I split my last two Circa Millions picks, winning with the Falcons +4.5, but losing with the Redskins -4.5. As I mentioned yesterday, one pick was good, and one was bad, and I’m grateful to reality for sorting that out for me.
I also was going against James Cook in a key league, and he didn’t come close to beating me. It was the Chiefs stack team that’s now 5-1 with Rashee Rice back from suspension, Xavier Worthy over his injury and Jordan Addison also over his suspension and bye. It helps that my two backs are Cam Skattebo and Javonte Williams. Zero RB Chiefs stack, LFG! (Wish the playoffs started now, before my team inevitably gets injured.)
I also had Bijan Robinson and Drake London going in other leagues — really the only player who came up short for me was Kyle Pitts.
When I took the Falcons and the points, I reasoned that while Josh Allen is great, the rest of the team is only so-so. The Bills have no game-breaking receivers, a very good RB who isn’t used in the passing game and an average defense.
Cook ran well, but when he doesn’t score TDs, he’s limited as a fantasy player.
Dalton Kincaid was out, so there was no startable Bills pass catcher.
Michael Penix (six inch) did a good job avoiding mistakes and getting the ball to his best playmakers.
Bijan Robinson isn’t as explosive as Jahmyr Gibbs, but he just glides for extra yards and has great vision. Easy 1.1 right now if we were drafting for the rest of the year.
London had 16 targets and nearly had a second TD at the end of the first half when he was chased out with no time left at the one-yard line. Top-five WR right now along with ARSB, Ja’Marr Chase, JSN and Justin Jefferson. (Puka Nacua, Emeka Egbuka and CeeDee Lamb have to get healthy before re-joining the group.)
I still like Pitts going forward — they seem to want to get him involved, and he passes the eye test for me.
The Bears won 25-24 for the second straight game. Has to be the first time in NFL history that’s happened.
Caleb Williams is still a mystery to me. He’s not terrible, but is he good? I can’t really tell.
D’Andre Swift had a monster game, leading the team in both rushing and receiving. He’s the low-key bell cow.
Rome Odunze had a quiet game in part because his TD catch was nullified due to a penalty. But so long as Zaccheaus is leading the team in targets (6), and Luther Burden has a role (4), there’s no way Odunze gets the 150-odd looks he needs to be a top-five WR with DJ Moore (5 targets) also around. Best case, Moore gets traded, and the Bears replace OZ with Burden.
DJ Moore went to the hospital for some reason after the game. He had five targets and two carries.
The Redskins really need a healthy Terry McLaurin back — no one is stretching the field.
Jayden Daniels scrambled well and got his fantasy points, but it wasn’t a smooth game — one pick, three sacks.
Jacory Crosky-Merritt was the early-down back with 17 carries, but Jeremy McNichols out-targeted him 4:1. With Daniels around at the goal line, JCM’s upside seems to be capped.