2023 Quarter Pole- What I've Learned- NFC
We’re through more than a quarter of the season. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
NFC EAST
Philadelphia- My call on Jalen Hurts being a mild disappointment was looking good until the last two weeks. Hurts has rebounded with solid games. At WR, A.J. Bown is up to his usual solid fantasy season. Unfortunately, it’s come at the expense of Devonta Smith. Smith is too talented to stay down for long. It could be a good time to buy low………TE Dallas Goedert finally showed signs of life. Prior to last week, he was nowhere to be seen……D’Andre Swift’s health is holding up so far. I didn’t think the Eagles would use him as much as they are, but the result has been a boon for fantasy owners who took a chance on the former Lions’ RB…….Jake Elliott is currently the top fantasy kicker.
Dallas- I thought Dak Prescott’s passing numbers would be down this season and they are. Prescott has struggled. He’s currently at QB 21. His ADP over the summer was around QB 9. Those poor numbers have spilled over to the Cowboys’ WRs. Cee Dee Lamb is WR 19 while Brandin Cooks is WR 102…….TE Jake Ferguson has shown flashes. He’s at TE 13. Tony Pollard is also mildly disappointing fantasy owners. He’s at RB 13 and struggling to get into the end zone. Things should go better against the Chargers. If they do, it could present an opportunity to cut bait if some of the guys have a good week.
Washington- Talk about streaky, look no further than Sam Howell. Sam I Am, Green Eggs and Ham. One week Howell throws four interceptions and the next he throws for 388 yards and two TDs. If only he could play the Bears every week. But because he can’t, I’m expecting Howell to come back down to earth…….WRs Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson are nowhere to be found. Both have struggled mightily this season. Good thing I had them lower in my draft rankings. On the flip side, Brian Robinson is quietly a top ten RB. I didn’t see that coming.
N.Y. Giants- What a disaster it’s been in the Big Apple. Daniel Jones is struggling big time. He hasn’t had much help from a banged up offensive line……Darren Waller finally showed something, but it’s a far cry from where many fantasy pundits were touting him as an elite fantasy TE. I ranked him lower than my peers because of his injury risk. So far, that bet has paid off………As for the RBs, Saquan Barkley’s high ankle sprain is awful news. Even when he comes back, those injuries tend to linger much of the season and will most likely hamper his effectiveness.
NFC NORTH
Detroit- So far, I’m one out of two with my Lions’ RB picks. Jahmyr Gibbs has plenty of talent, but he needs a heavier workload. So far, he’s not producing enough stats to warrant his early draft price tag of RB 16. Gibbs is currently at RB 35 (Note- Gibbs missed last week with an injury). However, his teammate, David Montgomery, is producing. Monty is getting the calls at the goal line. He’s taken over Jamal Williams’ role and is perched all the way up at RB 7. That’s a major profit from his draft ADP at RB 27. Sam LaPorta is doing even better. LaPorta is currently ranked as TE 1. Somewhere in Chicago Andy Behrens is smiling. He loved LaPorta back in August. Of course, if my betta fish (Midnight) was a rookie TE coming out of the University of Iowa, he’d love him too (Andy is an Iowa alum). Actually, Midnight is a pretty cool little guy to love…….WR Jameson Williams’ workload is being ramped up. He’s a future star imo. He just needs the opportunity. Hopefully, the Lions will give him one. If not, Midnight told Coach Campbell he’s ready haha!
Minnesota- RB Alexander Mattison is off to a shaky start. He had a case of the dreaded “fumble-itis”. If he doesn’t fix it, the Vikes will be more than willing to put in recently acquired RB Cam Akers. Head coach, Kevin O’Connell, knows Akers from his time with the Rams. I was not expecting that curve ball back in August. If Mattison had just hung on to the ball, he would have garnered close to a bell cow role. Now, that heavy workload is in jeopardy……Kirk Cousins is at QB 4, but that could change soon if Justin Jefferson’s hamstring keeps him on the shelf. Jordan Addison, KJ Osborn and Brandon Powell will try to fill his shoes, but those are big shoes to fill- size 11 actually haha! Just like I thought, T.J. Hockenson’s ADP at TE 3 in August seemed risky. The former Hawkeye TE is at TE 5, which is still good, but owners who spent an early pick on Hockenson were hoping for better than that. Curse you Andy Behrens! A pox on your University of Iowa TEs I say haha!
Green Bay- The Packers have been up and down so far this year. Jordan Love has had some decent weeks, but last week in Vegas did not go well……Aaron Jones and Christian Watson have been slowed by injuries, which hasn’t helped Love……Romeo Dobbs has been the silver lining. He was WR 29 heading into Monday night. Romeo Romeo where for art thou Romeo? I’m in Vegas baby, on my way home. I’m pretty sure that’s how it went down, according to Shakespeare haha!
Chicago- Justin Fields started off with a few clunkers, but he’s come back strong. It’s amazing what playing the Broncos and Commanders can do for you. He’s jumped all the way up to QB 3 in two weeks! We’ll see if he can keep it up. WR D.J. Moore is now at WR 3! I doubt Moore’s success will last, at least to that extent, but what a week! Injuries are piling up at RB- look for D’Onta “Red” Foreman to become a factor. As Red would say in the sitcom, That 70’s Show, “Nighty night, and don’t let the fantasy bed bugs put a foot in your ass!” Haha!
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans- The Saints’ offensive line is leaking worse than the Titanic. Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury. Those factors have impacted WRs Michael Thomas and Chris Olave. Thomas is WR 40 while Olave is at WR 31. It’s hard to see things improving without better protection from the line. At least RB Alvin Kamara is back. New Orleans needs his playmaking skills. For some reason, the Saints refuse to use Taysom Hill. Good thing I listed Hill as one of my sleeper TEs- ugh! He’s one of their most dangerous weapons and naturally, they refuse to use him. Who do they think they are…the Falcons? Haha!
Atlanta- Speaking of the Falcons, hey this just in, they actually used Kyle Pitts last week. It only took them two years. Of course, I ranked him lower than most of the other analysts did last week because they never use him. I swear they threw to him last week just to tick me off! I’m worried that Pitts’ knee isn’t 100%. When I rank him high, he gets a goose egg. However, when I rank him low, he does well. I can’t win…..On another note, I think it’s just a matter of time before Taylor Heinicke takes over at QB. Desmond Ridder just isn’t accurate enough with his passes. Ridder’s struggles have affected Drake London. At least I got the London call right. His ADP was around WR 23 in August. He’s currently at WR 39 in half point PPR……Rookie RB Bijan Robinson is the real deal, but of course the Falcons don’t give him a full workload either. I mean they only drafted the guy in the top ten! Thankfully, I heeded Peter King’s warning and dropped him in my draft rankings. Bijan is currently at RB 11…… Younghoe Koo is currently Kicker 23. For anyone who drafted Koo early, you’re Cuckoo (I mean Koo Koo) for Cocoa Puffs. There’s no real fantasy insight there, I just wanted to say Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs haha!
Tampa Bay- Fire the cannons, the Bucs actually have something close to an offense. Baker Mayfield has showed signs of life. The bad news is he might have to do it without star WR, Mike Evans, at least for a while. Evans hurt his hamstring two weeks ago. Evans is currently at WR 15. Chris Godwin is struggling mightily though. He’s at WR 49. Blyme!
Carolina- The good news for Carolina fans is that the Panthers are getting better. The bad news is they’re still pretty bad. The offensive line has played poorly, which has led to rookie QB Bryce Young struggling as well…….Miles Sanders has also not lived up to his ADP of RB 20. The only silver lining has been WR Adam “I’m Hooked on a” Thielen. He’s at WR 9. I doubt it will last, but he’s been a pretty good value pick.
NFC WEST
San Francisco- Brock Purdy’s shoulder is holding up. He’s proving last year was no fluke and has picked up right where he left off. He’s currently at QB 7……Christian McCaffrey has stayed healthy and that’s a good thing. He’s been dominant…… WR Brandon Aiyuk looks like a different player. He’s finally reaching his potential. Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel is doing much better than I thought. Both are top 20 WRs. We’ll see if they can keep it up……George Kittle isn’t getting the volume he used to. However, he’s making the most of his chances. All three of his targets last week were TDs.
Seattle- Injuries to the offensive line have led to disappointing starts for everyone in the passing game: Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett have all struggled. The only fantasy bright spot has been Kenneth Walker III. He’s at RB 10.
L.A. Rams- Matthew Stafford is one tough cookie. Stafford got his brains beaten in by the Colts and still led them to a win two weeks ago…….Rookie WR Puka Nacua continues to impress. He’s filled in admirable for the Rams without Cooper Kupp. Perhaps even more impressive is that Puka continues to perform well, even with Kupp back. He looks like one of the sleepers of the year. Nacua is currently at WR 4……..With Cam Akers sent packing, it’s opened the door for RB Kyren Williams. Despite a bad outing last week, Williams is still at RB 5!
Arizona- The Cardinals have shown more fight than many envisioned in a rebuilding year, including myself. Despite a bad outing last week, Joshua Dobbs is still at QB 16. That’s incredible considering he was traded to Arizona late in the preseason…..RB James Conner was doing well, but a knee injury last week figures to keep him on the sideline for awhile……Hollywood Brown is putting on a show at WR 14, while teammate Michael Wilson is no slouch at WR 36. However, one thing is certain. I’m a tremendous slouch, especially when it comes to getting a lot of these fantasy calls right. Until next time.