Facts vs. Feelings: Week 10 roster-setting time
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Liz Loza, ESPNNov 6, 2024, 11:02 AM ET
Fantasy football is a ardour for many. Typically that ardour pushes account managers to possess emotional selections even when the facts suggests otherwise. Each and a week right via the 2024 NFL season, Liz Loza will strive and strike a steadiness between what the facts states and what the heart needs. Here is named Info vs. Emotions.
what’s worse than the solar going down at 5 p.m.? Taking note of the collective grievance about mandated time changes. (Although, a minimum of it be something we can all agree on.) Whereas falling wait on is fine, the additional hour of sleep is rarely in point of fact adequate to offset the havoc wreaked on our circadian rhythms by the return to fashioned time.
My vibe is basically bugged. That’s no longer to hiss the disruption makes me grumpy — I am, despite all the pieces, at all times a delight — on the other hand it does extinguish a nonetheless malaise in which a tiny shadow of ‘”meh'” is forged over my goings-on. As an example, on a Monday in early November, I will originate spicy about my 3 p.m. weight loss program cola of assorted at 11 a.m. or so. And the staring-into-the-abyss eventualities grow in appreciable length as soon as Halloween is within the rearview.
The thought of changing the clocks has been debated, revised and (re)legislated all over the final century. And yet, from what I will catch, all americans hates it. So why will all of us build it? Is it attributable to after about a days our bodies regulate and we cross on, forgetting all about the impassioned speeches we typed to our particular person neighborhood chats earlier within the week? Presumably.
We are adaptable creatures, and there is mostly the following part. Or no longer it’s miles no longer so assorted in account. The double-digit weeks record a same shift in liminality. The season is no longer new and, yet, its stop nonetheless feels mercifully far away. I am equal aspects relieved to understand a possible turnaround is that you just may per chance contemplate of whereas on the an identical time conception the daylight hours is shy.
Christian McCaffrey‘s return to have a study affords hope. Drake London‘s hip pointer contributes to confusion. Dallas appears to be like extra lost than Atlantis.
These are on the present time’s sports headlines. Fortunately, the following day will greet us with a buffet of new finds, conundrums and dilemmas. In turn, we are in a position to vent our frustrations (attributable to that is portion of the fun) after which regulate and retool … attributable to rapidly adequate we’re all going to miss this. So, don’t focal level on the dusk. As a replacement, lean into the time we now possess left.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Unusual York Jets: Speaking of taking flight from the darkness (it wrote itself), Rodgers has slowly shaken off the hibernation, tossing 5 ratings in his past pair of contests. Posting a minimum of 17 account points in three of his past four video games, the 40-year-frail ranks interior the pinnacle 10 on the divulge in pass attempts (35 per game), passing yards (234 per game), deep-ball completion percentage (Forty eight%) and passing TDs (15). With Davante Adams fully integrated into the offense, Allen Lazard on IR, and Mike Williams traded to Pittsburgh, Rodgers’ exiguous picks may per chance per chance result in a boost in efficiency (and quelled disaster for account managers).
The matchups may per chance possess to nonetheless also allow for some uncharacteristic levity, as Rodgers’ upcoming energy of schedule ranks 13th in phrases of ease. Curiously, eight of the nine defenses Rodgers has faced to this level had been amongst the league’s stingiest. Simplest the Texans — a squad in opposition to which Rodgers posted 20 account points this past Sunday — had been interior of the pinnacle half of in phrases of account points allowed. This week’s tilt in Arizona builds upon that welcoming pattern, because the Cardinals possess given up the 12th-most account points to the divulge. Furthermore, 5 of the Jets’ subsequent six outings are in opposition to defenses that base amongst the 16 most beneficiant to opposing signal-callers, with the Jaguars on tap for the first week of the account playoffs in Week 15.
Leaning on the abilities of Adams, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, Rodgers affords high-15 positional enchantment down the stretch. He has the aptitude to climb interior the pinnacle 12 account football QBs in what’s projected to be a end game (Jets +1) this Sunday. Grab into consideration the vet a sneaky (and expectantly much less grumpy) insurance coverage heading into the winter.
James Conner and Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals: Conner has offered wonderful price for his traders, logging double-digit account points in all but two video games to this level this season. Currently account’s RB15, the 29-year-frail has recorded 19 or extra touches in seven of nine video games whereas score fifth on the divulge in pink zone opportunities (26). The vet’s pass-catching capacity has buoyed his stock, as he is reeled in multiple catches for five consecutive weeks. He shall be one of fine four backs to possess cleared 100 dashing yards in four contests right via 2024. Undoubtedly, fully Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley and Joe Mixon possess managed extra triple-digit dashing efforts.
Whereas Conner has thrived as a consistent producer, his backup has flashed three-down capacity as of leisurely. Finding the stop zone for the first time in his educated profession final Sunday, Benson posted 12.5 account points in Week 9 (all of his previous efforts mixed totaled 14.9 account points). In that game, the rookie managed his second-very top contact total (9) as successfully as his second-very top snap portion (28%) of the season, indicating a growing characteristic (or a minimum of an possess bigger in belief) interior the offense. Benson’s digital relevance is, admittedly, dependent on Conner’s health. To that stop, it be price noting the previous Steeler has disregarded a minimum of two video games in every season of his profession. Managers may per chance per chance be wise to stash Benson now, sooner than the mercury drops and his roster percentage skyrockets.
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos: Or no longer it’s miles no longer been the comeback effort that many, myself included, had both predicted or hoped for, but Williams has managed several double-digit account efforts, equipping faux football rosters with flex security. Whereas the 24-year-frail has remained painfully inefficient as a rusher, (3.8 YPC), his characteristic within the receiving game has kept his stock afloat. Averaging better than four seems to be per contest (RB5), Williams has drawn a intention portion of 18% (RB8) and is running 12 routes per game (RB16). Nevertheless, with Jaleel McLaughlin stealing passing-down reps and Audric Estime added to the rotation, Williams’ enchantment is waning.
He figures to fight at Arrowhead on Sunday. The Chiefs’ dart protection has allowed a miserly 3.7 YPC to opposing rushers whereas giving up the fewest account points per game (14.8) to running backs. For context, Kansas City has allowed a total of 407 dashing yards to RBs; that’s 119 fewer yards than any assorted team within the league. Furthermore, the Chiefs possess given up glorious 5 dashing ratings on the season, with two of those TDs coming from QBs.
Given Bo Nix‘s penchant for intention-line poaching, Williams’ potentialities of falling into the stop zone are end to nil. The vet needs to be downgraded this week. Grab into consideration benching him in desire of in an identical kind much less-appealing alternate choices like Rico Dowdle or Jaylen Warren.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Kansas City Chiefs: Hopkins’ TD used to be sweet, but his celly used to be palatable. On the heels of a burly week of observe, the previous Titan realized the stop zone (twice) for the first time since Week 3. The 32-year-frail posted an 8-86-2 stat line and emerged as Patrick Mahomes‘ second-favourite intention. Whereas he registered fewer snaps (60% portion) than Xavier Mighty and/or Justin Watson (69% every), his sequence of performs and routes dart extra than doubled from his Week 8 debut. Hopkins is on the hunt for his first ring … and he takes lucky account managers with him.
As a consequence of nothing is modest, the schedule provides a exiguous mosey bump in Week 10. Hopkins is anticipated to intention shadow coverage via Pat Surtain II this Sunday. Whereas that can perhaps per chance per chance seem foreboding, there is a minute bit room for optimism. Hopkins spent close to half of of his time within the slot this past Monday night, recording a slot portion of 40%, which used to be the most of any KC extensive receiver and trailed fully Travis Kelce. Surtain will pester Hopkins fully whereas he is on the perimeter. As Zay Flowers‘ 5-127-2 efficiency in Week 9 demonstrated, transferring around the formation may per chance per chance stop up in optimistic beneficial properties when going via the Broncos. Grab into consideration Hopkins a high-floor flex heading into the weekend and a possible WR2 for account purposes transferring forward.
DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears: The Bears’ offense has underwhelmed since getting again from the bye, with the team losing two in a row. Accordingly, Moore’s production has faltered, as he is managed fewer than eight account points in wait on-to-wait on weeks. More pertaining to, Moore has been below 40 receiving yards in four of his past 5 video games and currently ranks 83rd on the divulge in yards per reception (10.1). His volatility has been at as soon as proportional to the elevated diploma of defensive space. Assuredly, that wouldn’t be as grand of a enlighten for a feeble contested-derive specialist, but these are the aptitude pitfalls of using with a rookie QB.
This weekend’s conflict versus Unusual England figures to affirm extra frustration than fireworks. The Patriots protection is no longer honest, but Christian Gonzalez has been solid in shadow coverage, allowing a median of three.4 catches per game and a single TD to this level in 2024. With the Bears opening as 6-level home favorites and given a projected game total of 39.5 points, the opportunities for Moore aren’t likely to be sturdy. His efficiency may per chance per chance give a boost to as Rome Odunze continues to manufacture, but till there is marked growth, Moore initiatives as a high-stop WR3 for account purposes.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers : Pearsall followed up a solid Week 8 debut with an efficient effort in Week 9, changing all four of his seems to be and registering 77 scrimmage yards. The rookie moreover posted a snap fee of 68% over his past two outings. That quantity figures to grow given the a enormous sequence of maladies going via the team’s pass-catchers. With Brandon Aiyuk out for the season, Jauan Jennings shaking off rust (he hasn’t played since Week 6), Deebo Samuel Sr. on the mend and an unknown workload for McCaffrey may per chance possess to nonetheless he return this week, Pearsall’s solid hands and high-stop versatility figures to be leaned upon.
The matchup also sets up nicely for the rookie this weekend. Tampa Bay’s secondary is the fifth-most-focused protection within the league, allowing the sixth-most receptions and the sixth-most account points to opposing extensive receivers. Even better, the Bucs’ possess given up 10 ratings to the divulge (tied for fifth most). In a game with the splendid projected level total on this week’s slate (51.5), there resolve to be masses of opportunities for Pearsall to possess an affect. He’s an spirited flex option for upside-seeking out managers in deeper leagues.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Miami Dolphins: At a divulge burly of surprises, Smith has emerged as a enjoyable discovery. The journeyman TE has drawn six or extra targets whereas posting six or extra account points in four consecutive efforts, which is tied for the longest intelligent hotfoot amongst tight ends. Moreover, Smith has led all Dolphins pass catchers in receiving yards (162) for the reason that team’s Week 6 bye. Tyreek Hill has registered 160 receiving yards right via that same span. Or no longer it’s miles main to impress those totals consist of the 2 video games since Tua Tagovailoa returned, suggesting Smith’s continued usage down the stretch.
The 29-year-frail figures to dwell spicy at SoFi Stadium on Monday night. The Rams’ younger protection has exceeded expectations but can nonetheless be had over the guts. Los Angeles has given up the third-most account points per game to opposing tight ends, alongside side allowing four catches on seven targets to Seattle’s AJ Barner final Sunday. With David Njoku, Tucker Kraft and Brock Bowers all on bye, Smith affords managers low-stop TE1 streaming enchantment.
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