Weekly Bender: More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

Mon Oct 6 3:43pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer

It was Henry Ford who once said, “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” Someone needs to print that out and tack it up on Emari Demercado’s locker. Maybe even embroider it on a pillow and smack him in the face with it. One week after the whole world laughed at and humiliated Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for his inability to secure the football during a celebratory moment while breaking the plane at the goal-line, Demercado did the exact same thing and ultimately cost the Arizona Cardinals a win on Sunday.

There are multiple videos now surfacing that show head coach Jonathan Gannon eviscerating his running back for the gaffe and there is even a suggestion from an Arizona Republic author who wonders if Gannon put his hands on the third-year player while berating him. Now I’m not one to promote violence, but as someone who took the Cardinals in their survivor pool this week, I would certainly hope some sort of a Code Red was in order. After all, that kind of stupidity needs to be punished in some fashion or another.

The touchdown would have certainly iced the game for Arizona, putting them ahead 28-6. But instead, it triggered a series of events that turned the entire team into the Keystone Kops. Demercado lost the fumble and the Titans got the ball back on their 20-yard line. They proceeded to march down 80 yards on six plays, thanks to a 47-yard catch by Calvin Ridley, who suddenly remembered how to play football and scored.

Kyler Murray seemingly left the game for a few moments and the Cardinals did nothing but punt the ball back. Cam Ward subsequently marched the Titans back to the Arizona 20 and threw an interception that was then fumbled, punched, pushed, shoved and kicked backwards into the end zone where Tyler Lockett fell on it for another Tennessee touchdown. Arizona, once again, did nothing with the football, punted it back to Tennessee and watched as Ward hit Ridley for another 38-yard dagger and the eventual game-winning field goal. It was probably the most horrific fourth quarter in Cardinals’ history.

The way the team spiraled out of control was mind-numbing to say the least. Shocking? Absolutely. Nightmarish? For everyone but the Titans and their fans. But what was probably the worst thing about it – aside from the survivor pool loss, which I am still trying to wrap my head around – was how those of us in fantasy football begged to see Demercado touch the ball.

Heading into the game, after Gannon talked about riding the hot hand, Demercado was nowhere to be found in the first half. Michael Carter was being given all of the touches and when he got a respite, it was Bam Knight who found himself in the game near the goal-line. Those who spent waiver priority or big free agent dollars on Demercado were flipping out on the usage. This was not what we signed up for and yet, many of us probably would have been happier/better off had he not even entered the game. I would have happily taken a zero in fantasy and an Arizona win than the 8.1 fantasy points and a moment like what we witnessed. Just brutal. And what’s worse is that this probably won’t even be the last time we see this? Some buffoon is going to do it again. Maybe not in Week 6, but sometime before this season comes to a close. Stupid is as stupid does.

Where do we go from here? Well, I’ve got some other thoughts on Week 5.

On a more positive note, can we all regale in the fact that Quinshon Judkins is the real deal? He looks fantastic out there and is probably the only redeeming fantasy asset on the Browns. The Dillon Gabriel experiment will likely fall apart, you can’t figure out which Cleveland tight end to start, but the Browns ground game looks strong right now and win or lose, Judkins is going to keep seeing volume.

I will 100% take a victory lap after telling every single person within the sound of my voice to start Rico Dowdle. Dave Canales uses one primary running back and volume like that is extremely tough to come by. Granted, Dowdle was running against a horrendous Miami run defense that was allowing the third-most rushing yards per game headed in, but guess what…? He’s got Dallas next week, the team that cast him aside in the offseason. He’s probably only got one or two more starts before Chuba Hubbard returns, but we’ll continue to stay invested until he goes back to being a backup.

It looks like Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy is going to be the Week 6 waiver darling as it was him, not Jalen Tolbert, who saw all the targets while George Pickens was being shadowed by Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Again, next week Dallas takes on the Carolina Panthers, so it’s a very similar situation. Pickens will be dealing with Jaycee Horn all game, which leaves Flournoy in shaky coverage situations.

Speaking of the New York Jets, stay invested. That means yes to Justin Fields, yes to Garrett Wilson, yes to Breece Hall and even a yes to Mason Taylor. Why? Because garbage-time counts.

We also want to stay invested in the Denver Broncos. Sean Payton and Joe Lombardi have this offense firing on all cylinders, finally, and they look like a force to be reckoned with. The tandem of J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey is vintage Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, while players like Courtland Sutton and Evan Engram are given all sorts of opportunities to shine.

Oh yeah, and speaking of Kamara, it’s time to sell, people. He’s got to go. I warned you in the preseason that he was not a good fit for Kellen Moore’s offense and we are gradually seeing that in action. He is a pass-catching back, not a power-runner. The best comp I can think of right now is Austin Ekeler circa 2024. That’s it. Nothing more. This is why we are seeing Kendre Miller get more work with each passing game.

Pump the brakes on the CJ Stroud love. I absolutely love what he did this past week, and it was even more impressive for him because it came in a road game. But let’s be clear – this was more of an indictment against the Baltimore ravens defense that it was a plus for Nick Caley’s sketchy offense. This is the second time a team has put up a 40-burger on the Ravens and they are now allowing an average of 35.4 points per game. Stroud looked great the way he was distributing the ball on Sunday. Imagine what Matthew Stafford with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are going to do to the Ravens next week.

And finally, it doesn’t matter what Ja’Marr Chase did this past week. Jake Browning is ruining this team. I cannot justify relying on anyone on this team, including Chase, while Browning is under center. Bring in Brett Rypien for crying out loud. Trade for Russell Wilson or Jameis Winston. I don’t care. But Browning is quickly turning this team into a hot and horrible mess.

Bender out.

Weekly Bender: More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

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