Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny handled 12 of 13 team RB carries and all 3 RB targets in a Week 1 win over Denver. Note that rookie Kenneth Walker sat this one out with a hernia. Penny, meanwhile, proved efficient with 5.0 yards per carry, but he did fumble after getting stripped at the end of a 26-yard gain. (Wisely, he wasn't benched.) All in all, it was an encouraging showing from a guy that took the league by storm late last year. We'll see if Walker’s able to return to practice this week.
Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf ended Week 1 with 7 grabs for 36 yards on a team-high 7 targets. Not exactly the type of line you’d expect from Metcalf, right? The burner didn’t see any downfield targets from Geno Smith, but he did show his strong hands with a few catches in tight coverage. Monday also presented a tough matchup with rising star Patrick Surtain Jr. Sunday turns up a road matchup with the 49ers.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams totaled 108 yards in Monday’s road loss to Seattle. He played 38 snaps (vs. 27 for Melvin Gordon) but was out-carried by the veteran, 7-12. Williams delivered in fantasy on the strength of 11 catches for 65 yards. But his night should have been better, as he fumbled right at the goal line. Gordon actually fumbled in the same spot — so neither guy was benched for the miscue. At bottom, we’re likely headed for more games with heavy rotations going forward. Williams at least looks in peak tackle-breaking shape. Look for his efficient ways to continue Sunday vs. Houston.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday morning that QB Dak Prescott isn't going on IR for his thumb injury because he believes the QB has a chance to return within the next 4 games. We'll assume this is based on more than just optimism or gut feeling for Jones. But we also wouldn't plan on using Prescott in fantasy football lineups anytime within that range.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton tallied 4 catches for 72 yards in Monday’s loss at Seattle. Sutton tallied 30 yards on a scramble-drill play, then drew an overthrown end zone target on the very next snap. Later, he drew a pass interference call on another deep pass. On the day, Sutton matched Jerry Jeudy in targets (7). It’s only a matter of time before the deep balls hit here, especially as the entire offense settles into a new system. Next up is a home date with Houston and top draft pick (CB) Derek Stingley.
Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy finished Week 1 with 4 grabs, 102 yards and 1 score. His first target didn’t come until late in the 2nd quarter, but Jeudy made it count on a 67-yard deep ball on 3rd and 2. He roasted the CB on that one and dodged 2 tacklers en route to the end zone. Jeudy added a late drop on a short-range pass, but the takeaway here remains overwhelmingly positive. He matched Courtland Sutton in targets (7) and led the team in yardage. Next up is a home game with Houston.
Cowboys S Jayron Kearse sprained his left MCL in Sunday night's loss to the Buccaneers. Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports that the team expects him to miss 2-4 games. That will put Donovan Wilson into the starting lineup while Kearse is out. Wilson supplied 5 tackles, 1 QB hit and an INT against Tampa Bay and has delivered starter-level fantasy numbers in the past (before Kearse claimed his gig).
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt "is still gathering additional opinions" but that his pectoral tear is not currently believed to require surgery. That would mean Watt has a chance to heal up and return before the end of October, according to Pelissero. We'll see about the final word here and then will certainly need to keep an eye on his progress. But this is obviously great news after initial fears that Watt would miss the rest of the year.
Seahawks S Jamal Adams left in the 2nd quarter of Monday night's game against the Broncos after injuring his left knee. Adams went from the sideline to the locker room on the cart, and ESPN reported that he was clearly upset. The team called him doubtful to return. We'll see about the diagnosis.
Chargers WR Mike Williams mustered only 2 catches for 10 yards in Sunday’s win over Vegas. He garnered only 4 targets on 34 Justin Herbert attempts. It’s a surprising result considering the plus matchup — and the early departure from Keenan Allen (hamstring). Of course, we’re looking at just a 1-game sample. And Williams has been historically prone to some hot and cold play. With Allen looking iffy for a Thursday night game at Kansas City, though, Williams will rank right back in fantasy starter range. The veteran saw 9 targets in both matchups with the Chiefs last season.
WR CeeDee Lamb, TE Dalton Schultz and WR Noah Brown easily led Cowboys pass-catchers in playing time in Sunday night's loss to the Buccaneers. Schultz played the most snaps of any offensive skill players for the game (100%). Lamb trailed him by just 2 snaps while leading the team in routes (97.8%). Brown played just 7 fewer snaps than Lamb and trailed him by a mere 6 routes. Dennis Houston checked in 3rd among Dallas WRs at 40 snaps (58%) and 30 routes run (65.2%). Of course, the whole offense will be challenged to produce worthwhile fantasy numbers while Dak Prescott is out.
Tom Brady went just 18 of 27 passing for 212 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in Sunday night's win over the Cowboys. WR Mike Evans led the group in playing time, targets, catches and yards and caught the lone TD. He supplied a solid 5-71-1 receiving line on 5 looks. WR Julio Jones trailed Evans by just 1 route and finished 2nd with 5 targets. WR Russell Gage checked in 3rd among WRs in usage, with Breshad Perriman close by in a game that saw Chris Godwin injure a hamstring. TE Cameron Brate also played a big role, though he drew just 3 targets. We'd bet on more from this passing offense going forward, even if Godwin misses further time. We'd also bet on Gage's role expanding as he moves further away from his hamstring ailment.
Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette controlled the backfield work in Sunday night's win at Dallas. He handled 21 of 27 RB rushing attempts, gaining 127 yards (6.0 per carry). Five of the 6 carries that rookie Rachaad White did claim came on the team's final 5 rushing attempts of a 13-point victory. Fournette also dominated receiving work out of the backfield, tripling White's routes for the game. This was exactly what you were hoping for if you drafted Fournette in Round 2. And White being the only other RB in the mix points to him being a reserve that should be rostered in nearly all leagues of 10+ teams.
Insider Jordan Schultz confirms that Steelers RB Najee Harris' injury is not serious. Schultz calls it a foot injury, rather than an ankle. But he reports that the Steelers believe there's a "good chance" Harris will be available for Sunday's game vs. the Patriots. We'll track his practice participation this week.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker (hernia) is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Broncos. He was listed as questionable but didn't practice all week. We're not counting on Walker making it back for Week 2 but will monitor his progress. RB Rashaad Penny should handle the vast majority of early-down work tonight. RBs DeeJay Dallas and/or Travis Homer figure to steal pass-catching work.
Broncos WR K.J. Hamler (knee, hip) is active for tonight's game vs. the Seahawks. He'd been listed as questionable after a limited week of practice. There's a chance that Hamler is on some type of snap count tonight, his 1st action since last September's torn ACL and dislocated hip.
Cardinals RB James Conner got just 10 carries in Sunday's blowout loss to the Chiefs, compiling a meager 26 yards. But he scored the team's lone rushing TD and added 5 receptions (for 29 yards) among 6 targets. Conner tied for 2nd on the team in targets and handled 71.4% of the RB rushes. It was a bad game script for RB usage, but Conner still easily led the team in opportunities and heads into Monday night as the #13 PPR scorer at the position for Week 1. Eno Benjamin got the other 4 RB carries and drew 4 targets. Just 1 of those came after QB Trace McSorley relieved Kyler Murray for the final possession.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray managed just 193 yards on 22-of-34 passing (5.7 yards per attempt) in Sunday's lopsided loss to the Chiefs. Murray did toss a pair of TDs -- to Marquise Brown and Zach Ertz -- but added a just-OK 29 rushing yards on 5 attempts. We still like the upside on Murray going forward. It certainly didn't help that he lost Rondale Moore last week and got a limited Ertz -- on top of missing DeAndre Hopkins (for another 5 games). Murray gets a favorable matchup at the Raiders in Week 2.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire caught a pair of TD passes in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, scoring from 3 and 4 yards out in the 1st half. CEH handled just 7 carries for the game, but 6 of those came among just 10 RB rushing attempts for the team in the 1st half. Kansas City limited his playing time after the break in a one-sided affair. For the game, Jerick McKinnon matched Edwards-Helaire's snaps and pass routes, according to Pro Football Focus, while rookie Isiah Pacheco led the team in carries. But limiting CEH's 2nd-half exposure only supports his position as backfield leader. It was an undeniably positive start for CEH, who commonly went toward the middle of fantasy football drafts.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Cowboys QB Dak Prescott had successful surgery Monday to "stabilize" his fractured right thumb. He's reportedly eyeing a return on either Oct. 30 vs. the Bears or Nov. 13 vs. the Packers. Dallas' bye falls in between those 2 games, which could factor into Prescott's return. We'll keep an eye on his status as the time draws nearer. For now, it's Cooper Rush taking over.
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