Philip Rivers threw poorly. That last drive summed it up: at least four passes well over his receivers' heads, including that final throw that landed in the arms of Oakland's Karl Joseph, several feet in front of Keenan Allen. Even a middling Rivers would have been a back-end QB1 against an abysmal Raider pass D. Instead, as he plays the final games of his $83 million contract, one has to wonder if a franchise that probably will lose Melvin Gordon will also decide that a seemingly declining Rivers isn't worth the investment. It would mark the end of a statistically successful career that began in the immortal LaDainian Tomlinson's prime.
While I'm probably being premature in this assessment, objectively Rivers should be far better than his 14-TD / 12-turnover stat line through 10 games. All six of their losses have been by seven points or less. Tellingly, heading into last night he had a 77.2 QB rating on third down and an 85.3 rating in the fourth quarter. For his career those numbers are 88.6 and 88.4, respectively. His receivers are as good as ever. He is not.
Elsewhere fantasy-wise, Hunter Henry continued to produce, Mike Williams continues to be painfully underutilized (only 18 targets in his past four games), and Keenan came alive late to salvage a WR2 day. On the ground, Ekeler also salvaged his day with a late TD, securing a measly eight touches along the way. And Melvin Gordon looks increasingly explosive after his extended summertime / early-season hiatus. Those who reached in drafts and held on tightly are reaping the rewards.
For Oakland, Carr was a fantasy disaster, but proved to be a capable leader on more than one drive, including the game-winner. Admittedly, I recommended him and Rivers as strong plays, and I thought Oakland's receivers would do better. The early defensive touchdown didn't help. It led to Carr attempting only two passes in the first 12 minutes, and five passes in the first 24 minutes. It's tough to come back from that type of game flow. At RB, Jalen Richard got more work--and more production--than DeAndre Washington, while Josh Jacobs was largely irrelevant until his impressive 18-yard score.
The Raiders are now 5-4 with four impressive wins and the Bengals and Jets on deck. Maybe Jon Gruden knew what he was doing all along.
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A quick look around the league. First, A.J. Green: I drafted him 76th overall in the Premier League. A week into the season, I traded him. Beginning a few weeks later, I responded to nearly every Green-related reader question with something like, "Why would he return to a dumpster-fire team in a contract year, where he has nothing to prove and everything (re-injury) to lose? Yesterday the wheels came off; swelling in his ankle will sideline him for Week 10. If you think he's coming back to help your fantasy squad, you're apparently more optimistic than he is.
Speaking of balky ankles, David Johnson will return Sunday. Aside from that one touch he earned before departing for good in Week 7, he essentially hasn't played in four weeks. Since then, the Chase Edmonds Era has come and gone, and the Kenyan Drake Experience has come and stayed. Expect a hot-hand backfield between DJ and Drake, with my money on the (bring on the critiques) more talented (yes, more talented) Drake to outperform DJ.
Eric Ebron, who's also in a contract year, recently complained to his head coach about usage. It just so happens his next opponent is the unmighty Dolphins. He's the expert-consensus ninth-ranked TE this week. Let's assume the Colts try to make him happy.
George Kittle has looked beaten up in recent weeks, and he didn't practice yesterday. Certainly something to watch closely today.
James Conner doesn't look good for Week 10, and with Trey Edmunds ailing, Jaylen Samuels could be in for a full load.
In Tennessee, Corey Davis has been a surprise no-show at practice, while Delanie Walker has been an unsurprising no-show. If both sit, A.J. Brown (consensus 38th-ranked WR) will be one of my favorite dart throws, and Jonnu Smith will get a nice bump.
O.J. Howard is on track to return at just the right time (vs. Arizona's weak pass defense). Now the Bucs can show the world why they didn't trade him (one would hope).
And finally, all quarterbacks dealing with one injury or another appear to be set to return. Patrick Mahomes leads this list, in what has to be one of the biggest exhales in the fantasy universe this season.
While I'm probably being premature in this assessment, objectively Rivers should be far better than his 14-TD / 12-turnover stat line through 10 games. All six of their losses have been by seven points or less. Tellingly, heading into last night he had a 77.2 QB rating on third down and an 85.3 rating in the fourth quarter. For his career those numbers are 88.6 and 88.4, respectively. His receivers are as good as ever. He is not.
Elsewhere fantasy-wise, Hunter Henry continued to produce, Mike Williams continues to be painfully underutilized (only 18 targets in his past four games), and Keenan came alive late to salvage a WR2 day. On the ground, Ekeler also salvaged his day with a late TD, securing a measly eight touches along the way. And Melvin Gordon looks increasingly explosive after his extended summertime / early-season hiatus. Those who reached in drafts and held on tightly are reaping the rewards.
For Oakland, Carr was a fantasy disaster, but proved to be a capable leader on more than one drive, including the game-winner. Admittedly, I recommended him and Rivers as strong plays, and I thought Oakland's receivers would do better. The early defensive touchdown didn't help. It led to Carr attempting only two passes in the first 12 minutes, and five passes in the first 24 minutes. It's tough to come back from that type of game flow. At RB, Jalen Richard got more work--and more production--than DeAndre Washington, while Josh Jacobs was largely irrelevant until his impressive 18-yard score.
The Raiders are now 5-4 with four impressive wins and the Bengals and Jets on deck. Maybe Jon Gruden knew what he was doing all along.
---
A quick look around the league. First, A.J. Green: I drafted him 76th overall in the Premier League. A week into the season, I traded him. Beginning a few weeks later, I responded to nearly every Green-related reader question with something like, "Why would he return to a dumpster-fire team in a contract year, where he has nothing to prove and everything (re-injury) to lose? Yesterday the wheels came off; swelling in his ankle will sideline him for Week 10. If you think he's coming back to help your fantasy squad, you're apparently more optimistic than he is.
Speaking of balky ankles, David Johnson will return Sunday. Aside from that one touch he earned before departing for good in Week 7, he essentially hasn't played in four weeks. Since then, the Chase Edmonds Era has come and gone, and the Kenyan Drake Experience has come and stayed. Expect a hot-hand backfield between DJ and Drake, with my money on the (bring on the critiques) more talented (yes, more talented) Drake to outperform DJ.
Eric Ebron, who's also in a contract year, recently complained to his head coach about usage. It just so happens his next opponent is the unmighty Dolphins. He's the expert-consensus ninth-ranked TE this week. Let's assume the Colts try to make him happy.
George Kittle has looked beaten up in recent weeks, and he didn't practice yesterday. Certainly something to watch closely today.
James Conner doesn't look good for Week 10, and with Trey Edmunds ailing, Jaylen Samuels could be in for a full load.
In Tennessee, Corey Davis has been a surprise no-show at practice, while Delanie Walker has been an unsurprising no-show. If both sit, A.J. Brown (consensus 38th-ranked WR) will be one of my favorite dart throws, and Jonnu Smith will get a nice bump.
O.J. Howard is on track to return at just the right time (vs. Arizona's weak pass defense). Now the Bucs can show the world why they didn't trade him (one would hope).
And finally, all quarterbacks dealing with one injury or another appear to be set to return. Patrick Mahomes leads this list, in what has to be one of the biggest exhales in the fantasy universe this season.