There's probably never been a day like yesterday in the NFL: two future Hall-of-Fame QBs possibly coming off their final game, and a third about to miss extended time due to injury for the first time in a nearly 20-year career.
Ben Roethlisberger is out for the year. The 37-year-old missed 23 games in his first 15 seasons. Now he'll miss 14 more. He has one more year on a two-year extension signed in the spring. Ben's currently sixth on the all-time passing yards list and seventh in TD passes. Throughout his 30's there have been offseason rumblings about calling it quits sooner rather than later. With no third ring on the horizon (realistically), there's at least a decent chance that Ben won't play out his contract. Not definitely. Not likely. But possibly.
After a predictably weak start to the season, Eli Manning is just about out of time. Ironically, a crazy amount of receiver injuries (and one suspension) left the 38-year-old with two outstanding weapons and a bunch of third-stringers. Had he been throwing to Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate for a full two games, he might have earned a longer leash. Heading into Tampa Bay this next weekend, I can't envision him making it to Week 4. So if head coach Pat Shurmur brings in rookie Daniel Jones, Eli's career probably will end with stats just behind Ben's: seventh in passing yards and eighth in TD passes.
And Drew Brees could be out for up to eight weeks with a torn thumb ligament, though he's reportedly seeking a second opinion. I believe Brees hasn't missed more than one game with an injury ever. Number one in passing yards and tied for second in passing TDs, the 40-year-old is the heart and soul of a Saints franchise that probably will be no better than 4-4 when they return from their Week 9 bye. They've never lost more than nine games since signing Brees in 2006. Even when the legend returns, it's fair to wonder if he'll play out what probably will be a non-playoff season.
In other news, James Conner is hurt but believes he'll be okay for Week 3. LeSean McCoy and Damien Williams are injured; while the severity for each isn't known, Darwin Thompson has to be on managers' waiver radars. Devin Singletary has a hamstring injury that threatens his availability Sunday, while Josh Jacobs' groin is something to watch (or rather, the extent of his groin injury is something to watch) in the next few days. Michael Gallup tore some cartilage, so he'll be sidelined for 2-4 weeks. Tyrell Williams' hip pointer isn't as serious, though he'll be a question mark this weekend. The perennially ailing Alshon Jeffery might miss Sunday's contest with a calf injury. Oh, and Miami's Division II defense just got worse with the merciful trading of CB Minkah Fitzpatrick.
So yeah, a lot happening.
No need to run down every implication of every injury. It's all obvious, next-man-up stuff. But yeah, it's a lot to consider heading into a pivotal week. If you're 0-2, here's your chance to capitalize on suddenly useful replacements: Devin Smith, Nelson Agholor, the aforementioned Darwin Thompson, etc. No complaining. Teams are made on draft night and remade throughout the season. I've already added a couple guys off waivers, swapped two fairly big-name players, and am about to finalize another trade this morning.
About 15 years ago I performed improvisational comedy. We always preached, "play slow, edit fast."
The same applies to fantasy football: Don't overreact to every little thing that happens. Observe it, analyze it, and anticipate ("guessipate") what might happen next. Once you're sold on a plan of action, pounce. Don't belabor. Don't second-guess. You have a ton of waiver options this week. Make decisions and own them . . . before your opponents can.
Ben Roethlisberger is out for the year. The 37-year-old missed 23 games in his first 15 seasons. Now he'll miss 14 more. He has one more year on a two-year extension signed in the spring. Ben's currently sixth on the all-time passing yards list and seventh in TD passes. Throughout his 30's there have been offseason rumblings about calling it quits sooner rather than later. With no third ring on the horizon (realistically), there's at least a decent chance that Ben won't play out his contract. Not definitely. Not likely. But possibly.
After a predictably weak start to the season, Eli Manning is just about out of time. Ironically, a crazy amount of receiver injuries (and one suspension) left the 38-year-old with two outstanding weapons and a bunch of third-stringers. Had he been throwing to Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate for a full two games, he might have earned a longer leash. Heading into Tampa Bay this next weekend, I can't envision him making it to Week 4. So if head coach Pat Shurmur brings in rookie Daniel Jones, Eli's career probably will end with stats just behind Ben's: seventh in passing yards and eighth in TD passes.
And Drew Brees could be out for up to eight weeks with a torn thumb ligament, though he's reportedly seeking a second opinion. I believe Brees hasn't missed more than one game with an injury ever. Number one in passing yards and tied for second in passing TDs, the 40-year-old is the heart and soul of a Saints franchise that probably will be no better than 4-4 when they return from their Week 9 bye. They've never lost more than nine games since signing Brees in 2006. Even when the legend returns, it's fair to wonder if he'll play out what probably will be a non-playoff season.
In other news, James Conner is hurt but believes he'll be okay for Week 3. LeSean McCoy and Damien Williams are injured; while the severity for each isn't known, Darwin Thompson has to be on managers' waiver radars. Devin Singletary has a hamstring injury that threatens his availability Sunday, while Josh Jacobs' groin is something to watch (or rather, the extent of his groin injury is something to watch) in the next few days. Michael Gallup tore some cartilage, so he'll be sidelined for 2-4 weeks. Tyrell Williams' hip pointer isn't as serious, though he'll be a question mark this weekend. The perennially ailing Alshon Jeffery might miss Sunday's contest with a calf injury. Oh, and Miami's Division II defense just got worse with the merciful trading of CB Minkah Fitzpatrick.
So yeah, a lot happening.
No need to run down every implication of every injury. It's all obvious, next-man-up stuff. But yeah, it's a lot to consider heading into a pivotal week. If you're 0-2, here's your chance to capitalize on suddenly useful replacements: Devin Smith, Nelson Agholor, the aforementioned Darwin Thompson, etc. No complaining. Teams are made on draft night and remade throughout the season. I've already added a couple guys off waivers, swapped two fairly big-name players, and am about to finalize another trade this morning.
About 15 years ago I performed improvisational comedy. We always preached, "play slow, edit fast."
The same applies to fantasy football: Don't overreact to every little thing that happens. Observe it, analyze it, and anticipate ("guessipate") what might happen next. Once you're sold on a plan of action, pounce. Don't belabor. Don't second-guess. You have a ton of waiver options this week. Make decisions and own them . . . before your opponents can.