Sometimes losing streaks lead to shake-ups, and sometimes teams simply wait it out. The Bucs appear to be in the latter camp. After starting 4-2, they've dropped four straight, beginning with the game Mike Evans and Chris Godwin got hurt. Not much can be done when Rakim Jarrett, Ryan Miller, and Sterling Shepard are your top three wideouts. Their offense runs through Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, and Cade Otton. Keeps things pretty simple fantasy-wise, and it means Tampa Bay is simply hoping Evans returns right after their Week 11 bye.
On the opposite end (if there is an "opposite) are the Bears, another former 4-2 team. Chicago's lost three straight, prompting them to fire their offensive coordinator. Head coach Matt Eberflus insists that "everything is on the table," suggesting possible shake-ups. That's a lot of volatility for managers leaning (to varying degrees) on D'Andre Swift, D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, and yes, even the fading Keenan Allen.
As for Caleb Williams, this franchise is as stuck with him as the 2023 Panthers were with Bryce Young. Both #1 overall draft picks. Ironically, the Bears fleeced the Panthers last year, and one of their "rewards" is a guy who (so far) has arguably played worse than every other starting 2024 first-round QB. No doubt, Williams is a talented young player. Also no doubt -- as I discussed this summer -- he was handed one of the best offenses a #1 overall draft pick has ever had. Anything less than "very good" would be shockingly bad.
Of course, the timing is awful. Their next four games are against the Packers, Vikings, Lions, 49ers, Vikings again, and Lions again. All are statistically better than average against fantasy QBs.
But yeah, we should expect some changes. That might mean phasing down Allen, who's an impending free agent. Moore has been ridiculously underutilized. Odunze looks like the real deal. Kmet should have averaged more than 2.8 targets these past six outings. Andy why is Swift netting fewer targets per game than in any of his first three seasons -- yet averaging a career-high 8.8 yards per catch? If I had to bet, I'd bet that Moore, Kmet, and Swift see target upticks, with Odunze (probably) overtaking Moore as the team's #1 dynasty hold.
The Giants have dropped five in a row. Daniel Jones might never again be a full-time starter in this league. Drew Lock would be an almost guaranteed ("almost") downgrade for Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson. Lock has been entrusted with only five starts since a forgettable 2020 campaign. As sub-par as Jones has been as a passer for most of his career, Lock is a longshot to be any better.
Then there's the Cowboys, losers of four straight. Maybe Trey Lance will replace Cooper Rush, which I actually believe would be a net positive for Dallas's receivers. Or they'll play it safe with the recently signed Will Grier, which would be a likely disaster.
Vegas also has endured five straight defeats. Now it looks like Desmond Ridder will take over at QB. Last summer I was surprisingly (very wrongly) high on Ridder as a dual-threat quarterback with a fantastic young supporting cast. On balance, he probably played better than the previously mentioned Daniel Jones, as well as the guy who replaced him midseason last year, Taylor Heinicke. However, if you've benefited from Brock Bowers lighting it up, and/or Jakobi Meyers picking up the pace after Davante Adams' departure, things could get dicey with Ridder at the helm.
Finally, keep a close eye on the 2-8 Jaguars. Their season is effectively over, and Trevor Lawrence's Sunday status remains up in the air. They've moved past the shake-up phase. It's simply a question of when each major contributor plays their last game. Maybe Evan Engram, Brian Thomas, Travis Etienne, and Tank Bigsby keep rolling out there. A more likely late-season scenario pushes Parker Washington and Brenton Strange closer to the forefront, while D'Ernest Johnson receives some spot starts.
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