There’s a lot of concern that Stefon Diggs has a torn ACL. We have to wait for the MRI. This Houston receiving corps is in shambles. C.J. Stroud is probably outside the QB1 circle as a result, at least until Nico Collins returns (Week 10, at the earliest).
You have to wonder what the Browns record would be with Jameis Winston as the starter all season. Winston produced good days from four receivers. The pushback here last week was that Dorian Thompson-Robinson was the real starter, to which I said then, and continue to say now, “NFW!”
Cedric Tillman just feasted with a league-winning week. He was a third-round draft pick. He has some size and speed. You have to view him as the Browns’ WR1 now, and the passing attack should be at least league average in terms of productivity, though we know the Ravens are horrendous on pass defense.
The Jets’ absence of a screen game was mystifying. Breece Hall also lost a goal-line carry to Braelon Allen. Davante Adams was mostly invisible. The Jets are the worst coached team that I can remember. Maybe I’m forgetting someone. On Sunday alone, they punted on the opponent’s 40 on 4th-and-3 (before taking the delay of game), kicked a field goal on the Patriots’ 11 on 4th-and-inches (passing on third down), didn’t go for two up five, got a delay of game on a two-point attempt in the final minutes and they’ve stuck with a kicker who has now arguably cost them a third game.
Drake Maye is athletic and a threat to run. But we saw the downside of that with him getting knocked out early with a concussion.
The Eagles did a great job on Ja’Marr Chase, who had 54 yards on 11 targets — shocking inefficiency. We just can’t trust Tee Higgins. He’s been hurt in practice multiple times now. The Bengals also have no running game.
Jalen Hurts played like an MVP. His “Brotherly Shove” reared its ugly head again and cost Saquon Barkley a couple of scores, including one on first down. This was always the issue for Barkley.
Can Zay Flowers really only score on bombs? That’s a tough way to make a living. He is the No. 1 WR on the Ravens, for sure, and has the likely MVP at QB. I generally work yards to points, assuming TDs are flukes (in both directions).
Jared Goff had one of the nuttiest box scores ever. He generated just 85 yards on 15 attempts but threw for three TDs. And David Montgomery threw another one. The four receivers with TD catches combined for 77 receiving yards.
Calvin Ridley was fantastic with 143 yards on 15 targets. I doubt anyone played him. I have zero trust next week, but from a modeling standpoint, that level of targets and yards earn an automatic start the following week.
I have 97 points with seven different defenses the past seven weeks in my biggest league. I just play the opposing offense, of course. There has been special teams luck, but you have to lean into that. This week it was Detroit. I say this to tell you to save your defense for the last round of drafts so your plan is to stream since streaming is where the points are. You don’t want to be stuck playing a so-called premium defense through a bunch of meh matchups.
De’Von Achane can survive the 50% market share without any worries if Tua Tagovailoa is the QB. I guess you play Raheem Mostert as a goal-line back, too.
The Miami passing offense still isn’t right — 6.15 YPA is bad. Where are the schemed explosive plays? The league has caught up to Mike McDaniel.
Marvin Harrison Jr. stepped up in a big way. Kyler Murray was also very good in the second half.
As expected, tight end Cade Otton was the big winner given the decimated Tampa Bay receiving corps. Baker Mayfield was just as productive as we would have hoped he’d be with everyone healthy, so hat tip to him.
Not a lot of clarity in Tampa Bay’s backfield, though at least it was pretty much a two-man committee (Rachaad White did lose a fumble).
So much for the Bucs saying Trey Palmer was the WR1.
Darnell Mooney has been such a winning pick. You just needed to follow the guaranteed money, given that it didn’t cost you anything to do so. Mooney was a free roll. The dude is a Top 25 WR easily, especially when Kirk Cousins is nearly perfect like in Week 8 (though two of his three good games have come vs. Tampa Bay).
Bijan Robinson is sort of the rich man’s Achane now. Bucky Irving is the poor man’s Achane.
If post-game comments are any indication, Jordan Love (groin) is going to be week-to-week. This makes the Green Bay WRs unplayable.
Christian Kirk (collarbone) is out for the year, reportedly. That may mean more targets for Brian Thomas Jr. You have to be encouraged by Trevor Lawrence’s performance against what’s been a top Green Bay pass defense.
My D’Ernest Johnson speculation last week did not work out at all. Sorry about that. A big reason was Love getting banged up early (he was removed later) and thus not allowing the Packers to pile up points.
Josh Downs made a liar out of me by having relevance with Anthony Richardson (31% completions). Downs is a sell high though.
Joe Mixon has been great and it seems the Bengals really miss him.
Ladd McConkey had a great game (111 yards, 2 TDs) and could have had a third TD. I’m not trusting this passing offense though. But he should be played in Flex10 formats as a fourth WR given he’s obviously capable of 30 points.
I’m shocked that Amari Cooper did nothing in a big Buffalo passing week. My confidence is shaken that he’s a winning player, but I’ll still play him next week and hope for better returns.
Keon Coleman seems well made for Josh Allen’s game. He’s the downfield weapon who is trusted to either come up with the catch, draw a flag or break up an interception.
Seattle’s entire offense seemed to suffer from the loss of DK Metcalf. Geno Smith is used to deep safeties, but there’s no reason to play Seattle that way while Metcalf is out.
I overestimated Audric Estime. Guys are not drafted high in reality for a reason. I need to tattoo this to my forehead backwards so I read it every morning in the mirror. (Once they prove they can play, I don’t care about real-life draft capital.)
It’s been a slow year for traded receivers, DeAndre Hopkins being the latest example.
In fairness, Xavier Worthy doesn’t play the slot because of Travis Kelce, and he’s not physical enough to hold up as an outside WR. So he’s miscast in this offense. He did at least score a TD.
D’Andre Swift went from fantasy zero to hero in basically one play. I was disappointed in Caleb Williams against a bad Washington pass defense.
Jayden Daniels salvaged his day with a Hail Mary, but in fairness, the Bears pass defense is very good.
(Top photo of Cedric Tillman: Jason Miller/Getty Images)
