Tag: Jaylen Warren

Tunnel Vision

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

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Joe Burrow 355-2 4
 Daniel Jones 341-50 2
 Jacoby Brissett 324-29 3
 Jalen Hurts 190-86 2
Patrick Mahomes 329-23 3
Running Backs Rush-Catch TD
Tony Pollard 15-80
6-109		 2
Samaje Perine 11-30
4-52		 3
Najee Harris 20-90
4-26		 2
Derrick Henry 28-87
2-45		 2
Jamaal Williams  17-64 3
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Davante Adams 7-141 2
Amari Cooper 8-113 2
Tee Higgins 9-148 0
Demarcus Robinson 9-128 0
Josh Palmer 8-106 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
Austin Hooper 4-36 2
Pat Freiermuth 8-79 0
Dawson Knox 7-70 0
Juwan Johnson 3-47 1
Travis Kelce 6-115 3
Placekickers XP FG
Brett Maher 4 4
Tyler Bass 1 6
Evan McPherson 4 3
Daniel Carlson 1 3
Brandon McManus 1 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Patriots 4-0 1
Ravens 4-3 0
Cowboys 7-1 0
Commanders 5-2 1
Falcons 4-1 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

QB Matt Stafford (LAR) – Concussion
QB Justin Fields (CHI) – Shoulder
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) – Ankle
RB Jaylen Warren (PIT) – Hamstring
RB Chase Edmonds (DEN) – Ankle
RB Joe Mixon (CIN) – Concussion
WR Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG) – Knee
WR Kadarius Toney (KC) – Hamstring
WR Mike Williams (LAC) – Ankle
TE Kyle Pitts (ATL) – Knee|

Chasing Ambulances

QB Matt Stafford – Was pulled from the game to test for a concussion and did not return. Bryce Perkins replaced him because John Wolford was out with a neck injury. This is the second concussion this season, so the Rams may be very cautious with their star quarterback. This downgrades the Rams fantasy starters even more.

QB Justin Fields – Injured his shoulder on the final drive and was carted to the locker room. He spoke to reporters after the game but was in obvious pain and admitted as much. He is initially considered day-to-day until more is known.

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Suffered a high-ankle sprain, the second of his young career. He could  miss several weeks and strengthen the hold that Isiah Pacheco has on the starting job.

WR Kadarius Toney – Was limited to just one catch because his hamstring tightened up on him and they held him out. It wasn’t initially described as serious but is bothersome since his hamstrings have been an issue for the two years that he’s been in the NFL.

RB Jaylen Warren – Left the loss to the Bengals with a right hamstring strain.  Warren had worked his way into the lineup but could miss time. More should be known by Wednesday but any time he misses helps Najee Harris reassert his role in the backfield.

RB Joe Mixon – Left the win over the Steelers with a head injury and was ruled out, while Samaje Perine had a career day. The severity of the concussion will be determined on Monday.

WR Wan’Dale Robinson – Had a breakout game with nine catches for 100 yards but injured his knee and was ruled out.  He was in much pain after his leg twisted during his final catch. There is concern that it was a serious knee injury which would mean missing time and potentially many weeks. More will be known no later than the injury report on Wednesday.

WR Mike Williams – Missed four weeks with an ankle injury and had a beautiful 15-yard toe-tapper against the Chiefs in his first game back. And he hobbled back to the sideline with a reaggravation of the injury. An MRI on Monday should yield more information.

TE Kyle Pitts – Left the win over the Bears after taking a nasty low-helmet hit to his knee. Initial reports are that he did not tear any ligaments and just sprained the knee. He’s due to get an MRI on Monday to confirm the prognosis and recovery expectations.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Ronald Jones (KC) –  The high-ankle sprain to Clyde Edwards-Helaire means that the Chiefs will likely move Ronald Jones to being active for game day. That’s no guarantee he even has a touch, but it gets him closer to the field and of interest if Isiah Pacheco or Jerick McKinnon are injured.

QB Zach Wilson (NYJ) – Ended the loss to the Patriots with 9-of-22 completions for 77 yards, and the offense combined for only two yards in the second half. HC Robert Saleh said after the game that Wilson is their quarterback and that they need “to make him better.” Whatever that process is does not work, and Wilson is killing their chance to win when defense and running the ball are not enough. No receiver caught more than two passes or gained more than 35 yards. Garrett Wilson’s rookie season is being wasted while waiting on a second-year quarterback to show that he belongs in the NFL.

RB Damien Harris (NE) – He started the win over the Jets and while Rhamondre Stevenson ended with 15 carries for 26 yards, Harris used his eight runs to gain 65 yards with several impressive chunk plays. Stevenson was also the lead receiver with six catches for 56 yards but Harris ended with 28 yards on two receptions for 93 total yards. It was Harris’ first playing time since Week 8.

WR TuTu Atwell (LAR) – First game without Cooper Kupp and Atwell netted his first NFL touchdown on a 62-yard bomb. That gives him two catches on the year including the 54-yard catch in Week 5. His 58-yard average catch is the highest in the NFL though his volume certainly lacks.

WR Allen Robinson (LAR) – His first game as the No. 1 wideout for the Rams resulted in four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. It was in line with all his other games, and the chance that Matt Stafford could miss time with his second concussion would reset any expectations.

WR DJ Chark, Jameson Williams (DET) – Chark was activated from injured reserve and was active on Sunday though he failed to catch his lone target in the low-volume passing game at the Giants. Williams is looking at coming off injured reserve after this week and could be available for Week 13 against the Jaguars or Week 14 versus the Vikings. It’s all an indicator that the passing game should be changing in Detroit with two players being added.

RB Samaje Perine (CIN) – Joe Mixon was injured in the middle of the second quarter and Perine took over as the primary back. He ended with 11 runs for 30 yards at the Steelers but caught four passes for 52 yards and three touchdowns, second to only Tee Higgins. He’s a needed backup for the Mixon owner and could be the starter this week at the Titans if Mixon doesn’t pass the concussion protocol.

RB Najee Harris (PIT) – Jaylen Warren was making inroads to a bigger share of the backfield but Najee Harris ran for 99 yards on 20 carries in Week 10 against the Saints while Warren gained 37 yards on nine carries. On Sunday, Warren injured his hamstring and was forced from the game. Harris turned in 20 rushes for 90 yards and two scores against the Bengals and added four catches for 26 yards. He’s finally looked more in 2021 form for the last two weeks.

RB Isiah Pacheco (KC) – Was given the start in Week 10 when he rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries and again on Sunday when he gained 107 yards on 15 carries. Pacheco is the clear primary back and could see even more work with Clyde  Edwards-Helaire out with a hamstring issue.

WR Joshua Palmer (LAC) –  Mike Williams missed four weeks with an ankle injury and returned Sunday to catch a pass and re-injure himself. Palmer stepped up with a season-best eight catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He’s in line to start again at the Cardinals next week if Williams remains out.

Huddle player of the week

Tony Pollard  –  The Cowboys “No. 2” back turned in a career-best performance at the win in Minnesota over the Vikings. He rushed for 80 yards on 15 carries and added a team-high six catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. There was plenty left over for Ezekiel Elliott who also scored twice, but Pollard’s speed and talent now have him with the bigger share of the Dallas workload.

Salute!

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

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Jacoby Brissett 353 3 QB Kirk Cousins 105 0
RB Samaje Perine 82 3 RB Saquon Barkley 35 0
RB Matt Breida 29 1 RB Dameon Pierce 17 0
WR D. Robinson 128 0 WR Adam Thielen 25 0
WR TuTu Atwell 62 1 WR Justin Jefferson 33 0
WR Richie James 48 1 WR CeeDee Lamb 45 0
TE Austin Hooper 36 2 TE Dalton Schultz 22 0
PK Tyler Bass  1 XP   5 FG PK Greg Joseph  1 FG
Huddle Fantasy Points = 135 Huddle Fantasy Points = 23

Now get back to work…

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

Week 10 finally saw all the forces of nature converge and hand the Eagles their first loss – at home to the Commanders, no less. The Bills lost their second in a row and now are tied for No. 2 in the AFC East. The Chiefs, for the moment, look like the newest “team to beat” in the AFC while the Vikings are on a seven-game winning streak and tied for the No. 1 spot in the NFC with the Eagles – who beat them back in Week 2.

While teams are tinkering with lineups much less overall, we’re entering the phase of the season that will see the bottom feeders switching around starters if only to show management that they are still trying to win and do not need to be fired during the season. One or two probably still will.

The Browns-Bills game is moved to Detroit at 1 p.m. Sunday because this new crop of players cannot handle six feet of snow like we all used to walk through to school. While it would decrease almost all fantasy points from the game, how great would that have been to watch? Maybe not fans in the stands, but at home it would have been a must-watch. Maybe tie those bicycle poles with the little flags at top onto each player.

As we hurdle towards the fantasy playoffs, remember that Week 14 has six teams on bye (ATL, CHI, GB, IND, NO, WAS). Those contain enough fantasy must-starts to matter in a very important week. There is only one other week more important and that is the perpetual “this week.”

Six items to watch for this weekend:

1.) The Broncos – At 3-6, their season is already over but the offense that was supposed to take the next step forward this year tumbled backward. The backfield is a mess between Melvin Gordon, Latavius Murray, and now Chase Edmonds.  Last week versus the Titans, all three played, but the Broncos never had time to get into a rhythm and shared just 18 carries. Against the Raiders, there should be more work to split up, so it will be worth tracking as to what the sharing is and if a dominant receiver emerges.

The Broncos are likely without Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler, both of whom missed practices Wednesday and Thursday. Last Sunday, Kendall Hinton caught four passes for 62 yards while Jalen Virgil scored on a 66-yard catch as his first NFL reception. Virgil was the only undrafted free agent to make the 53-man roster and Week 10 was his debut. He replaced Hamler in the lineup. Hinton did not practice on Thursday and could miss this week.

Also notable is the growing sentiment that new HC Nathaniel Hackett may not make it to the end of the season. If that were to happen, it could change the backfield rotation and possibly see more use of players like Virgil.

2.)  The Rams receivers – There’s a two-fold situation in Los Angeles in the wake of Cooper Kupp’s injury and the realization that the 3-6 Rams’ post-Super Bowl record is the worst since the 2006 Steelers. They need to replace Kupp and since the season is over, try out some of the younger talents that hasn’t been afforded much work while Kupp sponged up most of the pass targets.

The disappointing Allen Robinson and unproductive Ben Skowronek are the starters, but Van Jefferson played last week and caught a score on three receptions for 27 yards. He’s not met expectations and his snap share has declined. TuTu Atwell hasn’t played since Week 6 but was a second-round pick in 2021. Lance McCutcheon was an undrafted free agent that made the team and led the receivers in the preseason with 15 catches for 259 yards and a healthy 17.3-yard-average.

It may not matter unless Matt Stafford plays, but the Rams are already forced to start new receivers and Stafford is trending towards returning.

3.)  RB Eno Benjamin, HOU – The Cardinals surprisingly released Benjamin and he was snapped up by the Texans ahead of three other teams that put in claims for him. He was a contributor both as a rusher and a receiver for the Cardinals, and the details as to why he was released has not been disclosed. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry and caught around three passes weekly. The question now is why did the Texans acquire him?

He could be an upgrade to 32-year-old Rex Burkhead who has served as the third-down back for the Texans, and that would make sense. But he’s also a good runner and every Dameon Pierce owner probably doesn’t feel that he needs any resting. But Pierce’s 165 carries ranks No. 3 behind only Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. And since Peirce is one of the few positives that came out of 2022, would they want to not overwork him in a season that already is over?

4.) Clyde Edwards-Helaire – The first-round pick in 2020 hasn’t performed to expectations and sank to a new low in Week 10 when he had no carries, failed to catch his two targets, and only had five snaps. Isiah Pacheco commanded 16 runs for 82 yards, and Jerick McKinnon caught six passes for 56 yards despite enter the game as questionable with three injuries. Just to make it all even less certain, the Chiefs tried to pick up Eno Benjamin.

HC Andy Reid said they didn’t have any plan to limit Edwards-Helaire, but that it just worked out that way. The pass-heavy Chiefs may never give a back 20 carries and as of last week, the rushing went to Pacheco, and the receiving belonged to McKinnon. There’s no denying that Edwards-Helaire’s role was dialed back in the rotation, but this week answers if he will end up with more work and limit Pacheco or if he’s just old news on a team that’s moved on from him.

Had the claim for Eno Benjamin been successful, it suggests that Ronald Jones may have been released so he could land elsewhere and might see the field again.

5.)   Colts offense – HC Frank Reich was fired along with OC Marcus Brady the previous week, so the offense of Week 10 was under all new direction. It’s not unusual for a team to win the game following a firing, though the Colts had deconstructed by trading away Nyheim Hines and benching Matt Ryan for the rest of the season. But – after confirming that they were going to stick with Same Ehlinger, the Colts opted to start Ryan last week and won their game over the 2-7 Raiders.

Jonathan Taylor suddenly looked great again, and Michael Pittman (7-53) and Parris Campbell (7-76, TD) came to life. These next two games will indicate if the passing offense is productive again and if Taylor is back to form. The Colts host the Eagles and the Steelers. Taylor, in particular, has been a bust as the first pick in almost every fantasy draft, but ran for 147 yards and a score in Las Vegas.

6.)  RB Najee Harris (PIT) – Along with Jonathan Taylor, the first-round fantasy draft pick Najee Harris disappointed this season after logging more touches (381) than any other running back last year. Here’s the interesting part to that painful reality – he went against one of the worst rushing schedules (No. 31) over the first half of the season. Statistically, only the Ravens had a slightly worst schedule for running backs.

Harris has run so poorly that Jaylen Warren made inroads to a split backfield. Last week, Harris ran for 99 yards on 20 carries against the Saints. Warren gained 37 yards on nine carries and caught three passes for 40 yards. The Steelers have the No. 6 schedule for running backs in the remaining games. This week versus the Bengals is the only time they face a top defense against runners. It’s no guarantee that he will return to 2021 form, but at least the schedule won’t be working against him every week. His performance and the backfield split this week will be worth tracking before his schedule clears up.

Tunnel Vision

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

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Justin Fields 167-147 4
 Patrick Mahomes 331-39 4
 Josh Allen 330-84 1
 Tua Tagovailoa 285 3
 Dak Prescott 265-6 3
Running Backs Rush
Receive		 TD
Jonathan Taylor 22-147
2-16		 1
Aaron Jones 24-138
2-18		 1
Dalvin Cook 14-119
3-27		 1
James Conner 21-69
3-17		 2
Saquon Barkley 35-125
1-8		 1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
CeeDee Lamb 11-150 2
Justin Jefferson 10-193 1
Christian Watson 4-107 3
Christian Kirk 9-105 2
N. Westbrook-Ikhine 5-119 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
Cole Kmet 4-74 2
Travis Kelce 6-81 1
Dalton Schultz 6-54 1
Juwan Johnson 5-44 1
Tyler Higbee 8-73 0
Placekickers XP FG
Eddy Pineiro 1 4
Tyler Bass 3 3
Ka’imi Fairbairn 1 3
Jason Sanders 3 2
Greg Joseph 3 2
Defense Sack – TO TD
Vikings 2-4 1
Titans 6-1 0
Lions 3-1 1
Steelers 2-2 0
Giants 4-2 0

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

RB Leonard Fournette (TB) – Hip
RB Khalil Herbert (CHI) – Hip
WR Jerry Jeudy (DEN) – Ankle
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC) – Concussion
WR Cooper Kupp (LAR) – Ankle
TE – Zack Ertz – Knee
TE Cole Kmet (CHI) – Leg

Chasing Ambulances

WR Cooper Kupp (LAR) – Had his ankle rolled up in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Cardinals. He hopped to the sideline and later limped to the locker room. HC Sean McVay said Kupp would be evaluated by the medical staff but the initial reports were not positive. A severe ankle injury of any kind would decimate what little offensive punch the Rams had.

WR Jerry Jeudy (DEN) – Fell down on the first play with an ankle injury and HC Nathaniel Hackett didn’t give any information. Jeudy was wearing a walking boot after the game and said after the game that he hoped it wasn’t a high-ankle sprain. His availability for next week’s Raiders matchup will be determined later in the week.

RB Leonard Fournette (TB) – He left in the third quarter with a hip pointer injury and was doubtful to return. The Buccaneers head onto their bye after the win in Germany, so solid news may not be known until Week 12.

RB Khalil Herbert (CHI) – He missed the end of the loss to the Lions and was quickly ruled out after injuring his hip on the final drive. More should be known on the Wednesday injury report.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC) – Was lit up by a helmet-to-helmet hit over the middle and appeared temporarily unconscious as he lay stiffly on the field. He has entered the concussion protocol but was able to walk off to the sidelines.

TE Cole Kmet (CHI) – Enjoyed a breakout performance in the loss to the Lions and left the field after colliding with a defender on the final drive. He said afterward that he didn’t believe it was serious and would get more detail on Monday.

TE Zach Ertz (ARI) – Was carted from the field with a knee injury and will have an MRI on Monday to determine the damage. The team still believes that the ACL is still intact but fears that he will miss multiple weeks.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

RB Rachaad White  (TB) – The rookie logged a season-best 105 yards on 22 carries for the first 100-yard rushing performance in Tampa Bay since Week 1. White started the game but shared with Leonard Fournette, who injured his hip. The Buccaneers head onto their bye, so Fournette has two weeks to heal, but White is already worth owning and would become a strong fantasy starter if Fournette misses time.

TE Cole Kmet (CHI) – After opening the year with zero catches for two weeks, Kmet scored five touchdowns over the last three games. He gained  a season-high 74 yards on four catches with two scores versus the Lions, and that was the second week with double touchdowns. His best games were at home, and Kmet now faces road trips to play the Falcons and Jets.

WR Kadarius Toney (KC) – Scored the first touchdown of his career on a six-yard pass that not only let him score, but according to NextGen stats, he was more open (21 yards) than any other receiver since 2016. Toney ended with four catches for 57 yards, and he tacked on 33 yards on two rushes. With JuJu Smith-Schuster nursing a concussion, Toney could see a bigger role this week when they host the Jaguars.

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) – His usage has been sketchy in recent weeks though he scored in Week 7 on his six runs for 32 yards. On Sunday, he was never given a carry, failed to catch either of his two targets, and only played for five snaps. Isiah Pacheco ran a season-high 16 times for 82 yards. Jerick McKinnon was questionable to play with shoulder, knee and hamstring injuries and he still had one carry and six catches for 56 yards. If Pacheco holds the primary rusher role and McKinnon sticks to receiving, both become more reliable fantasy options if Edwards-Helaire remains on the sideline.

Miami backfield – Granted, it was at home and against a weak Cleveland rushing defense, but Jeff Wilson (17-119, TD) and Raheem Mostert (8-65, TD) were both devastating together and Mostert added four catches for 22 yards. The backfield looked better than it has in many years. The Dolphins head onto their bye and then host the Texans in Week 12 for more fun. They were so effective, that it could impact the need to pass.

WR Darius Slayton (NYG) – The Giants’ wideouts have been ineffective all season, but Slayton produced three consecutive games with 60+ yards and gained 95 yards on three receptions with a score in the win over the Texans. That included a 54-yard touchdown catch and sprint down the sideline. Next week, the Giants host the Lions.

RB Najee Harris, RB Jaylen Warren (PIT) – The Steelers placed emphasis on fixing their mediocre rushing game and intended to use the rookie Jaylen Warren more, even if it meant lowering the workload for Najee Harris. Against the Saints, both backs were effective. Harris rushed for a season-high 20 carries for 99 yards, while Warren handled a season-best nine carries for 37 yards and added three catches for 40 yards. The Steelers will consider their backfield as more of a committee ongoing and will host the Bengals next week. That will be a solid measurement since they played in Week 1 and the duo combined for only 13 carries for 30 yards.

WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (TEN) – He’s been below fantasy relevance this season, and then when Malik Willis was the starting quarterback in Weeks 7 and 9, Westbrook-Ikhine failed to catch any passes. With Ryan Tannehill back, he caught five passes for 119 yards and two scores in the win over the Broncos. It was just one game, but the next three games are against the Packers, Bengals, and Eagles. Derrick Henry may not be enough to win those games.

QB Matt Ryan (IND) – Of the many recent changes for the Colts, the interim head coach Jeff Saturday said that Sam Ehlinger would remain the starting quarterback, which held true right up to game time when Matt Ryan reassumed the starting role. He threw for 222 yards and one score to Parris Campbell in the fourth quarter for the winning margin. He also ran in a touchdown and rushed for a career-high 39 yards on just one scramble. The Raiders had not prepared for him, but the the Eagles this week likely will.

RB Tony Pollard (DAL) – Ezekiel Elliott missed the last two games, and Pollard has been terrific taking the heavier load. He ran for 131 yards and three scores in Week 8 on the visiting Bears. On Sunday, he gained 115 yards and one score on 22 rushes in the loss at the Packers. Elliott hasn’t rushed for 100 yards since Week 5 of 2021. Pollard has two in the last two weeks.

WR Christian Watson (GB) – The rookie totaled ten catches for 88 yards over the six games he had played. So it was unanticipated when he caught a career-best four passes in Week 10. And they went for 58 yards (touchdown), 39 yards (touchdown), three yards, and seven yards (touchdown). He was a major contributor to the Packers ending their five-game losing streak and beating the Cowboys. He’ll have another chance to shine this week against the visiting Titans.

San Francisco backfield – In an NFL sense, the 49ers backfield and overall offense is something to fear as it is stocked with weapons and in a system that loves to tinker, mix-and-match, and attack an opponent from all angles. In a fantasy football sense, this may not be a great thing.

The return of Deebo Samuel and Elijah Mitchell on Sunday meant that all of the weapons were healthy and present for the first time. But there are so many players that they will continue to erode each others production and likely make it less consistent for each player. Deebo Samuel was paid $71 million for three years but his return only produced four runs for 27 yards and two catches for 24 yards. Brandin Aiyuk caught six passes for 84 yards. George Kittle had one catch for 21 yards.

Christian McCaffrey ran 14 times for 38 yards and a score, plus caught four passes for 39 yards. But Elijah Mitchell was given 18 carries for 89 yards. When was the last time that McCaffrey wasn’t the primary ball carrier for his team? And one of the two scores was on a run by Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers head to Arizona this week, and the work distribution will be worth noting. That’s a  lot of hands in that pie.

Huddle player of the week

Justin Fields – He was the highest-scoring quarterback last week. At home against the Lions, Fields ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns, plus passed for 167 yards and two more touchdowns. He took the lead in the fourth quarter when he ran for a 67-yard touchdown while looking a lot like Michael Vick with his speed. As good as Fields has been recently, it is mind-warping to think his rookie season was devoted to forcing him to throw from the pocket.

Salute!

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

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Matt Ryan 260 2 QB Jared Goff 250 1
RB Alec Ingold 45 1 RB C. Edwards-Helaire 0 0
RB Jaylen Warren 77 0 RB C. Patterson 20 0
WR Christian Watson 107 3 WR Cooper Kupp (-1) 0
WR N Westbrook-Ikhine 119 2 WR J.Smith-Schuster 33 0
WR Trent Sherfield 63 1 WR D.J. Moore 29 0
TE Cole Kmet 74 2 TE Zach Ertz 12 0
PK Eddy Pineiro  1 XP  4 FG PK Daniel Carlson 2  XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 142 Huddle Fantasy Points = 22

Now get back to work…

Can the Saints defense shake back against the NFL’s least-explosive offense?

Can the Saints defense shake back against the NFL’s least-explosive offense? Steelers OC Matt Canada hasn’t found much success on the year so far:

We’re just two weeks removed from the New Orleans Saints’ shutout win against the Las Vegas Raiders, but a brutal double-digit loss to the Baltimore Ravens has made that highlight seem like it’s a million miles away. If the Saints are going to shake back with another win, though, this week’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers might be their best shot.

The Steelers offense hasn’t found much success on the season so far. They’ve scored the fewest points in the NFL (120, across 8 games) and are tied for the lowest rate of yards gained per play (4.7). Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett is the league’s most turnover-prone quarterback. They’re tied for the sixth-worst conversion rate on third downs (33.6%). Pittsburgh ranks fifth-lowest in red zone conversions, too, having scored a touchdown on just 10 of their 21 trips inside the opposing 20-yard line (47.6%).

Much of the blame falls on play caller Matt Canada, the former LSU Tigers offensive coordinator, who hasn’t exactly gotten the most out of his personnel. Pickett hasn’t been an upgrade over Mitchell Trubisky. Najee Harris has regressed at running back, averaging a mere 3.3 yards per carry, with his backup Jaylen Warren outproducing him at 5.3 yards per attempt (though he’s seeing just 3.6 rushes per game).

Both of their leading receivers in targets, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool (who was recently traded away), have clocked fewer than 10 yards per reception. Tight end Pat Freiermuth leads the team in receiving yards per game (52.4). Wide receiver George Pickens has been their best big-play threat with 7 receptions of 20-plus yards, and he figures to have a bigger role after the Claypool trade, but he’s only seen 5.4 targets per game.

It almost feels like we’re risking a jinx in pointing this out, but the Steelers offense hasn’t been a threat to score from the open field. Their longest scoring play on the season traveled just 8 yards, the shortest of any NFL team; the Los Angeles Chargers are next-worst, with their longest scoring play traveling 23 yards. If the Saints defense can win at the line of scrimmage and guard the Steelers’ big-play attempts as well as every other team to play them this year, it should mean a win for New Orleans. Hopefully they can meet those expectations while the Saints offense does its part.

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13 waiver wire targets for fantasy football in Week 2

Take a look at the top targets on the fantasy football waiver wire in Week 2.

Just like that, the first week of fantasy football has come and gone.

It was a pretty wild opening weekend for fantasy managers. There were some explosive performances from the studs across the league while we also encountered some surprises along the way.

With rosters and roles settling, the waiver wire will be a much less chaotic place. However, that doesn’t make it any less valuable. In fact, working the waiver wire is from where league champions emerge. Drafting is great for setting a team’s foundation, but the real work comes through the waiver wire.

It’s best not to overreact to all of the Week 1 hoopla. However, we do need to take note of certain storylines, especially when it pertains to usage. Volume drives fantasy points, so that’s one of the aspects we should be looking for on the waiver wire.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in ESPN leagues, using the 75% 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 Twitter (@KevinHickey11). Your questions, comments, and roasts are always welcome!

Regardless of whether you won or lost, here are 13 players to target on the waiver wire for fantasy football in Week 2:

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 running backs

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar analyzes the top 11 running backs in the 2022 NFL draft class.

Yesterday, Mark Schofield kicked off this year’s draft position rankings for Touchdown Wire with his Top 11 quarterbacks. Now, it’s time to get into the 11 best running backs in this class. And before we even start analyzing these backs, a few words on the “Running backs don’t matter” thing you hear all the time.

First of all, only a Sith deals in absolutes. Don’t be a Sith.

Second, there are all kinds of running backs for all types of schemes, and this particular class is as deep and varied as any I can remember in recent years. Each one of the 11 backs profiled here, and several others who just missed the cut, have the opportunity to “matter” in the NFL as they did in college.

When we say “Running backs don’t matter,” what we’re generally insinuating beyond the bumper-sticker sloganeering is the idea that it’s unwise to spend too much draft capital or free-agent money on any running back, because the position is fungible with very few exceptions. While that may be true for the rank and file, tell the Tennessee Titans that Derrick Henry doesn’t matter. Tell the Indianapolis Colts that Jonathan Taylor doesn’t matter. Once their coaches are done laughing, come back and we’ll continue.

At any level of football, running backs are like insurance. They don’t necessarily matter until they do, at which point, they REALLY matter.

When Henry missed nine games for the Titans last season due to injury, per Sports Info Solutions, Tennessee’s Offensive EPA dropped from 0.08 to -0.1, their Passing EPA went from 0.15 to -0.11, and their Rushing EPA plummeted from 0.03 to -0.09. The mere threat of Henry on the field changed the structure and complexion of the Titans’ offense, and how defenses dealt with that offense. Tennessee went with a lot more 11 personnel with Henry off the field, the favored 12 personnel packages went out the window, they faced fewer stacked boxes, and the reliance was more on quarterback Ryan Tannehill than it obviously would have been for the team’s actual field-tilter on that side of the ball. Henry also covered any gaps in the quality of Tennessee’s offensive line, and that’s another attribute common among the best backs throughout pro football history.

Henry, Taylor, and that rare ilk represent the true franchise-defining backs, and there are never more than a small handful at any given time, but the point is that such players still do exist, and even the best role-players in committees make differences well ahead of the norm.

Each of the 11 backs profiled in this year’s rankings has something special to offer, so let’s get down to extrapolating their best, and most questionable, traits to the NFL.

(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise indicated. All testing data comes from the 2022 scouting combine, with percentile per position, courtesy of MockDraftable.com). 

Know your foe, Oklahoma State: Which Cowboys could give Notre Dame issues

These Cowboys won’t make life easy for the Irish

The day is finally here, after waiting over a month, the Irish hit the field on New Year’s day to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Big XII runners-up will be a challenge for Notre Dame, who has a current 7-game winning streak. They haven’t faced a ranked team since their only loss of the season, to College Football Playoff participant Cincinnati, so the quality of opponent will be much different. Find out below which Cowboys could give the Irish issues in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

3 key defensive players to watch for the Oklahoma Sooners versus Oklahoma State

Here’s three key defensive players to keep an eye on for the Oklahoma Sooners as they travel to take on Oklahoma State in Bedlam.

Oklahoma enters Bedlam feeling great about itself defensively. The Sooners smothered Iowa State for the most part. OU recorded seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss and created three Cyclones turnovers.

As the stage is set for Bedlam with an Oklahoma offense that has been limping in of late, the impetus for that type of defensive performance to continue is at a fever pitch.

At least going in, it feels like the Sooners need to come close to matching last week’s defensive showing.

So, let’s take a look at which Oklahoma defensive players need to step up in order for the Sooners to punch their ticket into the Big 12 championship game.

Woodi Washington, cornerback

It’s uncertain whether or not sophomore cornerback D.J. Graham will be available for Oklahoma on Saturday. Oklahoma head football coach Lincoln Riley had this to say on Graham’s status earlier this week.

“Questionable right now. But I would say questionable. Yeah, we’ll see how the week progresses,” Riley said.

Assuming Graham can’t go, that means how redshirt sophomore cornerback Woodi Washington plays is all the more important. If Graham is out, expect Washington to get the bulk of the responsibility covering the Cowboys’ top receiving target, Tay Martin.

The senior wide receiver has 54 grabs for 765 receiving yards with six receiving touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Brennan Presley has 35 receptions for 422 yards and five touchdowns in his own right, so he’s someone Oklahoma will have to worry about as well.

Still, if Graham is sidelined and Washington assumes the coverage responsibility on Martin, then how well that matchup goes for Washington will help decide who wins Bedlam.

Washington finished tied with the team-high in tackles in the Sooners’ 41-13 win over the Cowboys last season with his eight stops.

DaShaun White, linebacker

It’s a massive day for the linebackers in general. Let’s highlight senior linebacker DaShaun White. If things go south for Oklahoma, this could be White’s final Big 12 game in a Sooner uniform.

White is eligible to return with an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID season if he so chooses. Right now, that’s uncertain. Certainly, White doesn’t want his final statement in Big 12 play to be a disappointing one.

Oklahoma State junior quarterback Spencer Sanders has been intercepted just once in the Cowboys’ past five games. That’s due in large part thanks to its outstanding defense and what senior running back Jaylen Warren has been able to provide in the ground game.

Warren has carried it 220 times for 1,078 rushing yards for Oklahoma State and he’s found the end zone 10 times.

Oklahoma needs to be sound in the run game and force Sanders to have to make throws in the passing game. In order to do so, White and redshirt junior linebacker Brian Asamoah both need big days stuffing the Cowboys’ rushing attack.

“Yeah, I just see guys getting movement. I think when you look at the running game, as much as anything, guys use the term winning the line of scrimmage, and you just make note of that as you watch it on film. You’re seeing, you know, the opposite color jersey from the defensive standpoint going in the wrong direction and the offense going kind of like a wave going down field, and obviously the tailback is doing a great job of finding the crease and kind of making you pay for it. And so it’s just a downhill style running,” Oklahoma defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said of Oklahoma State’s running game.

Isaiah Thomas, defensive lineman

When Oklahoma has been at its best defensively, redshirt senior defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas has been at his individual best.

Just look at some of the Sooners’ best halves or games of defensive football this season.

Against Texas, Thomas had a sack and a pair of tackles for loss to help spark the Sooners’ Red River rally. In Oklahoma’s blowout win over Texas Tech, Thomas directly influenced a pair of turnovers and finished with a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Then, last week versus Iowa State, Thomas recorded a pair of sacks and two more tackles for loss.

It’s no secret. The Sooners need that to be the case from Thomas again versus the Cowboys.

The other part of the defensive pressure puzzle is this: Cowboys quarterback Spencer Sanders has been sacked just once in Oklahoma State’s past four games. He’s also thrown just the lone interception over OSU’s last five games.

If Oklahoma wants to create turnovers, they need to make Sanders’ evening uncomfortable. That hasn’t been the case for him of late. That starts up front with Thomas being a hunter.

“And we use the term hunt at times. We need to go hunt. We’ve got to go hunt that football. We can’t be okay getting blocked,” Grinch said.

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Wild weekend leads to movement in Big 12 power rankings after Week 8

After a crazy Week 8 of Big 12 games, how does the Big 12 stack up in this week’s power rankings?

The Oklahoma Sooners’ matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks was one example of the wild weekend of football in the Big 12. Oklahoma State lost its first game of the season, and West Virginia slowed the high octane TCU Horned Frogs to pick up their first conference win.

Baylor and Texas, who had bye weeks before their big Central Texas showdown next Saturday, got to sit back and watch the madness happen.

Let’s take a look at how the Big 12 teams stack up after Week 8.

Studs and duds from Texas’ loss to Oklahoma State

It was hard to find studs on this one.

If we are being honest, there is little to be positive about from the Texas perspective. The first quarter was a positive, as it was against Oklahoma, but after that, it was rough.

The ‘All Gas, No Brakes’ mantra is coming to an abrupt end. When it seems that Texas has control, they let up in the second half.

Steve Sarkisian needed this win in order to control Texas’ destiny in terms of the Big 12 title. Their fate is now out of their hands. Where do they go from here?

Sarkisian will have a tough decision to make in terms of the quarterback position going forward.

Here are the studs and duds from Texas’ loss to Oklahoma State