Week 8 Thoughts and Observations

[Tom Kessenich]

Here are some random thoughts and observations as I wonder how the Steelers and Bengals could combine to play such horrible football in a game the entire galaxy expected to be a shootout.

The Broncos’ defense sure is legit.

The Packers’ defense … not so much.

As bad as Green Bay’s offense was last night it wasn’t entirely a surprise they struggled against the Broncos’ elite defense. However, the struggles defensively were pathetic. The Broncos came into the game with a struggling quarterback, a suspect offensive line and no running game and absolutely lit up Green Bay.

Pathetic display.

Pure and simple.

Not sure why the Packers felt compelled to use James Starks so much last night. They destroyed whatever rhythm Ed Lacy could have gotten into. Unless Lacy is taking himself out there’s no reason to be removing him early in games. None. Zero.

I think perhaps people outside of Wisconsin are finally figuring out that Jordy Nelson really is an elite player. Yes the Packers still have Aaron Rodgers but Nelson’s injury was a damaging blow the team hasn’t recovered from. There have been disturbing signs during the 6-0 start that Nelson’s absence was a problem. Then Denver came in and took advantage of all of them.

So now Peyton Manning’s back, right? And C.J. Anderson too? Green Bay’s sorry D sure cured a lot of Denver ills last night.

Damn Le’Veon Bell. That just stinks.

Damn Steve Smith. That stinks even more because it might be the last time we see him on an NFL field. Tough way for a great career to come to an end.

Drew Brees put up more than 65 points in NFFC scoring this week.

SIXTY-FIVE.

Every time I turned around Brees and Eli Manning were throwing another touchdown pass. If you had any piece of that action in your lineups on Sunday how happy were you? Even Marques Colston rose from the dead faster than a Walker on “The Walking Dead.”

Speaking of which …

The weekly “The Walking Dead” update.

Glenn?

Glenn?

Anyone seen Glenn?

Bat-s**t crazy Morgan.

Ninja Morgan.

Pacifist Morgan may be a problem.

Did you see the opening credits and notice whose name wasn’t there?

So … has anyone seen Glenn?

Now back to football.

For seven weeks in the Sirius Hosts League I kept starting Carson Palmer over Andy Dalton because Palmer’s matchups were always insanely great.

Until Week 8.

I finally started Dalton in what was projected to be the highest-scoring game of the week.

That worked out real well.

So did my decision to replace Michael Floyd with Marvin Jones in several DFS lineups and in the FSTA Experts League. Fortunately, Greg and I have a 50-point lead in that league (Mucho Gracias Brady, Jeffery, Edelman and Graham) but I’m still upset with myself.

Plenty of folks have been waiting for Bad Andy Dalton to show up. It finally happened in Week 8. He was horrific for nearly the entire game before coming up big late. The Steelers are not going to enjoy watching the film of this game. Dalton gift-wrapped a W for them but they simply refused to take it.

Week 8 was the first time this season Pittsburgh’s four offensive stars (Ben Roethlisberger, Bell, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant) played in the same game. It will also be the last. Cruel game this is.

Tom Brady is the league’s MVP and Gronk is Gronk but Dion Lewis adds an element to the Patriots’ offense they have never had in the Belichick Era. He is shifty, explosive and a matchup nightmare in the Red Zone.

Oh, and don’t look now but Brandon LaFell’s role is getting more secure in their offense.

Can’t wait for Brady vs. the Denver defense. That could be legendary.

Richard Sherman wasn’t messing around on Sunday. You wanna be the best? Shut down the best.

Seriously Matt Ryan, how many times are you gonna have a problem with the snap exchange? Shouldn’t that be fixed by now.

No Leonard Hankerson and an A+ matchup against a terrible defense and Roddy White still soiled the bed. I think we can officially put an end to White’s fantasy value now.

The Buccaneers won on the road on a day when Vincent Jackson was out and Mike Evans and Doug Martin came up small. How often is that gonna happen?

Two words - Todd Gurley.

#TheKraken.

Gurley is fifth in the league in rushing and has basically only played four games. With Bell coming off a major injury, is there anyone you’re taking ahead of Gurley if you were drafting right now for the 2016 season? Slam dunk No. 1 pick for me.

As great as Gurley is, imagine what he could’ve done on Sunday if the 49ers had made it a competitive game. He rushed for 133 yards and took the fourth quarter off.

The Rams appear to have figured out how best to utilize Tavon Austin.

Took ‘em long enough.

Hold on Drew Brees just threw another touchdown pass.

A.J. Green sure does love playing the Steelers.

In case you missed it - Brian Hoyer has thrown multiple TD passes in five straight games.

Bell. Smith. Calvin Johnson. Matt Forte. Reggie Bush. Brandon Marshall. Ryan Fitzpatrick. Keenan Allen. Kendall Wright. How many lineups were destroyed by all the injuries we saw on Sunday? Brutal day.

For a very good team, the Seahawks sure do leave a lot of plays on the field. If Seattle and Arizona played today on a neutral site would anyone pick the Seahawks if they were being unbiased? Just can’t see it.

I can forgive the Jets for not having an offense with Geno Smith at quarterback but how can they explain away what happened to their defense? They got whipped at every level and every phase. Embarrassing performance from Todd Bowles’ crew.

Michael Crabtree keeps this up he’s gonna get PAID in the offseason. This is how you put together a contract year everyone.

Hold on Eli Manning just threw another touchdown pass.

So basically the Lions with Jim Bob Cooter are the same Lions they were with Joe Lombardi and the Dolphins under Dan Campbell are the same Dolphins they were under Joe Philbin when they play an actual NFL team.

Cooter’s biggest offensive change was to marginalize Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick, his two most talented running backs, and feature Joique Bell. You’re not gonna have a job for long if that’s the plan Jim Bob.

Get well soon Ricardo Lockette.

I realize the Chiefs won on Sunday but if you watched the game you saw how Alex Smith missed a wide-open Travis Kelce twice for easy TD passes because he was too busy checking down and not properly surveying the field. You can get away with mistakes like that against bad teams but that’s the type of play Smith brings to the field and caps whatever upside the Chiefs may hope to have. You simply cannot win big in this league with a quarterback who has no idea how to see the field.

I think we can safely say the whole Stefon Diggs thing in Minnesota is legit.

Speaking of the Vikings it’ll be Adrian Peterson vs. #TheKraken in Week 9. That might be a little bit of fun to watch.

Darren McFadden has looked real good the last two games but giving him 25-30 touches a game is a recipe for disaster. No way a guy with his durability issues holds up with that heavy a workload.

And finally, if you started Derek Carr, Charcandrick West, Shane Vereen, Tavon Austin, Marques Colston, Malcom Floyd and Benjamin Watson just go away. I mean it, just go away.

[TheReckoner]

"Darren McFadden has looked real good the last two games but giving him 25-30 touches a game is a recipe for disaster. No way a guy with his durability issues holds up with that heavy a workload."

3.2 YPC yesterday.... Same as last year.. Whats changed? Besides some open check downs?

[Yah Mule]

If the Colts start Andrew Luck and his brittle ribs against that Bronco defense next week, the league office should take him away from them.

[Tom Kessenich]

"Darren McFadden has looked real good the last two games but giving him 25-30 touches a game is a recipe for disaster. No way a guy with his durability issues holds up with that heavy a workload."

3.2 YPC yesterday.... Same as last year.. Whats changed? Besides some open check downs?

3.2 YPC isn't great but the Seattle run D is so I wouldn't measure McFadden on that. I think he's running harder and more decisively than he has in years. I've been very impressed with him the last two weeks. Did not expect him to look this good.

[CoMoHusker]

[quoteRichard Sherman wasn’t messing around on Sunday. You wanna be the best? Shut down the best.

Not sure that truly counts with Matt Cassel at QB. I'd sure love to see the Dez-Sherman match-up on a week where Dez isn't coming off an injury and when Romo is back.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Can you ever remember a Sunday with that much carnage in the NFL? I don't and I've been doing this a long, long time.

It was amazing how many players were hurt yesterday; and how many top players got hurt yesterday. I know this is a game of attrition, but by the time Ricardo Lockette was carted off the field I could barely look at the TV anymore. It was almost too much to watch.

Brutal. But there's another game tonight, so I'm sure I'll be watching. And then Week 9 starts on Thursday...

[CoMoHusker]

I also never thought I'd see a week of football where Alex Smith had more rushing yards in a game than Aaron Rodgers had passing yards. Crazy game that we play!

[renman]

I think I posted about this once before somewhere (maybe here). I have played fantasy football since 1991. I have never seen anything like what is going on with Roddy White. Let me explain. WR's who have a history of production with an organization usually command some respect and targets. In the very occasional times where a big name WR gets limited or even no catches you almost always see the QB work hard to go back to him the next week and usually a lot. White is one of (if not the) most prolific receivers in Falcon history. He has a long relationship and history of production with Matt Ryan. He is 34 years old (not 38) and the injuries he came into the season with were not his legs (elbow). He is seeing as many (if not more) snaps than Julio Jones and thus is on the field constantly. Even if he has lost a step he clearly has the ability to be a good possession receiving WR to pair with the explosive Julio. Even when Hankerson left games and got hurt the targets went to a back up WR or now the incredible Tamme.

I have never seen anything like this...

If the coaches think he can't play he shouldn't be on the field. Watching them force every ball to Jones, even when covered is mind boggling. Anything who thinks Julio Jones is going to make it through the season when they force every ball into him in traffic is hoping to hit a fantasy lottery (I traded Julio away in home league for this reason). When you factor into the equation his name, his production for this organization, the amount of plays he is on the field, his long time relationship with the QB, his hands, his route running ability and the fact Julio draws extra coverage leaving him single covered almost at all times, it is stunning to see him ignored in this offense.

never seen anything like it.

[Don Draper]

as always, owners who successfully plan/adjust for injuries will rise to the top. this is a game of skill

[kingraiders]

Was at the Minny/Bears game this weekend, and Bears had no answer to AP each time he touched ball, and could not believe that Turner pulls him off the field EVERY SINGLE 3rd down. It was unreal, even on 3rd and short. Minny fans around me just shaking their heads (and fists at Norv). I guess AP can't hold Matt Asiata's jock on 3rd downs. Almost cost team a win vs. horrific bears D.