Welcome to what many fantasy football analysts call “Bye-mageddon”! The reason for it is that we had six teams take this weekend off: the Lions, Raiders, Cardinals, Seahawks, Jaguars, and our hometown Rams (yeah, you saw that right: nearly the ENTIRE NFC West had a bye this week). Now, from a fantasy football perspective, that means a LOT of players sitting on benches this week. It is also interesting we had so many on a bye because we are nearly at the halfway point of the season. By now, we have a clear picture of who looks like they’ll be in the playoffs, who is fighting for a spot in the playoffs, and…who is already out (please see my article from last week where I ranked teams based on probability of them making the playoffs). We also have the NFL trade deadline fast approaching. Let’s dive into the few games we got this week. Heads up: we had an unusually high number of blowouts this week.
VIKINGS 10 – CHARGERS 37
Our other native team, the Los Angeles Chargers, played in the Thursday Night Football game against the Minnesota Vikings. I expected this to be a shootout…but this was the first of many blowouts (we should have called this “blowout week”). While yours truly was down the street covering the Los Angeles Clippers unveiling the surprises in store for the upcoming season, the Chargers were dismantling the Vikings in convincing fashion. Justin Herbert isn’t quite himself yet, as he threw another interception. However, Herbert did complete 18 of 25 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. The problem with the Chargers may be that they keep getting injured. They get players back only to lose other players. We saw how badly it affected the Dodgers this season, and we’re seeing it in the NFL too with the 49ers. How they keep up and respond to that will determine the rest of their season. They have a very winnable game next week against the Titans. As for the Vikings, there may be a reason for this bad performance. On Monday, the team announced that Carson Wentz needed surgery on his left shoulder, and that he would be done for the year. The Vikings need a solution fast or else they are going nowhere. It doesn’t get easier next week, unfortunately, they have a matchup with their fierce division rivals: the Lions.
BILLS 40 – PANTHERS 9
This was a blowout that we all saw coming. The Buffalo Bills, fresh off their bye, defeated the Carolina Panthers with brute force. Whatever run defense the Panthers had seemed to be nonexistent against James Cook III, who rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills are back to their old selves after their stunning loss going into their bye. The true test to see if they truly have come back will be next week: a rematch with the Chiefs. As for the Panthers, this was a major step backward. The run defense regressed to that of last year’s terrible defense. I like how Andy Dalton took the blame, but it is not all on him. He and Bryce Young are on a bad team, and I don’t see how they’re getting to the playoffs soon. They go on the road next week against the Packers.
GIANTS 20 – EAGLES 38
Yes, this was a beatdown we saw coming only because of what happened last time. The New York Giants couldn’t repeat their previous success while the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles got their revenge for their last defeat. Saquon Barkley, I just have to say welcome back. He rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown in his best game of the season so far. Now, he needs to do this more consistently for the Eagles to truly return to their championship form. The Eagles have a bye next week, but they will face the Packers when they return. As for the Giants, I stand by my assessment of them from last week. There doesn’t seem to be any hope for the Giants, and now they’ve lost Cam Skattebo for the season. Time may have run out for the Giants. They play the 49ers next week.
BROWNS 13 – PATRIOTS 32
The blowouts continued as the New England Patriots dismantled the Cleveland Browns. It was a good game from Drake Maye: completing 18 of 24 passes for 282 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Maye is finally showing improvement, and the Patriots look to have a lot of momentum going their way right now. They get a pretty vulnerable Falcons team next week. As for the Browns, their situation at quarterback has not improved. Dillon Gabriel has not done a very good job at all, and the calls to swap him out for Shedeur Sanders will only get louder. They have a bye next week to think things over, but they’ll play the Jets (who also have a bye next week) when they return.
49ERS 15 – TEXANS 26
Well, this wasn’t a blowout like the rest of the games, but it was still a much-needed win for the Houston Texans, who took down the San Francisco 49ers. CJ Stroud is finally looking like the quarterback that won Rookie of the Year: completing 30 of 39 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. The pass protection for Stroud has definitely improved, and Stroud can shred any defense if you give him the protection and the time to make plays happen. Only time will tell if they can keep this up, especially next week against a tough Broncos defense. As for the 49ers, they need help. The injuries are finally catching up with them, and it doesn’t look good that they lost during the week when all their other division rivals had a bye. Now, it’s not necessarily time to hit the panic button, but it should be on standby. The 49ers face the Giants in a game they can’t afford to lose, or else lose ground in this hotly contested division.
JETS 39 – BENGALS 38
Our only close game and upset of the week. Therefore, this is well-deserved: HOLY MOLE HOLES! Every team in the NFL now has a win as the New York Jets finally got one in the win column over the Cincinnati Bengals. Evidently, all it took was for the owner to talk trash about him to get Justin Fields to have his best game of the season. He completed 21 of 32 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown. Now, let’s be honest here: the Jets will not be making the playoffs. They are too far gone and need to run the table and have a lot of games go their way. But at least they have a win for the year. They have a bye next week, but they will return the following week to play the Browns (who also have a bye next week). As for the Bengals, while Joe Flacco has been the stabilizer for this offense in Joe Burrow’s absence…their defense is abysmal. Their playoff dreams are now on life support (just like last year). Their next game against the Bears will be pivotal.
DOLPHINS 34 – FALCONS 10
This was both a blowout and an upset all rolled into one. The Miami Dolphins managed to put together a winning formula to overwhelm the Atlanta Falcons. Tua Tagovailoa had an exceptionally good game as he completed 20 of 26 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns. Now, was this a one-off, or a sign that the Dolphins finally found a winning formula? Either way, I’d say coach Mick McDaniel has saved his job…for now. The Dolphins will put their new strategy to the test next week on Thursday Night Football against the Ravens. As for the Falcons, what happened? Yes, the absence of Michael Penix Jr. and the rust on Kirk Cousins didn’t help, but the offense shouldn’t have been this bad. Bijan Robinson struggled against the worst run defense in the league after averaging 152.3 yards per game going into this contest. With heavy investments in its offense and offensive line, the Falcons need answers. It doesn’t get easier next week as they have a matchup with a surging Patriots squad.
BEARS 16 – RAVENS 30
Now this looks like the Baltimore Ravens we expected at the beginning of the season. It was a good “welcome back” party as the Ravens put the hurt on the Chicago Bears. Derrick Henry had a good game for the Ravens, rushing for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Not only did the win save the season for the Ravens, but Lamar Jackson is expected to return this coming week. It’s a long shot, but the Ravens are positioning themselves to finally turn this season around. They’ll face the Dolphins next week on Thursday Night Football. As for the Bears, it’s one step forward and two steps back. Caleb Williams seemed to have something going, but the past two games have been a regression for him and the offense. It’s good to see Rome Odunze involved in this offense given his amazing chemistry with Williams, but the Bears need more to fix their offense. With so much on the line, their next game against the Bengals this coming week is a must win for both sides.
BUCCANEERS 23 – SAINTS 3
Now, this was another blowout, but it’s one of those games that are deceiving if you just look at the final score. Don’t get me wrong, this was a lopsided win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the New Orleans Saints. But take a closer look. The only offensive touchdown scored by the Buccaneers was a rushing touchdown. That belonged to Sean Tucker, who also added 42 yards to his total for the day. The defense did most of the work, and the Buccaneers struggled mightily in the red zone. They have a bye next week to get healthy…and given the way they might have lost had this been any other team in the league they were playing…couldn’t have come soon enough. The Buccaneers will face the Patriots after their bye week. As for the Saints, the situation at quarterback has not improved. Neither Tyler Shough nor Spencer Rattler seem to be the answer for the Saints unless Shough improves quickly soon. Otherwise, the Saints will be using a high draft pick next year to fix the quarterback situation. The Saints play the Rams next week after the Rams already made a trade ahead of the deadline to improve their defense.
TITANS 14 – COLTS 38
I know this is “blowout” week, but this was just sad. The Indianapolis Colts continued their rampage by defeating the middling Tennessee Titans. Jonathan Taylor continued his impressive season by rushing for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor is making a compelling case to become the first running back to win the MVP award since the great Adrian Peterson in 2012. But if anyone besides Bijan Robinson is going to do it, the smart money is on Taylor. The Colts have a tough test ahead of them as they take on the Steelers next week. As for the Titans, well, this season was a bust. My expectations for Cam Ward weren’t very high, but he hasn’t even met those expectations yet. It’s not all his fault: the Titans are lousy from top to bottom. It doesn’t get better next week as the Titans host the surging Chargers.
COWBOYS 24 – BRONCOS 44
Now this was DEFINITELY a bad beatdown. The Denver Broncos blew the poor Dallas Cowboys out of the water to stay in the running for top of the division and of the AFC. It’s hard to pick out a player that excelled for the Broncos since most of the entire team had a great game. We’ll go to the quarterback, Bo Nix, who completed 19 of 29 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns (although he did throw one interception). Granted they were facing a team whose defense ranked among the worst in the league, but the Broncos seemed to have found their offensive mojo. Whether it was a change in offensive schemes or just getting good Halloween and witchy vibes from listening to Stevie Nicks (there she is, a proper reference like I promised last week), the Broncos look rather good. They’ll face a Texans team next week in a matchup between two teams that both have a lot of momentum behind them. As for the Cowboys, what a wasted opportunity to send a message. With a tough campaign for the second half of the season, the Cowboys could very well miss the playoffs altogether. They will play the Cardinals next week on Monday Night Football in what will be a must-win for both teams.
PACKERS 35 – STEELERS 25
Now this wasn’t a blowout, but it was a comeback as the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a primetime matchup on Sunday Night Football. Jordan Love had an impressive game, completing 29 of 37 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns. I’d also like to point out the amazing game from Tucker Kraft to celebrate National Tight End Day (yeah, it’s a thing). Kraft hauled in 7 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns. The Packers hope that they’ve returned to the form we saw at the beginning of the season. Next week, they’ll get a juicy matchup against the Panthers. As for the Steelers, we are starting to see some serious cracks in the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers was let down by his offensive line and his receivers, as he was outdueled by the man who replaced him in Green Bay. I wish I could say that next week is a good game for a bounce back, unfortunately…it’s against the current top team in the AFC: the Colts.
COMMANDERS 7 – CHIEFS 28
Alright, this is just sad. In a game that pretty much summed up the whole week (and succeeded in driving people to just watch the World Series instead), the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Washington Commanders. It’s pretty clear that the Commanders can’t function without Jayden Daniels, as seen from the score. To finish out National Tight End weekend, the future “Mr. Taylor Swift”…aka Travis Kelce…hauled in six catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. I really can’t believe I have to say this again, but don’t believe the “experts” hoping back on the Chiefs bandwagon. Their only credible victory this season has been against the Lions. Every other opponent was down on their luck (Ravens and Commanders) or just sucked (Raiders and Giants). If they want to prove they are back, they have the chance next week against the mighty Bills. As for the Commanders, having Jayden Daniels play would have definitely made this a different game. But that hamstring is a real concern. If he can play against the Seahawks next week, that would make a world of difference, but the real question is if it’s too little too late to save the Commanders’ season.
