Tag: D’Onta Foreman

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 15 free-agent forecast

Check out the top waiver wire targets for Week 15.

Only two more games Monday night stand before the start of the playoffs in the majority of fantasy football leagues, and the waiver wire will be a busy marketplace entering Week 15.

There were a multitude of injuries to the running back position to keep an eye on moving forward. Players such as Josh Jacobs, Alexander Mattison, Brian Robinson Jr. and Isiah Pacheco — to name a few — all have injury question marks.

The bye weeks also are finally over, so it will be just good old-fashioned fantasy football. With trade deadlines concluded in the majority of leagues as well, the waiver wire becomes the most vital tool for fantasy managers over the three weeks.

We’re also getting to the point of the season in which stashing FAAB isn’t as crucial. Don’t be afraid to spend a bit more on a player who might give your team an edge down the stretch.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

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

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

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

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

Chasing Ambulances

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Huddle player of the week

Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

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

Salute!

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

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

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

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

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

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

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

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

About last night…

Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals 20, Ravens 34

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

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

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

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 10 free-agent forecast

Check out the top waiver wire targets for Week 10.

As we enter into the home stretch of the fantasy football season, managers are either looking to stay in the hunt or play spoiler for the rest of the league. Either way, the waiver wire is a vital part of the process.

There will be another four teams on a bye in Week 10 while another four will return from their week off.

Teams on a bye in Week 10 include the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

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

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

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

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

Chasing Ambulances

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

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

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

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

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

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

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huddle player of the week

Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

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

Salute!

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

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

Now get back to work…

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 9

Check out these starts and sits for fantasy football in Week 9.

With the Thursday night game in Week 9 now behind us, it’s time to focus our attention on the vital start/sit decisions to make in fantasy football for the weekend.

Four teams will be on a bye this week including the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our start/bench list for Week 9:

Saints vs. Bears: 3 biggest matchups in Week 9 game

Montez Sweat will likely be used sparingly but he could still impact the game. Sweat vs. Saints OT’s is the lead matchup in Saints vs. Bears

These aren’t exactly the Chicago Bears the New Orleans Saints thought they’d face just a couple of weeks ago. Justin Fields has already been ruled out for this game with a thumb injury. That leaves Tyson Bagent to start his third game of the season.

The Bears also made a splash at the trade deadline, trading for Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders. It’ll be interesting to see how the pass rusher impacts those around him as well as his own production. These changes to the Bears has made this game much more focused on the trenches.

These are the 3 matchups to watch in Bears vs. Saints:

Best photos from Chargers’ win over Bears in Week 8

Here are some of the best photos from SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

The Chargers defeated the Bears in Week 8 by the score of 30-13.

To relive the game, here are some of the best photos from SoFi Stadium.

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Week 8 with Bears Wire

Answers to a few burning questions about the Bears ahead of their matchup with the Chargers on Sunday night.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago Bears are about to duke it out in prime time.

Before the matchup, Bears Wire managing editor Alyssa Barbieri spoke with us about Los Angeles’ opponent.

With Tyson Bagent under center, what can we expect from the Bears’ offense?

BW: Bagent was efficient in his first NFL start, where the game plan was predicated on the quick passing game and leaning on what’s been a top-five rushing attack. Bagent wasn’t asked to do much, and I expect to see a similar game plan on Sunday night. With that said, I’d like to see Bagent be a little more aggressive with downfield throws, especially against a Chargers passing defense that ranks worst in the NFL. If Los Angeles’ defense can contain Chicago’s run game, it’ll force Bagent to have to do a little more than maybe what the coaches would like.

The defense has seemed to make some strides. What did they change and what’s working?

BW: The defense has turned a corner with Matt Eberflus acting as de facto defensive coordinator since Alan Williams’ surprising resignation. In the past two weeks, opposing offenses have totaled under 240 yards and averaged just 12.5 points. It’s more than possible that the Chargers could better those totals, but since Eberflus took over calling plays, it doesn’t feel like Chicago is going to give up 30-plus points per game like the first four weeks. While there’s still plenty to be desired by the pass rush, the Bears run defense has mounted an impressive turnaround. They ranked 31st against the run last season (allowing 157.0 yards per game). This season, they’re allowing just 82.3 yards per game (fifth-best in the NFL).

What area/position of the Bears could determine the outcome of this game?

The battle at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball will go a long way in determining the outcome of this game. Last week, Chicago dominated on both sides. They were able to keep Maxx Crosby at bay and rack up 173 yards on the ground, all while sustaining drives and taking time off the clock. On defense, they stopped Josh Jacobs and were able to provide enough pressure on Raiders quarterbacks to limit big plays and force three turnovers. The Bears will need a similar outing against the Chargers if they hope to come away with a win. The offensive line faces a tough task against Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, while the defensive line will need to find a way to get pressure on Justin Herbert.

Who is an under-the-radar Bear that Chargers fans should know about?

Considering he was inactive from Weeks 2-5, the fact that D’Onta Foreman has stepped in and produced on the ground for Chicago makes him notable. While rookie Roschon Johnson should be back, Foreman is expected to once again lead the ground game against the Chargers. He’s coming off an impressive outing against the Raiders, where he accounted for 120 yards (89 on the ground) and three touchdowns. Foreman will play a key role in the success of the Bears’ offense, especially as rookie Tyson Bagent makes his second NFL start.

What’s your prediction for the game?

The Bears haven’t won consecutive games under head coach Matt Eberflus since his arrival, and I have a hard time believing that streak ends Sunday night against the Chargers. While Chicago and Los Angeles both have two wins on the season — along with a pair of head coaches on the hot seat — the Chargers are simply the better team in this contest. I think it’ll be close, but Los Angeles should have this one. Chargers 27, Bears 23

Chargers’ keys to victory over Bears in Week 8

Here is how the Chargers can get their season back on track.

The Chargers come into Week 8 with their season hanging in the balance. A 2-5 start would be tough to shake off, especially with their schedule not getting much easier from here. While no opponent should be overlooked in the NFL, this is the kind of game LA must win for any chance at being a playoff contender.

This is the Chargers’ last opportunity of the season to have an actual get-right game to put their season back on track. Let’s take a look at how they can do that.

Playing physical, efficient defense near the LOS

To some extent, I understand why the Chargers came into Dallas and Kansas City with the game plans they did. Against Miami and Tennesee, they got burnt by the deep plays downfield. Their response after that was to drop everyone back with a lot of soft zone and prevent looks. That approach didn’t go well in either of their last two games.

Simply put, that’s not how they will win this game either. The Bears are going to throw everything short near the line of scrimmage. Backup quarterback turned starter Tyson Bagent had an ADOT of 2.5 yards against the Raiders. D.J. Moore’s ADOT was 4.1 yards.

The Bears also run the second-most screens of any team in the league. The Chargers are statistically the worst team at defending screens. Something has to change if you’re LA.

Chicago will keep its game plan simple with Bagent in at quarterback. Brandon Staley knows everything that will be thrown his way on Sunday whether it’s end-arounds, screens, quick game concepts, etc., It’ll be a matter of whether his defense is ready to play physical, efficient football near the line for four quarters.

No excuse for a bad OL game

Staley and Moore routinely praised the Kansas City and Dallas defensive lines during the last two weeks. And while the Chargers’ offensive line has its own set of issues, they were right. The fronts they had to contain the previous two weeks were suboptimal matchups.

The same excuse cannot be used for this Bears’ pass rush. Chicago has the second-fewest sacks of any team in the league, with just ten on the year. The advanced stats bear out the same thing for the most part. Only two Chicago defensive players have win rates over 10% against blocking.

For Will Clapp and Zion Johnson, this should be a relatively simple bounce-back performance. Rashawn Slater will look to continue the momentum with how he played last game.

While Herbert has been getting pressured a lot in part because of the offensive line, he can’t make the coverage sack mistakes that he did against Kansas City. He’ll also have to manage the protection schemes of the line a little bit better than he has been.

All in all, the Chargers cannot allow a fourth straight game of nonstop pass rush pressure against this specific Chicago group. It would be a sign of much larger problems.

Justin Herbert get-right game

The Chargers are 32nd in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. Chicago is not too far removed from that pace at 29th in the league with 257.1 yards allowed per game through the air. If there’s a week for Justin Herbert to have his get-right game, it’s this one.

Safeties Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker are also questionable for Sunday’s game. With the lack of pressure the Bears tend to manufacture, plus the secondary reeling, this should have 30+ point potential written all over it.

The hesitance to trust the offense in this game is understandable. But the Chargers are probably due for a little positive regression and are facing the weakest defense they’ll probably play all year. If it’s not now for Moore, Herbert, and company, when is it?

I’m not sure we’ll see him match his 400+ yard game vs. Minnesota, but the improved pass blocking and a defense less likely to be able to keep up with Keenan Allen for four quarters will create those opportunities. As Herbert said this week on the chances he’s missed, it’ll be on him to make them. And I trust he will in this one.

How good is this run defense, really?

After bottoming out last season, the Chargers are a top-10 run defense with 96.8 rush yards allowed per game in 2023. Who knows if that ends up holding up by the end of the season, but there is some credit to be given out there on a year-to-year improvement basis.

The Bears, however, will undoubtedly be a stress test of just how far all three levels of the defense have come in terms of stopping the run. Chicago has three more rushing attempts than it does passing attempts on the year. In their last three games, the Bears have put up 513 yards on the ground.

While the run defense has been better, the Chargers haven’t played an actual ground-and-pound opponent outside of perhaps Tennessee. If LA is going to take home the win, the Bears cannot run at the 150-200-yard pace that they have been.

A little more 4th down aggression

Brandon Staley has generally been pretty aggressive on 4th down this year. Entering the Dallas game, the Chargers’ coach had the highest percentage of scenarios where he went for it on 4th down when the models said to go for it.

In Kansas City, though, Staley punted on 4th and 5 at midfield before the half. That punt resulted in a Chiefs’ offensive drive that made the score 24-17. With six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Staley decided to punt the ball on the Chargers’ 27-yard line. Mecole Hardman turned on the burners for a 58-yard return and the game was practically over there.

One could say it’s the Bears’ offense and that’s reason enough to play conservatively. But 2-4, backs against-wall mentality cannot be cowardly. We may discuss the unofficial end of more than just the 2023 season with a loss. If the macro of this season has taught us anything, it’s to trust Herbert and the offense over this defense. Staley must put all the poker chips in the middle of this game.