OK, the Bears beat the Panthers 17-3 without scoring an offensive touchdown. Tennessee beats Cleveland 12-9 in overtime in a game that saw exactly zero TDs. Jacksonville shuts out the Colts 27-0. How about Denver, on the heels of a beating at the hands of the lowly Giants, facing a being shut out by the Chargers. Or, the crazy Thursday night game when the Raiders prevailed a finale which allowed for a total of five final plays–three of which resulted in TD’s, but with only the final counting with no time on the clock–lor the Sunday night domination of the Falcons by the Patriots.
What is real?
Of that I am not sure, but football Sunday certainly is a lot of fun! And, who do you think had more fun last Sunday than the Viking Latavius Murray? Two years ago he was the man with the Raiders as they were on the verge of a serious rebuild, but he was relegated to a third-string slot with Minnesota, if that, behind Dalvin Cook and Jerick McKinnon. Well, fate gave the ball back to Murray who scampered for 113 yards, a TD, and the opportunity to start next week. Target your FAAB and DFS dollars accordingly in the coming week.
Austin Ekeler is a back-up to Melvin Gordon but the rookie, out of obscure Western State, however he is seeing touches both rushing and receiving and makes a good foil/handcuff for Gordon owners. Last Sunday Ekeler carried seven times for 38 yards and caught four passes for just six yards but a score. The 11 touches, however, which were indeed successful ones, are a serious high for Ekeler who should continue to see time as long as he produces like last week.
Looking at some receivers, I drafted O.J. Howard #1 in my Sirius/XM Ultra team as I really thought with just Jared Cook I needed help at the slot, as opposed to Running Back where I had David Johnson. And, while it might have been better to grab a back after his breakthrough Sunday perhaps the #1 pick out of Alabama will start to really factor, or maybe even give me some trading depth. Howard caught all six of his targets for 98 yards and a pair of TDs on what was his biggest day in the NFL. I think there area bunch more big days out there.
Ted Ginn, Jr. is one of those guys that I have always shied from mostly because I felt about the time I picked the Wide Receiver up he will have run out of gas. And, every year he has a big day. The thing with Ginn, Jr. is he does make the most of his targets catching 22 of 27 for 353 yards and a pair of scores. Ginn, Jr. caught all seven of his targets last Sunday for 141 yards and proof he is far from used up. Because his role is a little erratic, he makes a good Bye play and maybe DFS depending upon the match-up, but for now not much more.
I’ve been a big Cooper Kupp fan, although unlike Howard, this rookie has been give a lot of shots with 43 targets, though Kupp is still getting the hang with just 23 receptions thus far. Kupp did have a solid Sunday, though, he was targeted ten times, he caught four for 58 yards and a score. Kupp is certainly part of the Rams immediate plans and as he slowly becomes a veteran those catches should increase along with his other numbers.
On the QB carousel this week, let’s start with Matt Moore who rallied his team to a win over the Jets replacing the injured Jay Cutler. Moore—who is easy to confuse with the former Florida hurler, now a Giant, with the same name–threw for 188 yards completing 13 of 21 for a pair of scores with one pick Moore will get to start next week, so if you are in a Supler Flex league and having QB issues, maybe jump on the new Dolphins signal caller.
Desperate times call for desperate actions, though likely you can use a Running Back or Wide Receiver and likely generate more points with that pick than by grabbing 33-years old Drew Stanton, the Cardinals starter this coming week in London. Stanton generated very little over five drives: 14 passes for 62 yards and nothing else. Pass within every context of the word.
If your team plays Individual Defensive Players (IDPs) maybe another Alabama alum, Eddie Jackson, collegiate teammate of Howard and a first rounder like Howard bagged an interception and picked up a fumble scoring a pair of 75-yard TDs. Fluke? Maybe, but Jackson was a #1 which suggests he was pretty good and in an IDP league, grabbing the safety is a smart move.
Remember to tune into the Tout Wars Hour on the FNTSY network, hosted by me, with Justin Mason and featuring Lord Z every Thursday night at 9 PM ET.
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