Every Saturday morning, I'll take a quick look at all the week's games, offering my own brief take on what I think will happen, as well as touching on significant injury news since our Weekly came out. I'll check in over the course of the day to answer questions, too.
The official rankings are the ones in the Weekly. Those take precedence. But sometimes players are very close, and in those cases I'm glad to offer opinions on how I'd approach those situations. Sometimes I like certain players more or less than Ian, and sometimes I have different risk tolerance with injuries etc. If I don't answer your question, either I missed it (it happens) or the rankings are very clear.
Quick note: traveling today, so answers to questions may not be timely or loquacious. Will do my best to answer them all by the end of the night, though, and go with the rankings if I don't get to yours.
Cleveland at Chicago: Cleveland defense has been just s0-so of late and the Bears have been giving up production all along, so there are some good starters in this one. Mostly Judkins, Fannin (David Njoku out), Loveland and both Bears running backs have value, given the difficulty filling the position at times. I remain wary of Jerry Jeudy and DJ Moore who have mostly done very little, but have some interest in Luther Burden as their actual best wideout of late.
Baltimore at Cincinnati: Joe Burrow talking this week about not having fun lately. Took some heat for it, but I kind of get it. I understand the popular sentiment is You get paid a fortune to play a game, what do you have to feel bad about? But he's been in the league six years and in three of them he's missed 7-10 games, I understand that sapping a little of the enjoyment out of somebody. As for the game, should be higher scoring. Tee Higgins (concussion) is out, so Mike Gesicki or Andrei Iosivas might benefit some. I'm debating starting Isaiah Likely after last week's big involvement, but that will probably result in my being disappointed. Starters on both sides look solid though.
Arizona at Houston: Tough matchup for the Cardinals, and if you've been riding with Jacoy Brissett you need to at least think about looking elsewhere. But Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, based on how he's done when Marvin Harrison is out, are in lineups. For Houston, Woody Marks and Nico Collins and perhaps C.J. Stroud too. Dalton Schultz. Good matchup for their offense.
N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville: Jets will start Brady Cook at quarterback. It's a big moment of growth for Aaron Glenn to actually announce this fact on Friday. I didn't have much hope for the Jets offense anyway and I really don't now. No Garrett Wilson (knee) or Mason Taylor (neck). I’d use Breece Hall. Love Travis Etienne and I think the matchup is OK for Jacksonville's passing game, but a real chance the Jaguars just run the ball 35-plus times and win that way. I don't want to overthink it though, we consider these possibilities in the projections and the rankings. Regardless, better matchup for the ground game.
L.A. Chargers at Kansas City: Big game. Chargers pulled one out Monday in the Jalen Hurts turnover-fest and can put a stake in Kansas City here. Probably a defensive-oriented game. Both teams may potentially use backfield committees but personally I would use Omarion Hampton and not Kimani Vidal. I still have Isiah Pacheco on my bench in a league and don't know why, I haven't started him in forever. Kareem Hunt looks OK, and I'll use Rashee, Mahomes and Kelce too. This is it for them, pulling out all the stops (presumably not going for it on their own 30 again though).
Buffalo at New England: Big game of course. Both teams are going to the playoffs but homefield and potentially a bye are valuable. Relative health on both sides, and probably a higher scoring game. Both New England running backs viable, it gets murky counting on any of pass catchers too much, since so many are involved. But Stefon Diggs has a nice revenge game track record.
Washington at N.Y. Giants: I've probably said enough negative things about Dan Quinn at this point. I will say that I won't be surprised if he's a January firing, and if not him certainly some of the coaches or decision makers in the organization. The team has underachieved, it seemingly has handled injuries badly, and it's not young, either. As for this game, no Jayden Daniels, and Chris Rodriguez also iffy. Matchup good for those available, but debatable how hard either team will be trying without even the appeal of playing spoiler. Use players as ranked.
Las Vegas at Philadelphia: I give up saying This is the week the Eagles rally together and look like a defending Super Bowl champ. They should win easily, but maybe Pete Carroll has his lousy roster playing hard. Kenny Pickett at quarterback, probably no better or worse a matchup than Geno Smith. Bowers and Jeanty and key Eagles, those are the guys you're using, while understanding Eagles receivers can tend to be erratic.
Green Bay at Denver: One of the games of the week. I get that Green Bay's wins over good teams have been more convincing than Denver's, who has struggled against some poor teams, but I still find it odd that Green Bay is favored. They're good, but so is Denver's defense. Josh Jacobs not certain to play, can't be counted on. If he’s out, Emanuel Wilson looks comparable, but a tough matchup. Game should be lower-scoring. No Pat Bryant, making Troy Franklin look a little better.
Detroit at L.A. Rams: Another of the games of the week, either one of these would have worked nicely as a flex to Sunday night. Or Bills-Patriots. Davante Adams playing through a hamstring injury, making him a little risky to use, as shown in last week's quiet game. Risky to sit down a guy leading the NFL in touchdown receptions too, of course. Lions healthy, Rams otherwise in good shape. Higher-scoring.
Carolina at New Orleans: Should be some running in this one, with Devin Neal and Carolina's tandem having value. Passing games dicier, but No. 1 Tetairoa McMillan and Chris Olave look fine. Juwan Johnson too. Presumably Panthers buoyed by the Bucs loss, but they already lost to the Saints once so another would be no surprise.
Indianapolis at Seattle: As I write this, I don't think Philip Rivers has been announced as the starter. I expect it, but we'll see. I think he's starting, and I think Tyler Warren and Michael Pittman are fine to use, not worse than they'd be with Riley Leonard most likely. But let's face it, the matchup is terrible, things could go very badly and would have even if they had Daniel Jones. For Seattle, great matchup for passing and the Colts haven't been great against the run lately either. Enjoyable for the novelty if Rivers starts if nothing else.
Tennessee at San Francisco: Should be a mail it in for the 49ers, who apparently are going to the playoffs despite all their injuries. It's funny, one of the top 3 NFC North and West teams, all six of whom are currently 8-5 or better, is going to miss the playoffs, probably with at least 10 wins.
Minnesota at Dallas: I'm confused, maybe somebody can help me out. It's Week 15. Isn't this exactly the kind of game that "flex scheduling" on Sunday night games was invented for? Minnesota at Dallas? It's 5-8 versus 6-6-1. We've known for a few weeks that only one of these teams had a chance at the playoffs. Whatever. I'm starting Justin Jefferson without much optimism, but Dallas' pass defense hasn't been good so maybe. CeeDee Lamb cleared the concussion protocol. Minnesota defense comes off a shutout and maybe they'll surprise, but I'm starting all Dallas starters for sure.
Miami at Pittsburgh: Neither team seems great but both have playoff aspirations, especially AFC North leading Pittsburgh of course. No T.J. Watt, a plus for Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense, although probably DeVon Achane and Jaylen Waddle are the limits of the actual starters here. Pittsburgh offense should be fine, with DK Metcalf and Jaylen Warren having fine matchups, of course they have flaws too -- Metcalf more bad games than good, Warren doesn't actually run the ball really well most weeks. But probably a good game.
Enjoy the games.