Knowing when to react and when not to is crucial in fantasy football. It’s important to distinguish what is truly significant and what is not. This article aims to clarify what requires our full attention and what can be disregarded.
FIVE THINGS THAT MATTER
KYLER MURRAY RETURNS
Arizona was supposed to be tanking. Who was supposed to send the memo (head oscillating, the room keeps its poker face)? No one? No one’s going to own up to it?
The Cardinals don’t have much talent, but they are banging their heads into the brick, trying to maintain a winner’s mentality regardless. Jonathan Gannon is coaching every game like they could flip this wagon around and make a Super Bowl run. Kudos. Though they may not get Caleb Williams out of it, the Cardinals are instilling belief and trust in each other, which may be a greater reward.
Truthfully, quarterback Joshua Dobbs has not been the main issue; it’s just that Kyler Murray is borderline elite when he’s playing well. While we don’t expect Murray to be as mobile upon his return, and he may need a while to shake off the rust, he should eventually be a meaningful upgrade over Dobbs. As that occurs, the Cardinals will no doubt have a better chance to win more games. And more importantly, they will be able to elevate their skill players into greater fantasy relevance.
I wouldn’t overpay to do it, but I would try to scoop up shares of Michael Wilson and possibly Rondale Moore. It might be worth buying Marquise Brown at a cut-rate. And finally, there’s Trey McBride. By now, McBride, the first TE taken in the 2022 draft, has more or less begun to wrestle the spot away from incumbent Zach Ertz, so it is already heading in a positive direction. But on Tuesday, Ertz hit the IR, and McBride suddenly has this spot all to himself. We loved McBride as a prospect — a Mackey award-winning TE with fantastic athletic measurables. And don’t forget that James Conner will be eligible to return from IR in two weeks. At full strength, Arizona might be capable of doing a little something on offense.
THE NAME . . . IS DALTON
Speaking of intriguing TE prospects, Dalton Kincaid was the first TE taken in 2023. While the class has taken off like a rocket, the belle of the ball has been stuck in neutral . . . until now. In Week 7, coinciding with a wrist injury that will require surgery and probably put Dawson Knox on IR, Kincaid was blessed with eight receptions and 75 yards, both good for the team lead.
The Bills have been disjointed of late, but I still expect this to get back on track and be a potent offense led by an elite QB. There is room for Kincaid to carve out a significant role behind Stefon Diggs, who has a tight-gripped stranglehold on the Bills’ target share. Gabriel Davis is the only meaningful passing game option behind Diggs, and Davis is not so great that he can’t possibly be boxed out.
It bears understanding that the Bills were without their third TE in this game, but it also bears understanding that Knox’s injury didn’t knock him out of the game (and, it seems, has been bothering him since Week 5). In fact, not only did Knox finish the game, but he outsnapped Kincaid and scored a two-point conversion with under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter. That means this makeshift takeover was already underway, regardless of Knox’s presence or absence.
RICE IS NICE
Another breakout seems to be underway, with SMU rookie Rashee Rice making the most of Justin Watson’s injury. Rice played 40 snaps, ran 30 routes, and received six targets. This made him the target leader among Chiefs WRs while running a career-high in snaps and routes. Rice caught yet another TD, his second in three weeks and third on the season.
Meanwhile, Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman remained at fewer than 14 snaps for the game, and Justyn Ross logged 17 snaps. However, Ross was also sadly implicated in some off-the-field behavior on Monday that may require discipline.
As we’ve been reinforcing around here all season, Rice is demonstrating positive indicators every week, making the most of a limited share; he’s simply been standing in the waiting room most weeks, trying to schedule an appointment for more playing time. This week that playing time came, and he didn’t disappoint. This is a significant step in the right direction and couldn’t come at a better time. Patrick Mahomes looked like his old self, and the Chiefs laid waste to the division-rival Chargers. As the Chiefs have shown time and time again for a half-decade, they are fully capable of being the best offense in football, and emerging as their top WR would be huge for Rice.
