Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings
Cardinals
Rookie Kyler Murray bounced back in this one. He wasn’t great, but he also wasn’t a disaster. Murray completed 14 of 21 passes for 137 yards. We still haven’t seen much of the air raid attack nor have we seen Murray taking off on the ground. Another rookie, Keesean Johnson, has continued to shine through the air. He grabbed all seven of his targets for 85 yards.
Vikings
We aren’t focusing on sure-fire starters in this article, but it’s worth noting Dalvin Cook gashed the Cards for 88 yards and a touchdown on two carries. Mike Boone also continued to look good on the ground carrying the ball ten times for 41 yards and a TD. Rookie Alexander Mattison is still the handcuff, but Boone’s production is worth noting.
Houston Texans @ Dallas Cowboys
Texans
The massive news in this one was Lamar Miller tearing his ACL and MCL. His season is over, and this was a brutal one. This gives Duke Johnson a considerable bump. Assuming they don’t trade for anyone he could be a RB2 with upside in PPR leagues. Odds are he will be a bit overdrafted immediately due to the overreaction we always get in the aftermath of big news before people calm down. Damarea Crockett could get a boost too.
Cowboys
With all eyes still on Tony Pollard amid Zeke’s holdout, he came back down to earth in this one. He was by no means terrible, but he was very average carrying the ball six times for 26 yards and catching both his targets for 10 yards.
Chicago Bears @ Indianapolis Colts
Bears
The Bears didn’t play anyone worth a damn in this one. There wasn’t one player in the entire game that touched the ball that will be drafted in any leagues. The closest they came was Riley Ridley had one target he didn’t catch.
Colts
The news here was that Andrew Luck retired after the game. This retirement news is a brutal blow for the Colts, Fantasy owners and NFL fans in general. His career is officially over. Both sides have already agreed on a buyout, and we will not see him on an NFL field again. Even if he does one day decide to give it another go, it won’t be this year. Everyone on the Colts needs to be downgraded. On a side note, which now seems kind of silly to mention or at the very least anti-climactic, Deon Cain caught three passes for 74 yards and a TD.
New Orleans Saints @ New York Jets
Saints
Despite him catching no passes I want to mention Tre’Quan Smith. He is plummeting to the bottom of drafts in just about every draft I’ve been in. You need to consider him has a higher upside player as the WR2 in a Drew Brees led offense. Don’t just overlook him.
Jets
I continue to love what I see out of Robby Anderson. He caught two passes in this game for 60 yards. I have been missing out on him too often this draft season, but I’d be thrilled to have him as my WR3. This has been an active summer for him, and he is in line for a breakout season.
San Francisco 49ers @ Kansas City Chiefs
49ers
Dante Pettis’ bizarre August continued in this one as he played deep into the second half. Following the game head coach Kyle Shanahan said he needed to be in there because he wanted him to earn his spot on the team. It’s entirely unclear right now if he is the clear-cut WR1 or on the roster bubble. It’s hard to imagine he won’t be the starter and lead the team in targets, but this whole situation has been beyond strange.
Chiefs
Damien Williams shined in this one and far outperformed the other backs. He did most of his damage through the air as he caught three passes for 74 yards and a TD. Mecole Hardman, who many have pegged as the guy to own if something were to happen to Tyreek Hill, caught three passes for 40 yards and looked good out there on Saturday.
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams
Broncos
Denver is another team that just played nobody at all. There wasn’t a player in this game that is even worth monitoring on the waiver wire perhaps except oft-injured tight end Jake Butt who caught two passes for 17 yards.
Chargers
Darrell Henderson got some run in this game, but the rookie running back didn’t do much. He averaged just 2.5 yards per carry gaining 28 yards on 11 carries. He added a four-yard catch. We would like to see more out of the dynamic rookie rusher next week if he gets on the field.
Join FullTime Fantasy for top advice in the industry from check-cashing, proven winners!
Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Chargers
Seahawks
Rashaad Penny scored a touchdown despite averaging just 2.8 yards per carry. The more I watch him, the more it confirms that he’s not good. Chris Carson is so much better than him, and they need to find a running back that can serve as the RB2. The Seahawks may force touches on him this year because of draft capital and lack of options, but he’s terrible, and I’d be shocked if he has a role on this team at all by 2020. Don’t draft him. If Carson gets hurt, I’m willing to bet someone else on the roster steps up and passes Penny.
Chargers
Despite a few notable players getting some work, no one did anything worth mentioning. Artavis Scott had four catches for 66 yards, and that was about it for this offense. No other player at any position topped 34 yards, six carries or two receptions, and no quarterback threw for even close to 100 yards.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans
Steelers
James Conner stood out at running back in this one serving as the bell-cow back when on the field. He also far outperformed Jaylen Samuels. Conner carried the ball five times for 41 yards and Samuels four 16. Both backs caught two passes with Conner going for 15 yards and Samuel 11. James Washington also continued to look great catching a 41-yard TD pass. He has separated himself as the WR on this offense. Do not buy into the always lackluster Donte Moncrief.
Titans
Ryan Tannehill continued to outplay Marcus Mariota in this one, and I’d be shocked at this point if he’s not the Week 1 starter. Tannehill has embarrassed Mariota all summer. While Tannehill was only six of nine for 62 yards, Mariota went zero for three not completing a single pass. Mariota’s days as a starting NFL quarterback are numbered, and quite frankly it’s past due.
