Drake Maye Comparison Puts Patriots QB Alongside Massive Giants Bust originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The New England Patriots are excited about the quarterback they drafted No. 3 overall in 2024, but some potential outcomes for Drake Maye and the comparisons that accompany them suggest more expectational caution may be needed.

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John Kosko of Pro Football Focus authored a story on Thursday exploring the ceilings and floors for all second-year quarterbacks in the NFL heading into the 2025 season.

In his section on Maye, Kosko described the New England QB’s best-case comparison as Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, which some may think is concerning given Lawrence hasn’t met expectations since joining the NFL as the No. 1 overall pick in 2021.

However, Kosko set the bar considerably lower when characterizing Maye’s floor with a comparison to former New York Giants No. 6 overall pick Daniel Jones.

Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

“While flashing some of his athleticism and playmaking abilities, Maye wasn’t able to showcase his big arm consistently,” Kosko wrote. “He notched just 14 big-time throws and 16 turnover-worthy plays, making his rookie season similar to Daniel Jones’ in their PFF grades and efficiency. Maye posted a 64.9 PFF passing grade and Jones logged a 65.1 mark, while Maye averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and Jones averaged 6.6. “Obviously, Jones struggled to generate big-time throws over the past four years with the Giants. I don’t anticipate that being an issue for Maye, but Jones had a better big-time throw rate as a rookie. Maye’s athleticism and big arm give him a high-end ceiling like that of Trevor Lawrence, who I think has better play in his future.”

New York cut Jones halfway into the 2024 campaign, sacrificing tens of millions of dollars just to get rid of him. Jones finished his Giants’ tenure with a record of 24-44-1 in the regular season and 1-1 in the postseason, which included just one playoff appearance.

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Jones threw for 14,582 yards, 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions during his time in New York, while rushing the football for 2,179 yards and 15 more scores.

Jones caught on with the Vikings after his release from the Giants last year, though he never played a snap in Minnesota.

He inked a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason and is reportedly leading an injured Anthony Richardson (shoulder) in a preseason battle for the starting QB job in Week 1.

Related: Patriots Exec Says ‘Everybody’s Going to Do Their Part’ Regarding Drake Maye’s Development

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.

• C.J. Stroud’s matchup is too good to ignore: Even though Stroud is averaging fewer fantasy points than Aaron Rodgers this season, he is bound to have a monster game against the Jacksonville Jaguars secondary this weekend.

• Bucky Irving is a must-start in Week 13: If you roster Bucky Irving, he needs to be in your starting lineup this weekend against the Carolina Panthers. He has been highly successful as not only a rusher but also a receiver as of late and gets to face the most favorable fantasy defense for running backs in Week 13.

• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full access to all of our in-season fantasy tools, including weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and more. Sign up now!

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Are you struggling to set your fantasy lineups? Maybe I can help… Below you can find my top fire (boom) and ice (bust) players at each position for Week 13. I also include my sleeper of the week at each position in case you are in a deeper league or in need of a replacement for an ice player.

Don’t miss my Fire & Ice chart at the bottom of this page. There, I have listed out all of my fire, good, sleeper and ice plays for Week 13 of the 2024 fantasy football season.

Quarterbacks

Fire QB Start of the Week: Bo Nix (vs. CLE)

This Rookie of the Year candidate has been on fire when playing at Mile High. Bo Nix has scored 23, 21, 30 and 29 fantasy pts in his last four home games. He has scored four touchdowns, thrown zero interceptions and has had at least 280 pass yards in each of his last two home games. The Cleveland Browns, on the other hand, have struggled defensively in away games — they have allowed 19-plus fantasy points to each of the last three quarterbacks they have faced on the road (Derek Carr, Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels).

Sleeper QB of the Week: C.J. Stroud (at JAX)

Coming into this season, I did not expect to ever have C.J. Stroud as a “sleeper” … but sadly he is averaging just 13.9 fantasy point per game in 2024 — that is less than Aaron Rodgers, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. The last time we saw Stroud score more than 15 points was back in Week 6. That changes this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have let nearly every quarterback they have faced destroy them.

Jared Goff, Jalen Hurts, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, Joe Flacco, Josh Allen and even Stroud have all scored at least 21 fantasy points against the Jaguars this season. When Stroud faced Jacksonville earlier this season, he put up a season-high 345 pass yards and 23.5 fantasy points.

Ice QB Start of the Week: Tua Tagovailoa (at GB)

In 10 road games since the start of the 2023 season, Tua Tagovailoa has averaged just 14.4 fantasy points per game. He has scored fewer than 15 points in seven of his last nine away games. He has not scored 20-plus points in a road game since Week 1, 2023 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The weather in LA in September compared to Green Bay in late November could not be more different.

Even if Tagaovialoa did magically learn how to play well in the cold weather, this is still a tough matchup for any quarterback. The Green Bay Packers have not allowed an opposing quarterback to hit even 12 fantasy points against them in any of their last four home games.

Running Backs

Fire RB Start of the Week: Bucky Irving (at CAR)

Last weekend, Bucky Irving recorded career-highs in touches (19), scrimmage yards (151) and fantasy points (27). He has now scored at least 15 points in five of his last six games, and the only game he didn’t came against the Kansas City Chiefs‘ elite run defense. Irving is seeing the largest workload in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers backfield regularly while getting premium carries in the red zone and near the goal line. He should have no trouble eating up the Carolina Panthers defense who have allowed the most rushing touchdowns and fantasy points per game to running backs this season.

Sleeper RB of the Week: Rico Dowdle (vs. NYG)

Mike McCarthy said that Rico Dowdle would get the chance to lead this backfield, which is exactly what he has been doing as of late. Last week, Dowdle tied a career-high with 22 touches in the game — he put up 86 yards on the ground on 19 carries and 12 yards through the air. Dowdle has not had at least 15 touches in three of the Cowboys’ last four games, while Ezekiel Elliott has seen his role all but diminish, getting just four carries over the last two weeks combined. The New York Giants allow the most yards per carry and sixth most fantasy points per game to running backs this season. Dowdle is a solid bet to at least score double-digit fantasy points on Thanksgiving.

Ice RB Start of the Week: Nick Chubb (at DEN )

Fantasy managers were pleasantly surprised last Thursday night when Chubb scored 19 fantasy points on the back of finding the end zone twice against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that was Chubb’s first game scoring more than 10 points in any game this season. Over his first four games played in 2024, he averaged just 6.2 fantasy points per game. Chubb has yet to put up more than 60 scrimmage yards in a game this year and is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry. The Cleveland Browns gave him a massive workload with 20 carries in Week 12, and he still only recorded 59 rushing yards.

Chubb will need to score a touchdown to get close to hitting 10 points this weekend but the Denver Broncos have only allowed five rushing touchdowns to running all season long, with two of those coming from TD machine King Henry.

Wide Receivers

Fire WR Start of the Week: Courtland Sutton (vs. CLE)

Sutton has been on fire for the last five weeks, averaging nearly 10 targets and over 93 yards per game in that span. In fact, no player has more receiving yards than Sutton since Week 8. Last weekend, he scored a season-high 29.7 points and he should have no trouble finding success again this Sunday in a great matchup. The Browns have allowed seven wide receivers to put up 16-plus fantasy points against them over their last six games played.

Sleeper WR Start of the Week: Marquez Valdes-Scantling (vs. LAR)

Valdes-Scantling’s playing time has increased each week with the New Orleans Saints, getting up to being on the field for 65% of the Saints’ offensive snaps in Week 11 before their bye. Over his last two games, Valdes-Scantling has scored 42.6 fantasy points while putting up 196 receiving yards and scoring three touchdowns. Playing in an offense system and with a quarterback that loves to take deep shots, Valdes-Scantling just can’t stop making big plays. That is unfortunate news for the Los Angeles Rams defense that has allowed the fifth most deep passing yards and tied for the second-most deep passing touchdowns in the NFL this season.

Ice WR Start of the Week: Jaylen Waddle (at GB)

Week 12 was Jaylen Waddle’s first huge game of the season, and his first game scoring more than nine fantasy points since Week 1. I don’t anticipate Waddle putting up back-to-back good fantasy performances because his matchup on Thanksgiving night is a tough one, not only for him but also for his quarterback, who struggles to play in the cold elements.

The Green Bay Packers are allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points and fifth-fewest receiving yards per game to wide receivers in 2024 — they have not allowed a WR to hit 70 receiving yards against them in any of their last six games.

Tight Ends

Fire TE Start of the Week: Cade Otton (at CAR)

After three monster fantasy outings from Weeks 7-9, Cade Otton has put up back-to-back stinkers over his last two games. The disappointment ends here. The Carolina Panthers have allowed 18.7 fantasy points per game to the tight end position, by far the most among all teams this season. Otton is a top-five TE option this week, with an upside to finish No. 1 at the position.

Sleeper TE of the Week: Pat Freiermuth (at CIN)

Freiermuth is neither an exciting nor consistent fantasy contributor, however, he has scored 10 fantasy points in two of the last three weeks and gets a juicy matchup in Week 13. The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed the fifth most receiving yards, second most receiving touchdowns and second most fantasy points on average to the tight end position in 2024. Over the Bengals’ last seven games, they have allowed six tight ends to score 15-plus points against them.

Ice TE Start of the Week: Cole Kmet (at DET)

It seems Cole Kmet comes alive and actually does something about once a month. He hit his quota for November in Week 12, and now we have to wait until the end of December for him to give us another good game. I joke, but for real, Kmet had just six receptions over his three games combined prior to coming down with seven balls last weekend. His target volume isn’t reliable and this matchup is extremely difficult – the Detroit Lions have allowed the fewest yards and fantasy points to the tight end position in 2024.

Fire & Ice Fantasy Football Plays

Here, I categorize every relevant fantasy player into five different buckets: (1) fire starts (best starts of the week); (2) thumbs up (good starts); (3) Risky players with upside (sleepers); (4) Ice starts (predicting bad performance from good player); (5) Stop (must sits).

Note: If a player/defense is not listed, I am not considering starting them in Week 13.

Fire 🔥

Thumbs Up 👍

Upside 📈

Ice 🥶

Stop 🚫

The Giants still need a quarterback: Over the past week, the Giants have bolstered the secondary and added offensive line depth, but the quarterback situation remains uncertain. Will they take a quarterback with the third overall pick, despite concerns that this class is weaker than last year’s?

The Patriots will have to build around Drake Maye: It appears the draft will be where New England focuses on surrounding Drake Maye with talent. Last season, the Patriots ranked bottom-three in receiving grade, pass-blocking grade and run-blocking grade, leaving left tackle, center, wide receiver and running back as key positions of need.

2025 NFL Draft season is here: Try PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2025’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team.

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

With the first wave of free agency winding down, the focus now shifts to the 2025 NFL Draft, which is less than six weeks away. While some teams have filled key roster gaps, others still have significant needs to address, making this draft a pivotal moment for shaping their 2025 season.

For several franchises, the pressure is on to get it right, whether it’s finding a franchise quarterback, rebuilding a position group or adding the final piece for a championship run. With time ticking down, these teams must maximize their draft capital to set themselves up for success in 2025.

This year’s draft was always going to be pressure-filled for Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. Over the past week, they have bolstered the secondary and added offensive line depth, but the quarterback situation remains uncertain. Will they take a quarterback with the third overall pick, despite concerns that this class is weaker than last year’s?

With speculation growing that Cam Ward could be off the board before New York picks, Shedeur Sanders appears to be the most likely option if the Giants go quarterback early. Sanders’ college production and grading profile are impressive, but questions remain about his ceiling due to limitations in his physical tools.

Beyond quarterback, the Giants still have key needs at running back, offensive line, and linebacker, which they could address later in the draft if they take Sanders in the first round. However, if they wait on a quarterback, they may struggle to find a starting-caliber option later in a class with limited depth.

Their decision at No. 3 overall will set the tone for the franchise moving forward — and could shape the rest of the draft.

The Patriots made most of their high-profile acquisitions on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, bringing in Milton Williams, Robert Spillane, Carlton Davis III and Harold Landry III as Mike Vrabel builds his roster in his vision.

It appears the draft will be where New England focuses on surrounding Drake Maye with talent. Last season, the Patriots ranked bottom-three in receiving grade, pass-blocking grade and run-blocking grade, leaving left tackle, center, wide receiver and running back as key positions of need.

The intrigue in New England starts with the No. 4 overall pick, where Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Ashton Jeanty and Will Campbell could all be available. Selecting a receiver like Hunter or McMillan early could allow them to target second-tier offensive linemen later. Meanwhile, drafting Campbell at No. 4 would likely have them searching for offensive weapons in the middle rounds.

With limited cap space, the Dolphins were restricted to mostly minor signings in free agency, making it difficult to see them significantly improving without a strong draft class. Their most high-profile addition was offensive guard James Daniels, who is coming off a season-ending injury.

The offensive line is expected to be a major focus, especially with the potential retirement of Terron Armstead looming. Superb young zone blockers like Kelvin Banks Jr. and Armand Membou could be prime targets with the No. 13 overall pick. Both are also excellent pass protectors, which is critical for Miami, given Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history.

The Dolphins also need to reinforce a struggling secondary, which took another hit with the loss of Jevon Holland in free agency. With a top-heavy roster, Miami is at a pivotal point — and nailing this draft will be crucial to maintaining their competitive window.

The Seahawks’ roster overhaul has been one of the biggest stories in the NFL this week. Geno Smith was traded to Las Vegas and quickly replaced by Sam Darnold, while D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are also gone, though the Metcalf trade did net Seattle the No. 52 overall pick in this year’s draft.

With those departures — along with offensive line struggles and a new offensive coordinator — Seattle’s focus now shifts to building around Darnold in the draft. The Seahawks hold five of the first 92 picks and are expected to target wide receivers and interior offensive linemen early.

Potential first-round receivers like Luther Burden III, Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden could all be in play while zone-blocking offensive linemen such as Grey Zabel, Donovan Jackson or Luke Kandra fit well in Klint Kubiak’s system. Now, the pressure is on John Schneider and the front office to prove that moving on from Seattle’s previous offensive core was the right decision.

The Texans’ lack of pass protection for C.J. Stroud and the recent trade of star left tackle Laremy Tunsil put them in the spotlight as they continue to try and contend in the AFC. With Tunsil now in Washington, Houston does not currently have the requisite pass protection to be able to do so. They ranked 21st in team pass-blocking grade this past season. Seven of the past eight Super Bowl champions ranked inside the top seven in team pass-blocking grade.

The Texans also have needs at wide receiver and defensive tackle, where they suffer from a combination of a lack of talent and injuries. They must find a consistently productive complement to Nico Collins in the passing game. Their defense excels against the pass, but their lack of answers in the middle leaves them vulnerable in run defense.

Given the scrutiny of the Tunsil trade and their lack of resources to add impactful players in free agency, there will be immense pressure in the draft and into the season for the Texans to maintain their grip on the AFC South and keep their window of contention open for the duration of C.J. Stroud’s rookie contract.

The Bills did well in free agency, retaining key players while adding Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht and Joshua Palmer as valuable role players. However, the difference between another AFC playoff exit and a legitimate championship run will come down to whether they can land impactful defensive players in the 2025 NFL Draft.

With three picks in the first 62 selections, Buffalo has the opportunity to address key needs at defensive tackle, linebacker, and cornerback. They also picked up three compensatory selections at the end of the fifth round, which could give them the flexibility to trade up in the first round for a player they covet.

As long as Josh Allen is under center, the Bills will have a chance to compete for a championship. Now, the pressure is on the front office to fix a defense that ranked 28th in overall grade last season—and their best chance to do so is through the draft.

Welcome to Week 9, and Happy Halloween! Fantasy football has been a little like a haunted house this season. Each time I get a Sleeper or ESPN alert, I’m scared to look. Even practices are frightening, and I can’t remember a season where so many players who came out of the prior week “healthy” popped up on injury reports late in the week. As we head into the second half of the NFL season, a lot of fantasy lineups look very different than they did in Week 1. This happens each season, but it feels a little worse this year.

Injuries aren’t the only thing altering the fantasy landscape. Rookies (and other players) have emerged, while other players have faded or seen their roles diminished. Backup QBs have energized a few offenses, and there are defensive matchups that have gotten either more or less favorable as the season has progressed – in some cases by a lot.

I want to focus for a second on that last one. One of the metrics I like to use when evaluating matchups is fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to each position, as it’s a good (albeit imperfect) measure of how generous or stingy defenses have been, in general. After eight weeks, the sample size is plenty big, but looking at raw numbers doesn’t show trends. Example: The Eagles, Lions, and Commanders were three of the very best passing game matchups for most of last season (put another way, they were among the very worst pass defenses), and they picked up right where they left off to start this season. That was then, and this is now. All three of these defenses have been much tougher matchups for opposing QBs and WRs of late. Take the Commanders for example. In the five games since Joe Burrow threw for 300+ yards and three TDs against them in Week 3, they’ve allowed just three TD passes total, and only one quarterback (Lamar Jackson, 323 yards) has thrown for more than 150 yards against them. On the flip side, the best passing game matchups right now are the Ravens, Jaguars, and Buccaneers. We’ll see if these trends continue. The point is that things change during the course of the season.

Stats of the Week:

Lions leave carcasses: Teams are 0-5 so far this season the week after playing Detroit.

Lamar Jackson is on pace to be the first QB to lead the NFL in passer rating and QB rushing yards in the same season since Steve Young in 1994.

Derrick Henry is on pace to become just the fourth running back in the Super Bowl era, and the first in more than 40 years, to lead the NFL in carries, yards, yards per carry, and rushing TDs in the same season. The other three are all Hall of Famers: O.J. Simpson (1975), Walter Payton (1977), and Earl Campbell (1980).

Kyren Williams has scored a TD in 10 straight games.

Khalil Shakir has been targeted 38 times this season and has 36 catches.

The Colts are a league-best 7-1 ATS, and the Panthers are the league-worst, at 1-7 ATS. All eight of the Colts’ games have been decided by six or fewer points.

NFL Tight Ends on Sunday collectively set all-time records for most catches and yards in a single day by TEs. It happened to be National Tight Ends Day, which has to be among the dumbest recognition days out there. No offense to Tight Ends.

Malik Nabers (73) and Wan’Dale Robinson (72) currently sit second and third in the NFL in targets, and Nabers missed two games with a concussion.

Guffaws of the Week:

Deshaun Watson has not thrown for 300 yards in any of his 18 starts for the Browns. Joe Flacco and Jameis Winston have combined for six 300-yard games in their seven starts for Cleveland over the last two seasons.

Anthony Richardson had 10 or fewer completions in four of his five starts and is completing a cover-your-eyes 44% of his passes. On Sunday, Richardson was 2-for-15 at the half. The Colts have announced that Joe Flacco is starting this week and beyond. More on that later.

The Yankees’ fifth inning on Wednesday. The horrors of Halloween came one night early for the Pinstripes. And that’s the last baseball reference for the year.

Streak of the Week:

The Panthers (27 consecutive games) and Giants (24 consecutive games) have the longest current streaks for not being favored in a game. These teams play each other in Munich next week. Germany, on behalf of the NFL, let me say es tut mir leid. I’m mentioning this now because one of these streaks is about to come to an end. Unless, of course, the game is a pick-‘em.

Week 9, here we go!

Bye Weeks: PIT, SF

Week 9 Rides, Fades and Sleepers

For those who are familiar with this column, you know the drill. For everyone else: The Rides, Fades, and Sleepers is an analysis of players that I think are primed for an especially strong or poor performance, in many cases, as compared to consensus expectations. This isn’t a straight-up Start/Sit exercise, and as a general rule, always start your studs. I’ll rarely list the most obvious names at a position as “Rides” because those players are matchup-proof and are almost always expected to have strong performances, plus you don’t need me or anyone else telling you to start Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson, or George Kittle. While this analysis is intended for season-long play, it works for DFS formats too. Half PPR scoring and Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) are used for the column.

Each week, I’m picking a Ride of the Week, a Fade of the Week, and a Sleeper of the Week. The rules are simple. The Ride of the Week can’t be a truly elite option, the Fade of the Week can’t be someone who almost nobody is starting anyway, and the Sleeper of the Week must be an actual sleeper, from down in the rankings.

The Rides, Fades, and Sleepers had a decent showing in Week 8, but still not my best. A lot of the Sleepers hit, which is always fun. You can check my work here: Week 8 preview.

Ride of the Week:

Patrick Mahomes (vs. TB). Who? Oh yeah, that guy, who leads the NFL in INTs, has thrown a pick in every game, currently sits as the QB21, and hasn’t had a single weekly finish higher than QB14 this season. That guy? Yeah, and I’ll tell you why. He’s coming off his best game of the season for fantasy (19 points), and this week’s home matchup is as good as it gets. The Bucs’ pass defense has completely fallen apart in the past month, and on the season they’ve allowed the most total TDs (19) and FPPG to opposing quarterbacks. Over their past four games, the only QB to not score at least 28 fantasy points on them was Spencer Rattler. Mahomes may not go off, but the Bucs are still fairly tough to run on and I think you can finally feel good about clicking him into your lineup, sitting back, and watching him cook. He’s ranked as the QB9 for the week and I think he’ll beat that.

Fade of the Week:

C.J. Stroud (@NYJ). Boo! When I talked in the opening about defenses that aren’t the same as they were earlier in the season, I could’ve mentioned the Jets, who were a nightmare matchup for quarterbacks and wide receivers in September, but suddenly aren’t so scary. Still, I think Stroud is a big Fade this week. The loss of Stefon Diggs is a big one with Nico Collins already out. Stroud had his worst game of the season in 2023 (10-23-91-0) when the Texans travelled to the Jets, and I think he’ll struggle against their defense again in this contest, with his weaponry depleted. For the season, the Jets have allowed the fifth fewest FPPG to QBs, but three weeks ago they sat first in that category, so like I said, it’s not as bad of a matchup as it appears on paper. The Jets’ season is on the brink of collapse, but with an easy schedule over the next month, they desperately need this game to have a puncher’s chance at a Wild Card.

Sleeper of the Week:

Xavier Worthy (vs. TB). Worthy is part of an impressive rookie class that’s likely to have more Top-36 wide receivers for the season than any in history. He’s been pretty boom-or-bust since he burst on the scene with two TDs (one rushing, one receiving) in Week 1. Injuries to the Chiefs’ top two WRs have opened the door for him to get more looks, and in each of the last two weeks he’s seen a season-high eight targets. He was able to turn those into just 7-56-1, but I like his chances to make some noise this week in Prime Time. The Bucs have been vulnerable to big plays and are Bottom-10 in catches, yards, and FPPG allowed to WRs, and they’ve been especially generous over the last month, as discussed above.

Quarterback:

Elite options this week – Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, and Joe Burrow; the analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Kirk Cousins (vs. DAL). The losses of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence have really hurt Dallas’s defense, which has allowed the sixth most FPPG to quarterbacks and struggled with Brock Purdy last week even with San Francisco missing multiple weapons. On the flip side, Captain Kirk has been cooking, and he’s the QB4 over the last four weeks. Atlanta might run the stuffing out of the ball in this one, but there should still be enough on the plate to make Kirk an easy Top-10 play.

Sam Darnold (vs. IND). Has the bloom fallen off of the rose? After a torrid start, Darnold has cooled some, and his last two efforts (17 and 18 points) have been good but not great. He should finally have T.J. Hockenson back this week, and the great Justin Jefferson always helps his floor. I like him to get back above 20 fantasy points this week against a middling Colts’ defense that is allowing around 250 passing yards per game.

Matt Stafford (@SEA). I had Stafford as a Sleeper last week and he hit big against the Vikings. I think he’ll keep it going this week on the road against a vulnerable Seattle defense. Stafford is in the QB1 conversation whenever his starting receiver duo is healthy, and right now it is. More on them below.

Sleepers:

Derek Carr (@CAR). He should be back this week, and he gets a soft landing against a Panthers team that he throttled back in Week 1 (19-23-200-3-0). Carolina’s defense continues to be awful in every respect, and they’ve allowed the fourth most fantasy points and are tied for the most TD passes allowed (17) to opposing quarterbacks. He may not need to throw all that much, but in a battle of bad teams, he’s a nice sleeper choice if you’re stuck.

Other QBs ranked outside the Top-15 this week that I think can be started if needed (and especially as your second QB) include Bo Nix (@BAL) and Jameis Winston (vs. LAC).

Fades:

Baker Mayfield (@KC). Mayfield is the overall No. 2 player in fantasy this season, and managed a good game last week without his top two weapons. So this is a risky call, I know. That game was against the Falcons. The Chiefs are a tough defense across the board, and I think this is the week Baker comes down to earth.

Kyler Murray (vs. CHI). Let’s try this again. I’m a big Kyler fan and have him on a roster. I’m not a hater, but he’s a Fade for me for the third straight week and it’s all been matchup-based. He did well the last two weeks so take this with a grain of salt. The Bears are the #1 most difficult matchup for opposing quarterbacks. They’re tied for the fewest TD passes (five) and FPPG allowed to opposing QBs, and they’re Top-10 in interceptions with seven. Jayden Daniels is the only QB who has scored more than 16 fantasy points against them and it took a miracle play – a Hail Mary that didn’t even reach the end zone — for that to happen. I think the Bears will be fired up after that embarrassing lapse and it won’t be easy for Kyler.

Jordan Love (@DET). I don’t know if he’ll play, and especially with Green Bay’s Bye just a week away. If he does, groin injuries present a big re-injury risk, and I don’t know that he’ll have his usual mobility. As noted above, the Lions have been improving on defense and believe it or not, they’re now Top-10 in terms of fewest FPPG allowed to opposing QBs. I’m nervous about playing Love this week, if he does in fact start.

Trevor Lawrence (@PHI). Lawrence has been hot, but like Stroud, he’s going into this road game without some very important weapons. Christian Kirk is done for the season, and it sounds like Brian Thomas, Jr. is unlikely to play this week. Gabe Davis also left the team’s Week 8 game. I don’t know who besides Evan Engram will be catching passes for the Jaguars, and it’s not an easy matchup to boot. The Eagles have allowed the eighth fewest FPPG to opposing quarterbacks.

Tua Tagovailoa (@BUF). Happy Halloween to Miami’s QB. The Bills have been a house of horrors for Tua throughout his career, including back in Week 2 when he threw three INTs before getting concussed. Tua hasn’t topped 15 fantasy points in any of his last four starts vs. Buffalo, and the Bills have allowed the seventh fewest FFPG to opposing quarterbacks. There are too many red flags here.

Others: Lower-ranked QBs that I’d try to avoid in Superflex this week include Daniel Jones (vs. WAS), Bryce Young (vs. NO), and all QBs in the NE@TEN game.

Running Back:

Elite options this week – Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Kyren Williams, and Bijan Robinson; the analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery (@GB). I said a while back that you can start both Lions’ RBs every week and not think about it. They’re both Top-10 RBs on the season right now, and literally everything the Lions are doing on offense is working. This game is a little hard to handicap because it’s unclear if Love is playing, but either way I expect the Lions to continue pounding the ball, in this case against a decent defense that’s a little worse vs the run than the pass.

Alvin Kamara (@CAR). Kamara has been chugging along as a mid-range RB2 since his 42-point fantasy explosion at Dallas in Week 2, but I think this will be a strong week for him. Derek Carr’s return will help the entire offense, and facing the Panthers is tasty. Kamara did fine against them in Week 1 (17 fantasy points), and their defense has slowly crumbled since then. On the season they’ve allowed the most carries, rushing TDs (13), and FPPG to opposing running backs, and the second most rushing yards. Kamara is a bright green-light special this week. He’s ranked as the RB9 this week and a Top-5 finish won’t surprise me in the least. Enjoy.

D’Andre Swift (@ARI). Swift did it again at the Commanders, and he’s now scored more than 19 fantasy points in each of his last four games. He’s got a great chance to make it five this week, against a Cardinals’ defense that allowed three total TDs to Miami’s backs last week, and is allowing the sixth most FPPG to opposing running backs on the season. The Bears’ offense is operating best when Swift is heavily involved (and when linemen aren’t getting the goal-line carries), and he should be a focal point again on Sunday.

Others ranked inside the Top-24 this week who I think can outperform their rankings are plentiful as it’s a good week for RBs: Joe Mixon (@NYJ) and in the same game, Breece Hall (vs. HOU), James Cook (vs. MIA), Aaron Jones (vs. IND), Tony Pollard (vs. NE), Kareem Hunt (vs. TB), Chuba Hubbard (vs. NO), and Brian Robinson, Jr. (@NYG).

Sleepers:

Tyler Allgeier (vs. DAL). The Cowboys are bad against the run and have allowed the second most FPPG to the position. I think Allgeier will get enough work in this game behind Bijan Robinson to warrant Flex consideration.

If you’re stuck this week, here are some other lower-ranked running backs (outside the Top-25) that I think you can put in lineups if needed: Raheem Mostert (@BUF), Austin Ekeler (@NYG), Devin Singletary (vs. WAS, and I don’t think Tyrone Tracy, Jr. will be cleared in time given that he suffered a concussion on Monday night), Ray Davis (vs. MIA), and Justice Hill (v. DEN).

Fades:

Javonte Williams (@KC). A week after putting up his best stat line of the season, Williams was a big disappointment against the Panthers’ terrible run defense. This week, the matchup is a problem and I’d look elsewhere. The Ravens lead the NFL in rushing defense, have held every opposing running back to no more than 52 yards, and have allowed the fifth-fewest FPPG to opposing RBs.

Nick Chubb (vs. LAC). Chubb is ramping up slowly, as expected, and has yet to show the stuff that made him truly special before his devastating knee injury last season. I don’t think this is the week to count on him being back to anything close to his normal self. The Chargers have yielded the fewest rushing TDs in the league (one), and the second fewest FPPG to the position.

Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne (@PHI). Etienne is expected back this week, clouding the situation in the Jacksonville backfield, and the work may be shared enough that neither player is all that fantasy-viable. With the receiver injuries they have, I think it will be even harder for the Jaguars to establish the run. The matchup is also a bad one, as the Eagles have allowed the fourth fewest FPPG to opposing RBs and the second fewest rushing TDs to the position (two).

Bucky Irving and Rachaad White (@KC). It’s another two-fer! The Bucs have gotten very good production from their running backs, but I’m worried about them in this matchup. The Chiefs have allowed the fewest rushing yards and FPPG to opposing running backs. They’ve also been really good against RBs in the passing game, with just 27-210-0 surrendered in seven games. No running back has beaten them for even 14 fantasy points this season. Splitting the work just lowers the expectations even more.

Others: Raiders’ RBs (@CIN), Cowboys’ RBs (@ATL).

Wide Receiver:

Elite options this week – Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Tyreek Hill; the analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp (@SEA). Ride them both, as there should be plenty to go around. The Seahawks are easier to run on than to throw on, but their pass defense is still just middle of the pack and Nacua and Kupp are a lot to deal with when the whole offense is healthy. I think you’ll see this duo have another big game in an important divisional contest that has some sneaky shootout potential.

Chris Olave (@CAR). With Rasheed Shahid out for the season, Olave is the very clear No. 1 receiving option in the offense and now all he needs is to get his quarterback back, which should happen this week. Olave is coming off a big game (8-for-107 on 14 targets) with Spencer Rattler throwing, and he should keep it going against a Panthers’ defense that has allowed five straight No. 1 wide receivers to score double digit (and then some) fantasy points. Carolina is a Bottom-10 unit in terms of FPPG allowed to opposing wide receivers, and Olave should outperform his WR18 ranking this week.

Josh Downs (@MIN). All of the Colts’ receivers get a decent bump with the QB switch, even if it might mean fewer 70-yard bombs. Downs has been targeted at least nine times in three of the last four games, and in the three games started by Joe Flacco earlier this season, he put up two Top-20 wide receiver finishes. Brian Flores’s defense has gotten a lot of big plays (sacks and INTs), but it has also been victimized through the air, with Matt Stafford’s 4-TD performance last week being the latest example. On the season, they’ve allowed the second most catches, third most yards and second most FPPG to opposing wide receivers. I think Downs will beat his WR20 ranking this week.

Other receivers ranked from 12-30 that I think should outperform their ranking this week include: DeVonta Smith (vs. JAC), D.J. Moore (@ARI), Davante Adams (vs. HOU), Darnell Mooney (vs. DAL), Ladd McConkey (@CLE), and Khalil Shakir (vs. MIA).

Sleepers (ranked outside the Top 30):

Jakobi Meyers (@CIN). The Bengals have been a pretty middle-of-the road defense, and it can’t all go to Brock Bowers. Meyers has been battling injuries but he’s the No. 1 wide receiver on the Raiders with Adams gone and they can’t run the ball. I think he makes for a nice upside play this week if you need him as your WR3 or Flex.

Courtland Sutton (@BAL). He’s ranked right near my sleeper cutoff and I think this is a good week to roll the dice with him. He’s coming off his first 100-yard game of the season (a week after putting up a donut, so yeah, there’s some real risk here and it’s why I’m listing him as a sleeper), Bo Nix is getting more comfortable, and the Ravens have been abominable against the pass. They’ve allowed the most receiving yards, TD catches (13) and FPPG to opposing WRs, and it’s not getting any better (just ask Jameis Winston, Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore). Denver likely will need to throw the ball more than they normally do in this one, so Sutton should see ample target volume.

Other WRs ranked outside the top-30 this week that I think you can go with if you’re in need: Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett (vs. LAR), Keon Coleman (vs. MIA), Xavier Legette (vs. NO), Jalen Tolbert (@ATL), Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore (vs. LAC), and Wan’Dale Robinson (vs. WAS).

Fades:

Zay Flowers (vs. DEN). There are a few factors that make me cautious about Flowers this week. First is the recent acquisition of Diontae Johnson. If he plays, I could see him siphoning off a few of the short-area targets that normally go the way of Flowers. The matchup is also concerning. Denver has not only allowed the fewest FPPG and TDs (four) to opposing WRs, but they’ve also had a knack for shutting down their opponents’ No. 1 receiver. Look for Baltimore’s backs and tight ends to be busy on Sunday.

Jaylen Waddle (@BUF). I hope I’m wrong on this one, but Waddle is tough to start right now. He hasn’t scored double-digit fantasy points since Week 1, and while a lot of that has to do with Tua missing four games, he didn’t do much last week in Tua’s return. The Bills have allowed the fourth fewest FPPG to opposing wide receivers and I see another struggle ahead for the talented Waddle.

Amari Cooper (vs. MIA). It’s a tough matchup (on paper anyway) vs. Miami’s fifth-ranked pass defense, and in two games Cooper has not established himself as the No. 1 wide receiver in Buffalo, and at his age maybe he won’t. He’ll probably have his big games from time to time, but I don’t think this is one of those times. I have him ranked behind both Shakir and Coleman this week.

More Fades: Jordan Addison (vs. MIN), Christian Watson (vs. DET, and frankly, if Malik Willis gets the start, then Jayden Reed is the only Packer WR I’d consider starting), Jerry Jeudy (vs. LAC), Patriots’ WRs (@TEN), and Bucs’ WRs (@KC).

Tight End:

Elite option this week – Travis Kelce (vs. TB), and Brock Bowers; the analysis starts below them.

Rides:

Kyle Pitts (vs. DAL). Sure, I’ll keep riding the hot hand. I’m not quite ready to list Pitts as elite, because he’s been among the most disappointing players in fantasy the past three seasons, and because he almost made the second dumbest play of Week 8. If you know, you know. He isn’t disappointing anyone this year, besides those who passed on drafting him. Dallas had all kinds of problems with another athletic, YAC tight end (George Kittle) last week.

Jake Ferguson (@ATL). I feel like Ferguson can now be relied on for very steady targets and production, week-in and week-out. Dallas can’t run the ball, so I’d expect Ferguson to be pretty involved at Atlanta. The Falcons are a Bottom-10 unit in defending TEs.

Other TEs in the Top-15 who I think have a good shot to outperform their weekly ranking: Evan Engram (@PHI) and Cade Otton (@KC).

Sleepers:

Isaiah Likely (vs. DEN). This is just a hunch, but I can see him being pretty involved this week, given how well Denver defends receivers.

Taysom Hill (@CAR). He’s way overdue for one of his crazy games, and the Saints are likely to score a lot of points, as they did when they faced Carolina in Week 1. He’s ranked outside the Top-25 this week and I think he’s worth a dart throw if you need a streamer or DFS longshot.

Noah Fant (@LAR). If D.K. Metcalf is out this week, I think you’ll see Fant get involved in the air attack. The Rams have allowed the most FPPG to opposing tight ends, so it’s the matchup you want.

Other TEs ranked outside the Top-12 that I think can be slotted in this week if needed: T.J. Hockenson (vs. IND, but he may be on a pitch count/rusty) and Mike Gesicki (vs. LV).

Fades:

Hunter Henry (@TEN). Even if Drake Maye is able to play, Henry is a tough choice this week, given the matchup. The Titans are the NFL’s top pass defense, and have allowed the eighth fewest FPPG to opposing tight ends.

Cole Kmet (@ARI). He’s just too boom-or-bust for me to recommend as a start. In seven games played he has two Top-2 weekly finishes, but the rest are all outside of the Top-15 for those weeks. Arizona has allowed just one TD to an opposing tight end in eight games.

Tucker Kraft (vs. DET). Speaking of boom-or-bust, may I present Tucker Kraft? The Lions have allowed the second fewest FPPG to opposing tight ends, and just one TD catch. With Jordan Love iffy at best, I’d look elsewhere.

Zach Ertz (@NYG). The Giants haven’t done all that many things well this season, but defending opposing TEs is one of them. They’ve allowed the fewest FPPG and zero TDs to the position in eight games.

Other TE Fades (of players you could be considering): Tyler Conklin (vs. HOU) and Jonnu Smith (@BUF).

PK and D/ST Streamers (ranked outside the top-12): See my Week 9 Waivers column.

I’m out. Good luck in Week 9!

***This column appears each Thursday right here at Big Blue View. Each Monday, my Waiver Wire column appears here, and on Fridays you can find my weekly FanDuel Props of the week for the Giants, also right here. ***

Week 8 of the NFL season kicked off Thursday with the Los Angeles Rams handing the Minnesota Vikings their second loss of the season.

On Sunday, the Detroit Lions blew out the Tennessee Titans, and QB Jameis Winston lifted Cleveland Browns past the Baltimore Ravens. Later, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Las Vegas Raiders, moving to 7-0 on the season, and QB Jayden Daniels launched a 52-yard Hail Mary to rally the Washington Commanders past the Chicago Bears.

The Pittsburgh Steelers turned in an all-around solid game in beating the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football.”

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.

Jump to:

MIN-LAR | PHI-CIN | TEN-DET

BAL-CLE | ARI-MIA | NYJ-NE

ATL-TB | GB-JAX | IND-HOU

BUF-SEA | NO-LAC | CAR-DEN

KC-LV | CHI-WSH | DAL-SF | NYG-PIT

Steelers

Can the Steelers keep the momentum going after the bye? Monday was encouraging. The Steelers managed one offensive touchdown, but it was still as complete of a performance as the team has recorded this season. Not only did T.J. Watt sack Daniel Jones and recover Jones’ fumble to atone for Russell Wilson’s fumble, but Wilson also built on last week’s performance with another solid outing through the air. Special teams also kept its mojo going with Calvin Austin III’s punt return touchdown. The Steelers are off next week, followed by a date with the Commanders.

Describe the game in two words: Complete performance. The Steelers got major contributions from every phase. On special teams, kicker Chris Boswell accounted for all of the Steelers’ first-half points, and Austin got the punt return touchdown. On offense, Wilson and Najee Harris kept things rolling with another solid week. And on defense, Watt came up big with a pair of sacks.

Eye-popping stat: The completion probability on Wilson’s touchdown pass to Austin was just 28.2%, marking Wilson’s 12th touchdown pass with a completion probability less than 30% since the start of last season, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That’s four more touchdown passes than any other QB in that span. — Brooke Pryor

Next game: at Commanders (Sunday, Nov. 10, 1 p.m. ET)

Giants

How bad is it going to get for the 2-6 Giants? Despite playing tough in Pittsburgh, the Giants have still lost six of their first eight games for the second straight season. They play the first-place Commanders next week. If the Giants don’t win at home against Washington or the following week against the lowly Carolina Panthers before their bye week, this season could spin out of control. Even though coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen got a vote of confidence from owner John Mara this past week, every game is important.

Describe the game in two words: Not enough. This had a little bit of everything: explosive plays, silly mistakes, tons of offense but no touchdowns in the first half, a game-ending interception thrown by Jones in Steelers territory. The Giants battled to the very end with a tough Steelers team, but they were just not quite good enough in any phase of the game.

Eye-popping stat: Four illegal shift or illegal formation penalties on the Giants. That is just not acceptable. Getting flagged six times on their first two offensive possessions is also problematic. Daboll needs to get this cleaned up immediately. — Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Commanders (Sunday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m. ET)

49ers

At 4-4 heading into the bye and the trade deadline, what do the 49ers need to make another second-half run? The 49ers got a much-needed win against Dallas to get back to .500 and put themselves right back in the thick of the NFC West division race. But the schedule only gets more difficult, which is why the Niners should once again look to make an addition or two before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. With running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis) trending toward a post-bye return and linebacker Dre Greenlaw expected to return in the weeks that follow, the 49ers will get two significant additions for the stretch run. But don’t be surprised if they look to add from the outside, particularly on the defensive line.

Describe the game in two words: Get right. San Francisco has owned the Cowboys of late, and their arrival to Santa Clara came at a time when the Niners needed it most. Even with Dallas coming off a bye and having a rest advantage, the 49ers always get up to play it. Including the playoffs, this is San Francisco’s fourth straight victory against Dallas.

Eye-popping stat: After struggling in the first half, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy got it going in the third quarter by working the underneath routes. As his air yards per attempt dropped from 9.7 in the first half to 3.9 in the third quarter, his production skyrocketed. Purdy was 7-of-7 for 103 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter that turned the game in San Francisco’s favor. — Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, Nov. 10, 1 p.m. ET)

Cowboys

Where do the Cowboys go from here? Not even the bye week could refresh and refocus the Cowboys. Two weeks after losing by 38 points, the Cowboys hung with the Niners for a half before dropping their first road game of the season. The Cowboys hope to have Micah Parsons (ankle), Brandin Cooks (knee), Marshawn Kneeland (knee) and DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) back within the month, but will it matter? At 3-4, the Cowboys are 2.5 games behind the Washington Commanders and two games behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. The Cowboys’ next four opponents (Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston and Washington) are a combined 22-9. Offensively, defensively and now on special teams (three kickoff penalties Sunday), they just have too many holes.

Describe the game in two words: Niners domination. The Cowboys have lost four straight to San Francisco, including two playoff games. They have been outscored 69-30 in the past two trips to Levi’s Stadium. In the third quarter Sunday, the 49ers outgained the Cowboys 167-16, had 10 first downs to the Cowboys’ zero and scored 21 points. According to ESPN Research, Dak Prescott is the first Cowboys quarterback with multiple interceptions in three straight games since Troy Aikman in 1992. Those Cowboys went on to win the Super Bowl. These Cowboys do not look like a playoff team.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Cowboys had no answers for 49ers tight end George Kittle. Certainly, it wasn’t safety Donovan Wilson. He was caught in man coverage against Kittle far too often on a night when Kittle had six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. He had three catches for at least 25 yards, the most such catches he has had in a game in his career. In the two previous games vs. the Cowboys, including playoffs, Kittle had three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 95 yards. — Todd Archer

Next game: at Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Commanders

Do the Commanders now have a good defense? Washington’s defense has allowed a combined 22 points over the past two games and was the primary reason for the win over Chicago, despite late scores. The Bears took nearly three quarters to generate any offense and moved the ball better in the fourth quarter. But Washington’s defense harassed Bears QB Caleb Williams all game and forced him into hurried throws. If the Commanders can continue to play solid defense, they’ll be be hard to beat in the NFC East.

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Describe the game in two words: Hail Mary. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels delivered possibly the play of the year. Playing with an injured rib and against a top-five defense, he never shied from playing his usual style. And he capped it with an unreal 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to receiver Noah Brown.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Red zone offense. The Commanders’ first three field goals all were within 30 yards. A false start penalty impacted one drive, and Zach Ertz failed to control a pass in the end zone. Fortunately for the Commanders, kicker Austin Seibert has been automatic. He made 4 of 5 field goals and is now 23-for-25 this season. — John Keim

Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Bears

What happened to the Bears’ offense during the bye? It took the Bears three quarters to hit 100 yards of offense. The offense finally started to click late, despite a goal-line fumble by fullback Doug Kramer. D’Andre Swift scored a 56-yard rushing touchdown to cut Washington’s lead to 12-7 with 43 seconds left in the third, and Roschon Johnson barreled in from the 1 to put the Bears up 15-12 with 23 seconds left in the fourth, but the Bears’ luck ran out as the Commanders won on a Hail Mary at the buzzer.

Describe the game in two words: Red zone defense. The only reason the score reflects a close game is because of how stout the Bears’ D was inside the 20-yard line. Chicago’s third-ranked red zone defense held the Commanders to four field goals on five attempts, the last of which — a 51-yard attempt — appeared to be tipped by defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Early scoring. Chicago’s biggest takeaway from its bye week evaluations centered on getting off to faster starts. The Bears have scored three points all season on their opening drives (tied for second fewest), and their 10 first-quarter points through seven games are the third fewest in the NFL. — Courtney Cronin

Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Chiefs

Even after acquiring DeAndre Hopkins, should the Chiefs pursue another wide receiver before the trade deadline? It wouldn’t be a bad idea. Hopkins will have a bigger presence, and most likely more production, as the season progresses than he did in his first game with the Chiefs. But the Chiefs still don’t have a lot of depth, even after JuJu Smith-Schuster returns from his hamstring injury. Xavier Worthy is a rookie and hasn’t been a reliable presence from down to down at this point. The Chiefs’ other receivers are nice complementary players, but at crunch time, having another threat wouldn’t hurt.

Describe the game in two words: Defense rules. The Chiefs’ defense saved them on two drives early in the third quarter. The Raiders started their first drive of the period on the Chiefs’ 28 and the second one on the Kansas City 3. The Raiders came away with just a field goal. The Chiefs stopped the Raiders on downs on the other drive, one of several such stops by the Kansas City defense this season. The Chiefs also forced and recovered a fumble by Las Vegas QB Gardner Minshew in the fourth quarter.

Most surprising performance: Hopkins caught only two passes for 29 yards, but the real surprise was that he played as much as he did. He had 23 snaps, a good number for someone who didn’t practice with the Chiefs until Thursday. — Adam Teicher

Next game: vs. Buccaneers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Raiders

Why can’t the Raiders run the ball? What in the names of Josh Jacobs, Marcus Allen and Bo Jackson is going on with the Raiders’ (lack of a) running game? With two minutes to play against the Chiefs, Las Vegas averaged just 1.6 yards per carry (33 yards on 21 attempts), and it was the second time this season it averaged under 2.0 yards per rush. You can’t run if there are no lanes, and rookie left guard Jackson Powers-Johnson had a rough go of it with Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. Design or desire?

Describe the game in two words: Lost opportunities. Twice the Raiders had the ball inside the Chiefs’ 5-yard line, and Las Vegas could muster only three points out of those chances. And with the Raiders at the Chiefs’ 3-yard line late in the third quarter, four plays resulted in 5 lost yards. In fact, per ESPN Research, the Raiders were contacted at or behind the line of scrimmage on each play.

Early prediction for next week: Desmond Ridder will get a significant run in a Cincinnati homecoming, of sorts, for the new Raiders QB, who played his college ball in the Queen City. With Aidan O’Connell (thumb) on injured reserve and Gardner Minshew committing another costly turnover — his mid-fourth-quarter fumble resulted in a Chiefs touchdown and was his league-leading 11th turnover — the Raiders need a spark. Ridder took the field for a designed play that was wiped out by a false start. — Paul Gutierrez

Next game: at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)