This is a weird season for fantasy football. Logic is constantly thrown out the window by NFL coaches. RB Ashton Jeanty had two carries in the first half Monday night against the Cowboys’ 28th-ranked run defense. Wouldn’t Pete Carroll want to milk the clock and keep Dallas’ vaunted offense off the field? RB Kareem Hunt was gashing the Broncos (59 yards, 13 carries), but the Chiefs insisted Patrick Mahomes throw the ball 45 times in their close 22-19 defeat. And of course, the Seahawks maddeningly fed RB Zach Charbonnet the ball (11 carries, 37 yards) instead of featuring Kenneth Walker III (14 carries, 67 yards) who had almost twice as many yards in their tough loss to the Rams. Bold strategy, Cotton! It’s enough to make you quit. But Thursday’s my birthday. And as I blow out my candles, I’ll be wishing for either a Buffalo Bills Super Bowl victory, or my fantasy team championship. I can’t tell you which or it won’t come true. Also, a happy birthday to my twin brother Clark, and my grandson Cole. It’s a triple-cake day.
GIDDY UP!
QB Jared Goff vs. Giants — There’s no place like dome. Humbled in Philly, Goff will seek redemption against the G-Men, who give up 25 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs.
QB Matthew Stafford vs. Buccaneers — The Bucs are too beat up on D to withstand Stafford, Nacua and Adams. Better hide the women and children. This is going to be ugly.
RB Alvin Kamara vs. Falcons — Can we squeeze one more good game out of the aging vet? Kamara’s been good for 16 or more fantasy points in his last three against the Falcons. I say he has one last “hurrah” before he runs off into the sunset.
RB Travis Etienne at Cardinals — Despite sharing the rock with Bhayshul Tuten this season, Travis sits a healthy RB14 in fantasy points scored. Now Tuten is dinged (ankle, check status), perhaps leaving Etienne all to his lonesome against a very beatable Cards run D.
WR D.K. Metcalf at Bears — We are either due for an embarrassing “Metcalf Meltdown” like he used to have in Seattle or a “D.K. Detonation” like his 10-catch, 129 yards and a TD last year against the Pats. I say Metcalf goes “boom” on Soldier Field this Sunday.
WR Tee Higgins vs. Patriots — After successfully guaranteeing a Tee Hee TD last week, I will double down and say he scores again while teammate Ja’Marr Chase sits out the game, suspended for going “hauk tuah” on the Steelers’ Jalen Ramsey in Pittsburgh.
TE Kyle Pitts at Saints — Pitts had some of the best games of his career with this week’s starter Kirk Cousins at QB. And with WR Drake London out, expect more volume for Pitts.
WHOA DOWN!
QB Jordan Love vs. Vikings — In five home games this season, Love has thrown just five TDs. What’s to love about that? Pencil in another sub-20 fantasy point day for the disappointing Love.
QB Davis Mills vs. Bills — The Bills give up a ton of points and boast a terrible run D but are fourth best against the pass. Davis “Puppy” Mills is not the dog you want in this fight.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. at Lions — Death, taxes and you can’t run on the Lions. Just ask Saquon Barkley and his 10 fantasy points last week. Tracy’s nice effort against the Pack (88 yards rushing) will be nothing more than a sweet memory.
RB Kareem Hunt vs. Colts — Volume is key in fantasy, and if the Chiefs won’t feed Hunt, neither should you.
WR Justin Jefferson at Packers — I have socks that are older than QB J.J. McCarthy (22 years), and they have less holes in them than his passing game. As a result, Jefferson hasn’t had a big outing since Week 4. Expect tough sledding on Lambeau’s frozen tundra.
WR Jerry Jeudy at Raiders — After the way Lamb and Pickens torched the Raiders last week (210 Yards, 2 TDs), we should 100% start Jeudy. But with QB Shedeur Sanders scheduled to make his first NFL start, I have big-time reservations. Sander’s house was broken into last week while he was playing against Baltimore. Word has it the thieves stole his accuracy.
TE Jake Ferguson vs. Eagles — The Eagles always play Fergy tough. He has 65 total yards and no TDs in his last three games against the Birds.
Thursday Night Special: The Texans are tough at home and have a solid defense but barely squeaked by the one-win Titans. The Bills travel well and are on a high after beating the Bucs. QB C.J. Stroud (concussion) will miss his third straight game, and I don’t think Davis Mills can score enough to keep up with Josh Allen. Bills 24, Texans 17
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Bill Reinhard is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and a columnist for FantasyGuru.com.
