Thursday Night Observations
Not bad
That game went pretty well. I made two last-second decisions, one to start Gus Edwards in the .5 PPR Steak League over Elijah Moore, and he got me two TDs, so that was good. The other was to bench Wil Lutz (who I have everywhere) for Jake Elliott in the probably drawing dead playoff NFFC league. Lutz had 12.6 points, thanks to that last 55-yard field goal, so that was probably a mistake.
I also nearly swapped in Javonte Williams for Rhamondre Stevenson, but changed my mind at the last second. Williams had 12.3 points (on 11 targets!), but that was the right move because though Stevenson could get less, I need 200-point weeks back to back, so I’d rather have the guy who hasn’t played yet than anything under 15-20. (I did have Ladd McConkey going, and he got 14.7 which is a little light too.)
I took the Chargers -2.5 in Circa, and that came through, though I idiotically forgot to enter the Thursday night pick in my home picking pool. Imagine, I was agonizing over all these decisions for drawing dead teams, yet forgot to make a pick in the pool where I can still win some money if I have the best week. I was almost rooting against the Chargers to undo that mistake.
FWIW I only watched the highlights of the game, couldn’t bring myself to do the 40-minute version of what I expected to be a dull, smashmouth Thursday night game.
The Broncos seem like all scheming, no consistency. Like they’ll break a big play, or misdirect, or some random guy like Marvin Mims will make a play, but you have no sense of who they are or what they’re doing, drive in and drive out, or game in and game out. Javonte Williams got 11 targets, and they threw to 10 different receivers.
The Chargers just don’t throw to their backs now. Maybe it’s because those backs can’t catch (Edwards) or pass protect (Vidal?). Justin Herbert used to throw to Austin Ekeler more than anyone.
Edwards is a poor man’s Derrick Henry, and I’m glad I timed him right this week for the Steak League where I’m still an eater, but only narrowly.
All three Chargers receivers got exactly six targets. McConkey managed 87 yards, Josh Palmer 41 and Quentin Johnston 18. The Broncos are a tough defense for the passing game though.
Neither team is going anywhere in the playoffs. The Chargers need one more playmaker on offense, while the Broncos need two.
Damn, just realized I started Jonathan Cooper in the Steak League as my IDP DL player, and he got zero. WTF?