Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own brief take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in 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 take precedence. But sometimes players are very close, and in those cases I'm glad to offer opinions on how I'd approach those situations. Sometimes I like certain players more or less than Ian, and sometimes I have different risk tolerance with injuries etc.
Note: I've got some stuff going on today and will not be able to answer lineup questions for most of the day. But I will get to them this evening at some point.
Ravens vs. Titans across the pond: Another 9:30 a.m. start time. I'm expecting a lower-scoring game, not only because of who's playing in it but because I expect that of these England games. Falcons-Jags was low=scoring. Bills-Jags ended up 25-20, but it was much lower than that until a late points flurry. Lamar Jackson and DeAndre Hopkins and to a lesser extent Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers are to me the usable aspects of this game. And the defenses and Justin Tucker.
Commanders at Falcons: Hard to get a read on this one. Washington's defense has been bad so a better than average week to use Falcons, but if Atlanta is running well they won't pass a ton. I guess in general I'm using regular starters in this game, with both teams seeming healthy.
Vikings at Bears: D'Onta Foreman starts, and I'd use him as ranked. Vikings defense isn't too good (neither is the Bears, so I'd use Alexander Mattison, and also Jordan Addison and yes K.J. Osborn, as ranked. Just not much to recommend either defense. Not sure how you'd sit down DJ Moore coming off his game against Washington. Cole Kmet also seems viable right now.
Seahawks at Bengals: Seahawks defense has been bad, so thumbs up on Burrow, Chase and Mixon. I think I'm using Tee Higgins somewhere, while assuming a little risk. Seattle, wideouts and Kenneth Walker fine to use.
49ers at Browns: I have no inside info on what's going on with Deshaun Watson (shoulder). Medically cleared to play, but not playing. Kind of weird. P.J. Walker's presence makes me unwilling to use any key Browns, that and the tough matchup. Maybe Amari Cooper, just because someone has to catch some passes, but most likely we're looking at 1 TD and 13 points, tops, from Cleveland. San Fran's key starters or healthy and despite the tough matchup, I'm using them where I have them.
Saints at Texans: I've given up expecting the Texans passing game to cool off. Tough matchup, good Saints secondary, but I still think C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins should be OK. For the Saints I'm in on Kamara and to a lesser extent Olave and Michael Thomas. People might have to use Dameon Pierce, but it's hard to feel good about it.
Colts at Jaguars: Hey, revenge game for Gardner Minshew! Seems like potentially a good, higher-scoring game. I think I'd use Jonathan Taylor before Zack Moss, but that's what I said a week ago and we know how that turned out. Realistically it's a committee, and hard to say who will be better. Thumbs up on Travis Etienne and each team's top wide receivers, Evan Engram too. Important game in a seemingly wide-open AFC South. (I have a fantasy league similar to the AFC South, where all four teams are 3-2 or 2-3. In it, one team is 4-1 and 11 teams are either 3-2 or 2-3. Crazy to me.)
Panthers at Dolphins: No Miles Sanders, so Chuba Hubbard is your intriguing fill-in of the week. Even if the Panthers get blown out, and they probably will, he should catch some passes. For Miami's backfield, well, I figure Mostert gets 60-70 percent and Salvon Ahmed gets the rest. (Dolphins not activating Wilson this week.) Miami should rush for 150 and 1-2 TDs in this game, so a second back could be usable. Miami's passing game for sure. Adam Thielen the Panther I'd consider.
Patriots at Raiders: As I noted somewhere else, these teams are scoring under 28 points a game combined this season. So it might be a game with just 2-3 touchdowns total, and hard to be overly interested in anyone beyond a featured running back (Jacobs) and a pair of wideouts seeing all the targets (Adams and Meyers). Defenses have value, but presumably Mac Jones won't be throwing Pick Sixes every week.
Lions at Buccaneers: This game should give a test as to how good the Bucs defense, which has played well, actually is. I'm using key Lions. Sam LaPorta is officially questionable, but sounds like he's playing, he was reportedly moving fine at practice, and I'm using him. Riskier to sit him down. David Montgomery obviously, maybe Rachaad White for his featured workload, and both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (Lions give up more production via the pass than run).
Cardinals at Rams: Cardinals will probably start Keontay Ingram, but Emari Demercado might play just as much. Tough to say, so tread cautiously with these guys. Hopefully Schefter or the Cardinals themselves will have some info Sunday morning. Apparently Sean McVay's wife might go into labor this weekend, not ideal timing but hey these things happen. Good luck McVays. I'm using Kyren and the Rams' top wideouts. Hollywood yes, Ertz maybe, Wilson less likely but mebbe.
Eagles at Jets: Eagles have some defensive injuries. Good enough to make the Jets offense look good, probably not. I might chance a couple of guys and cross my fingers, that's about it. Hoping DeVonta Smith gets a turn in the offense. I was gonna bench him but Justin Jefferson is on IR so I'm a little thinner this week. D'Andre Swift should be good and would be tough to bench Breece Hall, tough matchup though.
Giants at Bills: It's Week 6. This is the Giants' FOURTH primetime showcase game. I legitimately do not understand how or why this happened. Even if the Giants were going to be a playoff contender again, and they're obviously not, this wasn't going to be a team with much star power or high entertainment value. I understand they like to put New York teams on, large media market, yada yada. But this is insane. Tyrod Taylor facing his former team, that's the desperation angle here. The Bills should win this game easily and it probably won't be a lot of fun to watch. Bills have some TE health questions, best avoided I think if possible.
Cowboys at Chargers: Should be a good, higher-scoring Monday night game. Austin Ekeler returns and you bet I'll be using him. Cowboys offense gets a softer matchup. Nothing else to add, I expect more offense than defense. I'm using Josh Palmer somewhere and hoping he steps up more than in the last game.
Enjoy the games.