Tonight's Houston-Cincinnati matchup might not win any Awards for Television Excellence, but thankfully the fantasy implications make this must-watch TV for many of us.
For the Texans, the biggest question mark remains at quarterback, where inexplicably the team has been noncommittal on who's starting. The 27-year-old Tom Savage offers short-term and long-term heartache. Rookie Deshaun Watson offers short-term risks and long-term hope. Houston might fall flat with Watson, but at least the #12 overall pick in this year's draft would get much-needed experience, which could pay dividends later this year. This franchise has finished below .500 only twice in the past 10 seasons. This year probably will make it three out of 11. Their best shot of avoiding four out of 12 next year is turning the keys over to the rookie and giving him time to get acclimated.
For the Bengals, some of you might remember this page's 2015 preseason prediction that Andy Dalton (QB-24 ADP) would be a top 12 QB: http://www.fantasyfootballforwinners.com/2015/08/bold-predictions-andy-dalton-marvin.html. He was well on his way to top 8 production before getting knocked out for the season in Week 14. Last year he wasn't that bad, scoring the 13th most QB fantasy points. But coming off Sunday's horrendous home loss, some have given up on Dalton. Of course, there's more to this: the o-line is not good, Tyler Eifert hasn't been healthy, and #9 overall pick John Ross has been even less healthy. Dalton's best seasons have coincided with possessing multiple talented receivers--not merely leaning on A.J. Green. The fact is, Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd can't pick up the slack.
So tonight I'm watching whether Eifert looks like Eifert, and if Ross can give it a go, whether he begins asserting himself the way Kenny Golladay has in Detroit. It's a different offense with different skills and limitations. But you don't need a math degree to know that three competent receivers and a moderately competent running game will help Dalton look wholly competent.
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139 of you entered the Third Annual FF4W Survivor Pool. After one week, we're down to 114. Oh, and me, because I want to win this thing, too. But I better not win, because giving myself a shout-out on social media would be kinda rude. And calling myself on the phone to talk fantasy . . . well, that would be just another Tuesday.
For the Texans, the biggest question mark remains at quarterback, where inexplicably the team has been noncommittal on who's starting. The 27-year-old Tom Savage offers short-term and long-term heartache. Rookie Deshaun Watson offers short-term risks and long-term hope. Houston might fall flat with Watson, but at least the #12 overall pick in this year's draft would get much-needed experience, which could pay dividends later this year. This franchise has finished below .500 only twice in the past 10 seasons. This year probably will make it three out of 11. Their best shot of avoiding four out of 12 next year is turning the keys over to the rookie and giving him time to get acclimated.
For the Bengals, some of you might remember this page's 2015 preseason prediction that Andy Dalton (QB-24 ADP) would be a top 12 QB: http://www.fantasyfootballforwinners.com/2015/08/bold-predictions-andy-dalton-marvin.html. He was well on his way to top 8 production before getting knocked out for the season in Week 14. Last year he wasn't that bad, scoring the 13th most QB fantasy points. But coming off Sunday's horrendous home loss, some have given up on Dalton. Of course, there's more to this: the o-line is not good, Tyler Eifert hasn't been healthy, and #9 overall pick John Ross has been even less healthy. Dalton's best seasons have coincided with possessing multiple talented receivers--not merely leaning on A.J. Green. The fact is, Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd can't pick up the slack.
So tonight I'm watching whether Eifert looks like Eifert, and if Ross can give it a go, whether he begins asserting himself the way Kenny Golladay has in Detroit. It's a different offense with different skills and limitations. But you don't need a math degree to know that three competent receivers and a moderately competent running game will help Dalton look wholly competent.
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139 of you entered the Third Annual FF4W Survivor Pool. After one week, we're down to 114. Oh, and me, because I want to win this thing, too. But I better not win, because giving myself a shout-out on social media would be kinda rude. And calling myself on the phone to talk fantasy . . . well, that would be just another Tuesday.