Lamar Jackson had the last laugh against the division rival Bengals with four TD passes and an overtime victory. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
September often feels like the NFL’s glorious preseason. In order to feel good again, October football needs to cleanse the mouth.
Baltimore and Cincinnati heeded the call Sunday. So were Jacksonville and Indianapolis.
But the Ravens and Bengals deserve lead items. Competing teams, famous quarterbacks. In a game that featured 962 yards of offense and 53 first downs, the Ravens escaped with a 41-38 overtime victory. Almost every plausible fantasy perspective is back.
Lamar Jackson led the Baltimore offensive line with flying colors, throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns. He added 55 more yards on the ground. He made occasional mistakes, with two fumbles (one lost) and a safety, but only one sack. But Jackson’s highlight splash plays more than make up for his rare mistakes. I can’t imagine how the managers will contain him next week (now with a fun matchup against Washington in Baltimore).
While Baltimore’s passing tree can be difficult to resolve some weeks, Jackson focused on his receivers, with 20 targets going to Zai Flowers (7-111-0, 12 targets) and Rashod Bateman (4-58-1). , 8 targets). The tight end job was split into three, with Isaiah Littleley catching two short touchdowns, Charlie Kohler going 3-64-1 on all of America’s waiver wires, and Mark Andrews hitting the final He joined the team for the first time and gained 55 yards on four grabs. Considering Andrews had two targets and zero catches in the previous two weeks, I think this is progress.
The Bengals did a great job on Derrick Henry for the most part, but two plays saved him, a short touchdown run in the first half and a 51-yard gallop in overtime that was the final scrimmage play of the game. . That’s Henry’s joy. Even though it sometimes feels like he’s not doing anything, he’s still collecting 16.10 fantasy points. Remarkably, Judge Hill was targeted only twice.
Jackson’s preference for wideouts was reflected in Joe Burrow and some later. Burrow sent 26 of 39 targets to Jamar Chase (10-193-2) and Tee Higgins (9-83-2). If we were to re-draft tomorrow, Chase could legitimately be the No. 1 overall pick, especially considering the other team’s leaky Cincinnati defense. Higgins appears to be back to full health after missing the first two games of the year.
The Bengals already have a narrow usage tree and it could get even narrower going forward. Chase Brown was more effective than Zack Moss on Sunday, but Moss ultimately left the game with a severe ankle injury. Brown had a touchdown catch and two-point conversion to rank among the top 10 running backs in scoring as of 1 p.m. ET. The Giants present a reasonable matchup next week.
Burrow was noticeably lackluster in the season-opening loss to New England, but has thrown 12 touchdown passes in the four games since. Comically, the Bengals have lost three of those games, allowing 26, 38, 24, and 41 points during that span.
Cincinnati is probably the best fantasy carnival in the league right now. But the Colts are starting to feel like a carnival, too.
The great Joe Flacco had 359 yards and 3 touchdowns in Jacksonville, but the defense took it all and fixed Trevor Lawrence (371 passing yards, 2 touchdowns) for a magical three-hour period. times, one interception). The Colts know Anthony Richardson’s development is a priority this season, but fantasy managers may be eager to add more Flacco, especially given his chemistry with the receivers here. do not have. Lawrence scored an 85-yard touchdown to Brian Thomas Jr. (5-122-1), but it’s criminal that Thomas has yet to see 10 targets in any game. Use your best players.
Tank Bigsby is starting to look like the best running back in Jacksonville. He gained 101 yards on the ramp and scored two scores on 13 carries, including a 65-yard ramp. Travis Etienne Jr. was held to 6-17-0 on the ground, but was active in the passing game (6-43-0). Bigsby looked lost as a rookie, but he’s now one of the most improved players in the league. It’s time to actively start him in fantasy formats at intermediate and higher levels. He is registered in only 22% of the league.
Jacksonville heads to London for two weeks to take on the Bears and Patriots. Either Flacco or Richardson will tie Tennessee in Week 6.
Other booms
The bear begins to show his true potential.
The Bears quickly took control of the game against Carolina, making the volume of passing options difficult. But DJ Moore played well in the revenge game against Carolina, posting a 5-0, 105-2 line against his former club. Chicago’s passing tree has talent behind Moore, but we all know who the alpha is.
Say this for D’Andre Swift, the Bears remain committed to him. Although he didn’t reach 4 yards per carry against Carolina, he did collect 23 touches for the second straight week, totaling 120 yards and a score. Yes, Roshon Johnson had two short touchdowns, but Swift is undisputed as the centerpiece of the team. He is scheduled to play against the Jaguars in the London Breakfast Game next week.
Rhamondre Stephenson overcomes fumbling problems
Stephenson did not start in Miami, but received a slap on the wrist after recent fumbling issues. He then pounded out 12-89-1 on the ground, catching four passes but going nowhere. New England has a paltry 62 points in five games, so it feels like they’re limited to one touchdown per week. But if I had to bet, I’d expect Stevenson to score.
In other early failures
Bills to put pressure on Josh Allen (and opponents)
Do the Bills need Davante Adams more than the Jets? Allen hasn’t received much help lately. He had a dismal 9-of-30 passing game in Houston and suffered a three-hour physical exhaustion (he briefly entered the medical tent in the fourth quarter, but was quickly rescued). Keon Coleman made a 49-yard catch, but other targets hit the turf. No other player on Buffalo’s roster had a 35-yard reception. Buffalo’s coach also has to look in the mirror. An inexplicable decision in the final minutes of the game gifted the Texans with the decisive field goal.
The Dolphins continued to lose despite winning.
The Dolphins won against New England, but unless key players score touchdowns, there is no fantasy winner. The Dolphins’ only TD came on a wild job by Alec Ingold. At least Tyler Huntley improved to 6.3 YPA in 31 attempts, so Tyreek Hill (6-69-0) and Jaylen Waddle (4-46-0) look like fantasy WR3-4s. left behind. Raheem Mostert (19-80-0) and Jalen Wright (13-86-0) played more because Devon Ashen suffered a concussion in the first half. Miami is secretly hopeful that Tua Tagovailoa could return around Week 8.
Deshaun Watson’s struggle continues
We don’t know what it will take to bench Deshaun Watson, but it looks like we’re not there yet. Watson had seven sacks and an abysmal 4.5 YPA against a Washington defense generally considered one of the five worst in football.
If someone called about trading Amari Cooper, would the Browns listen?
quick hitter
• No matter how well the Rams block or how long they can sustain the offense, Kyren Williams is unstoppable. He has scored 12 touchdowns in his last eight games, seven of them this year. Sure, Blake Colm was scattered throughout the offensive line and had some poor goal-line work. But when Williams is getting 20+ locks, Colm can have six touches. And I’d wager that the next time the Rams are within the 5-yard line, Sean McVay will eat a salami sandwich and immediately turn back to Williams.
• Dontayvion Wicks received Green Bay’s most targets but did nothing. Meanwhile, everything is going well for tight end Tucker Craft. Luke Musgrave and Christian Watson are hurt. Romeo Douce has just canceled his reservation. Jaden Reed is a potential star, but you can see how much Matt LaFleur likes Kraft’s plan as well. It’s one thing to make some big plays when the defense collapses, but all of Kraft’s big plays and touchdowns over the past two weeks have been specific and planned. He is a top-five tight end until further notice.
• Great to see the Jets finally give Garrett Wilson the pep talk we all dreamed of with 22 targets. The fact that they’re only 13-101-1 in scoring (less than 5 yards on target) shows that Wilson and Aaron Rodgers aren’t cool yet. No quarterback likes to take hits, but in later years he can become nervous and gun shy enough to undermine his desire to stay in the pocket to develop events downfield. Rodgers has that look on his face right now.
• Sam Darnold’s stats have dropped, but I’ll give credit to the Jets defense for that. Minnesota is currently in a good position for a bye week, with a hectic schedule that includes the Lions, Rams, Colts, and Jaguars. Minnesota should threaten to score 30 or more points against all of these teams.
• There’s probably no right answer in Las Vegas’ quarterback room, but Brock Bowers looks too good to fail. And assuming there’s any reason to the persistent Davante Adams trade rumors, Jacobi Meyers should at least be able to play WR3.
• Bo Nix continues to improve, aside from three hours of hell in New Jersey last week. But as long as Sean Payton claims the phone book on the target tree (11 different players drew targets on Sunday), this passing offense will be of no use.
• The 49ers entered Sunday ranked 30th in red zone efficiency, but were even worse against Arizona (six trips, one touchdown). My friend and noted San Francisco observer Gabe has an interesting theory that Brock Purdy’s height might make him difficult to handle when the window narrows near the goal line. .
The red zone is difficult for most, if not all, passers. Your weaknesses will be exposed. Purdy’s weakness is his height. He has a hard time seeing short routes in the pocket, so Kyle bootlegged him and rolled him out of the pocket so he could see. It’s hard to do that in the red zone
— Gabe (@gaberino75) October 7, 2024
• The story of Brian Daboll and Devin Singletary goes way back, but Tyrone Tracy’s blowout in Seattle may be hard to ignore. It will be interesting to see if the contenders inquire about Darius Slayton, who will receive solid support, which could be a nice consolation prize for a player who didn’t get Davante Adams.
• Jackson Smith-Njiba managed to salvage a washout game with a late touchdown, but I’m still waiting for him to shine like the touted first-round pick he was. The Seahawks believed they could acquire a player who could be a No. 1 receiver. So far in his pro career, JSN has looked like another Tyler Boyd, a useful but quiet support role.
Brian Hartline was a great receivers coach at Ohio State (and a great pro as well), but when asked 18 months ago to rank his college players, Hartline ranked Chris Olave, Terry It’s puzzling to understand how McLaughlin ranked JSN above Garrett Wilson, whom he has worked with.
• Andy Dalton has given us one great game, one mediocre game, and one bad game. Whoever has Diontae Johnson and Chuba Hubbard in their starting lineup must be sick for Sunday’s game. This is because if Bryce Young returns sooner rather than later, the entire offense could be in trouble. Coach Xavier Leggett was just unlucky in Chicago, as he suffered a shoulder injury early on and never returned.