This is a week where one team will hit 50+ points. Or maybe 49. Depends whether Greg Zuerlein converts that 44-yarder.
Heading into Sunday's always huge contests, here's the biggest fantasy storyline I'm watching for each team. What counts as the "biggest"? Whatever cements and significantly alters a player's fantasy value, and its ripple effect on teammates.
My intense work-life family situation runs another month or so. Until then, as always, help each other out in the comments section. Be somebody's hero. Or let them down, and then own up to it, and then promise to do better next time. Works for me.
Falcons vs. Panthers -- Since he struck it big in weeks 1 and 2, Russell Gage's numbers have plummeted: 4/48 in the last two games combined. A concussion surely factored in. But it's coincided with an ascending Olamide Zaccheaus. If Julio Jones (game-time decision) sits, Zaccheaus and Gage will battle for top-30 production. For Carolina, is Mike Davis good enough to eat into CMC's numbers when McCaffrey returns? Crazy? Not at all. CMC hit 400+ touches last year, and this won't be a playoff team. He could drop from 25 touches per game to 20 and still dominate, while Davis could carve out 6-8 touches as a stand-alone RB4.
Chiefs vs. Raiders -- Someday Mecole Hardman will leapfrog Sammy Watkins, or else he'll be playing somewhere else. For now, he's one of my favorite deep-league WR holds in case Watkins or Tyreek Hill goes down. And Henry Ruggs gets a chance to shine with Bryan Edwards out. While the offense still runs through Josh Jacobs and Darren Waller, Derek Carr and his 4,380 projected yards should give Ruggs a nice value bump after today. The question, of course, is whether there's enough fire in this offense to feed Ruggs longer term alongside Jacobs, Waller, Hunter Renfrow, and a healthy Edwards.
Jets vs. Cardinals -- Will Le'Veon Bell be awful (again)? And will Chase Edmonds inch closer to Kenyan Drake's starting job?
Steelers vs. Eagles -- Can Eric Ebron be a better version of Heath Miller? And once again, will Zach Ertz reclaim his former must-start status?
Washington vs. Rams -- Washington's won more than nine games once in the past 15 years. They are a near-rock-bottom franchise that's now benching their "prized" franchise quarterback in favor of a guy we know couldn't cut it in Carolina despite having a far more talented supporting cast. Terry McLaurin is a weekly WR2 prayer. And Cam Akers' return makes the Rams' backfield one of the most fascinating in the league.
Ravens vs. Bengals -- Is Lamar Jackson elite this year? His numbers are down across the board compared to 2019: passing yards, passing TDs, rushing yards, and rushing TDs. He's also on pace to nearly double his previous season's sack total. And is A.J. Green the #4 offensive option, at best? I still can't believe it, but it's hard not to through four games.
Texans vs. Jaguars -- A franchise going in the wrong direction, though Bill O'Brien's firing was a good start. Jacksonville has been sub-par against the run, so I'm watching David Johnson to see if he can be the RB2 he could be. And was last week a sign that D.J. Chark is back to his 2019 ways as the Jags' clear-cut #1?
49ers vs. Dolphins -- How will Deebo Samuel play in what is expected to be his first game back in a month, and is he ready to resume his spot as the #2 receiving option? And last year aside, can be safely call DeVante Parker a weekly fantasy starter even when everyone's healthy?
Browns vs. Colts -- What role will D'Ernest Johnson have? And will T.Y. Hilton ever catch more than four balls? (It was seven games ago.)
Cowboys vs. Giants -- Zeke Elliott is the only top-8 fantasy RB averaging under 4.0 yards per carry. Is there something to that? And can Devonta Freeman strengthen his grip on the Giants' backfield?
Seahawks vs. Vikings -- Will this be a run-friendly offense or a pass-friendly offense? Of course, it could be both. But the stakes are huge for Russell Wilson, who could almost single-handedly carry a fantasy team a deep leagues. And Kirk Cousins is on pace for only 400 pass attempts--down from 606 in 2018, when he was a back-end QB1. Unless that changes (and it probably won't), his days as a fantasy starter appear over.