Tag: fantasy football analysis

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Deshaun Watson – Achilles
QB D Thompson-Robinson – Finger
QB Jayden Daniels – Ribs
QB Tyler Huntley – Shoulder
QB Aidan O’Connell – Thumb
WR Demario Douglas – Illness
WR Ja’Lynn Polk – Head
WR Deebo Samuel – Illness
WR DK Metcalf – Knee
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster – Hamstring

Chasing Ambulances

QB Deshaun Watson – Appears to have potentially torn his Achilles and is expected to miss the rest of the season, barring surprising news. Watson went down untouched and his calf had that visible contraction typical of a torn Achilles. Watson was playing largely because his overpaid contract forced him on the field but he was not “a fan favorite.”

QB Jayden Daniels – Left for the locker room and returned without pads on what was initially considered ribs. But he was smiling and the Commanders were up 34-0 anyway. Early speculation is that Daniels will be fine for this week against the Bears. Marcus Mariota was effective in relief but was also facing the visiting Panthers.

QB Tyler Huntley – Injured his shoulder and did not return to the game. Tim Boyle took his place but Tua Tagovailoa is slated to return for Week 8, so Huntley’s status may not matter.

QB Aidan O’Connell – Thought to have broken the thumb on his throwing hand when he hit a helmet after a throw. Gardner Minshew finished the game and is likely the starter again. A broken thumb on a throwing hand is definitely a multi-week issue and potentially season-ending. With the season already gone bad, the Raiders are unlikely to trade for any notable quarterback.

WR Demario Douglas – The Patriots’ No. 1 wideout caught the first two passes and then never again as he was reported – after the kickoff – to have been sick. He then returned for one play in the second half, which caused any prop bets made on him to stand. This was not unnoticed by the gamblers who questioned his lack of reporting and then insertion into the second half for a single play that locked in his bets instead of cancelling them.

WR DK Metcalf – Had his knee banged while catching a pass and left the game. HC Mike MacDonald said the injury wasn’t as severe as first feared and that “it doesn’t look too bad.” His status for the Bills matchup this weekend will be determined during the week, but it doesn’t sound like it should be an issue.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster – The Chiefs wideout was already questionable to play last week with a hamstring injury but was active. He was later pulled from the game when the hamstring flared up again.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Jameis Winston – Should be a hot property in Super Flex leagues where any quarterback has value. Deshaun Watson appears to be gone for the year with a severe knee injury, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured his finger. Winston seems to be the last man standing since the Browns dumped the capable Joe Flacco, so there wouldn’t be calls for him while Watson struggled. The Browns just lost their fifth straight, so there is no point in trading for an upgrade.

WR Ricky Pearsall – The 49ers appear likely to miss Brandon Aiyuk for a while, if not the season and Deebo Samuel was suddenly ill and dropped out of the loss to the Chiefs despite being active. Pearsall debuted yesterday when he caught three passes for 21 yards against the Chiefs’ top-ranked secondary. Jauan Jennings was out with a hip injury and never practiced last week. Pearsall needs to help this week when the Cowboys visit.

RB Kendre Miller – He stumbled through his rookie season, mostly injured and then injured his hamstring this summer. Miller finally debuted his week versus the Broncos and ran for 36 yards on six carries, while Alvin Kamara only gained 10 yards on seven rushes. Most of Miller’s work came later in the blowout loss, but he’s a name to remember for Kamara owners and would see more work if Kamara gets his wish about being traded. Jamaal Williams has been wholly ineffective this season.

RB Tank Bigsby – He turned in a career-best in the matcup with the Patriots in London when he ran for 118 yards and two scores on 26 carries. He has no role as a receiver, which is more of the purvey of Travis Etienne anyway. But Bigsby has had two 100-yard performances over the last two weeks, and Etienne faded away even before missing time due to a hamstring injury.

QB Mason Rudolph – The Titans started Rudolph with Will Levis nursing a shoulder injury, though there were whispers that Rudolph would be getting a chance anyway. He threw for 215 yards and one score, but no receivers topped 50 yards. But that was better than all but one game by Levis and it came on the road to Buffalo and their Top-10 pass defense. Rudolph will need to throw this week and should see at least a little more success at the Lions.

WR Amari Cooper – His uniform still had creases in it, but the ex-Brown debuted with four very encouraging catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. Keon Coleman (4-125) also had a career-high, thanks in part to the opposing defense having more to worry about now.

WR Cedric Tillman – First game without Amari Cooper, and the Browns spun through three quarterbacks. But the top receiver became Cedric Tillman (8-81), while Jerry Jeudy (1-18) drew the heaviest coverage. Tillman fielded 12 targets, yet he only had five others in the season before this week.

QB Tua Tagovailoa – He’s expected to return when the Dolphins host the Cardinals. The Dolphins offense has cratered without him, and Tyreek Hill just caught one pass for eight yards on his two targets in the game.  Jaylen Waddle was better, with one catch for 11 yards. Hard to recall that Tagovailoa’s last full game saw Hill and Waddle break 100 yards.

QB Daniel Jones – He was finally benched in the third quarter of the 28-3 loss to the Eagles. He only managed 99 passing yards but Drew Lock was even worse with 3-of-6 for six yards. Malik Nabers returned from his concussion and led the team with only four catches for 41 yards. HC Brian Daboll has already confirmed that Jones will be the starter again this week in Pittsburgh, but they already have the leash ready.

WR Tre Tucker – He only managed three catches for 36 yards, but that was second only to Brock Bowers in the loss to the Rams. Davante Adams is officially gone and Tucker’s eight targets were second-highest for the Raiders.

TE Ja’Tavion Sanders – The Panthers’ rookie led the team with six catches for 61 yards – on six targets. No other Panther receiver had more than two catches or 17 yards.

WR Davante Adams – His debut started well with three catches for 30 yards in the first half but then he had no receptions in the second half. Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions to add to his four in the previous two games. He rarely threw six intereceptions in any career year, let alone over three games. What if the problem is… you know… when the pass is thrown?

QB Russell Wilson – He took over for Justin Fields who was 4-2 but didn’t throw downfield that well. Wilson went against an admittedly injury-depleted secondary but threw for 264 yards and two scores. He also gave George Pickens five catches for 111 yards and his first touchdown on the season. He also added a rushing score to make him the highest-scoring fantasy quarterback of the weekend.

Huddle player of the week

Saquon Barkley (PHI)  –  In what may be one of the bigger front office miscalcuations of all time was when the Giants told Barkley that he could go find a deal. He did. The Eagles welcomed him and then made him a workhorse AND had a great offensive line. Barkley pasted his old team with 17 runs for 176 yards and caught two passes for 11 yards with one score. It was everything you crave when facing an ex-employer.

Salute!

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

Now get back to work…

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

RB Travis Etienne – Hamstring
RB Jerome Ford – Hamstring
RB Jamesd Conner – Ankle
WR Chris Olave – Concussion
WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – Concussion
WR Dontayvion Wicks – Shoulder
WR Quentin Johnston – Ankle
WR Elijah Moore – Rib
TE Dallas Goedert – Hamstring

Chasing Ambulances

RB Travis Etienne – The Jags’ primary back was already in decline this year and entered the game having just healed a shoulder injury. He strained his hamstring and was unable to return. Etienne had disappointed and appears to have health issues that may be related to being overused last year. Tank Bigsby has already emerged as a solid option and would handle the backfield with D’Earnest Johnson if Etienne misses the Patriots matchup this week.

RB Jerome Ford – Left the game with a hamstring strain and did not return. D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong stepped up to replace Ford. The severity of Ford’s hamstring will be determined with an MRI on Monday. Nick Chubb should be back this week, so the backfield will already be different.

WR Chris Olave – Suffered a concussion on his first catch of the day and was held out. While it did not appear to be severe, his availability for the matchup with the Broncos this week is in question. Spencer Rattler wasn’t bad, throwing for 243 yards and scoring in his debut, but none of the wideouts did anything to step up and replace Olave.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – Left in the first half after taking a hard hit to his head and was ruled out with a concussion. He was helped off the field and ruled out for the game. He’ll be evaluated during the week but may miss the matchup with the visiting Chargers this week. None of the other wideouts stepped up in his absence.

TE Dallas Goedert – Injured his hamstring in the first quarter and immediately went to the locker room. An MRI will determine the severity of the injury, but he may miss the trip to the Giants this week, judging solely by the apparent seriousness.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

TE Evan Engram – Had been out since Week 1 and was questionable entering the game, but he easily led the Jags in their loss to the Bears when he caught ten passes for 102 yards. That was double the receptions of any other Jaguars receiver.

TE Mark Andrews – Like Kyle Pitts in Week 5, the Ravens’ tight end was safely tucked onto fantasy benches after two games without a catch and only 120 yards on the season. Versus the Commanders, Andrews caught three passes for 66 yards and the lone passing score by Baltimore. Isaiah Likely only caught two passes for 27 yards. That will probably reverse if you dare to start Andrews this week in Tampa Bay.

RB Trey Benson – James Conner seemed to be hampered by his ankle, though it was not reported. Conner also lost a fumble in the second half. He was limited to only 24 yards on seven rushes. Benson led the offense with 26 yards on five rushes, while Emari Demercado gained 25 yards on four carries and added five catches for 39 yards. Conner has often been injured in the past, so watch practices this week to see if Conner is at all limited. Demercado is the third-down back, while Benson is the rookie who was a sleeper this summer and who could be the primary back in 2025.

WR Christian Watson – He is the NFL’s version of that flower that blooms just one day a year. Week 6 was when he led the Packers with three catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. He was questionable coming into the game because of an ankle injury suffered two weeks ago. There’s no arguing about his potential, but also no arguing that his durability remains his biggest opponent.

QB Drake Maye – The Patriots rookie debuted and while they lost badly to the Texans, Maye’s first career game impressed. He passed for 243 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions. He also added five runs for 38 yards. That easily outpaced anything that Jacoby Brissett had done this year, when he never had more than one score or 168 passing yards in any game. Let the Drake Maye era begin.

WR Demario Douglas – Further impressing, Drake Maye not only turned in solid passing stats in his first start, but his top two receivers were the two starting wideouts, not a nearby tight end or a dumpoff-catching running back. Demario Demarcus led the team with six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. Kayshon Boutte was next with three receptions for 59 yards and a score.

RB Bucky Irving – He was already gaining on Rachaad White and took the start this week with White out. He gained 81 yards on 14 carries and scored once in the win at the Saints. Irving also added two catches for 24 yards and this was against the defense that had ranked No. 4 versus running backs.

RB Sean Tucker – The undrafted running back from Syracuse signed with the Buccaneers in 2023, and his two seasons totaled just 17 carries for 30 yards before Week 6 when he ran for a team-high 136 yards on 14 carries with one score, and caught three passes for 56 yards in the 51-27 beatdown of the Saints. Tucker only carried once to seven for Bucky Irving by halftime and just once in the third quarter. The majority of his rushes came in the fourth quarter after the Buccaneers were already up 37-27 and they were  controlling the clock. Tucker’s rushing score happened with only two minutes to play when the Bucs had already led 44-27.. He made the most of the opportunity, but this wasn’t a case of him leapfrogging Bucky Irving on the depth chart.

QB Spencer Rattler – The Saints rookie took his first NFL start and threw for 243 yards and one score. He was at an immediate disadvantage from losing Chris Olave to start the game. Derek Carr’s job is still very safe.

TE Grant Calcaterra – Stepped in when Dallas Goedert was injured and ended second on the team with four catches for 67 yards in the win over the Browns. He could be a cheap Daily Fantasy option next week at the Giants if Goedert remains out.

RB Kimani Vidal – The Chargers rookie was on injured reserve but came off the list this week and debuted in the in over the Broncos. His first touch was a 38-yard touchdown catch. He only gained 11 yards on four carries, while J.K. Dobbins handled 25 rushes for 96 yards. But his first active game was encouraging and Gus Edwards was placed onto injured reserve, so the rookie gets a lock on the No. 2 job.

TE Ja’Tavion Sanders – The Panthers’ rookie was one of the offseason upgrade of offensive weapons, and he had a quiet start to his career. The ex-Longhorn had never topped 16 yards in any game over the first five weeks but then was the No. 2 receiver for the Panthers in their loss to the Falcons when he caught five passes for 49 yards. That falls short of fantasy relevancy, but at least he’s finally getting more looks and totaled seven targets in the game.

Huddle player of the week

Chris Godwin  (TB)  –  The eighth-year Buccaneer has long been the No. 2 wideout that usually ends up just cresting 1,000 yards per year with three or four touchdowns. Not this year. He’s enjoying a big year and ended Week 6 as the highest scoring fantasy player when he caught 11 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. The Bucs hope that every opponent doubles Mike Evans and thinks all they need to do.

Salute!

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

Now get back to work…

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Aaron Rodgers – Ankle
QB Josh Allen – Concussion
RB Aaron Jones – Hip
RB De’Von Achane – Concussion
RB R. Stevenson – Ankle
RB Zack Moss – Ankle
WR Nico Collins – Hamstring
WR Jordan Whittington – Shoulder
PK Jake Moody – High Ankle Sprain

Chasing Ambulances

QB Aaron Rodgers – Was bruised and battered often in the loss to the Vikings and most notably suffered what he called a “low-ankle sprain.” He continued to play, albeit with a limp, but pending something surprising, he should be okay to face the Bills this week.

QB Josh Allen – Was tackled and went down hard with his helmet bouncing off the turf. His diagnosis wasn’t official on Sunday, so he will be further evaluated, and more should be known by Monday. The Bills need him healthy to play at the Jets next week.

RB Aaron Jones – Was rushing well against the Jets in London but suffered a hip injury and left the game. He spent the rest of the game on the sideline and did not appear to be in pain. The injury is believed to be “short-term,” and the Vikings head onto their bye, so he’ll have two weeks to heal up in time to face the Lions in Week 7.

RB De’Von Achane – Left the win over the Patriots in the first quarter and was diagnosed with a concussion. He heads onto his bye this week, so he’ll have two full weeks to pass the concussion protocol.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson – He was not allowed to start, which meant nothing in reality, but he did suffer an ankle injury.  It was later reported not to be serious and that he would not miss any time when they host the Texans this week.

WR Nico Collins – He was en route to yet another monster performance when he left the win over the Bills after catching two passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Collins injured his hamstring and did not return. His status for this week’s game in New England will be determined later in the week.

WR Jordan Whittington – The Rams’ sixth-round wideout played a minimal role for the first three weeks, but with both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp out, the rookie saw six catches for 62 yards in Week 4 and then led the team with seven catches for 89 yards in the loss to the Packers. But he injured his shoulder and left the game with his arm in a sling.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Ty Chandler – Aaron Jones left with an injured hip, and Chandler stepped in with 14 carries for 30 yards and caught two passes for nine yards against a stout Jets defense. Jones should be healthy after their bye, but it is a reminder to get his backup for the Jones owners.

RB Tyrone Tracey – With Devin Singletary out, the Giants turned to the rookie Tracey to lead the backfield and he gained 129 yards on 18 rushes (7.2 YPC). He was only used for one catch for one yard. That came in the road win at the Seahawks, though it could have been a trap game, with Seattle caught thinking ahead of facing the 49ers this week.

RB Breece Hall – One of life’s mysteries has to be about the running back formerly known as Breece Hall. Against the Broncos in Week 4, he ran for four yards on ten carries. Versus the Vikings in Week 5, he gained 23 yards on nine rushes. Through the first five games of 2023, he gained 387 rushing yards on 54 carries (7.2 YPC) and this year, he totaled 197 yards on 65 carries (3.0 YPC). An improved passing game should help the rushing effort, not strip it of fantasy value.

RB Chuba Hubbard – That boost that Andy Dalton brought to the offense went away in Chicago, but Chuba Hubbard (13-97, TD) added four catches for his third straight 100-total-yard effort. Hard to believe but whenever Jonathan Brooks shows up, he’ll get a slow introduction because Hubbard’s 2024 season is dramatically better than his three previous years.

Ravens Tight Ends – Lamar Jackson used his tight ends to a total of ten catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns. That breaks down to Isaiah Likely (3-13, 2 TD), Mark Andrews (4-55) and the lead tight end Charlie Kovar (3-64, TD). Well. Do you feel lucky?

RB Dare Ogunbowale – With Joe Mixon missing his third game, Cam Akers was expected to handle the primary duties and he did score once on his nine rushes for 42 yards. But Ogunbowale only had four carries on the season entering that game but ended up as the busiest back with 15 rushes for 30 yards and a season-high six catches for 57 yards. Mixon should be back for the matchup with the Patriots this week, but Ogunbowale has carved out a role.

WR Darius Slayton – With the rookie Malik Nabers out, it was assumed that Wan’Dale Robinson (6-36, TD) would see more work but it didn’t happen. Slayton replaced Nabers and led the team with eight catches of 122 yards and a touchdown. That’s notable next week if Nabers is still out, and the Giants play the Ravens, who just gave up 276 yards and four touchdowns to the Bengals’ starting wideouts.

RB Trey Sermon – With Jonathan Taylor out with an ankle sprain, the Colts turned to Trey Sermon (10-38, TD) but also Tyler Goodson (5-26). Sermon ended with six catches for 25 yards in the loss to the Jaguars, and Goodson also gained 31 yards on three receptions. The backfield is a true split whenever Taylor is out, but at least Sermon handled the most touches. Goodson totaled only one catch and no rushes prior to Sunday.

RB Tank Bigsby – The role of Travis Etienne is nothing like it was in 2023 when he was a top fantasy running back. For reasons unknown, Etienne has not been effective when rushing, and it is not just the opposing defenses because Bigsby has been the better half of the backfield.  While Etienne ran for 17 yards on six carries against the Colts, Bigsby ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 13 rushes. On the year, Etienne totaled 53 runs for 231 yards (4.3 YPC) while Bigsby turned in 34 carries for 273 yards (8.0 YPC).  That was influenced by Bigsby’s 65-yard run this week and his 58-yard run in Week 4. That’s the point. Bigsby can break long gainers while Etienne continues to fade in usage and effectiveness.

TE Tucker Kraft – After logging just two short catches per week for the first three games, the Packers tight end caught six passes for 53 yards and scored a touchdown in Week 4. He followed that with a team-high 88 yards on four catches and two more scores as the top receiver for theWeek 5 game.

RB Jaylen Wright – After De’Von Achane left the game with a concussion, Wright assumed his role in the win over the Patriots. He ran for 86 yards on 13 carries but was never used as a receiver. The Fins head onto their bye, so Achane should be healed, but Wright looked sharp when given the chance. Raheem Mostert returned from his two-game absence and was reliable with 80 yards on 19 rushes and two catches for 18 yards. It’s a plus to see success from the backfield, even though the passing offense remains a problem.

WR Brandon Aiyuk – While it took five games, Aiyuk finally showed up for more than a sub-50-yard performance when he caught eight passes for 147 yards in the loss to the Cardinals. Maybe if that mountain-o-money came along with an actual touchdown, the niners might win more.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson – After fumbling in each of the first four games, Stevenson was disciplined by handing over the starting duties to Antonio Gibson. Ends up that was just the first carry in the game. Stevenson had the next one, and then the third carry in the game was Stevenson’s 33-yard touchdown run. He ended with 12 runs for 89 yards and the score, while Gibson only handled six rushes and gained 52 yards. But – Stevenson did not fumble. It’s all about that first carry, apparently…

RB Brian Robinson – He only managed one limited practice on Friday, was questionable to play and a game-time decision. He only gained 18 yards on seven rushes but ran in two touchdowns to limit what the more effective rushers of Austin Ekeler (6-67) and even Jeremy McNichols (7-44, TD) offered as fantasy starts.

TE Brock Bowers – He led the Raiders with eight catches for 97 yards and a score in their loss to the Broncos. And he is currently the No. 1 fantasy tight end. He is everything that Sam LaPorta was, back when Sam LaPorta was Sam LaPorta and not the player formerly known as Sam LaPorta.  If Davante Adams is traded, Bowers could become even bigger.

Huddle player of the week

WR Ja’Marr Chase  –  Maybe he did not land that contract upgrade he wanted last summer, but he may not be as willing to concede anything in the future. He already scored three times and averaged 101 yards over the two previous games, and he upped that to an NFL best ten catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the Ravens.

Salute!

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

Now get back to work…

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Anthony Richardson – Hip
RB Tyler Badie – Back
RB Cordarrelle Patterson – Ankle
RB Jonathan Taylor – Ankle
TE Taysom Hill – Rib injury
WR Christian Watson – Ankle
WR Rashee Rice – Knee

Chasing Ambulances

QB Anthony Richardson – He was hit hard on his hip and left the game temporarily, then re-entered the game and then got hit again on a run and left the game for good. He is expected to have a hip pointer. Richardson downplayed the injury but also couldn’t confirm he would play this week. Joe Flacco will take his place if needed.

RB  Cordarrelle Patterson – He injured his ankle and was carted to the locker room. His status will be determined on Monday, but the Steelers are already without Jaylen Warren and if Patterson missed Week 5 versus the Cowboys, Najee Harris will be forced into a heavy workload.

RB Jonathan Taylor – He suffered a high-ankle sprain on his right ankle – the same one that’s been a problem throughout his career. He could miss extended games if not land on short-term IR. Trey Sermon is the No. 2 back and will be a hot free agent because of it, but it all depends on the official prognosis on the injury. The Colts could elect to find a free agent to help as well.

TE Taysom Hill – Left the loss to the Falcons with what was initially termed as an abdomen injury and later updated to be a rib injury. Hill bruised his lung on the other side a few weeks ago and this is new injury. It is not ideal for a utility player that almost exclusively runs the ball.

WR Christian Watson – The oft-injured Watson missed ten games with hamstring issues last year, but hoped to be beyond that for this season. He was tackled on Sunday and his legs were caught awkwardly underneath him and injured his ankle. The prognosis on his injury should be known by Monday.

WR Rashee Rice – The Chiefs already lost Marquise Brown before the season started, and now the star receiver Rice was carted off after being hit in the knee. Patrick Mahomes threw an interception, and in the process of trying to tackle the interceptor, he inadvertantly hit his own team mate in the knee. While there has not been an official diagnosis as of this writing, HC Andy Reid did say, “it didn’t look good.” Any absence of Rice will force Travis Kelce to assume a much larger role as he did this week after Rice left. Xavier Worthy should also see more work. The fear is that he injured his ACL.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

WR Wan’Dale Robinson – The Giants’ No. 2 receiver in Thursday’s game was Robinson, who totaled 11 catches for 71 yards for a career-best performance. Robinson turned in seven catches for 61 yards last week and benefits from being the other guy to Malik Nabers. Depending on how quickly Nabers recovers from his concussion of Week 4, Robinson could end up as the No. 1 wideout this week in Seattle.

RB Bijan Robinson – Was only given seven carries and gained 28 yards compared to the “hotter hand” of Tyler Allgeier (8-60). But Robinson added four catches for 46 yards and had a touchdown catch called back on a penalty. The Saints were devoted to slowing down Robinson.

RB Chase Brown – The Bengals’ back had a big game when he ran for 80 yards and two scores on 15 rushes, and caught two passes for 12 yards. But they were facing the Panthers and Zack Moss (15-51 rush) also caught four passes for 27 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers have an above-average secondary, and that led to a good showing by the backfield.

RB Chuba Hubbard – Turned in one of his career-best performances when he ran for 104 yards and a score on 18 carries and added four receptions for 27 yards.  Hubbard enjoys a better situation now that the Panthers are throwing better but remains very sensitive to the quality of the opponent. His time as the primary back is likely drawing to an end soon.

RB Jonathan Brooks – The rookie becomes eligible to return from the NFI list this week, and HC Dave Canales said that Brooks was in the final stages of recovery so his debut should be soon. In small leagues, there’s a chance he might have been discarded along the way. It’s also time to consider Plan B if you own Chuba Hubbard but not Brooks.

WR Xavier Leggette – The Panthers’ rookie wideout just recorded his first touchdown while catching six passes for 66 yards in the loss to the Bengals.  Leggette fielded ten targets in the game, second to only Diontae Johnson. Adam Thielen is out with a serious hamstring injury, so the rookie has a chance to carve out a bigger role as they hoped when he was drafted.

Rams receivers – With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp out, the Rams promoted a new set of starters. While Demarcus Robinson was expected to be the new No. 1 receiver, it was TuTu Atwell (4-82) and Jordan Whittington (6-62), while Robinson only had two catches for 37 yards. It points more to the volatility of relying on the current receivers, but this is an opportunity for them to get more playing time and prove what they can do.

RB D’Andre Swift – After three straight poor efforts as the Bears’ new primary back, Swift had lost the confidence of fantasy owners. He finally showed up in Week 4 when he ran for 93 yards and a score on 16 rushes against the Rams and was also the leading receiver with seven receptions for 72 yards. He’ll need to be in every starting lineup this week against the Panthers.

WR Jordan Addison – The Vikings No. 2 wideout injured his ankle in Week 1 and missed the last two games. He was active this week and served notice that Justin Jefferson is not the only weapon in the offense. Addison scored on his three catches for 72 yards and added a seven-yard rushing touchdown on an end-around.

WR Dontayvion Wicks – Jayden Reed (7-139, TD) was the top receiver in the loss to the Vikings, but Christian Watson left with yet another ankle injury and Wicks stepped up nicely with five receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns.  With Romeo Doubs also involved, there are numerous viable targets for Jordan Love when he passes, but Wicks will get a promotion for however long that Watson is out, and the fewer healthy receivers are in Green Bay, the more reliable they can be. Expect Wicks to be a hot free agent this week and he carries upside in light of the Watson injury.

RB Tank Bigsby – After an encouraging offseason, Bigsby injured his shoulder and missed Week 2, and was limited to just two carries in Week 3. Against the Texans on Sunday, Bigsby ran for a team-high 90 yards on seven carries, much of that from a 58-yard rush. Bigsby was the starter to open the game, but Travis Etienne (11-50) eventually saw more work. Bigsby has not seen any targets this year, so his production is limited to rushing attempts. But he’ll face the weaker run defense of the visiting Colts this week.

QB Joe Flacco – Stepped in once Anthony Richardson left with a probable hip pointer, and while he only threw for 168 yards and two scores, that almost entirely went to Michael Pittman (6-113, TD) and Josh Downs (8-82, TD). If Richardson is out for Week 5, the always-capable Flacco will face the same Jaguars that just allowed 345 passing yards and two scores to the Texans.

RB Bucky Irving – While the fantasy owners are getting whipped up about the prospects of Irving taking over as the primary rusher in Tampa Bay, that expectation needs to be tempered. Irving was effective again, running for 49 yards and a score with a six-yard catch. But Rachaad White also ran ten times for the same 49 yards, while White added two catches for 35 yards. They’ll face the stout Atlanta run defense this week, so the backfield won’t combine for high production.

RB Kareem Hunt – The Chiefs running back (Part 2) handled a heavy load in his debut, running for 69 yards on 14 rushes and adding two catches for 16 yards. Carson Steele helped Hunt by losing another fumble that saw him benched. Hunt looked good (4.9 YPC) running the ball, though they allowed Samaje Perine (5-14) to take the touchdown plunge. Steele may have seen his last game of any note.

QB Jordan Love – He entered the game as questionable with an expectation that he mightalso share with the running quarterback Malik Willis. The Packers lost 31-29, but that was hardly Love’s fault. Willis played no role and while Love seemed slightly gimpy, he passed for 389 yards and four touchdowns. He travels to face the Rams’ bottom-ranked secondary this week.

Huddle player of the week

RB Derrick Henry – Sunday night served up an unstoppable treat when King Henry faced the visiting Bills. He ran for 199 yards and a score on 24 carries, plus caught three passes for 10 yards and a second touchdown. Had he not fumbled into the endzone, he could have ended with 200 rush yards and three scores. He was a monster that the Bills couldn’t stop or catch.

Salute!

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

Now get back to work…

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Justin Herbert – Ankle
QB Sam Darnold – Knee
QB Skylar Thompson – Chest
TE Sam LaPorta – Ankle
TE Trey McBride – Head
WR Van Jefferson – Eye
WR Tank Dell – Hand
WR Adam Thielen – Hamstring
WR DeVonta Smith – Concussion

Chasing Ambulances

QB Justin Herbert – He was already playing through a high-ankle sprain and reaggravated it in the loss to the Steelers. His availability to face the Chiefs will be determined later in the week. Taylor Heinicke joined the Chargers just a few weeks ago and replaced him on Sunday.

QB Sam Darnold – Was hit low by a defender but returned to the game. He will get an MRI this week to ensure there is no damage.

QB Skylar Thompson – Was hit by a defender in his ribs and remained down for a while. Tim Boyle replaced him, which dropped the offense by yet another notch. His status for this week’s game against the Titans will be determined during the week, but the Dolphins also signed Tyler Huntley, who may be an option if Thompson remains out.

TE Sam LaPorta – Left the field on a cart after getting rolled up while blocking. He returned later in the game only to leave again when he further aggravated his ankle sprain. The Lions play football on Monday night and then take their Week 5 bye. If LaPorta’s sprain has any severity, they may elect to sit him this week and then have him return in Week 6 after their bye.

TE Trey McBride – Hit helmets with the Lions safety and remained down on the field for a while. He will be evaluated for a concussion. The Cardinals likely do not need McBride this week, but no fantasy player should ever miss a home game against the Commanders.

WR Tank Dell – Injured his hand at the end of the loss to the Vikings but later said it would not be a problem.

WR Adam Theilen – On the day the Panthers magically found an offense, Theilen injured his hamstring during his touchdown catch. He remained down for a while and finally limped off the field. His status will be determined later in the week for the home game against the Bengals this week, but it appeared to be more than a minor strain.

WR DeVonta Smith – The Eagles star wideout was in a scrum when a defender came in from the side and hit him helmet to helmet which the Eagles considered a “dirty shot” (hard to argue). He was immediately diagnosed with a concussion and left the game. If A.J. Brown remains out, the Eagles may be very short on viable wide receivers. Britain Covey and Jahan Dotson would see increased playing time, but Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley would likely see bigger roles.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Andy Dalton – Well, this changes everything. At least for this week. Bryce Young was benched and Dalton started against the Raiders. The Red Rocket merely threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns for one of the best fantasy performances by any quarterback this year, let alone on the Panthers. This was an entirely different team than the previous two weeks, and it happened on the road.

WR Diontae Johnson – After his first two weeks as a Panthers only totaled five catches for 34 yards, it was more than a small surprise to see Johnson turn in eight receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Raiders. His 14 targets were nine more than any other Carolina player.

WR Demario Douglas – The Patriots’ slot receiver was busy in the loss to the Jets when he fielded nine targets and caught seven for 69 yards. No other Pats’ receiver gained more than 19 yards and Douglas ended with more than twice as many targets as anyone else.

RB Braelon Allen – The Jets rookie continues to be more involved each week.  Granted, the Jets easily beat the Patriots and Allen helped mop up, but he ran 11 times for 55 yards and had three receptions. Breece Hall gained 54 yards on 16 rushes and caught four passes. Hall scores every week, but any chance for the occasional 25+ carry monster game may be capped off thanks to Allen who is nearing stand-alone fantasy value.

WR Malik Nabers – No matter than he was drafted by one of the worst passing offenses in the NFL, the rookie looks capable of carrying the team by himself in some games. He finished the upset at the Browns with eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Nabers not only is a difference-maker, he’s making Daniel Jones look great good capable.

WR Amari Cooper – After two weeks of nearly zero production, Cooper showed up in Week 3 against the Giants when he led the Browns with seven catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns. No one else on the Browns’ offense scored or gained more than 33 yards.

Bears backfield – There’s no real fantasy value here, and the Bears’ offense just became even more convoluted with Roschon Johnson leading the backfield with 30 rushing yards on eight carries, while D’Andre Swift gained 20 yards on his 13 rushes and Khalil Herbert (4-9) pitched in as well. It was Johnson’s first work of the season, so expect more of the less.

QB Caleb Williams – After his first two games failed to record a passing touchdown or throw for more than 174 yards, Williams’ owners started quietly returning him to the waiver wire last week. That was premature. The Bears lost in Indianapolis, but the rookie passed for 363 yards and two touchdowns. He threw two interceptions again, but Williams looked more like a No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

WR Stefon Diggs  – The ex-Bill came at a discount in fantasy drafts because he changed teams, but he led the Texans with ten catches for 94 yards this week – twice as much as any other receiver. When the game against the Vikings went bad, Diggs was the preferred target for C.J. Stroud.’

TE Dallas Goedert – The Eagles’ tight end needed to help compensate for the injured A.J. Brown and turned in a career-best ten catches for 170 yards in the win over the Saints. That was double the yardage of his first two games combined. His role may remain large if Brown misses this week in Tampa Bay.

WR Courtland Sutton – He led the Broncos with only seven catches for 68 yards, but Bo Nix passed better and Sutton’s role should continue to grow. Those first two games caused some to give up on him, but Sutton is one to at least hold on to and see how quickly Nix improves.

RB Bucky Irving – He is consistently better than Rachaad White. In the loss to the Broncos (I know, right?), White only ran for 17 yards on six carries (2.8 YPC) while Irving gained 70 yards on nine rushes (7.8). And it wasn’t just trash yardage at the end of the game. By halftime, Irving had already run four times for 49 yards while White had his six rushes. White still caught five passes, while Irving snared three passes.

WR Michael Wilson – The Cardinals saw Marvin Harrison Jr. catch fire in Week 2, and now their No. 2 wideout Wilson logged his best game with eight catches for 64 yards in the loss to the Lions. Harrison still managed five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Huddle player of the week

Jauan Jennings (SF)  –  It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen – the best fantasy player for the week is probably not on anyone’s roster (until waivers are processed this week). The 49ers No. 3 receiver was asked to do more with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle out. He did.

Jennings caught 11 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns for a career-best performance. And yet, the 49ers still lost 24-27.

Salute!

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

Now get back to work…