Every week I will do a quick drive thru of the all the games and cover the relevant fantasy points.  I will look at things that might be fluky or here to stay and try and point everyone in the right direction for the future.  We never want to overreact to a small-sample size, but sometimes getting in too early is still better than missing the boat entirely.

Lions 34 – Packers 31

This was a high-scoring affair without a big Jordan Love game, which was surprising.  Josh Jacobs did the leg work with three TDs and he’s the backbone of this Packers team.  The surprising, not so surprising line was Jayden Reed having zero catches after being under 30 yards in the each of the previous three games.  Love just isn’t looking his way right now.  He is looking at Christian Watson, who is on the field all the time now after being around 50% earlier in the season.  He’s finally delivering.  Romeo Doubs was still out with a concussion and Dontayvion Wicks was solid, but with only 12 completions, there is so much he can do.  Jared Goff delivered at home as he does and while the running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs each scored, they were mostly held in check on the ground.  Amon-Ra St. Brown was third in targets and that can happen when other guys step up.  Tim Patrick was one of those guys and he’s settled in as a nice flex play recently.  Jameson Williams led the team in rec yards and Sam LaPorta is finally playing well after letting fantasy GMs down all season.

Pickup of the game: WR Tim Patrick – Priority Med

Saints 14 – Giants 11

This game was gross to watch and no one really did anything of value.  The story was whether Malik Nabers could go and he was able to post a solid line with five grabs and 70 yards.  Drew Lock had to throw the ball 49 times which isn’t ideal and three players had at least 10 targets.  Tyrone Tracy Jr. packaged together a nice line despite only averaging 2.8 YPC.  Lock didn’t have a passing TD, but he did run for 59 yards and that really helps inflate his fantasy line.  The whole team is a stayaway minus Nabers if you can help it.  The Saints are trash and it was surprising Alvin Kamara wasn’t able to go off vs. a bad rush defense.  He constantly was tackled behind the line and nobody could get anything going.  Derek Carr was bad and got hurt, so he might be out for a while.  Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the team in rec yards, but he’s boom-or-bust and will likely be bust with Jake Haener under helm.  Juwan Johnson scored, but he’s only a low-end play if Carr was playing.  The Saints are marching nowhere.

Pickup of the game – None

Steelers 27 – Browns 14

George Pickens was ruled out right before kickoff, which was a shocker, but it didn’t matter to Russell Wilson as he still threw for two TDs, but not many yards.  So maybe it did matter.  Jaylen Warren outplayed Najee Harris again and crushed him in YPC with 5.2 to 3.3.  Harris still out carried him 16-9.  Calvin Austin was supposed to step up, but he was invisible and it was Pat Freiermuth who led the way with 48 yards and a score.  This PIT offense is boring without Pickens.  Hopefully, it’s just a one-game absence.  The Browns did a classic letdown game after the big letdown vs. DEN last week.  Jameis Winston threw for two TDs and two INTs which is his style.  Jerry Jeudy wasn’t quite as hot as last week but he still led the team in yards and scored.  David Njoku is the smash-play as he had another 13 targets after having 17 a week ago.  If he can ever haul in more than 50% of the passes, he will go off.  He was still nice with seven grabs and a score.  The Browns are going to be like this every game from here on out.  The running game is in shambles and Nick Chubb is a shell of his former self, despite averaging 4.4 YPC.

Pickup of the game – TE Pat Freiermuth – Priority Low

Vikings 42 – Falcons 21

The Vikings took this game by the throat in the 4th quarter where they outscored ATL 21-0.  Sam Darnold looks like a franchise QB and it helps when you have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison combine for over 250 yards and 5 TDs.  They are going off and the Vikings are peaking at the right time.  Even Aaron Jones got involved with 73 rushing yards and a score, but this game might have just been ATL throwing in the towel.  Kirk Cousins had another two INTs and no TDs and you have to assume he might be done as the starter for the season.  He did throw for 344 yards which is nice, but he’s got zero TDs in any of the last four games, which is hard with this supporting cast.  Bijan Robinson carried the offense on the ground with a surprising 92 yards and a score because no one does that vs. MIN.  Ray-Ray McCloud is the darling this week and he’s a must-add as he led the team in targets with 11.  Drake London hauled in five-of-ten targets which isn’t great, but it’s Darnell Mooney who is the secret fantasy stud of the season with another monster six grabs for 147 yards.  If only they could score.

Pickup of the Game – WR Ray-Ray McCloud – Priority High

Buccs 28 – Raiders 13 

The Buccs tried to give this game away as Baker Mayfield had two INTs and lost a fumble, but the Raiders were in no mood to put up a fight.  Mayfield got on track and finished with three TDs and almost 300 yards.  Bucky Irving only lasted four carries and that’s the risk when you start a stud who is already banged up.  Rachaad White grabbed the baton and scored twice and he will be go off if Irving has to miss time.  Mike Evans was fine but didn’t score and Cade Otton padded his stats with a 44-yard completion late in the game.  Jalen McMillian finally stepped as after everyone already left him for dead and he’s a solid pickup since he scored twice.  The Raiders were really bad and Brock Bowers let me down a 100 different ways.  Who knew, it would Michael Mayer who would lead the team in yards, football is crazy.  Sincere McCormick made good on last weeks breakout and he could be here to stay, at least for a little while.  Congrats if you scooped him up.  Aidan O’Connell got carted off and it’s going to be the Desmond Ridder show from now own.  That’s not good for Bowers or Jakobi Meyers, who led the team 10 targets and had a solid game.

Pickup of the game – WR Jalen McMillian – Priority Medium

Eagles 22 –  Panthers 16

Saquon Barkley didn’t have the greatest game ever by a RB, but he was still awesome and had 124 yards on the ground, but no TDs.  Jalen Hurts got the tush push, but was awful through the air with only 108 yards.  AJ Brown had a melt down after the game and you know that means he’s going to go off next time.  DeVonta Smith scored in his first game back and TE Grant Calcaterra also scored replacing the injured Dallas Goedert.  The Eagles barely won this game and you have to assume they took CAR for granted.  Bryce Young is officially back and could have won this game if Xavier Legette holds onto the ball.   Adam Thielen dialed back the clock and had a great game in a vey tough matchup.  Sorry if you sat him.  Chuba Hubbard can’t be stopped and has b2b great games vs. elite rush defenses.  Next time we should learn not to back the young RB off an a major knee injury.  Hubbard is officially matchup proof.  Young is playing well, but he’s not fantasy relevant, but the schedule eases up a bit and maybe he can finish strong.

Pickup of the game –WR Adam Thielen – Priority Medium

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