🏈 Two-Headed Monster

Good morning everyone, and thank you for joining me. Had a long day at work so let’s get right into it: Joe Flacco is the Jets starting QB. Say what you want about Flacco, but he must love football to take that gig.

If you’re looking to make trades, this trade value chart comes in handy.

If you’re interested in watching former #1 overall pick and QB Alex Smith’s Ted Talk, click here.

How WRs Age

Adam Harstad explains why we’re thinking about WR age wrong - there’s no one “cliff” players drop off at age 30. “Basically just the older you get the more likely each year is your last. At Age 31 there's a 21% chance you'll be toast... but at age 30 it's 17%, and at age 32 it's 27%.”

Thursday Night Lights

A quick preview of every fantasy-relevant player in the Falcons & Patriots game, with excerpts from a great Fantasy Points article.

Passing:

• Mac Jones improves every week. He led touchdown drives on five of his seven series against the Browns, and the Falcons have given up the 4th-most FPG to opposing QBs (21.2)

• Matt Ryan with Patterson and Calvin Ridley likely out, Ryan is only worth starting in the deepest of leagues.

Rushing:

• Disaster Duo - I wouldn’t wish Wayne Gallman and Mike Davis on my worst enemy.

• Rhamondre Steveson - after 100+ scrimmage yards in consecutive games, ‘Mondre earned more touches even if Harris is back.

• Players in ‘Mondre’s Way - There’s hope for Damien Harris as Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard each posted 15+ FP against the Falcons last week. Harris and Stevenson should both see meaningful work in a game the Patriots are favored by 7.

Cordarelle Patterson

• Is he a WR or RB? Regardless, Patterson is likely limited even if he does play (currently a game-time decision).

Receiving:

• Hunter Henry has seven TDs in his last seven games and is tied with Randall Cobb (of all players) with a league-best eight end-zone targets in that span. The Falcons surrendered the eighth-most FPG to TEs during the last four weeks (14.0).

• Jakobi Meyers scored the first TD of his career and the team went nuts (video). Meyers has 4+ catches in 9-of-10 games, but has fallen below 50 receiving yards in five straight.

• Kendrick Bourne - The Falcons are giving up the second-most touchdowns per game (1.4) to WRs and Bourne has topped 14+ in three of his last five.

• Kyle Pitts has just 1 TD on the year and due for positive regression. But the Falcons simply have no other talented player to get the ball to, and Bill Belichick might triple-team Pitts…

• No Falcons WR - Falcons WRs combined for 3/36 receiving on 14 targets last week.

If you’ve enjoyed this, use AMHUDDLE for 15% off at FantasyPoints.com

Memorable Quotes

“Let’s build a sports stock market that allows fans to buy and sell stocks of professional athletes” - Deven Hurt, CEO of Prediction Strike, who actually built it (video)*

“I’m an idiot” - Matt Stafford's wife, Kelly, apologizing for chucking a pretzel at a fan during the Rams vs. 49ers game

“Please forgive me, I promise I’ll be better” - (probably) Mike Gesicki to fantasy managers after his 0 point Sunday. Don’t worry: Gesicki led the team with a 20.6% tgt share and 3 RZ targets. Start him.

“#Washed #FellOff #Slow #BadRapper #WastedTalent #Clown #Greedy #LetDown #Old #OverRated Anything else I’m forgetting?” - Le’Veon Bell after being released by the Ravens. Some of those may be true, but no one thinks Bell is a bad rapper.

Deep Dives

The idea is you pick up a player before everyone wants to grab them off the waiver wire. These players, available in almost every league, are worth stashing. Think of it like having Elijah Mitchell or Cordarelle Patterson before Week 1.

• Patrick Taylor (0.1%) - In 2018 at Memphis, Taylor shared a backfield with Darrell Henderson, Tony Pollard AND Antonio Gibson (& still had 1400 yards + 18 TDs). After Aaron Jones went down, Taylor became the Packers RB2 and took his first touch for 5 yards. The second was for a first down. He showed decent vision (video).

• Ray-Ray McCloud (0.7%) - Coming off a career-high 9 receptions and 63 receiving yards, McCloud ran 47 routes on 56 Rudolph dropbacks and saw 12 targets. With JuJu done for the year and Claypool injured, McCloud is worth a look in deep PPR leagues.

• DeAndre Carter (0.7%) - Who Steve Sims was supposed to be. With six targets, three catches, a touchdown, and between 51 and 56 receiving yards in his past two games, Carter is quickly becoming the WR2 in Washington (video). He also leads the NFL in kickoff return yards (which don’t count, but still).

Quick Slants

• Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) is not listed on the Panthers' injury report. CMC is worse in nearly every statistical category with Cam on the field.

• Andy Reid said "there's a chance" the Chiefs don't activate Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee, I.R.) until after next week's bye.

• Donovan Peoples-Jones left Wednesday's practice after limping following a route, while Jarvis Landry (knee) and Anthony Schwartz (concussion) did not practice. Rashard Higgins is worth a look in deeper leagues.

• Alvin Kamara (knee) returned to practice Wednesday, getting in a limited session. Elijah Mitchell (finger) and James Robinson (heel, knee) did not practice Wednesday.

• Eagles designated RB Miles Sanders (ankle) for return from IR, starting their 21-day period to activate him. Nick Sirianni says that when Sanders is healthy, he’s their starter. But he also acknowledges that there are different situations and rotation might make it look different. Bruh.

Tweet of the Day

No more smiles, no laughs, no fun. Just performance.

THANK U for joining me this morning. I hope you’re crushing your league-mates!

- Jake

*Sponsored by: Prediction Strike, who says “use code HUDDLE” and see what magic happens. It’s so much fun to buy & sell Rhamondre Stevenson & D’Ernest Johnson. Give Prediction Strike a shot and get a free share for every $50 deposit.