-- The one weather concern game...
LV at KC...30-40%+ chance of rain pregame Monday, which drops to 5-20% chance in-game. This outlook has improved all week.
-- Marquise Brown OUT. Greg Dortch likely unknown status before 4pmET kick. Could leave Michael Wilson in a good place but he would also likely draw Jaylon Johnson, who is one of the top-rated CBs of 2023.
-- We await the injury reports from Green Bay on the WRs. My stance on the situation:
I like Dontayvion Wicks if Jayden Reed can play.
I really like Wicks today if Reed is out.
If Reed can play, I wanna see if it is – ‘he’s good’ or ‘they’ll see how it goes’...before I decide if I would trust Reed in a lineup this week. He didn’t really practice all week.
-- Nico Collins playing, so is Noah Brown...but that’s the two of them with Case Keenum vs. the Browns. Not as enticing as if they had Stroud at QB, but as we saw from Saturday...QB talent doesn’t matter, it only matters who they throw their prayers to.
-- Michael Pittman OUT has to make Josh Downs the favorite for getting the bulk of those targets. Alex Pierce has been in sync one game out of 14 for Indy this season. Downs has had games working ahead of Pittman in targets, with Minshew.
-- Zay Jones is OUT means you have to lean Parker Washington as the favorite to pick up those targets. It could be Ridley-Engram see more work, but Washington is in the slot most likely...a good place to be. Jamal Agnew will likely run more as an outside WR and doing his usual gadget work.
Washington could/should pick up work, but Agnew has been with Trevor longer and will see opportunity when the Jags go three WRs. It will be Ridley-Washington-Agnew starting, most likely with some Tim Jones sprinkled in.
Washington potentially sees pitch-and-catch work. Agnew is capable of scoring a TD on any touch given...but he’s only made one big play/TD at WR all season. Your guess on the FF winner between them this week is as good as mine.
-- De’Von Achane and Tyreek Hill seem set to play this afternoon, with Tyreek the more worrisome to be a last second scratch.
I will play them as: If they’re active, then they must be fine. Buffalo ran all over Dallas last week...and now, here comes the Miami run game vs. Dallas this week.
Whether it’s for the Miami guys or anyone else in question on SNF or the three MNF games, just make sure, if it all possible, you have an emergency option to pivot to if the worst-case scenario happens last second.
The easiest thing to do/make sure you keep your Flex flexible. I say that multiple times every week because I still see lineups set on merit...the lesser hopes/last-second-decision-to-start shoved into the Flex befitting of their ‘sit-start conundrum’ status. The latest (time of kickoff) playing players should go into the Flex. You’re not insulting your stars if you put them into the Flex. News flash: the players don’t know or care what position you put them into.
Set your lineup according to the clock/calendar...not your personal love or concern for said player/s.
-- Alexander Mattison is now likely to play...how much or what capacity is unknown. The people want this to be the Ty Chandler show – but it has never been with Mattison active. Coaches rarely change their pattern. All the Ty Chandler starts this week suddenly have concerns. I’ll take Ty over Mattison, but now a ‘split’ or ‘hot hand’ is in play...or the Vikings going back to what they always do (Mattison) is in play.
-- No Byron Murphy for Minnesota this week is a pretty big deal for that defense...helping boost the Lions passing game numbers.
-- Hunter Henry OUT. I don’t believe any TE (Brown, Gesicki) will come close to filling the role/expectations. Juju out as well. The Patriots have to work DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas for all it’s worth...it’s all they got. Tyquan Thornton a total wild card option.
-- Will Levis out makes me think of/remember how truly awful the Titans offense was with Ryan Tannehill. This week, with a worse O-Line today than when Tannehill was the starter. Seattle-DST has to book at least 5 sacks in this game.
Derrick Henry is in trouble, again...but how can you bench him?
DeAndre Hopkins was not good with Tannehill before, but he will get the targets...hopefully some of them will land.
-- No Brian Robinson means Antonio Gibson starts...but that was true last week, and Gibson played his typical 40-50% of the snaps and didn’t give good FF numbers. Gibson has ONE quality start (14+ in PPR) this season.
Tough to call the shot on Gibson this week, or for Chris Rodriquez to have a moment. But they will see touches.
