Guest of the League
USFFL Est. 2015
FFL: Week 6 | NFL: Week 6

The Weekly Bender: You Can Always Come Home

Fri Jul 5 6:00pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below


There is nothing better than winning your fantasy football league. Whether you’re playing against your friends in a home league or gearing up to take down the $500,000 grand prize in The Fantasy Championship, that euphoric feeling hits you in such a way that sometimes words can’t even describe. But it takes work. It takes tenacity. You don’t just stumble into a championship. You earn it. And that starts with your research here in July. Scouting talent is a top priority for you right now and it’s not just about the NFL players on the field. It’s also about which fantasy analysts you choose to trust each season.

Back in 2011, the folks here at RealTime Fantasy Sports led the way in premier scouting. During a raucous after-party following the FSTA Conference (currently the FSGA) in San Francisco, two of RTSports’ finest made their way to the bar and struck up a conversation with the guy slinging drinks. As it turned out, he also happened to be an aspiring fantasy analyst, freelancing for a couple of sites and looking for more work.

The conversation was light and friendly but intensified when opinions on players and teams came into play. The Giants had just won the World Series and baseball talk was buzzing in the Bay Area. The Green Bay Packers were in mini-camp looking to defend their Super Bowl championship and as we witness every year, the football frenzy was already taking over. With every lager and IPA that hit the bar, the men of RTSports also received formidable opinions, spicy hot takes, boatloads of sarcasm and some pretty entertaining jokes. By the end of the evening, a business card was handed across the bar with a firm demand: “We need a fantasy article written every week with these thoughts, these opinions and this kind of attitude.” With smiles all around and firm handshakes given, “The Weekly Bender” was born.

Yes, all of this, just to re-introduce myself to the community here at RealTime Fantasy Sports. What’s going on, everyone? I am over-the-moon with excitement about being back. In some ways, I never left. Though I was soon offered a full-time position at Fantasy Alarm and the Weekly Bender came to a close, I have remained very active on this website. For years, I hosted the Mock Draft Army here on RTSports and provided fantasy owners an opportunity to mock draft alongside dedicated fantasy players and industry analysts from all over. I’ve hosted numerous best ball drafts here for my audience at SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio and until my return today, have been logging plenty of time turning a profit in the RTSports DFS Pick ‘Em contests.

Yes, I am still over at Fantasy Alarm and you can find all of my fantasy football player rankings, cheat sheets (coming this Monday, July 8), draft strategies and my coaching scheme breakdowns in our Fantasy Football Draft Guide. The community over there is spectacular and I am sure that some of you reading this right now may already be over there. But RTSports has always been a home for me and now that I am back, I cannot wait to jump in.

In addition to the Weekly Bender, an article dedicated to providing winning strategies and picks with a hefty serving of snark, I will also be joining Jeff Paur on his weekly podcast/livestream, sharing videos with DFS Pick ‘Em contest picks, hosting mock drafts to get everyone ready for the 2024 NFL season and even setting up some “Beat Howard Bender” contests so that we can not only play against each other but also give you the opportunity to serve some of that smack-talk back to me.

When Thomas Wolfe wrote “You Can’t Go Home Again,” he was referring to the way nostalgia has us viewing the past in an overly-positive light. For those of you who remember the original Weekly Bender, you know we don’t look back at those pieces with rose-colored glasses. We crushed the research together, we ruled the waiver wire together and we shared championships together. It all comes full circle today and if Wolfe was sitting with me here right now, I’d let him know that you truly can go home again.

Here's to a spectacular 2024 season!

Bender, out!

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 6

Player Notes
Michael Pittman Jr. Oct 14 12:40am ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. caught three of his five targets for 35 yards and a touchdown in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. Pittman was tied for second in targets with running back Tyler Goodson and finished third in total receiving yards for Indy. While Pittman didn't jump off the box score from a yardage perspective, it was an encouraging performance given the Titans' secondary was allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. On top of that, Pittman looks to be in the clear from the back injury that initially looked like it was going to sideline him for multiple games. It's still unclear who Indianapolis' starting QB will be moving forward, with Joe Flacco getting the start today and Anthony Richardson serving as the QB3. All in all, Pittman is considered a W2/3 option again in Week 7 when the Colts take on the Miami Dolphins.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Oct 14 12:40am ET
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (hamstring) took advantage of a weak Carolina run defense in Sunday's 38-20 victory, rushing 15 times for 95 yards and two scores. Robinson did most of his damage in the first half, including both scores, and the second-year back also tacked on three catches for 10 yards. Whatever was wrong with his hamstring that caused him to pop up on Thursday's injury report was clearly not an issue in this game, although he ultimately ceded 10 of the team's final 12 rush attempts to fellow backfielder Tyler Allgeier in the fourth quarter who looked strong too, racking up an 18-105-1 line himself. The 22-year-old has rushed for 61 or more yards in four of six games in 2024, now with 380 yards and three TDs on the year while averaging 3.5 receptions per game to boot. The former first-round draft pick gets a favorable matchup versus the Seahawks in Week 7, a rush defense that has yielded big games to the New England backfield (177 yards) in Week 2, the Detroit backs in Week 4 (118), and even the Giants' Tyrone Tracy in Week 5 (129). Next week's matchup boasts one of the highest expected totals as well, so there should be plenty of offense and Robinson stands to benefit again.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Oct 14 12:40am ET
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs caught seven of his nine targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. Downs led all Colts in targets, receptions, and yards in the matchup. Downs has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Joe Flacco's starting in Indy, seeing nine-plus targets in each of his last three games. While it's unclear who the starter at QB will be for the Colts moving forward, Downs is a clear favorite in the offense, and fantasy managers can prioritize him as such. He'll look to keep the momentum going in Week 7 when the Colts take on the Miami Dolphins.

From RotoBaller

Mike McCarthy Oct 14 12:30am ET
Mike McCarthy

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones refused to entertain the idea of a coaching change following Sunday's 47-9 blowout loss to the Detroit Lions at home. "I haven't even considered it," Jones said. "I'm not considering that. So you're clear, I'm not considering that." The owner's comments suggest that head coach Mike McCarthy's job is safe for the time being. Indeed, it would be bold for the Cowboys to relieve their head coach with a 3-3 record after six weeks, but there's also no denying that the Cowboys have underperformed. They're currently third in the NFC West, and Sunday's defeat at the hands of Detroit was the Cowboys' worst home loss during Jones' 34-year stint as the franchise's owner. The road doesn't get any easier for the Cowboys, who head into a Week 7 bye but then play their next five games against the 49ers, Falcons, Eagles, Texans, and Commanders.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Allen Oct 14 12:20am ET
Jonathan Allen

Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (pectoral) exited during the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the contest. He finished Week 6 with two tackles, bringing his season total up to 15. The 29-year-old is known for being an impact player on defense for Washington, so the Commanders suddenly find themselves shorthanded without both him and Dorance Armstrong (ribs).

From RotoBaller

Courtland Sutton Oct 14 12:20am ET
Courtland Sutton

Things weren't looking great for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton's fantasy managers for most of the Week 6 contest against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday until late in the fourth quarter. Sutton's final line was four catches on six targets for 53 yards and his second touchdown reception of the year. The 29-year-old's 37-yard TD grab was a highlight-reel catch near the back of the end zone in which he laid out and initially caught the ball one-handed. If not for the amazing catch, though, he would have finished with another very mediocre fantasy day. Sutton will likely continue to be more of a touchdown-dependent WR4/flex for fantasy managers, but the good news is that rookie quarterback Bo Nix has shown improvement in the last five weeks with five touchdowns and only one pick. Sutton will be looking to keep the positive momentum and score for the second straight game in a Week 7 Thursday night clash against the Saints.

From RotoBaller

Devaughn Vele Oct 14 12:10am ET
Devaughn Vele

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele came out of nowhere to lead the Broncos with 78 receiving yards in the 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Both Vele's four receptions and six targets were tied with Courtland Sutton for the team lead on a day in which the Broncos' offense did all of its damage in the fourth quarter in comeback mode down 23 points. In his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, he caught all eight of his targets for 39 yards before missing time with an injury and then being a healthy scratch the last several weeks. The 26-year-old seventh-rounder out of Utah appears to have some nice chemistry with fellow rookie QB Bo Nix, and more opportunities will remain with Josh Reynolds (finger) missing at least the next three games while on IR. However, Vaughn should only be a deep-league waiver-wire consideration in Denver's low-scoring offense.

From RotoBaller

Javonte Williams Oct 14 12:00am ET
Javonte Williams

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams had the best game of his season in last week's win over the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders but followed it up with a miserable performance in the 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. Williams finished with six carries for only 23 yards and a lost fumble, adding three catches on six targets for 13 receiving yards. He had as many carries as quarterback Bo Nix, and his nine touches tied a season low. About the only positive on the day was that his six targets tied for the team high. Outside of Williams' 111-yard scrimmage day in Week 5, he has done very little for fantasy managers and just hasn't looked explosive at all as Denver's lead back. Through six weeks, the 24-year-old has also yet to find the end zone. It won't get any easier on a quick turnaround next Thursday on the road in a hostile environment against the Saints. Williams will be a low-upside, low-floor RB3/flex for that one.

From RotoBaller

Jaleel McLaughlin Oct 14 12:00am ET
Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin had season-low-tying three carries for eight yards in the 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, adding two catches on two targets for 17 yards through the air. Rookie Audric Estime, who was activated from Injured Reserve to make his NFL debut on Sunday, had two carries for 13 yards. McLaughlin has found the end zone twice in six games, but he's had double-digits in carries just once (back in Week 1) and hasn't topped 46 yards on the ground. It's been a theme this year so far of the Broncos' ground game being stuck in the mud, and that theme returned against a tough Bolts defense. Now that Estime is in the fold as the RB3 in Denver's backfield, it will be even harder for McLaughlin to return any fantasy value in deeper formats. RotoBaller won't be recommending the second-year back for starting lineups in Week 7 against the Saints.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Oct 13 11:50pm ET
Bo Nix

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix began his NFL career without throwing a single touchdown pass in his first three games, but in the last three games, he has five TD tosses, including two more in the 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. A lot of Nix's production -- he went 19-for-33 passing for 216 yards, two TDs and an interception -- came late in the second quarter with the Broncos in rush mode while down by 23 points. The 12th overall pick also used his legs to pick up some big chunk gains for first downs, running six times for a season-high 61 yards to lead Denver in rushing. It certainly wasn't pretty for most of this game, but Nix turned it on late to finish with a respectable performance. He has a 5:1 TD-to-interception the last three weeks and has shown progress running the offense. The 24-year-old's fantasy needle is pointing up slightly as a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues heading into next Thursday's matchup against the Saints.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Oct 13 11:50pm ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London drew 10 targets in Sunday's 38-20 victory over the Panthers, converting those looks into six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. That makes three consecutive games with double-digit targets and five straight with at least six receptions after beginning the season with a 2-15-0 line in Week 1. The 23-year-old also has TDs in four of his last five games. The former first-round draft pick now has 428 yards on 44 receptions and four touchdowns through six games and is among the league leaders in each of those categories, making him a WR1 for fantasy. The USC product will take on Seattle at home next week, a defense that has allowed big games recently to receivers Deebo Samuel Sr. in Week 6 (3-102-10) and Darius Slayton (8-122-1) in Week 5. With the Falcons favored (-3) and the matchup having one of the highest expected totals on the board (49.5), London should keep rolling in Week 7 as a WR1 for fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Tavion Sanders Oct 13 10:20pm ET
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders caught 5-of-7 targets for 49 yards in Sunday's loss to their division-rival Atlanta Falcons. It was the most productive outing of Sanders' young career thus far, and he's performed well in the stead of teammate Tommy Tremble (concussion). The rookie tight end's five targets in Week 5 were more than Tremble had racked up in any contest this season, and he might have made a case for a more prominent role even when the injured Tremble returns to the lineup. It's a case worth monitoring, though the future of this offense is murky. For now, Andy Dalton is the quarterback, but for how long has yet to be determined. The 21-year-old could be busy again in Week 7 when he lines up against a Washington Commanders squad that came into this Sunday averaging the most points in the NFL. However, he'll be tough to trust as a viable source of fantasy output, especially if Tremble is active.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Oct 13 10:13pm ET
Tyler Allgeier

Dynasty | Falcons running back Bijan Robinson had 95 rushing yards, three catches, ten receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win against Carolina. Dynasty Analysis: That's the good news. The bad news is the fact Tyler Allgeier had 18 carries (Robinson had 15) and scored a touchdown of his own. At this point, it is what it is - Robinson is a committee back who is going to be stuck in somewhere around a 60/40 touch-share with Allgeier for the foreseeable future. While he'll have RB1 days like this, he's also a player who has a lower floor than many had expected. Robinson's dynasty value is slipping a touch while Allgeier's is rising.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Ja'Tavion Sanders Oct 13 10:13pm ET
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Dynasty | Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders had five catches for 49 yards in a loss to the Falcons. Dynasty Analysis: Sanders had just eight catches for 41 yards on the season, so today's line (and seven targets) are a good sign for him moving forward. While the Panthers offense can't be trusted on a weekly basis, this should at least put Sanders on the map. He's a solid hold moving forward as Carolina tries to right the ship.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Xavier Legette Oct 13 10:13pm ET
Xavier Legette

Dynasty | Panthers rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette had three catches for 23 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Falcons. Dynasty Analysis: Legette still hasn't passed 200 total receiving yards on the season but you can certainly tell he has some talent. The Panthers are a mess and Legette hasn't been given much of a fighting chance all season, so today was a good day. He remains a solid buy candidate as a rookie receiver who hasn't hit his stride but has some solid long-term potential.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Justin Fields Oct 13 10:13pm ET
Justin Fields

Dynasty | Steelers quarterback Justin Fields completed 14-of-24 passes for 145 yards, adding 59 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a blowout win over Las Vegas. Dynasty Analysis: Fields hasn't been very inspiring as a passer this year, but his rushing ability has won Pittsburgh some games and kept his dynasty value afloat. Most importantly, he has just one turnover all season through six games and has done nothing but keep the Steelers in football games. At this point, Fields' dynasty value is stable and it would be a shock to see Pittsburgh turn to Russell Wilson while he keeps winning games.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Najee Harris Oct 13 10:13pm ET
Najee Harris

Dynasty | Steelers running back Najee Harris had 106 rushing yards and a touchdown in a win against the Raiders. Dynasty Analysis: He added 16 receiving yards on two catches and posted his big day on just 14 carries. This was a much-needed big performance from Harris, who was likely benched by a host of dynasty managers this afternoon. While we need to see a lot more before trusting him, Harris still seems like the clear RB1 in Pittsburgh and a threat to score every week.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Brock Bowers Oct 13 10:13pm ET
Brock Bowers

Dynasty | Raiders tight end Brock Bowers had nine catches for 71 yards in a loss to Pittsburgh. Dynasty Analysis: Bowers now has 37 catches through six games, putting him on pace for more than 100 on the season. While dynasty managers may be frustrated at the lack of touchdowns (he has just one), it's hard to look at Bowers and not see the future TE1 in dynasty leagues. He's locked and loaded in lineups moving forward and a player to build around moving forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jared Goff Oct 13 10:13pm ET
Jared Goff

Dynasty | Lions quarterback Jared Goff completed 18-of-25 passes for 315 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 47-9 road demolition of the Dallas Cowboys. Dynasty Analysis: Despite going 18-of-18 last week, this was Goff's best game of the season as he simply carved up the Dallas defense and did whatever he wanted. The Lions are rolling and Goff looks like he's hitting his stride. While dynasty managers are always going to complain about the lack of rushing yards, Goff is again in the weekly QB1 conversation as he looks like he's getting into a serious groove. He remains one of the more underrated dynasty quarterbacks and a clear target for contending teams in need of a signal caller.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dak Prescott Oct 13 10:13pm ET
Dak Prescott

Dynasty | Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completed 17-of-33 passes for 178 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in a home blowout loss to Detroit. Dynasty Analysis: Prescott traditionally has some serious ups and downs, but this was a truly awful performance. He routinely missed open receivers and was outdueled by Detroit quarterback Jared Goff on his home turf. With just eight touchdown passes and six interceptions through six games, it's time to start wondering if dynasty teams can truly count on him as a QB1 moving forward this season. In short, it may be time to panic.

From Dynasty League Fantasy