Tag: fantasy football analysis

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…

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

PK Graham Gano – Hamstring
WR Cooper Kupp – Ankle
WR Justin Jefferson – Quad bruise
QB Justin Herbert – Leg
TE Taysom Hill – Chest
TE Evan Engram – Hamstring
RB Tyjae Spears – Ankle
RB Isiah Pacheco – Leg IR

Chasing Ambulances

WR Cooper Kupp – Left the loss to the Cardinals with an ankle injury on a team that already lost Puka Nacua for an extended period. If Kupp cannot return for Week 3, it will be catastrophic for the Rams. Demarcus Robinson becomes the primary wideout and the rest of the receivers have to step up, but it is far less certain who, if any, can outplay the rest. The early speculation is that it may be a high-ankle sprain but that will be determined on Monday.

WR Justin Jefferson – Early diagnosis was a quad bruise and that he would be day to day. Already missing Jordan Addison, the Vikings still beat the 49ers in what apparently is an annual tradition in Minnesota. But Jefferson turned in four catches for 133 yards and a score before he left, which included a 97-yard touchdown catch. Jalen Nailor (3-54, TD) was effective subbing for Addison, but there are no other wideouts that merit grabbing if Jefferson was to miss any time.

TE Taysom Hill – Left the win over the Cowboys with a chest injury and went to a local hospital as a precaution. If he misses time, there is no real replacement for the versatile Hill who has been more of a rusher than a receiver.

TE Evan Engram – It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. Engram strained his hamstring during pregame warmups and fantasy owners barely had 30 minutes to replace him in their lineups.  Brenton Strange (3-65) replaced him with some success, but the second-year tight end now totals just eight career receptions.

RB Tyjae Spears – Left the loss to the Jets with an ankle injury and will be diagnosed on Monday. Tony Pollard already has been the primary back and more effective rusher, so any Spears absence boosts Pollard’s workload.

RB Isiah Pacheco – Suffered an ankle injury at the end of the win over the Bengals. HC Andy Reid said Pacheco would be assessed on Monday. If he misses time, the rookie Carson Steele would take over the rushing chores along with increased usage of third-down back Samaje Perine. Pacheco left the stadium on crutches wearing a walking boot.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

 RB Devin Singletary – He is no Saquon Barkley but against the Commanders, he looked like him. Singletary gained 95 yards on 16 rushes with a touchdown. Hope you didn’t blink.

RB Carson Steele (KC) – The undrafted rookie gained 24 yards on seven carries in the win over the Bengals, and while he lost a fumble, the Chiefs still did not use Samaje Perine for any rushes. Steele is a handcuff need for the Pacheco owner.

WR Malik Nabers – The rookie logged his first 100-yard effort, gaining 127 yards and a touchdown on ten catches. Again, against the Commanders, which maybe should carry an asterisk on it. But at least Daniel Jones threw 18 passes at him and no more than four to any other receiver.

RB Brian Robinson – Ended with 133 yards on 17 carries and caught a three-yard pass. Apparently, you should just circle your fantasy player calendar when they face the Commanders or the Giants.

WR Calvin Ridley – He ran in a score, unlike any actual Titan running back, and he caught a 40-yard bomb for a second touchdown. He supplied both offensive touchdowns and a big chunk of the meager yardage for the Titans.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Last year’s bust draft pick is starting to exert himself for the Seahawks, leading the team with 12 catches for 117 yards from 16 targets. DK Metcalf (10-129, TD) was also busy, but we expected that.

RB Antonio Gibson – After a quiet debut in New England last week, the ex-Commander running back was a difference-maker with 96 yards on 11 carries and one catch for seven yards. Rhammondre Stevenson ran for 81 yards on 21 carries with a score, but Gibson was also used as an effective rusher. Neither back did much as a receiver.

RB Jordan Mason – With the news that Christian McCaffrey was placed on IR for the next four to whatever weeks, Mason again shined with 100 yards and a score on 20 rushes in the loss to the Vikings. Notable too – He handled all but one carry for the running backs.

RB Josh Jacobs – To no surprise, the Packers went run heavy with Jordan Love out. To some surprise, the Colts still let Josh Jacobs (32-151) cruise to a monster yardage game.

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown – After gaining just 13 yards on three catches in Week 1, St. Brown was back in business, turning 19 targets into 11 catches for 119 yards in the surprise loss to the Buccaneers.

WR Quentin Johnston – Another of the high-draft pick flops from 2023, Johnston showed up with a team high five catches for 51 yards and two receiving touchdowns in the win over the Panthers. He was the only notable receiver for the Chargers but being the primary target is encouraging.

TE Brock Bowers – The rookie was a major part of the Raiders’ shocking win over the Ravens, and ended with nine catches for 98 yards and that was every target he was thrown. He led the Raiders with six catches for 58 yards in Week 1. Notable is that he is killing the fantasy value of Jakobi Meyers and gets the benefit of being “the guy who is not Davante Adams.”

TE Isaiah Likely vs Mark Andrews – Likely became the biggest waiver wire darling last week when he dominated the Baltimore receivers (9-111, TD) and Andrews was left with just two catches for 14 yards because the Chiefs planned on just covering him. After fantasy owners spent stupid money in free agency after Likely, he rewarded them with two catches for 26 yards. Andrews  reeled in four receptions for 51 yards. Sometimes Week 1 is just Week 1, not Week 1 of Many.

TE Mike Gesicki – The Bengals new tight end stepped up when Tee Higgins was out and Ja’Marr Chase was well covered. He led the Bengals with seven receptions for 91 yards, more than double that of any other team receiver.

QB Derek Carr – He’s worth sticking on your roster after OC Klint Kubiak’s offense just paved the Cowboys. That makes two straight weeks that Carr was a Top-7 fantasy quarterback scorer.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – After his debut resulted in only one catch for four yards, he’s figured out this NFL thing in hurry since his four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns (23 and 60 yards) led all wide receivers for Week 2. So, maybe, yeah – he’s gonna need to be covered better.

Huddle player of the week

RB Alvin Kamara  –  The Cowboys are unbeatable at home, at least during the regular season, until now when the Saints went all “Packers” on them for Week 2 with a 44-19 beatdown that was greatly credited to Alvin Kamara who ran for 115 yards and three scores on 20 carries, and caught two passes for 65 yards and a fourth touchdown. Kamara wasn’t just the best fantasy play of Week 2, he was the top dog by a 15-point margin.

Salute!

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

Now get back to work…

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Jordan Love (GB) – MCL
WR Jordan Addison (MIN) – Ankle
WR Puka Nacua – Knee
TE David Njoku (CLE) – Ankle
TE Jake Ferguson (DAL) – Knee
RB Kenneth Walker III – Abdomen

This feels very light for a group of players that are just now playing games that matter.

Chasing Ambulances

QB Jordan Love (GB) –  He suffered a Grade 2 sprain to his MCL, which is expected to sideline him for around three weeks. That puts newly-signed Malik Willis into the starting role. Willis was just acquired, so he has no real experience in the scheme or with the receivers. Downgrades for all Packer fantasy options until Love gets healthy.

WR Puka Nacua (LAR) – He was injured this summer and once again is having problems with his knee. We’ll know more soon, but it is a bad sign that he was ruled out of the game and was visibly limping. Should Nacua miss any time, he’ll be replaced by Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson would see an uptick, but as was shown on the Sunday night game, it ends up to be mostly Cooper Kupp shouldering a giant share of the targets.

WR Jordan Addison (MIN) – Sprained his ankle and it was not the same ankle he injured this summer. Addison was not on crutches when he left the stadium, but he also did not speak with anyone. Brandon Powell is his backup if needed, but the Vikes didn’t pass much in Week 1. The Vikes host the 49ers this week and will need more than just Justin Jefferson to stay in the game. But there are no fantasy options here that warrant a pickup.

RB Kenneth Walker III (SEA) – The Seattle back left the game with what was described as an abdominal injury but he said that he was “good” after the game and it does not appear to be an issue going into this week’s game at the Patriots.

TE Jake Ferguson (DAL) – The tight end went down with a knee injury that appeared to be potentially serious. Early speculation is that he may have missed an ACL tear, but he’ll get an MRI on Monday to determine the prognosis and treatment.

TE David Njoku (CLE) – He is speculated to have a nigh-ankle sprain which could last weeks depending on the severity. Jordan Akins would take his place but his receptions would more likely end up with other wideouts or running backs.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

Week 1: Reality check – What says fantasy football more than Week 1 when your best players flop and mediocre players blow up. Here’s a quick reminder of the best players from Week 1 of last season.

QB Mac Jones – 316 yards, 3 TD
RB Tyler Allgeier – 94 yards, 2 TD
RB Joshua Kelley – 91 yards, TD
RB Miles Sanders – 98 yards
RB Justice Hill – 9 yards, 2 TD
WR Kendrick Bourne – 64 yards, 2 TD
WR Romeo Doubs – 26 yards, 2 TD
WR TuTu Atwell – 112 yards

And some of the worst from Week 1, 2023:

QB Dak Prescott – 143 yards
QB Lamar Jackson – 169 yards
QB Jalen Hurts – 170 yards, TD
RB Rachaad White – 49 yards
TE Trey McBride – 23 yards
WR Ja’Marr Chase – 39 yards
WR Amari Cooper – 37 yards

Week 1 is usually very different from the rest. Never make any decisions based off just Week 1.

RB Najee Harris (PIT) – It is just one game and Justin Fields was the quarterback but the first week of the new offense under OC Arthur Smith and there wasn’t any committee backfield. Harris gained 70 yards on 20 carries, and caught one pass for nine yards. Jaylen Warren was held to only two runs for seven yards (he had been banged up, though) and the dreaded Cordarrelle Patterson only ran four times for 13 yards.

TE Kyle Pitts (ATL) – The Steelers defense did a great job on the Falcons, but it was still encouraging to see Kyle Pitts score a touchdown on his three catches for 26 yards in his first game with Kirk Cousins. Drake London (2-15) had a bad debut, but at least this offense noticed Pitts.

Rookie Wide Receivers – So, how well did those rookie wideouts repay your optimism?

Marvin Harrison (1-3)
Malik Nabers (5-66)
Rome Odunze (1-11)
Brian Thomas Jr. (4-47, TD)
Xavier Worthy (2-47 catch, 1-21 rush, 2 TD)
Keon Coleman – (4-51)

A few scores, but not much yardage. Welcome to the NFL!

Rookie Quarterbacks

Caleb Williams (14-29-93 pass, 5-15 rush)
Jayden Daniels (17-24-184 pass, 16-88 2 TD rush)
Bo Nix (26-42-138 pass, 5-35 TD rush)

Rough start for passing yardage, but those passing touchdowns are coming. Soon. We hope.

RB Tony Pollard (TEN) – Another team where the committee backfield never appeared. Pollard ran for 82 yards on 16 carries and scored, while Tyjae Spears was limited to four runs for 21 yards. They split the work as receivers with three or four short catches each. They both averaged over five yards per carry against the Bears, but Pollard was the clear primary.

QB Baker Mayfield (TB) – Granted, he played the Commanders and their terrible defense from last year, but it was still impressive when he passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns.

RB J.K. Dobbins (LAC) – The dangerous runner has always been an injury waiting to happen, and that may hold true again with the Chargers. But for Week 1, Dobbins was back to rookie form when he ran for 135 yards and a score on ten carries versus the Raiders. He added three receptions for four yards while Gus Edwards plodded his way to 26 yards on 11 rushes. Get him while he is still healthy…

RB Jamaal Williams (NO) – Kendre Miller is on injured reserve for at least four weeks and Williams was effective rushing for 38 yards and a score on 11 carries, plus caught a 13-yard pass. Granted – it was against the woeful Panthers but Williams let Kamara rest in the second half.

RB Bucky Irving (TB) – The Buccaneers added Irving in the draft since Rashaad White was far from effective last year, despite his heavy workload. White only gained 31 yards on 15 carries against the Commanders while the rookie gained 62 yards on nine rushes. White also caught six passes for 75 yards and was always a weapon as a receiver. Irving is doing everything he can to become the lead rusher.

RB Tank Bigsby (JAC) – The second-year running back impressed coaches this summer as a player who finally “got it.” Travis Etienne was one of the heavier-used backs last year and Bigsby was brought on to help last year. Bigsby ran for 73 yards on 12 carries (6.1 YPC) with the same amount of carries as Etienne, who was limited to only 44 yards on his twelve runs. Bigsby doesn’t yet have stand-alone fantasy value, but he is impacting what Etienne did.

WR Alec Pierce (IND) – He scored and almost had two touchdowns. He gained 125 yards on three catches that included the 70-yard score. The third-year wideout has been locked into sub-600-yard and two touchdown seasons. Michael Pittman and the rookie Adonai Mitchell are still more attractive fantasy options.

WR Devaughn Vele (DEN) – I’m sorry, who? The Broncos seventh-round pick is a 6-4, 203-pound  ex-Utah wideout who is a 26-year-old rookie because he was on a Mormon mission. Unbeknownst to all but his closest friends and family, he caught eight passes in the preseason as the Broncos weeded through their crop of rookies and free agents. Oh, and he also tied Chris Godwin with eight catches on Sunday, more than any other NFL receiver not named Kupp . Not Troy Franklin, their fourth-round pick. Vele was the preferred target for Bo Nix and while he only gained 39 yards, he became a pass sponge for a team that needs to throw a lot.

Different and NOT good – NFL teams use the summer to determine their eventual final roster, and each Week 1 ushers in lower production from teams that are still getting into synch and mostly trying to avoid summer injuries. That’s translated into mostly lower scores and, even worse, lower production from our fantasy players.

Last year, there were five 300-yard passers in Week 1. Five years ago, there were 13 300-yard quarterbacks in Week 1. For this season? Just two. Tua Tagovailoa and Matt Stafford, and both passed for just one score.

Last year, there were eight 100-yard receivers. Five years back, there were 18 in Week 1. This week there were just seven. Only 11 wideouts gained more than 75 yards. There were 15 last season and 26 in 2019. Fantasy scoring is down.

Let’s talk tight ends. Isiah Likely was the only tight end with more than 60 yards. Only four gained more than 40 yards and just five caught a score. It was a fantasy point drought to kick off 2024.

The good news – it will be turning up starting next week.

Huddle player of the week

Saquon Barkley (PHI)  –  The Giants were long-limited to only Barkley as their only offensive weapon. Without him, they could do nothing in their loss to the Vikings and chances are every fan and front-office type regrets letting him go. But in his first game as an Eagle, he looked like the missing piece that can propel the Eagles to the Big game. He ran for 109 yards on 24 carries with two scores, plus caught two passes for 23 yards and a third touchdown.

He won’t get 33.2 fantasy points every week, I mean, probably not, right?

Salute!

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

Now get back to work…