The Weekly Bender: An Emotional Rollercoaster

Mon Oct 27 10:01pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer

To some people, fantasy football is just a game. To those of us who play, it’s a way of life. And just like any life chosen by any other person our choice to make this part of our lives leaves our world riddled with emotions. I recently re-watched the movie Parenthood and got stuck on Grandma’s speech towards the end.

"When I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster. Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it."

Those words really struck a chord with me as Week 8 turned out to be a rollercoaster of emotions I just wasn’t expecting.

Sunday morning, I was up bright and early for my 10 AM ET show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. As I combed through the late Saturday news, I got hit with a tweet that sent chills down my spine and had me in tears. After a battle with kidney disease, former New York Jets all-pro center Nick Mangold passed away at the age of 41. He was one of my favorite players and to be taken from us at such an early age was devastating. But there was also another tie to Mangold that had me so emotional.

I started a fantasy football league 10 years ago called the Jam On Fantasy Football League and it is filled with sports guys who are jam band fans like Bob Wischusen (ESPN), Adam Zucker (CBS Sports) and Steve Gardner (USA Today) as well as jam bad musicians who are big-time fantasy nerds like Ryan Stasik (Umphrey’s McGee), Mark Brownstein (Disco Biscuits and Al Schnier (moe.). Also in this league is my good friend Chris Kuroda, the lighting designer for Phish. When Phish Radio was doing an “Ask Trey Anything” (he’s the lead singer and guitarist for the band), Wischusen asked him if there was anyone he was starstruck by. His answer was Mangold and then went on to discuss why he loved the player so much.

Long story short, there is an NFL Films short produced by Chris Weaver (also in the Jam On League) documenting this right up to the time Mangold and Trey were brought together to meet at Madison Square Garden. Following that, Mangold attended his first show with Wischusen. I was there for those shows as well. I am not in the short film, but the whole moment was brought to fruition, and who knows if it ever would have happened had I not brought all of us together in this league. Even typing these words has me emotional and again, tears streaming down my face.

That was how my day on Sunday started. From the absolute lowest depths of sadness to the euphoric thrills of the Jets beating the Cincinnati Bengals. Our league’s text chain was blowing up and every single one of us, Jets fans or not, were overwrought by the emotional rollercoaster. It was a moment for the ages and another reason fantasy football will always be a part of my life.

But the emotional rollercoaster had plenty of other twists and turns. Fear took over at one point when the news broke that Falcons wide receiver Drake London would not play against the Dolphins. I laughed in the face of fear on Saturday when we heard Michael Penix was out and he would be replaced by Kirk Cousins. Was Penix that much better? No, of course not. And besides, the weaponry is still strong on this team. But when I heard London was out, the pit in my stomach grew bigger than the Grinch’s heart on Christmas morning.

I contained my fear by drowning myself in Dolphins defensive metrics that told us all that this would be a cakewalk. After all, you’ve got one of the best running backs in Bijan Robinson facing a run defense that was allowing the most rushing yards per game. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, you know how that went and I was absolutely livid watching these buffoons abandon the ground game so quickly. It’s the friggin Dolphins for crying out loud. Who cares if they’re stacking the box. Push through it, dammit. But no. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson thought it better to keep the ball in Cousins’ hands despite multiple 3-and-outs in the first half. What a [bleep] train wreck. It was like watching a nightmare unfold right in front of you. Teams with Bijan struggled, DFS lineups were destroyed and maybe….just maybe…a survivor pick was lost. When my wife popped into my office to see how my day was going, she was met with silence and anyone who knows me knows that when I’m silent, that’s the time to be scared. 

Sadness, joy, fear and anger. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Surprise 

How about a third-straight three-touchdown day for Jonathan Taylor? Never did I ever think we’d see the day where we’d have a running back so dominant, he could hand you weekly wins on a silver platter. Last week, I complained about too many backfield time-shares and this week we prop up Taylor like he’s LaDanian flippin’ Tomlinson.

Disgust –

I’ve never been one to stomach major injuries. Both of my siblings are doctors and I get queasy at the sight of someone else’s blood. So when Cam Skattebo’s ankle dislocated and was turned 90-degrees in the wrong direction, I was ready to vomit. I feel for the guy. Truly I do. It was a horrible way to go down and the recovery is going to be long and cumbersome. And the feelings of disgust linger when you think that now you have to invest in Tyrone Tracy again for fantasy? Now THAT’S gross.

Envy –

You could say that maybe there’s more disgust here, but, in truth, when I sit and watch Drake Maye and have to listen to all those nightmarish Patriots fans chant MVP and shout things like “We’re back!” there is nothing but envy. My 1-7 Jets are vying for the No. 1 overall pick, but if history has taught us anything, it’s that the Jets will find a way to blow it, just like they did with Zach Wilson. Meanwhile, the stupid Patriots have a real gamer in Maye and he’s likely to be there as a thorn in my side until the day he retires.

Contempt –

The one week I finally break down and decide to use Spencer Rattler for a DFS lineup and this is the week the Saints decide to finally bench him? Come on. You want to make a QB switch, do it during the week. Was Tyler Shough any better than Rattler? No. So thanks for not letting him finish and giving me absolutely no hope of watching a comeback, you selfish sons of bitches!

And finally, gratitude –

Thankful for all the cashing I did in my pick’em contests, thankful for all my fantasy football wins this week, thankful that this is what I do for a living and thankful that RTSports lets me share all of this with you.

Let’s go crush Week 9 now!

Bender out.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 9

Player Notes
Blake Corum Oct 29 1:40am CT
Blake Corum

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum is back on the fantasy radar after a high-volume outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. During that Week 7 contest, Corum rushed for 37 yards on a season-high 12 carries and 34 percent snap share. He also caught a pass. The 24-year-old capitalized on a positive game script, as he and Kyren Williams both handled a dozen rushing attempts in the 35-7 victory. While Williams will remain Los Angeles' lead back, Corum's high-volume showing could be a sign that he'll continue to handle an increased workload going forward. He should showcase this large workload during a projected positive game script against the Saints in Week 9. If Los Angeles takes a sizable lead early in the game, we could see Corum push for 10-12 carries once again. It's common practice for managers to pursue high-volume running backs in good offenses, so even though Corum is behind Williams on the depth chart, he's still an intriguing waiver wire target as a fringe top-36 running back in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Oct 29 1:30am CT
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has worked his way back onto the fantasy radar after a quiet start to the season. The veteran has 10 targets, seven catches, 59 yards, and one touchdown over his last two games, solidifying his role as the Rams' top tight end over Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson. He has capitalized on the impressive efficiency of Los Angeles' passing offense this season, led by Matthew Stafford. The quarterback and tight end have maintained a solid rapport despite the presence of several weapons on offense, including Puka Nacua (ankle) and Davante Adams. While Higbee's upside is highest with Nacua sidelined, he can still be a solid TE2 option if the star receiver returns for Week 9 against the Saints. Moving forward, Higbee will continue to warrant consideration as a top-24 tight end in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Oct 29 12:50am CT
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was busy once again in Week 8, hauling in eight receptions for 63 yards on 12 targets against the Buccaneers. It marked his sixth game this season with double-digit targets, and he now ranks second in the league with 83 overall. Olave has built strong chemistry with Spencer Rattler through the first half of the season, but rookie Tyler Shough is set to take over at quarterback in Week 9 against the Rams, adding some uncertainty to his outlook. Still, Olave's steady volume keeps him firmly in the WR1/WR2 mix, and Shough's big arm could lead to more deep-shot opportunities if the two can establish a connection of their own. With trade rumors swirling around Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, Olave's role as the undisputed top target in the Saints' passing attack appears even more secure.

From RotoBaller

Mack Hollins Oct 29 12:50am CT
Mack Hollins

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins has started to emerge as a potential fantasy football option after an impressive outing against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8. On Sunday, Hollins caught all seven of his targets for 89 yards while handling a season-high 72 percent snap share. He now has 138 yards over his last two games. The veteran receiver has officially supplanted DeMario Douglas as the team's new No. 3 receiver behind Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. However, if you're purely talking about workload, Hollins is actually the No. 2, because he has registered more snaps than Diggs in each of the last two games, as well as three of the last four. This doesn't mean managers should rush to add Hollins over Diggs, and the size of your league should dictate whether you try to add Hollins off waivers at all. He's certainly worth picking up for the back end of rosters in leagues with at least 14 teams, as his snap share, target share, and productivity have been very promising. He has a solid track record, too. Hollins led the Bills in receiving touchdowns last year, scoring more than players like Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Dalton Kincaid. In essence, managers should feel confident that Hollins' big week isn't necessarily a fluke, and that he'll continue to compete for more playing time going forward. He's a fringe top-50 fantasy receiver as he takes on Atlanta in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Oct 29 12:30am CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson's long-awaited emergence finally happened during last Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. The rookie rushed for 75 yards on 10 carries, with his best play being a 27-yard run. He wasn't involved in the passing game, nor did he lead the team in touches, but he was far more efficient than Rhamondre Stevenson and proved that he can excel even against a strong run defense like Cleveland's. An increased rushing workload is a good sign for Henderson going forward, as he should continue to earn more snaps on a wide variety of downs. His 21 percent snap share from last weekend is bound to increase, too. The biggest area of focus for Henderson now is ball security, as he lost his first career fumble against Cleveland. With that said, Stevenson hasn't been any better, losing three fumbles of his own in 2025. Moving forward, Henderson should continue to eat into Stevenson's workload while emerging as a fantasy football threat. He should be added off waivers in leagues with at least 10 teams, and he could be a worthwhile RB3/flex option in leagues with at least 12-14 teams when he takes on the Falcons in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Shough Oct 29 12:30am CT
Tyler Shough

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough replaced Spencer Rattler in the third quarter of the team's loss to the Buccaneers, completing 17-of-30 passes for 128 yards and one interception. Head coach Kellen Moore has since named Shough the starter heading into the Week 9 matchup against the Rams. The rookie has the arm strength and confidence to open up New Orleans' stagnant passing attack, which currently ranks 28th in the league at 6.2 yards per attempt. While he remains outside the QB2 range for now, Shough could be a sneaky Superflex play with four teams on bye in Week 9.

From RotoBaller

Grant Calcaterra Oct 29 12:20am CT
Grant Calcaterra

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra has been a meaningful part of the offense this season, playing on 47.4% of offensive snaps in six games. Calcaterra missed Philadelphia's Week 6 matchup in Minnesota with an oblique injury, but has suited up for every other game as the team's No. 2 tight end behind Dallas Goedert. The 26-year-old has mostly served as a blocking tight end and has only caught four of his six targets for 40 yards this season, but he has proven capable of scaling up a little bit when Goedert misses time. In the seven games that Goedert missed last season, Calcaterra caught 14 of 15 targets for 165 yards and a touchdown. He'd be in TE2 territory if Goedert were to miss any games this season.

From RotoBaller

Luke Musgrave Oct 29 12:00am CT
Luke Musgrave

Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave has played on only 29.9% of offensive snaps so far through seven games this season, catching six of his seven targets for 54 yards and no touchdowns. Musgrave hasn't seen more than two targets in a game this season, as fellow third-year tight end Tucker Kraft has established himself as one of the best tight ends in the league. Kraft has been banged up some during his career, and if he were to miss any time this season, Musgrave would likely step into the starting tight end spot and run a full number of routes. The 25-year-old had plenty of positive moments in his rookie year as a downfield threat, which aligns with quarterback Jordan Love's style of play. But Musgrave also dealt with injury issues and has struggled to stay on the field at times. He's best left on the waiver wire for now.

From RotoBaller

Devaughn Vele Oct 28 11:40pm CT
Devaughn Vele

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele caught one of his five targets for 10 yards in their Week 8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Vele played a season high 51.4% of the snaps and had his most targets in a game since Week 12 of last season with the Broncos. The 27-year-old was traded to the Saints for a fourth-round pick in late August and has mostly held a depth role through eight games, catching five of 10 targets for 39 yards and a touchdown. Barring a trade to either Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed, Vele is unlikely to be relevant for fantasy purposes this season.

From RotoBaller

Jimmy Horn Jr. Oct 28 11:30pm CT
Jimmy Horn Jr.

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. has played in four of eight games this season, catching five of his eight targets for 65 yards and handling six carries for 37 yards. After being a healthy scratch for the first month of the season, the sixth rounder out of Colorado played at least 20% of the snaps with multiple touches in the first three weeks when he was playing. His snap share dipped to just 13.1% in their Week 8 blowout loss to the Bills, but they still made an emphasis to get the ball in his hands with two rush attempts and a target. The Panthers need another consistent pass-catching threat outside of fellow rookie Tetairoa McMillan. Second-year wideouts Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette have had moments, but Horn has 4.4 speed and shiftiness that make him a tough cover. He could be a rookie who emerges over the second half of the season.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Tolbert Oct 28 9:10pm CT
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has been a modest producer so far this season, recording 14 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets across eight games played. Tolbert's playing time and target share have been trending downwards in recent weeks. After earning 18 targets over his first four games of 2025, Tolbert has been targeted just six times over his four most recent contests. Tolbert was always projected to be behind star wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on the Dallas depth chart. However, Tolbert was also out-snapped by both Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin in the Cowboys' Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos. When Lamb was sidelined by an ankle injury from Weeks 4-6, Tolbert was largely outplayed by Flournoy. Even if Lamb or Pickens were to get injured, Tolbert may now still find it difficult to get on the field. He should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Allen Lazard Oct 28 9:00pm CT
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard has seen minimal usage so far this season, recording seven catches for 45 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets across six games played. However, Lazard got a chance to play 78% of New York's offensive snaps in Week 8 due to injuries to top Jets wideouts Garrett Wilson (knee) and Josh Reynolds (hip). Wilson is expected to return in Week 10 following the team's Week 9 bye, but Reynolds must miss at least three more games on Injured Reserve. Still, Lazard's lack of production to this point makes him difficult for fantasy managers to rely upon. Even with Wilson and Reynolds sidelined in Week 8, Lazard recorded one catch for five yards in a game where the Jets scored 39 points. Lazard should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Oct 28 8:40pm CT
Adonai Mitchell

Ever since he dropped the football just before crossing the goal line for a costly fumble in Week 4, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has struggled to see the field. Across his last three games played, the 23-year-old has recorded one catch for eight yards on three targets. Mitchell played 89% of the Colts' offensive snaps in Week 4, but he's failed to crack 17% of the snaps since. Indianapolis has a trio of talented wideouts in Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, so there's not a huge need for Mitchell's services as long as the team's top three wide receivers are healthy. Mitchell has flashed upside at points in his career, but he appears to be facing an uphill battle for playing time in Indianapolis. Barring an injury to a player ahead of him on the depth chart or a trade, Mitchell can likely remain off the radar of redraft fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Jalin Hyatt Oct 28 8:30pm CT
Jalin Hyatt

With star wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 4, there have been plenty of opportunities for wide receivers to step up for the New York Giants. Unfortunately for both himself and the team, third-year wideout Jalin Hyatt has failed to cash in on that opportunity. Across five games played in 2025, Hyatt has recorded three catches for 17 yards on nine targets. He's clearly behind both Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton on the Giants' wide receiver depth chart, and Hyatt was out-snapped by wideouts Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Beaux Collins in New York's Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos. Across his last 19 games played, Hyatt has just 11 total receptions. He should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Savion Williams Oct 28 8:30pm CT
Savion Williams

Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Savion Williams has primarily been limited to a special teams and gadget role through the early portion of his first NFL season. Across seven games, Williams has more rush attempts (seven) than receptions (five). The 23-year-old has not been particularly efficient as either a rusher or receiver, recording 59 yards and a touchdown on his 12 touches. The Packers have one of the deepest wide receiver corps in the NFL, which may make it difficult for Williams to be a consistent contributor this year. Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Matthew Golden are all definitely ahead of Williams on the depth chart, as are Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) when healthy. Williams should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Kaleb Johnson Oct 28 8:20pm CT
Kaleb Johnson

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson recorded his second straight game without a carry in Week 8. The 22-year-old appears to be completely buried on the Steelers' depth chart at running back behind veterans Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. Johnson has logged just 36 rushing yards on 14 attempts so far in his rookie season. Beyond his lack of touches, Johnson has not played an offensive snap in either of Pittsburgh's last two games. Unless there's an injury to one or both of Warren and Gainwell, Johnson should remain off the radar of redraft fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Shough Oct 28 8:00pm CT
Tyler Shough

Dynasty | The Saints will start Tyler Shough at quarterback against the Rams this week. Dynasty Analysis: This comes as little surprise with the Saints sitting at 1-7 and Shough having replaced an ineffective Spencer Rattler midway through last week's blowout loss to the Bucs. This will be no easy task against the Rams but Shough could provide a higher ceiling than Rattler. The danger is clearly the fact his floor could be lower but again, at 1-7, it's worth a shot. It's likely the Saints use the rest of the season to evaluate Shough and determine if they should spend what looks to be a top-5 pick on a quarterback in next year's NFL Draft. Shough is worth a roster spot but the fact he couldn't beat out Rattler this Summer could be telling.

Calvin Austin III Oct 28 7:50pm CT
Calvin Austin III

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III returned to action in Week 8 after missing two games with a shoulder injury, finishing with four receptions for 28 yards in a loss to the Green Bay Packers. While his six targets were second-most on the team, Austin was outshined by second-year wideout Roman Wilson, who led the Steelers with 74 yards and a late touchdown. Wilson's growing involvement will be worth monitoring, but for the time being, Austin remains the team's WR2 behind DK Metcalf. Encouragingly, he played on 78% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps, well ahead of Wilson's 46% snap share. Nonetheless, Austin cannot be trusted in most fantasy lineups. He profiles as a boom-or-bust WR4 in an enticing Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Oct 28 7:40pm CT
D.K. Metcalf

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf hauled in five of his seven targets for 55 yards and a touchdown in a 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Metcalf's score, his fifth of the season, came late in the first half on a two-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He's been a reliable red-zone weapon all year, converting six targets into six catches and three touchdowns inside the 20. While this has boosted his fantasy value, Metcalf's reception totals have been a bit underwhelming for a WR1. He hasn't caught more than five passes in any contest and is averaging fewer than four receptions per game. Still, Metcalf's 17.1 yards per catch rank fifth in the NFL. He should remain efficient and have a good chance of finding the end zone again in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts.

From RotoBaller

Omarion Hampton Oct 28 7:40pm CT
Omarion Hampton

Although it's unclear if Los Angeles Chargers rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) will be ready to come off Injured Reserve and play in Week 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers when he's eligible, head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Tuesday that the rookie RB is improving. "To me, it looks like he's getting better every day. We know he won't be there this week," Harbaugh said. The head coach added that he's "rather not speculate" on anything further. The 22-year-old North Carolina product was still in a walking boot after last Thursday's win over the Minnesota Vikings and has been on IR since injuring his ankle back in Week 5. The one thing we do know is that Kimani Vidal will get at least one more game as the Bolts' lead back, and he should be considered a must-start in Week 9 against the one-win Titans. Hampton needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats, and he is fully expected to take over lead-back duties in L.A. once he returns from IR.

From RotoBaller