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: Bender's Favorite NFL DFS Pickem Picks: Week 11
- FANTASY EXCLUSIVE: RealTime DFS Strategy: Week 11
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 11
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 11
- YOUTUBE VIDEO: Bender DFS Pickem Plays: Week 11
- Jaguars could fire GM, coach Doug Pederson during bye week
- 49ers TE George Kittle expected to sit vs. Seahawks
- Raiders activate TE Michael Mayer
- Patriots waiving WR Tyquan Thornton
- Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 11
- Seahawks C Connor Williams retires, WR DK Metcalf set to return
- Texans star WR Nico Collins (hamstring) will return vs. Cowboys
- Lions TE Sam LaPorta (shoulder) sitting out vs. Jaguars
- Bears OG Teven Jenkins (ankle) out, DE Montez Sweat (ankle) questionable vs. Pack
- Packers rookie RB MarShawn Lloyd out with appendicitis
- Jets expect WR Davante Adams (wrist/illness) to play vs. Colts
- Week 11 NFL Capsules
- Bengals WR Tee Higgins (quad) to return vs. Chargers
- Bills' Dalton Kincaid out, Amari Cooper questionable vs. Chiefs
- Chiefs K Harrison Butker undergoes surgery on left knee
- Chiefs pluck untested Spencer Shrader from Jets, place PK Harrison Butker (knee) on IR
- Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (wrist) plans to play, claims surgery on table
- Cowboys to proceed with Rico Dowdle as lead RB
- Lions TE Sam LaPorta (shoulder) misses practice again
- Week 11 TNF: Commanders-Eagles Preview, Props & Prediction
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Rankings
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Rankings PPR
- Fantasy Six Pack: Fantasy Football Start-Sit Week 11 | Lamb Chopped? Should You Start CeeDee Lamb?
- Fantasy Life: Best Bets For Sunday Night Football Week 11: Chargers vs Bengals
- Fantasy Life: Week 11 Fantasy Football Replacements For George Kittle
- Fantasy Life: Week 11 Afternoon Slate Betting Guide
- Fantasy Life: Deep Sleepers To Stream In Week 11
- Fantasy Life: Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Jonathan Taylor, Jauan Jennings, and More
The Paur Report
Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 11
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (back) is expected to suit up on Monday night against the Houston Texans. The 25-year-old popped up on the injury report with a back injury on Saturday, resulting in a limited practice session. However, head coach Mike McCarthy already indicated Lamb's injury was" not of high concern," so the latest update suggests he's nearly guaranteed to get on the field. Of course, anything can happen, and setbacks occur, meaning fantasy managers should have a backup plan just in case. If Lamb can't play on Monday, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, and Jake Ferguson would be the favorites to see an uptick in attention from Cooper Rush.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (knee) should return from injured reserve as soon as he is eligible to be activated, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. That timeline would put him on track to play in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns. Glazer noted that Butker tore his meniscus and had two potential surgery options: a full repair and a less extensive trim. A full repair would have ended Butker's season, but he and the Chiefs chose the surgery with the trim, so he should be good to go by Week 15.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tyler Boyd (back) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. He was a late addition to the injury report on Saturday, garnering a "questionable" designation despite being a full participant in practice all week long. Boyd has appeared in all nine games this year but hasn't caught a pass since Week 8 against Detroit. On the season, he has 21 catches, 184 yards, and zero touchdowns. He's off the fantasy radar in his current role behind Calvin Ridley on a struggling Titans squad.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kadarius Toney is active for Sunday's Week 11 game against the New Orleans Saints. The 25-year-old was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday and will make both his Browns debut and his season debut on Sunday afternoon. Toney is expected to operate behind Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, and Cedric Tillman, keeping him off the fantasy radar for the time being.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) is officially active for Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams. He had been listed as questionable after logging three limited practices in a row. Dugger's presence on Sunday marks the end of a three-week absence for the talented defender. He'll provide a key reinforcement to the Patriots' defense as they look to slow down an offense featuring Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints. With Nick Chubb now back to 100 percent and Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. playing well in their depth roles, there simply isn't room within Cleveland's backfield for Foreman, an NFL veteran. Fantasy managers can justify dropping him in most leagues.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula) is expected to be healthy before next week's game against the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. This is a promising update, but it's important to note that Rapoport described Pacheco as "expected to be healthy" rather than "expected to play." In a follow-up post on X, Rapoport noted that the Chiefs have a short week in Week 13, so "it's a coaching decision for whether Pacheco plays" next Sunday against the Panthers. In any case, he expects Pacheco to be ready for his return from injured reserve, whether that comes in Week 12 against the Panthers or Week 13 against the Raiders. He'll rank as a high-end RB2 upon his return but could lose some opportunities to Kareem Hunt, who has performed quite well as the Chiefs' fill-in workhorse running back.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. Bryant had not been listed on the injury report, and his absence is a direct result of Michael Mayer (personal) returning from an extended absence on Sunday. Even with Mayer taking Bryant's place on the gameday roster, Brock Bowers remains the only Raiders tight end worth starting in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He had been listed as questionable after missing three consecutive practices. The 33-year-old hasn't missed a snap since Week 4, and he'll look to extend that streak when the Dolphins host the Raiders in Miami. His presence is great news for fantasy managers who have Tua Tagovailoa, De'Von Achane, or Raheem Mostert in their lineups.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams. This is the fourth time this season that Osborn has been sidelined. The veteran receiver expressed interest in being moved at the trade deadline, but New England held onto him and is now making him inactive as they prioritize reps for some of their younger pass-catchers. Osborn should be dropped in all fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) is active on Sunday for the Week 11 contest against the Cleveland Browns, while rookie receiver Mason Tipton is a healthy inactive. With Chris Olave (concussion) on Injured Reserve and Rashid Shaheed (knee) out for the season, the Saints' receiving corps is extremely thin. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has essentially become quarterback Derek Carr's top receiving target now after going for three catches, 109 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 10 win over the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Wilson, meanwhile, missed two of the last three games with hip and shoulder injuries, but he should have a significant role on Sunday against Cleveland in his return. Still, the 28-year-old should be considered a desperation flex option in deeper fantasy leagues in a Saints offense that runs through running back Alvin Kamara.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) stayed in Los Angeles to see a specialist following last Monday's game against the Rams, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Hill has been dealing with a lingering wrist issue since a joint practice with the Washington Commanders back in training camp. While it hasn't been enough to hold him out of a game yet, he has repeatedly appeared on the injury report. After visiting with the specialist, Pelissero notes that surgery is on the table for Hill, but it's unclear if an operation would even fix the injury. In the interim, Hill continues to manage his pain and play through his injury. He's officially active for Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders and will be a "full-go", according to Pelissero. The speedy receiver is looking to bounce back from last week's modest showing in which he caught three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) is expected to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11 despite being listed as questionable, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. However, Schefter was less certain about the veteran receiver's usage, saying, "We'll see if it's in full capacity." As a result, fantasy managers should feel comfortable deploying Cooper as nothing more than a WR3/FLEX. He has been productive when healthy, but a potential snap count or partial decoy role could limit some of his upside on Sunday.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints WR Cedrick Wilson (shoulder) is officially active for the Week 11 game.
Fantasy Spin: Wilson should see a decent amount of targets in the passing game after missing some time because of the injury. He can be a possible flex option in deeper leagues.
From TheHuddle
New York Jets WR Davante Adams (illness, wrist) is active for Week 11's game versus the Indianapolis Colts.
Fantasy Spin: Adams had been listed as questionable on the injury report after only participating in one of the Jets' three practice sessions during the week. In four games with New York, he has 20 receptions with 206 yards and a touchdown and has been targeted 39 times. He should be a starting option in all fantasy formats.
From TheHuddle
Tennessee Titans WR Tyler Boyd (back) is officially active for the Week 11 game.
Fantasy Spin: Boyd was a late addition to the injury report but appears ready to be involved in the offense this week. He has not been targeted in either of the last two games and can be avoided in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) is active for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. He had been listed as questionable despite being a full participant in practice this week. A personal matter had sidelined Mayer since Week 4, but he was activated from injured reserve on Saturday and is officially suiting up in Week 11. He'll presumably operate as the direct backup to Brock Bowers. Mayer remains off the fantasy radar for the time being.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (wrist, illness) is officially active for Week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts. He had been listed as questionable. The veteran receiver missed two consecutive practices before returning in a full capacity on Friday. He has impressed through four games with the Jets, amassing 39 targets, 20 catches, 206 yards, and one touchdown. The 31-year-old ranks as a strong WR3/FLEX option against the Colts.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) is officially inactive for Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. He had been listed as doubtful. Pruitt endured a five-week absence earlier in the season, returned for three games, and is now sidelined again. He has appeared in five contests, catching just two of four targets for 19 yards. Pruitt's absence leaves Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward as Pittsburgh's healthy options at tight end.
From RotoBaller
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (back) is officially active for Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. Warren had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction ahead of kickoff. He missed practice on Thursday before returning in a limited capacity on Friday. The 26-year-old has operated as the clear backup to Najee Harris this season, totaling 55 carries for 217 rushing yards and 14 catches for 96 receiving yards over the course of seven games. He did have his best performance of the season last week, totaling 66 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards. He also added 56 kick return yards but lost a fumble. Warren ranks as a low-end fantasy RB3 versus Baltimore's strong run defense.
From RotoBaller
