Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in every so often over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
What follows is a brief look at all the games with how I'd react in my own lineups to injury developments or other news. The official rankings are the ones in the Weekly. Those are the ones that subscribers are paying for. Sometimes players are very close in the rankings, and if I get questions like that, I'll offer opinions. Sometimes I like certain players more or less than Ian, and sometimes I have different risk tolerance with injuries/weather issues, etc. OK, on to the games.
Bills at Bengals: Truly torn over which defense to use in this game; both are available in the league where I pick up a new one each week. Long-term I like the Bills better, but both teams are on a bye next week, so they'll be cut. I generally prefer home teams but am going with the Bills. Jordan Matthews (who no one should be starting anyway) and Tyler Eifert are out. Probably a lower-scoring game.
Jets at Browns: Be honest, if you were told before the season that one of these teams would be 2-2, you wouldn't have guessed the Jets. I'm not sure how they're doing it, but schedule has helped. No Matt Forte, so Bilal Powell looks great. My toughest choice this week is Elijah McGuire or Aaron Jones, with McGuire a clear No. 2 and Jones a probable committee with Jamaal Williams. Opinions welcome. For the Jets you can consider Kearse, for the Browns Duke Johnson the best bet. And both defenses. I like Austin Seferian-Jenkins and am trying to acquire him cheaply in dynasty (might be harder after this game).
Panthers at Lions: No Kenny Golladay. I kind of like Detroit's passing offense. Wary of all things Carolina against a Lions defense that's been impressive, and maybe the week's distractions have been a negative for Cam Newton. I like the matchup for Detroit's main wideouts and think Stafford should be OK, though there are some offensive line injuries.
49ers at Colts: Tried to pick up Jacoby Brissett last night to block my opponent (who had only Drew Brees on his bye and iffy Sam Bradford). Thought $6 would do it, he got him for $9. Should have gone up to $11. Oh well. Expecting a higher-scoring shootout type game, definitely like Hyde, Garcon (against his old team), and the Colts passing game. Would even consider old Gore against his old team. And Brissett.
Titans at Dolphins: On the one hand, neither team can play a lot of defense. On the other hand, one is quarterbacked by Jay Cutler and one might be quarterbacked by Matt Cassel. Marcus Mariota might be out there, but a true gametime decision it seems. Favoring the running backs and maybe Rishard Matthews, plus DeVante Parker and Jarvis Landry, even though hamstrung (no Mariota pun intended) by the unexciting presence of Cutler. Titans really weak defending the pass, though, so Cutler might surprise.
Chargers at Giants: Is the Rivers-Manning matchup getting much play? Might very well be the last time these two veterans who were traded for each other way back when match up. Probably, actually. Sad to think one of these teams will be 0-5 afterward (or maybe I'm the only one who thinks it's sad, I don't know). If I'd picked up Gallman this week I'd probably use him, he's healthiest and looked better than Darkwa. Melvin Gordon off injury report so apparently he's OK. Every week I say I think the Chargers are going to win and so far I'm 0-4, so forget that. But I do think it will be a good game, with Beckham and Allen appealing.
Cardinals at Eagles: A little surprised the Eagles are almost a touchdown favorite in this game. I mean, they're better, but they've got some flaws defensively and I think Carson Palmer and the passing game should be productive. Certainly starting Larry Fitzgerald. For the Eagles, no Wendell Smallwood, probably, so LeGarrette Blount should be the main running back, with Corey Clement the No. 2. But I like the passing games better, except for Alshon Jeffery probably being covered by Patrick Peterson, which is bad.
Jaguars at Steelers: Steelers are my Survivor Pool pick (yes I'm still alive in one) and the only one I actually like this week. They're home, they're better, will be tough for Jacksonville's offense to get much going. Good matchup for LeVeon Bell. Steelers run defense not quite as tough this year so I'd go ahead and use Leonard Fournette. Marqise Lee is hurting, making him a risky option. Anyone catching passes from Blake Bortles is a risky option, of course.
Seahawks at Rams: These game have tended to be lower-scoring, but that's true of every Rams game until Sean McVay showed up in town. With McVay running things, Rams can score. You've got to use Todd Gurley, passing game less exciting. For Seattle, I personally will never roster or use Thomas Rawls, but biases aside I will concede he will probably be the main runner. But it could be Eddie Lacy. And it will be J.D. McKissic on passing downs, I noticed he's a wide receiver in some leagues. But he's a running back. I have nothing to add to the rankings on these backs, would just like to make note of my lack of trust in what Pete Carroll might do or say. I don't think he's crafty or sneaky, I just think he's whimsical. Should be a good game, surprisingly.
Ravens at Raiders: Ravens have a lousy offense, Raiders a lousy defense. So who knows. Alex Collins should be the main running back and I'd use him and Javorius Allen. For the Raiders, Cooper and Crabtree are healthy and playing, a downgrade with EJ Manuel the starting quarterback, but viable possibilities. Marshawn Lynch should be OK against a run defense missing its key run stuffer.
Packers at Cowboys: Great matchup and a shame this isn't the primetime game, as if we really need Kansas City on prime time twice in six days and three times since the opener. Not that they're not entertaining and all, but c'mon. I guess Jamaal Williams is the starting running back with Aaron Jones the change-of-pace, but I think Jones is better so I'm considering using him. But that's merely a hunch, risky to count on him. Dallas' offense should be very good. Green Bay passing game too. Davante Adams is questionable so we'll see if you can use him or consider Geronimo Allison. Fun, high-scoring game coming.
Kansas City at Texans: Tougher challenge for Deshaun Watson than he's had the last couple of weeks. I started him a week ago but sat him for Jameis Winston this week. Winston was worth 21 points which is acceptable. Kansas City will lose eventually but I like them in this game. Might be more defense than offense in this one, but I'd start the usual suspects.
Vikings at Bears: Sounds like Sam Bradford might play. I remember the Vikings going into Chicago as a heavy favorite on a Monday night last season and losing badly, so I'm way of the Vikings. I want no part of the Latavius Murray-Jerick McKinnon committee. Diggs and Thielen OK. For Chicago, Howard and Cohen are it. Staying well away from Mitchell Trubisky. Yet another example of how quick plans to sit the first-round quarterback his rookie season get scrapped.
Enjoy the games.