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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

Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 5

Player Notes
James Cook Oct 6 6:40pm CT
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook rushed the football 20 times for 82 yards and a touchdown in the team's last-second loss to the Houston Texans. The Bills leaned on Cook as the passing offense struggled. Josh Allen completed just nine of his 30 passes. Cook's five-yard touchdown plunge midway through the third quarter was the Bills' first touchdown of the game. Cook added two receptions for 17 yards, finishing just one yard short of 100 total yards. The 25-year-old has established himself as one of Buffalo's most important players on the offensive side of the ball and will be an RB1 when the Bills face the Jets in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Oct 6 6:40pm CT
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) had just one catch (three targets) for 14 yards in Sunday's loss to the Commanders. The 28-year-old had been sidelined since the opener because of an ankle injury. However, there's a chance the team may be without Njoku again, with Mary Kay Cabot reporting he suffered a knee injury during the contest. It's unknown how severe the injury is. Still, it's not ideal for a player who just returned from a three-game absence. At any rate, there should be an update on Njoku's status soon. If he can't suit up in Week 6 against the Eagles, Jordan Akins, who had a touchdown in Week 5, will likely fill the void in the lineup.

From RotoBaller

Keon Coleman Oct 6 6:40pm CT
Keon Coleman

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman caught one of five targets for 49 yards and a touchdown in the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. The rookie secured a reception on a curl route, broke a tackle, and sprinted into the endzone in the third quarter to pull the Bills within three points. Coleman missed several other targets, including one that hit him in the helmet when he wasn't looking. There was no noticeable increase in targets for the second-round pick, despite top receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) being out of the lineup. Coleman will remain a boom/bust option in Week 6 against the New York Jets.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Kincaid Oct 6 6:40pm CT
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid caught two passes for 34 yards in the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. Kincaid tied with Mack Hollins for the team lead in targets. He had a sideline catch that the refs called incomplete that could have been reviewed and just missed on a couple of more opportunities. It's a disappointing result for Kincaid, especially considering top receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) was inactive. However, Josh Allen only completed nine of 30 pass attempts on the afternoon, limiting the upside for Kincaid and the rest of the Buffalo pass-catchers. Kincaid has failed to reach 50 yards in any contest this year and is shaping up to be one of the bigger busts in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Oct 6 6:30pm CT
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews finally broke his streak of goose eggs during the three-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The veteran caught four of his five targets for 55 yards including a 27-yard catch for his longest play of the day. While this game was a move in the right direction for Andrews, the worrisome part was that both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar were still in the mix and they both caught touchdowns. Sharing snaps with Likely was enough to drop his target share, now fantasy managers have to worry about Kolar stealing some targets away too. The biggest factor will be if the Ravens need to throw as much as they did in this game because Lamar Jackson was finally able to spread fantasy points around to more than one pass-catcher. Andrews and the Ravens will take on the Washington Commanders at home in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Josh Allen Oct 6 6:30pm CT
Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed just nine of 30 pass attempts for 131 yards and a touchdown in the team's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. He added 54 yards on the ground on four carries. The rushing yardage helped salvage a disappointing day that saw the Buffalo offense struggle. Allen nearly hit tight end Dalton Kincaid on a couple of big plays and clearly missed his go-to option Khalil Shakir (ankle). The touchdown came on a 49-yard catch-and-run by rookie Keon Coleman in the third quarter. Allen briefly departed the game after taking a big shot and hitting his head on the ground. The medical staff cleared him and he just missed one snap. The Bills draw a matchup against the stout Jets' secondary on Monday Night Football in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Rashod Bateman Oct 6 6:20pm CT
Rashod Bateman

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has already tied his career-high for touchdowns in a single season after hauling in his second of the year on Sunday. During the 41-38 overtime win over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, the fourth-year wideout caught four of his eight targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. The coaching staff hyped up Bateman's growth and hard work throughout the offseason, and so far, he's looked deserving of the positive feedback. His yards per target are currently at a career-high (10.3). and he has his second-highest catch percentage (64.3%). Zay Flowers remains the No. 1 weapon of the receiving corps, but Bateman has been a quality outlet for quarterback Lamar Jackson. He'll look to keep the good times rolling against the Washington Commanders in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Oct 6 6:20pm CT
Justin Fields

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (ankle) is active for Sunday's meeting with the Steelers. The veteran was a late addition to the injury report. However, there were reports things were moving in a favorable direction, so the latest update isn't surprising to fantasy managers. While the Cowboys defense will certainly benefit with Diggs active, his presence isn't good news for Justin Fields, who is coming off a stellar showing in the Week 4 loss to the Colts.

From RotoBaller

Charlie Kolar Oct 6 6:10pm CT
Charlie Kolar

Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar scored the second touchdown of his career in the overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The third-stringer registered three receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown on four targets. He was the second-most targeted tight end in this game with Mark Andrews getting five and Isaiah Likely getting three. Kolar normally serves as a blocking tight end in big packages, but he had a big part in the passing game in this one. He even had the longest play for the Ravens on a 55-yard catch-and-run. Fantasy managers with stock in any of the Ravens' tight ends will continue to see frustrating usage if Kolar gets thrown into the passing game more often.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Oct 6 6:10pm CT
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) is inactive for Sunday's meeting with the Cowboys. However, he will be available in case of an emergency. The signal-caller has made progress in his return from a calf injury. But for another week (at least), Justin Fields will remain under center. The 25-year-old got off to a slow start this season. Yet, he's coming off a stellar showing, throwing for 312 yards and accounting for three scores (one passing, two rushing) in the Week 4 loss to the Colts, making him worthy of a spot in most fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller

Adam Butler Oct 6 6:00pm CT
Adam Butler

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (foot) won't return to Sunday's matchup with the Broncos. Vegas was fortunate to get Maxx Crosby (ankle) back for this one. However, the team lost Wilkins for the second half. The 28-year-old had a fantastic showing in his limited time on the field, ending the day with five tackles and a sack. If he can't get on the field for the Week 6 meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Vegas could turn to Adam Butler to fill the void.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Likely Oct 6 5:50pm CT
Isaiah Likely

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely was one of three tight ends to receive targets from Lamar Jackson during their 41-38 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Likely kept finding himself in the right place at the right time during Lamar Jackson scrambles. He finished the game with three receptions on three targets for 13 yards and two scores. His biggest score of the day was on the receiving end of a fantastic play by Jackson when he recovered a bobbled snap, stiff-armed a lineman, and found Likely in the back of the end zone to make it a three-point game near the end of the fourth. Moving forward, now that Charlie Kolar has been more in the mix, Likely's usage could fluctuate even more.

From RotoBaller

Malik Mustapha Oct 6 5:50pm CT
Malik Mustapha

San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) won't return to Sunday's matchup with the Cardinals. Hufanga has battled several injuries, with the 24-year-old missing three games already this season, in addition to logging just 10 contests in 2023-24. Malik Mustapha entered the contest and took over at the position. With that said, Hufanga will likely undergo further testing, so there is a chance the Niners won't have him on Thursday night versus the Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Gardner Minshew II Oct 6 5:40pm CT
Gardner Minshew II

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II exited Sunday's matchup with the Denver Broncos. The signal-caller had a rough day, throwing for 137 yards and a touchdown off 12-for-17 passing. He also threw two interceptions, one that resulted in a 100-yard return by Patrick Surtain II for a score. Aidan O'Connell took over under center. However, it's tough to say if O'Connell will remain the team's starter for the Week 6 meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Regardless, neither quarterback has been reliable for managers, so they likely won't be featured in many fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller

Zay Flowers Oct 6 5:30pm CT
Zay Flowers

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers bounced back in a big way against the Cincinnati Bengals in a thrilling 41-38 overtime victory. The speedy wideout hauled in seven of his 12 targets for 111 yards and he received one carry for nine yards. Flowers seemed to be open almost every time Lamar Jackson looked for him whether it was a short, medium, or deeper route. The Ravens were trailing in this one until the very end of the game, forcing Jackson and company to throw the ball a lot more than in the previous two games. Flowers was the beneficiary yards-wise, but he's still searching for his second touchdown of the season. He'll try to find the end zone in Week 6 against the Washington Commanders.

From RotoBaller

Aidan O'Connell Oct 6 5:30pm CT
Aidan O'Connell

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell has entered Sunday's matchup with the Denver Broncos. Gardner Minshew II didn't have the best showing, throwing for 137 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, so the move was likely related to his performance. This isn't the first time this has happened this season, meaning it's possible Minshew's days as the starter are over, at least for now. However, O'Connell wasn't the most consistent fantasy signal-caller in 2023, making him hard to trust in any format moving ahead.

From RotoBaller

Grant Delpit Oct 6 5:20pm CT
Grant Delpit

Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit (head) exited Sunday's loss to the Washington Commanders. He suffered a head injury and underwent an evaluation, so his status for the Week 6 meeting with the Eagles is up in the air. The 26-year-old entered Week 5 with 25 total tackles and one fumble recovery. With the Browns banged up on the defensive side of the ball, his absence isn't ideal for a team with only one win on the year.

From RotoBaller

Jake Moody Oct 6 5:10pm CT
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody (ankle) won't return to Sunday's matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. The veteran made both field goals before suffering a right ankle injury while trying to make a tackle. With that said, there should be an update on his condition soon. However, with the Niners meeting the Seahawks on Thursday night, the short turnaround may not allow Moody enough time to get healthy enough to play. The team may look to the open market to find a replacement. But for the remainder of Week 5, punter Mitch Wishnowsky will serve as the emergency kicker.

From RotoBaller

Amari Cooper Oct 6 5:00pm CT
Amari Cooper

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper caught four of his 10 targets for 60 yards in a 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Cooper turned in a solid afternoon, although it comes as a bit of a disappointment as he failed to capitalize on an excellent matchup against a leaky Washington secondary. That being said, the veteran at least bounced back after going for just 35 receiving yards in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Cooper has struggled with drops this season, which, coupled with a struggling Cleveland offense, has made him a risky weekly play in fantasy leagues. He will likely settle in as a low-end WR3 in Week 6's road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Romeo Doubs Oct 6 5:00pm CT
Romeo Doubs

According to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer, the Packers hope to "salvage" their relationship with wide receiver Romeo Doubs. The wideout skipped a few practices throughout the week and was suspended for the Week 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. However, the Packers plan to meet with Doubs in the coming days, hoping to resolve the issue between both sides. With that in mind, the Packers are expected to lean heavily on Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks versus Los Angeles, and that could be the case moving ahead if Doubs doesn't return and Christian Watson (ankle) remains on the shelf.

From RotoBaller