Tag: Damien Williams

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
 Justin Herbert 398 – 29 5
Tom Brady 411 – 13 5
 Jameis Winston 279 – 26 4
 Josh Allen 315 – 59 4
 Davis Mills 312 – 2 3
Running Backs Yards TD
Austin Ekeler 17-66 rush
5-53 catch		 3
Myles Gaskin 5-25 rush
10-74 catch		 2
Derrick Henry 29-130 rush 3
Alvin Kamara 16-71 rush
5-51 catch		 2
Alexander Mattison 25-113 rush
7-40 catch		 1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Davante Adams 11-206 1
Mike Williams 8-165 2
Antonio Brown 7-124 2
Kadarius Toney 10-189 0
Mike Evans 6-113 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
David Njoku 7-149 1
Kyle Pitts 9-119 1
Hunter Henry 6-75 1
Dawson Knox 3-117 1
Dalton Schultz 6-79 0
Placekickers XP FG
Greg Zuerlein 5 3
Greg Joseph 1 4
Mason Crosby 1 4
Nick Folk 1 4
Chase McLaughlin 4 2
Defense Sack – TO TD
Titans 2 – 2 1
Cowboys 2 1
Vikings 4 – 2 0
Eagles 3 – 3 0
Bills 2 – 4 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Taysom Hill – Concussion
QB Daniel Jones – Concussion
QB Joe Burrow – Throat contusion
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Knee
RB Damien Harris – Ribs
RB Saquon Barkley – Ankle
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster – Shoulder
WR Deonte Harris – Hamstring
WR Quintez Cephus – Shoulder
WR Kenny Golladay – Knee
TE Maxx Williams – Leg

Chasing Ambulances

QB Daniel Jones (NYG) – Left with a concussion and was replaced by Mike Glennon, who will be the starter if Jones cannot play this weekend. The next two weeks are against the Rams and Panthers, which sport elite defenses. There’s minimal fantasy value in grabbing Glennon if he is needed to replace Jones.

QB Joe Burrow (CIN) – Was taken to a hospital with a throat contusion that he suffered during the game when someone poked their fingers into his neck. Burrow said later that he didn’t think it would keep him out this week when they play at the Lions.

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) – He was bent backward awkwardly and was in a great deal of pain with a knee injury. He was carried from the field, and there is concern that the injury could be serious. Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon saw more work, with Williams the most effective with five rushes for 25 yards and three catches for 18 yards. Barring unexpected positive news, Williams will be taking over as the primary back for the Chiefs.

RB Damien Harris (NE) – He left  with injured ribs, returned, and then left again. He’s worth tracking but early speculation is that he’ll be able to play this week when they host the Cowboys. Rhamondre Stevenson filled in with 11 rushes for 23 yards. Stevenson is worth owning if only because Harris has been less than durable in the past, but he seems to have left all his magic back in the preseason.

RB Saquon Barkley (NYG) – Rolled his ankle badly when he stepped on a defender’s shoe and was carted from the game. Early word has it that X-rays were negative and that it is only a low-ankle sprain. That could heal far quicker than initial expectations when his ankle immediately swelled up, and he was in considerable pain. Devontae Booker ran for 42 yards and a touchdown as a replacement in Dallas and should be owned as a handcuff by every Barkley owner. More information will given later in the week, but it appears he avoided serious injury.

WR Kenny Golladay (NYG) – Left with an unspecified knee injury that will be better explained by Wednesday. HC Joe Judge wouldn’t comment on any of the Giants’ injured players, so Golladay’s status remains unknown. Kadarius Toney had a breakout performance and will be the free agent of the week in leagues where he is still on the waiver wire.

TE Maxx Williams (ARI) – Appeared to suffer a severe injury to his right knee that was severely hyperextended in the best scenario but looks likely to be ligament damage. There’s no fantasy-relevant replacement for him among the tight ends, but he had accounted for 193 yards and a score in his first four games. That production more likely is shifted to either the running backs or wideouts like Ronald Moore.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

Bye Weeks –  This week starts the byes, and we lose the Falcons, Saints, Jets, and 49ers. But this is the time to plan for Week 7 when fantasy rosters take a hit without players from the Bills, Cowboys, Jaguars, Chargers, Vikings, and Steelers. Look for replacements before everyone else does next week.

TE Kyle Pitts (ATL) – The first-round rookie finally had his breakout performance with  a team-high nine catches for 119 yards and one score in the win over the Jets in London. The absence of both Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage helped force Matt Ryan to seek other receivers and Cordarrelle Patterson (7-60) also helped. At least he enters his bye with one big game under his belt.

WR Devonta Smith (PHI) – He’s become a marked man for opposing defenses, but playing in Carolina, he still led the Eagles with seven catches for 77 yards  from a team-high eight targets. That should be favorable for this week against the Buccaneers’ terrible secondary.

RB Chuba Hubbard (CAR) – He’s done just what they hoped when they drafted him. Christian McCaffrey’s backup ran for 101 yards on 24 carries plus caught five passes for 33 yards in the loss to the Eagles. He’ll have another good matchup against the Vikings this week if McCaffrey continues to miss games.

WR Randall Cobb (GB) – Week 3 saw Cobb with five catches for 69 yards and two scores. While it was hoped that it signaled greater use of Cobb, especially considering the loss of Marquez Valdes-Scantling. But he was held to only two catches for 30 yards by the Bengals while Davante Adams blew up again with 206 yards and a score. The Packers’ passing offense won’t ever be balanced unless an opponent can actually limit Davante Adams.

RB AJ Dillon (GB) – The Packers doled 14 carries to Aaron Jones, and he gained 103 yards, but they also gave Dillon eight runs (30 yards) in a very tight game. Both Jones and Dillon ended with four receptions, but while Jones gained only six yards, Dillon accounted for 49 yards and had a 12-yard touchdown catch. For a team that has all but abandoned the tight end as a receiver, it’s a nice direction to see the No. 2 back involved more catching passes.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) – As noted in the injury to Damien Harris, Stevenson was active for only the second time this year. He ran 11 times for 23 yards as the clear No. 2 back (for this game, anyway). Brandon Bolden only rushed twice, and he was used as the third-down back again but only gained six yards on four catches. Harris may not miss any time, but if he does, it appears that Stevenson is back in the equation. J.J. Taylor was inactive this week. The Pats host the Cowboys, who bring a Top-10 rushing defense, but in Week 7, the Patriots host the Jets No. 32 defense against running backs.

QB Davis Mills (HOU) – After posting humbling stats for three weeks, the ex-Stanford rookie threw for 312  yards and three touchdowns in one of the bigger surprises of the weekend. Mills even connected well with his wideouts that combined for 11 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns.

WR Chris Moore (HOU) – When the Texans released Anthony Miller, they said it was to make room for Danny Amendola. But he was inactive this week, and instead, they promoted Moore from the practice squad. He manned the slot and led the team with five catches for 109 yards and scored on a 67-yard pass play. That was even more notable since it happened in the only game that Davis Mills looked comfortable and was highly productive.  The Pats locked onto Brandin Cooks and shut him down. But it gave Moore a chance to play for the first time since leaving the Ravens, where he spent his first four years.

TE Dan Arnold (JAC) – The Jaguars lost DJ Chark last week, and the assumption was that Laviska Shenault would see the biggest boost in targets. It is just one week, but Shenault only caught one of his three targets for a 58-yard gain. Trevor Lawrence threw eight targets to Jamal  Agnew (6-41) and the new tight end Arnold (6-64) who led the team in receiving yardage. That’s a fast assimilation into the game plan for a tight end brought over in a trade just a couple of weeks ago.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) – The rookie made minimal impact in his first three weeks but then posted six catches for 70 yards at the Bears and then seven receptions for 65 yards  at the Bears yesterday. He’s not only seen an increase in targets, but the Lions may be without Quintez Cephus, who left the game with a shoulder injury. The Lions host the Bengals this week.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT) – The Steelers’ wideout injured his shoulder and was hospitalized during the matchup with the Broncos. He was immediately ruled out and taken directly during the game. His status should be updated on Monday, and he has already seen a decline in usage this year. If he misses time, it could help James Washington but more likely just heightens the importance of Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool.

RB Myles Gaskin (MIA) – There is nothing reliable here, but Gaskin led the Dolphins in receiving in their loss to the Buccaneers. He ended with ten catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns.  Those were his first scores on the year and more receiving production than from his first four games combined.

WR Marquez Callaway (NO) – After minimal production to start the year, Callaway is getting on track. He scored in Week 3, then gained 74 yards on two catches in Week 4. At Washington, he led the Saints with four receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints are on bye this week, but their next three opponents are the Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Falcons – all advantageous matchups.

TE David Njoku (CLE) – After never catching more than three passes in any game this year, Njoku became the leading receiver in the loss to the Chargers. He caught all seven targets for 149 yards and one score. He broke a tackle and scored on a 72-yard catch. The Browns will always run first, and it took a game that became an 89-point shootout. But Njoku stepped up when the Browns were forced to pass.

RB Khalil Herbert, RB Damien Williams (CHI) – With David Montgomery on the shelf for the next month or so, the Bears turned to a dual attack relying on both Khalil Herbert (18-75) and Damien Williams (16-64, TD) to great effect. Williams added two receptions for 20 yards. But both backs were used in equal measure for the entire game.

QB Trey Lance (SF) – The rookie’s first start only completed 15-of-29 for 192 yards and one interception, but he was the leading rusher with 16 runs for 89 yards in the loss to the Cardinals. The downside of a running quarterback is that the backfield shared just 11 carries, and only Deebo Samuel (3-58) managed more than 35 receiving yards. Lance only started for one full season in college, so he’s very raw. He adds fantasy value as a rusher, but it comes at the expense of all the other offensive players.

WR Kadarius Toney (NYG) – The Giants’ offense imploded against the Cowboys with injuries to their quarterback, running back, and No. 1 wide receiver. But Toney became the best weapon with 13 targets for ten catches that gained 189 yards. He even ran for seven yards. He earned more work with six receptions for 78 yards in Week 4. He looked like the No. 1 receiver for the Giants – and  could be if Golladay’s injury proves to be serious.

Huddle player of the week

Justin Herbert  –  The second-year quarterback has a tougher schedule for 2021, and he started slowly with only one score in each of the first two games. But he’s roared back with a vengeance and comes off his season-best effort with 398 yards and four passing touchdowns, plus he ran in a fifth  score on his four rushes for 29 yards in his shootout win over the Browns.

Salute!

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

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB David Mills 314 3 QB Russell Wilson 162 1
RB Myles Gaskin 99 2 RB Saquon Barkley 9 0
RB Devontae Booker 58 2 RB Melvin Gordon 43 0
WR Kadarius Toney 189 0 WR Kenny Golladay 0 0
WR Chris Moore 109 1 WR D.J. Moore 39 0
WR Chris Conley 84 1 WR A.J. Brown 38 0
TE David Njoku 149 1 TE Darren Waller 45 0
PK Greg Zuerlein 5  XP  3  FG PK Daniel Carlson 1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 153 Huddle Fantasy Points = 31

Now get back to work…

Studs and duds from Bears’ gritty road win over the Raiders

The Bears had a hard-fought 20-9 win over the Raiders. Here are players who thrived and those few who disappointed in the win.

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The Chicago Bears earned their first road victory of the season on Sunday, taking down the Las Vegas Raiders 20-9 in Sin City. It was a hard-fought win from the start as Bears players like Justin Fields took a ton of hits from a tough Raiders defense.

After going down 3-0, it seemed like it would be a long day for the Bears. But they rallied back to score 14 unanswered points in the second quarter, then pulling away thanks to a couple of clutch field goals.

There were quite a few players responsible for the victory, as well some others who thankfully didn’t cost the Bears the game. Here are this week’s studs and duds.

Instant analysis of Bears’ 20-9 win over the Raiders

Khalil Mack finally got his revenge against the Raiders as the Bears pulled off a 20-9 upset to improve to 3-2 on the season.

It took three years, but Khalil Mack finally got his revenge against his former team, and he was a big reason why as the Chicago Bears pulled off an upset against the Las Vegas Raiders with a 20-9 win on Sunday to improve to 3-2 on the season.

As has been the case on many occasions during Matt Nagy’s tenure in Chicago, the defense was the reason why the Bears were able to eke out a victory. They allowed just 3 points through the first 51:41 of the game and held a high-powered Raiders offense to 259 yards and 9 points.

Mack finally had the revenge game everyone was expecting with 1.0 sack – and another on a failed 2-point conversion – and contributed to a pass rush that made it a long afternoon for quarterback Derek Carr, who was sacked three – technically, four, counting the 2-point attempt – times.

Following an impressive outing against the Lions, rookie quarterback Justin Fields didn’t have to do much in his third NFL start – and the first since he was named the permanent starter. Fields completed 12-of-20 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown with a 91.9 passer rating.

Fields was heralded for his toughness, and that was certainly on display in the win. Early in the game, Fields took a shot to the ribs, and he was on the sideline with a trash can beside him. Later in the first half, he appeared to hyperextend his knee, which forced him out for a couple of plays. Andy Dalton saw some snaps before Fields returned to finish the game and lead his team.

The Bears offense goes through the run game, and even without star David Montgomery, Chicago found plenty of success on the ground with running backs Damien Williams and rookie Khalil Herbert, who combined for 139 rushing yards. Herbert led the Bears with 18 carries for 75 yards on the ground, where he finally got to showcase his burst. Williams added 64 yards on the ground, and he had some nice runs. While the Bears will certainly miss Montgomery, who’s been one of the best in the NFL this season, they’re in capable hands with Williams and Herbert.

Now, Chicago stands at 3-2 and in 2nd place in the NFC North heading into a divisional clash with the 4-1 Packers, who were lucky to escape with an overtime win against the Bengals. The Bears are going to need another stout defensive effort and a little more from the offense if they hope to get their first win over Green Bay since 2018.

But for now, the Bears came away with a big win at the start of a difficult six-game stretch through their bye week.

Damien Williams scores a touchdown to extend Bears’ first-half lead

Damien Williams scored a 4-yard touchdown to extend the Bears’ lead in the first half.

The Chicago Bears running game continues on even without starting running back David Montgomery. Backup running back Damien Williams, getting the start against the Las Vegas Raiders with Montgomery out due to a knee injury, has found plenty of holes during the game and reach paydirt late in the second quarter.

Williams scored a four-yard rushing touchdown, featuring a spin move on Raiders defensive back Amik Robertson, to put the Bears up 14-3. The touchdown capped off a 16-play drive.

Williams has 11 carries for 51 yards and a score on the day as the Bears lead the Raiders 14-3 at halftime.

Bears Week 5 injury report: Updates on Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Damien Williams on Wednesday

Here’s the Bears’ injury report from Wednesday’s practice, where Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks DNP and Damien Williams was a full participant.

The Chicago Bears released their first injury report ahead of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, which featured a couple of prominent defensive starters sidelined.

Here’s a look at the full injury report from Wednesday’s practice, which included outside linebacker Khalil Mack and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks not practicing and running back Damien Williams practicing in full.

What David Montgomery’s injury means for Bears offense

The Bears suffered a brutal blow with the loss of David Montgomery for 4-5 weeks. Here’s what means for Chicago’s offense moving forward.

The Bears offense suffered a blow with the loss of running back David Montgomery, who suffered a knee sprain in Sunday’s win over the Lions. The injury is expected to sideline Montgomery for 4-5 weeks, which happens to be right in the middle of the toughest part of Chicago’s schedule.

While the Bears lacked depth at running back last season, that’s not the case this year in the wake of Montgomery’s injury. Damien Williams and rookie Khalil Herbert bring valuable depth to the position, and they’ll get plenty of reps in place of Montgomery. Williams will be the primary back with Herbert getting his looks.

Williams suffered a thigh bruise in Sunday’s win over the Lions, but it sounds like he should be good to go. If not, it would be Herbert as the starting running back.

Chicago also has two running backs on the practice squad in Ryan Nall and Artavis Pierce, one of whom figures to be elevated to the active roster if Montgomery is placed on short-term injured reserve at some point.

But while the Bears have depth at running back in Williams and Herbert, it doesn’t soften the blow of losing Montgomery, who has been the best running back in the NFC this season and Chicago’s best offensive player.

The Bears offense finally found some rhythm with the emphasis on Montgomery running the ball, which helped open up the downfield passing game for quarterback Justin Fields. While Williams isn’t Montgomery, he’s still an established, capable running back who has found plenty of success in this league.

Chicago is going to need Williams and Herbert to help establish the run game for an offense that’s predicated toward running the ball. Assuming offensive coordinator Bill Lazor is still calling plays, that should remain an emphasis for this offense.

While Montgomery’s loss will be a brutal blow for this offense – especially given his start to this season – the good news is the injury isn’t season ending, as originally believed when Montgomery was writing in pain on the field. The Bears’ bye week comes at the perfect time in Week 10, which gives Montgomery an extra week of recovery before their Week 11 game against the Ravens.

The Bears are built to survive a few weeks without Montgomery. But it’s still going to be a massive loss.

Bears re-signing RB Artavis Pierce to practice squad

With David Montgomery sidelined for 4-5 weeks with a knee sprain, the Bears are re-signing Artavis Pierce to the practice squad.

With running back David Montgomery sidelined for 4-5 weeks with a knee sprain, the Chicago Bears have been making some roster moves to accommodate his loss.

The Bears are bringing back running back Artavis Pierce to the practice squad, according to The Athletic‘s Kevin Fishbain. Pierce was a free agent and figures to rejoin given the opportunity for playing time.

That gives the Bears two running backs on the practice squad in Pierce and Ryan Nall, one of whom figures to be elevated to the active roster assuming Montgomery is placed on short-term injured reserve at some point within the next couple of days.

With Montgomery sidelined, it’ll be Damien Williams and rookie Khalil Herbert getting the reps at running back, and they’re certainly solid depth. It’s not ideal to lose Montgomery, the team’s best offensive player, but it helps to have depth.

Chicago also traded for wide receiver Jakeem Grant, sending a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Dolphins in exchange. Grant figures to assume a big role on special teams, especially given Herbert’s role figures to serve mostly offense as Williams’ backup with Montgomery sidelined.

Bears RB Damien Williams ‘should be OK’ after suffering thigh bruise

Bears RB Damien Williams suffered a thigh bruise in Sunday’s win against the Lions, but it sounds like he should be good to go.

The Bears suffered a brutal blow when running back David Montgomery exited Sunday’s game against the Lions with what looked like a serious knee injury.

While there are reports that initial tests show Montgomery avoided a major knee injury — no ACL tear — Montgomery could miss some time.

Luckily, the Bears added some nice depth this offseason. But lost in the Montgomery injury news was that his backup, Damien Williams, also suffered an injury Sunday.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Williams suffered a thigh bruise and he “should be OK.” If Williams is able to go, he’ll be the starting running back with Khalil Herbert, who’s played primarily on special teams this season, will serve as his backup.

Matt Nagy failed to offer injury updates during his Monday morning press conference, saying Wednesday would be the day where we’ll know more. While it’s safe to assume Montgomery won’t play Sunday against the Raiders, Williams will be worth monitoring on the injury report.

If Williams can’t go, it’ll be the rookie Herbert and elevating Ryan Nall from the practice squad. Not exactly ideal. But it sounds encouraging right now that Williams will be good to go.

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Tunnel Vision of Week 4

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

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Sam Darnell 301-35 4
 Patrick Mahomes 278-26 5
 Matt Ryan 283-17 4
 Daniel Jones 402-27 2
 Jalen Hurts 387-47 2
Running Backs Yards TD
Saquon Barkley 13-52 rush
5-74 catch		 2
Derrick Henry 33-157 rush
2-20 catch		 1
David Montgomery 23-106 rush 2
Ezekiel Elliott 20-143 rush 1
James Robinson 18-78 rush
1-(-2) catch		 2
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Tyreek Hill 11-186 3
Cordarrelle Patterson 6-34 rush
5-82 catch		 3
Deebo Samuel 8-156 2
Terry McLaurin 6-123 2
D.J. Moore 8-113 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
C.J. Uzomah 5-95 2
Mo Alie-Cox 3-42 2
Dawson Knox 5-37 2
Maxx Williams 5-66 1
Dalton Schultz 6-58 1
Placekickers XP FG
Tyler Bass 4 4
Matt Prater 4 3
Justin Tucker 2 3
Jake Elliott 3 3
Ryan Succop 1 4
Defense Sack-TO TD
Bills 2 – 5 0
Cowboys 4 – 2 0
Bears 4 – 2 0
Football Team 1 – 0 1
Colts 3 – 2 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Jimmy Garoppolo – Calf
QB Teddy Bridgewater – Concussion
RB David Montgomery – Knee
RB Tony Jones – Ankle
TE Logan Thomas – Hamstring
WR DJ Chark – Broken ankle
WR Will Fuller – Hand
WR Dyami Brown – Knee
WR Josh Reynolds – Knee
PK Robbie Gould – Hamstring

Chasing Ambulances

David Montgomery and DJ Chark were the biggest names from Week 3. But when your kicker (Robbie Gould) gets hurt before scoring a point, you know it’s probably not your lucky day.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) – He injured his calf and said that he “anticipates being out a couple of weeks.” That would put Trey Lance under center for this week in Arizona. The 49ers have their bye in Week 6 to help Garoppolo heal, but if he remains out, they play the Colts and at the Bears the following two weeks. He’d be an option as a starting fantasy quarterback since he played for one half and threw for 157 yards and two scores on the Seahawks, plus rushed for 41 yards in just 30 minutes of play.

QB Teddy Bridgewater (DEN) – Hit by a linebacker helmet-to-helmet, Bridgewater was ruled out with a possible concussion. Drew Lock played in the second half of the loss to the Ravens and passed for 113 yards and one interception. It’s a downgrade for the offense if Bridgewater remains out and they play in Pittsburgh in Week 5, so Lock doesn’t hold much interest even if he ends up starting next Sunday.

RB David Montgomery (CHI) – Laid on the field for a while as they looked at his knee, but he walked off to the locker room. He was in much pain when it happened, but it is believed to be a hyperextension and didn’t tear any ligaments. If an MRI bears that out, he may not miss much time. The Bears play in Las Vegas this week and will need Montgomery. Damien Williams will take his place for however long it is needed. Williams ran for 55 yards and a score on eight carries in the win over the Lions. He’s worth grabbing if the Montgomery owner left him on the waiver wire.

RB Tony Jones Jr. (NO) – The Saints No. 2 running back injured his ankle in the loss to Washington and was carted from the field. Jones appeared to think it was severe when he left the field but his status will be better known on Monday. Dwayne Washington is the only other running back on the current roster, and there are none on the practice squad though Ty Montgomery was originally a running back and typically gets a rush or two per game. There isn’t much fantasy value in the No. 2 back since Latavius Murray left, but there is always the chance that Alvin Kamara could get injured.

WR DJ Chark  (JAC) – A broken ankle shakes up the Jaguars’ receivers while Trevor Lawrence goes through the learning curve for a rookie quarterback. Laviska Shenault is the one most likely to benefit. He and Marvin Jones are the new starters, but the No. 3 role is likely a combination of Tyron Johnson, Jamal Agnew, and Tavon Austin. Shenault was dropped in some leagues but needs to be on fantasy rosters.

TE Logan Thomas (WAS)  – Left with a hamstring injury and threw his helmet at the bench after he hobbled off the field. There’s no word yet on the severity, but Ricky-Seals Jones would replace him again if needed this week when the Saints visit.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

Week 6 byes are almost here – The Falcons, Saints, Jets, and 49ers have a Week 6 bye, so get ahead of the game and review your rosters in preparation.  Week 7 is even worse with the Bills, Cowboys, Jaguars, Chargers, Vikings, and Steelers. Week 7 will touch likely every fantasy team. Look ahead to see if you need to swap out any kickers or team defenses.

TE C.J. Uzomah (CIN) – He only totaled four catches for 39 yards over the first three weeks, but Uzomah came to life against the Jaguars when he caught five passes for 95 yards and both passing scores for the Bengals. It’s just an aberration for now, but he helped out in Week 4 when Tee Higgins was inactive.

WR Curtis Samuel (WAS) – His debut was only four catches for 19 yards, but he’ll become a bigger part of the offense.

RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL) – He’s 30 years old and on his fifth NFL team. But he just scored three touchdowns while catching five passes for 82 yards, plus he also led the backfield with six runs for 34 yards. Patterson’s five touchdowns in the last two weeks are more than he scored in any of the eight past seasons. He is 6-4 and 205 pounds and not built like any other running back. He faces the visiting Jets this week and it doesn’t have to make sense why he suddenly is posting fantasy points.

TE Dawson Knox (BUF) – He not only scored twice on his five catches for 37 yards in the win over the Texans, he also turned in touchdowns in each of the last three games. That ties him with  Rob Gronkowski for the scoring lead among NFL tight ends.

QB Justin Fields (CHI) – What a difference a week makes. The rookie threw for 209 yards and just one interception in the win over the Lions. He still only rushed for nine yards on three runs. So, it is odd that they cannot make use of his skills as a runner. On the plus, Darnell Mooney (5-125) finally showed up with Fields under center though his 64-yard catch helped significantly.

RB Dalvin Cook (MIN) – Took the start after missing Week 3 with an ankle injury. But he only ran nine times for 34 yards while Alexander Mattison gained 20 yards on ten rushes. There’s speculation that Cook aggravated the ankle as he played little in the second half.

QB Sam Darnell (NYJ) – He passed for 301 yards and two scores in Dallas, plus ran six times for 35 yards and two more touchdowns.  He currently ranks as the No. 5 fantasy quarterback after four games. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for the Jets where he struggled for three years.

RB Saquon Barkley (NYG) – Now that’s the Barkley we remember. The Giants upset the Saints in New Orleans partly thanks to Saquon rushing for 52 yards and a score on 13 carries, plus catching five passes for 74 yards and another touchdown. He handled all but one touch for the backfield and finally looked back to form.

Giants Wide Receivers – Maybe the Saints got caught in a trap game. The Giants were without Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton and facing the Saints secondary. But Daniel Jones threw for 402 yards and two scores. The rookie Kadarius Toney (6-78) had a breakout effort, and John Ross (3-77, TD) debuted after missing time with a hamstring injury. Whether that was a trap game or not, the Giants head to Dallas this week, where the points tend to skew higher. It will all be worth tracking to see if Shepard and Slayton return from their respective hamstring issues.

RB Alvin Kamara (NO) – He ran for a season-high 120 yards on 26 carries as the Saints tried unsuccessfully to eat up the clock.  But Taysom Hill ran in the two rushing touchdowns, and odder still was that Kamara never had a catch. He never had a pass thrown to him. Last year, he had one game where he was thrown one pass and it was incomplete. But this week appears to be the first-ever game that he was never thrown a pass.

RB Jeremy McNichols (TEN) – The Titans were without Julio Jones and A.J. Brown in the loss to the Jets. Chester Rogers (5-63) and Josh Reynolds (6-59) were their replacements, along with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (3-29). But Ryan Tannehill threw a team-high twelve passes to No. 2 running back Jeremy McNichols, who led the team with eight receptions for 74 yards. Worth noting for a cheaper Daily Fantasy play next week in Jacksonville if Jones and Brown remain out.

RB Michael Carter (NYJ) – The rookie now takes a much bigger slice of the backfield pie. In the win over the Jets, he ran 13 times for 38 yards and the first Jets’ rushing touchdown of the year. Tevin Coleman (4-14) and Ty Johnson (3-1) played lesser roles though all caught one or two short passes.

Eagles backfield – Miles Sanders disappointed (again) with a role that shrinks since the season opener when he ran 15 times for 74 yards and caught four passes for 39 yards. Sanders was limited to just two runs and three catches in Week 3, then seven carries for 13 yards in the loss to the Chiefs that added three catches for 34 yards. However, Kenneth Gainwell gets better. He ran three times for 31 yards and a touchdown on Sunday and caught six passes for 58 yards. He plays more in passing situations, but the Eagles’ next three opponents are the Panthers, Buccaneers, and Raiders. This bode worse for Sanders and better for Gainwell.

TE Maxx Williams (ARI) – He posted seven receptions for 94 yards in Week 2 but then only three catches for 19 yards in Week 3. Versus the Rams, he caught five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. The problem with that is Kyler Murray playing so well is that he takes what the defense  gives, and that changes every game. Christian Kirk went from 104 yards on seven catches in Week 3 to only one catch for five yards versus the Rams. DeAndre Hopkins and Murray are the only constants, but players like Williams occasionally show up in box scores.

RB Alex Collins (SEA) – The 49ers knew to bottle up Chris Carson and held him to only 30 yards on 13 carries and a one-yard catch. But Alex Collins replaced Rashaad Penny, who is on injured reserve, as the No. 2 back. And he provided a spark that helped lift the Seahawks to a win in San Francisco. Collins gained 44 yards and a touchdown on ten rushes and turned two catches into 34 yards. He was everything that fantasy owners wanted from Carson. He’s a must-own for the Carson owner now and showed that he could produce when given a chance. The depth chart remains unchanged, but Collins spawned more confidence about using him.

RB Trey Sermon (SF) – There is a good chance that Elijah Mitchell may return this week for the matchup in Arizona. It will likely be disappointing to see what happens to the backfield rotation. Sermon ran 19 times for 89 yards but had no role as a receiver in the loss to the Seahawks.  He was given all but two carries for the backfield and ran well. When Mitchell returns, he may assume a role as a receiver even though fullback Kyle Juszczyk already was the No. 2 receiver with four catches for 41 yards on Sunday. A tangled mess is looming.

WR Randall Cobb (GB) – Marquez Valdes-Scantling was placed on injured reserve last week, and that only made the prospect even worse of what happens when Davante Adams is somehow actually covered?  For at least one week, the answer is Randall Cobb. He was held with no catches in San Francisco during Week 3, but he led the Packers with five receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Steelers. The next two weeks are on the road to the Bengals and Bears, so the Packers will need someone besides Adams to step up.

Huddle player of the week

Tyreek Hill  –  After two weeks of very moderate stats and no scoring, the Chiefs’ star wideout dominated the overmatched Eagles’ secondary when he caught 11 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Travis Kelce (4-23) may have had an off day, but Hill was unstoppable.

Salute!

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

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Sam Darnold 336 4 QB Lamar Jackson 342 1
RB James Conner 66 2 RB Dalvin Cook 44 0
RB Kenneth Gainwell 89 1 RB Myles Gaskin 3 0
WR C. Patterson 116 3 WR DJ Chark 0 0
WR Randall Cobb 69 2 WR CeeDee Lamb 13 0
WR Kalif Raymond 46 2 WR Tyler Lockett 24 0
TE C.J. Uzomah 95 2 TE Logan Thomas 0 0
PK Jake Elliott 3  XP   3 FG PK Brandon McManus 1  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 156 Huddle Fantasy Points = 31

Now get back to work…

Can Khalil Herbert unseat Damien Williams as David Montgomery’s backup?

Don’t bet against Bears rookie RB Khalil Herbert eventually becoming the top backup running back in Chicago this season.

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Check out this stat line and ask yourself if it reads like an NFL running back who’s an injury away from starting:

Six seasons, two (now three) teams, 85 games, 294 carries, 1,231 yards, and 12 touchdowns.

That’s the career box score for the Bears’ top backup running back, Damien Williams, whose best season totaled 498 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

Williams opted out of the 2020 season but his days as the Chiefs’ starter were numbered anyway. He was expected to take a back seat to 2020 first-round pick, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, had he played last year.

Williams was released by Kansas City on March 16 and signed by the Bears to a one-year deal 10 days later.

At this point in Williams’ career, it’s fair to call him a journeyman depth player who’s proven he’s capable of spot-starting duty or the occasional big play, but is there enough on his resume to justify some of the offseason chatter that’s gone as far as to suggest he could chip away at David Montgomery’s workload?

Simply put, no.

The Williams hype has been nothing more than the classic kneejerk reaction that follows offseason signings. Add the fact that Tarik Cohen is still hobbled by the torn ACL he suffered last season and the lack of any other established running back on the roster, and the expectations surrounding Williams have become irrationally high.

In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Williams is outplayed this preseason by rookie Khalil Herbert, who the Bears selected in the sixth round from Virginia Tech.

It’d be a wise business strategy to anoint the rookie — who’s on a rookie contract — to the top reserve spot instead of a veteran playing on a one-year deal and likely looking for another payday in 2022. More importantly, Herbert is a talented runner who if given NFL reps to season his game has the upside to mature into a quality RB2.

Herbert transferred to Va Tech in 2020 after spending the majority of his collegiate career at Kansas. He totaled 475 carries for 2,918 yards and 22 touchdowns in a little over four seasons. His yards-per-carry was an impressive 6.1 over that span.

Herbert’s breakout year came in 2020 when he totaled 1,183 yards and eight scores for the Hokies, including an incredible 7.6 yards per rush.

Herbert’s skill set is intriguing, to say the least. He checked in at 5’9 and 210 pounds during the run-up to the 2021 draft and was touted as a prospect with a good blend of vision and power. He recorded a 4.46 40-yard dash at his Virginia Tech pro day and proved with his athletic numbers that he checks almost every box to be a legitimate pro running back.

Herbert is exactly six years younger than Williams, too, and could pair with Montgomery to form a fantastic young duo in Chicago’s backfield.

Obviously, the preseason will go a long way in deciding just how involved Herbert is in the Bears’ offense this year. His range of potential outcomes is wide; he can just as easily be a practice squad player as he can be the first man off the bench, which is why August football is so fantastic to watch.

Herbert has already worked himself into the third spot on the running back depth chart, albeit because Cohen is still out with his knee injury. Still, he’s surpassed players like Artavis Pierce, who got some run in 2020, and Ryan Nall, who’s been in the program for several seasons.

It may not be long before Herbert passes Williams too.