Quarterback
Jared Goff, Detroit (at Chicago)
Goff is facing a defense that has been hemorrhaging yards and points for the last two weeks. His defense didn’t break at the goal line last week, but they weren’t exactly an immovable object either, and before that, they were the worst defense in the league statistically. Expect this one to be high-scoring and Goff to have a lot of chances to throw against a defense that looks more like Frankenstein than a Monster of the Midway.
Jacoby Brissett, Cleveland (at Miami)
Brissett could have a quiet game if the Browns defense with Denzel Ward back slows down the tour de force that is the Miami pass offense with Tua Tagovailoa at the helm. Nick Chubb certainly has the chops to keep Miami’s offense on the sidelines and wear down their vulnerable defense. It’s just as likely, if not moreso, that the Browns will be in catchup mode and force Brissett to take the offense on his shoulders against the vulnerable Dolphins defense that just gave up a career-best game to Justin Fields.
Russell Wilson, Denver (at Tennessee)
We can’t count on this Broncos offense to be rationally coached, and it doesn’t look like they will have K.J. Hamler. But they are facing the league-best Titans run defense and should run the offense through Wilson. Wilson is as healthy as he has been in a while, and Greg Dulcich has proven to be a welcome addition to an inconsistent offense. Wilson has the potential to kick off a strong second half in this one.
John Wolford, Los Angeles Rams (vs Arizona)
The Rams offense has been stuck in neutral, so it’s not the best place to look for sleepers. We also may not know if Wolford or Matthew Stafford will start this game until after the early games have kicked off. Still, Wolford has some fantasy potential in a down year at quarterback because of his running ability and the possibility that the Cardinals will be a bit disoriented adjusting to a different quarterback with Wolford piloting an offense he has been in for four years now.
Running Back
Khalil Herbert, Chicago (vs Detroit)
Herbert wasn’t really given an ample opportunity to get hot last week because the Bears trailed throughout, but that might not be the case against the Lions this week. The Lions had given up 11 rushing touchdowns to opposing backs in the first seven games before frustrating the Packers backfield last week, and Detroit should be more concerned with Justin Fields' running ability than the Bears backs.
Devin Singletary, Buffalo (vs Minnesota)
The injury to Josh Allen could be the best thing that happened to Singletary’s fantasy stock in the short term. The Bills will have to become more balanced and focus on short passing whether Allen starts or Case Keenum gets the call. Singletary has always come through when the Bills have asked him to put in more work, especially in the second half of the season.
Jeff Wilson, Miami (vs Cleveland)
Wilson got more work as the game went on in his Dolphins debut, and he clearly outperformed Raheem Mostert. We should expect Wilson to get more work than Mostert this week and more work in the high-leverage passing game and goal-line situations. The Browns defense hasn’t faced anything like the Dolphins passing game this year, so expect Wilson to get chances to pick up chunk gains against a unit playing on their heels.
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