Guest of the League
TBL2 Est. 2008
FFL: Week 2 | NFL: Week 2

The Weekly Bender: You Can Always Come Home

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

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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!

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The Paur Report

Fantasy Preview: Week 2

Player Notes
Jordan Love Sep 14 12:10pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has kept the door open for quarterback Jordan Love (knee) to play in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, listing him as questionable for Sunday's game, but a source said, "That's not happening." Love suffered an MCL sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil and has not been medically cleared to play. The Packers hope Love is week-to-week with his knee injury, but the reality is that the Week 3 contest against the Tennessee Titans is considered by those in the know to be "a long shot." The most optimistic timeline would have Love back in Week 4 to face the Minnesota Vikings. He's expected to wear a knee brace when he does return. For now, the Packers are planning to roll with former Titans QB Malik Willis under center. Fantasy managers should expect a run-heavy approach with a lot of Josh Jacobs this weekend against the Colts.

From RotoBaller

Deshaun Watson Sep 14 12:10pm ET
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson not only had a rough season opener in the blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but he's facing a new civil lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted a woman in 2020. Despite Watson's struggles in Week 1, there is a belief in the building that Watson can rediscover his on-field magic and there have been no talks about benching him in favor of Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Watson's contract has been the subject of media scrutiny the last several days, but there are too many unknowns to say anything definitively. However, there appears to be a chance the Browns could void guarantees in Watson's contract if he didn't alert the team about the new civil suit and an NFL investigation reveals the lawsuit to be credible. On the field, Watson is quickly falling in the QB2 ranks as he heads into a Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Sep 14 10:50am ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff had a mediocre start to the 2024 season. Goff passed for 217 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Goff faced off against one of the easiest passing defenses in the league in Week 1, now he has to go against a better defense in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Goff has done well against them in the past, throwing for 353 yards and two touchdowns last season in Week 6. Tampa Bay will also be without star defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. With week one behind them, the Detroit Lions should only be getting better, making Goff a high mid-level fantasy QB going into Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Sep 14 10:40am ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had a disappointing Week 1 performance. The Lions star receiver will look to bounce back against the Tampa Buccaneers in Week 2. St. Brown had three catches on six targets for only 13 yards. Most of the air yards went to Jameson Williams, who led the team in targets, catches, yards, and receiving touchdowns. St. Brown is still, without a doubt, the team's first option, but the USC product will see a more challenging matchup in Tampa Bay's defense. He should definitely see improvement from his season opener, as St. Brown has had a better Week 2 than Week 1 in every season of his career. He also had 12 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 last year against the Buccaneers. As always, St. Brown is a must-start in all fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Sep 14 10:00am ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is in line to start this Sunday against the Denver Broncos, and the team is also preparing for him to start in Week 3, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Fields has been the Steelers' primary quarterback lately with Russell Wilson (calf) nursing an injury. Fields didn't score a touchdown in Week 1, but he was still solid, completing 74 percent of his passes for 156 yards through the air and also rushing 14 times for 57 yards on the ground. Furthermore, he wasn't responsible for any turnovers. The former first-round pick helped lead Pittsburgh to victory over the Falcons and their respectable defense, so he's poised for a strong showing against a less-intimidating Broncos defense in Week 2. Fields' rushing upside puts him in the fringe top-12 quarterbacks range.

From RotoBaller

Boston Scott Sep 14 10:00am ET
Boston Scott

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released running back Boston Scott from their practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The veteran running back is now looking for his third team of the year after failed stints with the Steelers and Los Angeles Rams. His veteran presence and previous production in Philadelphia should help him earn a practice squad opportunity. His effectiveness has taken a step back in recent years, but he's still only a few seasons removed from providing the Eagles with 450-plus scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. Regardless of where Scott's career takes him next, he's off the radar in all fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Joey Slye Sep 14 9:50am ET
Joey Slye

New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye will have his production limited in Week 2 due to the Patriots' reduced scoring impact. For example, DraftKings has the Patriots scoring around 17 points against the Seattle Seahawks, which leaves very few kicking chances for Slye. Given the state of the Patriots' offense, he'd likely need one or two longer field goals in order to even get on the fantasy radar. It's certainly possible Slye exceeds expectations like he did last week when he converted three field goals, but that's true for every kicker. With kickers' fantasy points being so dependent on consistent scoring opportunities, Slye can be left on waivers in most formats.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Sep 14 9:40am ET
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas should be avoided in most fantasy leagues ahead of the team's home opener against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. Douglas has been one of the Patriots' most reliable pass-catchers since the middle of the 2023 season, but his volume has taken a hit with New England relying on its rushing attack and defense to keep them competitive. Jacoby Brissett isn't being asked to throw a lot, which means Douglas and his fellow receivers should continue to prepare for minimal value. In last week's season opener, for example, he registered just 12 yards on a pair of receptions. Until we see any sort of higher-level production out of Douglas, he can be left on fantasy waivers.

From RotoBaller

K.J. Osborn Sep 14 9:40am ET
K.J. Osborn

New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn started on offense and led the team's receivers in snaps, targets, and catches last Sunday, but he's still off the fantasy radar heading into Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. Last week, the Patriots emphasized a reliance on their defense and rushing attack to keep them competitive, and that shouldn't change against Seattle. Therefore, with reduced volume in the passing game, Osborn might not get enough looks to put him even near the fantasy radar. For the time being, it's tough to trust any Patriots receiver in fantasy football, including Osborn.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Sep 14 9:40am ET
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has struggled to produce consistent fantasy points during his time with the team, including last week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, Henry remains far from a lock to see meaningful volume. The Patriots have placed an emphasis on letting their defense and rushing attack carry them, which leads to fewer looks for all receivers in the passing game. At this point, we can't expect Henry to get more than a few catches every game, especially with Austin Cooper seemingly stealing a decent portion of opportunities. Henry is heavily touchdown-dependent and can be avoided in most fantasy leagues this week, even despite injuries at the position necessitating plenty of lineup adjustments.

From RotoBaller

Rhamondre Stevenson Sep 14 9:30am ET
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is coming off a dominant season-opening performance and has entered must-start territory ahead of Week 2 versus the Seattle Seahawks. Stevenson rushed 25 times for 120 yards last week, with the vast majority of his yardage coming after contact. He also found the end zone and caught three short passes. Stevenson continues to have a very firm grasp on the lead-back role in New England, and he should continue to see significant volume this week, especially in a somewhat favorable matchup against the Seahawks. Seattle doesn't have a great run defense, and New England has shown a clear commitment to pounding the rock on the ground. Stevenson is a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside.

From RotoBaller

Tyquan Thornton Sep 14 9:30am ET
Tyquan Thornton

New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton did start on offense in Week 1, but his No. 3 receiver role in an offense with minimal passing volume keeps him off the fantasy radar for the time being. Quite simply, the Patriots will rely on their defense and rushing attack to win games, and their passing attack will merely be a secondary component. There aren't nearly enough targets to go around to support any major fantasy performances from the receivers, and that includes Thornton ahead of Week 2 versus Seattle. He can be left on waivers in all redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Luke Schoonmaker Sep 14 9:20am ET
Luke Schoonmaker

Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker is expected to start in Week 2 after Jake Ferguson (knee) was listed as doubtful to play. There had been some speculation that Ferguson might not miss any games after injuring himself last week, but it looks like he'll end up being held out for at least one contest. On a positive note, he should be able to avoid an IR stint. Ferguson's short-term absence means that Schoonmaker should see additional volume against the New Orleans Saints. He might not take 100 percent of Ferguson's snaps and targets, but he'll definitely get more looks from Dak Prescott. As a result, his fantasy value is slightly elevated this week. He's a low-end TE2 heading into the clash with New Orleans.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Sep 14 9:20am ET
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett is one week removed from leading his team to a big upset victory on the road. Even after the Patriots' impressive win, Brissett is not a reliable option in fantasy football heading into Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. New England won last game largely thanks to its defense, Rhamondre Stevenson's production after contact, and Brissett's poise and veteran presence. Unfortunately, you don't get fantasy points for being calm in the pocket, and Brissett didn't exactly produce major yardage or touchdowns. The passing game is expected to remain relatively quiet this Sunday, so while Brissett is always a candidate to notch a touchdown, his role in this low passing volume offense drops him outside the top 24 fantasy quarterbacks for Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Ben Skowronek Sep 14 9:10am ET
Ben Skowronek

The Pittsburgh Steelers have elevated wide receiver Ben Skowronek from the practice squad to the 53-man roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. The 27-year-old was elevated last week, too, but only played on special teams. Pittsburgh will rely on its running game and defense to win games this year, so there isn't much room for the Steelers' depth receivers to make a significant impact. Skowronek remains off the fantasy radar heading into Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Trent McDuffie Sep 14 5:10am ET
Trent McDuffie

The Kansas City Chiefs defense will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals offense in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season. The Chiefs defense had a tough test in Week 1, facing the dangerous Baltimore Ravens, but this matchup should be much more manageable. The Bengals are coming off a loss to the New England Patriots, who held them to just 10 points in their season opener. The Bengals will also be without one of the primary weapons of offense, wide receiver Tee Higgins. Higgins will miss their Week 2 matchup with a hamstring injury. The absence of Higgins leaves Ja'Marr Chase as the only star receiver for Cincinnati. With All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie anchoring the Kansas City secondary, the Bengals should have a tough time passing the ball. Things will not be much easier for Cincinnati on the ground, as the Chiefs just held Derrick Henry to 46 rushing yards on 13 carries. The Kansas City Chiefs defense is a strong start this week against the Bengals and should continue to be a strong start most weeks.

From RotoBaller

Harrison Butker Sep 14 4:50am ET
Harrison Butker

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. Butker had a productive night against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. The Chiefs kicker nailed both field goal attempts, nailing a game-long 32-yarder, and went 3/3 on his extra point attempts. Butker only missed two field goals and did not miss a single extra point attempt last season, so he has demonstrated his ability to be one of the most accurate kickers in the league. Being on the Chiefs high-powered offense gives Butker the chance to be a difference-maker for fantasy every week. The Kansas City Chiefs should have many opportunities on offense, and Mahomes should do enough to put the team within field goal range on most drives against the Cincinnati Bengals defense. Butker is one of the most valuable kickers in football and should be a start this week.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Sep 14 4:40am ET
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2. The Chiefs first-round rookie had a massive game in Week 1, scoring two touchdowns, but that production came on just three touches. Worthy will have an easier opponent this week since he faced the Baltimore Ravens stingy defense in his NFL debut. The Bengals allowed the sixth-most receiving yards in 2023, so the rookie wideout should find success in this contest. News also broke that the Chiefs placed fellow wide receiver Marquise Brown on injured reserve, so Worthy should quickly fill the WR2 role in Kansas City for the foreseeable future. The Chiefs will likely incorporate Worthy into the offensive game plan more as the season progresses, so the sky is the limit for the young speedster. Worthy is a worthy flex play with upside this week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

From RotoBaller

Matt Prater Sep 14 4:30am ET
Matt Prater

Week 1 of the 2024 season saw several kickers put up extraordinary amounts of points. Five kickers had multiple field goals from 50+ yards out, three of them also hitting two tries from the 40-49-yard range. Nine other kickers also made good from 50 yards or more. Unfortunately, Matt Prater was not one of them. The 40-year-old veteran did convert all of his attempts though, netting field goals from 29 and 31 yards out and banging home two extra points. In Week 2, the Cardinals host the Rams in their home opener in what is expected to be one of the highest-scoring games of the week. Prater may not have had a chance to kick from distance in the season opener but he has a strong leg and the benefit of playing in a dome in Week 2. Fantasy managers looking for a solution at kicker can fire up Prater on Sunday without worry.

From RotoBaller

Andrei Iosivas Sep 14 4:30am ET
Andrei Iosivas

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas received plenty of hype entering Week 1 against the Patriots due to uncertainty surrounding the availability of Ja'Marr Chase (illness, hold-in) and Tee Higgins (hamstring). Chase was on the field while Higgins was ruled out, leading many to believe Iosivas would still benefit. However, that didn't happen, with the 24-year-old ending the day with three catches for 26 yards. Chase doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of the Week 2 meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs. On the other hand, Higgins will likely remain on the shelf. Unfortunately, too many questions surround the Bengals offense, including the health of Joe Burrow (wrist). As a result, Iosivas shouldn't be considered anything more than a flex option in 12-team fantasy leagues, although nobody can blame anyone for keeping him out of the starting lineup.

From RotoBaller