Thru Week 9, only one RB had cracked 38 fantasy points in a game. Three RBs did it yesterday -- another reminder that elite-upside players often win championships.
As always, here's the most notable fantasy impact for each Sunday team, with references to Saturday's column:
Colts -- Saturday: "Last week the topic was Alec Pierce. It is again, as it should be when the supposed #3 WR earns double-digit targets in two of his last three games." Sunday: He's rostered in only 37% of ESPN leagues despite a clear shift in his usage. And for the second straight year, he's leading the league in yards per reception. And of course Jonathan Taylor has to be mentioned; he's on pace for 465.6 fantasy points on 2,378 offensive yards and 29 TDs.
Falcons -- Saturday: "Darnell Mooney was last year's WR38 in points per game. This year he's the WR98 in what is possibly the most top-heavy NFL offense of the past decade." Sunday: He co-led Atlanta with eight targets, but finished with only one catch for only 17 scoreless yards. He now has an almost impossible 37% catch rate and a career-worst drop rate. And he's somehow rostered in more ESPN leagues than Pierce.
Texans -- Saturday: "There's no guarantee Nick Chubb keeps his job after this week." Sunday: He actually ran great. But rookie Woody Marks had nearly triple the touches. Their depth-chart shift is almost complete.
Jaguars -- Saturday: "What a mess, and what an opportunity for Jakobi Meyers." Sunday: He led Jacksonville with 41 yards, which accurately sums up Trevor Lawrence's struggles. To be fair, Houston's D entered this week forcing the league's lowest opposing QB rating (70.8). The bad news is that next week's opponent (the Chargers) is yielding the league's *second*-lowest opposing QB rating. It might take time for Meyers to re-establish fantasy value.
Panthers -- Saturday: "With Tetairoa McMillan questionable, Xavier Legette and/or Jalen Coker could become instant streamers." Sunday: McMillan was active and led his team in targets and receiving yards. Coker was the only other WR with at least one catch, giving him seven in his past three games compared to only three receptions in three games for Legette.
Saints -- Saturday: "How close are we to the end of Alvin Kamara's incredible career?" Sunday: Spoke too soon. His 83 rushing yards were his second-most of the season, as were his 32 receiving yards. We'll see if this was an outlier or a promising sign of a turnaround.
Buccaneers -- Saturday: "In the six games leading up to his Week 9 bye, Rachaad White had 65 carries for 208 yards. That's 3.2 yards per carry. In recent weeks, Sean Tucker has looked as good or better." Sunday: Although White's production was adequate, Tucker ran better and seems to be pushing for the #2 job when Bucky Irving returns.
Patriots -- Saturday: "TreVeyon Henderson vs. Terrell Jennings." Sunday: With Jennings getting knocked out early, Henderson ran wild. New England is now pushing for an AFC East title, and Henderson looks like the unquestioned starter even when Rhamondre Stevenson returns.
Jets -- Saturday: "Will Breece Hall finish strong, or is he a major absentee risk down the stretch?" Sunday: He was a true workhorse, handling the ball on half of New York's 44 offensive plays, aided in part by Garrett Wilson's early exit. (Wilson's health status this week clearly will be a huge story.)
Browns -- Saturday: "Quinshon Judkins' three-TD outburst against Miami in Week 7 was impressive. But he's averaging only 3.6 YPC and four receiving yards per game with Dillon Gabriel under center." Sunday: This time he averaged only 3.4 YPC and now hasn't found the end zone in four of his last five outings.
Vikings -- Saturday: "This team's passing attack is operating at around 50% of its 'normal' 2023 capacity." Sunday: McCarthy finally was able to push the ball downfield. The problem (for many managers) is that Jalen Nailor was the only fantasy-relevant receiver. Justin Jefferson managed 7.7 fantasy points on 12 targets, Jordan Addison produced 6.5 points on 11 targets, and TJ Hockenson had only two catches for the third straight game.
Ravens -- Saturday: "Derrick Henry averaged 2.5 broken tackles per game last season. It's only one-fifth of that this season. Typically -- especially for aged running backs -- this is a warning sign." Sunday: 11.4 fantasy points won't cut it for the preseason QB5 (ADP).
Dolphins -- Saturday: "Jaylen Waddle reportedly will remain a major cog in this franchise's upcoming rebuild. But he's enjoyed double-digit targets only once since Week 9 of the 2023 season. That's once in his last 31 games. While some of that is due to the presence of Tyreek Hill, it's conceivable that he's poised for top-12 production if Tua Tagovailoa feeds him just one or two more times a game." Sunday: De'Von Achane was the monster producer, but Waddle racked up a terrific 19.4 points. Also notably, a now-healthy Jaylen Wright out-touched Ollie Gordon 5-1.
Bills -- Saturday: "Khalil Shakir appears to be locked in as Josh Allen's #1 WR, while 2024 early-second-rounder Keon Coleman has been nearly invisible since his Week 1 breakout." Sunday: Shakir led the team in targets, catches, and receiving yards, but Coleman wasn't far behind while getting his highest fantasy output of the year.
Bears -- Saturday: "Whether or not D'Andre Swift plays, Kyle Monangai's value entering Week 11 could be dramatically different than what it is entering Week 10." Sunday: Swift comfortably led the backfield, but Monangai's seven touches and a score reinforce his status as a weekly contributor. Also, DJ Moore's should injury might propel Luther Burden to must-stream status.
Giants -- Saturday: "Devin Singletary surprisingly outplayed Tyrone Tracy last week, setting up an important and previously unlikely battle this weekend." Sunday: Singletary again won the battle due to a strong showing through the air, while Jaxson Dart's concussion might diminish this offense in Week 11 if he's not cleared.
Seahawks -- Saturday: "The door is open for the newly added Rashid Shaheed to push for a rest-of-season #2 WR role." Sunday: He didn't have a chance with Sam Darnold attempting only 12 throws. Then again, Seattle's averaging the league's fewest pass attempts per game. Maybe Shaheed ended up in one of the worst possible fantasy situations.
Cardinals -- Saturday: "In his first game as Arizona's true starting quarterback, Jacoby Brissett faces his biggest test on the road against a solid Seattle D." Sunday: Fantasy-wise, he did well enough, despite the loss-sealing fumbles. And Bam Knight's ankle injury and relative struggles probably make him droppable with Trey Benson nearing his return.
Commanders -- Saturday: Jacory Croskey Merritt vs. Chris Rodriguez vs. bench everyone." Sunday: Even if Rodriguez's shoulder injury is serious, Jeremy McNichols will cap JCM's continually low ceiling.
Lions -- Saturday: "Jameson Williams remains the toughest Detroit playmaker to figure out." Sunday: He had 2.9 fantasy points in the first half, then he broke loose, giving him three must-start performances in his last four games.
49ers -- Saturday: "Those rostering Jauan Jennings are running out of time to see him at/near his best before Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk restore this WR corps to full capacity." Sunday: Since Week 6, Jennings' fantasy point total has steadily increased from 1.7 to 7.1 to 8.5 to 14.1 to 17.1.
Rams -- Saturday: "Over the summer I did a podcast episode articulating why Matthew Stafford (QB22 ADP) couldn't realistically feed two preseason top-12 WRs (Puka Nacua and Davante Adams). So far, I was completely wrong: Stafford is the QB9, and both Nacua and Adams are in the top 8. Absolutely incredible." Sunday: Even more incredible. Also, Blake Corum has 13 touches in three straight contests.
Chargers -- Saturday: "Kimani Vidal has alternated between incredible performances and forgettable performances." Sunday: A late touchdown transformed his evening from good to great, as he comfortably fended off the recently busy Jarret Patterson.
Steelers -- Saturday: "Among the top 36 fantasy WR scorers, only Kayshon Boutte has fewer targets than DK Metcalf, and only Boutte has fewer catches than Metcalf." Sunday: Metcalf now has 9.1 fantasy points in his last two games -- his worst showing since the final two games of the 2022 season. He's gone 18 straight games without double-digit targets. Metcalf's ceiling is at an all-time low.
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* Today's FF4W podcast, episode 111: "ADP Lesson Learned: Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams" -- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-football-for-winners/id1800490745