The Will Levis Experience

🎃 Happy Halloween! 🎃 

If this newsletter is a little more “thrown together” than usual, forgive me. I had written up a good newsletter while watching Monday Night Football and accidentally deleted all of it. I’m human, I need to sleep, so here is my not-so-masterful rewritten newsletter.

Injuries don’t stop coming. Kirk Cousins is now out with an injury. By the time you read this, we will (potentially) have much more clarity than I do at the time of writing as to what the Vikings are going to do post-Cousins. Thoughts and prayers go out to him and I pray for a speedy recovery, but there is a good chance he has played his last snap as a Viking.

Rumors have floated around about what the Vikings will do at QB, everything from keeping things in-house with Jaren Hall to potentially trading for Jameis Winston. So much is up in the air, but we will go over all the trade deadline moves and the Vikings’ QB situation once we have more information in Friday’s newsletter.

News and Notes

• 🔥 🛢️ It’s the best I could do, you know, the Titans fire T and the Houston Oilers throwback uniform. We’re talking about Will Levis! What a debut! He threw the deep ball well, showing off his arm strength. He’s streamable against the Steelers on Thursday, but don’t expect him to throw a touchdown on 13.8% of his attempts like he did on Sunday. That 13.8% is over twice as high as the league leader in touchdown percentage, which is Russell Wilson at 6.9%. For those who want to see a deep dive into Levis’s performance, this thread by Josh Larky is great:

• 💿️ 🐑 What a game by CeeDee Lamb. He went through a quiet stretch for a few games but has gone over 115 receiving yards each of the past two weeks.

• 🦁 What do you know, “Lion and the Lamb” back to back, almost like I planned it that way. Jahmyr Gibbs went off against the Raiders on Monday night, showing the ceiling we all knew he possessed if given the workload to achieve it.

• 🐬 Tyreek Hill has over 1000 receiving yards. He’s played 8 games.

• 🦅 Speaking of crazy stats, A.J. Brown has gone over 125 receiving yards in each of the past six games, an NFL record.

• Desmond Ridder was replaced by Taylor Heinicke on Sunday. Before you celebrate, the Falcons just decided to hold him out after being cleared to return after being tested for a concussion. So don’t expect a QB change in Atlanta.

• The Gus Bus must have gotten some Nitro or something put in it because Gus Edwards scored three touchdowns this week against Arizona. He averaged over four yards a carry and has now caught at least one pass in each of the past three games.

• ⛏️ Brock Purdy did not throw a pick in the first five weeks of the season, he has now thrown five in the past three weeks. The 49ers have also lost all three of those games.

• 🛫 Breece Hall couldn’t get anything going on the ground, but caught six passes for 76 yards and a score. All systems go for the young back.

• Trey McBride had a huge game against the Ravens, catching 10 of 14 targets for 95 yards and a score. With Zach Ertz out he absorbed all of Ertz’s targets, kept his own, and stole some from others. In other words: yeesh. He’s a top waiver pickup this week, especially if you are in need of a tight end.

Waiver Wire and Trade Targets

• QB: Sam Howell vs. NE, Will Levis vs. PIT, Baker Mayfield vs. HOU

• RB: Justice Hill vs. SEA, Tyjae Spears vs. PIT, Emari Demarcado vs. CLE

• WR: Rashid Shaheed vs. CHI, Demario Douglas vs. WAS

• TE: Trey McBride vs. CLE, Gerald Everett/Donald Parham if Everett misses vs. NYJ

• DST: Minnesota vs. ATL, Washington vs. NE, NY Giants vs. LV

Thursday Night Preview

Tennessee Titans

Well, Will Levis is definitely in the streaming category should he start, which I don’t see why he wouldn’t. The Steelers are a vulnerable matchup to wideouts, so Hopkins could have another good game against them. Treylon Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are worth a look in deeper formats. You’re starting Henry but Tyjae Spears is a flex candidate.

Pittsburgh Steelers

No idea if Pickett will start, which makes a difference. Either way, Tennessee is still a fairly strong run defense and is easier to pass on. So I expect the Steelers to utilize their passing game over their so-far inefficient run game led by Najee Harris. I’m not interested in Harris this week but Jaylen Warren is in consideration for lineups with his receiving usage. Diontae Johnson is a target hog and should be started, especially in PPR formats. George Pickens is much tougher to start, especially after a down game, but he only needs on play to have a good fantasy night.

Final Thoughts

That’s going to do it for our pre-trade deadline newsletter! Let’s hope that we see some fun and interesting moves take place and not a relatively quiet one. Because that’s where we seem to be heading. Either way, can’t wait, and I’ll see you later! 👻