With just under three minutes to play, the Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers connected on a 68-yard TD pass to TE Pat Freiermuth to take the lead over Cincinnati. Then, in a moment best described as enthusiastic poor judgment, the Steelers’ enormous offensive tackle Broderick Jones leapt onto the 41-year-old Rodgers’ back and brought him to the turf like a rag doll. Rodgers, two years removed from a season-ending Achilles injury, was understandably furious. Broderick, realizing he’d just flattened the franchise, offered a hand. Rodgers declined with a slap.
For all you 0-7 or 1-6 Fantasy teams out there, it probably feels like Broderick jumped on your back, too. If your fortunes don’t improve, I recommend furious trade activity. If that fails, try a chiropractor.
GIDDY UP!
QB Joe Flacco vs. Jets — With six teams on a bye, you might need a quick fix at QB. Enter Flacco, the Fighting Blue Hen, Delaware’s gift to professional football and selective memory. Fresh off a mauling of the Steelers (342 yards, 3 TDs), he will be a headache for a Jets’ team that might be without their best CB, Sauce Gardner, with a concussion.
QB Aaron Rodgers vs. Packers — Green Bay has allowed two or more TD passes three games in a row. In a “revenge game” of sorts for Rodgers, he knows the only way to score on the Cheeseheads is through the air. Pencil him in for 225 yards and two TDs. If he’s feeling nostalgic (or still mad), maybe he throws a third.
RB James Cook at Panthers — In Buffalo, the question echoing louder than “What happened to our Super Bowl window?” has been, “Why isn’t Cook getting more touches?” That oversight will be rectified as the Bills let James cook in Carolina.
RB Jonathan Taylor vs. Titans — I know you’re starting Taylor; I’m only bringing him up so you can relax if your bye-week QB is subpar. In Taylor’s last two games against the Titans, he scored 36 and 46 fantasy points. Tennessee has given up a rushing TD in every game this season.
WR Rashee Rice vs. Commanders — The Great Wall of China is held together with rice paste. Rice is the glue that holds the Chiefs’ WR corps together. He led the team in targets (10) and TDs (2) last week in his return from suspension. Run, don’t wok to get him in your lineup.
WR Zay Flowers vs. Bears — Zay hasn’t scored since Week 1 in Buffalo. Hopefully with QB Lamar Jackson back from a hamstring injury, Flowers will bloom again in the end zone against the Bears.
TE Kyle Pitts vs. Dolphins — Miami looked like they wanted to be anywhere but soggy, windy Cleveland last week, losing 31-6. Will the Fins rise to the occasion and save Mike McDaniel’s job, or will they make Pitts owners happy by allowing their usual six receptions per game to TEs?
WHOA DOWN!
QB Andy Dalton vs. Bills — Another bye-week fill-in possibility, if you are a crazy person. Idle last week, the Bills will be rested and furious after their two-game swoon and will take it out on the 37-year-old Dalton, forcing multiple errors.
QB Cam Ward at Colts — The “Game Warden” is still hunting for fantasy relevance. He can’t camouflage that he only has four TD passes this year. A match against Indy will not get him out of the woods on Sunday.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Browns — Rhamondre the Giant has taken over at RB for the Pats, but against the Browns, that’s like being first in line to board the Titanic. Cleveland has yet to yield a 100-yard rusher and has given up a cool three TDs on the ground.
RB Isiah Pacheco vs. Commanders — Too many mouths to feed in Kansas City’s backfield and Pacheco is last in line at the buffet. In passing situations (i.e., most of them), he’s on the sideline.
WR Jerry Jeudy at Patriots — It’s not Jeudy’s fault he’s having a lousy season. Dillon Gabriel keeps throwing the ball in the dirt. Gabriel has two TD passes in four career starts, neither of which went to Jeudy.
WR Kendrick Bourne at Texans — After riding mansions of glory in Weeks 5-6, Kendrick is done steppin’ out over the line. You gotta get out while you’re young. ‘Cause tramps like us, baby we were Bourne to run.
TE Isaiah Likely vs. Bears — If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Likewise, if Likely returns from injury two games ago and catches only two passes, did anyone notice?
Thursday Night Special: If the Chargers wear their highlighter-yellow “Savannah Bananas” uniforms against Minnesota’s regal purple, expect a game that looks like an Easter egg hunt. Take the Chargers and the points (2.5) in a hard-boiled contest. Chargers 20, Vikings 17
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Bill Reinhard is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and a columnist for FantasyGuru.com.
