Tag: Maxx Williams

Cardinals fear TE Maxx Williams’ injury is season-ending

He exited in the second quarter with what appeared to be a serious injury to his right knee.

The Arizona Cardinals, following two tough wins in the division, are dealing with a few injuries to key players. Perhaps the most serious is to tight end Maxx Williams, who suffered what appeared to be a serious injury to his right knee.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the team fears it is a serious knee injury that will end his season.

The reactions of his teammates on the field would suggest that.

After he suffered the injury and was going to be carted off the field, the entire Cardinals team ran from the sideline to be with him and offer him support.

Nothing has happened officially and head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Monday that they would “know more in the next couple of days.”

Through five games, Williams has 16 receptions for 193 yards and a touchdown. He has become an important player in the offense.

They are also currently without tight end Darrell Daniels, who is out with COVID-19.

If the Cardinals do not make a move to place him on injured reserve Tuesday, the next update will likely come Wednesday with any roster moves before practice.

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Tunnel Vision of Week 5

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

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

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

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

Chasing Ambulances

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huddle player of the week

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

Salute!

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

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

Now get back to work…

TE Maxx Williams carted off field with knee injury in 1st half

His knee bent laterally and had to be carted off the field before the end of the first half.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Maxx Williams appears to have suffered a serious injury to his right knee. With under three minutes remaining in the first half, Williams caught a pass and gained 14 yards, shaking one would-be tackler.

However, as he was taken down by a second defender, he suffered what appeared to be a serious injury. His right knee bent laterally.

He went down, picking up the first down, and teammates immediately signaled for the trainer.

He had to be carted off the field. The entire Cardinals team came from the sideline to wish him well.

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Targets, Touches and TDs: Week 5

Six fantasy football stats that should surprise even the most experienced gamers.

NFL Week 4 is now in the books, which means we are roughly a quarter way through the 2021 fantasy season.

So with a decent sample size also in the ledger, here’s a six-pack of the more surprising fantasy-oriented statistics we’ve come across so far.

Here goes, starting with …

83.4 — total fantasy points (point-per-reception scoring) for Atlanta Falcons RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson

Not only does that total easily lead all Falcons skill-position players — a contingent that includes top-five-round fantasy draft picks Calvin Ridley, Kyle Pitts and Mike Davis — but it trails only the Tennessee Titans’ Derrick Henry (101.5) and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Austin Ekeler (84.4) among all running backs and ranks behind just the Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp (102.6), the Kansas City Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill (102.3), the San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel (95.9), and the Carolina Panthers’ D.J. Moore (89.7) among wide receivers as he’s eligible at both positions on several fantasy league host sites.

More improbably, Patterson’s 83.4 fantasy points have come on just 49 total opportunities, 45 touches and 97 offensive snaps (a 34.4 percent share of Atlanta’s total offensive snaps).

And with his 354 total yards from scrimmage and five total TDs, it already ranks as the sixth-best fantasy season in nine years for the 30-year-old journeyman who’s playing on his fifth team.

Sure, scoring a TD on every ninth touch, as Patterson has this season, isn’t exactly sustainable, but this impressive start very likely will just lead to more snaps, opportunities and touches going forward for the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Patterson — especially with the lead back Davis struggling with low-efficiency averages of 3.1 yards per rush and 3.6 yards per touch.

It’s also been a slow start for Ridley so far with the wideout averaging career lows in yards per reception (9.4) and yards per target (6.1) while scoring one TD. The promising Pitts, meanwhile, is still awaiting his first trip to the end zone while going through the typical rookie tight end struggles with a 57.7 catch percentage on 26 targets.

5 — Rushing TDs for Carolina Panthers QB Sam Darnold, which not only paces all quarterbacks but is tied for the overall league lead.

Perhaps you’ve caught some of the clever “Cam” Darnold mentions, referencing a certain run-heavy former Carolina Panthers quarterback.

Now, sure, Darnold has as many ground scores as he does passing TDs so far, but his overall rushing figures aren’t exactly Newtonian numbers with Darnold only ranking 20th among quarterbacks with 52 rushing yards to date and averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. The five rushing TDs also have matched his career total entering the season after three campaigns with the New York Jets.

Let’s not short Darnold’s aerial start, though, as he’s passed for the sixth most yards (1,189) in the league so far while averaging a career-high 8.1 yards per attempt. His current passer rating (95.4) and QBR (62.7) are easily on track to hit career high-water marks.

Still, no QB has compiled more rushing fantasy points so far than Darnold’s 35.2 as he ranks fifth overall at the position with 114.7 total fantasy points. And while he doesn’t figure to continue scoring on 25 percent of his rushing attempts going forward, his 3.4 TD pass percentage is due some positive regression with the weapons at his disposal in Carolina as it ranks below his 3.7 percentage during his Jets’ tenure.

At the least, Darnold has put himself in the low-end QB1 conversation and looks to be quite the find as a last-ditch late pick in two-quarterback leagues.

0 — Running backs, tight ends or wide receivers currently ranked among the top 12 at their respective fantasy positions for the league’s highest-scoring (and only undefeated) team, the 4-0 Arizona Cardinals.

Notice we didn’t mention quarterback as Kyler Murray trails only the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (132.1) with 128.6 fantasy points (Huddle PPR scoring). Murray has had a hand in 12 of the Cards’ 16 offensive TDs with nine passing and three rushing scores to rank second among QBs with 12 total touchdowns.

But that’s where the fantasy predictability ends with the Cards.

Newly signed running back James Conner has accounted for the other four non-Murray offensive TDs — all on rushes of four yards or fewer — but those TDs account for more than half of his fantasy-point production as he ranks 25th at the position with 46.8 PPR points on 56 touches.

Holdover Chase Edmonds, meanwhile, ranks 13th among league running backs with a team-leading 395 total yards, including 140 on a team-high 20 receptions, but he has yet to find his way across the goal line on 63 touches.

At tight end, seventh-year vet Maxx Williams has been a nice surprise, reeling in 15 of his 16 targets for 179 yards and a TD to rank 13th at the position with 38.9 fantasy points.

The most surprising and intriguing numbers, though, belong to the Cards’ wide receivers.

It’s no shocker that DeAndre Hopkins is pacing the contingent in targets and fantasy points, but 6.25 targets and 14.4 fantasy points per outing isn’t what anyone envisioned when they spent a second-round fantasy pick on the veteran wideout, who currently ranks 24th at the position with 57.5 total points.

WRs Christian Kirk (52.4 fantasy points) and A.J. Green (51.8) also are top-30 fantasy receivers, ranking 29th and 30th, respectively, while rookie Rondale Moore (44.3) ranks 46th, thanks largely to a 24.4-point Week 2 outburst.

It’s been a tightly packed wideout quartet, though, with all four falling between 18-25 targets, 15-17 receptions, and 223-248 scrimmage yards.

Good news for Green, Kirk and Moore fantasy owners, but not so swell for the D-Hop GMs.

25 — targets for Los Angeles Rams WR Robert Woods, which is 21 fewer than teammate Cooper Kupp’s league-leading total of 46

Woods has led the Rams in targets in each of his first three seasons in L.A., averaging a robust 8.4 per game.

Kupp, meanwhile, has been essentially a co-WR1 with Woods, attracting only 10 fewer targets than his teammate the last two seasons following his injury-marred, eight-game 2018 campaign. In that time, Kupp averaged 8.0 targets per contest.

But with ballyhooed arrival of new QB Matthew Stafford this season, Kupp’s usage has soared to 11.5 targets per game, fueling his ascension to the top of the fantasy wideout heap with 102.6 total points.

Woods, meanwhile, has seen his per-game looks dip to 6.25 targets per contest, and he came out of Week 4 tied for 40th among wideouts with 46.0 total fantasy points. It’s been a frustrating start for Woods and his fantasy owners alike, and after he caught a 14-yard scoring pass in garbage time of Sunday’s 37-20 home loss to the Cardinals, he purposely flung the ball aside for emphasis.

Woods’ decline in targets also has led to an apparent conversation with head coach Sean McVay, who was quoted in a post-Week 4 interview saying “Robert is a leader, he’s a captain, and he’s been doing a great job up to this point. We just need to get him some more opportunities, and that starts with me.”

Don’t expect Kupp’s WR 1a status to change as he and Stafford simply have established too strong of a connection. But Woods is too talented to be taking this distant of a backseat, so look for his looks to jump up much closer to his 8.4-target average of recent seasons as opposing defenses invariably start shading more coverage Kupp’s way.

20 — receptions for Dallas Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz, which ranks fourth among league tight ends

Schultz also ranks fourth overall at the position of fantasy scarcity with 58.1 PPR points — an average of 14.5 per outing.

This isn’t a total shocker given that Schultz did finish 2020 ranked 10th among fantasy tight ends with 148.5 total points — an average of 9.3 per game. But with injured fellow tight end Blake Jarwin and QB Dak Prescott back from injuries that scuttled the majority of their 2020 seasons, and WR CeeDee Lamb’s anticipated second-year leap, Schultz’s fantasy production figured to go down — not up.

However, with opposing defenses far more concerned about the Cowboys’ other weapons, Schultz has taken advantage with a highly productive efficiency, reeling in 20 of 23 targets for 201 yards and a team-lead-matching three TD receptions.

Among league tight ends, only highly drafted studs Travis Kelce (24), Darren Waller (24) and T.J. Hockenson (22) have more receptions than Schultz so far.

Looking forward, WR Michael Gallup is due back soon from an early-season injury calf injury — just another reason why Schultz likely won’t wind up with enough target volume to maintain his elite TE1 ranking on a run-heavy team.

But, as 2020 and the first quarter of this season have shown, Schultz has earned a place as a starter in the majority of 10-team fantasy leagues.

86 and 55 — passing attempts and completions for New Orleans Saints QB Jameis Winston, the fewest in both categories among quarterbacks who have started four games

Only one team is attempting fewer than 25 passes per game or passing on fewer than 47 percent of their total plays. And it’s not the perennially run-heavy Baltimore Ravens or Cleveland Browns, who lead the league with an average of 177 ground yards per game.

Somewhat stunningly, it’s head coach Sean Payton’s New Orleans Saints, who are attempting only 22.5 passes per contest and throwing on 42.2 percent of their total plays — a full 5.0 percentage points behind the next lowest team, the Browns.

It’s most certainly a 180-degree turn from five seasons ago when the Drew Brees-led Saints ranked second in the league with an average of 42.1 passes per game — throwing on 63.4 percent of their total plays.

The lack of air attempts has certainly had an effect on fantasy fortunes in the Big Easy.

Jameis Winston has thrown for only 613 yards — a full 260 fewer than any other QB who’s started all four weeks. And even though Winston opened the season with five passing TDs and 31.1 fantasy points — on just 20 attempts and 14 completions — he’s totaled three aerial scores and 43.5 fantasy points in his three games since to rank 23rd among fantasy QBs on the season.

Only two New Orleans pass-catchers have double-digit receptions so far, with WR Deonte Harris leading the way with 11 for a team-high 164 yards.

Preseason WR sleeper Marquez Callaway has only drawn 13 targets in four games, catching nine of them for 137 yards and a TD. That’s 28.7 PPR points — 72nd among wideouts.

Stud RB Alvin Kamara is averaging a career-high 15.6 rushing attempts per game — way up from pre-2021 average of 11.2 — but his PPR value has taken a noticeable ding with only 10 receptions on his team-leading 14 targets for 62 yards so far to rank 15th among RBs with 57.9 total fantasy points.

Even with the expanded 17-game schedule, Kamara is on pace for 43 receptions and 264 receiving yards. He’s never had fewer than 81 catches and 533 receiving yards in any of his first four seasons.

Perhaps the pending midseason return of injured No. 1 wideout Michael Thomas will inspire more passing attempts in the Big Easy. But then again, Thomas could simply take his place on the list of fantasy victims of the new aerial-averse Saints.

Tunnel Vision of Week 4

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

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

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

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

Chasing Ambulances

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huddle player of the week

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

Salute!

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

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

Now get back to work…

Maxx Williams and the Arizona Cardinals deliver an “Immaculate Reception” moment

The Immaculate Reception was a big topic this week with the Steelers and Raiders squaring off. The Arizona Cardinals paid tribute to the play in their own way.

With the Raiders and Steelers renewing their storied rivalry today, there were lots of tributes to the Immaculate Reception over the past few days.

The Arizona Cardinals took their tribute more seriously than most.

Of course you know the play. In the AFC divisional playoff game in 1972 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders, the Raiders were leading with under a minute to go. Terry Bradshaw lofted a throw in the direction of John Fuqua, and the ball ricocheted off of Raiders safety Jack Tatum, and into the welcoming arms of running back Franco Harris, who raced into the end zone with the game-winning touchdown. The play is etched in NFL lore:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM08mW78zi4

Well, enter Kyler Murray, Maxx Williams and the Arizona Cardinals from today:

As you can see from the end zone angle, the pass is first tipped at the line of scrimmage, and then by a linebacker, before settling into the waiting arms of Williams, who races upfield for a big gain.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, while the Steelers won the game on their Immaculate Reception, Arizona still trails the Minnesota Vikings in the first half by multiple scores. But perhaps the luck is on their side, given this moment?

Cardinals TE Maxx Williams, finally healthy, leads room of ‘problem solvers’ at position

Cardinals TE Maxx Williams never felt comfortable with his ankle last season. He is ready for whatever roles he and the other tight ends are asked to fill.

The tight end position is often overlooked for the Arizona Cardinals. It is a position where the team has not had big production really since Hall of Famer Jackie Smith left the team in 1978.

However, despite being overlooked, it is an important position for the offense and Maxx Williams leads the way.

Williams, of course, never was really healthy last season. He missed seven games with an ankle injury that bothered him all last season. It started before training camp, he played in the opener, had surgery after that, returned and still worked through it.

He “never really got comfortable” with the ankle, he told reporters last week.

His ankle is fine now.

“It’s great just to finally feel good, have a good actual offseason of training a good summer and come in and feel good about this camp,” he said.

Coming back healthy this season was what his major goal was.

“For me, it was to get healthy and then really get myself back into shape where I wanted to be, where I could  come  into camp and the season confidently to play some really good football again,” he said.

He was critical to the offensive success late in 2019, his first season with the team. He isn’t a big pass catcher but earned high marks for his blocking.

He likes to call the tight ends’ role in the offense as “problem solvers,” whether that is catching passes, being a target in the red zone or blocking.

“I think you guys have seen the last two years with Kliff, it’s whatever he needs us to do,” he said of the role he and others at his position could play. “We’re problem solvers. Whatever they need us to do, whatever they ask us to do, we’re not going to complain, we’re going to go out and play our game and do it to the best of our abilities.”

A healthy Williams gives them someone who is a very good blocker and has the ability to catch passes. In 2019, when head coach Kliff Kingsbury raved about Williams’ play, which earned him a contract extension, he still only had 15 catches all season.

If he has more than 20 this coming season, it will be surprising, especially with the receiving corps they have and the pass-catching ability of running back Chase Edmonds.

But he does solve problems. He doesn’t know yet what to think about who his fellow tight end teammates will ultimately be but believes they all can play.

Here’s to hoping Williams continues to be a healthy problem solver all year.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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2021 Cardinals training camp preview: Tight ends

We break down the players on the roster, the questions facing the group and their chances for making the team.

Training camp begins this week for the Arizona Cardinals. We continue to look at each position to break down the roster, the questions and the outlook for the players at the position.

Below, we look at the tight ends on the roster.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Projected stats for Cardinals’ key offensive players look great

QB Kyler Murray flirts with 5,000 total yards, two running backs have over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and four WRs have at least 600 yards.

The Arizona Cardinals believe they will be even better on offense than they were a season ago. Kyler Murray should move forward in his progression entering in Year 3. The offensive line is better. The receiving corps is better.

So what does that mean statistically?

It means a lot of points and yards.

Fantasy Pros projected the stats — obviously for fantasy purposes — for players all over the NFL. The numbers for prominent Cardinals offensive players look good.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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TE Maxx Williams healthy again, set for bounce-back year for Cardinals

Williams was limited to only nine semi-healthy games last year.

It had to be a frustrating year for tight end Maxx Williams last year. He entered training camp with an ankle injury he had to deal with. He reaggravated it in Week 1, was inactive a week and then was on injured reserve.

It was a problem all year, even after his return from IR.

Hopefully, that is all behind him.

The ankle was good in OTAs and minicamp.

“Maxx has looked great. He has rehabbed extensively,” Kliff Kingsbury told reporters after Tuesday’s practice in minicamp. “He’s running back to how he was when we first got here. That’s been a real positive.”

Having a healthy Williams could be a bit of a game-changer for the Cardinals, as unimportant as the tight end position seems to be in the offense.

Kingsbury described him as a perfect fit and has been a fantastic run blocker. He can catch but hasn’t been asked to do that much in two seasons.

When he was in the lineup, the running game was better. If his ankle isn’t an issue in 2021, the production from running backs James Conner and Chase Edmonds could be great, and they won’t have to rely on Kyler Murray running as much.

They got nine not-healthy games from Williams last year. This season, they can hopefully get 17 health games from him. If they do, that is good news.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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