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.
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.
Texans at Kansas City: Feels lower-scoring, like a lot of games involving these teams, but we'll see. Players mostly healthy. Hollywood Brown might play, I won't be recommending him. Cool on Houston's offense but I'll start the stars (Mixon and Nico). If Mahomes is out there running around doing his usual, I think we can say with some certainty he did not in fact suffer a high ankle sprain. I expect his normal (which hasn't exactly been lights out this year).
Steelers at Ravens: I really want nothing to do with Pittsburgh's offense here. Pat Freiermuth; he's the one guy I'd start. Steelers will have difficulty running it, and I don't like their passing game with no wide receivers who would necessarily start anywhere else in the league. For Baltimore, Lamar-Henry-Zay-Andrews sure, and maybe Bateman (if he plays) and Likely (who gets a boost if Bateman inactive) catch a touchdown at some point. Not a great matchup, but those are the guys Baltimore should be throwing to, and not sure how anyone benches Henry even in a tough matchup.
Giants at Falcons: Intrigued to see Michael Penix play. Talented guy. Giants a little better against the pass than the run, but let's not necessarily call them good. I'm fine using London and Mooney, Bijan obviously. For the Giants I'll take Tracy and the heavily targeted Nabers, that be it.
Cardinals at Panthers: Love James Conner, feel like McBride and Harrison will also be fine. Chuba, Thielen, usable, but hard to love the Panthers offense. I'm currently starting Jalen Coker in a freaking playoff game, in a bad way with Pickens hurt Tillman (concussion) uncertain and Reed inconsistent. Coker (quad) questionable, so I may have to scrape up someone else or chance Reed on Monday night.
Lions at Bears: Will Chicago be as invested in the proceedings as they were on Thanksgiving? Debatable. Lions defense pretty banged up so I'm OK using Swift and DJ Moore. Lions, obviously Gibbs and St. Brown, and Goff and LaPorta fine. Game is going to be really cold, like most outdoor northern games this weekend.
Titans at Colts: Some question as to whether Tony Pollard will play. I think I've typically been wrong on him this year, figuring he'd be good when he wasn't or figuring he'd be out when he in fact plays and scores. So you're on your own with him, it needs to be confirmed he'll be active. Mason Rudolph for the Titans, probably a positive for Ridley and Westbrook-Ikhine. I like Jonathan Taylor in this game, thinking he'll have a little extra intensity after his embarrassing gaffe at Denver last week.
Rams at Jets: Should be very cold for this one (trust me I live here). I'd use the key Rams, all four of them. With the Jets, Breece Hall is playing, possibly a committee situation, use as ranked but assume some risk. Davante Adams yes, Garrett Wilson sure. Even Aaron Rodgers viable. But again, cold temperatures, might hold scoring down a little.
Eagles at Commanders: Eagles D playing very well. I'd be using Jayden and McLaurin and probably Brian Robinson, but tough matchup. Zach Ertz uncertain to clear the concussion protocol. Thumbs up on key Eagles.
Browns at Bengals: Disappointed we don't get to see Jameis Winston versus the Bengals. Not optimistic about Dorian Thompson-Robinson running the passing game. Bengals D bad enough that I'd try Jerry Jeudy, but carefully. Thumbs up on Jerome Ford. All key Bengals too, Browns D nothing special this year.
Vikings at Seahawks: Kenneth Walker returns, sorry Zach Charbonnet teams. Jaxon Smith-Njigba should be good. Key Vikings starters, sure. Expected to be raining throughout this one, that's a negative for the passing games, but maybe not a killer (not really cold, at least).
Patriots at Bills: Temperatures could be in the teens for this one. Drake Maye and Hunter Henry the only Pats I'd want to use. For Buffalo I'm hoping for another big game from Josh Allen, but not as confident (Pats unlikely to make it a shootout). James Cook, Khalil Shakir about it for Bills I'd want to start. Well, their defense too.
Jaguars at Raiders: Not a lot of defense in this one. But I can't get too high on the offenses given the thin talent, I've been burned before with the Jaguars. But Brian Thomas and Brenton Strange, yes. For the Raiders...Meyers, Bowers. Pretty much it. Neither running game is loaded with talent or big potential, and it will be a committee on each side.
49ers at Dolphins: I expect some Patrick Taylor questions. Pros, he's the likely starters in a Shanahan offense. Cons, he's an undrafted guy who's spent most of the past couple of years on practice squads, the team didn't give him any work a week ago even with Guerendo having a sprained foot, and the Dolphins have played the run well lately. We rank him and another possible starter, Israel Abanikanda, really low. I see a few guys there I might start him over, but a risky option. Niners passing game looks better. Tyreek Hill, Jonnu Smith and DeVon Achane are the Dolphins to consider. No Jaylen Waddle.
Bucs at Cowboys: High on the Bucs offense. Both running backs, Mayfield, Evans for sure. No Cade Otton. For Dallas, Lamb and Dowdle and Ferguson are the guys to use.
Saints at Packers: Snow is a possibility during this game. Saints looking pretty horrific on offense, with a tough matchup, a rookie fifth-rounder at quarterback, probably not having Alvin Kamara and maybe not Marques Valdes-Scantling either (that's how bad things are in New Orleans, not having MVS is considered a negative). I'll consider Kendre Miller, but we might not know for 100 percent certainty if Kamara is out (if he's ruled out this afternoon, great, if he's questionable, a little trickier. Regardless, offense could really struggle in this one. For Green Bay, Jacobs obviously, and I'm using Kraft, would use Love, and might have to use Reed (but the crowded receiver situation an issue, of course). Oh, and did I mention it might be snowing?
Enjoy the games.