Most primetime games have been so low-scoring this year (thanks, Denver Broncos) that last night's wild shootout was a shocker. It included the wrinkle of a top player returning from suspension, multiple defensive return touchdowns, and some defenses not playing very well. And lots of fantasy points, if you started the right players.
QUARTERBACKS:
Humorously, the thought was that Jameis Winston would be a more favorable matchup for an opposing defense than Andy Dalton. Perhaps Winston would have thrown three Pick Sixes, but probably not. One of them wasn't Dalton's fault, it clanged off his receiver's hands; on the other Dalton's throw might have been affected by a pass rusher (but it also appeared he didn't see the linebacker in the passing lane). Dalton also threw an end-zone pick where he tried to force it in to a well-covered receiver. Bad outing for Dalton, but not bad enough for him to be replaced (in this one) by third-string quarterback Winston. Only reasonable conclusion is that Winston has been benched. Great fantasy outing ultimately, with Dalton countering those 3 picks with 4 TDs and 361 yards. But is he starting next week? We'll see.
Kyler Murray wound up managing the win with runs and short passes pretty well. A little light on production, which tends to happen when your defense has two first-half touchdowns. Once Arizona went up 28-14 the game was largely over. I started Murray in a league and got acceptable points, thanks to the 30 rushing yards, but multiple touchdowns would have been nice. Good news is that the offense looked a whole lot better with DeAndre Hopkins back -- at least, for Murray.
RUNNING BACKS:
In August we felt that Eno Benjamin was going to lock down the Chase Edmonds type role as a complement to James Conner (inactive last night with a rib injury). But the Cardinals also flirted with Darrel Williams and Jonathan Ward, making it difficult to lock in on Benjamin -- and then he was a real dud last week as a starter at Seattle, carrying 15 times for just 37 yards, and 3 for 28 as a receiver. Well, Benjamin was worlds better last night, rushing for 92 yards and a score, catching 4 passes, and adding a 2-point conversion. I left him on my bench and I'm sure many others did too. Couldn't do it against Seattle, why he would he do it against New Orleans? Unfortunate. Benjamin looked very good last night. Conner will probably return for Week 8.
Sixth-rounder Keaontay Ingram played about a third of the time, scoring a touchdown, having another overturned by replay, and catching 2 passes. Not overly successful running it and will be back to the No. 3 (or 4) when Conner and Williams return.
Alvin Kamara finished with strong overall numbers, as long as you're not in a TD-only league. Didn't get to run much with the Saints falling way behind, Taysom Hill again showed up near the goal line (Kamara did get a carry from the 3 on the previous play, so at least there's that), but busy in PPR -- the Saints' struggling defense and Dalton's checkdowns are helping him. The occasional touchdown would be nice, but Kamara is putting up plenty of yards right now. Mark Ingram was the 2nd-most productive Ingram in last night's game -- can't really be used with Kamara playing fully and Hill getting snaps near the goal line.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
DeAndre Hopkins. What a return. Fresh legs, open all night long, targeted on almost half (14) of Murray's 29 throws. Arizona's three other wide receivers and star tight end combined to catch 4 passes on 8 targets. Ouch. Things won't be so lopsided in every game, it wouldn't be possible for other NFL teams to do such a horrific job of covering Hopkins going forward. (Marshon Lattimore inactive, so basically a perfect storm of opportunity and a lack of coverage ability going on.) But it's safe to say that those who drafted Hopkins and are still in contention in their various leagues are delirious with joy. Those of us who used Rondale Moore, who had 1 catch and 1 other target (an end-zone chance, at least, but one that he couldn't control until he was out of bounds) are the opposite of that. In general, I think Moore will be the No. 2, who ordinarily will see more targets. But it's a distant No. 2 behind target-magnet Hopkins. Greg Dortch caught a touchdown but that was his only target while playing half the game. Robbie Anderson saw one pass in a dozen snaps. Anderson won't be any more of a factor in this offense than A.J. Green has been, unless you think the Cardinals are going to start chucking up deep balls or something. Green, by the way, was active but stayed on the sidelines the entire game, causing some controversy in betting circles (did someone actually bet the over on Green's involvement?). Look for Green to demand a trade this week, at which point he'll be released because he has no trade value.
Another big game (14 targets, 7 for 106) for Chris Olave. Unfortunate that Dalton's 4 TDs went to other receivers, including rookie Rashid Shaheed, who the last two weeks has turned 2 touches into 44- and 53-yard touchdowns, and that even journeyman Kevin White turned in a 64-yard catch. But Olave is the guy to be excited about, with him averaging a cool 5 catches for 83 yards per game. Also having a nice outing was TreQuan Smith (5 for 59), looking like the No. 2 at least until Michael Thomas or Jarvis Landry returns, if that ever actually happens. Marquez Callaway caught 2 passes on 6 targets, with an egregious drop of a ball that hit him in the hands over the middle, starting the Pick Six frenzy (and giving us the fantastic viral image of Dalton's pained expression while in the background the defender swan-dived into the end zone -- classic). Callaway is catching fewer than half the passes thrown his way; 8 of 19 in three starts. If anyone is still rostering him in dynasty, please move on.
TIGHT ENDS:
Zach Ertz was a bust, with a 2-point conversion his only saving grace. Arizona now has a multitude of short-range targets, and Hopkins as a go-to receiver, and it feels like Ertz -- who came into the game with five straight games of 6-plus catches -- is going to be a disappointment. Don't want to overrate one game, but hard to feel good about things.
Juwan Johnson caught 2 TDs for the Saints. With Adam Trautman inactive and all the wideouts hurt, it seemed promising for Johnson going in, and he delivered. One of his scores involved a badly missed tackle by the Cardinals, but the other was a nifty end-zone grab. Feels like he'll continue to be a part of the red-zone offense (but the Saints won't be scoring 34 points each week).
MISCELLANEOUS:
Nice to have a primetime game with some offense. It won't happen every week, but there are other lousy defenses out there. Going forward, I think the Cardinals offense should definitely be improved. Saints are at the Raiders next week and eventually will get Thomas back; main question seems to be whether they'll stick with Dalton or switch back to Winston -- the two look pretty similar after last night's game.
