The Weekly Bender: You Can Always Come Home
Fri Jul 5 6:00pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer
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!
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Lineup Prep: Week 7
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Waivering: Week 7
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Weekly Bender: Not All Change is Good
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: Studs and Duds: Week 6
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 7
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 6
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 6
- Giants OT Andrew Thomas (foot) could miss rest of season
- Lions signing DT Alim McNeill to 4-year, $97M deal
- Packers signing K Brandon McManus, releasing Brayden Narveson
- Vikings acquire RB Cam Akers from Texans
- Cardinals place K Matt Prater, DL Bilal Nichols on IR, promote K Chad Ryland
- Tom Brady's 5 percent stake in Raiders unanimously approved
- Atlanta to host Super Bowl LXII in 2028
- Bills acquire WR Amari Cooper from Browns
- Steelers open door for Russell Wilson to start
- Sportsbooks applaud Jets adding Davante Adams
- Jerry Jones lashes out at radio hosts after Cowboys' loss
- Jets give Haason Reddick short trade window
- Lions get DE help from Bengals' practice squad
- Eagles assessing options in wake of injury to LT Jordan Mailata
- Jets finalizing trade to acquire Davante Adams
- Bills RB James Cook (toe) inactive vs. Jets
- Broncos' Sean Payton preparing for 'unique' New Orleans return
- Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh to wear monitor after heart episode
- Nick Sirianni sorry for jawing with Eagles fans
- Raheem Morris praises Tyler Allgeier after Falcons' third straight win
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 7 | Get Up With Josh Downs
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Usage Report Week 6 | Nick Chubb Mode Activated?
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Players to Drop Week 7 | See You Later Javonte Williams
- Fantasy Six Pack: IDP Waiver Wire Week 7
- Fantasy Life: 2 Big WR Trades Shake Things Up
- Fantasy Life: Guillotine League Mailbag: Week 7 Strategy & FAAB Targets
- Fantasy Life: Quarterbacks for Fantasy Football Week 7: Jayden Daniels Smash Spot
- Fantasy Life: Wide Receivers For Fantasy Football Week 7: A.J Brown, DeMario Douglas, and More
- Fantasy Life: Tight Ends For Fantasy Football Week 7: Point Ahead to Brock Bowers
- Fantasy Life: Running Backs For Fantasy Football Week 7: Kyren Williams is a smash play
The Paur Report
Dynasty | The Titans have signed running back Joshua Kelley to their practice squad. Dynasty Analysis: This could be an indication Tyjae Spears is going to miss some time with a hamstring injury. Kelley was having a hard time finding a home after never really turning out to be a difference maker with the Chargers. He could have some value should the Titans call him up, but he's not a player to spend your free agent money on at the moment.
Dynasty | The Bills have released wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Dynasty Analysis: The Bills needed to make a move after trading for Amari Cooper, and MVS gets the axe. He had just two catches for 26 yards on the season, so this comes as little surprise. With Davante Adams being traded to the Jets, it's also unlikely he has a home there as a retread with Aaron Rodgers. Instead, MVS will need to look elsewhere for employment. He should be picked up by a receiver-needy team, but he's well off the dynasty radar.
Dynasty | The Texans have traded running back Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings. Dynasty Analysis: Houston will get a conditional sixth round pick in exchange for Akers and a seventh round conditional selection. In other words, Minnesota grabs Akers on the cheap for the second straight season and will hope he can help out should Aaron Jones miss time. Akers could be a decent fill-in but his career has clearly reached "journeyman" status. Akers could carve out some short-term value in Minnesota, but time will tell.
Dynasty | The Tampa Bay Bucs are signing wide receiver Marquez Callaway. Dynasty Analysis: Once a fairly sought after dynasty asset, Callaway was last seen attempting to make the Steelers roster. He'll add some depth to a suddenly explosive Tampa Bay offense but will need an injury or two to make any kind of an impact in fantasy or reality.
New York Jets safety Chuck Clark (ankle) has been placed on the injured reserve on Tuesday. This news comes a day after Clark was forced to exit early during Monday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. Clark exited that game in the first half due to a high-ankle sprain. He will now be forced to miss the next four games after being placed on the IR. Ashtyn Davis stepped in at strong safety and played well in the absence of Clark. The expectation is that Davis will continue starting until Clark is ready to play again. Davis should be a viable option, but he is still a downgrade defensively over a stud like Clark.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (ankle) was limited for the second straight day ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos. It appears Wilson picked up an ankle injury over the weekend and is uncertain to play this Thursday. Wilson has been quiet this season, but he posted his best game of the season last week. He hauled in two of his three targets for 28 yards in the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Normally, Wilson would be a non-factor in the offense, but the Saints are banged up right now. Both Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) are on the injury report and in danger of missing Thursday's game. If that happens, Wilson could end up with a bigger role in the offense.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent wide receiver Marquez Callaway is reportedly expected to sign a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This seems like an odd move given the Bucs do have a crowded receiver room. Callaway last played with the New Orleans Saints during the 2023 season. His best season came in 2021 when he hauled in 46 receptions for 698 yards and six touchdowns. Since then, Callaway hasn't done much on the field and figures to be depth on the practice squad. It would take a few injuries at wide receiver for Callaway to start making an impact in Tampa Bay.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants PK Greg Joseph is expected to keep his job if PK Graham Gano (hamstring) is not activated off injured reserve this week, head coach Brian Daboll said on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
From TheHuddle
The Green Bay Packers signed former Jacksonville Jaguars veteran kicker Brandon McManus to a one-year deal on Tuesday, according to a source. McManus is expected to be kicking for the team right away in Week 7 this Sunday versus the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field. It's been a revolving door at kicker in Green Bay for the last several seasons. Rookie Anders Carlson was wildly inconsistent last year before Brayden Narveson missed five of his 17 field-goal tries in six games this year. The Packers will be hoping the 33-year-old McManus can bring some stability to the position. In his 10 years in the NFL (nine with the Denver Broncos), McManus has made 81.4% of his field-goal attempts. In 17 games last year for Jacksonville, he went 30-for-37 on field goals and 35-for-35 on extra points. He could quickly return to the fantasy radar with the Packers.
From RotoBaller
The Detroit Lions and defensive tackle Alim McNeill reached an agreement on an undisclosed four-year contract extension on Tuesday. McNeil was in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 after the Lions selected him in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2021 NFL draft out of North Carolina State. The 24-year-old had 112 tackles (49 solo), eight sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in his first three years in Detroit. Through five games in 2024, McNeill has picked up eight tackles (five solo), 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, four QB hits and a pass breakup. He's not exactly on the fantasy radar in IDP leagues, but McNeill just became a lot more important to Detroit's defensive line with star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson (leg) out for the year.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent S Adrian Amos (Jaguars) signed an undisclosed contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, Oct. 15, per his agents.
From TheHuddle
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said on Tuesday that the league's review of the most recent sexual-assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is ongoing, despite the fact that Watson's camp already settled the latest lawsuit with the plaintiff. If the NFL finds that the newest complaint rises to a new violation of their personal-conduct policy, it can levy further sanctions against Watson, including another suspension, a fine or more counseling. Not only has Watson looked terrible in 2024 through the first six weeks of the season, but he just lost his top receiver -- Amari Cooper was traded to the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday -- and the possibility of another suspension is on the table. Through the first six weeks, Watson checks in as the QB24 in overall fantasy points and should only be rostered in superflex leagues at this point.
From RotoBaller
The Tennessee Titans signed free-agent running back Joshua Kelley to their practice squad on Tuesday and promoted defensive back Tre Avery from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster in a corresponding move. Kelley comes to the Titans after spending training camp this summer with the New York Giants before they released him prior to the start of the regular season. The 26-year-old was originally drafted in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 out of UCLA. Kelley spent his first four years in the NFL in LA, averaging 3.6 yards per carry while scoring six rushing touchdowns on 320 total carries. For now, he'll provide extra depth at RB for Tennessee after Tyjae Spears suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 6 loss to the division-rival Indianapolis Colts. For now, fantasy managers can continue to ignore Kelley.
From RotoBaller
The Buffalo Bills released wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Tuesday, a move done to create space for the newly acquired Amari Cooper, according to a source. Even with Buffalo having questionable receiver depth after the offseason departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, Valdes-Scantling was an afterthought in the Bills offense in his six games with the team. He caught two of his nine targets for 26 yards and no scores. The 30-year-old will now hit the open market and look to latch on with another team for the rest of the 2024 campaign. His most likely destination is probably back with the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been looking for receiving reinforcements since losing both Rashee Rice (knee) and Marquise Brown (shoulder) for the entire season. A return to KC might make MVS worth a waiver-wire flier in deeper leagues.
From RotoBaller
The Arizona Cardinals placed kicker Matt Prater (knee) and defensive lineman Bilal Nichols (neck) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, meaning both players will have to miss at least the next four games. Nichols will miss the rest of the season. To replace Prater on the active 53-man roster, the Cardinals elevated Chad Ryland from the practice squad. In the last two games with Prater out, Ryland has gone 5-for-6 on field goals and made both of his extra points. Prater made all six of his field goals and went 10-for-10 on extra points in his four games, surpassing the career 1,800-point plateau. The earliest Prater will be eligible to return from IR will be after the team's Week 11 bye for a Week 12 contest against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. Ryland will be a poor streaming option for fantasy managers in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Tuesday that wide receiver Mike Williams (head) cleared the league's concussion protocol after he was being examined by trainers late in the Monday night loss to the division-rival Buffalo Bills. Williams suffered a head injury late in the game in Week 6 and was unable to catch all three of his targets to add injury to insult. He also received criticism from quarterback Aaron Rodgers for running the wrong route on the final play for the Jets that led to an interception. It's just all bad for the 30-year-old. The Jets finally acquired receiver Davante Adams from the Raiders on Tuesday, and now the team is planning to ship Williams out of town. At this point, a change of scenery might be best for Williams, who has caught just 10 passes for 145 yards and no touchdowns in six games for Gang Green this year.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (ribs) was limited on Tuesday for the second straight day this week and could have a shot to return to action this Thursday night when the team hosts the Denver Broncos to kick off Week 7 action. If Hill is active this week, the 34-year-old Swiss Army knife could see more run either under center or in the backfield with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler expected to make his second career start with Derek Carr (oblique) sidelined. However, we still wouldn't recommend Hill for starting fantasy lineups in most leagues as an unpredictable gadget player essentially. He's also missed three games due to injury this year, including the last two weeks. Hill does have two TDs in three games in 2024, but it's come on just 14 carries for 77 yards while adding two catches for two yards.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that he thinks running back James Cook (toe) has a chance to play in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Cook was listed as questionable for the Week 6 game on Monday night against the division-rival New York Jets and was looking like a good bet to play last Saturday, but the Bills ended up playing it safe and holding him out in the 23-20 victory. Rookie Ray Davis showcased his abilities, carrying the ball 20 times for 97 yards while also catching three passes for 55 yards. Regardless of whether the 25-year-old Cook is able to get back on the field this weekend, Davis' impressive performance on Monday night warrants attention on the waiver wire in all fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in only 14% of Yahoo leagues. We'll have a better idea of Cook's Week 7 status once the Bills resume practicing on Wednesday.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (hand) was limited in practice on Tuesday for the second day on a short week as the team prepares for a Thursday night matchup against the visiting Denver Broncos. On a short week, the Saints are likely just giving their star running back a little extra rest. The matchup in Week 7 against the Broncos isn't a great one, and Kamara's upside should be tempered again with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler in line to make his second NFL start. However, as long as Kamara is active on Thursday, which he should be, he is a must-start in fantasy lineups. Kamara is currently the RB2 in fantasy points with 104 carries (fourth-most) for 428 yards (seventh-most) and six touchdowns (tied for second-most). His 28 receptions and 238 receiving yards lead all RBs.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) suffered a potential season-ending injury against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6. He is slated to meet with a foot expert to determine the next steps in his recovery. If Thomas were to have surgery to correct the issue, then his season would likely be over. Thomas is about as important an offensive player as any for the Giants. He is the anchor of an already shaky offensive line. His absence would significantly negatively affect the value of quarterback Daniel Jones, running backs Devin Singletary (groin) and Tyrone Tracy Jr., and wide receivers Malik Nabers (concussion) and Wan'Dale Robinson. Fantasy managers should monitor the situation closely.
From RotoBaller
