🏈 Mike F-ing White on Thursday Night
Aaron Rodgers (Mr. Complicated), Michael Thomas will miss the year, Jonathan Taylor and Donovan Peoples Jones (Mr. Pickup).
Good morning. Anyone else still recovering after watching their fantasy football season crumble when *insert RB name* went down for the season? You know what helps: Adding Donavan Peoples-Jones, who will replace OBJ as the Browns WR1.
Also, Adam Gase content always gets a laugh:
Thursday Night Lights
A quick preview of every fantasy-relevant player in the Jets & Colts game, with excerpts from a great Fantasy Points article.
Passing:
Mike F-ing White - Expect another pass-first Jets team against a Colts defense struggling to stop opposing QBs (8.1 YPA allowed, 7th-most) but strong against the run (3.81 YPC, 5th-fewest). As 10 point underdogs, White should have as many passing opportunities as any QB in Week 9.
Carson Wentz - Wentz makes many idiotic plays and is also killing Jonathan Taylor run plays to throw more passes. Please watch this video highlighting Wentz’s struggles.
Rushing:
Michael Carter - Over the last seven quarters, Carter has a 17-162 receiving line on 22 targets. Those are CMC numbers. Better yet, Carter is still only projected 13.49 points on Prediction Strike, where his stock value jumped 43% in one week.*
Jonathan Taylor - Taylor is averaging 6.1 yards per carry over his last six games. The Colts should lean heavily on the run as 10pt favorites this week, but you never know.
Ty Johnson quietly has 3 straight games of 10+ fantasy points. During his seven quarters of play, White has targeted a RB on 44% of his throws, accounting for 49% of receptions, 49% of yardage, and 25% of TD passes. With Corey Davis likely out, Johnson is an RB3/FLEX.
Receiving:
Michael Pittman - Wentz said he likes throwing it to Pittman because he doesn’t need to be perfect, and he trusts his receiver to go make a play. Coming off the WR1 performance, Pittman is a must-start.
The Colts’ receiving corps is a mess behind Pittman, with T.Y. Hilton (concussion) struggling to stay healthy and Zach Pascal is Zach Pascal.
Despite running just 18 routes, rookie WR Elijah Moore posted a season-high 6/67 receiving on 6 targets, giving him 10+ in both games since his Deep Dive article.
Jamison Crowder paced the WRs with 8/84 receiving on nine targets and is the best bet in the crowded WR-corps. The Colts are giving up a league-high 1.6 receiving TDs to WRs this season and the ninth-most FPG (39.1).
Michael Thomas will run 0 slants in 2021
All jokes aside, wishing Thomas a healthy and speedy recovery. The NFL is more fun with him playing.
A Complicated Fella, starring Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers was quoted as saying he’s been “immunized,” which many assumed meant vaccinated. But he is unvaccinated. Look how he worded it, guy should be a politician:
Am curious what he meant by immunized...
And if we're talking about Packers playing lying at the interview podium, let's start here: Aaron Jones on the Chiefs: "They have a great defense."
Here are some backup options, including Tua, Taysom, and Tyrod.
The real issue is whether he violated protocols unvaccinated players must follow, including traveling on separate flights, daily tests, masks at team facilities, and not leaving hotels. Did he violate them? This thread dives deep into it, but in the meantime, humor:
Speaking of Kendell Hinton, that Broncos replacement QB: another replacement QB sent Hinton a thoughtful and kind note last season.
Silva’s Roundup
The Morning Huddle finds the best content each day for you. This is some good sh*t:
Quick Slants
Matt Rhule said Christian McCaffrey was "pretty limited,” adding, "We'll see how he looks tomorrow.' Not good, and not helpful.
PFF’s 2021 NFL Midseason All-Pro Team features Tom Brady, Derrick Henry, and other fantasy studs.
Cam Akers is running, cutting, and looking healthy.
The Giants had 13 positive results among those tested yesterday; all 13 were retested today and the only positive was an RB coach. Saquon tested negative.
With the departure of DeSean Jackson and Tutu Atwell being placed on injured reserve, Sean McVay says they will find depth with rookie Jacob Harris, who should be listed as a WR not TE. You’ll learn more about Jacob Harris tomorrow.
The Saints QB situation with Taysom Hill was back in action, while Derrick Henry had foot surgery and it "went well.” Henry is now recovering. 🙏
Tweet of the Day
We might be biased… but the Morning Huddle is a great follow on Twitter! Give us a follow for everything that doesn’t make it into the Huddle. Thanks for joining me this morning, crush it - we all only get one chance at today.
- Jake
*Sponsored by: Prediction Strike, who says “use code HUDDLE” and see what magic happens. I keep depositing more and more $ each day because Bitcoin gains are nothing compared to literally buying shares of Mike White & Michael Carter…
Great article Jake! Quick ? Someone in my league dropped Landry during waivers this week and you’re recommending Peoples-Jones here. Which would you rather have? Thanks!
You had me until you said "Bitcoin is wack", but I get that you're promoting Prediction Strike. I hope you didn't miss out on the Aaron Rodgers bitcoin giveaway Monday night.