No. 5 Clemson survived an upset scare at the hands of No. 21 Wake Forest 51-45 with a defensive stand in double-overtime. The win extends the Tigers’ winning streak against the Demon Deacons to 14 games, a streak that dates back to 2009, and this victory seemed as improbable as any other win in the last decade.
DJ Uiagalelei had his best game of the season, totaling 371 yards and five touchdowns passing while also finishing as the team’s second-leading rusher. Uiagalelei used his size and strength as an advantage not only in the run game but to keep plays alive as Wake Forest did a good job of applying pressure on the Tigers starting quarterback. It was Uiagalelei’s ability to connect with receivers in scoring position that proved the difference as his two touchdowns in the overtime period allowed Clemson’s defense to go make the stand that won the game.
This loss hurts for a Wake Forest program that had not only lost 13 straight to Clemson coming into Saturday but had seen every meeting since 2012 finish with a double-digit margin. Sam Hartman put together a historic and, at times, heroic effort leading the Wake Forest offense, finishing with 337 yards and a school-record six touchdowns on 20-for-27 passing. The offense was thriving thanks to Wake Forest receivers winning one-on-one matchups against Clemson’s secondary, as Jahmal Banks had six catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns and Donavon Greene, back in the rotation after missing 2021 with an injury, added two touchdowns as well to lead the aerial attack.
CBS Sports will update this story shortly with more highlights and takeaways from this ACC double-overtime thriller.
St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols became the fourth player in Major League Baseball history to reach 700 career home runs on Friday night with a two-homer effort against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pujols joins distinct company in the form of some of the most prolific sluggers the game has ever seen: Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.
Pujols first clubbed career home run 699 in the third inning:
Then, in the fourth, Pujols connected with No. 700.
That was a five-RBI night before the fifth inning.
Pujols entered the season with the Cardinals knowing it was his last before retirement. He’s never strayed from his declaration that he was playing in 2022 and not a single year longer, despite the possibility that he could get so close to 700 and still fall short. It’s actually somewhat a surprise that he’s gotten to this point. It took a second-half surge.
Pujols had just six home runs in the first half. He now has 15 since the All-Star break. In the process, he surpassed Alex Rodriguez — who has 696 career home runs — for fourth on the all-time list. Getting to 700 doesn’t move Pujols on the career leaderboard; it’s just a nice-round number. We celebrate things like 500 home runs, 3,000 hits, 3,000 strikeouts and the like, so being the fourth person to 700 home runs is a pretty significant accomplishment.
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Pujols, like Aaron, never had a 50-homer season. He hit at least 40 seven times. Only Aaron, Ruth, A-Rod, Bonds, Harmon and Killebrew did it more often. He topped 30 in 14 of his 22 years, one behind Aaron and A-Rod. In moving to 20-plus this season, that makes 18 of his 22 with at least 20 longballs. He moves ahead of Frank Robinson and Willie Mays, who each had 17 20-homer seasons, and trails only Aaron and Bonds.
It’s not just the home runs, obviously. Pujols is 10th in hits (over 3,000, obviously), fifth in doubles, third in RBI (behind Aaron and Ruth), 12th in runs and second in total bases (Aaron).
Still, the home run is the most-celebrated stat in baseball as it is the single most-impactful outcome that can happen on a baseball play. Pujols has been one of the best in history in maxing out on this front.
We are in the midst of Week 3 in the NFL thanks to the Steelers and Browns kicking us off on Thursday night and now we have the main course on deck that features a full slate of games on Sunday. Of course, injuries will be a key storyline to follow as we enter the weekend, especially with the bulk of the teams across the league submitting their final injury reports.
Despite a stellar start to the season, the Bills defense will be down a number of key weapons when it travels to Miami to take on the Dolphins. Meanwhile, the status of Chargers superstar quarterback Justin Herbert also remains fluid as they are preparing to host the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With teams finishing up the week of practice, they’ve released their final injury reports and rolled out game statuses for Week 3. Below, you’ll be able to find each of those reports and a breakdown of some of the biggest injuries.
All NFL odds come via Caesars Sportsbook.
Kansas City will once again be without starting kicker Harrison Butker as he continues to deal with a left ankle injury. In his place, Matt Ammendola will likely retain kicking duties after hitting both of his field goals and all three of his extra points in the Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Chargers. Meanwhile, receiver Mecole Hardman (heel) practiced fully on Friday after being a limited participant to begin the week and carries no designation.
The biggest news for the Colts is that they’ll be getting a boost in the receiving game as Michael Pittman Jr. does not carry a designation after being a full participant in practice on Friday. Pittman missed last week’s matchup due to a quad injury. Rookie wideout Alec Pierce will also play after clearing concussion protocol. As for Leonard, he has been ruled out, but head coach Frank Reich noted this week that the linebacker had a “really good week.” He also hasn’t suffered any setbacks, so his return could be around the corner.
Lions rookie pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson returned to practice on a limited basis on Friday after sitting out the first two practices of the week due to a thigh injury. He is officially questionable. Meanwhile, star running back D’Andre Swift was also listed as questionable after back-to-back days of being limited.
Neither Booth nor Smith practiced all week, so seeing them ruled out isn’t totally surprising. That said, Hendricks’ status will be worth monitoring after he popped up on the injury report on Friday as a limited participant due to a toe injury and is now questionable.
Collins did not practice all week, but the team is still listing him as questionable and holding out hope he can play in Week 3. If he cannot, either D’Ante Smith or Hakeem Adeniji will likely get the nod to start at right tackle.
With the Jets, the are still holding back quarterback Zach Wilson as he continues to recover from a preseason knee injury, but this could be the final week he’s sidelined. In his absence, Joe Flacco will continue to play under center. Meanwhile, Davis and Fant were the only two questionable Jets that were limited on Friday with the rest listed as full participants.
Baltimore saw Ronnie Stanley not participate in practice on Friday after being limited throughout the week, so he’s trending in the wrong direction heading into the weekend. Meanwhile, each player listed as questionable was a full participant during Friday’s session except for Isaiah likely, who was limited. Starting receiver Rashad Bateman did not practice on Friday, but the team notes it was not injury related and he carries no designation.
Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers and safety Kyle Dugger returned to practice on a limited basis on Friday after both were held out on Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, linebacker Raekwon McMillan is heading in the opposite direction as he did not practice Friday after being limited throughout the week.
Despite being questionable, the Texans listed Collins and Deculus as nonparticipants on Friday, so they are not trending positively heading into the weekend. Quarterback Davis Mills was listed on the injury report with a right thumb injury, but was a full participant all week and carries no designation.
Roquan Smith did not practice all week due to a hip injury but the team is not closing the door on him playing as they’ve officially listed him as questionable. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson did not practice on Friday after popping up on the injury report Thursday as a limited participant due to a quad injury.
The promising sign for New Orleans is that both quarterback Jameis Winston and running back Alvin Kamara were able to practice all week, albeit on a limited basis. The fact that neither suffered a setback is encouraging that they’ll be able to go in Week 3.
Christian McCaffrey was a full participant on Friday and carries no designation after an ankle injury forced him to miss Wednesday’s practice and be limited on Tuesday.
Buffalo Bills (-5.5) at Miami Dolphins
Bills: S Micah Hyde (neck), CB Dane Jackson (neck), DT Ed Oliver (ankle), DT Jordan Phillips (hamstring), S Jordan Poyer (foot) OUT; WR Gabe Davis (ankle), TE Dawson Knox (foot), C Mitch Morse (elbow), DT Time Settle (calf) QUESTIONABLE
Dolphins: TE Cethan Carter (concussion), TE Hunter Long (ankle) OUT; T Terron Armstead (toe), DT Raekwon Davis (knee), CB Xavien Howard (groin), WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. (ribs, toe) QUESTIONABLE
The biggest news out of Buffalo is Micah Hyde being placed on IR for a neck injury he suffered during Monday night’s win against the Titans. Hyde will miss the remainder of the 2022 season due to a herniated disc.
Buffalo’s defense will be missing a number of other key players when it takes on the Dolphins, including Poyer, Oliver and Phillips. Oliver being ruled out is a bit surprising considering that he was limited throughout practice for the entire week. All the other players already ruled out didn’t hit the practice field at all. Meanwhile, Gabe Davis was limited all week and is officially questionable, but did tell reporters this week that he’s “100 percent” optimistic he’ll play.
Miami is still holding out hope that Terron Armstead will be able to play in Week 3 despite not practicing at all this week, officially listing him as questionable. When asked about it this week, head coach Mike McDaniel said “it is literally up in the air.”
The Eagles are pretty healthy heading into Week 3, listing only guard Landon Dickerson on the final injury report due to a foot injury. He did not practice with the team on Friday and is questionable.
Washington will have safety Kamren Curl when they take on the Eagles in Week 3 after dealing with a thumb injury he suffered against the Chiefs in the preseason that required surgery. He was a full participant all week. Meanwhile, Toohill and Wise did not practice all week so their status is not too surprising.
Renfrow and Perryman were sidelined all week due to injury and were unable to take any positive steps on Friday, so the team has ruled them out for Week 3. Every questionable player was able to practice on a limited basis on Friday expect for running back Josh Jacobs, who is dealing with an illness. He did not practice on Thursday or Friday and is not traveling with the team to Tennessee on Friday.
Taylor Lewan did not practice all week due to a knee injury, so he’ll be sidelined for Week 3. Rookie wideout Kyle Phillips was able to practice on a limited basis despite a shoulder injury, but that team is doubtful he’ll be able to play. As for Zach Cunningham, his situation will be worth monitoring this weekend as he did not practice Friday after appearing on the injury report on Thursday with a knee injury.
Wilkinson practiced with Atlanta on Wednesday, but was not present on Thursday and the team has since noted that he’ll be out for this game due to a personal matter. In his absence, the Falcons will look to either Colby Gossett or Chuma Edoga to take over at left guard.
Seattle will be without defensive end Shelby Harris when they take on the Falcons. Harris suffered a glute injury during last week’s loss to the 49ers. Meanwhile, if Justin Coleman is unable to play, rookie Coby Bryant is expected to work as Seattle’s nickel corner.
Rams defensive back Jordan Fuller appeared on the injury report Thursday as a hamstring injury limited him and was downgraded Friday as a nonparticipant. He is officially questionable.
After missing Wednesday’s practice due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2, James Conner was able to return on a limited basis both Thursday and Friday, and is officially questionable to play against the Rams. Neither Moore or Turner practiced this week so they were ruled out.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Chargers (-3)
Jacksonville had been remarkably healthy all week, but did list corner Shaquill Griffin on its final injury report after he popped up on Friday with a hip injury. He is officially questionable. Outside of him, everyone else should be a full-go.
The Chargers have officially listed quarterback Justin Herbert as questionable for Sunday’s matchup against Jacksonville after he suffered a fracture to his rib cartilage in Week 2. Herbert was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but was held out of Friday’s session. The line for this game at Caesars Sportsbook fell from Chargers -7 to -3 on Friday. For Herbert, it could come down to pain tolerance and both sides determining if playing him is worth the risk. Meanwhile, Keenan Allen also didn’t practice Friday after being limited earlier in the week. Neither J.C. Jackson nor Corey Linsley practiced all week.
Bakhtiari was limited on both Thursday and Friday, which is an encouraging sign that he could make his debut in Week 3. That said, head coach Matt LaFleur noted that we won’t truly know his status until Sunday, so he seems like a true game-time decision. Despite being listed as questionable, rookie wideout Christian Watson did not practice on Thursday or Friday due to a hamstring injury. On a more positive note, Allen Lazard does not carry a designation after returning to practice on a limited basis on Friday after missing Thursday’s session.
Tampa Bay will be down its top two wide receivers in Week 3. Not only is Mike Evans serving a one-game suspension, but Chris Godwin has now been ruled out due to a hamstring injury that kept him out last week. Tom Brady — who was listed on the injury report with a right finger injury — does not carry a designation. That said, the veteran quarterback may be playing with limited weapons as Gage, Jones and Perriman are all listed as questionable.
49ers: RB Tyrion Davis-Price (ankle), TE Tyler Kroft (knee), OL Daniel Brunskill (hamstring) OUT; DT Arik Armstead (foot), OL Colton McKivitz (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
Broncos: CB Darius Phillips (hamstring) OUT; WR Tyrie Cleveland (hamstring), LB Jonathon Cooper (hamstring), WR K.J. Hamler (knee, hip), WR Jerry Jeudy (rib, shoulder),LB Josey Jewell (calf), DE Dre’Mont Jones (neck), G Quinn Meinerz (hamstring), DT Mike Purcell (elbow), CB Patrick Surtain II (shoulder), T Billy Turner (knee) QUESTIONABLE
The major news out of San Francisco is that tight end George Kittle is set to make his 2022 debut after missing the first two games due to a groin injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Kittle will have no restrictions. As for not-so-positive news, Armstead did not practice all week due to a foot injury that officially has him listed as questionable.
Denver was a large number of players questionable for Sunday, including receiver Jerry Jeudy and cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Both were able to practice on Friday with Jeudy being listed as a limited participant while Surtain practiced fully.
It should have been simple for Magnus Carlsen, or at least as simple as a top-tier chess game can be. When the world chess champion sat down across from 19-year-old American Hans Niemann at the Sinquefield Cup earlier this month, he had the benefit of playing with the white pieces, he was on a 53-game unbeaten streak, and was facing someone who entered the tournament as the lowest-rated player.
Few were expecting an upset, but that’s just what happened.
Carlsen’s loss to Niemann in that game was unusual, but what followed was even more so. The next day, the world’s number one chess star withdrew from the tournament without explanation; only a short statement posted to Twitter and a meme.
“I’ve withdrawn from the tournament. I’ve always enjoyed playing in the @STLChessClub, and hope to be back in the future,” he wrote in a tweet, which was accompanied by a video clip of José Mourinho, saying, “I prefer really not to speak. If I speak, I am in big trouble.”
Carlsen didn’t say so explicitly himself, but his withdrawal and the cryptic video were interpreted as a veiled accusation of cheating against Niemann.
Niemann has vehemently denied the accusations against him, but the world of chess — which is its own ecosystem of players and teachers, YouTubers, streamers and fans — has been consumed by the drama ever since.
“Basically it seems like Magnus Carlsen thinks something’s not quite right with Hans Niemann,” said Levy Rozman, an international master and host of a popular chess-based YouTube channel, in a video. He described it as “likely the biggest chess scandal in history.”
Cheating in chess is as old as the game itself. But the rise of online play, coupled with the invention of chess engines powered by artificial intelligence that can calculate millions of possible moves in seconds, has led to an explosion in cheating in recent years. Chess.com, the most popular chess platform on the internet, calls cheating “the dirty not-so-secret of chess,” one that has “plagued online chess websites.” The site says it suspends around 500 accounts a day for cheating.
So, how was Niemann, who played Carlsen in person, supposed to have cheated? This is where things get weird. A theory reportedly from the depths of Reddit, which suggested Neimann used vibrating anal beads to receive move commands from an outside helper, was discussed as if it were a serious likelihood by grandmaster Eric Hansen on a livestream. Another theory suggested Niemann might be using a “tiny laser” that “draws an ultraviolet line on the board visible only through soecial [sic] contacts.”
Niemann had his own theory, positing in his post-match interview that Carlsen “was just so demoralized because he’s losing to an idiot like me. It must be embarrassing for the world champion to lose to me. I feel bad for him.”
What followed was something akin to a true crime drama. Niemann’s history was fiercely scrutinised online, his past games studied for anomalies and patterns.
Hikaru Nakamura, a chess grandmaster, former world number two and popular chess YouTuber, replayed the game between Carlsen and Niemann to look for moves that didn’t make sense. In other words, he looked for moves that could only have been prompted by artificial intelligence. “I’m really suss actually,” he said.
Greg Keener, a FIDE arbiter and assistant manager at The Marshall Chess Club, wrote in an analysis for the New York Times that Niemann’s Elo rating, which is based on a player’s playing record, rose more than 500 points since January 2021, describing it as “an increase so sharp many people don’t believe it is possible.”
In other words, Niemann’s meteoric rise was an underlying reason for many people’s suspicions.
The scandal only deepened when it emerged that Niemann, in an interview he gave to explain his game against Carlsen and defend himself against the accusations, admitted to cheating in online games when he was younger.
“I cheated on random games on Chess.com. I was confronted. I confessed. And this is the single biggest mistake of my life. And I am completely ashamed. I am telling the world because I don’t want misrepresentations and I don’t want rumours. I have never cheated in an over-the-board game. And other than when I was 12 years old I have never cheated in a tournament with prize money,” he said in an interview with the St Louis Chess Club.
“To give context, I was 16 years old and living alone in New York City at the heart of the pandemic and I was willing to do anything to grow my stream,” he added. “What I want people to know about this is that I am deeply, deeply sorry for my mistake. I know my actions have consequences and I suffered those consequences.”
Niemann went on to say that he would play naked to prove himself innocent against the accusations of him wearing devices on his body.
“If they want me to strip fully naked, I will do it. I don’t care. Because I know I am clean. You want me to play in a closed box with zero electronic transmission, I don’t care. I’m here to win and that is my goal regardless,” he said.
Niemann could not be reached for comment by The Independent.
Two days after that interview, Chess.com said in a statement that it had banned Niemann from the site, without going into further detail.
Still, the drama continued. Niemann and Carlsen met in another game, this time online, in a tournament called the Generation Cup. After one move, Carlsen resigned from the game and turned off his webcam.
“This is a bigger statement than the tweet, I think,” said the commentator.
The furor has threatened to derail the career of a young chess grandmaster before it had even really begun. Yet no one has yet been able to provide any concrete proof of his cheating.
After days of speculation, Chris Bird, the chief arbiter of the Sinquefield Cup, where the scandal began, said there had been no evidence of cheating.
“In response to the recent rumours circulating the chess world, I can confirm that we currently have no indication that any player has been playing unfairly in the 2022 Sinquefield Cup,” Bird said in a statement, according to Reuters.
The New York Times reported that he has been invited back to the next tournament at the club.
Hans Niemann, left, and Magnus Carlsen
(chess24.com/Getty)
Keener, in his analysis for the Times, also pointed to comments from Levon Aronian, an Armenian grandmaster who played in the same tournament and who defended Niemann in a postgame interview.
“Well, I think it quite often happens when young players play very well. There is all these accusations toward them. All of my colleagues are pretty much paranoid, “ he said in the interview.
There was an even more in-depth analysis by professor Ken Regan, described as the “world’s greatest expert on cheating detection in chess” by ChessBase, who analysed all of Niemann’s games from the last two years, online and offline.
“Niemann played well. But not too well,” he said in his verdict, which concluded that he did not cheat.
That might have been the end of the controversy. But Carlsen waded into the subject again this week in an interview.
“Unfortunately I cannot particularly speak on that,” Carlsen said when asked why he resigned from his last game with Niemann. “But, you know, people can draw their own conclusion and they certainly have.”
He then hinted that he may not remain cryptic for much longer.
“I hope to say a little bit more after the tournament,” he said.
Welcome back RotoBallers to our Week 3 matchups analysis and Start Em, Sit Em column for fantasy football. Week 2 was jam-packed with wild comebacks and unexpected fantasy heroes. Some of these will be one-hit wonders while others are here to stay.
For those who are unfamiliar, each week we’ll be analyzing every game from the Sunday slate, helping you optimize your fantasy lineups and take down your opponent. Be sure to check back regularly for any updates on player injuries or other pertinent information.
I will be covering the entire Sunday slate of games plus the Monday Night Football games. There is also a separate article for the Thursday Night Football game each week, so be sure to read that as well. Hopefully, you had one or more of those fantasy heroes and came out ahead in Week 2, either way, let’s get a win this week. If you have any additional lineup questions, follow me on Twitter @JoshCon, and feel free to ask away. Let’s dive into the matchups.
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Five targets is still not what we’ve seen previously for McCaffrey, thankfully his carries increased from 10 to 15, trending in the right direction. He has the third-highest PFF grade and should continue to become the focal point of the offense as a weekly must-start.
Saints WRs
The Saints have a talented trio of receivers who are sharing time on the field. Michael Thomas played 76% of offensive snaps, followed by Chris Olave at 75%, and then Jarvis Landry at 68%. The difference is the role and production. Olave saw 13 targets, which he turned into five receptions for 80 yards while Thomas turned his nine targets into six receptions for 65 yards and a score. Landry only saw five targets and averaged 6.3 yards per catch. Both Olave and Thomas can be started as top-30 options, with top-24 upside, especially for Olave if he continues to break out.
Matchups We Hate:
Baker Mayfield (QB, CAR)
Mayfield looks lost on the field and continues to elect to scramble for minimal yardage instead of dumping the ball off to McCaffrey. He’s off the radar again in this matchup.
Other Matchups:
Jameis Winston (QB, NO)
Winston struggled against the Buccaneers’ defense, which is to be expected. The Panthers have limited both quarterbacks and receivers for fantasy thus far but when you look at the personnel they’ve played it’s Jacoby Brissett and company in Week 1 and Daniel Jones and company last week. Winston is a streaming candidate in this matchup.
DJ Moore (WR, CAR)
Moore continues to see only six targets per game resulting in three receptions both weeks, although he tied for the team lead this week with Shi Smith. Fortunately, he found his way into the end zone but his usage is a bit concerning. He remains a top-24 option but is unlikely to crack the top 15 without a touchdown or increased volume.
Saints RBs
Alvin Kamara practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday, which means he might play but that is certainly not a guarantee. If he suits up he’ll carry more risk given the injury as a top-24 option. If he’s out then Mark Ingram II would be next up and becomes a top-36 play.
Through two games Cooks has a 29.1% target share, resulting in 11 catches for 136 yards. The Bears faced Trey Lance in the bad weather game and the Packers last week, who did their damage with their backfield, so their passing defense may actually be worse than their DOVA reflects. Cooks remains the best weapon in the offense and a strong top-24 option.
Matchups We Hate:
Justin Fields (QB, CHI)
The Bear’s passing attack is abysmal, mostly hindered by a lack of trying. They’ve averaged 14 pass attempts per game, 12 fewer than the 31st-ranked 49ers. Fields athleticism, big arm, and unlocked potential will remain a moot point for fantasy until the Bears decide to pass more.
Bears Pass-Catchers
Cole Kmet and Darnell Mooney are unplayable as a result of their passing attack. Mooney boasts an 18% target share, which on any other team would be meaningful, however for the Bears that equates to five targets. Both need to remain out of your lineup with Mooney a possible stash and Kmet a cut candidate.
Davis Mills (QB, HOU)
Mills has yet to take the second-year leap some thought he might after a promising finish to his rookie season. The offense lacks sufficient weapons beyond Cooks and isn’t able to generate enough yards or scoring opportunities to make Mills a streaming candidate, keep him on the bench.
Other Matchups:
Texans RBs
After taking a backseat in Week 1, Dameon Pierce was clearly the lead back in Week 2. He out-snapped Rex Burkhead 39-to-23, out-carried him 15-to-zero, and only had two fewer targets. Unfortunately, because of the matchup and inability to move the ball, he only produced 77 scrimmage yards with one reception. Chicago is an easier matchup than Denver so he’ll be a top-36 volume-based play with a lower ceiling.
Bears RBs
David Montgomery had a nice game a game against the Packers but his final numbers are a bit deceiving. He entered the fourth quarter with 75 yards from scrimmage. The Packers were ahead by two scores and went into more of a prevent defense to close out the game, at which point the Bears continuously fed Montgomery to the tune of six touches for 61 yards. Houston is a beatable defense on the ground so he’s a top-24 play with limited upside.
Mahomes had a mediocre fantasy day against the Chargers finishing as the QB13. Fortunately, the Colts’ secondary is a much easier matchup that he’ll be able to exploit. I still wouldn’t anticipate a top-five finish because his receiving corps outside of Travis Kelce remains unproven but he’s a must-start.
Travis Kelce (TE, KC)
Kelce played the most snaps of any receiving option but was frequently the focus of the Chargers’ defensive unit, resulting in a TE15 finish. While the Colts may deploy the same strategy, they lack sufficient personnel to have the same success so Kelce is in line for a better day and should return to the top 10 this week.
Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, IND)
Pittman Jr. missed their Week 2 contest after a huge performance in Week 1. He’s participated in practice Wednesday and Thursday, indicating he has a shot to suit up. The Colts desperately need him back and will immediately resume feeding him the ball once he’s active, making him a top-15 receiver in this matchup.
Matchups We Hate:
Matt Ryan (QB, IND)
Ryan looks to be fading before our eyes and a matchup with the Kansas City defense is not the solution. He’s a player to bench.
Other Matchups:
Jonathan Taylor (RB, IND)
The Colts’ offense continues to look worse each week including getting shut out against the Jaguars in Week 2. Obviously, this means no touchdowns for Taylor and unfortunately meant he was less involved because he is not viewed by the team as an elite pass-catching back. This will again be a difficult matchup so he may finish in the RB10 to RB15 range instead of the top-five where he usually ends up.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, KC)
Edwards-Helaire has been a surprise in the receiving game, catching seven passes for 76 yards over the first two weeks. His playing time in Week 2 is less encouraging, he was in on only 44% of offensive snaps behind Jerick McKinnon at 47%, but if he is he maintains this level of receiving work he’s very valuable in this heavy passing attack. The Colts have been beaten through the air so their rushing defense is ranked higher but Edwards-Helaire remains a top-24 option given his target share.
Chiefs WRs
The receiving corps as a whole had a poor performance against the Chargers. The problem for fantasy is the ball is being distributed among so many options, reducing the value of any one particular option. Through two games not one of these receivers ranks inside the top-50 in targets, with the current totals as Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster at 11, and Mecole Hardman right with them at 10. Each of them has a chance to crack the top 36 this week but selecting the correct option is a challenge.
Injuries:
Alec Pierce (concussion)
Michael Pittman Jr. (quadriceps)
UPDATE: Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr. will both be active for Sunday’s game. Pittman Jr. is a top-15 option while Pierce is off-the-radar this week.
Allen followed up his awesome Week 1 outing with another fantastic game despite Gabe Davis being inactive, throwing for 317 yards and four touchdowns. He’s tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns and faces the Miami defense that gave up 38 points to the Ravens last week, he’s a top-five play again.
Bills WRs
The outside wide receivers are thriving in this offense. Stefon Diggs was one of the few wideouts to back up his Week 1 performance with an even better day, and with Davis out, it was Jake Kumerow who emerged instead of Jamison Crowder or Isaiah McKenzie. Diggs remains an elite start while Kumerow could be a flex play if Davis is out again. So long as Crowder and McKenize are sharing the slot role, neither is a great option.
Matchups We Hate:
Dolphins RBs
The split shifted from Chase Edmonds dominating the backfield with 16 touches (carries + receptions) versus six for Raheem Mostert in Week 1, to Mostert having 14 compared to only six for Edmonds in Week 2. Knowing that head coach Mike McDaniel comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree this could be game plan dependent or a permanent change. In either case, neither is someone to play in this matchup.
Bills RBs
Buffalo has spent 11 minutes in a neutral game script and 109 minutes in a positive game script yet the running backs have 144 yards collectively. They’ve also generated zero touchdowns because Allen has the ability to rush it in himself and they prefer to pass in the red zone. Singletary remains the lead back but his value is depressed to the point he’s nearly unstartable.
Other Matchups:
Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA)
In the most impressive game of his young career, Tagovailoa made a statement on Sunday. The Buffalo defense has been a nightmare for quarterbacks so typically Tagovailoa would find himself in the matchups we hate, however, the Bills cornerback Dane Jackson and safety Micah Hyde are on the injury report, missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday. This moves him from a player that would be suited for your bench to a top-15 option given the weapons and what we saw against the Ravens.
Dolphins WRs
As referenced above, there is some key personnel in question for this game that make Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill very enticing options, especially considering they accounted for 22 of his 36 competitions (61%). The pass rush is still elite, which could limit the time required for downfield throws and huge splash plays but they remain top-24 options because of the injuries and concentration of volume.
Dawson Knox (TE, BUF)
Knox had a better game with Davis out, receiving six targets that he turned into four receptions for 41 yards. The game should remain competitive for longer so Knox is a streaming candidate, particularly if Davis misses.
Injuries:
Gabe Davis (ankle)
Dawson Knox (foot)
UPDATE: Gabe Davis and Dawson Knox both got in a limited practice on Friday, adding optimism they’ll be active on Sunday.
The entire Vikings offense was disappointing on Monday night including Cook. With the game out of hand early they were forced to air it out and play catchup. Fortunately, this resulted in six targets for Cook leading to four catches for 19 yards. Detroit is a much easier matchup and Minnesota is a heavy favorite, setting up a nice bounce-back game for Cook.
D’Andre Swift (RB, DET)
Swift only played on 51% of offensive snaps because of his ankle yet he still managed 87 scrimmage yards and a receiving touchdown. He is game script proof because of his receiving role and the Vikings defense is dead-last in rush DVOA, making him a must-start again in this matchup.
Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN)
This game has one of the highest over/under’s of the week, which typically takes the fringe top-12 quarterbacks and pushes them into that range. Cousins struggled against the Eagles but the Lions have allowed the third-most points to fantasy quarterbacks, making him a top-12 play this week.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, DET)
He kept the streak of eight-plus reception games alive with an outrageous performance both in the receiving game with nine receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns and in the rushing game with a 58-yard carry. He’s the WR7 on the year and has earned weekly top-12 status, especially in this matchup. He’s a must-start.
Vikings WRs
Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen were both letdowns as well, although Thielen was more involved this week with seven targets. Jefferson remains a must-start and Thielen slots back in as a top-30 option.
Matchups We Hate:
None
Other Matchups:
T.J. Hockenson (TE, DET)
It was mostly a repeat of last week with another seven targets, unfortunately, the production was lower this week catching only three of those for 26 yards. He’s receiving the seventh-highest target share among all tight ends with 19.2% so it’s really difficult to bench him. Outside of the top six to eight tight ends, it’s impossible to find this level of reliable volume and production so he’s a start for most fantasy managers.
Jared Goff (QB, DET)
Tossing the ball for 256 yards and four touchdowns is very impressive. Goff has a history of supporting talented wide receivers from his time in Los Angeles while finishing as a top-15 quarterback himself. This appears to be the case in Detroit this year. Much like Cousins, he is a streaming candidate who benefits from the over/under and Minnesota pass defense.
Jackson exploded for 318 yards and three touchdowns through the air, adding 119 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He finished behind only Aaron Jones and David Montgomery in total rushing yards. As one of the only quarterbacks who has the ability to produce these numbers, he’s a top-five weekly option.
Mark Andrews (TE, BAL)
After a slow start, Andrews found his form this week, finishing as the TE1. Andrews and Kelce along with maybe another name or two will rotate leading the position each week, making him a must-start tight end.
Matchups We Hate:
Ravens RBs
Another week of subpar play from the backfield despite the Ravens scoring 38 points and leading by 21 at the half. Like a broken record the recommendation remains the same, no one in this backfield is startable until J.K. Dobbins is back at full health.
Patriots WRs
This week featured more success for the receiving corps led by Nelson Agholor’s six grabs for 110 yards and one touchdown, followed by Jakobi Meyers’s consistent volume that resulted in nine catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Agholor is their big-play receiver and Meyers is their reliable short-yardage option, which makes both intriguing but the Ravens are expected to get as many as three members of their injured secondary back for this game, limiting the excitement. Meyers is a flex option, especially in full-PPR formats with Agholor as more of a boom-bust type flex option.
Mac Jones (QB, NE)
Jones supported the statistical output referenced above but only finished with 252 yards and one touchdown himself. He remains a player to bench again in this matchup.
Other Matchups:
Patriots RBs
Rhamondre Stevenson played ahead of Damien Harris with both on the field at the same time as well. Stevenson played 62% of offensive snaps compared to 40% for Harris but it did not correlate to their touches. Harris out-carried Stevenson 15-9 and they both received two targets. The good news is that Pierre Strong played only three offensive snaps so this now appears to be a two-back committee. Harris also has maintained the goal-line role, making him more valuable. He’s a top-30 option with Stevenson more of a flex play.
Rashod Bateman (WR, BAL)
Bateman took a short pass to the house for a 75-yard touchdown in an otherwise unproductive outing. He caught three additional passes for 33 yards. He’s currently third in yards per route run, demonstrating this is something he has the ability to do at any time but he will struggle with volume in this offense. He’s a top-30 option with a top-20 upside.
Injuries:
Gus Edwards (knee)
Ty Montgomery (ankle)
J.K. Dobbins (knee)
Jakobi Meyers (knee)
UPDATE: Jaokbi Meyers returned to practice Friday, signaling he should play on Sunday.
Mixon was one of the lone bright spots on the day totaling 83 yards from scrimmage and four targets. He remains involved as a pass-catcher and accounted for all by one running back carry. He’s a true workhorse back in a talented offense that plays the Jets. He’s a must-start in this matchup.
Bengals WRs
Tee Higgins was able to recover from his concussion and enter the game healthy. He led the receiving corps in targets receptions and yards on his way to a WR16 finish. He and Ja’Marr Chase are likely to rotate big games until their offensive line can hold up against defenses. That said, both receivers are top-15 options in this matchup.
Matchups We Hate:
Jets RBs
Michael Carter dominated the snap count 43-19 over Breece Hall but it was Hall who had the better day. They each carried the ball seven times with Hall averaging more than double the yards per carry of Carter, and although Carter also had five targets compared to one for Hall, he was able to take that lone target to the end zone on a 10-yard reception. Until Hall is the primary back, both remain hard to trust, especially against the Bengals’ run defense. Both are flex options but Hall has more upside.
Joe Flacco (QB, NYJ)
Kudos to Flacco, who turned back the clock and led an impressive comeback win against Cleveland. Unfortunately, this figures to be an outlier performance. The passing attempts will be there again but it’s unlikely the production follows, making him a player to bench.
Other Matchups:
Jets WRs
Garrett Wilson had a breakout performance to the tune of eight receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns. He still played fewer snaps than Elijah Moore and Corey Davis but has the thirteen-highest PPF grade among receivers, illustrating why he was drafted so early. Cincinnati has an average passing defense that has faced backup-caliber quarterbacks thus far. You can expect one of these three to have another productive outing with Wilson as the best bet. He’s a top-36 option.
Joe Burrow (QB, CIN)
Burrow took six sacks again last week, constantly facing pressure against the Cowboys pass rush. His production also dropped to 199 passing yards and only one touchdown. The Jets are a much better matchup but he remains tough to trust after two disappointing weeks. He’s outside the top-12 but ahead of many of the quarterbacks recommended to bench.
Injuries:
Zach Wilson (knee)
Corey Davis (knee)
UPDATE: Corey Davis had another limited practice on Friday, likely indicating he’ll play on Sunday.
Adams caught the first touchdown of the game and then completely disappeared, catching only one more pass the rest of the game. This is very disappointing for fantasy managers but the seven targets are still a lot. This was likely a one-off performance, especially now that Hunter Renfrow is expected to miss the game, so you can expect Derek Carr to get Adams more involved moving forward. He’s a must-start again in this matchup.
Derek Carr (QB, LV)
The Raiders fell apart in the second half last week and overtime, totaling only 31 passing yards. Carr was capitalizing on the juicy matchup in the first half, which is what you can expect against the Titans’ poor defense that has given up the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. He’s a top-12 play.
Darren Waller (TE, LV)
Waller also found the end zone on his way to a TE2 finish. He has the fourth-most yards per route run at the position and the fifth-highest PPF grade among tight ends. He’s a must-start weekly tight end.
Derrick Henry (RB, TEN)
Henry could get absolutely nothing going against Buffalo, salvaging his day with a first-quarter touchdown. Luckily, he finds himself in a much easier matchup against the Raiders this week. The Titans’ offense is second to last in offensive rush DVOA but Henry has far too much upside to fade in this matchup. He’s a top-12 back.
Matchups We Hate:
Titans WRs
Treylon Burks is already establishing himself as the best receiver in this offense. With the fifth-most yards per route run and the sixth-highest PFF grade among receivers, his breakout is inevitable. Unfortunately, Ryan Tannehill has yet to prove he can facilitate his breakout and Burks only played on 45% of snaps, so he’s an upside flex option in this matchup.
Ryan Tannehill (QB, TEN)
Tannehill will definitely have a better game this week against Las Vegas but he’s not yet viable for fantasy. He’s a player to bench while we wait to see how this offense evolves.
Other Matchups:
Josh Jacobs (RB, LV)
Jacobs played on 72% of offensive snaps and accounted for all but one running back carry. He totaled 81 yards from scrimmage but remains uninvolved in the passing game with only two targets on the year. The Tennessee defense is beatable on the ground and through the air so the matchup makes him a volume-based top-30 option with top-20 upside if he finds the end zone.
Injuries:
Hunter Renfrow (concussion)
Dontrell Hilliard (hamstring)
UPDATE: Hunter Renfrow is out. This boosts the value of Waller and Adams while lowering Carr a spot or two.
UPDATE: Josh Jacobs did not travel with the team and is now questionable to play Sunday. His absence would create opportunities for Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah, both would be flex options.
Hurts continues to deliver, with the fourth-highest fantasy points over expectation and a top-five finish. He scored twice on the ground proving the value of his dual-threat ability. He’s a top-five weekly option.
Eagles WRs
A.J. Brown came back down to earth with a modest five catches for 69 yards on eight targets. This correlated with DeVonta Smith resurfacing for fantasy, hauling in all seven of his targets for 80 yards. He also played on more snaps than Brown. Brown has the third-highest PFF grade and seventh-most yards per route run. Brown is a top-12 player while Smith is inside the top-36 with top-24 upside.
Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI)
Goedert was explosive, catching five passes for 82 yards on six targets. He remains a focal point in the offense with a 16.7% target share. He’ll be a top-10 tight end with top-five upside.
Miles Sanders (RB, PHI)
Sanders is finally being treated as a workhorse back, accounting for 17 of the 21 running back carries (81%) and three of the six (50%) running back targets. The touchdowns will vary from week to week but his role in this offense behind their elite O-line makes him a top-24 back with top-15 upside if he scores.
Matchups We Hate:
None
Other Matchups:
Carson Wentz (QB, WAS)
Wentz seems to be putting it all together in Washington producing prolific numbers including a league-tying seven passing touchdowns, and 650 passing yards, the second-most over the first two weeks. He’s utilizing his array of weapons and the defense is placing the team in negative game scripts that force them to throw the ball. The Eagles’ pass defense has been strong through two games but Wentz remains a strong streaming option in this matchup.
Commanders WRs
Another week of this trio producing for fantasy. Terry McLaurin had four receptions for 75 yards, while both Jahan Dotson (four for 59) and Curtis Samuel (seven for 78) found pay dirt. As long as Wentz continues the tear he’s been on all three receivers are top-36 players with top-24 upside.
Commanders RBs
Antonio Gibson ceded targets to J.D. McKissic this week and was fortunate to come through with a rushing touchdown. He’s still the lead back for this offense but this removes some of his ceiling. The Eagles have been more susceptible on the ground but if McKissic is back in his usual receiving role and the Commanders fall behind, it’s hard to have full confidence in either back. Gibson is still inside the top-36 with McKissic as a flex option.
The Chargers seem to have finally found a combination of backups they feel comfortable playing behind Ekeler. He dropped to 63% of the offensive snaps and was not having a great day until the final quarter when they went into their two-minute offense and hyper-targeted him. He remains a top-12 back but sharing the backfield and goal-line work moves him outside the top five.
Mike Williams (WR, LAC)
Williams without Keenan Allen has been a recipe for blowup games, which is exactly what happened on Thursday. He constantly made contested catches, totaling eight of them for 113 yards and a touchdown. He’s a top-15 option if Allen misses and a top-24 option if he plays.
Justin Herbert (QB, LAC)
Heart of a champion is the way to describe his gutty performance on Thursday. Herbert was in severe pain and still managed to lead a scoring drive. Despite his injury and a costly pick-six, he still finished as the QB8 and has to be in your lineup if he plays.
Matchups We Hate:
Trevor Lawrence (QB, JAX)
Lawrence has definitely taken a step forward on the NFL field and it is starting to translate for fantasy. He finished as the QB11 against the soft Colts defense but now takes on the Chargers who limited Patrick Mahomes on Thursday and caused problems for Derek Carr in Week 1. Lawrence is a fade in this matchup.
Other Matchups:
Christian Kirk (WR, JAX)
Kirk had a monster performance, hauling in both of Lawrence’s touchdown passes to accompany his six receptions and 78 yards. Despite the difficult matchup, Kirk is a top-24 player with top-15 upside if he scores again.
Jaguars RBs
James Robinson handled a larger workload on Sunday, finishing with 23 carries and two receptions compared to nine and three for Travis Etienne. Robinson has the 11th-most broken tackles and twelfth-most missed tackles forced, demonstrating his effectiveness as a rusher. The Chargers much like last year are easier to attack on the ground, which favors Robinson, making him a top-30 option.
Gerald Everett (TE, LAC)
Everett has been a top-six tight end in back-to-back weeks to open the season. He’s benefited from Allen’s absence and will be in the top-10 if he’s out again, remaining a top-12 option even if he plays.
Injuries:
Keenan Allen (hamstring)
Justin Herbert (ribs)
UPDATE: Justin Herbert and Keenan All are both questionable to play on Sunday. It is hard to know whether they’ll suit up so having a pivot option for each of them is a wise strategy.
Stafford looked much better facing the Atlanta defense in Week 2. Luckily he’s facing another passing defense that has been easy to attack. The Cardinals have been the second-best matchup for fantasy quarterbacks, setting Stafford up as a top-10 quarterback in this matchup.
Kyler Murray (QB, ARI)
Murray is a rollercoaster for fantasy, leaving you worried for three quarters before finding a way to come through in the fourth quarter. He’s been inside the top nine both weeks and projects to land there again, largely thanks to his athleticism and rushing ability.
Rams WRs
Cooper Kupp received a league-leading 20 targets this week and now possesses a 38.7% target share through two weeks, the highest among all players. Allen Robinson II allowed many fantasy managers to take a deep breath after finding the end zone. Additionally, he had a second touchdown called back because of a strange whistle from the independent medical spotter. Nonetheless, he seems to have found a role, making him in play as a top-30 receiver with top-24 upside.
Tyler Higbee (TE, LAR)
Higbee is commanding a 26.7% target share of his own behind only Mark Andrews. He’s a top-10 tight end on the season and will rank there again in this matchup.
Zach Ertz (TE, ARI)
Not to be outdone, Ertz had 11 targets of his own in Week 2 that he turned into eight receptions for 75 yards. Now at full health as one of the top-two targets in this offense, Ertz is a top-12 option against the Los Angeles passing defense.
Marquise Brown (WR, ARI)
Brown is the other top target referenced above and also received 11 targets. He did not find the end zone but managed six grabs for 68 yards. Much like Ertz, Brown should benefit from the matchup as a top-24 option.
Matchups We Hate:
None
Other Matchups:
Rams RBs
Cam Akers returned from his unanticipated hiatus in Week 1 to join Darrell Henderson Jr. in the backfield. Henderson Jr. had more offensive snaps 35-27 but was out-touched by Akers 17-10. This has the feel of a timeshare until Akers can overtake Henderson Jr., which may happen this week. The matchup is middle of the pack so both are in play as top-36 backs with Akers as the preferred player.
Cardinals RBs
James Conner suffered an ankle injury that ended his day early. He was again the clear lead back and figures to return to that role if he is able to suit up on Sunday. The Rams are the most difficult matchup according to their Rush DVOA so he’ll need to do his damage in the receiving game or by scoring. He’s a top-24 option with additional risk coming off the injury. If he misses then Eno Benjamin and Darrel Williams would split the role, limiting the fantasy value either would have.
Injuries:
James Conner (ankle)
Van Jefferson (knee)
Rondale Moore (hamstring)
UPDATE: James Conner will be a game-time decision. This means fantasy managers need to have a pivot option ready and may need to play that option in the 1pm games if we don’t know his status before kickoff.
UPDATE: Van Jefferson is out, meaning the Robinson and Kupp show will continue.
UPDATE: Rondale Moore is out, confirming Browns and Ertz will lead the way again as described above.
London has five or more receptions and 70-plus receiving yards in each of his first two NFL career games. He has a 33.3% target share and is well on his way to leading all rookie receivers in 2022. The Seahawks are a great matchup, making London a top-24 player with top-20 upside.
Matchups We Hate:
Seahawks RBs
Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Walker III are now sharing the limited amount of carries this offense generates. Walker III had three targets but neither is a player to force into your lineup, despite the positive matchup.
Falcons RBs
Tyler Allgeier was active for Week 2 and immediately stole 10 carries from Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson had the only target but this will be a split backfield moving forward, reducing the excitement for either player. Patterson would be preferable because of his receiving skills but even he’s a risky flex option.
Both QBs
Marcus Mariota did not run the ball as often as he did in Week 1, which was mainly what made him an interesting quarterback for fantasy. He has a nice matchup here against Seattle but neither he nor Geno Smith are top-15 options this week.
Other Matchups:
Kyle Pitts (TE, ATL)
Pitts had another dud game and is being utilized poorly by the coaching staff. London is establishing himself as the primary option, which could take the focus of the defense off of Pitts. It’s hard to pivot away from Pitts because of his elite ceiling but he’s no longer locked in as a top-five weekly play, at least until something changes regarding his role.
Seahawks WRs
This week it was Tyler Lockett as the better receiver, finishing with nine catches for 107 yards. This left DK Metcalf with only six targets that he turned into four receptions for 35 yards. This is the ceiling for Lockett and it came at the expense of Metcalf, making it really hard to trust either receiver. Both have flex appeal given the matchup but also have a very low floor.
Rodgers enjoyed his outing against the Bears as he always does, however, the joy will be short-lived as he now travels to Tampa Bay to face an extremely difficult passing defense. Furthermore, his numbers were bolstered by a touch pass to Aaron Jones that he took the house. Add in that four of his receivers are dealing with injuries and he’s a bench in this matchup.
Tom Brady (QB, TB)
Much like Rodgers, Brady faces a difficult Packers passing defense and is expected to be short-handed on receivers as well. Mike Evans is suspended, Chris Godwin and Julio Jones both missed practice on Thursday, leaving Russell Gage, Breshad Perriman, and newly signed Cole Beasley as his primary weapons. He’s a player to leave out of your lineup.
Packers WRs
Allen Lazard caught a touchdown in his season debut but was otherwise limited to one catch. The Buccaneers have the best pass defense DVOA in the league, making all these receivers players to avoid. Additionally, four of them are currently dealing with injuries.
Buccaneers WRs
Whoever suits up for this one will have to rely on volume to survive because this offense is likely to struggle to move the ball again. None of Gage, Perriman, or Beasley have much upside.
Other Matchups:
Packers RBs
Jones comforted his fantasy managers with an impressive game against the Bears. He was the RB2 with 15 carries for 132 yards and a score on the ground plus another three catches for 38 yards and a score through the air. AJ Dillon still received 18 carries of his own and one reception but certainly disappointed compared to Week 1. These two will be the entire offense with so many receivers injured. They were also quoted by Rodgers earlier this week as needing to receive 15-plus touches each. Both backs are top-24 options in this matchup, mostly based on volume.
Robert Tonyan (TE, GB)
Tonyan still only played 40% of their offensive snaps, which was not enough to produce this week. What keeps him in consideration is the multitude of injuries to the receiving corps along with the hope he plays more snaps. He’s a streaming candidate with touchdown upside.
Leonard Fournette (RB, TB)
Fournette was inefficient and ineffective with his touches because the passing attack was inept. This figures to be the situation again in this matchup although the Packers’ defense is worse against the run and he’ll see a target bump with multiple receivers out. He’s a top-24 option with a lower ceiling.
Injuries:
Chris Godwin (hamstring)
Julio Jones (knee)
Randall Cobb (illness)
Allen Lazard (ankle)
Sammy Watkins (hamstring)
Christian Watson (hamstring)
UPDATE: Allen Lazard will play while Sammy Watkins is out and both Christian Watson and Randall Cobb are questionable. Lazard is a risky player that is still best avoided.
UPDATE: Chirs Godwin has been ruled out as expected. Julio Jones is questionable to play, meaning he or Gage will lead this depleted receiving corps.
After Jerry Jeudy left with an injury, Sutton saw his target share spike, resulting in seven grabs for 122 yards. All indications are that he will be the primary target again this week as a target hog. This is the only reason he finds himself as a matchup we love and a top-20 option.
Matchups We Hate:
Jimmy Garoppolo (QB, SF)
Sadly Trey Lance broke his ankle ending his 2022 campaign, which leaves Garoppolo as the starter. He is a competent quarterback who can support the fantasy-relevant options in this offense but rarely cracks the top-15 himself. He’s off-the-radar against a strong Denver passing defense.
Russell Wilson (QB, DEN)
Wilson followed up his Week 1 struggles with a real letdown in Week 2, finishing with 219 yards and one touchdown. The two defenses he’s faced so far were easier than the 49ers so now is not the time to be bold and hope for a big game, especially with Jeudy expected to be out.
Other Matchups:
Broncos RBs
Javonte Williams was monopolizing touches for the majority of the game until the fourth quarter hit and Melvin Gordon got involved. He still finished ahead of Gordon but the final touches were much closer this week. This is a difficult matchup but because the offense is void of passing options, outside of Sutton, the backfield could see more work. Williams is a top-24 option and Gordon is a flex play.
49ers WRs
Deebo Samuel continues to thrive because he operates as both a receiver and running back but has lacked the massive output he had last year. Brandon Aiyuk benefits from the return of Garoppolo with increased passing volume and targets available. The matchup is quite difficult so their upside is reduced but Samuel is a top-20 receiver with Aiyuk as a flex option.
Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB, SF)
Wilson Jr. received sufficient volume to make him a decent fantasy option and although he did not find the end zone, he still finished as the RB14, which is impressive. Denver has limited running backs to the second-fewest fantasy points over the first two weeks so Wilson Jr. will be a riskier top-30 back.
Injuries:
Jerry Jeudy (chest)
Elijah Mitchell (knee)
Tyrion Davis-Price (ankle)
George Kittle (groin)
K.J. Hamler (knee, hip)
UPDATE: George Kittle has been removed from the injury report and will play. He’s a top-10 tight end. This lowers the excitement for Aiyuk and adds another weapon for Garoppolo.
UPDATE: Jerry Jeudy practiced for the first time on Friday and is questionable to play Sunday. He’ll be a top-30 receiver if he’s active and would drop Sutton to a similar range with a little more upside.
Lamb was able to find value with Cooper Rush at the helm, turning 11 targets into seven catches for 75 yards. He’s lost a lot of his ceiling without Dak Prescott but remains a strong top-20 option in this matchup.
Matchups We Hate:
Giants WRs
How the Giants are undefeated remains a mystery but it is not because of a strong performance from their receiving corps. Richie James continues to lead the team in all categories, which is not an endorsement of the fantasy value of these receivers. None of these players are startable.
Both QBs
Neither Rush nor Daniel Jones has proven they can be fantasy starters. The matchup favors Rush, which is not ideal for fantasy. Both players need to be on the bench.
Other Matchups:
Saquon Barkley (RB, NYG)
Barkley’s utilization remained elite in Week 2 but his production took a hit, finishing with 21 carries for 72 yards and three receptions for 16 yards. Dallas has a strong defense that will make it difficult on Barkley, dropping him outside the top-10 as more of a top-15 option.
Cowboys RBs
Tony Pollard is certainly the more explosive back, turning his 13 touches into 98 yards and a rushing touchdown. He’s talented and would be a great back if he received more work but Ezekiel Elliott remains the lead back, capping the ceiling of both. The Giants’ defense is one they should fare well against, making each a flex play with touchdown upside and Pollard the preferred option.
Injuries:
Wan’Dale Robinson (knee)
Dak Prescott (thumb)
Dalton Schultz (knee)
Michael Gallup (knee)
Kadarius Toney (hamstring)
UPDATE: Michael Gallup practiced in full but it’s unclear if he’ll play. He would be a risky start in his first game back and wouldn’t have much impact on Lamb.
UPDATE: Dalton Schultz missed practice Friday and is trending towards being out. This means more focus on Lamb both from the offense and defense, keeping him as a top-20 option.
UPDATE: Wan’Dale Robinson and Kadarius Toney both missed practice on Friday, so neither seems like they’ll play. Even if one or both suit up, they are best left on your bench.
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Tennessee star wide receiver Cedric Tillman will not play against Florida on Saturday because of an ankle injury, sources told ESPN.
Tillman injured his ankle last week against Akron midway through the second quarter. With Tennessee having a bye next week, there is optimism that he could return for the Volunteers’ next game at LSU on Oct. 8, sources said.
Tillman entered the season as the most productive returning receiver in the SEC and a first-team all-conference preseason selection, and he is considered Tennessee’s top receiving threat. In three games this season, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Tillman had 17 catches for 246 yards and a touchdown.
Tillman’s absence will be significant for a Tennessee offense that relies heavily on the passing game and vertical routes. Veteran Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker is expected to look more to dynamic slot receiver Jalin Hyatt, who is also a deep threat and is Tennessee’s leading pass-catcher this season with 18 receptions for 267 yards and three touchdowns. USC transfer Bru McCoy, who starts at the other outside wide receiver position, will likely see more targets. He has caught eight passes for 109 yards and one touchdown this year.
Replacing Tillman in the starting lineup is expected to be senior Ramel Keyton, who has five catches for 114 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore Walker Merrill could also see increased snaps.
Tennessee enters Saturday No. 3 nationally in total offense (553.7 YPG) and No. 5 in passing offense (371.3). They are No. 4 in scoring at 52.0 points per game.
It’s time to “Black Out” the Horseshoe and watch Wisconsin get dumped.
C.J. Stroud will have no issue moving the ball around on the Wisconsin defense as he throws to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming and, of course, Farmer Gronk himself, Cade Stover. The Buckeyes’ running game can only help to keep pace with TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams toting the rock (and maybe a few carries for Dallan Hayden here and there).
The main objective for the offense will be to take care of the football. If they can play mistake-free and limit penalties, that should offer confidence for the Silver Bullets to play fast and violent to stop Wisconsin’s rushing attack powered by Braelon Allen. The defense will also look to make Graham Mertz see a swarm of black uniforms in the defensive backfield while making him familiar with the green turf at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State has all the tools necessary to win every game on its schedule. The only losses come when the Buckeyes beat the Buckeyes. Execute and take care of the football – the rest will take care of itself. Give me Ohio State big in this one, 42-17.
Let’s have a good Saturday, shall we?
TODAY’S MENU. This weekend, most of the college football programs in the FBS will start their conference schedule, which means better games on Saturday and for the rest of the season. I am a fan of that. What do you think?
Below is the full slate of games to watch on Saturday:
Matchup
Time (ET)
TV/Mobile
USF at Louisville
12:00pm
RSN/ESPN3
5 Clemson at 21 Wake Forest
12:00pm
ABC
Rhode Island at 24 Pitt
12:00pm
ACCN
Duke at Kansas
12:00pm
FS1
Central Michigan at 14 Penn State
12:00pm
BTN
Maryland at 4 Michigan
12:00pm
FOX
Buffalo at Eastern Michigan
12:00pm
CBSSN
Kent State at 1 Georgia
12:00pm
SECN+/ESPN+
17 Baylor at Iowa State
12:00pm
ESPN2
Missouri at Auburn
12:00pm
ESPN
TCU at SMU
12:00pm
ESPNU
Bowling Green at Mississippi State
12:00pm
SECN
UMass at Temple
2:00pm
ESPN+
UCLA at Colorado
2:00pm
P12N
Fordham at Ohio
2:00pm
ESPN+
Middle Tennessee at 25 Miami (FL)
3:30pm
ACCN
James Madison at Appalachian State
3:30pm
ESPN+
Minnesota at Michigan State
3:30pm
BTN
FIU at WKU
3:30pm
CBSSN
North Texas at Memphis
3:30pm
ESPN+
Texas Southern at UTSA
3:30pm
Stadium
22 Texas at Texas Tech
3:30pm
ESPN
20 Florida at 11 Tennessee
3:30pm
CBS
Notre Dame at North Carolina
3:30pm
ABC
Toledo at San Diego State
3:30pm
FS1
Indiana at Cincinnati
3:30pm
ESPN2
Georgia Tech at UCF
4:00pm
ESPNU
Tulsa at 16 Ole Miss
4:00pm
SECN
Sacramento State at Colorado State
4:00pm
MWN
15 Oregon at Washington State
4:00pm
FOX
Arizona at California
5:30pm
P12N
Rice at Houston
6:00pm
ESPN+
Navy at East Carolina
6:00pm
ESPN+
Arkansas State at Old Dominion
6:00pm
ESPN+
Ball State at Georgia Southern
6:00pm
ESPN+
Akron at Liberty
6:00pm
ESPN+
Marshall at Troy
7:00pm
NFLN
Southern Miss at Tulane
7:00pm
ESPN+
NIU at 8 Kentucky
7:00pm
ESPN2
10 Arkansas vs. 23 Texas A&M (in Arlington, TX)
7:00pm
ESPN
UNLV at Utah State
7:00pm
CBSSN
Iowa at Rutgers
7:00pm
FS1
Louisiana Tech at South Alabama
7:00pm
ESPN+
HCU at Texas State
7:00pm
ESPN3
Florida Atlantic at Purdue
7:30pm
BTN
Wisconsin at 3 Ohio State
7:30pm
ABC
Charlotte at South Carolina
7:30pm
ESPNU
Miami (Ohio) at Northwestern
7:30pm
BTN
UConn at 12 NC State
7:30pm
RSN/ESPN3
Vanderbilt at 2 Alabama
7:30pm
SECN
New Mexico at LSU
7:30pm
SECN+/ESPN+
Hawaii at New Mexico State
8:00pm
FloSports
Louisiana at ULM
8:00pm
ESPN+
Boston College at Florida State
8:00pm
ACCN
Kansas State at 6 Oklahoma
8:00pm
FOX
7 USC at Oregon State
9:30pm
P12N
Wyoming at 19 BYU
10:15pm
ESPN2
Stanford at 18 Washington
10:30pm
FS1
Western Michigan at San Jose State
10:30pm
CBSSN
13 Utah at Arizona State
10:30pm
ESPN
BACK TO THE BUCKEYES. The Ohio State athletic department and football program really wants you to wear black for the Wisconsin game. I mean, I cannot stress how much they desire for every Buckeye fan to partake in the “Black Out” on Saturday.
To prove my point, take a look at their Twitter activity in the last week:
Wallpaper drip#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/4C9bsUuiie
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 22, 2022
Dark Mode: N #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/pEKlb1CkQ3
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 21, 2022
wear. black.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/dydQwUycgg
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 21, 2022
pic.twitter.com/I3mWo3QEQn
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 20, 2022
? pic.twitter.com/20CDh0Yl6w
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 21, 2022
this is a really huge deal. pic.twitter.com/xdLvj2rzVd
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 21, 2022
Oh we have plenty more of these pic.twitter.com/LJc9S1xnhF
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 22, 2022
nuff said. pic.twitter.com/iJBphNZH3h
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 23, 2022
As a reminder, Ohio State is 3-0 when wearing black uniforms. The Buckeyes’ first win came against Penn State in 2015 and was followed by victories over Nebraska in 2018 and Michigan State in 2019.
Additionally, Ohio State is 2-0 against Wisconsin while sporting alternates. The first win was a 33-29 thriller in 2011 while wearing uniforms honoring the 1961 national championship team. That contest ended with a game-winning touchdown pass from Braxton Miller to Devin Smith late in the fourth quarter. The second was a 31-24 victory in 2013 when the Buckeyes wore their “Rivalry” uniforms with a chrome helmet.
MY PICKS. A Game Day Skull Session wouldn’t be complete without some college football picks. I feel confident about these, so go ahead and put the house on them. 2022 RECORD: 4-5
Duke at Kansas (-7.5). College GameDay should have traveled to Lawrence, Kansas for the battle between the undefeated Blue Devils and Jayhawks. Yes, that’s right. The basketball blue bloods are crushing it on the gridiron this season, and I love everything about it. I trust Lance Leipold to deliver a big win for Kansas in this one, so my money is on his team to win by multiple scores.
No. 22 Texas (-6) at Texas Tech. The last time Texas was featured in my picks, the Longhorns gave Nick Saban and Alabama one heck of a fight. This time, I’m picking Steve Sarkisian and Hudson Card (or a potentially healthy Quinn Ewers) to beat the Red Raiders by a touchdown.
No. 10 Arkansas (+2) at No. 23 Texas A&M. Texas A&M’s offensive line has not played well the last two weeks. Arkansas leads the nation with 17 sacks. Go Razorbacks.
A MESSAGE FROM JOHNNY GINTER. For this blurb, I’m passing the keyboard to my friend Johnny Ginter. He has a message to share about Eleven Dubgate and its support of Special Olympics Olentangy.
Hey all, Johnny here- we just wanted to thank everyone who is coming out today to Dubgate X to help support the Special Olympics. It’s a fantastic cause and we’re extremely proud to be partnering with Special Olympics Olentangy. Recently, a former student of mine, Shane Roussi, told me that he wanted to share some of his experiences with the Special Olympics (and Ohio State!) and why they mean so much to him.
Coach Ryan Phillips and Shane Roussi
Hi, my name is Shane Roussi, and I am part of the Special Olympics. I have been involved with them for about 4 years, participating in swimming, track and field and basketball. I have won bronze, silver and gold medals and have had the best experience I could ever ask for with this organization. The coaches and athletes are super nice and treat everyone like family.
Working for Ohio State helped prepare me for this experience. I started as an equipment manager trainee during my junior year of high school, where I learned a lot about inventory, stocking shelves, and setting up for practice. I was also able to volunteer as a special assistant enforcer “coach” not just for the defensive linemen but for the whole team, too.
There I got to learn different methods of training college athletes. Working with the Buckeyes was a big honor and I can honestly say that is something that I want to do as a career someday (or maybe talking or writing about sports), hopefully sometime in the near future.
Today, I am beyond grateful to have this great opportunity to compete with these great athletes and coaches in the Special Olympics and to be able to call these people my friends. This organization has been there for me since day one and I won’t forget what they have done for me. It has meant so much to me to be able to compete with such great and amazing people that I can make memories with for a long time.
I am so honored to call the Special Olympics my second family. It would be a great honor if people can help support this great organization, recognize us as athletes, and help us compete at the highest level possible. It would mean so much to us if people can do that.
Thanks, Shane, and thank you everyone for all of your support today!
ELEVEN DUBGATE IS PARTYING TODAY WITH LAND GRANT BREWING.
The mission of land-grant universities is inclusiveness. Ohio State grads Adam Benner and Walt Keys built Land Grant Brewing – their foray into the craft beer industry – on this foundation.
Their goal has always been to create an inclusive craft-beer environment where everyone feels welcome and to make craft beer more accessible through both education on the art and science of brewing, as well as the commitment to enriching our community – both pillars that define land-grant universities today.
You can find Land Grant beers everywhere from John Glenn International Airport to Columbus Crew games, as well as in Ohio Stadium. Today, you’ll also find Land Grant beer at Eleven Dubgate X.
Doors open at 3 p.m. for Eleven Dubgate X, which is being held this Saturday before Ohio State’s game with Wisconsin. This event relies on your donations, all of which will benefit Special Olympics Olentangy. Cash and Venmo (@OSSOSTORM) are both accepted.
If you cannot attend Dubgate X but would still like to donate, use Venmo and type “Dubgate X” in the text field. Every donation is appreciated.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones.
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO)– The 47th Cannon Game between Pueblo South and Pueblo East ended early following a fight between the teams.
According to our Sports Reporter who was at the game Friday night in Dutch Clark, the game was called. East won 23-0.
Watch what happened on the field below:
Despite East being declared the winner, the cannon will not be given out at this point.
Aaron Bravo, the Athletic Director of D60, said that after meeting “as a group” it was decided to not give out the cannon since it was “not in the best interest of this crowd.”
Bravo said the cannon exchange will occur at a different time. Cheers could be heard from the East side after the announcement. South’s side was all but vacant.
Pueblo East announced as the winner. Cannon will not be Given out tonight. pic.twitter.com/AUdoJbdGlU
— Danny Mata KRDO (@DannyMataJr) September 24, 2022
Bravo said that there will be a meeting Monday to “look at the whole situation and hopefully eliminate something like this from happening again.”
At this time, Bravo is unsure what started the fight but said that appropriate actions would be taken.
Bravo added that clearing the stadium before announcing East as the winner and saying the cannon would not be exchanged was not intentional. They just wanted to make a good decision.
Sep 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; A tearful Roger Federer (SUI) and Rafael Nadal (ESP) look on after his last Laver Cup Tennis match. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
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LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) – Sitting courtside Rafa Nadal cried as his great rival, Roger Federer, bid an emotional farewell to tennis at the Laver Cup on Friday, later saying an important part of him was also leaving the men’s Tour with the retirement of the Swiss.
Pictures and videos of Federer and Nadal – who shared one of tennis’s most enthralling rivalries – crying together after combining for Team Europe in a doubles defeat at London’s O2 Arena went viral on social media, leaving their legions of fans highly emotional.
Nadal, who has won a men’s record 22 Grand Slam singles titles, said it was a difficult night for him emotionally as the defeat to the American pair of Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe marked the end of the 41-year-old Federer’s dazzling career.
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“For me, has been huge honour to be a part of this amazing moment of the history of our sport, and at the same time a lot of years sharing a lot of things together,” the Spaniard said of Federer.
“When Roger leaves the tour, yeah, an important part of my life is leaving too because all the moments he has been next or in front me in important moments of my life. So has been emotional (to) see the family, see all the people. Yeah, difficult to describe. But, yeah, amazing moment.”
Federer, who won 20 major singles titles, played Nadal 40 times in one of the most compelling rivalries across any sport.
Despite the ferocity on court, they have remained friends off court. It was perhaps most apt that the Swiss chose to have his final dance with Nadal on his side of the net.
Loud cheers accompanied Federer and Nadal, or “Fedal” as they are jointly nicknamed, on to court. After entertaining the sellout crowd during the match, both were overcome by emotions.
“I think every year the personal relationship gets better and better, on a daily basis,” Nadal, 36, told reporters. “I think in some way we understand at the end we have a lot of things similar. We approach the life probably similar.
“On court we have completely opposite styles, and that’s what probably makes our matches and our rivalry probably one of the biggest and most interesting.
“Very proud to be part of his career in some way. But even happier to finish our career like friends after everything we shared on court like rivals.”
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Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai and Martyn Herman in London; Editing by William Mallard
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
LOS ANGELES — Albert Pujols blasted his way into the exclusive 700-home run club when he drilled the second of two home runs on Friday night at Dodger Stadium, with the milestone reached in the fourth inning off right-hander Phil Bickford.
The 42-year-old Pujols, who has said this is the final season of his 22-year career, joined Barry Bonds (762 home runs), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) as the only sluggers in AL/NL history to hit at least 700 long balls in his career. Pujols and Aaron are the only two with at least 3,000 hits and 700 home runs.
After circling the bases, Pujols went straight over to Adrian Beltre for a high-five through the netting. He was then greeted outside of the dugout by his Cardinals teammates. Not only did the crowd at Dodgers Stadium give him a standing ovation, the Cardinals slugger was greeted with chants of “Pu-jols! Pu-jols! Pu-jols” and “Al-bert! Al-bert! Al-bert!”
Pujols hit No. 699 against left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney in the third inning and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went to the bullpen for Bickford before Pujols stepped to the plate. He then he smashed another long ball off Bickford to move into the No. 700 club.
Pujols also hit his 499th and 500th home runs in the same game for the Angels against the Nationals in D.C. on April 22, 2014.
Friday’s home runs are Pujols’ 20th and 21st of the season. The veteran slugger joins Aaron (20) and Bonds (19) as the only players with at least 18 seasons of 20 or more homers. It was his fourth multi-home run game of the season and the 61st time he has hit at least two home runs in a game.
Pujols’ second dinger also extended his AL/NL record to 455 pitchers homered off during his career. He came into the season second to Bonds (449), but he passed him on Aug. 29 in Cincinnati and has continued to extend the record with a flurry of post-All-Star break home runs.
Pujols hit home run No. 698 last Friday at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium to help the Cardinals rally from a three-run deficit and defeat the Reds. Before he hit No. 699, five of Pujols’ previous six home runs had been to either tie the game or put the Cardinals in the lead. Also, there is this statistic to back up how important Pujols has been to the Cardinals’ ascension to the top of the NL Central: Prior to Pujols’ 699th homer, the Cardinals had been 15-1 in the games in which he had homered and 3-0 in the instances when he clubbed two home runs.
In the days following No. 698, Pujols went 0-for-9 in the next three games, preventing him from pulling closer to 700 in front of sellout crowds at Busch Stadium. Some 94,977 fans packed Busch Stadium for Saturday’s doubleheader in hopes of seeing Pujols go on a run to 700. Another 47,909 fans – comprising the Cardinals’ 26th sellout of the season and the sixth-largest crowd in the 16-year history of Busch Stadium III – attended Sunday’s game only to see Pujols and the Cardinals get shut out.
It should come as little surprise that Pujols’ 699th and 700th home runs came on the road. Before No. 699, he had hit 11 home runs this season on the road — and had two of his three two-homer performances — compared to just eight homers in the hot, humid air of Busch Stadium. In his career, Pujols has hit more road homers (369) than home blasts (331).
Among his major milestone home runs, Pujols blasted his first home run (2001), his 100th (2003) and 500th (2014) while playing on the road. He now has 466 homers as a Cardinal, 222 as an Angel and 12 with the Dodgers.
After slashing .215/.301/.376 with six homers, 20 RBIs and a .676 OPS in the first half of the season, Pujols has since started to resemble the feared slugger he was much earlier in his career. He slashed .313/.377/.657 with 13 homers, 33 RBIs and a 1.034 OPS in his first 47 games of the second half. Pujols had just four homers through June before launching three in July and eight in August. No. 699 was his fifth home run of September.
