-- Anthony Richardson...season-ending surgery being considered. There’s little reason to hold him in redraft (unless harmlessly on your IR). Worst case -- wait until Monday and then see if it’s true, but you’re likely looking at 6+ weeks if he doesn’t. If you need the redraft spot, you’re likely free to utilize it by dropping ARich.
-- Sauce Gardner out Week 6 with their other CB D.J. Reed also out...chops the Jets in half and makes this ‘open for business’ for Jalen Hurts to throw the ball today and really Philly can do whatever if it wants.
...It will also force Zach Wilson to throw a bunch in this game...like an extended practice, and Philly is also missing two key defenders – one of them CB Darius Slay. Who knows what Wilson might do here – flop or accumulate?
-- Justin Jefferson...some hope of 4 weeks only out hurt, but discussion of 6 weeks...I think they are leaning into the 4 weeks only talk to keep the team rallied/something to play for. They lose to Chicago today and all hell will break loose...and if the Vikings fade away in the standings the next 2 weeks: Jefferson will definitely not rush himself back no matter what – he’s got free agency/big contract negotiations coming.
-- Arizona is trying to keep plans under wraps, but my sources tell me...they will likely play Emari Demercado the most, by plan – he showed well last week, and he is the 3rd-down back/protector, and he is the new regime’s guy they love his work/effort/flexibility.
BUT...Keaontay Ingram will get some work and could get a good share via hot hand, but he’s not that hot-a-hand. I have some FF confidence in Demercado. If you have a choice of D’Onta Foreman or Demercado Week 6...it’s a toss-up.
Foreman for sure touches (15-20+) behind a weak CHI O-Line and good MIN run D...on a wet field. But Foreman is a talent. Limited PPR probably.
OR
Demercado 8-15+ touches, most/all the PPR in a dome.
-- Saquon Barkley likely to play today. The end of any Eric Gray or Matt Breida talk.
-- Either the Patriots hang in the game today and Mac Jones stays at QB, or they get behind and he is pulled once and for all.
Bailey Zappe probable replacement.
Will Grier possible – but let’s see if NE activates him...but Grier the possible Week 7 ‘QB competition’ winner. Grier is like a taller Taylor Heinicke hope...sloppy/streaky, good arm but good effort and can run.
Malik Cunningham is the act of a desperate, poor evaluator head coach. Him being signed to the 53-man roster means Mac Jones is getting traded or Bailey Zappe cut...or both...in the next 1-2-3 weeks. I’d say it’s Mac Jones is done if they pull him today and they will trade him because most players and coaches hate him.
-- Tee Higgins likely to play. Broken ribs decoy possible, but he’s in a contract year...so, he might really fight through it and be a WR3 option. A risky play today. Trenton Irwin sleeper story fades off.
-- Weather...
MIN-CHI...rain chances during game falling down to 10-15% with 15-18 MPH winds. A little sloppy but not apocalyptic.
SEA-CIN...10-15% chance of rain during game, with 7-10 MPH winds. That has also calmed down.
SF-CLE...30-70% chance of rain in-game, 15-18 MPH winds with some gusts possible. This is the one game that the weather will affect some. In a battle of run games and needing-to-play-smart, SF has a big edge.
-- London TEN-BAL
I know Vrabel is great as a dog in recent years, but that’s back when he had a good+ team that was contending for AFC #1 seeds with a top O-Line. That Titans team is a shell of itself. Baltimore the favorite as the better team here.
Keaton Mitchell has been activated and will play, so early game – if you want to take a look in redraft, gotta grab him by 9:30amET. I have no idea what to expect from him. Most likely 2-3 carries sprinkled vs. a good run defense. But if he gets in and has 10+ yard carry, even if that’s his only touch of the game – it will De’Von Achane comps all next week for a searching media and for ‘smart’ FF analysts.
Will Levis is inactive, so Vrabel not giving in to that at all yet.
