-- No weather issues to worry about across the board.
All the rain forecasts dropped to less than 10% in the worst of cases for any game (ARI-SEA, DET-BAL, WSH-NYG)
All the wind gust ‘fear’ to start the week on the east coast is ‘overblown’, as usual. Winds 10-15MPH at worst, which is in an acceptable/not affecting performance range.
-- We probably won’t know about Christian McCaffrey’s status until later today or Monday. My assumption all along is = he’s not playing, because there is absolutely no reason to play him with their viable other options and a weak Vikings team that they face on MNF...which would put him in a short week to get ready for the Bengals Week 8.
Trent Williams out hurts the operation, but not lethal...just not great/normal for Purdy and the run game.
Deebo will miss this week and next. Ray-Ray McCloud will work his role more often than not, but the Deebo-role hasn’t been super exciting all year for the most part.
-- QB injury notes (so many!)...
NYG = Tyrod Taylor to start in a favorable matchup with a still damaged O-Line but look at how he did against the better Buffalo defense (shoulda/coulda had at least 2 TD passes). NYG will follow the same script v. WSH.
TEN = Tannehill won’t play Week 8...it’s a Levis v. Willis battle for the starting job, that I think Will Levis will win and may never give the job back. If it’s Willis...the Titans are done for 2023, and I’m highly worried about Levis in Tennessee for Dynasty, etc.
CHI = Justin Fields likely out Week 8 and probably Week 9.
DST facing the Fields-less Bears Week 8 = LAC
DST facing this Week 9 (if) = at the Saints
LV = Brian Hoyer starts Week 7...would have a short leash if any issues. Jimmy G. potentially back Week 8. I don’t think there’s a ton of falloff from JG to Hoyer for the WRs/team.
CLE = Deshaun Watson set to return this week.
-- Word through the football grapevine is that Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson will start above Zach Evans...furthering the notion we had about Evans going into waivers.
I’ll take Henderson for FF over Freeman, but I bet Freeman starts and gets a chance to seize the lead in the split...but he usually flops and thus Henderson will get his shots, and he’s the better talent right now.
Myles Gaskin being active/inactive is going to tell me a lot about the future of this backfield (with Kyren out). I think Gaskin can defeat them all and become the Kyren-like back ahead, but that’s pure speculation on my part (based on McVay’s actions and press conferences this past week and my scouting sense).
-- I am led to believe Kareem Hunt will be inactive this week, giving rise to much Jerome Ford...AND Pierre Strong could try and make a run at some work if Ford struggles or fumbles or whatever. Strong is the deep sleeper here.
-- Jeff Wilson should be active for this game and see 10-20% or so of the work. Two more weeks with Mostert as the clear lead/RB1...then he becomes a nice RB1/2 when Achane is back, and Wilson is acclimated.
-- D.K. Metcalf is very much a game-time-decision...with risk he’s active, and one hit he’s done...or that he’s just a decoy.
Zach Charbonnet is out. DeeJay Dallas will be the #2 RB.
-- Derwin James is a game-time-decision that could really flip the script in that contest. Travis Kelce’s upside spikes if James is out.
-- Diontae Johnson will be active, but I’m not interested in this passing game to begin with...now it will be even more watered down among the RBs.
Pat Freiermuth went on I.R. – note that Kenny Pickett has a great relationship with TE Connor Heyward.
-- Kyler Murray should start practicing this upcoming week, but he probably won’t play until at least Week 10.
