Every day is National Tight Ends Day in George Kittle's world. 

In the NFL's world, it is the fourth Sunday in October. It should come as no shock that tight ends know how to celebrate. Tight ends broke the single-day record for receptions by the position with 177 catches. 

Kittle was instrumental in creating the holiday, but Kittle's teammates, Jimmy Garoppolo and Garrett Celek, ignited the phenomenon in 2018. After Celek caught a touchdown, Garoppolo hit the sideline and excitedly said to Kittle, "What is it, like, National Tight Ends Day?"

The best stories start organically. 

In many ways, Kittle has become the face of the position. His alma mater, Iowa, is battling for the moniker of "Tight End U," a topic that has hit the Footballguys Shark Pool. Currently, Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, Sam LaPorta, and Erick All Jr. represent the university in the NFL. 

Kittle also partnered with Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen to start Tight End University. The summit, which features an "immersive three-day program" that brings tight ends together in Nashville in June, offers developmental opportunities and fosters community at the position. The event doubles as a fundraiser, with proceeds from sponsorship donations donated. 

Of course, Kittle will join in and celebrate the week with his first 100-yard game, posting 128 yards to lead a season-saving win against the Cowboys.

Week 8 was for the tight ends, but in many ways, it signaled rebirth across the NFL. 

The 49ers win pulled them back into a tie for first in the NFC West, and they hope to have Christian McCaffrey back when they return from a Week 9 bye. 

Tua Tagovailoa returned to breathe life into Miami's stagnant offense. 

Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua returned to give Matthew Stafford and the Rams life and a chance to move into first against the Seahawks in Week 9. 

Jayden Daniels played through badly bruised ribs to deliver a moment Commanders fans will never forget on a game-winning Hail Mary. 

Jameis Winston took over for Deshaun Watson to spring an upset on the Ravens and keep the Browns season alive. For the Ravens, dropping to 5-3 with a head-to-head loss to the 7-0 Chiefs is devastating for any hopes of claiming the top seed in the AFC. 

The calendar flips to November, and the NFL's November 5th trade deadline is looming. The league has already seen a flurry of activity, with more to come. For now, let your freak out and celebrate with the tight ends!

Thank you, Nathan Jahnke. 

And now, The Roundup.

Blind Resume

We are all thrilled teams can throw the ball again. Multiple players had huge days. 

Can you place this production?

Deep League Waiver Watch List

"Waivers of the Future," released after this column, provides in-depth coverage of waivers. Below is a light introduction to players to watch on your waivers this week, emphasizing Superflex and deep leagues. 

• QB Malik Willis, Green Bay (38% Sleeper rostered) 
• RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore (81% Sleeper rostered) 
• RB Will Shipley, Philadelphia (68% Sleeper rostered) 
• RB Chris Brooks, Green Bay (3% Sleeper rostered) 
• WR Parker Washington, Jacksonville (26% Sleeper rostered) 
• WR Kayshon Boutte, New England (47% Sleeper rostered) 
• WR John Metchie III, Houston (36% Sleeper rostered) 
• WR Xavier Hutchinson, Houston (45% Sleeper rostered) 
• WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee (10% Sleeper rostered) 
• WR Jalen Coker, Carolina  (36% Sleeper rostered) 
• WR Jermaine Burton, Cincinnati (80% Sleeper rostered) 
• TE Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers (27% Sleeper rostered) 
• TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville (44% Sleeper rostered) 
• TE Foster Moreau, New Orleans (20% Sleeper rostered) 

Stats Of The Week

TE George Kittle, San Francisco - 500 Catches, 6,777 receiving yards

Kittle became the fifth 49ers player to accrue 500 catches with the franchise. Fitting it occurred on a day that will be tied to his legacy. Numbers three and four are close, with Roger Craig at 508 and Dwight Clark at 506. On Sunday night, Kittle also passed Clark's 6,750 receiving yards for third place on the franchise's list. 

RB Nick Chubb, Cleveland - 6,585 rushing yards

Chubb moved into third place on the Browns' career rushing list. He trails only Jim Brown (12,312) and Leroy Kelly (7,274). Chubb also sits third on the franchise rushing touchdown list, with his 49 trailing Brown's 106 and Kelly's 74.

WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee - 10 receptions, 143 yards

Ridley tied his career high with ten receptions and posted his third-most yards in a game. We know his history, and this was his second game over 106 yards since 2020, the second time he had topped seven receptions since that season. It was the first double-digit reception game by a Titan since A.J. Brown in Week 16 of 2021, and it was the most yards for the team since that same Brown game. 

WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore - 7 receptions, 115 yards

Flowers suffered an ankle injury on his first touch of Week 7, serving as a decoy for the rest of that game. Removing that game, here are his lines for the last four weeks: 7-111 / 9-132 / 7-115. That's a 130 reception, 2,028 yards 17 game pace. Somehow, he is "just" WR28 on the season due to a quiet game against Buffalo, the injury against Tampa Bay, and only one touchdown. He is the best buy now in fantasy football. 

Detroit Lions - 52 points scored, 19 pass attempts

The Lions became the first team since the 1988 Indianapolis Colts to score 50 points or more with fewer than 20 pass attempts. If you drop the point threshold to 42, it is the second time the Lions have scored 42 or more this season with fewer than 20 passes. The Saints also accomplished this feat in 2024, in Week 2 against Dallas. The last time a season included three games with 42+ points and fewer than 20 passes was 1979. The Lions have done it twice in five weeks. 

QB Jameis Winston, Cleveland - 334 passing yards, three touchdowns

Deshaun Watson has not hit 300 yards and three touchdowns since Week 17 with the Texans in 2021. Since the Browns organization returned in 1999, the team has had 20 games of 300+ yards and 3+ touchdowns. Joe Flacco, Baker Mayfield, and Kelly Holcomb had three each. 

RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore - 946 rush yards, 9 touchdowns

Henry's 946 yards are the fourth most through a player's first eight games with an organization, trailing Adrian Peterson's 1,036 in 2007, Eric Dickerson's 995 in 1983, and Stephen Davis's 992 in 2003. Henry's nine rushing touchdowns are tied with six for the third most to start with a team. Dickerson had 12 through 8 games, and MacArhur Lane had 11. Dickerson ended his 1983 season at 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns. Henry is on pace for 2,008 and 19. 

WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas - 13 receptions, 146 yards, 2 touchdowns

Lamb tied his career high with 13 receptions and recorded his eighth two-touchdown game. His 146 yards were his first 100-yard game of 2024 and the seventh most of his career. The two touchdowns broke a tie with Miles Austin for 11th on the career list for the Cowboys franchise, and Lamb sits just two back from tying Terrell Owens' 38 Cowboys touchdowns. 

Backfield Hierarchy

Splitting backfields into key categories based upon snaps and opportunities (rushes plus targets). While carries may be similar, backfields that fall into a Committee with a Lead over a straight Committee saw wide disparities in snap counts.

Bellcows

• Connor completely controls the backfield. The Cardinals hold the NFC West tiebreaker and playoff position following the win over Miami; there is no reason to expect change. Benson carried rookie hype but had a slow camp and minimal situational opportunities to push for a bigger role. He is not a clean handcuff option, as Demercado would play passing downs. Conner will be a free agent following the season, but the organization loves him, and at his age, it is unlikely a big offer awaits to lure him away. 

• Snaps were again almost even in Baltimore in a trailing game script. Opportunities were not. The game plan was odd, and Henry was not featured against a league-average run defense. He still scored a touchdown and is Week 8 RB16 in a floor game. 

• Davis did receive some early reps, but Cook is recovering from the toe injury that cost him Week 6 and returning to his dominant work share. Davis's rookie hype, Week 6 performance, and placement in a high-end offense force him into a consensus rank on the fringe of fantasy lineups, and he frequently appears in start / sit questions. Please know he is a backup who needs a blowout game script or touchdown luck to start in your lineup. 

• Johnson and Khalil Herbert have 40 combined carries. Eight were in the red zone. Their combined season-long rush is nine yards. Still, they have five touchdowns combined. Swift, with five more touchdowns, would be RB4 on the season. If the Bears had fed Swift instead of trying to play Refrigerator Perry with Doug Kramer, they would probably be 5-2. Shane Waldron is getting too cute.

• Jerome Ford remained out, and Chubb held a dominant share of the Browns' backfield attempts. Jameis Winston leading the offense allows the team to stretch the field and attack vertically, similar to Joe Flacco in 2023. That should create lighter boxes for Chubb as he continues to get up to speed. Chubb's recovery is a feel-good story for a 2024 injury-dominated season. Ford still projects as the passing down component.

• Last week, this space said Jacobs was overdue for a spike game to make the fantasy community realize his hold on this backfield. This space also said it had a great chance of happening in Week 8 against Jacksonville. Well, 125 yards and two touchdowns later, Jacobs is RB2 on the week and RB10 over the last four weeks.

• Mixon is having his best fantasy season at age 28. He is second to Henry with 20.6 points per game. His playoff schedule is demanding, though, with the Chiefs ranking number one in fewest points allowed to running backs in Week 16 and the ninth-ranked Ravens in Week 17. Still, Mixon is a significant value based on ADP. 

• Taylor is back and looks like Taylor. Unfortunately, his pass game work with Anthony Richardson again served as the reason he sits at RB10 on the week. Managers are still thrilled with 100 yards and a touchdown.

• Bigsby made a significant step toward controlling this backfield and breaking away from a situational timeshare. The Jaguars' playing in a trailing game script is especially noteworthy given some of Bigsby's previous situation usage. Travis Etienne Jr.'s future with the team will be questioned through the November 5th trade deadline. Bigsby's value could skyrocket. 

• Hunt maintained his lead role on an inefficient day. The Raiders defense gave up a 100-yard day to Najee Harris in Week 6 and two touchdowns to Kyren Williams in Week 7. Hunt saved his day with a touchdown, but not hitting 60 yards on 21 attempts raises the question of whether wear is mounting quickly. 

• Mattison is the feature back. The Chiefs' defense is the worst matchup in the league. Given his volume, his low-point total could create a buy window to pick up an RB2 for the rest of the season.

• Dobbins is locked in as a Bellcow, but a low offensive ceiling and a lack of big plays—only one rush over 13 yards since Week 2—prevent him from holding a weekly RB1 ceiling. Drafters are still thrilled given ADP; his work share makes him a weekly start, but the hot start and feel-good vibes mask he is RB29 per game since Week 3. 

• Williams established himself as a Top-Five fantasy player in 2023. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp's return only raises the overall offensive ceiling.  

• Speaking of owning offenses, Jones was the only back with a touch in Week 8, with Chandler playing just two snaps. The loss of All-Pro left tackle Christian Darrisaw hurts, but Jones is another vet swinging leagues off a discounted ADP. If you have Dobbins, potentially use the loss of Darrisaw as a selling point to flip to Jones. 

• Stevenson did not fumble in October and is out of the dog house. Gibson came into the week with an injury designation but served as the complement. Fingers crossed, Drake Maye does not miss time, but after beating the Jets, the Patriots are trending up.

• Kamara is locked in as the offensive focal point and, after a two-year contract extension, will likely be a Saint for life. Hopefully, Derek Carr returns in Week 9 to raise the offensive ceiling. Yes, the Saints' offense is at a point where it hopes Derek Carr raises its ceiling. 

• Barkley did Barkley things. Jalen Hurts stole two "push" touchdowns. The Eagles have won three straight and are where they expected. An RB23 week with 108 rushing yards is Barkley's floor. 

• The 49ers have a bye in Week 9 and need it, with Mason leaving the game due to the injuries he's been fighting and Guerendo performing well but also leaving late after a visit to the blue medical tent. The team hopes to have Christian McCaffrey back when they return in Week 10. Given Mason's injury in a high-profile Island Game, it is likely too late to flip him for any level of value. If McCaffrey is healthy, expect him to dominate touches. 

• The Bills are labeled as a plus matchup for running backs. It is fun with the sample size. Derrick Henry shredded them for the second-highest fantasy total of the season in Week 4. De'Von Achane had a big Week 2, but if you remember, that was the Tagovailoa injury game where the Dolphins weirdly kept throwing to Achane in a game everyone wanted to leave. But in the last two weeks, they have shut down Tony Pollard for an RB31 game and now Walker for an RB38 performance. Walker's profile has flipped completely, from a home run threat in the run game and a zero in the passing game to a PPR-dependent option with just three runs of 20+ yards and none longer than 28 in 74 attempts. 

• Pollard made the best of a complete mess, totaling 117 scrimmage yards in a game his team lost by 38. The workshare is locked in, and it is worth noting that his playoff schedule does break favorably, with two games remaining against Jacksonville and fantasy playoff matchups against league-average defenses in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. 

Committee With A Lead

• You start Robinson every week. Week 7 showed that with a trailing script, Robinson has Bellcow status. With a leading script, like Weeks 6 and 8, Allgeier will be involved. Allgeier can not be in fantasy lineups unless Robinson is out or the Falcons play the Panthers. 

• The Panthers are a team to watch, with Jonathon Brooks needing to be activated for Week 9 or his window to play in 2024 closes. Miles Sanders caught a career-high seven passes with heavy garbage time usage. Every Panthers game has heavy garbage time. 

• Chase Brown received most of the rush attempts again, and Moss has the passing down role. The Bengals have struggled to establish any meaningful run game in 2024. When they play a poor defense, Joe Burrow and the passing offense create scoring opportunities for the backs. When they play a strong defense, managers are praying for the touchdown Brown was able to score to save his week. 

• A timeline of events: Mike McCarthy says Rico Dowdle will play more. The Cowboys announced that Dalvin Cook will make his season debut. Dowdle shows up to Sunday's game, and the team says an illness could keep him out. The sickness does keep him out, but he stays for the game, hangs out with the team, and meets fans. Elliott and Cook combine for a 2017 dream backfield but a 2024 nightmare—business as usual in Dallas. 

• Williams was coming off his best game in years in Week 7 and facing a juicy Carolina matchup. He was the only part of the Broncos that failed to get rolling. Managers are disappointed, given the situation, but he is still the back we want in Denver. 

• When Tagovailoa returned, the Dolphins also returned to having two relevant fantasy running backs. We are all happy. 

• The Jets are in the midst of a lost season and hunting for answers. For some reason, this week's hunt led them to give Hall the ball less. A week after the committee approach looked settled, they went right back to almost an equal split. Maybe someone should have told them they needed to beat the Patriots before using their backups. 

• Robinson looked excellent, providing the physical compliment to Jayden Daniels. He should be a buy target after his lowest point total of the season. 

True Committees

• Montgomery struggled with efficiency following the injury that cost him a portion of Week 7, but still scored and threw a touchdown pass. Gibbs is very good at football.

• The Buccaneers were back to White and Irving as the top two options. They were heavily featured in the passing game without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Both are weekly RB2 options. 

The Target Report

I view target trees as "clean" or "dirty." Clean trees distill targets to their top options and give standout fantasy performances. Dirty trees are, well, a mess and rely on unpredictable possibilities. The chart below splits these offenses into categories.

Offenses with Top 2 Options > 60% Target Share

• The Bears' pass attack struggled severely to get anything working. Given how they played before their Week 7 bye, disrupting the rhythm could have been better timing. Moore is a concern; he has been under 28 yards in three of his last four games.

• After a disastrous third quarter that allowed the game to get away, you could almost see the moments Lamb said, "Fine, I will do it myself." It was about time for the player we drafted in fantasy at the top of the board to emerge, and Lamb delivered fantasy miracles with his fourth-quarter two-touchdown explosion. Hopefully, he will replicate the great run over the second half of 2023 that allowed him to finish as the fantasy WR1. 

• Like we would hope, the Saints got the ball to their two best playmakers. Unfortunately, it still resulted in a lopsided outcome. Olave looked to have picked up another head injury but returned. His 14 targets were the second most of his career and his third double-digit target game since Week 7 of 2023. Kamara's 545 career catches are 20 away from Michael Thomas for the second most in Saints history.

• The Eagles threw just enough to give good fantasy weeks for Smith and Brown. After losing to Tampa in Week 4, they were 2-2 and had thrown 30+ passes in each game. They have won three straight since that point with 25, 14, and 20 pass totals. When a team tells you who they are, believe them. 

Offenses with Top 2 Options > 50% and Top 3 > 70% Target Share

Week 8 was precisely what we hoped to see from the Arizona passing attack. McBride and Harrison Jr. were excellent, alleviating concerns about their long-term potential. 

• The Bills may have gotten the number one receiver they hoped to acquire when they traded for Amari Cooper. It just may not be Cooper himself. Coleman is breaking out. After posting 125 yards in Week 7, a large chunk due to a 57-yard gain on a broken play, he posted another strong game, including a red zone contested ball touchdown catch to start the scoring. The arrival of Cooper, the subsequent departure of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and the injury to Curtis Samuel have tightened Buffalo's rotation from five receivers to four. Cooper is getting up to speed, playing 50% of the Week 8 snaps. The Bills have also upped their pace, playing 69 snaps in Week 6, 55 in Week 7, and 76 in Week 8. Josh Allen has clicked into some of the best football of his career over those three weeks, with a 70% completion, 274 yards per game (4,658 paces), and two touchdowns in each game. The Bills spent the first half of the season hunting answers for a post-Stefon Diggs world. They look like they found them. 

• The Winston Browns are a completely different football team. A back-and-forth affair and a Ravens defense that encouraged the pass helped feed into their totals, but the effort and offensive sustainability are entirely different, absent Deshaun Watson. They have four options, and they can all post big games weekly. 

• There are many similarities between the Bills and the Chiefs. The Chiefs also spent a significant portion of the season's first half with a five-receiver rotation, especially following the loss of Rashee Rice. The acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins and injuries to Skyy Moore and JuJu Smith-Schuster tightened it to four. Hopkins, Justin Watson, Worthy, and Mecole Hardman have complementary skill sets and are the core now. They even let Kelce score a touchdown for the first time in 2024 to celebrate National Tight End Day. 

• Talk about tightening rotations. The Rams lost Kupp and Nacua in short order and have scrambled since. Both are back, and the Rams have a new life. Nacua looked especially effective, and his infectious energy reset the team's tone. 

• Sam Darnold's career resurgence is just hyper-targeting Jefferson. It's wise. It has bottomed out the rest of the team's options, with Addison looking particularly frustrated and on pace not even to hit 700 receiving yards. T.J. Hockenson hopes to return in Week 9, but Jefferson and Aaron Jones are currently the only startable Vikings. 

• Just when this space praised offensive coordinator Todd Downing for targeting his best players, Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert's tight end blob out-targeted Adams, and Ruckert tied Breece Hall in looks. I do not believe Ruckert is the answer the Jets have been searching for. 

• Remember mentioning the 49ers need the bye? Samuel went to the medical tent and ended his night early against Dallas. Like the run game, McCaffrey's return would alter the passing attack. Without Brandon Aiyuk and with the pending return of Jauan Jennings, expect Shanahan to return to a focused attack featuring Kittle, Samuel, and McCaffrey, with Jennings and Pearsall contributing big plays. 

• Ok, this is what Ridley was talking about involving him early. He posted a huge game, which is detailed above. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine's four targets were not enough to make the report, but he scored for the third straight game and delivered a 34-yard reception on a highlight-level catch. Still, we are far from recommending touchdown-dependent Titans receivers for fantasy lineups. 

• The Commanders also partook in National Tight Ends Day; Ertz's 11 targets were his first double-digit day since Week 4 in 2023. Ertz has topped five targets in just one other game, with eight in Week 5, but has trended toward a 72-reception, 829-yard season since that Week 5 game. Ertz is inching his way onto the fantasy radar, ranking as TE11 per game since Week 6. McLaurin's 125 yards were the most since Week 15 of 2023. McLaurin started slow but has been a fantasy WR7 since Week 3 with 15.4 points per game, with a 1,530-yard 17-game pace. 

Offenses with Top 1 Option > 25% and Top 3 < 70% Target Share

• The Falcons got the Buccaneers' porous pass defense, and everyone ate except London. It is fair to be disappointed for London managers; this was his worst game since Week 1 and broke a three-week touchdown streak. Meanwhile, Kyle Pitts has been the TE2 over the last four weeks. It is not a case of "tight end being down;" his 13.5 points per game would have made him TE1 by two points in 2023. 

• Flowers was quiet in Week 7 after an early ankle injury and a runaway win. In Week 8, he returned to the level shown in Weeks 5 and 6. Removing the Week 7 game, he is averaging 7.67 receptions and 119 yards, a 130 catch, 2,029 yards 17-game pace. The lack of a touchdown meant he was "just" WR15 on the week. Standing as WR28 per game in the season is very deceptive. The touchdowns will come, as he was pushed out just short of scoring this week. Buy him now. 

• Gesicki waited until the last possible game to post his one good game a month. We will see you again one time in November and only one time in November. 

• Sutton's patient managers were rewarded in Week 8, as he caught passes this week and posted his first 100-yard game since Week 2 of 2022. Sutton's quarterback, Bo Nix, is playing excellent football. 

• The Lions 52-14 win over the Titans is full of statistical oddities. LaPorta posted his best game of the season, topping four catches for the first time. In 2023, he had ten games over four catches. For St. Brown, it was his third career game under 10 receiving yards. 

• The Texans hope to get Nico Collins back in Week 10. Early Monday morning, we were still awaiting news of Diggs's severity of non-contact knee injury. Tank Dell caught a touchdown on only four targets, giving some optimism. The team will likely need to lean on Diggs or Joe Mixon in Week 9. 

• Downs showcased as an electric playmaker, catching a long touchdown. It's not a new story, but the passing attack struggled again with Anthony Richardson. 

• Meyers made his return for the Raiders, catching a touchdown. Meyers' 17-game pace is 102 receptions and 999 yards over his last four. Bowers had his quietest game since Week 4. Given the timing with Meyers's return, the question now looms on whether there is enough volume for both or if this was simply a case of playing a good Chiefs defense that was set on making life difficult for the rookie. 

• DK Metcalf was out, and Geno Smith struggled to get much downfield in sloppy weather conditions. Smith-Njigba posted his best game since Week 2, but his lack of downfield opportunity combined with Metcalf's out of the lineup can create more questions than answers about his short—and long-term future. 

Offenses Under All Thresholds

• Legette and Coker, rookies, have shown enough potential to spark hope and optimism for the Panthers' future. As the team navigates a challenging season, it's an opportunity to assess the depth of its roster and identify potential contributors.

• Doubs has maintained a 1,200-yard pace since his return in Week 5. While Jordan Love's status is a concern, Malik Willis has proven his ability to keep the offense afloat. The contrast in their performance is stark, but the team's ability to make big plays remains intact.

• The loss was a disaster for the Jaguars. Kirk's season looks over with a broken collarbone. Meanwhile, Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis could miss time with injuries. Losing a team's top three receiving options in the same week would be devastating, and the Jaguars could look for outside options and switch to base 12 personnel. Engram and Parker Washington would be the options if this disaster scenario follows through. 

• McConkey showcased as a playmaker and a second-half breakout. Dissly has been excellent, taking full advantage of Hayden Hurst's missing time. Over the last three weeks, Dissly is on a 96-catch, 839-yard pace. 

• Tagovailoa is back, and Miami can throw the ball again. In his absence, the offense has shifted slightly from the days of exclusively Hill and Waddle. Smith has emerged as a third receiver from the tight end position, and Achane has forced a meaningful portion of the target share. It is worth noting that Hill came into the game questionable with a foot injury. A healthy Hill should still be treated as the high-end option we know. Waddle is likely the biggest loser, given the emergence of the other options. Managers who have patiently held him waiting for Tagovailoa's return need a positive sign. 

• Boutte was once a high-end college prospect who bumped up against the misfortune of playing opposite Malik Nabers. The Patriots are holding tryouts this season, and outside of Demario Douglas, he seems to have the best chance of being a contributor, with 46 yards per game over the last three weeks. The offense showed life under Maye, who suffered a head injury. We know what we have with Jacoby Brissett. 

• This past week, I advised multiple shows the Buccaneers wide receiver you want is Cade Otton and the running backs. McMillan drew the most targets and played the most snaps, and 4-35 was a career-high. The team can not feel much better about the position coming out of this week than they did going in. 

The Landmine Lineup

We often focus on "Spike Weeks" in fantasy football. Explosive 30+ point per game performances that win weeks almost single-handedly. Dud lineups that ruin your week are the opposite end of that spectrum. Every week, I will highlight the hypothetical Landmine Lineup. If you have started this lineup, message me, and I will feature your misfortune, and we will find a way to brighten your week!

• QB: Caleb Williams - 9.3 points
• RB: Nick Chubb - 5.2 points
• RB: Ken Walker III - 6.5 points
• WR: Amari Cooper - 0.8 points
• WR: Tyler Lockett - 1.4 points
• WR: Michael Pittman Jr. - 2.1 points
• WR: Jordan Addison - 3.2 points
• WR: Andrei Iosivas - 0 points
• TE:  Cole Kmet - 3.9 points

This week's lineup posted 32.4 points. 

It was not a great week for the USC alumnus, with Williams, Pittman, and Addison all hitting the list. The Bills played the Seahawks in a downpour. The Seahawks struggled to get much positive work done, and Walker ceded the team's only touchdown to Zach Chabonnet on a late short touchdown run. 

Players who beat it: Jalen Hurts and CeeDee Lamb.

If you started this lineup, send me a message at Bell@Footballguys.com!

Revenge! (Not sponsored by Immaculate Grid, but it could be!)

Week 8

• RB Cam Akers, Minnesota vs. LA Rams, Lost 30-20, DNP.
• TE Johnny Mundt, Minnesota vs. LA Rams, Lost 30-20, one catch, ten yards.
• WR Brandon Powell, Minnesota vs. LA Rams, Lost 30-20, no stats.
• TE Josiah Deguara, Jacksonville vs. Green Bay, Lost 27-20, one snap, no targets.
• WR Kalif Raymond, Detroit vs. Tennessee, Won 52-14, two receptions, 14 yards, one touchdown, 190 punt return yards, and one return touchdown.
• WR John Ross, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Won 37-17, DNP.
• WR DeAndre Carter, Chicago vs. Washington, Lost 18-15, one reception, seven yards, 85 kick return yards, and 11 punt return yards.

Week 9

• TE Colby Parkinson, LA Rams vs. Seattle
• WR Mack Hollins, Buffalo vs. Miami
• WR Justin Watson, Kansas City vs. Tampa Bay
• QB Andy Dalton, Carolina vs. New Orleans
• QB Tyrod Taylor, NY Jets vs. Houston

Prospects Of The Week

QB Drew Allar, Penn St., 6-5 238 lbs, 1,640 pass yards, 12 touchdowns, 179.2 rating
TE Tyler Warren, Penn St., 6-6 257 lbs, 47 receptions, 559 yards, four touchdowns

#4 Ohio St.  vs. #3 Penn St., noon, Fox

Allar was injured against Wisconsin and is questionable about making this start. If he has any say, he plays. This game means more. 

In a different world, Allar would be leading the opposite side. 

Allar grew up less than two hours north of Columbus, but the Buckeyes overlooked him in recruiting despite a QB1 ranking in the 2022 class. At the time, C.J. Stroud was leading the Buckeyes, and they had signed current Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, the top player in the 2021 cycle. Penn St. pushed hard on Allar and landed his commitment. In his third season, the faith between Allar and the Nittany Lions has been rewarded. 

Allar's career 146.2 passer rating is the second-best in school history among quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts. He trails Mike McQueary's 146.9 slightly, but his 613 career attempts are nearly double McQueary's 307. He is raising that career line, posting a 174.6 number for 2024 that ranks inside the top 10 nationally. 

Allar is the type of quarterback that the NFL teams drool over. Measuring 6'5" and 238 lbs, he has plus arm talent and the athleticism to keep plays alive. He has the best chance to be 2025's "late draft riser" at the position. A win against Ohio St. in what would be a gutty performance given the injury would raise his hype to a deafening level. 

Warren is his top target and a leader in the 2025 tight end class. He has demanded national attention, highlighted by a 17-reception, 224-yard performance against USC that included a long touchdown on a trick play where he snapped the football. (The play is worth the click). 

Warren entered the season as TE5 on the board of The Athletic's Dane Brugler. Now, a season that has seen Warren line up as wide receiver, running back, quarterback, and center has made him the top senior tight end for Brugler. 

This pair will be a must-watch in the biggest game of James Franklin's coaching career. 

Blind Resume Answer

Hey, it's me again, your resident "tight ends are not dead and are having a fantastic season" guy. 

Tight ends started 2024 horrendously. Foster Moreau was TE2 in Week 1, with a 12.3 week. Trey McBride was TE2 with 15.7 in Week 2. Jake Ferguson was TE3 with 12.5 in Week 3, and Taysom Hill was TE1 with 14.4 in Week 4. Those scores would have been TE10, TE7, TE10, and TE9, respectively, in Week 8. 

The turnaround has been sharp. 

Over the last four weeks, Kittle has been TE1 at 17.7, and seven players (Pitts, Bowers, Otton, Andrews, Kraft, Kelce, and McBride) have been between 13.5 and 11.7 points. 

For perspective, Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce led 2023 with 11.5 points per game. 

Kittle is the poster child. Over the last four weeks, his 106-1,435-17 pace would be the best tight end season ever. 

Deep Players To Watch On Monday Night Football

TE Theo Johnson, NY Giants

Johnson is firmly on the radar in Dynasty Leagues. You probably know the name. 

Unfortunately, his production has not warranted much attention. He averaged four receptions and 39 yards per game in the two games that Malik Nabers missed, but Johnson drew a zero in Week 7. The entire Giants offense drew a zero in Week 7. 

There are reasons for optimism. 

Johnson has claimed the full-time tight end role for the Giants offense as a rookie. Entering Week 8, he had played the fourth most snaps of any tight end in the NFL. I can hear it now: "That's great, a tight end who just blocks and does not touch the ball." His 14.2% pass block rate per PFF is higher than we would like. George Kittle, at 12.4%, is the highest "fantasy relevant" tight end you will find. 

Johnson's versatility is a crucial factor. He has played the fourth-most tight end slot snaps and lines up there more often than players like Travis Kelce or Kyle Pitts. He lines up inline 10% less frequently than players like David Njoku, Tucker Kraft, or Kittle. 

Despite the challenges, Johnson's potential is worth watching. His involvement and experimentation within the offense are crucial for his development at the position. Daniel Jones and the target shares Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson are demanding it may limit his ceiling, but pay attention from a football and developmental standpoint. Production should come. 

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