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!
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- Owners to discuss Tom Brady's ownership bid next week
- Broncos' Payton touts rookie QB Bo Nix's processing skills
- Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. (back) out multiple weeks
- Saints rookie QB Spencer Rattler to start vs. Buccaneers
- A.J. Brown, Lane Johnson set to return for Eagles
- Steelers' George Pickens facing fine for eye black expletive
- Displaced Bucs pack bags, families, riding out week in New Orleans
- Raiders make change, name Aidan O'Connell starting QB
- Patriots tout new QB1 Drake Maye's ability to make 'plays you see on TV'
- Ravens bring back former DC Dean Pees as senior advisor
- Abdul Salaam, part of Jets' NY Sack Exchange, dies at 71
- Jaguars open practice window for CB Tyson Campbell
- Aaron Rodgers denies role in Jets firing Robert Saleh
- Giants OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) week-to-week
- NFL places Patriots S Jabrill Peppers on commissioner's exempt list
- Bears GM: Rookie QB Caleb Williams 'right where he should be'
- Texans place NFL's leading receiver Nico Collins on IR
- Raiders DT Christian Wilkins (foot) out indefinitely, going to IR
- Saints QB Derek Carr (oblique) out multiple games
- 49ers sign K Matthew Wright with Jake Moody (ankle) out
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- Fantasy Life: Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings: Risers, Fallers, And More
- Fantasy Life: Week 6 Rest of Season Fantasy Football Rankings Updates
The Paur Report
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will try to rebound from a weak performance when the team takes on the Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday night. In Week 5 Samuel Sr. was very quiet, finishing with one catch on three targets for 11 yards. He also took three carries for just nine yards. Samuel Sr. is on a bit of a cold streak. After opening the season with two strong games -- producing 16.2 and 14 half-PPR points -- he missed one game due to a calf injury. In the two games since his return, Samuel Sr. is averaging 34.5 yards per game and no touchdowns while his combined 8 targets are fewer than he garnered in either of the aforementioned productive contests. Seattle will be missing a few pieces on defense, most notably starting CB Riq Woolen (ankle), but they have given up the 10th-fewest points to opposing fantasy receivers in Yahoo default scoring. Samuel Sr. will be in the thick of the WR2 landscape when he laces up on Thursday night.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will look to maintain momentum in Seattle where the team faces the Seahawks on Thursday. After four consecutive sub-par performances, Aiyuk finally broke out in Week 5 at home against Arizona by snagging eight of 12 targets for 147 yards. Seattle has been relatively stingy this year against opposing wide receivers in fantasy, ranking 10th-toughest in the league, however, the Seahawks' defense is banged up this week with starters ruled out and three more contributors questionable. Most importantly for Aiyuk, they'll be without starting CB Riq Woolen (ankle). Aiyuk will look for his first touchdown of the season as he checks in as a back-end WR1 in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason is in Seattle for a Week 6 matchup against the Seahawks on Thursday night. Last week, Mason disappointed as an RB1 by compiling 89 yards on 14 carries, no touchdowns, one reception for nine yards, and a catastrophic fourth-quarter red-zone fumble. He comes into this matchup as the RB5 overall in Yahoo default points per game. Seattle has been middle-of-the-road in stopping opposing running backs, allowing 20.3 PPG -- most recently allowing 133 yards to New York Giants backs Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Eric Gray. 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo matched his modest season-high five carries last week versus Arizona, which preserves Mason's bell cow status but this might be the week that Guerendo gets more involved given the short turnaround of a Thursday game after Mason's season-long heavy workload. Nevertheless, Mason remains a high-end RB1 in this one.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (groin) was again a non-participant at practice on Wednesday. White has yet to log even a limited session after picking up a groin injury in practice a week ago. Las Vegas was down a few notable offensive players today, with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) popping up as a DNP, too. The 25-year-old has begun the year on the wrong foot despite being given the opportunity to lead this backfield on the ground. Head coach Antonio Pierce had already been on record last week stating that Alexander Mattison had earned more work, and he will likely garner most of the backfield touches for the second week in a row if White can't play. Running back Ameer Abdullah mixed in for five carries and 42 yards -- including a score and a long gain of 40 yards -- while adding nine yards and three catches on three targets and projects to mix in behind Mattison yet again. The team will face off against a stout Pittsburgh Steelers defense in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) received a DNP tag for his first practice opportunity of the week, but "seems fine," per Vic Tafur of The Athletic. It's a new injury for Meyers, but evidently, fantasy managers have nothing to worry about for now. Star wideout Davante Adams (hamstring) also remained a non-participant, and DJ Turner (hamstring) and Tyreik McAllister (shoulder) were both limited. Tre Tucker is currently the only Las Vegas wideout without a designation. If Meyers can play, he'll resume his role as the de facto WR1 for the team in stead of Adams. If he can't, Tucker will be an upside mid-to-low-end WR3, with he and rookie tight end sensation Brock Bowers in line for elevated usage. The Raiders will get a difficult matchup when they host the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (ribs) did not practice Wednesday in the team's first session of the week. It's another day spent on the sidelines for him after being diagnosed with a fractured rib a week ago. It's a good sign for the 34-year-old that his injury has not required a trip to the injured reserve, but it appears he still needs some time to recover after sustaining the injury early in the Saints' Week 4 contest against the Falcons. Teammate Juwan Johnson should continue to see an uptick in snaps while Hill is sidelined, with Foster Moreau also mixing in. The duo could be in store for a busy day in a potential shootout against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad that's put up 30 or more points in 3-of-5 outings. However, the Bucs allow just the tenth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends per game (4.8) in the league thus far, making them one of the less favorable matchups.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent S Adrian Amos (Jaguars), free-agent DB Terrell Burgess (Bills), free-agent Zachary Carter (Bengals), free-agent DT Jaleel Johnson (Titans) and free-agent CB Daryl Worley (Ravens) worked out for the San Francisco 49ers Wednesday, Oct. 9.
From TheHuddle
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy faces the division-rival Seahawks in Seattle for a Week 6 matchup on Thursday night. In a surprising one-point home loss to the Arizona Cardinals last week, Purdy left something to be desired with a 19-for-35, 244-yard effort, including a touchdown, two interceptions, and 33 yards rushing. Seattle is 11th-best in the NFL at limiting fantasy quarterbacks in Yahoo default scoring. However, the Seahawks are dealing with significant injuries on defense, which boosts Purdy's outlook. Starting defenders CB Riq Woolen, DT Byron Murphy II, and LB Uchenna Nwosu have all been ruled out, plus two linebackers and a safety have been tagged questionable. Running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) remains on Injured Reserve, but Purdy is otherwise equipped with a fully healthy offense. He'll look to beat projections for just the second time this year as a mid/low QB1.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (foot) was listed as limited in the team's first practice of the week. The third-year back was efficient in the Buccaneers' 36-30 loss to the Falcons last Thursday night, averaging 7.2 yards per carry over his ten rush attempts. However, he appeared to be bent awkwardly while being taken to the ground by an Atlanta defender. White returned to the contest after leaving the field but did not look to be 100%. It's an encouraging sign that he could practice in at least a limited fashion, but fantasy managers will want to monitor his status over the coming days. Rookie running back Bucky Irving will handle most of the running back touches if White can't play. The 25-year-old has improved his efficiency on the ground over the last two weeks and still leads this backfield in snaps. However, the former fourth-round pick has closed the snap-share gap since Week 3. Atlanta gets a formidable opponent in Week 6 when they take on the New Orleans Saints on the road.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer (concussion) was listed as a non-participant for the team's first practice of the week. The 23-year-old has been on the shelf since Tampa Bay's Week 4 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles when he picked up a concussion. Palmer will have two more opportunities to upgrade his practice participation ahead of a Week 6 road tilt against the New Orleans Saints. If he can't, he'll be at risk of missing his second-straight contest. Wideouts Jalen McMillan (hamstring) and Kameron Johnson (ankle) were each able to get in limited sessions on Wednesday. If Palmer can't play on Sunday, that duo would be in line to pick up more snaps behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Sterling Shepherd. Shepherd has the third-most WR snaps for the team over the last two weeks.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent QB C.J. Beathard (Jaguars) and free-agent QB Nate Sudfeld (Lions) worked out for the Tennessee Titans Wednesday, Oct. 9.
From TheHuddle
Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams (hamstring) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Fantasy Spin: Adams is not expected to play this week, but fantasy players can keep an eye on the situation to see if anything changes. Brock Bowers may be the only Raiders pass catcher that is a must-start option in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns S Grant Delpit (concussion), DE Myles Garrett (Achilles), S Ronnie Hickman (ankle), OT James Hudson (shoulder), C Ethan Pocic (knee) and CB Denzel Ward (hamstring) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 9. OT Jack Conklin (hamstring), LB Mohamoud Diabate (hip), LB Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps), RB Nyheim Hines (knee), DT Maurice Hurst (ankle), RB Pierre Strong (hamstring), OT Jedrick Wills (knee) and OG Zak Zinter (knee) were limited during practice. DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (illness) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns RB D'onta Foreman (ankle) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Fantasy Spin: Foreman has been sharing playing time with Jerome Ford, so fantasy players should keep an eye on the situation to see if Foreman will be available. He could be a possible flex option in leagues if he plays.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns WR Amari Cooper (non-injury) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Fantasy Spin: Cooper has been targeted at least eight times in every game so far this season and should continue to see a good amount of targets. The Browns passing game has not had a lot of success, but he can still be at least a flex option in leagues.
From TheHuddle
Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb (knee) was limited during practice Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Fantasy Spin: It is not known when Chubb will be added to the 53-man roster, so fantasy players should continue to monitor the situation. He may not receive a normal workload when he returns but likely will take over the starting job at some point. He should be a starting fantasy option in the near future.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Chargers LB Joey Bosa (hip), PK Cameron Dicker (illness), CB Kristian Fulton (knee), S Derwin James (non-injury), CB Deane Leonard (hamstring) and CB Ja'Sir Taylor (leg) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 9. OT Joe Alt (knee), LB Junior Colson (hamstring), LB Daiyan Henley (shoulder), TE Hayden Hurst (Achilles), LB Khalil Mack (non-injury), LB Denzel Perryman (shoulder), CB Asante Samuel Jr. (shoulder) and OT Rashawn Slater (pectoral) were limited during practice.
From TheHuddle
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (shoulder) is on the injury report again in Week 6 after putting in a limited practice on Wednesday. Etienne was also limited in practice all of last week before being active in the Week 5 win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts, seeing nine touches for 60 yards. He aggravated his shoulder injury and barely played in the second half, watching backfield mate Tank Bigsby once again take over and provide 128 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. The 25-year-old Etienne should be fine to play in Week 6 in London against the Chicago Bears, but it's a bad matchup, and he could continue to cede touches to the more productive and explosive Bigsby. As things currently stand, Etienne's fantasy arrow is pointing down. If he's active in London, he'll be a shaky RB2 for fantasy managers at risk of losing more playing time to Bigsby.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee) was once again limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Davis led all Jaguars receivers in offensive snaps in the Week 5 win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts, but it led to only three receptions on four targets for 38 yards. In his first year in Jacksonville, Davis has been more of an afterthought for the 1-4 Jags, catching 12 of 25 targets for 159 yards and no touchdowns. The 25-year-old's chances of breaking out this Sunday in London against a stout Chicago Bears defense don't seem great, especially if tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) returns for the first time since the season opener. Davis should be just fine to suit up in Week 6 this weekend, but fantasy managers should have better options to use in their flex spot. Davis isn't even among the top-50 receivers in half-PPR fantasy scoring through five weeks.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos WR Josh Reynolds (hand) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Fantasy Spin: Reynolds has received only six targets in the last three games and only had nine receiving yards in Week 5. He probably will see a few targets this week but can be avoided in fantasy leagues.
From TheHuddle
