Thursday Night Observations

I had Russell Wilson in at quarterback in a league that is *not yet* drawing dead, but as I was setting my lineup last night, I thought, “maybe I should check Erickson’s Value Meter, just in case I’m way off on this.” (FantasyPros is dead to me after last week.)

But then I remembered my vow never to check anyone else’s rankings ever again and just to make my own mistakes. So I did what I did not want to do and that was bother to research the decision.

I looked up the Chiefs defense which was seventh against QBs, and the Cardinals’ (facing my other QB, Matthew Stafford) which is 27th. I also figured out the Vegas implied totals which had the Broncos around 19 and the Rams around 27.

Stafford has only five TD passes this year, while Wilson had 11 coming into this week, but the yardage was closer, and Cooper Kupp is back. So Stafford it was. (I also opted to sit C.J. Stroud home against the Saints.)

While I was heading to sleep last night (Portugal time), I thought, “This was a mistake, I shouldn’t switch at the last minute.” But then I thought, “Well, in that case, it’s my mistake,” and fell asleep.

. . .

Wilson moved well, but he was herky-jerky, on the run, threw two bad picks and couldn’t get anything going down the field. Happy I didn’t start him, and you wonder how long he is for the job, ruinous contract notwithstanding.

Jerry Jeudy caught a few short passes, but the tackle he made on one of Wilson’s interceptions was sadly the highlight of his game. It’s hard to produce when your quarterback has 95 passing yards, though Courtland Sutton salvaged his day with a TD.

Javonte Williams looked healthy and ran well, but wasn’t involved as a receiver. Jaleel McLaughlin had nine touches to Williams’ 10. Samaje Perine caught both of his targets (one of which he fumbled to end the game), but didn’t see a carry. There’s room for two productive backs in an offense, not three.

Patrick Mahomes showed some great moves when scrambling — unpredictable spins and fakes to buy time. His numbers have been modest this year, but the Chiefs haven’t lost since Opening Night.

Rashee Rice is the only non Travis Kelce target to show a spark. He looks fast and explosive when he catches the ball. Kadarius Toney is a talented gadget guy who can’t stay healthy, and the rest are scrubs. Mr. Pfizer looked 100 percent healthy at least and had a nice game.

Isiah Pacheco had 16 carries and six catches. He’s the workhorse now, with Clyde Edwards-Hilarious-The-Chiefs-Used-A-First-Round-Pick-On-Him and Jerick McKinnon both relegated to modest roles.

The only painful thing about this game (other than Jeudy in my Primetime lineup) was seeing Harrison Butker kick a touchdown, a near touchdown and two other field goals in some opponents’ lineups. I won’t check until the third quarter of the first wave Sunday, but it’s just something else to dread.