It seems amazing to me that the NFL season is just working into a groove and yet we are one-quarter of the way through the year. Still, I can see very little beyond chaos abounding, even in Kansas City, seemingly among the most stable of football communities.
Of course, another week means another cluster of names, and if you paid attention last week, Nick Chubb — who had a big Sunday — was among those noted right here, so tune in here everyday during the football season for up-to-date strategies, picks, and DFS plays.
I struggled in a Sirius-X/M keeper league last year. Struggled badly, for I had David Johnson, Cameron Meredith, and Taylor Gabriel on my team. As you may remember, all three of those guys were out for virtually all of 2017, and while I had hopes for Johnson coming back, Meredith and Gabriel seemed far-fetched.
Little did I know Gabriel would make a connection with Mitch Trubisky that would be good for seven catches, 104 yards, and a score. I think the best part is that gives Gabriel 22 receptions for 193 yards, a pair of scores, and an unexpected production from a surprising source. By the way, Meredith is also working his way back on the same path!
I have a couple of more receivers to check out, but if Aaron Jones — on the Packers, but suspended the first two games — is available he makes a good grab with a shot at more and more play as the season progresses. Jones, owned in just 55% of ESPN leagues, ran for 107 yards and a score on Sunday, his first real chance at any kind of points for the year. Increased workload abounds.
I think the same can be said for the irrepressibly named Kerryon Johnson, who seems to have grabbed playing time with some pretty good success. The Auburn rookie really established himself Sunday with nine carries for 32 yards and a score, along with one catch. That gives Johnson 216 rushing yards to go with 11 receptions and additional 53 yards. Still, just 77.9% of ESPN leagues claim ownership over Johnson.
Geronimo Allison suffered a concussion during Sunday’s pasting of the Bills, which is tough for he was having a great game — 11 targets, six receptions, and 80 yards, establishing Allison as a prime Aaron Rodgers target of the future. Watch his concussion protocol time, but Allison could be a nice sneaky pick from now on out.
OK, maybe this is phishing, but Aldrick Robinson is a fifth-year WR who plays behind Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. What receiving scraps could possibly be left over? Well, a defense cannot cover everyone, and the threat Diggs and Thielen pose makes Robinson kind of a logical choice. After all, last week Robinson managed a pair of scores in the face of a Rams crushing.
Let’s close with a cautionary tale that pits self-determinism against the corporate machine. I am taking this time about Le’Veon Bell, a top-three pick just five weeks ago, now relegated to the nettlesome position of some kind of running back that we suddenly figure out we must do something with.
How much easier was it to speculate — Week 1, before James Conner — just what kind of a boost an owner who had the foresight to grab Bell would now have. Well, in the face of four kludge games, the Steelers apparently have a lot more than just Bell going wrong. He is just one of many. But, for now, the further you stay away from Le’Veon, likely the better off your team might be,
Need to stay on top of your #FantasyFootball team and direction? Check out Lawr every Sunday with co-hosts Cam Stewart and Joe Gallina, along with Sean Engel, Chris Bivona, and updates by George Kurtz. That is the NFL Live Show from 12:30-5 p.m., Pacific, every Sunday on the FNTSY Sports Network.
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