A lot to cover, so let's jump right in: the top fantasy impact for each Sunday team:
Bengals -- Saturday's column: "As is often the case, Chase Brown vs. Zack Moss." Sunday: Brown out-touched Moss 14-9 and got a goal-line score. Moss remains little more than a glorified handcuff.
Eagles -- Saturday's column: "Should we worry about DeVonta Smith after his huge Week 7 letdown? I'm buying low." Sunday: Smith was superb. He now has 15.4 points or more in five of six starts.
Browns -- Saturday's column: "I've been pushing Jameis Winston as a 'should-be' QB replacement for months." Sunday: If Winston plays even half as well the rest of the season, he'll still be better than Deshaun Watson has in years. Cleveland's 2025 starting job is looking more like Winston's to lose.
Ravens -- Saturday's column: "As always, who can we trust as pass-catchers? Probably two out of four among Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely, with Likely now serving more as a TD spoiler than as a key cog." Sunday: Flowers and Andrews hit big, While Likely was so-so and Bateman faded.
Lions -- Saturday's column: "Will Jameson Williams' two-game suspension open the door for Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, or none-of-the-above?" Sunday: Raymond came up big in fantasy if your league counts special-teams scores. Regardless, Sam LaPorta was the big winner, leading Detroit with six targets. I think he'll be a must-start (i.e. back to his 2023 version) for at least one more week.
Titans -- Saturday's column: "It's Calvin Ridley's job to lose. And yes, he might lose it. He's also a cheap, little-to-lose rest-of-season dart throw." Sunday: a 10-143 receiving line on 15 targets. For all his flaws, Mason Rudolph has looked like a more capable passer than Will Levis. Managers rostering Ridley should hope Rudolph somehow keeps the job.
Dolphins -- Saturday's column: "The highly anticipated (and admittedly, a little worrisome) return of Tua Tagovailoa. This offense *should* return to greatness. Anything less would be surprising and disappointing for those who invested big in Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De'Von Achane." Sunday: A shocking loss considering Miami led by nine in the fourth quarter. Raheem Mostert's two poached touchdowns give managers an opening to finally sell "high" before he (likely) fades to the background.
Cardinals -- Saturday's column: "When, if ever, will we see another good game from Marvin Harrison Jr. this season? I still believe it's inevitable, but who knows." Sunday: Harrison hit 23.1 points. The period to buy low has ended.
Patriots -- Saturday's column: "Can we now trust Drake Maye as a must-start in superflex leagues and as a reasonable bye-week streamer in one-QB leagues?" Sunday: It looked that way until a concussion sidelined the rookie. Jacoby Brissett might start the next game against a Tennessee defense that was just crushed by Detroit. Rhamondre Stevenson would get all he can handle with New England in position to move to a "respectable" 3-6.
Jets -- Saturday's column: "More can go wrong for this team than right, or so it seems. The 2024 version of Aaron Rodgers likely can't feed both Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson consistently, or maybe even semi-consistently." Sunday: Wilson was startable; Adams wasn't. This franchise is on the verge of being an utter disaster -- terrible news for those banking on big games from key Jets playmakers in the fantasy playoffs.
Buccaneers -- Saturday's column: "Which WR will step up most in the absence of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and will it matter for near-term fantasy purposes?" Sunday: No one. It was (almost) all Cade Otton, who's suddenly the overall TE6 with a glide path to the top 4 if he can remain a top-2 receiving option.
Falcons -- Saturday's column: "Kyle Pitts is suddenly the overall TE7. Another double-digit performance could place him on the doorstep of the top 5 or even the top 4." Sunday: My preseason TE1 (yes, seemed foolish a few weeks ago) is now the TE4. As long as Kirk Cousins plays at even a semi-high level, Pitts should get enough volume to keep him in must-start territory.
Jaguars -- Saturday's column: "Christian Kirk has caught only one pass three times, including last weekend. There's a squeaky-wheel element here, or so I think." Sunday: Kirk is now out for the season. Brian Thomas Jr.'s chest injury makes him an early question mark for Week 9. Parker Washington picked up some of the slack, and he'll be an interesting deep-league pickup.
Packers -- Saturday's column: "As always, which WR(s) will step up most?" Sunday: Romeo Doubs led all Green Bay WRs with 10.2 points. More importantly, a groin injury knocked out Jordan Love. While backup Malik Willis has played admirably, he'd be a step down for Packer wideouts if forced to start next week.
Texans -- Saturday's column: "How much can we trust Tank Dell after his Week 7 donut?" Sunday: Dell managed to post a 4-35-1 receiving line. And he might be in for much bigger numbers if Stefon Diggs' apparent knee injury is significant.
Colts -- Saturday's column: "Fantasy managers are jettisoning Anthony Richardson like he were the Week 3 version of Kyle Pitts or Mark Andrews. Can he rebound like they have? Or was his abridged 2023 fantasy breakout a mirage -- a function of having TD-boosted fantasy numbers that covered up his apparently glaring limitations (for now) as an NFL passer?" Sunday: A purely ugly performance. Joe Flacco has won five of his last six starts -- and it might've been 6-for-6 if not for a last-second Jags field goal in Week 5. At some point Indy will need to decide whether Richardson or Flacco is better suited to lead their borderline playoff-caliber team.
Chargers -- Ladd McConkey dominated. In the absence of above-middling competition, the rookie is now the closest thing to a #1 receiver for this club.
Saints -- Saturday's column: "I'm still heavily tracking Kendre Miller on a team that might turn to him in December if they're firmly out of playoff contention." Sunday: An injured hamstring knocked out Miller. Brutal timing, and potentially great news for those rostering Kamara, who won't face the same level of competition from Jamaal Williams.
Seahawks -- Saturday's column: "When, if ever (this season), will Jaxon Smith-Njigba become a weekly must-start wideout? Assuming DK Metcalf sits, he has an opening for short-term success, which could elevate his floor even when Metcalf returns." Sunday: JSN earned the most targets, catches, and yards. A notable turning point in a promising career.
Bills -- Saturday's column: "I respect all of the James Cook truthers, and I also firmly believe Ray Davis will keep pushing for a timeshare. The question is more 'when' than 'if.'" Sunday: Cook dominated, while Davis handled only six touches. My prediction has fallen flat for now.
Broncos -- Saturday's column: "Just as with Drake Maye, can we now consider Bo Nix as no less than a weekly one-QB-league streamer?" Sunday: I oscillated on Sunday between starting Nix or Dak Prescott, and eventually made the poor decision to stick with Dak. Nix is probably the only widely available top-14 fantasy performer (he's currently the QB8).
Panthers -- Saturday's column: "As always, how long can Chuba Hubbard keep this going? And as always, I'd be royally shocked if he's still a Panther after the trade deadline." Sunday: Hubbard finally slowed down. More notably, Jalen Coker out-played high-priced rookie Xavier Legette. Coker previously had looked terrific in a limited role. He could be an intriguing add if Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen miss Week 9.
Raiders -- Jakobi Meyers' first game since Davante Adams was traded. Meyers looked good in the #1 role and should remain the only trustworthy Vegas WR.
Chiefs -- Saturday's column: "All eyes should be on the newly arrived DeAndre Hopkins and whether he can be 'the guy' (alongside the hit-or-miss Travis Kelce) in this passing attack." Sunday: Xavier Worthy out-targeted Hopkins 8-3. Too soon to know how Hopkins will fit into this offense, but not a good start.
Commanders -- Saturday's column: Brian Robinson's "floor is deceptively low." Sunday: He still needs to score to be a must-start RB.
Bears -- Saturday's column: "Is Caleb Williams now a no-brainer weekly fantasy starter?" Sunday: Clearly not yet.
49ers -- Saturday's column: "With Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings out, and with Deebo Samuel questionable, can Ricky Pearsall (and/or perhaps Jacob Cowing) make a stronger case for a meaningful rest-of-season role?" Sunday: Pearsall looks like the real deal and should be rostered in all deep leagues. Meanwhile, Jordan Mason's early exit opened the door for Isaac Guerendo, who seized the opportunity. The days of Mason being a fantasy starter might be over, at least this season.
Cowboys -- Saturday's column: "Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are producing well below expectations. How much should fantasy managers panic? I'm thinking not much, but some of that is wishful thinking, since I'm mostly stuck with Dak." Sunday: Dak salvaged an otherwise meek fantasy outing by targeting CeeDee 17 times. That's not sustainable, and this offense is simply underperforming. Didn't help that Rico Dowdle was inactive. But Dak has enjoyed only one big outing this year, which is very un-Dak-like.
---