As always, here's a quick run-through of the biggest fantasy question I'm tracking for each Sunday team--and in particular, a player or players most likely to shift in value after tomorrow. The only way I know how to win is to feel continually unsettled. 400+ player values shifting up, down, and sideways. We can't hope to understand all of it. We're just trying to anticipate what might happen before it does.
Browns vs. Jets -- Donovan Peoples-Jones at 11 targets last weekend, and David Njoku was held off the box score. Very strange, and seemingly unsustainable. I want to know if DPJ is a legit streamer, and if so, whether that means a bottom-5 Jacoby-Brissett-led passing attack can't possibly support Njoku. Also, will Michael Carter continue to run ahead of Breece Hall? I'm not giving up on Hall and would still trade for him at just below preseason ADP value.
Lions vs. Commanders -- Injuries are injuries, so I'm not going to get into D'Andre Swift's status. If he starts with no limitations, we all know what to do. More interestingly for me, can D.J. Chark push Amon-Ra St. Brown as Detroit's #1 WR? Probably not, but possibly. Chark played his first game last year in a year and looked great. He's a 25-year-old former second-round pick with a 1,000-yard season under his belt. We don't know what his ceiling could be. And for Washington, after an inconsistent 2021, is Terry McLaurin headed for another inconsistent season? If Curtis Samuel is officially "back," I'm not sure how McLaurin can be a top-30 WR, unless Carson Wentz has a career year.
Saints vs. Buccaneers -- Similarly, is Michael Thomas "back"? What an extraordinary draft bargain he could be. The biggest hurdle is over. He played and produced big-time. All that remains is consistency. And will Leonard Fournette continue his heroics? As many of you know, I don't trust his durability and invested in Rachaad White. This could be a fascinating backfield to watch tomorrow, particuarly if Fournette's at all limited.
Giants vs. Panthers -- Is Sterling Shepard for real again? Richie James? TE Daniel Bellinger, anyone? I want to know who we can trust each week, if anyone, besides Saquon Barkley (for now). And similarly for Carolina, is there any risk that Robbie Anderson can challenge D.J. Moore? We saw what happened in Cleveland when Baker Mayfield took over. He could barely feed one WR most weeks. Are we about to see the same with the Panthers?
Steelers vs. Patriots -- Same thing with Pittsburgh, which has three great WRs to feed, plus Pat Freiermuth. Can Mitch Trubisky do enough to keep guys like Chase Claypool and George Pickens from being droppable? And (continuing the theme) will any New England WR crack the top 50 this season? It's not looking good.
Jaguars vs. Colts -- Travis Etienne took a backseat to James Robinson last week. I don't anticipate that continuing all year, and probably not even into October. But we'll see, and regardless, I can't wait to see what we learn after this game. For Indy, is Ashton Dulin the de facto #2 receiver? If so, he has to be considered a deep-league add, given how few weapons the Colts have in this very top-heavy offense.
Ravens vs. Dolphins -- Is Devin Duvernay for real? His TDs jumped off the screen. Can he be productive even if he doesn't score? And I keep beeating this drump and won't stop until/unless I'm proven right or wrong. Chase Edmonds remains a huge question mark this season, and not just because he's dealt with multiple serious injuries during his career. As long as Raheem Mostert is there, I'm not sold on Edmonds as a top-26 RB.
Rams vs. Falcons -- Will Allen Robinson bounce back in a big way? And is Marcus Mariota's time as a starter drawing to a close? A really tough matchup for him, and in fairness, with Atlanta going nowhere this season, I don't see how he remains the starter past the midway point of the season. Kyle Pitts' and Drake London's weekly startability hinge on this team having at least a top-24 QB, and I'm not sure we'll see that until next year.
49ers vs. Seahawks -- Will Jeff Wilson seize the 1A RB job? Or will this be a hot-hand backfield? And how will Kenneth Walker's return impact Rashaad Penny? Presumably, it won't be pretty from a fantasy perspective, and it should make us wonder if either will be startable when they're both healthy.
Cowboys Bengals -- Is every Dallas receiver benchable with Cooper Rush at QB? I believe Dalton Schultz will be fine. Can't say the same for anyone else, though I'm starting CeeDee Lamb and hoping it works out. For Cincy, will Joe Burrow rebound after a surprisingly tough Week 1? I had very high expectations for him all summer.
Broncos vs. Texans -- Denver racked up more offensive yards this past Monday night than at any time since the 2020 season. Tomorrow's contest couldn't be any more favorable. Anything less than dominant performances from their top four playmakers would be a shock. And for Houston, can Dameon Pierce and/or Nico Collins get going? It can't just be the Brandin Cooks show, with a side order of aged Rex Burkhead.
Raiders vs. Cardinals -- With Brandon Bolden expected to miss this one, can Ameer Abdullah or Zamir White step up? My money remains on White to push for weekly relevance eventually. And will the Kyler Murray / Marquise Brown chemistry grow? They played together in college. Last week was disappointing. They need each other. Arizona's season already appears to be a bit on the line.
Packers vs. Bears -- Does Green Bay have a #1 or even co-#1 WRs? Maybe one or two will emerge by November. For now, it's anyone's guess, though Sunday might bring us closer to a short-term answer. And will we discover after tomorrow that David Montgomery is no longer a top-28 RB? (Maybe he already isn't, though I'd like to see him one more time.)
Browns vs. Jets -- Donovan Peoples-Jones at 11 targets last weekend, and David Njoku was held off the box score. Very strange, and seemingly unsustainable. I want to know if DPJ is a legit streamer, and if so, whether that means a bottom-5 Jacoby-Brissett-led passing attack can't possibly support Njoku. Also, will Michael Carter continue to run ahead of Breece Hall? I'm not giving up on Hall and would still trade for him at just below preseason ADP value.
Lions vs. Commanders -- Injuries are injuries, so I'm not going to get into D'Andre Swift's status. If he starts with no limitations, we all know what to do. More interestingly for me, can D.J. Chark push Amon-Ra St. Brown as Detroit's #1 WR? Probably not, but possibly. Chark played his first game last year in a year and looked great. He's a 25-year-old former second-round pick with a 1,000-yard season under his belt. We don't know what his ceiling could be. And for Washington, after an inconsistent 2021, is Terry McLaurin headed for another inconsistent season? If Curtis Samuel is officially "back," I'm not sure how McLaurin can be a top-30 WR, unless Carson Wentz has a career year.
Saints vs. Buccaneers -- Similarly, is Michael Thomas "back"? What an extraordinary draft bargain he could be. The biggest hurdle is over. He played and produced big-time. All that remains is consistency. And will Leonard Fournette continue his heroics? As many of you know, I don't trust his durability and invested in Rachaad White. This could be a fascinating backfield to watch tomorrow, particuarly if Fournette's at all limited.
Giants vs. Panthers -- Is Sterling Shepard for real again? Richie James? TE Daniel Bellinger, anyone? I want to know who we can trust each week, if anyone, besides Saquon Barkley (for now). And similarly for Carolina, is there any risk that Robbie Anderson can challenge D.J. Moore? We saw what happened in Cleveland when Baker Mayfield took over. He could barely feed one WR most weeks. Are we about to see the same with the Panthers?
Steelers vs. Patriots -- Same thing with Pittsburgh, which has three great WRs to feed, plus Pat Freiermuth. Can Mitch Trubisky do enough to keep guys like Chase Claypool and George Pickens from being droppable? And (continuing the theme) will any New England WR crack the top 50 this season? It's not looking good.
Jaguars vs. Colts -- Travis Etienne took a backseat to James Robinson last week. I don't anticipate that continuing all year, and probably not even into October. But we'll see, and regardless, I can't wait to see what we learn after this game. For Indy, is Ashton Dulin the de facto #2 receiver? If so, he has to be considered a deep-league add, given how few weapons the Colts have in this very top-heavy offense.
Ravens vs. Dolphins -- Is Devin Duvernay for real? His TDs jumped off the screen. Can he be productive even if he doesn't score? And I keep beeating this drump and won't stop until/unless I'm proven right or wrong. Chase Edmonds remains a huge question mark this season, and not just because he's dealt with multiple serious injuries during his career. As long as Raheem Mostert is there, I'm not sold on Edmonds as a top-26 RB.
Rams vs. Falcons -- Will Allen Robinson bounce back in a big way? And is Marcus Mariota's time as a starter drawing to a close? A really tough matchup for him, and in fairness, with Atlanta going nowhere this season, I don't see how he remains the starter past the midway point of the season. Kyle Pitts' and Drake London's weekly startability hinge on this team having at least a top-24 QB, and I'm not sure we'll see that until next year.
49ers vs. Seahawks -- Will Jeff Wilson seize the 1A RB job? Or will this be a hot-hand backfield? And how will Kenneth Walker's return impact Rashaad Penny? Presumably, it won't be pretty from a fantasy perspective, and it should make us wonder if either will be startable when they're both healthy.
Cowboys Bengals -- Is every Dallas receiver benchable with Cooper Rush at QB? I believe Dalton Schultz will be fine. Can't say the same for anyone else, though I'm starting CeeDee Lamb and hoping it works out. For Cincy, will Joe Burrow rebound after a surprisingly tough Week 1? I had very high expectations for him all summer.
Broncos vs. Texans -- Denver racked up more offensive yards this past Monday night than at any time since the 2020 season. Tomorrow's contest couldn't be any more favorable. Anything less than dominant performances from their top four playmakers would be a shock. And for Houston, can Dameon Pierce and/or Nico Collins get going? It can't just be the Brandin Cooks show, with a side order of aged Rex Burkhead.
Raiders vs. Cardinals -- With Brandon Bolden expected to miss this one, can Ameer Abdullah or Zamir White step up? My money remains on White to push for weekly relevance eventually. And will the Kyler Murray / Marquise Brown chemistry grow? They played together in college. Last week was disappointing. They need each other. Arizona's season already appears to be a bit on the line.
Packers vs. Bears -- Does Green Bay have a #1 or even co-#1 WRs? Maybe one or two will emerge by November. For now, it's anyone's guess, though Sunday might bring us closer to a short-term answer. And will we discover after tomorrow that David Montgomery is no longer a top-28 RB? (Maybe he already isn't, though I'd like to see him one more time.)