Trouble in Mile High

Good morning everyone! How’s everything been? Sorry for the delay, I’ve been having a busy week, a new job and new routines, among everything else I have to get done on top of that! So, we’re a day late, and I’m going to do my best to not make that a habit.

In addition to our usual fantasy overview and the Thursday night recap, we’re adding a new section, the Spousal Showdown!

Every week, my wife and I will face off on Thursday night and Monday night, playing a DFS lineup against each other. If I win? Congrats. If she wins, the terms and conditions are that I have to mention my loss in the newsletter to her picking her lineup at random. So, research and analysis vs randomness. We’ve had about 4 faceoffs now but she beat me on Thursday. So, here goes.

Her lineup featured a cute guy (Justin Watson) plus Travis Kelce at Captain because of Taylor Swift. In her defense, even though she hardly watches football she knew who Kelce was before Swift and knew he was a good play regardless. Rashee Rice, Russ, Sutton, and Javonte finished out her lineup. I had Pacheco at Captain with Mahomes and Kelce, but Perine, Watson, and Mims did next to nothing. So, she beat me by 6.

Full record: Me 3, her 1. Moving on to Monday night.

Thursday Night Fantasy Recap

Patrick Mahomes had an OK fantasy day against Denver. Without a true WR1, Mahomes has been stuck in low gear even with Travis Kelce in town. Rashee Rice could develop into a solid wideout, but as of right now I’m not sensing him becoming a true No.1. He feels more like a Jakobi Meyers, Darnell Mooney, Allen Lazard type of guy. I think he’ll be more consistently useable for fantasy than say, a Lazard or Mooney (current Mooney, anyway), but a “can be the 1 but shouldn’t be” kind of guy.

Also, can we just say how much of a letdown it is that Kansas City managed only 19 points against a defense that has let everyone run all over them? Maybe it’s just a divisional thing because the other team that failed to do much against them was the Raiders.

As for the Broncos. One word: yikes. I get that the Chiefs have a good defense, but I can’t say I was expecting 8 points, and for Russell Wilson to have 94 passing yards is, umm, less than ideal. Javonte Williams looked good in his limited touches but he wasn’t involved in the passing game.

Courtland Sutton has looked alright but Jerry Jeudy has been up and down mixed with some mediocrity amidst trade rumors. Marvin Mims's disappearance is something that should be studied. It’s not looking great for Denver yet again. They keep digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole they can’t get out of. Here’s to hoping they can get out of it.

Things to look out for in Week 6

• 🐅 Ja’Marr Chase gets the Seahawks this week, who have given up the third most points to wideouts. He’s coming off of a massive week but he’s in prime position to have another big game.

• 🐏 Just start your Rams. Stafford, Kyren, Puka, Kupp. Arizona has been giving it up through the air and on the ground this season.

• As for the Cardinals, Zach Ertz is getting too much work to ignore, even off of a bad game on Sunday. Hollywood Brown and Michael Wilson are both startable, with Brown being the preferred option.

• It’s a wait-and-see for the Cards backfield though. Demarcado looks to be the guy to own, but Arizona still has Keyontay Ingram listed as the starter. I think it’s a matter of time till Demarcado takes over while Conner is out.

• 🎖️ Sam Howell can be streamed this week and for the next few weeks, which is good because bye weeks are coming. Washington is great at giving up sacks, which is something Atlanta is not good at doing, getting sacks. So maybe Howell actually has a game where he stays upright most of the time. He’s been good regardless outside of his game against Buffalo.

• With the return of Gardner Minshew, who I find is a fine streamer and DFS play this week, comes the ability to plug in Michael Pittman and Josh Downs into your lineup with confidence. In Minshew’s lone start this year, Downs led the team in targets with 12, with Pittman following close behind with 11. I think that they’ll need to pass the ball to keep up with Jacksonville this week, setting them both up for fantasy success.

• 🐆 Speaking of Jacksonville, Christian Kirk is a great play this week. Zay Jones is out once again and Kirk has been on fire in recent weeks without him. It’s fair to wonder what he will be like when Jones returns, but for now, stay in the flames.

• 🐬 If Salvon Ahmed could have sleeper appeal this week against Carolina, especially with Jeff Wilson still out and Achane missing. Mostert will get the majority of the rushing work but I doubt he’ll see all of it, opening the door for Ahmed. It’s not flashy but it’ll work in a pinch.

• In the same game, don’t forget to check if Chuba Hubbard is available on waivers with Miles Sanders out. He’s been better than Sanders in nearly every production metric and should have some receiving appeal in a negative game script.

• 🐻 D’Onta Foreman faces a tough matchup against Minnesota, who give it up to everyone but running backs. However, he is the last man standing in the Chicago backfield and is worth a flex play based on volume alone.

• Don’t sleep on the Vikings passing game options. Hockenson is already in your lineup, but Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn, and Brandon Powell all have appeal this week. JJ Zachariason put me on to Powell this week in his weekly Late Round sleeper show, so credit to him for that. He’s a great tournament player in DFS who will save you a ton of cash at the stone minimum of 3k. Even if he just gets 9 points, you’re fine. If he catches a touchdown, you’re in the money.

• 🐄 The Saints shut down the Patriots last week, but I doubt they will have the same luck this week against the Texans, something I didn’t think I would write this year. C.J. Stroud has been good all year, and is worth starting yet again, even against the Saints’ defense. Heck, he’s been good against the other good defenses he’s faced.

• ☠️ I’m starting my Raiders against the Patriots, at least the main three guys: Adams, Jacobs, and Meyers. Plus, it’s a Meyers revenge game!

• 🇺🇸 For the Patriots, if you have to start any, I’m sorry. Hope Rhamondre gets it together and get out.

• Also, remember the Kendrick Bourne explosion in week 1? He scored 24.4 PPR points that week. He’s scored a combined 22.4 since then.

• 🛩️ Tyler Conklin is worth a start at the tight end position after putting together some solid weeks. Philadelphia has been a friendly matchup for tight ends this year, thanks to their secondary taking a step back from last year. He could be in for 10-12 PPR points.

• 🏙️ Do yourself a favor and bench all your Giants. If Saquon Barkley plays, then I guess you’re starting him. If not, even worse for the team. Buffalo was already shutting down quarterbacks and teams to start the year, and I figure Tyrod Taylor won’t find much success against them either.

That is going to do it for this Friday's edition of the Ballfield Banter newsletter! Thanks for stopping by and we’ll see you on Tuesday! Have fun this weekend and best of luck!

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