Lions 22 Vikings 16
Golden Tate scored a touchdown in overtime to send the Vikings to their third straight loss. Tate finished with 11 receptions and 79 yards on a team-leading 12 targets.
Extra Points: Eric Ebron had another strong game. Ebron caught 7-of-8 targets for 92 yards. He has 14 receptions in his last two games since returning from an ankle injury…Marvin Jones was shut down by Xavier Rhodes. Jones was held to one catch for five yards. After a strong start to the year, Jones has fewer than 40 yards in five of his last six games…Sam Bradford completed 31-of-40 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. Stefon Diggs was Bradford’s favorite receiver. Diggs caught 13-of-14 targets for 80 yards…The Vikings still can’t run the ball. Minnesota rushed 25 times for just 78 yards on the day (3.1 YPC).
Dolphins 27 Jets 23
Jay Ajayi didn’t rush for 200 yards this time but he did go over 100 yards for the third straight game. Ajayi ran for 111 yards and a score on 24 carries (4.6 YPC) against a tough Jets rush defense.
Extra Points: Ajayi remains the focal point of Miami’s offense. Ryan Tannehill only threw for 149 yards. No Dolphins receiver caught more than three passes or went over 42 yards…Matt Forte was the Jets fantasy star on Sunday. He ran the ball just 12 times but gained 92 yards and scored a touchdown…The Jets leading receiver was Jalin Marshall. Marshall caught three balls for 59 yards and a touchdown on four targets…The other Marshall (Brandon) led the team with nine targets but was held to six receptions for 45 yards.
Chiefs 19 Jaguars 14
It’s been a tough season for Allen Robinson owners. However, Robinson delivered Sunday in a tough matchup. He caught seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. Last year that would be considered a mediocre game for Robinson. This season it’s one of his best.
Extra Points: Robinson’s partner in crime, Allen Hurns, was shut out on Sunday. He also left the game in the third quarter with a concussion…Under new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, both Jaguars running backs made an impact. Chris Ivory ran for 107 yards on 18 carries (5.9 YPC). T.J. Yeldon gained 65 yards on 11 touches and scored a touchdown…With Spencer Ware inactive (concussion), Charcandrick West was a popular start this week. He bombed. West gained just 39 yards on 13 carries. He did catch three passes for 35 yards too but it was a disappointing day overall for West owners…Jeremy Maclin started but re-aggravated a groin injury. He left the game early and put up a goose egg.
Ravens 21 Steelers 14
Ben Roethlisberger returned from meniscus surgery after just two weeks against the Ravens and had a rough first game back. Big Ben completed 23-of-45 passes for 264 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He did help save his fantasy day by rushing for a late score. Expect Roethlisberger to look much sharper next week in a big showdown with Dallas.
Extra Points: Roethlisberger had to settle for a lot of shorter passes Sunday, so Eli Rogers benefited by seeing 10 targets. Rogers caught six passes for 103 yards. Don’t expect Rogers to put up those types of numbers every week…Antonio Brown was targeted a team-high 11 times. He finished with seven catches for 85 yards and a score…Mike Wallace only caught four passes but they went for 124 yards. Wallace did most of his damage on a 95-yard touchdown…The Ravens are still searching for a running game. Baltimore ran for just 50 yards on 29 carries (1.7 YPC).
Cowboys 35 Browns 10
The Cowboys offense did whatever it wanted to against the Browns defense. Dak Prescott finished with 247 yards and three touchdowns. His favorite target on Sunday was tight end Jason Witten. Witten had by far his best game of the season; catching 8-of-10 targets for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Extra Points: Ezekiel Elliott didn’t hit the century mark but still rewarded fantasy owners with 92 yards and two scores on 18 carries (5.1 YPC)…Dez Bryant was the one Dallas offensive star that was quiet on Sunday. Bryant caught just one pass for 16 yards. He also dropped a touchdown in the end zone…Terrelle Pryor has been the one consistent fantasy performer for the Browns and that trend continued against Dallas. Pryor caught 5-of-7 targets for 47 yards and scored Cleveland’s lone touchdown.
Giants 28 Eagles 23
Eli Manning ripped the Eagles defense for 257 yards and four touchdowns. He did throw two interceptions but overall it was Eli’s second best fantasy outing of the season.
Extra Points: Odell Beckham was targeted a team-high 10 times. He only caught four of those targets but OBJ made his receptions count. Two of his catches went for scores…The Giants continue to search for a running game. Rashad Jennings and Paul Perkins each had 11 carries against Philadelphia but combined for only 58 yards…Carson Wentz had both good and bad moments on Sunday. The rookie threw for 364 yards but no touchdowns and two costly early interceptions. Wentz has very few weapons to throw to right now…Zach Ertz had his best game of the season. Ertz caught eight balls for 97 yards. With a lack of quality receivers, Ertz should be a bigger part of the Eagles passing game going forward…Darren Sproles dominated touches at running back once again. Sproles gained 57 yards on 13 carries but Ryan Mathews and Kenjon Barner each scored a short touchdown.
Panthers 13 Rams 10
This game was expected to be ugly and it didn’t disappoint. The defenses dominated and because of that, there wasn’t much to like from a fantasy perspective.
Extra Points: Cam Newton threw for 225 yards and a score. It wasn’t Newton’s best performance but the Rams defensive front didn’t give him much time to throw…Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olsen and Ted Ginn were all targeted seven times and caught five passes. Olsen scored and Benjamin finished with 76 yards receiving…Todd Gurley was bottled up again. He finished with just 48 yards on 12 carries. It’s almost impossible for owners to start Gurley at this point…Lance Kendricks led the Rams in receiving. He caught 7-of-12 targets for 90 yards. Kendricks has 14 receptions on 21 targets in his last two games.
Chargers 43 Titans 35
Melvin Gordon’s rookie struggles seem like 10 years ago. Gordon ran over the Titans defense for 196 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries (6.1 YPC). He also added four receptions for 65 yards to once again help some owners claim victory.
Extra Points: Most of the Chargers offense ran through Gordon but Antonio Gates still found a way to make an impact. Gates caught 5-of-9 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown…Marcus Mariota remained hot in a losing effort. Mariota did have three costly turnovers but for fantasy purposes he put up 313 yards passing and accounted for four touchdowns…Rishard Matthews is making the end zone his second home. Matthews caught six passes for 63 yards and scored twice on Sunday. He’s now scored five touchdowns in his last five games.
Saints 41 49ers 23
This game was a gift from the fantasy gods. Virtually every player that stepped on the field had a big fantasy day. Drew Brees led the way for the Saints. He passed for 323 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Extra Points: The Saints took advantage of playing the NFL’s last ranked rush defense. Both Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower had big games. Ingram rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Hightower added 87 yards and a score on 23 carries. Ingram also caught a touchdown pass…Rookie Michael Thomas continues to be Brees’ favorite receiver. Thomas hauled in 5-of-8 targets for 73 yards and two touchdowns…Colin Kaepernick had by far his best game of the year. Kaepernick threw for 398 yards with two touchdowns and one interception…DuJuan Harris got the start at running back for an injured Carlos Hyde. Harris racked up 142 total yards and a score on 15 touches…Four 49ers went over 75 yards receiving but it was Quinton Patton who led the way with six receptions for 106 yards on nine targets.
Colts 31 Packers 26
It wasn’t a huge game for Andrew Luck but it was enough to get a big road victory over the Packers. Luck threw for 281 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Extra Points: The Colts leaned heavily on Frank Gore Sunday. Gore ran the ball 19 times for 60 yards and scored two touchdowns against the Packers. Gore’s fantasy value is largely touchdown-dependent and he paid off on Sunday…Luck spread the ball around to nine different receivers. Donte Moncrief scored for the second straight week, while T.Y. Hilton led the team in receptions (6) and yards (82)…Aaron Rodgers started slowly but got things going late. He finished with 297 yards, three touchdowns and one interception…Jordy Nelson scored for the second straight game. He caught 7-of-13 targets for 94 yards and a touchdown…Randall Cobb was active but didn’t play in the first half. He played in the second half and scored.
Raiders 30 Broncos 20
Latavius Murray ran through the vaunted Broncos defense Sunday night. Murray ran for 114 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 20 carries (5.7 YPC). It was Murray’s best fantasy performance since entering the league.
Extra Points: With the Raiders focusing on the ground game, their high-flying passing attack took a backseat against the Broncos. Derek Carr passed for just 184 yards. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree combined for eight receptions and 93 yards on 11 targets…Devontae Booker was a non-factor versus the Raiders. He ran for 22 yards on 10 carries…Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders each caught five passes but neither topped 60 yards receiving or scored a touchdown.
