Pftt 2016 11 10

Renewed Panthers host the Chiefs, Cowboys look for eighth win in a row SINCE 1967

THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 10, 2016

GAME

OF THE

WEEK

For the first time since SB XLIX, the Patriots and Seahawks will face off in Sunday night’s

Super rematch

TOM BRADY

RICHARD SHERMAN

PLUS WAY WE HEAR IT FANTASY FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

1 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 2 DALLAS COWBOYS 3 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 4 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 5 OAKLAND RAIDERS 6 ATLANTA FALCONS 7 DENVER BRONCOS 8 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 9 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 10 NEW YORK GIANTS 11 HOUSTON TEXANS 12 GREEN BAY PACKERS 13 BALTIMORE RAVENS 14 DETROIT LIONS 15 WASHINGTON 16 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 17 MIAMI DOLPHINS 18 BUFFALO BILLS 19 ARIZONA CARDINALS 20 CINCINNATI BENGALS 21 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 22 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 23 CAROLINA PANTHERS 24 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 25 TENNESSEE TITANS 26 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 27 CHICAGO BEARS 28 LOS ANGELES RAMS 29 NEW YORK JETS 30 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 31 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 32 CLEVELAND BROWNS Don’t see anyone beating them right now Other than Pats, who else is better?

Defense, character, coaching, three-for-three Don’t know what to make of inconsistent offense Fit here now with quality win over Broncos Question is can defense keep them here?

Offense may not be good enough

Is this their last week in the top 10?

Let’s give Ben one more week to get healthy We know it looks strange but who else?

Win games they should – enough in AFC South Injuries – everybody’s got ‘em, what’s up here?

Ravens are at the top of the mediocre crop We’re going to have to take them seriously soon Tough to love, tough to write off

Power Rankings Welcome to our ProFootballWeekly.com NFL Week 10 Power Rankings

Please keep in mind as you read them they have nothing to do with who we think will be in the playoffs and Super Bowl, nor do they necessarily indicate who we think the best teams in the league are. These rankings are based on each team’s performance in the first five weeks of the season, players lost to injury and players expected to return soon.

AP PHOTO

Tape on Wentz now, not enough around him Starting to get it with Gase

Got a raw deal from refs in Seattle

There’s time but they better get hot soon

Somehow still just a half game out of first

All five losses by one score – should be 6-3 Something brewing here, but it still isn’t defense Is two-game win streak a trend?

Impressive at Lambeau but need to see more Young club on right track but a ways to go

Not consistent enough to trust; too many TOs Vikes win out of nowhere; need to see more What are they doing with Goff?

Look out, here comes Brandon Marshall effect

AP PHOTO

QB Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders move up the rankings to #5 with their win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday Pro Football Weekly is produced by Shaw Media, the Daily Herald Media Group and the Chicago Sun-Times in partnership with other Illinois daily newspapers.

Shad Kahn, most patient owner in history?

So tell us, Jed, do you have a plan?

So why exactly didn’t they trade Joe Thomas?

I

f you’re a serious fan of the National Football League, there’s a good chance you’ve seen various attempts at midseason All-Pro teams and other special awards over the past week or two.

We get it, it’s fun for conversation and water cooler debates but let’s be honest, it doesn’t really mean anything unless you’re still an All-Pro or Coach of the Year at the end of the season.

The one award that we think is worthy of debate and designation at the halfway mark is Most Valuable Player, because it may be the best indicator of why his team has performed as it has over the first half and also suggests who might be the most important player over the second half if his team is to continue to succeed.

It’s also fun because the conversation has to include Tom Brady, and we all know where that will take us.

So let’s make it simple off the top.

Brady is the best player in the NFL right now and the odds-on-favorite to win the MVP at the end of the season.

He should not, however, be the mid-

season MVP, because candidates. he’s only played a quarNeither, however, will get this award beter of the season, not half, and the Patriots cause each cancels the were 3-1 without him other out. Who is more and might very well be valuable? Who do you 7-1 or at worst 6-2 withvote for?

It is also possible the out him.

Cowboys are just as There are no guarangood without either one tees, but it’s a reasonof them going forward able assumption. with Tony Romo apparWe have six nominees for the NFL’s 2016 MVP, ently ready to step back and of course the point is in for Prescott, and AlHUB ARKUSH to let the debates begin fred Morris capable of harkush@ProFootballWeekly.com over who we’ve missed putting up big num@Hub_Arkush or who among our canbers behind the best ofdidates should win. fensive line in football.

Ryan and Jones have the same isIn no particular order we give you Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Matt sue as Prescott and Elliott, which one Ryan, Julio Jones, Derek Carr and is more valuable and where would Matthew Stafford. one be without the other?

Both are having great seasons and Prescott and Elliott will almost certainly finish 1-2 in the Rookie of neither would be as easily replaced the Year balloting should they both as Prescott and Elliott, but they are stay healthy. The Cowboys might a pair and at 6-3 they and the Falcons very well be .500 at best without ei- still have quite a bit to prove. ther one of them and both are worthy The Detroit Lions are 5-4 and would

likely have no more than one or two wins without Stafford. If you combine his second half of 2015 with his first half this year, he is the best quarterback in the game over that stretch with 37 touchdowns and just seven picks.

But Stafford has tossed in two clunkers in losses to the Titans and Bears, and at 5-4 he comes up just a fourth-and-short of the award.

Which brings us to our 2016 midseason MVP, Raiders QB Derek Carr.

Oakland has the third-best record in football, got there mainly behind the offense with a well-below-average defense and Carr is the unquestioned star of that show.

Carr is fifth in passing yards, sixth in passer rating, fifth in touchdowns and near the top of the league with a 66.1 completion percentage and 17to-3 touchdown-to-interception percentage.

What makes him the MVP – for now – is quarterbacking the third-winningest team in the league, one that would almost certainly be .500 or worse without him.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Raiders QB Derek Carr is the NFL MVP just past the midway point of the season

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Super rematch!

Seahawks vs. Patriots on Sunday Night Football

S

urprise! The NFL’s most entertaining prime-time game to date in 2016 was marred by the officials.

In the aftermath of Seattle hanging on against Buffalo, as Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham rediscovered their second half of 2015 and peak Saints form, respectively, Tyrod Taylor played arguably his best game as a pro in the league’s most hostile environment and against its most intimidating defense. That defense, sans Michael Bennett, was pushed to the brink by a creative and expansive, yet shorthanded, Bills attack.

Richard Sherman blew up unassuming kickers and wideouts alike. In spite of all that, we’re talking this week about part-time officials missing a blatant unnecessary roughness infraction

by Sherman and taking three points off the board before halftime.

Welcome to the 2016 NFL, which doesn’t deserve following up such a barnburner with a prime-time rematch of the 2014 title game – an instant classic between Seattle and New England in Super Bowl XLIX. Even after another prime-time officiating gift – “Fail Mary,” anyone? – the Seahawks might not deserve it, either.

After all, that vaunted defense allowed the Bills, of all teams, to ring up 25 points, 30 first downs and a 40:17-19:43 time of possession advantage – the most lopsided for a Seattle team in a non-overtime game since Week Two of the 2014 season.

(We specify non-overtime, of course, because just two weeks ago the defense taxingly spent 46:21 on

the field in another riveting prime-time battle, ending in a comedic tie.)

Thus, while Pete Carroll and his club might sleep easy this week – wouldn’t you? – there will be nothing easy about traveling to Foxborough on short rest, where the Patriots are the only NFL team with a greater home-field advantage than Seattle, to play a 7-1 outfit that reached its Week Nine bye unblemished and having outscored foes 136-71 since welcoming back Tom Brady.

Super Bowl rematch or Super Toll redux for Seattle?

It hasn’t been all peaches and cream for New England, though, either.

Lest we forget, Bill Belichick, who shocked us coming out of the bye with his alleged endorsement letter to Donald Trump and stunned us

Thursday, NFL Network

LB says they won’t go 0-16, so Browns have that going for them, which is nice; Ravens atop middling North and getting healthier.

CHIEFS AT PANTHERS Sunday, CBS

Reid can’t get Smith, Ware, Maclin back soon enough; Panthers’ D balling but Cam’s protection still issue with aggressive Chiefs next.

TEXANS AT JAGUARS Sunday, CBS

If Houston is to be taken seriously, it’ll go on the road and bury the Jaguars. If Shad Khan wants his fans to buy what he’s selling, Gus Bradley has to go.

BRONCOS AT SAINTS Sunday, CBS

Losing Derek Wolfe is devastating for a sinking run ‘D;’ Breaux and Rankins didn’t fix Saints’ ‘D’ but a win’s a win.

RAMS AT JETS Sunday, FOX

Prepare to be treated to the NFL’s two most embarrasing QB situations. The worst part? Both teams refuse to even look at high-profile rookies.

FALCONS AT EAGLES Sunday, FOX

Matt Ryan can do no wrong lately. Carson Wentz can do no right. So it goes for MVP candidates and most rookie QBs (just keep being you, Dak).

BEARS AT BUCCANEERS

AP PHOTO

Jimmy Graham was sensational Monday night with a pair of one-handed catches for touchdowns heading into the off week by dealing Jamie Collins to Cleveland. Exiling perhaps his most talented defender to football purgatory doesn’t exactly equate to a ringing endorsement for the rest of the group, does it?

One of the first images of Collins that comes to mind after the trade is of him allowing TE Owen

AP PHOTO

Without Michael Bennett, Seattle needs to find someone who can put pressure on Tom Brady

Daniels to pierce the seam for a pair of touchdowns in last year’s AFC Championship game.

Will removing Collins better equip New England to handle Graham, who with just one hand bested a Buffalo defense with 22? It seems unlikely, though not as much so as those dazzling touchdowns, not to mention his hurdle of Stephon Gilmore, only possible because Wilson made two of the better throws you’ll ever see.

At least Malcolm Butler can completely eliminate the possibility of Seattle running at the goal line, or elsewhere, if he again tries to jump any routes. The Seahawks are averaging a paltry 3.2 yards per carry and 75 rushing yards per game – 29th and 31st in the NFL, respectively – and attempted just 12 rushes versus Buffalo, tied for the fewest of the Pete Carroll tenure.

So forget the idea of the Seahawks controlling the clock to keep the AFC’s hottest passer on the sideline. Wilson and Graham must again be great, and Seattle’s offensive line has to give them a chance.

But perhaps most importantly, beating Brady – the starkest of contrasts stylistically to the improvisational Taylor – likely means finding someone to fill the void of Bennett, Seattle’s most disruptive defender in that Super Bowl, and complement Cliff Avril to pressure Brady into the mistakes he made two Februarys ago but has avoided this season.

After letting Buffalo’s Robert Woods go off for a career day on the outside, Seattle now must contend with Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.

A once-impenetrable run ‘D’ must withstand Blount force trauma.

Indeed, the Seahawks, lucky to have survived Buffalo, are going to need a lot of help Sunday to start a win streak and stop another. They can only count on so much from the NFL.

Sunday, FOX

Strong-armed, risk-taking QBs with physically dominant No. 1 WRs unite. The Leonard Floyd-Vernon Hargreaves III subplot is also interesting.

PACKERS AT TITANS Sunday, FOX

Get well game for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers? If not, things could go completely off the rails, not unlike the Marcus Mariota roller coaster in Week 9.

VIKINGS AT WASHINGTON Sunday, FOX

Minnesota, desperately needs to stop the bleeding, travels to face a well-rested and quietly improving Washington club.

DOLPHINS AT CHARGERS Sunday, CBS

Adam Gase links up with old boss Mike McCoy, both of whom have unlocked their second-year tailbacks.

49ERS AT CARDINALS Sunday, FOX

Colin Kaepernick will have to do it against a real defense before anyone gets excited; Arizona can’t view this one, or any of its remaining games, as a layup.

COWBOYS AT STEELERS Sunday, FOX

Big Ben’s Steelers might be looking to borrow some of Dak’s and Zeke’s mojo after complete clunker in Baltimore. Dallas secondary vulnerable – but Roethlisberger healthy enough?

SEAHAWKS AT PATRIOTS Sunday, NBC

Tough putt for Seahawks, on short rest and traveling cross country, but rest assured they’ll get up for this Super Bowl rematch, chance to punish Brady.

BENGALS AT GIANTS Monday, ESPN

Seems like an eternity since Cincinnati’s tie in London, just extra time to prepare its pestering plan for Odell, who has 30 TDs in his first 35 games.

TEAMS ON BYE

Buffalo, Detroit, Indianapolis, Oakland

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

BROWNS AT RAVENS

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

THIS WEEK’S GAMES CLE @ BAL GB @ TEN MIN @ WAS CHI @ TB KC @ CAR ATL @ PHI LA @ NYJ DEN @ NO HOU @ JAX MIA @ SD DAL @ PIT SF @ AZ SEA @ NE CIN @ NYG

Baltimore 23, Cleveland 13 | Ravens “D” enough vs. Browns

Baltimore 25, Cleveland 10 | Browns are tonic for Ravens’ offense

Green Bay 27, Tennessee 16 | Pack show up in must win

Green Bay 25, Tennessee 20 | A-Rod wills Pack forward

Minnesota 17, Washington 16 | Vikes “D” gets them turned

Washington 26, Minnesota 24 | Vikings don’t have any answers right now

Tampa Bay 24, Chicago 27 | Bears turn Winston turnovers into points

Chicago 24, Tampa Bay 21 | Bears getting healthy, bouncing back

Carolina 17, Kansas City 16 | Panthers clawing their way back

Kansas City 24, Carolina 21 | Chiefs keep finding a way

Philadelphia 26, Atlanta 24 | Eagles not ready to fold yet

Philadelphia 42, Atlanta 40 | Wentz’s biggest day so far

N.Y. Jets 17, Los Angeles 16 | A real yawner goes to home team

N.Y. Jets 10, Los Angeles 7 | NFL’s two worst underachievers

Denver 24, New Orleans 20 | Broncos will find ground game

New Orleans 35, Denver 25 | Something going on in New Orleans

Houston 20, Jacksonville 17 | Texans winning ones they should

Houston 20, Jacksonville 19 | Texans just a hair better

San Diego 24, Miami 20 | Coast to coast too much for Fish

Miami 20, San Diego 19 | Dolphins drinking Gase Kool-Aid

Pittsburgh 24, Dallas 23 | Steelers desperate at home

Pittsburgh 23, Dallas 21 | Cowboys’ defense exposed

Arizona 38, San Francisco 13 | Cards won’t slumber here

Arizona 42, San Francisco 10 | Cards just have too much for Niners

New England 24, Seattle 16 | Seahawks just haven’t shown enough offense

New England 19, Seattle 17 | Pats don’t lose these games

N.Y. Giants 26, Cincinnati 24 | Giants may be heating up

N.Y. Giants 31 , Cincinnati 24 | Bengals bungle another one

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Eagles starting to look toward next year?

million contract extension this offseason with $35 million guaranteed, although there are reports the guaranteed money in the deal may be nullified by the suspension.

Left tackle Jason Peters, for a long time the best in the business, will be 35 in January and is moving down the backside of the hill quickly.

Most of the scouts we’re talking to are telling us the Eagles’ best football this year is behind them and there will be some heavy lifting to do on the offensive side of the ball this offseason.

T

he Philadelphia Eagles were one of the biggest surprises of the first half of the 2016 season, but after their surprising 3-0 start behind rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, they have dropped four of their last five.

The Way We Hear It, there is concern in Philly that while they are excited about the future with Wentz, for all his wheeling and dealing, Howie Roseman just wasn’t able to put enough around him to contend this season.

Wentz’s numbers are pedestrian with just nine touchdowns and five interceptions at the halfway point in large part because of the mediocre talent he has to work with at wide receiver. Among Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor and Dorial Green-Beckham, none is really more than a No. 3 receiver currently.

Ryan Mathews has had some nice spurts at running back, but his track record argues you can’t count on him to stay healthy, and his 76 carries to date are just nine per game.

At 33, Darren Sproles hasn’t been a factor running the ball for a couple seasons now, and neither

IS WASHINGTON MOVING BACKWARDS TOO?

AP PHOTO

Philadelphia’s offensive line has been set back

by LT Lane Johnson’s 10-game suspension Wendell Smallwood nor Kenjon Barner is likely to emerge as a workhorse back.

Philly’s biggest problems may be up front, where Lane Johnson is not quite halfway through his 10-game suspension after receiving a six-year, $63

While Washington has played much better than the Eagles lately – 4-1-1 in their past six games – their last two are a tie with the Bengals in London, which followed a last minute loss at Detroit. And the club’s schedule now gets a lot more difficult.

Washington’s next six games are versus Minnesota and Green Bay at home, then at Dallas, Arizona and Philly and then home against Carolina.

The Way We’re Hearing It right now from sources in the nation’s capital is Trent Williams there is real concern how Washington will fare in the next four with Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams suspended, right tackle Morgan Moses battling a gimpy ankle and

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9

TIME FOR THE TEXANS TO WORRY ABOUT OSWEILER? The word around Houston coming into this season was the Texans had finally fixed their offense with the addition of Brock Osweiler as their franchise quarterback, Lamar Miller to be the next Arian Foster, and Will Fuller to complement DeAndre Hopkins and make teams think twice about double-teaming him.

Miller has been even better than the Texans could have hoped, at least when they remember to give him the ball. When healthy, Fuller has looked like he Brock Osweiler could someday be a No. 1 receiver even though he was drafted to be a No. 2.

Adding to all of that has been the emergence of C.J. Fiedorowicz, a third-round pick out of Iowa in

2014 who had been a blocking tight end but has become a factor in the passing game as well.

But Osweiler has been inconsistent and has struggled through most of the first part of the season, hitting the halfway mark with just nine touchdowns, nine interceptions, a meager 5.8 yard per pass average and a 73.1 passer rating.

If Osweiler were a rookie, the Texans might not be as concerned, but while he only played in 21 games and had just seven starts, he did spend four seasons in Denver and should be a lot further along than he is.

Osweiler’s three worst performances have all come on the road – admittedly against tough teams in New England, Minnesota and Denver – where he’s thrown just one touchdown pass, two interceptions and has failed to post a passer rating higher than 60.6.

The concern we’re hearing around Houston right now is the Texans will play four of their next five coming off the bye on the road, at Jacksonville, Oakland, Green Bay and Indianapolis, and the Colts and Titans are both within a game-anda-half of Houston in the AFC South.

ARE THE CHIEFS JUST STARTING TO COME AROUND? There was real disappointment in Kansas City last week when Jamaal Charles was sent back to the injured reserve list, but the Way We Hear It, the Chiefs are still feeling pretty good about the future with other key contributors just getting healthy.

Kansas City has been the picture of efficiency,

racing out to a 6-2 record with its only two losses at Houston Week 2 in a revenge game from the beating they put on the Texans in last year’s wild-card game, and an ugly Week 4 loss at Pittsburgh.

The Chiefs have consistently done enough to win, with contributions coming from all over the depth chart. Their smallest margin of victory has been five points.

Head coach Andy Reid said Monday that quarterback Alex Smith will return Sunday when the Chiefs travel to Carolina, and we’re hearing the reinforcements will be a lot more than just Smith.

Spencer Ware and Jeremy Maclin are also expectJustin Houston ed back from injuries and, perhaps most importantly, there is a chance All-Pro OLB Justin Houston will see his first action of the season after a serious knee injury cut his 2015 campaign short.

The Chiefs’ defense is tops in the NFL in interception percentage, but the club is just 20th in QB sack percentage. When healthy, Houston is among the best pure pass rushers in the NFL. Where the Chiefs’ defense has struggled has been in stopping the run. While known principally as a pass rusher, Houston will also be a significant upgrade for the Chiefs against the run.

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

running back Matt Jones hobbled as well.

Folks are telling us Washington has nobody ready to step in for Williams and play anywhere near his level. And while Ty Nsekhe will try, it doesn’t bode well for Kirk Cousins and the Washington offense.

Nsekhe is the ultimate journeyman, playing just his second season in the NFL at the age of 31 and many around the team are less than confident he can protect Cousins’ blind side.

ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY |

If NFL offenses improve, so will ratings

By J.C.

TALON

T

Fantasy writer | ProFootballWeekly.com

he NFL wonders why ratings are down.

Here’s a clue: let’s look at the number of absolutely wretched teams versus the number of truly quality teams.

Wretched: Browns, Rams, Bears, Bucs, 49ers, Jaguars, Jets.

Quality: Patriots, and maybe the Cowboys and/or the Raiders.

On top of the obvious imbalance toward the inept, the Vikings, Ravens, Seahawks, Broncos, Texans and Cardinals are competitive, but have anemic offenses. Too many games are offensive to fans craving offense. Reduced practice schedules, increased injury rates and too many Thursday games are all contributing to the reduced quality. The NFL needs to come up with a solution, or 2016 will be a turning point, and not just a blip on the radar.

Oh boy, and it’s the Browns at Ravens on Thursday night! That should do wonders for those ratings. One bad team and two bad offenses on a night meant for hockey and basketball.

On to Week 10 …

MATCHUPS TO EXPLOIT Chicago Bears

OPPONENT: AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, SUNDAY, NOON This is Chicago’s first (and perhaps only) 2016 appearance as an “exploit.” Tampa’s defense gives up 29 points and nearly 400 yards per game. With Jay Cutler back, the Bucs will have to respect the deep throw and that should open up running lanes for Jordan Howard. The Bears are coming off a bye and will be a little healthier than they’ve been in recent games. There is no truth to the rumor that Joe Maddon is going to pull Cutler too early and sub in Aroldis Chapman.

MUST START: Howard, Alshon Jeffery SOLID PLAY: Zach Miller WORTH A LOOK: Cutler, Eddie Royal*, Cameron Meredith (if no Royal) LAST RESORT: Jeremy Langford, Meredith (if Royal active), Connor Barth STAY AWAY: Bears D/ST

San Diego Chargers

OPPONENT: VS MIAMI DOLPHINS, SUNDAY, 3:05 Philip Rivers and the Chargers are having a remarkable season – on offense, at least. They are ranked ninth in yards and third in scoring. They’ve been held under 20 points just once this season (they scored 19 against Denver in Week 8) and have crested 30 points five times. They are coming off a 43-point outburst against a decent Tennessee defense. Miami is average on defense – they are ranked 17th overall, but a miserable 30th against the run. This looks like a great matchup for Melvin Gordon. We told you that Antonio Gates was running on fumes, but perhaps we were a bit hasty. If Hunter Henry (knee) remains out, Gates is a top-five TE. MUST START: Gordon, Gates (if no Henry) SOLID PLAY: Rivers, Josh Lambo WORTH A LOOK: Travis Benjamin*, Tyrell Williams, Gates (if Henry active), Chargers D/ST LAST RESORT: Dontrelle Inman, Henry*

Dallas Cowboys

OPPONENT: AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS, SUNDAY, 3:25 Powered by an elite rushing attack, the Cowboys and their offense may be the biggest surprise of the 2016 season. Despite being piloted by a rookie QB, Dallas is producing 411 yards and 28 points per game. The old adage suggests that a running game travels well and that certainly is the case here. The Cowboys and their top-ranked ground game are 4-0 on the road this season. Pittsburgh has lost three in a row and has not looked good since Week 5. Their defense is a below average 24th overall against the pass. They are a bit better versus the run (13th). Gut instinct has us suspecting this is going to be a close, high-scoring game.

MUST START: Ezekiel Elliott SOLID PLAY: Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, Dan Bailey WORTH A LOOK: Cole Beasley LAST RESORT: Terrance Williams STAY AWAY: Alfred Morris, Cowboys D/ST

Arizona Cardinals

OPPONENT: VS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, SUNDAY, 3:25 Remember the scene in the movie “Airplane” when all of the passengers were standing in line to smack the hysterical passenger? The San Francisco defense is basically the hysterical passenger. The Cardinals’ offense was terrible in a Week 7 tie with Seattle and a Week 8 loss to Carolina. Fresh off a bye week and facing the woeful 49ers (at home), Arizona should snap out of its funk, if only for one week.

MUST START: David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals D/ST SOLID PLAY: Carson Palmer, John Brown, Chandler Catanzaro WORTH A LOOK: Michael Floyd LAST RESORT: J.J. Nelson

ALSO CONSIDER Baltimore Ravens

OPPONENT: VS CLEVELAND BROWNS, THURSDAY, 7:25 The 2016 Ravens offer few viable fantasy options, and this game should be nearly unwatchable. This week, however, they will be facing the league’s worst team at home. The Ravens D/ST is a must start and Justin Tucker is a solid play. In larger leagues, Mike Wallace, Terrance West and Dennis Pitta are reasonable options.

New York Giants

OPPONENT: VS CINCINNATI BENGALS, MONDAY, 7:30 The Bengals are a disappointing 24th on defense.

The Giants have no semblance of a run game, but Eli Manning and Sterling Shepard are intriguing options in this game. OBJ remains a must start.

MATCHUPS TO AVOID Kansas City Chiefs

OPPONENT: AT CAROLINA PANTHERS, SUNDAY, NOON A couple of weeks ago, Carolina was on the verge of collapse. But after a solid defeat of Arizona at home and a good defensive effort against a bad team in L.A., the Panthers are hoping to claw back into the playoff hunt. Kansas City is on its own four-game

run and will not be a pushover. The Chiefs are battling through significant injuries on offense, including QB Alex Smith, RBs Spencer Ware and Jamaal Charles and top wideout Jeremy Maclin. Charles is on IR, but the status of Smith, Ware and Maclin was undetermined as of press time. Even if all three play, this is a below-average matchup against a team that has been playing better of late.

MUST START: Ware* (if active) SOLID PLAY: Travis Kelce WORTH A LOOK: Smith* (if active), Charcandrick West (if no Ware), Maclin* (if active), Cairo Santos, Chiefs D/ST LAST RESORT:Nick Foles (if no Smith) STAY AWAY: West (if Ware active)

Los Angeles Rams

OPPONENT: AT NEW YORK JETS, SUNDAY, NOON It’s easy to understand how the Rams have lost four in a row and five overall. What’s a real head-scratcher is how in the world they won three straight games during Weeks 2-4. Their offense is ranked 31st in yards and dead-last in points with just 16.2 per game. Todd Gurley – selected first in many fantasy drafts – is averaging 3.1 yards per carry and his longest run of the season is 18 (yes, 18) yards! The bulk of Gurley’s ineffectiveness can be blamed on the O-line – Gurley is gaining just 1.34 yards before first contact, the lowest rate in the NFL. The passing game is just as bad – Case Keenum has thrown 9 Todd Gurley TDs against 11 picks, and his 77.2 QBR is among the lowest in the league. The Jets’ 13th-ranked overall defense is fourth versus the run, allowing just 81 rushing yards per game. Maybe the Rams turn to Jared Goff this week, but will it really make a difference?

MUST START: none SOLID PLAY: Gurley WORTH A LOOK: Lance Kendricks, Rams D/ST LAST RESORT: Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin STAY AWAY: Keenum, Greg Zuerlein

ALSO BEWARE New York Jets

OPPONENT: AT LOS ANGELES RAMS, SUNDAY, NOON The Fitzpatrick vs. Marshall heated exchange last Sunday came as a surprise to absolutely no one in Chicago. The Jets are sputtering and the Rams have enough defensive talent – albeit talent that is poorly coached – to keep this a low-scoring affair.

Minnesota Vikings

OPPONENT: AT WASHINGTON, SUNDAY, NOON Washington’s 22nd-ranked defense is not one fantasy owners would normally steer clear of, but Minnesota’s offense is bad enough right now that no matchup could be considered favorable. In fact, the Vikings’ once ferocious defense has spent so much time on the field it is no longer a fantasy lock.

* — Check injury status

By JOHN

SAHLY

W

jsahly@shawmedia.com

e are nine weeks into the NFL season, as good a time as any to do a bit of a wellness check when it comes to bias and how we approach who we are attacking when we roster players in daily fantasy sports.

By now, most of your preseason assumptions have either been confirmed or rejected. But just in case, let’s go over a few that can help you when it comes to selecting players and finding values going forward.

Assumption No. 1: The Denver Broncos have an elite defense.

This is half-true. I’m still pretty much never rostering wide receivers against the “No Fly Zone” of the Broncos’ secondary. Denver remains the best in the league against wide receivers in fantasy, allowing just 9.6 points.

But against the run? I’m actually looking to attack the Broncos where I can. They’ve allowed back-to-back 100-plus yard rushers in Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray. Denver is a bottom-eight defense in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Next up is the Saints and their timeshare of Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower. Both RBs are reasonably priced in a game with an over/under set at 49 as of press time.

Assumption No. 2: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a funnel defense Before the season, the Bucs were a popular pick

to attack against the pass, but to stay away from when it comes to the run game.

That hasn’t turned out to be true. Tampa is still awful against the pass, evidenced by Derek Carr’s 513 yards and four touchdowns a couple of weeks ago. But the Bucs can’t stop the run, either. They give up the seventh-most points to running backs, and most of that comes on the ground rather than on checkdown catches by RBs. Next up: Look at Jordan Howard and the Bears against Tampa. Howard is priced toward the top of the mid-range, but may be a contrarian pick this week in a lower-total game.

Assumption No. 3: Aaron Rodgers is always a safe play The Packers’ leader just doesn’t look the same this year, does he? The struggles we saw toward the end of last year have continued into this season, and as long as he remains priced as one of the top three quarterbacks, I can’t really justify paying up for him.

Rodgers has thrown for 300 yards just once this season, and before that you have to go all the way back to Week 10 of 2015 for another 300-yard game.

He’s missing on some of his big shots down the field, and although he’s added some rushing yards to the mix the past two weeks, the high ceiling just isn’t there anymore.

It’s not like Rodgers has been awful, he just hasn’t been Aaron Rodgers for a large enough sample size, so your daily fantasy salary cap dollars are best spent elsewhere.

Aaron Rodgers

AP PHOTO

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PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

DFS: Challenging some assumptions... before it’s too late

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016 Sidney Jones

Vita Vea

Budda Baker

AP PHOTOS

GAME OF THE WEEK Washington Huskies loaded with NFL talent on defense

W

e haven’t talked too much about teams from the Pac-12 so far this year. One of the better teams in the nation and a good bet to reach the College Football Playoff is Washington. This Saturday, the Huskies host USC at Husky Stadium in Seattle at 7:30 p.m. ET. Washington really only has one NFL prospect on offense, as they are young. On defense it’s another story with eight prospects, most of whom are underclassmen. It remains to be seen if they all enter the draft, but it is a talented and athletic group of players.

WR John Ross - The lone offensive prospect, Ross doesn’t have ideal NFL wide receiver size (about

5-11, 188 pounds), but ington easily has one he is quick, fast and of the better defensive productive. Last week backfields in the counversus Cal, he had a try. Baker, a junior, three-touchdown day lacks ideal size (5-10, and he has 14 touch190 pounds) but he is downs on the season. physical, instinctive and has good ball skills.

CB Sidney Jones The junior is one of the OLB/DE Joe Mathis better corners in the Mathis most likely will country. He has good be an OLB at the next GREG GABRIEL NFL size, can play press level, but he won’t play @greggabe or zone and has good the rest of the season ball skills. because of a foot injury.

At 6-2, 255 pounds, he lacks the size CB Kevin King - At about 6-3, 190 to play down. He has some outside pounds, King may end up being a pass rush skill with 5.0 sacks and 7.5 safety at the next level. The senior is tackles for loss. very athletic and looks to be a midround type at this time. If he runs DT Vita Vea - Vea in only a redwell, he could move up a bit. shirt sophomore so he may stay in school. That said, he is a force verS Budda Baker - With three pro sus the run and is a better-than-avprospects in the secondary, Wash-

erage pass rusher for such a big guy (3.5 sacks).

DT Elijah Qualls - Vea and Qualls give Washington one of the better defensive tackle groups in the country. Qualls lacks height (6-foot-1) but he has a wide body (325 pounds) and is tough to move off the line of scrimmage. The redshirt junior has 2.0 sacks and 24 total tackles to date.

ILB Azeem Victor - Another underclassman (redshirt junior), Victor is Washington’s leading tackler with 68 total tackles. He is instinctive and consistently around the ball.

OLB Psalm Wooching - Wooching makes plays, he can come off the edge as a pass rusher (3.5 sacks) and is disruptive in the run game. At 6-3, 230 pounds, he needs to get a little bigger

TIGHT ENDS

In terms of fantasy points allowed to Tight Ends, great matchups for Zach Miller and Travis Kelce.

1.

Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (vs. Seahawks) 2. Greg Olsen, Panthers (vs. Chiefs) 3. Jordan Reed, Washington (vs. Vikings) 4. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at Panthers) 5. Delanie Walker, Titans (vs. Packers) 6. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks (at Patriots) 7. Tyler Eifert, Bengals (at Giants) 8. Zach Miller, Bears (at Buccaneers) 9. Antonio Gates, Chargers (vs. Dolphins) 10. Zach Ertz, Eagles (vs. Falcons) 11. Jason Witten, Cowboys (at Steelers) 12. Cameron Brate, Buccaneers (vs. Bears) 13. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (at Washington) 14. Gary Barnidge, Browns (at Ravens) 15. Coby Fleener, Saints (vs. Broncos) 16. C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans (at Jaguars) 17. Martellus Bennett, Patriots (vs. Seahawks) 18. Julius Thomas, Jaguars (vs. Texans) 19. Dennis Pitta, Ravens (vs. Browns) 20. Lance Kendricks, Rams (at Jets)

PLACEKICKERS

RUNNING BACKS

Johnson and Gordon get dream matchups. Steelers will be focused on stopping Zeke, but that doesn’t mean they will.

1. David Johnson, Cardinals (vs. 49ers) 2. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (at Steelers) 3. Melvin Gordon, Chargers (vs. Dolphins) 4. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers (vs. Cowboys) 5. Jay Ajayi, Dolphins (at Chargers) 6. Jordan Howard, Bears (at Buccaneers) 7. DeMarco Murray, Titans (vs. Packers) 8. Devonta Freeman, Falcons (vs. Eagles) 9. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers (vs. Chiefs) 10. Matt Forte, Jets (vs. Rams) 11. Lamar Miller, Texans (at Jaguars) 12. Mark Ingram, Saints (vs. Broncos) 13. Devontae Booker, Broncos (at Saints) 14. Todd Gurley, Rams (at Jets) 15. Spencer Ware*, Chiefs (at Panthers) 16. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots (vs. Seahawks) 17. Jeremy Hill, Bengals (at Giants) 18. Christine Michael, Seahawks (at Patriots) 19. Giovani Bernard, Bengals (at Giants) 20. Terrance West, Ravens (vs. Browns) 21. Carlos Hyde*, 49ers (at Cardinals) 22. Chris Ivory, Jaguars (vs. Texans) 23. Isaiah Crowell, Browns (at Ravens) 24. Robert Kelley, Washington (vs. Vikings) 25. Tim Hightower, Saints (vs. Broncos) 26. Kapri Bibbs, Broncos (at Saints) 27. Ryan Mathews, Eagles (vs. Falcons) 28. Ronnie Hillman, Vikings (at Washington) 29. Peyton Barber, Buccaneers (vs. Bears) 30. Darren Sproles, Eagles (vs. Falcons) 31. Paul Perkins, Giants (vs. Bengals) 32. Matt Jones, Washington (vs. Vikings) 33. Jerick McKinnon, Vikings (at Washington)

Antonio Brown 34. Kenneth Dixon, Ravens (vs. Browns) 35. Tevin Coleman*, Falcons (at Eagles) 36. Bilal Powell, Jets (vs. Rams)

WIDE RECEIVERS

Oddsmakers expecting a shootout in Pittsburgh. Broncos likely going to need production from Thomas/Sanders to beat Saints.

1. Antonio Brown, Steelers (vs. Cowboys) 2. Odell Beckham, Giants (vs. Bengals) 3. Julio Jones, Falcons (vs. Eagles) 4. A.J. Green, Bengals (vs. Giants) 5. Alshon Jeffery, Bears (at Buccaneers) 6. Mike Evans, Buccaneers (vs. Bears) 7. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (vs. 49ers) 8. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (at Steelers) 9. Jordy Nelson, Packers (at Titans) 10. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins (at Chargers) 11. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (at Saints) 12. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (at Jaguars) 13. Brandin Cooks, Saints (vs. Broncos) 14. Brandon Marshall, Jets (vs. Rams)

AP PHOTO

15. Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers (vs. Chiefs) 16. Julian Edelman, Patriots (vs. Seahawks) 17. Allen Robinson, Jaguars (vs. Texans) 18. Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos (at Saints) 19. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks (at Patriots) 20. Terrelle Pryor, Browns (at Ravens) 21. John Brown, Cardinals (vs. 49ers) 22. Randall Cobb*, Packers (at Titans) 23. Mike Wallace, Ravens (vs. Browns) 24. Jordan Matthews, Eagles (vs. Falcons) 25. Stefon Diggs, Vikings (at Washington) 26. Tyrell Williams, Chargers (vs. Dolphins) 27. Ty Montgomery, Packers (at Titans) 28. Kenny Britt, Rams (at Jets) 29. Cole Beasley, Cowboys (at Steelers) 30. Mohamed Sanu, Falcons (at Eagles) 31. Michael Thomas, Saints (vs. Broncos) 32. Sterling Shepard, Giants (vs. Bengals) 33. Corey Coleman, Browns (at Ravens) 34. Rishard Matthews, Titans (vs. Packers) 35. DeSean Jackson, Washington (vs. Vikings) 36. Jamison Crowder, Washington (vs. Vikings)

1.

Chandler Catanzaro, Cardinals (vs. 49ers) 2. Justin Tucker, Ravens (vs. Browns) 3. Josh Lambo, Chargers (vs. Dolphins) 4. Brandon McManus, Broncos (at Saints) 5. Dan Bailey, Cowboys (at Steelers) 6. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots (vs. Seahawks) 7. Mason Crosby, Packers (at Titans) 8. Matt Bryant, Falcons (at Eagles) 9. Graham Gano, Panthers (vs. Chiefs) 10. Cairo Santos, Chiefs (at Panthers) 11. Stephen Hauschka, Seahawks (at Patriots) 12. Robbie Gould, Giants (vs. Bengals) 13. Chris Boswell, Steelers (vs. Cowboys) 14. Connor Barth, Bears (at Buccaneers) 15. Wil Lutz, Saints (vs. Broncos)

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS 1. Cardinals (vs. 49ers) 2. Ravens (vs. Browns) 3. Rams (at Jets) 4. Texans (at Jaguars) 5. Jets (vs. Rams) 6. Panthers (vs. Chiefs) 7. Chargers (vs. Dolphins) 8. Chiefs (at Panthers) 9. Patriots (vs. Seahawks) 10. Packers (at at Titans) 11. Vikings (at Washington) 12. Broncos (at Saints) 13. Washington (vs. Vikings) 14. Jaguars (vs. Texans) 15. Giants (vs. Bengals)

*Check injury status

TEAMS ON BYE Buffalo, Detroit, Indianapolis, Oakland

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

QUARTERBACKS

Brady, Ryan, Newton, Brees and Wilson to face strong defenses. If your regular QB is Stafford, Carr, or Luck - Jay Cutler is worth a look.

1. Tom Brady, Patriots (vs. Seahawks) 2. Carson Palmer, Cardinals (vs. 49ers) 3. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (at Titans) 4. Philip Rivers, Chargers (vs. Dolphins) 5. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (vs. Cowboys) 6. Matt Ryan, Falcons (at Eagles) 7. Cam Newton, Panthers (vs. Chiefs) 8. Drew Brees, Saints (vs. Broncos) 9. Dak Prescott, Cowboys (at Steelers) 10. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (at Patriots) 11. Jay Cutler, Bears (at Buccaneers) 12. Eli Manning, Giants (vs. Bengals) 13. Marcus Mariota, Titans (vs. Packers) 14. Andy Dalton, Bengals (at Giants) 15. Joe Flacco, Ravens (vs. Browns) 16. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (at Chargers) 17. Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (vs. Bears) 18. Kirk Cousins, Washington (vs. Vikings) 19. Alex Smith, Chiefs (at Panthers) 20. Blake Bortles, Jaguars (vs. Texans)

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

It’s New England and everyone else in the NFL this year NATE ATKINS HUB ARKUSH Big Ben can stay healthy, they have a favorable second half schedule with the Browns twice, the Colts, Bills and a rematch with the Ravens all very winnable games. I also wouldn’t quit on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, despite Sunday’s shocking loss. I don’t feel as good about Carolina, Arizona, Indy or even Minnesota. How about you?

Arkush: Yep, we’re on pretty much the same page here, Dan, as I still have Pittsburgh winning the AFC North and I’d be surprised if the Packers don’t get hot before the season’s over.

One player shouldn’t make a huge difference in the NFL, but when you realize the Pack were without Clay Matthews vs. the Colts, that goes a long way toward explaining why urgency

PATRICK FINLEY DAN McCALEB

and effort could have been missing as nobody plays with more of that than Matthews, and it does tend to rub off on his teammates. The Steelers just have too many weapons. With another week of healing for Roethlisberger, they should still win the AFC North. The other club that intrigues me is Carolina, only because they’ve overcome horrible starts in two of their last three seasons and made the playoffs and won when they got there. Now, what about the other guys? Which of the surprise front-runners do you think are the most likely to stay hot?

McCaleb: I like what’s happening at the top of the NFC East right now, which is a huge turnaround from last season.

I think Dallas is for real. Ezekiel Elliot is a beast running

behind the best offensive line in football, and Dak Prescott is doing enough to win football games. In the meantime, the Giants have quietly put together a three-game winning streak.

They also host the Bengals and Bears the next two weeks before traveling to Cleveland. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but that soon could be a six-game winning streak. That primetime Sunday night matchup Dec. 11 vs. the Cowboys should be a fun one. I’m rooting for both the Raiders and Falcons to maintain, but I’m not as sure about them. You? Arkush: Okay man, now I’m afraid we’re spending too much time together! We’re in lockstep here again. The one thing I will say about Dallas is their defense is nowhere near

as good as it’s playing right now and that will catch up with them, maybe even this Sunday in Pittsburgh, but the only winning clubs on their second half slate are Washington, Minnesota and the Giants, so they’re almost a lock for the playoffs, maybe a bye. I also like what’s happening with the Giants and believe they’re going to be a wild-card team, as will the Raiders. But my gut is screaming the Panthers may still catch the Falcons. So let’s wrap with this, can any of these teams play with the Patriots? I don’t see it, Dan, what say you?

McCaleb: If the playoffs started this weekend, Hub, the Patriots would be the overwhelming favorites, no doubt. But this is the NFL, and there’s a lot of football left to be played. Injuries happen and one team or another can just get red hot? But let me get back to your question. While all of them would be underdogs against the Patriots, the only teams I see with a shot at beating them are the Chiefs and Steelers in the AFC, and the Cowboys, Giants and possibly Packers in the NFC. But my money would be on Brady, Belichick and the Pats.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

P

ro Football Weekly’s Hub Arkush and Dan McCaleb discuss whether any other NFL teams have a shot against the Patriots this year.

Arkush: Dan, I don’t know if it’s incredible mediocrity, total parity or just bad luck, but at the halfway point of the season, five of Pro Football Weekly’s preseason picks for the playoffs – Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Green Bay, Carolina and Arizona – are at or below .500, and a sixth, the Minnesota Vikings, are 5-3 but riding a three-game losing streak and appear to be heading south.

None is out of the playoff hunt yet, but all are facing an uphill battle. At the same time, while we picked Dallas to win the NFC East, we didn’t see them at 7-1, the Giants at 5-3, the Falcons at 6-3, Detroit at 5-4 or the Raiders at 7-2 on top of the NFL’s best division, the AFC West. Let’s start with our six strugglers, which club(s) do you think is most likely to get things turned around and who do you think might be toast?

McCaleb: Interesting question, Hub. I know the Steelers laid an egg against the Ravens in Ben Roethlisberger’s first game back from injury, but if

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY | ProFootballWeekly.com | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

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