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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
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

Derrick Henry Oct 6 4:50pm CT
Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry salvaged his fantasy outing against the Cincinnati Bengals with a clutch 51-yard run in overtime which set up their game-winning field goal. The King posted 92 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries while adding one reception for four yards. For most of this game, he couldn't find much running room as he averaged around three yards per carry at one point. The 51-yard run in overtime put him back into the RB1 conversation while allowing the Ravens to grab their third win of the season. He'll look to continue his scoring streak against the Washington Commanders in Week 6.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Oct 6 4:40pm CT
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) didn't return to Sunday's matchup with the Buffalo Bills. He's been one of the NFL's top wideouts this season. Unfortunately, there's concern about his health moving ahead after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 5. According to KPRC's Aaron Wilson, the Texans are "optimistic" that the injury is "short-term," so it appears fantasy managers could see him back for the Week 6 matchup with the New England Patriots. Collins will likely undergo more tests in the next day or two and may also miss some practices. If he's ruled out, it will likely mean more targets for Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.

From RotoBaller

Jake Moody Oct 6 4:40pm CT
Jake Moody

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. The veteran has played well in Week 5, making both field goal tries. However, he suffered a right ankle injury while attempting a tackle. Moody left the field on his own, which is encouraging. But there's a chance he won't be back for the rest of the contest. If that's the case, the Niners will turn to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, the team's emergency kicker.

From RotoBaller

Jonnu Smith Oct 6 4:40pm CT
Jonnu Smith

Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith caught 5-of-8 targets for 62 yards in the team's 15-10 victory over the New England Patriots. He lost one yard on his sole carry. Quarterback Tyler Huntley looked improved in his second start, leading Miami to their second win on the season. Despite the mediocre stat total, Smith played an integral role in the offense in this one -- seeing four of his receptions culminate in a first down. The 29-year-old received most of his work in the short area of the passing chart but was missed at least once on a deep shot by Huntley. Smith's totals were all good for second on the team Sunday, and fantasy managers who rolled with him have to be happy about his output. In Week 6, Miami will get their bye week, giving Huntley a bit more time to improve his rapport with the Dolphins' skill players. The former third-round pick will be tough to trust as a viable fantasy option coming out of the bye. However, the tight end's recent production and an enticing matchup against the Indianapolis Colts firmly put him on the streaming map for a position that has been volatile, to say the least.

From RotoBaller

Tyreek Hill Oct 6 4:30pm CT
Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill hauled in 6-of-9 targets for 69 yards in Sunday's 15-10 win over their division-rival New England Patriots. It was a decent bounce-back effort for the 30-year-old, who posted his first double-digit fantasy outing since Week 1. It wasn't a world-beating performance, but fantasy managers who stuck with him must be encouraged at least a little. Quarterback Tyler Huntley appeared to be much more competent in his second start, and Hill's targets, receptions, and yards all led the team. His big play of the day was a 21-yard catch on 1st-and-18 with Miami pinned back deep in their own territory after a holding call. That drive would eventually culminate in the Dolphins' second touchdown since Week 2 -- a 3-yard rush by fullback Alec Ingold. With the team heading into their Week 6 bye, Huntley will have an extended time frame to build more rapport and chemistry with Hill and the other Miami skill players. The long-time Chief will now have a week of rest before an enticing Week 7 matchup against a Swiss cheese-like Indianapolis Colts defense that just got torched for 37 points by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Oct 6 4:30pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson put together another brilliant performance as he brought the team back from down 10 in the third quarter to a 41-38 win in overtime over the Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson had his best passing performance of the season, as he finished with 348 yards and four touchdowns on 26-for-42 throwing. He added 55 yards with 12 carries on the ground, but no scores this time around. Jackson did fumble twice, which came on bobbled snaps, but one of those turned into a ridiculous play where he stiff-armed a rusher and threw a fall-away touchdown to tight end Isaiah Likely. The two-time MVP will likely end up as the QB2 or QB1 once Week 5 is over. His next game in Week 6 could turn into another shootout in the battle for the DMV against the Washington Commanders.

From RotoBaller

D'Onta Foreman Oct 6 4:20pm CT
D'Onta Foreman

Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman carried the ball nine times for 44 yards and added a 16-yard catch in a 34-13 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Foreman unexpectedly found his way back into the game plan after he saw just six carries over the previous two contests. He ultimately wound up in a near split with starter Jerome Ford, who had 12 touches in the loss. Foreman's weekly usage has become tough to predict and he is likely to lose most of his current touches once Nick Chubb (knee) is ready to return, which could be in the next couple of weeks. Foreman will not be a fantasy consideration heading into a Week 6 road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Oct 6 4:13pm CT
Aaron Rodgers

Dynasty | Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 29-of-54 passes for 244 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in a loss to Minnesota. Dynasty Analysis: After five weeks, a few things are becoming clear. First, Rodgers can still throw the bal with amazing accuracy. Second, his age and recovery from injuries is really limiting his mobility. Finally, this offense is out of synch. Rodgers has been fine but he simply isn't good enough to carry a team at this stage in his career. If the Jets fail to land someone like Davante Adams, this may be the theme all season. For the first time in his career, Rodgers doesn't look like a QB1.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Breece Hall Oct 6 4:13pm CT
Breece Hall

Dynasty | Jets running back Breece Hall had 23 rushing yards, three catches and 14 receiving yards in a loss to the Vikings in London. Dynasty Analysis: Ouch. After five games, Hall still doesn't have 200 yards rushing or a single game with more than 62 on the year. His three touchdowns and 21 total catches have helped, but this is now getting very concerning. Braelon Allen took six more touches away today and had 28 yards of his own. It seems the Jets are fine with a two-back system and really not using either effectively. Hall is still a player to keep in your lineup but the dream of him becoming an elite RB1 this season has effectively turned into a nightmare.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Garrett Wilson Oct 6 4:13pm CT
Garrett Wilson

Dynasty | Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson caught 13 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 22 targets in a loss to the Vikings in London. Dynasty Analysis: Wilson was the entire offense for the Jets while many of you were sleeping this morning. At this point, New York looks content just abandoning the run and trying to just get Wilson the football. It's great in fantasy football, but likely not sustainable. Still, this was Wilson's best game and any "buy low" window for him in dynasty leagues slammed shut across the pond.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Sam Darnold Oct 6 4:13pm CT
Sam Darnold

Dynasty | Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed just 14-of-31 passes for 179 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in the Vikings win against the Jets. Dynasty Analysis: Darnold did what he could after losing Aaron Jones to a hip injury, but this was by far his worst game of the season. Amazingly, Darnold still sits on top of the world after five weeks with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions on the season. While he may not be completely matchup proof, he'll remain a solid QB1 option moving forward.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Travis Etienne Oct 6 4:13pm CT
Travis Etienne

Dynasty | Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby had 101 rushing yards, one catch, 28 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win against the Colts. Dynasty Analysis: Well, here we go. Bigsby had 13 carries and one catch, while Travis Etienne had just six carries and six catches for 60 total yards. At this point, this is a clear timeshare and Bigsby is looking like the "A" with Etienne as the "B." It's a huge development in dynasty leagues as Etienne's star is fading quickly while Bigsby's value is clearly on the rise.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Anthony Richardson Oct 6 4:13pm CT
Anthony Richardson

Dynasty | Colts quarterback Joe Flacco completed 33-of-44 passes for 359 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a loss to the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: It was just another day at the office for Flacco, who has made a habit of coming out of the bullpen and putting up huge games. Flacco made Deshaun Watson look pretty bad last year and his performance today didn't exactly make Anthony Richardson's early season struggles look any better. Still, it was against the Jaguars and they aren't exactly employing the Legion of Boom. Flacco will be under consideration to play again as long as Richardson sits out.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Trey Sermon Oct 6 4:13pm CT
Trey Sermon

Dynasty | Colts running back Trey Sermon had 38 rushing yards, six catches, 25 receiving yards and a touchdown in a loss against Jacksonville. Dynasty Analysis: Sermon scored a late touchdown to turn a disappointing day into a decent one. His fantasy point total will be enough to make most happy but he certainly didn't do anything to make anyone forget about Jonathan Taylor. Sermon is roster worthy but he's a tough start moving forward for an offense that seems pretty hit and miss.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Joe Flacco Oct 6 4:13pm CT
Joe Flacco

Dynasty | Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce had three catches for 134 yards and a touchdown in a loss against the Jaguars. Dynasty Analysis: Pierce could have easily had two scores, but was ruled down inside the five yard line on a deep catch from Joe Flacco. Pierce has turned into a bit of a one-trick pony with the deep ball being his most effective weapon, but he certainly made the most of it today. With Joe Flacco at the helm, Pierce looks to have more fantasy appeal. We'll see what happens moving forward but Pierce looks like he's at least solidified his spot on dynasty rosters this season.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Travis Etienne Oct 6 4:13pm CT
Travis Etienne

Dynasty | Jaguars running back Travis Etienne had 17 rushing yards, six catches and 43 receiving yards in a win against the Colts. Dynasty Analysis: This is getting very concerning as Etienne was out-touched 14-12 by Tank Bigsby, who also posted 129 total yards and two touchdowns. It was clear this off-season the Jaguars didn't want to use Etienne as a true workhorse but few could have predicted someone would take his job at the top of the depth chart. However, it looks like that's happening at the moment as Bigsby has simply looked better through the first month of the season. Both of these players are looking like flex players at the moment and their dynasty values are clearly heading in opposite directions.

From Dynasty League Fantasy