Welcome to the fantasy recap and this week we had to survive without the Bills, Eagles, Vikings and Rams so it was a tough week to get through. Throw in a massive trade, some major injuries and strange coaching decisions and it added up to the usual FF mayhem. He’s who thrived, who nosedived and who has arrived on the scene this week.
NB: Scores based on PPR leagues
Fantasy Stars:
Andy Dalton (NO) – 30cmp/361yds/4tds/3int + 4rsh/21yds 30pts
I gave Joe Burrow the nod here last week and he was top dog once again but to switch it up I’ll pick this week’s QB2. That was Andy Dalton. The Red Rifle had a game he’d want to forget when it comes to real life since he threw 3 interceptions and lost the game to Arizona, but his fantasy score was tremendous.
Austin Ekeler (LAC) – 9rsh/31yds/1td + 12rec/96yds/1td 36pts
Ekeler is the clear RB1 on the season currently and in some scoring formats, tied for the league lead. After a mediocre start (we are still talking double digits every week though) he’s not dipped below 24 since week 3. Most receivers would love 12 receptions so his usage there as a running back is incredible, especially when you consider he caught every target he got.
JaMarr Chase (CIN) – 8rec/130yds/2tds 33pts
Now Joe Burrow is fully mended the Bengals offence looks hard to stop. Chase had the biggest day as you can see but Tyler Boyd was the WR2 and Higgins was still in the top 24 and got 90+yards. Boyd had the most yards at 155 but only made the endzone once. But if you played The QB, RB, 3WR and TE from the Bengals this week, you’d have scored 145pts.
Surprise Packages:
Justin Fields (CHI) – 13cmp/179yds/1td/1int + 14rsh/82yds/1td 20pts
Fields has steadily increased his fantasy output but is still yet to complete more than 15 passes in a game this season. He’s now has consecutive weeks with 80+ rushing yards but this was the first time since week 2 that he found the end zone on a rushing play. Daniel Jones also deserves a mention here for hitting 29pts with 202 passing yards and 107 rushing yards.
Eno Benjamin (ARI) – 12rsh/92yds/1td + 4rec/21yds 23pts
There were a lot of good running backs this week where you could argue that it’s a surprise but they were predictable. I think the surprise this week has been just how well some of the narratives went for backups ascending to starting roles. Gus Edwards, Raheem Mostert, Rhamondre Stevenson, Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, Deonta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard the list goes one. But to me Benjamin stuck out as James Conner had been pretty poor so far and the RB position in Arizona looked a bit suspect. Benjamin ripped up that narrative and made a case to be the long term starter. Also credit Antonio Gibson for being a top 16RB this week despite having Brian Robinson and all the narratives against him.
Mecole Hardman (KC) – 4rec/32yds/1td + 2rsh/28yds/2td 28pts
The Chiefs brought in Juju and MVS and yet this week it was Hardman who had the big day. I say big day, he hit paydirt 3 times despite only tallying 60yards overall. Juju was just behind with 25pts but had 124yds and 1td and MVS had 111 yards to get 14pts. There were so many surprises at WR this week though. Marquise Goodwin stepping in for Metcalf, Parris Campbell becoming a target monster, DJ Moore returning from the shadows, Ray-Ray McCloud, Darius Slayton, Kalif Raymond and Damiere Byrd were all top 24WRs this week. How?
Disappointments:
Lamar Jackson (BAL) – 9cmp/120yds/0td/0int + 10rsh/59yds 11pts
I was spoiled for choice in the surprises section, but there was no end of options in the disappointment section too. Jared Goff scoring 2pts (with no injury), Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers losing to backups, Mariota coming crashing down after last week, Matt Ryan losing his job, Dak Prescott not returning to a fanfare or even Derrick Carr struggling to start… But this week I have to go for Lamar on a rare down week. No TDs, 179 total yards and yet the Ravens still won.
AJ Dillon (GB) – 4rsh/15yds + 0rec/0yds 2pts
What on earth is going on in Green Bay? They were meant to have a 2 headed monster RB committee with Dillon and Aaron Jones and that would help with their weaker receiving corps. Excluding week 1 he’s not scored double digit fantasy points and this was his lowest total to date. The other notable were Leonard Fournette only tallying 26yrds and 5pts against Carolina. Ouch.
Drake London (ATL) – 1rec/9yds 2pts
I usually ignore players who left through injury, hence why Amon-Ra St Brown and DK Metcalf aren’t featured here. Nor do I put players you’re not likely to have played like Skyy Moore scoring his second -3pt game of the season. Others were banged up or scored in the 5s and 6s but this week’s mention goes to Drake London. The rookie started the season so well and with so much hype, but since week 3 he’s not scored above 7.5pts or had more than 4 receptions or found the endzone.
Waiver Wire pickups:
BYE Weeks: KC, LAC
QB – Jameis Winston (If Healthy) (NO) – With only 2 bye weeks this week you would think it would be much easier but it really isn’t. The Broncos, Titans, Colts, Browns, Patriots, 49ers, Jets, Falcons, Steelers and Panthers don’t have a playable QB between them for the time being and there are a host more where, without even looking at the matchup, you still cringe and think better of it. Winston has options and a reasonable matchup against the Raiders, but he has to be healthy first.
Other QB Options – Mills vsTEN, Heinicke @IND, G.Smith vsNYG.
RB – Michael Carter (NYJ) – With Breece Hall out for the season with an ACL tear, Carter will now be joined by former Jaguar James Robinson. He will need some time to adapt but Carter began the season well and should see plenty of work, especially when Zach Wilson is doing precious little in the passing game. Gus Edwards, the Panthers RBs and Khalil Herbert also need to be considered.
WR – George Pickens (PIT) – It’s slimmer pickings (excuse the pun) this week at WR but I think it’s your last chance to grab Kenny Pickens off waivers if he’s there as he looks to be the #1 and the Steelers future. Claypool and Johnson are trade candidates so his value will only rise. Alec Pierce, Parris Campbell, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Isaiah McKenzie and Zay Jones are also options.
TE – Harrison Bryant (CLE) – I’ve barely mentioned Tight Ends this week despite it being national Tight End week but really they all followed type this week. The good ones were great and the others were just meh. One major note was David Njoku getting injured and probably missing 2-4 weeks which means Harrison Bryant will see a large uptick in work as it’s a position that sees good usage in Cleveland.
DST Options – Commanders @IND, Colts vsWAS, Ttians @HOU, Jaguars vsDEN.