Guest of the League
Game of Thrones Est. 2018
Dynasty $250 - FFL: Week 5 | NFL: Week 5

The Weekly Bender: You Can Always Come Home

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

Related photo caption below


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!

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 5

Player Notes
Terrel Bernard Oct 6 9:00am CT
Terrel Bernard

Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard (pectoral) is expected to play during the Week 5 matchup against the Houston Texans. This is great news after Bernard went down during the Week 2 matchup versus the Baltimore Ravens. He returned to practice last week and has slowly been working his way back. This is great news for the Bills defense considering Bernard had 143 combined tackles and 6.5 sacks last season. His return is going to be a major lift for this defense.

From RotoBaller

Robert Woods Oct 6 8:40am CT
Robert Woods

Houston Texans wide receiver Robert Woods (foot) is expected to suit up for the Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The veteran wideout landed on the injury report this week with a foot issue. He sat out of Thursday's practice before getting in a limited session on Friday. Woods hasn't made much of an impact on the field this season. He has three receptions on five targets for 28 yards through four games. There aren't a ton of chances for Woods behind Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell in the receiving game. He won't be a viable fantasy option while the other three wideouts are healthy.

From RotoBaller

Malachi Corley Oct 6 8:20am CT
Malachi Corley

New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley has been declared inactive ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The rookie wideout hasn't seen any action in the passing game since Week 2. The Jets have a Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mike Williams, and Xavier Gibson, so Corley isn't needed right now. It seems a bit odd that the Jets wouldn't want to involve their third-round rookie in some way. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore Corley in redraft formats, but he's worth stashing in most dynasty formats.

From RotoBaller

Jaelan Phillips Oct 6 7:50am CT
Jaelan Phillips

Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips (knee), who was placed on injured reserve last week, was diagnosed with a partially torn ACL, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. We did not know Phillips' specific injury when he announced his season was over, but now we have a confirmed diagnosis. Phillips will require full ACL reconstruction surgery and could still be ready for the 2025 season. Nevertheless, this is a major blow for both Miami and its talented defender. Injuries have been a burden on Phillips' promising, young career; he tore his Achilles on the MetLife Stadium turf in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Fred Warner Oct 6 7:50am CT
Fred Warner

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) is expected to play against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday despite being listed as questionable, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Warner suffered the injury during last week's win over the New England Patriots, but it shouldn't impact his availability for this week against the Cardinals, an NFC West foe. The 27-year-old remains one of the NFL's best defenders, registering 27 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, one sack, and one touchdown through just four games so far. He's a top option in all IDP fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Trevon Diggs Oct 6 7:40am CT
Trevon Diggs

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (ankle), who had been listed as questionable, is expected to be active for Sunday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Although Diggs missed practice on Friday, he evidently has progressed enough to play since then. The 26-year-old has 18 tackles through four games but is still looking to force his first turnover of the 2024 season. This week, he'll be tasked with slowing down a Steelers passing attack that features Justin Fields and George Pickens.

From RotoBaller

Trey McBride Oct 6 7:30am CT
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (ribs) is expected to play in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers despite being listed as questionable, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. McBride missed last Sunday's game with a concussion and cleared concussion protocol earlier this week, but then he was added back to the injury report with a ribs issue. In the end, though, the injury won't be serious enough to keep him sidelined for additional games. He'll suit up against the 49ers, giving Arizona an extra boost on offense as they take on a talented NFC West foe. McBride, who has 14 catches and 122 yards through three games, should be treated as a mid-range TE1 in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Kupp Oct 6 7:30am CT
Cooper Kupp

The Los Angeles Rams are planning for wide receiver Cooper Kupp (hamstring) to return in Week 7 versus the Las Vegas Raiders, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Kupp's return to the field hinges on him avoiding setbacks during practice, but as of now, it looks like Kupp will get back into game action after the Rams' Week 6 bye. That's great news for Matthew Stafford and the Rams, who have endured some offensive struggles with both Kupp and Puka Nacua (ankle) sidelined. As soon as he returns, Kupp, who caught 14 of 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown back in Week 1, should be viewed as a high-end fantasy WR1. When that happens, players like Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson would see a reduction in volume.

From RotoBaller

Luke Musgrave Oct 6 7:20am CT
Luke Musgrave

Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (ankle), listed as questionable for Week 5 versus the Los Angeles Rams, will test his injury pre-game as the team evaluates whether he's healthy enough to play. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, even if Musgrave is active on Sunday, he will have a limited workload. Schefter's report indicates that Musgrave, who has just five catches for 22 yards this year, is not fully healthy and not yet ready to handle a full workload on offense. He should be avoided in fantasy football this week while fellow tight end Tucker Kraft will be a high-end TE2.

From RotoBaller

George Kittle Oct 6 7:20am CT
George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ribs) is expected to play against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5 despite being listed as questionable, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Kittle had been limited in practice but is trending toward playing Sunday, just one week after an impressive showing against the New England Patriots in which he caught four passes for 45 yards and one touchdown. The 30-year-old is one of the NFL's best tight ends and should be deployed as a high-end fantasy TE1, even against an Arizona Cardinals defense that has performed better than expected so far this season.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Oct 6 7:10am CT
Evan Engram

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (hamstring) is a longshot to play against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 30-year-old hasn't been able to play since Week 1 when he caught just one pass for five yards. Since then, Engram has been sidelined and Brenton Strange has been responsible for leading the Jaguars' tight end position. Strange, who will draw the start again this Sunday, has contributed eight catches for 96 yards and one touchdown over the last three weeks. He remains a mid-range fantasy TE2 until Engram can get back on the field.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Oct 5 11:50pm CT
David Njoku

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (ankle) is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Commanders. The 28-year-old began the 2024-25 campaign by catching four of his five targets for 44 yards in the Week 1 loss to Dallas. However, he's been sidelined by a high-ankle sprain and has been working his way back since. Schefter added that Njoku could be limited in Week 5. Still, he's hard to trust even if he were handling his usual workload, so fantasy managers should consider keeping him out of the starting lineup. The same goes for Jordan Akins, who has been starting in Njoku's place for the last few games.

From RotoBaller

Dameon Pierce Oct 5 11:40pm CT
Dameon Pierce

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring) isn't expected to suit up on Sunday versus the Bills. The 24-year-old is coming along, considering he practiced in a limited capacity on Friday. However, since he had only three carries for 16 yards in Week 1 versus the Colts, the last time he was on the field, there aren't many fantasy managers looking for an update, even with Joe Mixon (ankle) ruled out. In the meantime, the Texans will continue to roll with Cam Akers to handle the bulk of the work out of the backfield. While Akers hasn't done much with his enhanced role in Houston, he deserves some consideration for fantasy lineups due to the favorable matchup on the horizon versus a Bills defense that's struggled to stop the run this season.

From RotoBaller

DeAndre Hopkins Oct 5 9:20pm CT
DeAndre Hopkins

Per Adam Schefter, Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins could be a candidate to be traded to the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The news comes on the back of a report that Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) is scheduled to undergo an arthroscopic knee procedure early this week that will determine his status for the remainder of the season. Per Schefter, if Rice is ruled out, the team may eventually turn to the trade market to seek veteran help to bolster their receiving corps. Hopkins was reportedly linked to Kansas City and spoke "extensively" with the team before ultimately signing with Tennessee two seasons ago. Whether this comes to fruition remains to be seen, but the change of scenery would benefit the 32-year-old. The long-time Texan currently ranks second on his team in receiving yards (121) and third in receptions (10) and targets (14). However, most of that production has come over the last two games, and Hopkins has yet to play more than 46% of Tennessee's snaps -- ranking fourth amongst the team's wideouts in that category.

From RotoBaller

Christian McCaffrey Oct 5 9:00pm CT
Christian McCaffrey

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) will not be activated when eligible to return for the team's Week 6 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football, per Adam Schefter. McCaffrey, who has been on injured reserve since Week 2 with nagging calf and bilateral Achilles tendinitis, was a candidate to return to the team this week, but it's looking like that won't come to fruition. However, there is optimism surrounding the 28-year-old after his calf and Achilles issues did not flare up upon his return to on-field work this past week. It's a notable development, considering this is the superstar back's first work on the field since being placed on IR. Per Schefter, if McCaffrey can continue ramping up his participation with no setbacks, he would have a chance at suiting up for San Francisco's Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 20. He could also return to action the following week when the team takes on the Dallas Cowboys. Additionally, the 49ers could continue to play it safe with their All-Pro running back with their bye week following the matchup against Dallas. We're at least a few weeks away from clarity on this situation. Still, fantasy managers have to be encouraged regarding the consensus first-overall pick's status with the recent news.

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Oct 5 8:40pm CT
Rashee Rice

According to Ian Rapoport, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) is scheduled to undergo an arthroscopic knee procedure early this week. Rice is set to meet with heralded knee expert Dr. Dan Cooper to ascertain the extent of damage to his knee and determine whether or not he will be a candidate to play again this year. Currently, there is only a small chance he'll be healthy enough to do so. The second-year wideout went down with a gruesome hyper-extension of his right knee when quarterback Patrick Mahomes attempted to make a tackle after tossing an interception in the team's 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. If the electric pass-catcher cannot play again this season, it would be a massive blow to fantasy managers and the Chiefs' offense as he has quickly evolved into Mahomes' most reliable playmaker. If Kansas City must move on without the 24-year-old, they may still seek veteran help via the trade market. A notable possibility would be Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who spoke extensively with the team before signing with Tennessee. For now, expect wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson to help pick up the slack in KC's passing attack, along with tight ends Travis Kelce and Noah Gray.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Oct 5 8:10pm CT
Davante Adams

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) has potentially played his last snap under head coach Antonio Pierce. Adams' trade saga continues as talks surrounding the superstar wideout begin to ramp up ahead of the NFL's Week 5 slate of action. As per Ian Rapoport, the 31-year-old is nearing full health and is expected to be able to be healthy enough to play in Week 6 despite being ruled out for Sunday's contest. The former second-round pick's top landing spot is reportedly in New York with the Jets, where he'd be reunited with longtime teammate Aaron Rodgers. However, the New Orleans Saints have been the most aggressive in pursuit of the star receiver, which would also spell a reunion with another former quarterback (Derek Carr). Additionally, the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers have stayed in touch and closely monitored the situation. It's anyone's guess where Adams will eventually end up, but it would seem a handful of teams have separated themselves as legitimate contenders in his sweepstakes. Las Vegas is content to wait it out if no team matches their price, but if a deal does get done, this coming Tuesday would be the deadline, according to Rapoport.

From RotoBaller

Harrison Butker Oct 5 6:30pm CT
Harrison Butker

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Week 5. Butker made one of his two field goal attempts and both of his extra-point attempts in last week's contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. The field goal that Butker missed in that game was his first missed field goal this season, but it was also an attempt from 65 yards away, so it would've been one of the longest field goals in NFL history had it gone through. Butker has made eight of his nine field goal attempts and eight of his nine extra-point attempts this season. The Saints have been the top-scoring offense in 2024, so the Chiefs may need to score a lot to keep up. Butker should be heavily involved in this contest and remain a must-start kicker.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy Oct 5 6:20pm CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy will face the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Week 5. The Chiefs rookie receiver had three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown in last week's contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Worthy has seen exactly four targets in the previous three games and has yet to surpass 100 receiving yards this season. With the loss of Marquise Brown and, more recently, Rashee Rice to injured reserve, the Chiefs may need Worthy to step up. Worthy has also had five carries this season, so the Kansas City coaching staff is finding ways to get the ball into his hands. The Saints defense should also be a favorable matchup for the rookie receiver this week. The Saints have given up the ninth-most passing yards to opposing offenses this season, so Worthy should have the opportunity for a big game this week. Despite the matchup and loss of receivers, Worthy's role in the passing attack is not clearly defined yet. The Chiefs rookie should remain in the flex range, given his small role thus far, but that could easily change after this week's contest.

From RotoBaller

Kareem Hunt Oct 5 6:10pm CT
Kareem Hunt

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will take on the New Orleans Saints on Monday night in Week 5. Hunt took over the backfield last week after rookie Carson Steele fumbled on the game's first drive. Hunt had 14 carries for 69 yards and two catches for 16 yards. The veteran running back displayed his dual-threat ability in last week's contest and will likely do so again this week. Despite giving up the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game this season, the Saints defense has given up the fifth-most yards per carry to opposing rushers. The coaching staff knows Hunt from his previous stint with Kansas City, so it is conceivable that they trust him enough to carry the load. If Hunt leads the backfield again, he should find himself firmly in the RB2 range. Given that Clyde Edwards-Helaire is doubtful for this week's contest, there should be enough touches for Hunt to be a valuable fantasy asset on Monday night.

From RotoBaller