Koo 4 3
Chase McLaughlin 1 3
Jason Meyers 3 2
Mike Badgley 3 2
Defense Sack – TO TD
Seahawks 5-2 0
Cowboys 4-1 1
Eagles 6-2 0
Vikings 4-3 0
Falcons 1-1 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

RB Mark Ingram (NO) – Knee
WR Christian Watson (GB) – Concussion
WR Cooper Kupp (LAR) – Ankle
WR DeVante Parker (NE) – Knee
WR Richie James (NYG) – Concussion
TE Irv Smith (MIN) – Ankle
TE Tyler Higbee (LAR) – Neck

Chasing Ambulances

After 26 years of writing this article every Monday, I honestly cannot recall a Sunday with so few notable injuries. That’s a wonderful thing to say.

WR Cooper Kupp (LAR) – Twisted his right ankle and left the loss to the 49ers.  According to Kupp, the ankle feels “pretty good.” and the hope is that he avoided any serious injury. The next few days will be key with how he responds to treatment. The Rams already had their bye in Week 7, and three of the next four games are on the road. If he misses any time, it increases the targets for Allen Robinson, Van Johnson, and Ben Skowronek.

RB Mark Ingram (NO) – Ingram injured his knee in the win over the Raiders after just one reception. There was no immediate word as to how badly is was hurt, though he was ruled out of the game. Dwayne Washington filled in but Alvin Kamara needed no help on Sunday.

WR DeVante Parker (NE) – Left after the first offensive play with a knee injury that was initially termed “questionable” to return and then he was ruled out. His status will be known when the Patriots have to issue injury reports on Wednesday.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

WR Van Jefferson (LAR) – Was finally taken off injured reserve after he  healed his knee. He was active in the loss to the  49ers and listed as a starting wide receiver. Jefferson was slated to have “a normal workload” but was never thrown a pass. With Cooper Kupp banged up, he needs to show up this week in Tampa Bay. If Kupp is injured with any severity, it sparks the chance that the Rams would trade for another receiver like Brandon Cooks.

TE Isaiah Likely (BAL) – Back on Thursday, Mark Andrews left with a shoulder injury and Isiah Likely filled in with six catches for 77 yards and a score to lead the Ravens. HC John Harbaugh said that the shoulder injury for Andrews wasn’t serious but practice this week will confirm it. And Andrews has from last Thursday until this Monday to heal. But Likely is already impressive as a rookie and ends up as a great handcuff for the Andrews owner. And worth stealing if you have a dead roster spot.

Tight Ends are not dead – The position experiences a major difference between Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce, as compared to all other NFL tight ends. This week had six tight ends not named Andrews or Kelce lead their team in receiving – Isaiah Likely, Greg Dulcich, Evan Engram, Kyle Pitts, T.J. Hockenson, and Pat Freiermuth. The position typically gets weaker as receivers as the season progresses. But this may well be yet another way this season is just different.

RB Travis Etienne (JAC) – James Robinson did not play in Week 7 and was traded away. And for two weeks, Etienne is on fire with his larger workload. He rushed for 114 yards and one score on 14 runs versus the Giants and  Sunday, he gained 156 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in London. He added three catches for six yards. Etienne keeps improving as a runner which played into letting Robinson go to the Jets.

RB D’Onta Foreman (CAR) – He ran for 118 yards on 15 carries in Week 7 after Christian McCaffrey left. On Sunday, he again rushed for exactly 118 yards only on 26 carries. And he scored three times. McCaffrey only totaled three scores over his first six games this season. Foreman was a capable replacement for Derrick Henry last year and gained over 100 yards in three games when he took over in the second half of the season in Tennessee.

RB Tyler Allgeier – Caleb Huntley (ATL) – This is a free agent idea for Week 9 with six NFL teams on bye. The Falcons like to run the ball. Maybe it is because they don’t pass that well, but they prefer to run. Against the Panthers, Tyler Allgeier ran for 39 yards on 14 carries and caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown. Caleb Huntley gained 91 yards on 16 carries. It will remain a committee approach, but consider their next opponents and where they rank against running backs – Chargers (28), Panthers (23) again, and Bears (31).

RB Tony Pollard (DAL) – With Ezekiel Elliott out, Tony Pollard took over as the primary back with spectacular results. He ran for 131 yards and three scores that included a 54-yard touchdown as the final score in the game. And that was with the Cowboys giving Malik Davis eight carries and two receptions in his NFL debut. Jerry Jones quickly mentioned that Ezekiel Elliott remains the primary rusher when he is healthy. Pollard’s fine performance happened at home against the No. 31 defense versus running backs, but it was still thoroughly impressive.

TE Dalton Schultz (DAL) – Even though he’s been playing injured for the last two weeks, reuniting with Dak Prescott resulted in 11 catches for 123 yards over those two games and he didn’t even finish Week 7. There is at least one fantasy owner in your league who was not a fan of Cooper Rush.

RB D’Andre Swift (DET) – After missing five games, Swift returned against the Dolphins. He only ran for six yards on five carries, and caught five passes for 27 yards and one fantasy-salvaging touchdown. Jamaal Williams gained 53 yards and two scores on his ten runs and added three catches for 23 yards. By this point, Williams is not the handcuff for Swift. It is Swift being just a throw-in for the Williams’ owner.

WR Rondale Moore (ARI) – Marquise Brown has been gone for two games, and Robbie Anderson was acquired but has yet to catch a Kyler Murray pass despite four targets. DeAndre Hopkins has been back for two weeks and topped 100 yards in each as an instant upgrade for the passing attack. But Moore has stepped up too and benefits from the defensive focus on Hopkins. He caught seven passes for 92 yards and a score in the loss to the Vikings and even gained 12 yards on two rushes.

RB Alvin Kamara (NO) – He’s gained around 100 total yards per week, but hadn’t scored for 2021. He fixed that against the Raiders when he rushed in one touchdown (18-62, TD) and scored twice as a receiver (9-96, 2 TD) which is how it was always supposed to be. It’s good to see the Saints turning to Kamara as the primary receiver since Jarvis Landry and Michael Thomas cannot stay healthy.

QB Zach Wilson (NYJ) – This changes everything.  At least it did on Sunday. The Jets’ first game without Breece Hall did not go nearly as well as hoped. Instead of a guaranteed 100 yards and a touchdown, the Jets backfield sputtered between Michael Carter (7-26) and James Robinson (5-17) but that forced Wilson to pass for 355 yards and two scores – but three interceptions. And that let Garrett Wilson finally come back to life with  six catches for 115 yards. Wilson was held to around 25 yards per game while Wilson was just handing off to Hall. And Tyler Conklin had been held to nearly no catches for the last month. He gained 79 yards and scored twice on his six receptions. The Jets team fell back a step with the loss of Hall, but at least it is perking the fantasy values of Wilson and Conklin back up.

QB Malik Willis (TEN) – Ryan Tannehill is likely to return this week, but Willis had his debut as the guy that gives the ball to Derrick Henry (32-219, 2 TD). Willis only completed 6-of-10 for 55 yards and one interception. He ran for 12 yards on five rushes as well. It was Henry’s day, as it always is when they face the Texans. Willis gets a mulligan on that start.

QB Sam Ehlinger (IND) –  His debut included  201 passing yards and no scores. To his credit, the top three receivers were all wideouts so he didn’t just check down to a running back or tight end.  He even ran for 15 yards on six rushes. The Colts lost to the Commanders, but only in the final seconds. Ehlinger played far better than a rookie (see above, Malik Willis).

RB Ronnie Rivers (LA) – The Rams backfield ranks No. 32 in the NFL for fantasy points and adding Rivers only mixed up the mediocrity with eight rushes for 21 yards. Darrell Henderson (4-16) and Malcolm Brown (5-10) also spent time not helping. Kyren Williams wasn’t taken off injured reserve, but they still have a couple of weeks to make that decision. He fell in the draft as being too small (5-9, 194 pounds) and slow (4.65) but was highly productive as the two-year starter in Notre Dame. The Rams say that they may welcome Cam Akers back when he discovers that no other team wants him. It’s all a mess and only getting worse.

Huddle player of the week

Alvin Kamara –On a day that saw several monster games – Christian McCaffrey, A.J. Brown, Derrick Henry, etc., Kamara stands on top. He had not scored a touchdown this season, but when he faced the visiting Raiders (or whatever that was in silver and black on the field), Kamara ran for 62 yards and caught nine passes for 96 yards along with three total touchdowns. He looked like the same Kamara that wrecked opponents back when Drew Brees played.

Salute!

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

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Taylor Heinicke 308 2 QB Derek Carr 100 0
RB D’Onta Foreman 118 3 RB Brian Robinson 20 0
RB Nyheim Hines 49 1 RB Josh Jacobs 53 0
WR Damiere Byrd 67 1 WR Davante Adams 2 0
WR Zach Pascal 57 1 WR Courtland Sutton 13 0
WR Devin Duvernay 64 1 WR DeVonta Smith 23 0
TE Isaiah Likely 77 1 TE Mark Andrews 33 0
PK Nick Folk  1 XP   5 FG PK Daniel Carlson nope
Huddle Fantasy Points = 130 Huddle Fantasy Points = 18

Now get back to work… and keep your helmet on…

Tunnel Vision of Week 5

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

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
Josh Allen 424-42 4
 Jalen Hurts 239-61 2
Kirk Cousins 396-4 2
Geno Smith 268-13 3
Carson Wentz 359-152 0
Running Backs Rush
Receive		 TD
Austin Ekeler 16-173
4-26		 2
Leonard Fournette 14-56
10-83		 2
Breece Hall 18-97
2-100		 1
Nick Chubb 17-134 2
Derrick Henry  28-102
2-30		 2
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Gabriel Davis 3-171 2
Justin Jefferson 12-177 0
Tyler Lockett 5-104 2
Cooper Kupp 7-125 1
Dyami Brown 2-105 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
Taysom Hill 1-1
9-112 rush		 3
Dallas Goedert 8-95 0
David Njoku 6-88 0
Mark Andrews 8-89 1
Hayden Hurst 6-53 1
Placekickers XP FG
Nick Folk 2 5
Taylor Bertolet 3 3
Chase McLaughlin 0 4
Brett Maher 1 3
Cairo Santos 1 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Patriots 2-2 1
Cowboys 5-3 1
Bills 3-2 0
49ers 6-1 1
Colts 4-2 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Baker Mayfield (CAR) – Foot
QB Teddy Bridgewater (MIA) – concussion
RB Damien Harris (NE) – Hamstring
RB Rashaad Penny – Fractured tibia
RB James Conner (ARI) – Ribs
WR Tyreek Hill (MIA) – Foot
WR Tee Higgins (CIN) – Ankle
WR Nelson Agholor (NE) – Hamstring
WR Chris Olave (NO) – Concussion
WR Christian Watson (GB) – Hamstring
TE Dalton Schultz (DAL) – Knee
TE Pat Freiermuth (PIT) – Concussion
PK Robbie Gould (SF) – Knee

Chasing Ambulances

Baker Mayfield – Injured his ankle and wasn’t sure of the severity, but planning on an MRI today. P.J. Walker finished the game. If Mayfield misses time, P.J. Walker will take the start. Sam Darnold is eligible to come off injured reserve but isn’t ready yet. If Mayfield cannot play, it may actually benefit both D.J. Moore and Robbie Anderson.

Teddy Bridgewater – He was replacing Tua Tagovailoa and was concussed. The seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson played nearly the entire game but the drop in production was noticeable and significant.

Damien Harris – Injured his hamstring and was held out for most of the game. The Pats only carry two running backs into games lately, so it all went to Rhamondre Stevenson, who responded with 161 yards on 25 carries in the shutout of the Lions. Harris will have his hamstring examined but information is always tough to get from the Patriots.

Rashaad Penny – Fractured his tibia and they will determine if he needs surgery. Early speculation is that he will need surgery, and will miss the rest of the season but he could be okay for 2023. But Penny is on a one-year “prove it” deal and he could be elsewhere next season.

James Conner –  Injured his ribs and did not play in the second half. The Cards also lost Darrel Williams to a knee injury and Jonathan Ward suffered a hamstring injury. Eno Benjamin was the last man standing for the backfield. The Cardinals said that they were just being careful but Conner was reported to be in pain and breathing heavily after the game.

Tyreek Hill – The Miami wideout already had a quad injury when he played this week and he exited with a foot injury. He was seen wearing a walking boot after the game but HC Mike McDaniel said that Hill’s foot was stepped on and that it wasn’t thought to be serious.

Tee Higgins – He was limited in practices this week but was active. He did not record a catch and he was believed to have reaggravated the injury. He’ll be a practice watch again this week.

Chris Olave – He caught a touchdown, and held onto the ball despite being slung onto his head by the defender. His body immediately went limp and he lay in the endzone motionless for a moment. It appeared to be a significant concussion. More should be known by Wednesday.

Dalton Schultz – The Cowboys tight end sprained his right PCL in Week 2 and returned for Week 4 when he failed to catch any of his three targets. Schultz reaggravated the knee injury at the Rams before ever catching a pass, so that’s two goose eggs for fantasy owners with an unclear situation for Week 6.

Pat Freiermuth – Suffered a concussion in the third quarter and left the Steelers’ loss to the Bills. It is concerning that he had two concussions last year. We will know more later in the week if Freiermuth needs to sit out for a week.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

Denver backfield – The Broncos march onward without Javonte Williams (or touchdowns for that matter), and the new backfield split had Melvin Gordon rushing 15 times for 54 yards while Mike Boone was given seven carries for 38 yards. Both running backs caught all three of their targets for 49 and 47 yards. Gordon is taking roughly 2:1 with Boone and he went a game without fumbling.

Packers wideouts – Forget about last week’s “well, they settled on the wide receivers.” The starters are still Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Romeo Doubs. But Doubs recent increases reversed with only three catches for 29 yards against the Giants. Cobb’s standard 40-yard games shot up to 99 yards on seven catches while Lazard’s 116 yards in Week 4 turned into four catches for 35 yards though he did score. And the Packers lost the game, so the offense continues to lack reliability.

QB Kenny Pickett (PIT) – The rookie’s first start was painful with a 3-38 loss in Buffalo. But he passed for 327 yards at perhaps the toughest venue in the NFL this year. He only ran once for ten yards, unlike Week 4 when he ran in two touchdowns on his six runs for 15 yards. And once again, George Pickens (6-83) was the top receiver.

RB Travis Etienne (JAC) – The redshirt rookie ran ten times for 71 yards in the loss to the Texans, and added three catches for 43 yards. James Robinson only managed 27 yards on his ten carries and added two catches for 12 yards. That means that for the last two weeks, the workload is split 50:50 between Etienne and Robinson, and Etienne was the more productive in both games.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) – He was roughly splitting the backfield with Damien Harris through Week 4, though Harris was the goal line back and  Stevenson added four catches per game. Versus the Lions, Harris left with a hamstring after four carries for 11 yards. Stevenson took over and rushed 25 times for 161 yards and caught two passes in the shutout of the Lions.

RB Kenneth Walker (SEA) – And that is why you spend a 2.09 pick on the second running back drafted in April. Rashaad Penny had an extensive injury history but finally turned in an impressive month to end 2021 while Seattle enjoyed a spectacularly light rushing schedule.  He was re-signed to a one-year “prove it” deal to see if he finally would meet his potential. Against the Saints, Penny fractured his tibia and will be out many weeks, and very possibly the rest of the season, depending on what they find on Monday. Walker had been used for only a handful of carries as the No. 2 back but ended Week 5 with eight runs for 88 yards and a score thanks to his 69-yard break-free run for a touchdown. He’ll face the Cardinals, Chargers, and Giants next.  Travis Homer will be the No. 2 back unless they acquire a free agent.

TE/QB/RB Taysom Hill (NO) – He’s the tight end with one catch on the year, compared to 21 rushes for five touchdowns, and a touchdown pass.  Hill had games of only 3-14 and 5-21 for the last two weeks, so it was unexpected when he ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns on nine rushes, plus threw a 22-yard touchdown against the Seahawks. As a tight end. It’s okay, none of us exactly know what to make of this or what to expect.

RB Alvin Kamara (NO) – It was good to see Kamara finally looking like his productive self again. He ran for 103 yards on 23 rushes yesterday and added six catches for 91 yards as the top receiver. Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry were out, and Chris Olave also became injured, so that impacted his use as a receiver. But it’s just nice to see his back to form and without Jameis Winston who didn’t throw much to him.

RB Breece Hall (NYJ) – The rookie had his breakout game in Week 5 versus the Dolphins. He rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and caught two passes for 100 as the lead receiver. It’s bothersome that Michael Carter vultured two touchdowns but 197 total yards compared to 36 for Carter says that the transition is complete.

RB Tyler Allgeier / Caleb Huntley (ATL) – First week with Cordarrelle Patterson on injured reserve and the results were a bit disappointing. Allgeier ran for 45 yards on 13 rushes while Huntley handled eight carries for 34 yards. Neither was thrown a target. Playing at the Buccaneers is one of the toughest venues for a running back and the duo face the visiting 49ers this week.

RB Brian Robinson (WAS) – After healing the gunshot wounds, the Commander’s rookie took his first start and already supplanted Antonio Gibson. Robinson ran for 22 yards on nine carries and Gibson only rushed three times for six yards. This was just his first week and against a defense that slowed the run. Gibson also caught three passes for 33 yards while J.D. McKissic turned in five catches for 37 yards. Robinson should see more work against the Bears and Packers next.

RB Enos Benjamin (ARI) – After James Conner left with a rib injury, Benjamin stepped up to score on his eight carries for 25 yards, and he added three catches for 28 yards. If Conner remains out, Benjamin will again be the primary back. What is interesting is that they also lost Darrel Williams to a knee injury and Jonathan Ward to a hamstring strain. If they remain out, the Cards would need to make Keaontay Ingram active for the first time.

Huddle player of the week

Taysom Hill  –  How could you not love Hill this week? Knowing that his 112 yard, three-touchdown performance had no warning signs and no doubt happened with him on benches and waiver wires in most, if not nearly all leagues. He even threw a 22-yard touchdown. And you what will happen when you buy into him. Something like Week 3 (three carries for 14 yards). But with all the duds at tight end this week, Hill was on at least a few starting lineups of fantasy owners that raised their eyebrows and smiled.

Salute!

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

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Geno Smith 281 2 QB Justin Herbert 241 1
RB Raheem Mostert 122 1 RB Najee Harris 36 0
RB Kenneth Walker 88 1 RB Damien Harris 11 0
WR Dyami Brown 105 2 WR Christian Kirk 11 0
WR Jakobi Meyers 111 1 WR Amon-Ra St. Brown 18 0
WR Khalil Shakir 75 1 WR Brandin Cooks 20 0
TE Taysom Hill 134 4 TE T.J. Hockenson 6 0
PK Nick Folk   2 XP   5 FG PK Younghoe Koo 1  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 167 Huddle Fantasy Points = 27

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

The NFL is full of more close games than at any time in history. That plays out with the Eagles as the only unbeaten team and seven other teams that are currently 3-1. It is very early in the season, but only 25% of the teams have a winning record. The Texans are the lone team without a win, but eight teams have just one win. Half of the league is currently 2-2 and players and teams are still transitioning to whatever they are going to be by the end of the season.

Overall, the play still seems mostly sluggish and lacks the sharpness expected after a month of playing time. There are still many situations that are evolving and injuries only add to the uncertainty. Let’s take a look at a few things entering into Week 5 of the season.

 

1.) How set are we on the top players? – We’re getting comfortable with the top players in their position since there have been four games. But how does that play out against the entire season? Let’s look at last year.

Most of the Top-10 did not stay there but mostly due to injury. The final Top-10 drew almost entirely from the Top-20 of Week 4.  But realize too that the high points that put them in the initial Top-10 are a part of the Week 17, so the ranking drops are more than what they seem. This does not bode well for Ezekiel Elliott, James Conner, or Alvin Kamara.

Looks like the Top-10 at year-end for receivers also comes out of the Top-24. This also doesn’t look good for Diontae Johnson, D.J. Moore, or Darnell Mooney.

2.)  RB Brian Robinson (WAS) – The rookie could show up as early as this weekend, and it would be a major positive for his season outlook if he could line up for a few plays. HC Ron Rivera said ““He looked solid. His conditioning will be a question, that’s for sure. But just watching him, his retention, his recall looks pretty good.” Antonio Gibson totals 53 carries for 173 yards (3.3 yards per carry), so Robinson has a chance to be the upgrade. It will take time before he’ll be ready for a full load, so the initial weeks may seem light, but he’s one to watch when he does play.

3.) WR Gabe Davis (BUF) – The third-year receiver opened the year with four catches for 88 yards and a score at the Rams. But he injured his ankle which kept him out in Week 2 and still hampered him for the last two games. Davis practiced in full this week and is finally back to health. These last three weeks saw Isaiah McKenzie score twice and have an uptick in targets. Davis should be back to form this week when the Steelers visit. Josh Allen was down to only 213 yards and one touchdown last week at the Ravens. A healthy Davis should show up this week and get the offense back on track.

4.) WR Rondale Moore (ARI) – The second-round pick of last year, Moore debuted last week after missing three weeks with a hamstring sprain. He was not effective with just one run and three catches for 11 yards. But Kyler Murray threw a season-low 207 yards in Carolina and Greg Dortch had a single catch. The Cardinals host the Eagles, so Marquise Brown will already be the most well-covered receiver. And the Cards will need to throw the ball more than usual. Moore ran a 4.29 40-time at the combine and offers needed speed. Greg Dortch was productive through the first three weeks replacing Moore, but will step back with Moore there. A.J. Green is also out this week, so Moore has to figure in and needs to show production as the starting slot receiver. Moore was added to the injury report on Thursday, so Friday’s practice should clarify if he’ll be limited this week.

5.) RB Tyler Allgeier/Caleb Huntley (ATL) – The Falcons lost Cordarrelle Patterson to injured reserve for at least the next four weeks, and that’s promoted Allgeier and Huntley into bigger roles. Even with Patterson active, Allgeier was taking six to ten carries each week and Avery Williams handled just one. Huntley was little used until Patterson went down, but then he jumped over Williams and became the No. 2 back in the win over the Browns. The Falcons’ offensive line has performed far better than expected, particularly with run blocking. The split will be interesting. Huntley rushed eight times in one series that bled over into the fourth quarter and that gave Atlanta a 17-13 lead. Allgeier is currently the No. 1 back, but the Falcons are more than happy to be run-heavy and there could be plenty for the No. 2 back, especially when he is running better than the No. 1.

6. QB Andy Dalton (NO) – Jameis Winston didn’t practice last week or this week (so far), so the expectation is that Dalton gets another start. Winston threw five interceptions over the last two games that he played and he’s out with back and ankle injuries. There is growing speculation that the Saints could be better off with the pocket passer Dalton who had no interceptions last week versus the Vikings. Michael Thomas is likely out again this week but Dalton connected well with Chris Olave (4-67, TD). Alvin Kamara is likely to return after limited practices this week. Friday will be key. Kamara hasn’t been used as a receiver much with Winston, his high game being three catches for seven yards in the season opener.  Last week, Dalton used running backs for four catches for 21 yards and tight ends for a combined six catches for 70 yards. The Saints’ offense is heading in the wrong direction with Winston, so a switch to Dalton could be in the works and would better serve Kamara as a receiver.

 

Falcons place RB Cordarrelle Patterson on injured reserve

The Falcons placed RB Cordarrelle Patterson on injured reserve and signed Caleb Huntley to the 53-man roster.

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The Atlanta Falcons were able to come away with a 23-20 win over the Browns Sunday, despite Cordarrelle Patterson getting just nine carries for 38 rushing yards. On Monday, the team announced that Patterson had a minor procedure on his knee and is being placed on the injured reserve list.

Taking Patterson’s place on the 53-man roster is Caleb Huntley, who was elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against Cleveland. Huntley finished his second NFL game with 10 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Expect rookie Tyler Allgeier to take the bulk of the load in Patterson’s absence. The Falcons selected Allgeier in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. On Sunday, Allgeier had 10 carries for 84 yards, with one catch for 20 receiving yards.

Patterson is out at least four weeks, but the team managed just fine with Allgeier and Huntley carrying the load in Week 4. Atlanta rushed for 202 yards against the Cleveland during the team’s 23-20 victory.

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