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.
Some of you will be glad to know that my various Survivor pool teams are dead as a doornail, so I won't be talking about them anymore. I'm actually doing well in a point-spread pool, but survivor, well, it appears the tribe has spoken and I should stay well away. So be it.
Dolphins at Falcons: DeVante Parker is out, crippling a couple of lineups where bye weeks already had me thin. I actually picked up Michael Floyd to start in a lineup, that's how bad things are. Couple of Dolphin fan friends who are already done with Jay Cutler, even after Miami won last week. Falcons won't have Mohamed Sanu, and Matt Bryant is also iffy with a back injury, so consider what kicker you might add if Bryant winds up in active.
Bears at Ravens: No Terrance West, which is good for Javorius Allen and to a lesser extent Alex Collins, and Ravens lineman Brandon Williams is doubtful, which is good for Jordan Howard. Probably a lower-scoring game, with neither team likely to or capable of doing much passing. Markus Wheaton is out for the next month, helpful to the people nowhere who were thinking about rostering Markus Wheaton.
Browns at Texans: Like everyone else who picked up Deshaun Watson, I'm starting him. He's talented, he runs the ball, and the Browns don't play a lot of defense. Hopkins is a weekly start and Will Fuller is on enough of a hot streak that you probably have to use him too. For Cleveland it's Kevin Hogan as we watch the Hue Jackson era limp to a close (my thinking is the Browns knew Jackson wouldn't be the guy but didn't care who coached the team during its non-competitive rebuild, but he's gone after the year, having probably lost the team for good with comments this week saying, well, we can't go back and select Deshaun instead of DeShone, or trade them for each other. Start Duke Johnson in PPR, that's about it for Cleveland.
Packers at Vikings: If I were using a Packers running back it would be Aaron Jones, and I think I am somewhere. I'm not sure Montgomery will play and think he'll be limited or behind Jones if he does. With the Vikings Jerick McKinnon is the best running back bet. No Stefon Diggs (recall him saying he was definitely playing mid-week, players are always optimistic), so Adam Thielen moves up and as noted I'm throwing a Hail Mary with Michael Floyd.
Lions at Saints: Lions and Saints each play a little more defense than perhaps they have in the past, but I think in this game you go ahead and start key passing game components anyway, because neither defense is THAT good. In one league I'm starting Mark Ingram AND Alvin Kamara, which I think is a viable strategy until the Saints signs a third back off the scrap heap and start giving him a dozen carries just because Sean Payton thinks he's smarter than everyone else. Am starting both Lions wideouts, and think Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick are also possible starts. Can be difficult to find running backs with byes/injuries and beggars can't be choosers.
Patriots at Jets: Was all set to use Elijah McGuire, but then Matt Forte got healthy. Bilal Powell is listed as questionable, but he didn't practice at all so will be a shock if he's active. But with Forte back and perhaps getting a lot of work to showcase him for a trade, I'm not using McGuire or any Jet running back. But pass catchers Kearse, Seferian-Jenkins and Anderson are usable; I'm starting ASJ. For the Patriots, use the running backs you have to while being aware you might get burned, I think that's the weekly drill with this backfield. Fun fact, like Tom Brady I had a sprained AC joint a little while back. I couldn't even lift my arm without excruciating pain, let alone play football. But I assume he's getting better treatment and meds than me, so I'm sure he's fine.
49ers at Washington: It's a little worrying how much I'm counting on Washington winning this game big, big big. I've got receivers, quarterback, kicker, defense. Samaje Perine is the Washington running back in this one, him I'm not as gung ho about, just cause he's looked bad, but he'll probably stumble into the end zone at some point. For San Francisco, I'd use Hyde and in fact am, but not with a lot of happiness with Shanahan's stated "hot-hand" plan with him and Matt Breida. Dropped Joe Williams in dynasty this week.
Buccaneers at Cardinals: Story out about Bruce Arians, Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald all retiring after the season. Makes sense, I'm sure at least one of them would like to before this game. But their passing game could manage some production here, at least until Palmer gets hurt. John Brown is as healthy as he gets, Doug Martin and Mike Evans should be fine.
Rams at Jaguars: Love both running games in this one, not as keen on the passing games. I know the Rams have been impressive but so has the Jaguars secondary. Jaguars won't have a starting lineman but Fournette's volume should be there, again.
Steelers at Kansas City: Kansas City defense hasn't been all that thus far, so I'm not afraid to start key Steelers. Pittsburgh's defense is better, but hasn't been as good against the run and no one is sitting down Kareem Hunt anyway. Travis Kelce cleared concussion protocol. Mulling a Jordan Howard for Tyreek Hill trade offer in dynasty where I have better depth at running back and am in dire straits at wideout, comments welcome. PPR.
Chargers at Raiders: Should be a high-scoring affair. Derek Carr is back (no pun intended), Amari Cooper is due, and the Chargers are really bad defending the run, so it's a week to definitely use Marshawn Lynch. Raiders aren't good defensively so I'm using Rivers in a couple of spots. And Tyrell Williams, again the bye-week issue.
Giants at Broncos: A Sunday night eyesore where we've got to watch Eli Manning work without his top 3 wide receivers. I'm staring Evan Engram in a couple of places, no interest in Roger Lewis or Travis Rudolph or whatever nobody wideout New York has to use. For Denver, all key players are in play, especially with New York having suspended starting cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. It's all gone sour for the Giants and a shame we have to watch this one in primetime. C.J. Anderson should be very good.
Colts at Titans: Second time in three weeks we get the Colts in primetime. At least be glad they traded for Jacoby Brissett, because no one would have wanted to watch Scott Tolzien in these things. Titans fairly weak against the pass (that's part of why Dolphins fans disgusted with Cutler even after a win), so T.Y. Hilton and returning Jack Doyle should catch a bunch of passes. Titans are expected to get Marcus Mariota back, making their offense way more appealing. But no one is calling this must-see TV; the Monday night games have had some duds this year.
Enjoy the games.
--Andy Richardson