Tua Tagovailoa is obviously the biggest story, and I would have hesitated to write anything more if not for reports that he was conscious and responsive while leaving the stadium, and that he had "movement in all his extremities." As of this writing, he was officially discharged from the hospital and heaing back to Miami. Barring something we don't yet know, it would seem he'll return in a matter of weeks, not months--where "months" looked possible after seeing him laying on that field. But of course, as of late Thursday night, we don't know much. So we'll just hope it's "weeks" and move on.
Teddy Bridgewater looked sharp, and assuming he earns some starts beginning next week, I don't anticipate the need to bench Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle. If Miami had a sub-par backup, then there would be serious concerns. Instead, there are minor concerns. Blow-up games are probably off the table. Top 18-28 WR production seems like a realistic range in this very top-heavy receiving corps.
Raheem Mostert once again outplayed Chase Edmonds and earned a lot more touches. Yes, Edmonds scored. But we can't let fantasy points get in the way of trends. Mostert is the better fantasy back, and if Edmonds gets hurt or is eventually pushed aside as a deep 1B backfield option, Mostert likely would be a weekly streamer.
For Cincinnati, Tee Higgins once again outperformed Ja'Marr Chase, and from what I could tell, Xavien Howard was hobbled. So Chase's good-not-great performance wasn't entirely Howard's doing. Higgins was my WR8 this summer compared to a WR12 ADP, and I tried to trade for him in the opening weeks. My opponent knew better. Higgins has always been the real deal.
Two more players to highlight. First Joe Mixon. Yes, he was great for fantasy managers: 17.4 points. Hooray. Seriously, hooray. Worth celebrating. And . . . how many more games before it's apparent that he's struggling? Since Week 13 last year, he's rushed 233 times for 757 yards. That's 3.2 YPC spanning 13 games, including last postseason. He's on pace to becoming one of the only RBs in history to earn 400+ touches in back-to-back seasons. Enough said. He'll enter next week somewhere among the top 14 fantasy RBs. And if he keeps getting stuffed near the goal line, at some point the Bengals will try something different.
Finally, Hayden Hurst salvaged his night with a late score--his first of the season. And surely not his last. I had him pegged for 6-8 TDs, which is why he was in my top 14 this preseason despite an inexplicably low TE23 ADP. He'll start next week in the top 16 or top 14 and should remain a terrific streamer this season.
And now, the winner of the closest-score competition. As I started writing this, there appeared to be a four-way tie between Kevin Buckley (21-17), Hector Chavez (24-20), Josh Koons (24-20), and Andrzej Benkowski (24-10). Each of them picked scores that were exactly eight points away from perfect. But then I saw Blake Morrison's prediction at the bottom of the comment section: 22-17. Seven points away from perfect.
And that's how champions are made. Congratulations, Blake! I've updated the golden spreadsheet with your name emblazoned in row 10, column C.
Teddy Bridgewater looked sharp, and assuming he earns some starts beginning next week, I don't anticipate the need to bench Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle. If Miami had a sub-par backup, then there would be serious concerns. Instead, there are minor concerns. Blow-up games are probably off the table. Top 18-28 WR production seems like a realistic range in this very top-heavy receiving corps.
Raheem Mostert once again outplayed Chase Edmonds and earned a lot more touches. Yes, Edmonds scored. But we can't let fantasy points get in the way of trends. Mostert is the better fantasy back, and if Edmonds gets hurt or is eventually pushed aside as a deep 1B backfield option, Mostert likely would be a weekly streamer.
For Cincinnati, Tee Higgins once again outperformed Ja'Marr Chase, and from what I could tell, Xavien Howard was hobbled. So Chase's good-not-great performance wasn't entirely Howard's doing. Higgins was my WR8 this summer compared to a WR12 ADP, and I tried to trade for him in the opening weeks. My opponent knew better. Higgins has always been the real deal.
Two more players to highlight. First Joe Mixon. Yes, he was great for fantasy managers: 17.4 points. Hooray. Seriously, hooray. Worth celebrating. And . . . how many more games before it's apparent that he's struggling? Since Week 13 last year, he's rushed 233 times for 757 yards. That's 3.2 YPC spanning 13 games, including last postseason. He's on pace to becoming one of the only RBs in history to earn 400+ touches in back-to-back seasons. Enough said. He'll enter next week somewhere among the top 14 fantasy RBs. And if he keeps getting stuffed near the goal line, at some point the Bengals will try something different.
Finally, Hayden Hurst salvaged his night with a late score--his first of the season. And surely not his last. I had him pegged for 6-8 TDs, which is why he was in my top 14 this preseason despite an inexplicably low TE23 ADP. He'll start next week in the top 16 or top 14 and should remain a terrific streamer this season.
And now, the winner of the closest-score competition. As I started writing this, there appeared to be a four-way tie between Kevin Buckley (21-17), Hector Chavez (24-20), Josh Koons (24-20), and Andrzej Benkowski (24-10). Each of them picked scores that were exactly eight points away from perfect. But then I saw Blake Morrison's prediction at the bottom of the comment section: 22-17. Seven points away from perfect.
And that's how champions are made. Congratulations, Blake! I've updated the golden spreadsheet with your name emblazoned in row 10, column C.