Every Monday of the NFL regular season, we will showcase exceptional player performances from the weekend and analyze their potential for sustained success in fantasy football. We will rank these performances from ? to ????? based on whether we believe they are momentary or long-term options for your fantasy teams.
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Fantasy Football Heat Index
Quarterback
Stats: 24/34, 278 passing yards, 5 TD
Position Rank (pre-MNF): QB1 (31.12 points)
Analysis: Inconsistency in fantasy football is a staple for many players across the NFL, but Lions quarterback Jared Goff takes it to another level. One week after scoring a season-low 3.44 fantasy points, Goff scored 31.12 points in Detroit’s 42-17 blowout victory over the Denver Broncos. He’s the current QB1 on the week.
Denver’s defense has drastically improved since their embarrassing 70-20 loss to Miami back in Week 3, making Goff’s performance all the more impressive. Goff was quick and decisive with his progressions and it led to fantasy gold for him and his top pass-catchers.
With upcoming road matchups against the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys, fantasy managers will once again have to decide whether to start or sit the inconsistent Goff. Those are tough matchups for any quarterback, much less one as up-and-down as Goff. Good luck.
Heat Index: ??
Running Back
Stats: 17 rush att, 69 yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 16 receiving yards, 4 targets
Position Rank (pre-MNF): RB11 (16 points)
Analysis: In place of starter Josh Jacobs, backup running back Zamir White galloped to a career-high 69 rushing yards and scored once in the Raiders’ 63-21 shellacking of the Chargers way back on Thursday Night Football. He’s the current RB11 on the week.
Despite splitting backfield touches with veterans Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden, White was the clear bellcow on Thursday night. He played 44 offensive snaps and ran 17 routes according to Next Gen Stats. For reference, RB2 Abdullah ran nine routes on 17 offensive snaps.
If Jacobs returns this upcoming week, White falls back to fantasy irrelevancy. However, if Jacobs misses more time, White is looking like the overwhelming 1A in this backfield. That type of upside should be stashed in all 12-team formats.
Heat Index: ??
Wide Receiver
Stats: 6 receptions, 141 receiving yards, 1 TD, 12 targets
Position Rank (pre-MNF): WR3 (23.1 points)
Analysis: After failing to find their top wide receiver a single time against the Miami Dolphins, the Washington Commanders came out of their bye week wanting to get wide receiver McLaurin more involved. After he racked up 141 receiving yards on 12 targets, I’d say mission accomplished on that front.
All it took was starting quarterback Sam Howell getting benched for Jacoby Brissett and a favorable game script which saw the Commanders trailing 20-0 early in the third quarter. After the game, head coach Ron Rivera announced that Howell was still the starting quarterback, but it’s McLaurin’s upcoming schedule that’s more of a concern.
Washington travels to New York to play Sauce Gardner and the Jets next week, then finishes the season with home contests against Dallas and San Francisco. Never say never, but the odds are stacked against McLaurin repeating this performance this season.
Heat Index: ??
Tight End
Stats: 4 receptions, 57 receiving yards, 1 TD, 6 targets
Position Rank (pre-MNF): TE6 (13.7 points)
Analysis: With top pass-catchers Luke Musgrave and Christian Watson injured and missing from the starting lineup, Packers tight end Tucker Kraft has stepped up in their absence. Kraft has seen a steady uptick in usage over the past month, but the rookie produced his best fantasy output of the season in Green Bay’s 34-20 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Kraft has at least four targets in three consecutive games and looks like a borderline TE1 play until Green Bay’s reinforcements arrive. Musgrave can technically return from injured reserv next week, so keep an eye on his status next week. If Musgrave returns, neither tight end is startable until we have a better idea of their usage.
Heat Index: ??
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