My son — who’s lower than a month into center faculty — requested me to share my most embarrassing second. We have been within the kitchen, clearing plates after dinner and casually chatting about Brawl Stars (natch) when he, out of nowhere, fired off the inquiry. It took me unexpectedly. Partially as a result of I wasn’t certain find out how to slim down the a long time of foibles whereas nonetheless conserving the dialog age-appropriate. And likewise as a result of I used to be frightened that maybe he had carried out one thing really blush-inducing.
I needed him to know that it was OK to be clumsy, generally with our our bodies and generally with our phrases. And that everybody — from Shohei Ohtani to the “Skibidi Rest room” man — has felt hearth on their cheeks and dread of their bellies after committing a gaffe of some kind. That’s a part of the human expertise. It builds character and likewise permits unbelievable room for levity and relatability. Not that I anticipated an 11-year-old boy to know that kind of gravity.
I ended up telling him a narrative about how — as a painfully insecure 15-year-old — I slipped on a patch of black ice in my highschool’s parking zone and fully biffed it proper in entrance of my crush. How I laid on my again paralyzed with awkwardness till mentioned crush came visiting, requested me if I used to be OK, after which handed me the granola bar that had apparently flown out of my pocket, saying, “I believe you dropped this.”
My child, eyes huge with shared humiliation, howled with uncomfortable laughter after which, as soon as he lastly stopped screaming “Noooooooo,” requested no matter occurred to the crush. I advised him the reality. That the man by no means spoke to me once more. However a classmate of mine had witnessed the entire episode, came visiting to assist me up, and that she is now who my son refers to as “Auntie Carolyn.” Out of that splendidly sloppy state of affairs, I (fairly actually) fell into one of the real and enduring friendships of my life.
Clearly, not each “most embarrassing second” might be tied with such a quaint bow. In truth, these different tales are for when he’s in his 20s (possibly 30s). Regardless, it’s price acknowledging that even in essentially the most bungling of events, that which you aren’t targeted on can ferry deliverance. And that is what I considered whereas watching soccer Sunday. The play (no less than throughout the first slate of video games) was broadly undisciplined, fraught with penalties and possibly just a few profane exclamations.
The place have all of the starters gone? I questioned. Some, reminiscent of Aaron Jones Sr. and James Conner, have been sidelined with accidents. Others, together with Drake London and Brian Thomas Jr., are victims of subpar quarterback play. In almost each state of affairs, nonetheless, an answer has been found, even when it’s not the one we noticed coming or had hoped would materialize.
Generally, we’ve to fumble towards Choice B earlier than realizing it was higher than the unique plan all alongside. We are able to select to stay cussed and locked in on the story we initially advised ourselves, or we are able to admit that we tripped and want some surprising assist getting upright once more. Every week (to a point) is an train in dusting ourselves off and shifting perspective. So, let’s verify our egos, dig in and get messy.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Baker Mayfield redemption arc has shortly grow to be considered one of my favourite narratives in skilled soccer. The embodiment of pluck, Mayfield brings barrel-chested terrier vitality to each drive, daring defenders (and critics) to doubt him. Forged by many as a possible “bust” heading into the autumn, Mayfield is at present the digital sport’s QB10 general, having posted higher than 17 fantasy factors in every contest to this point this season.
Nothing stops this man from producing! Not the losses of his crackerjack OC, his Professional-Bowl OT and even his most versatile WR. To that final level, Emeka Egbuka has stepped in brilliantly for Chris Godwin. Even in a restricted capability, and in a sport wherein the rookie recorded a 59% snap share, Mayfield was capable of feed and join with Egbuka to the tune of six grabs and 85 receiving yards.
Much more spectacular, Mike Evans’ early exit (hamstring) didn’t forestall Mayfield from posting 233 passing yards in Week 3 (QB8). With Evans set to overlook a handful of weeks, Mayfield nonetheless can’t be discounted. He did, in any case, common over 19 fantasy factors per sport (clearing 18 in three of 4 efforts) when Evans and Godwin have been each sidelined in Weeks 7-10 of 2024.
Moreover, Mayfield’s legs have helped to buoy his fantasy stats. The 30-year-old at present ranks fourth on the place in dashing yards (116), behind Patrick Mahomes (125), Lamar Jackson (118) and Jalen Hurts (117). That manufacturing has additionally remained fantastically constant, as Mayfield is the one quarterback to have managed no less than 33 dashing yards in all three video games this season. More likely to get each Tristan Wirfs and Godwin again, Mayfield affords buyers low-end QB1 consideration versus a vulnerable Eagles secondary in Week 4.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders: This one stings. Not many have been as excessive on Jeanty as I used to be heading into the season. I’m, nonetheless, nonetheless bullish on his expertise and quantity. Jeanty has logged 47 dashing makes an attempt (T-RB10), the identical quantity as Bijan Robinson. However, clearly, Jeanty’s manufacturing has been deeply disheartening.
A lot of this subject might be attributed to the Raiders’ offensive line. Apparently, although Jeanty has recorded 96 dashing yards after contact (RB12), his 1.02 yards earlier than contact ranks thirty eighth on the place. Per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, the Raiders’ O-line has managed a run block win price of simply 65% (worst within the NFL). It also needs to be famous that Jeanty has confronted the second-, third- and Eleventh-best defenses in RSWR this season.
There’s no sugarcoating Jeanty’s state of affairs, however there may very well be room for optimism in Week 4. The Bears rank twenty second in RSWR, which may present the rookie with a lift in effectivity. Additional, Chicago has allowed the sixth-most receptions to RBs (16), permitting for a possible uptick in passing sport utilization. Possibly I’m greedy at straws, however given the matchup, I’m keen to roll out Jeanty as a high-end RB2 on Sunday. Fingers crossed.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders: Keep in mind when Croskey-Merritt’s ADP spiked as he shot up draft boards forward of Javonte Williams and Jordan Mason? It’s superb how a lot can change in simply over a month. Within the crew’s first sport with out Austin Ekeler (Achilles), Washington’s backfield solely appeared to grow to be muddier. JCM, Chris Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols every recorded 21 snaps. They every ran three to 5 routes. Croskey-Merritt and Rodriguez evenly break up 4 goal-to-goal carries, however the workloads remained remarkably (if not alarmingly) equal.
It is very important word that JCM is a rookie and, subsequently, affords managers long-term upside. Nonetheless, in the meanwhile, he’s not reliable sufficient to begin, notably in opposition to an improved Falcons protection that has held opposing RBs to fewer than 80 scrimmage yards per outing. Jayden Daniels’ (knee) potential return would, clearly, present the offense a lift, however till there’s extra readability, “Invoice” is not more than a TD-dependent flex.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers: Discuss the best choice hiding in plain sight — Keenan Allen leads the Chargers in catches (19), and Quentin Johnston tops the crew in receiving yards (239). They’ve each caught TDs whereas McConkey has not. Much more regarding, McConkey ranks third in aerial alternatives with 21 seems versus Allen’s 26 and Johnston’s 24. Lest one was to imagine that Pat Surtain II negatively impacted McConkey’s manufacturing in Week 3; per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, McConkey lined up in opposition to the Broncos’ star CB on solely 5 of his 52 routes. As a substitute, Surtain largely coated Johnston, trailing the WR on 42 of his routes.
It’s troublesome that on such a pass-happy offense, McConkey has logged simply 154 receiving yards (WR31). Actually, Los Angeles has registered the eighth-highest designed go price (66%) within the NFL with 75% of the squad’s yards coming by means of the air (fourth most). Najee Harris’ absence (Achilles) may open up extra alternatives for the second-year receiver, however along with his crew as 6.5-point favorites at New York, it’s unlikely he’ll garner an enormous enhance. As such, he figures to languish on the WR2/flex bubble, providing buyers WR30(ish) worth in Week 4.
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans: Calvin Ridley, who? Regardless of being prioritized by Brian Callahan, Ridley has remained woefully inefficient, struggling to construct rapport with Cam Ward whereas registering 4 drops in 2025. As a substitute, it has been Ayomanor who has maintained chemistry with the QB and flashed upside in Nashville. The rookie has bested the vet in quite a few classes, drawing three purple zone targets to Ridley’s one, averaging 10.9 fantasy factors to Ridley’s 6.4, and managing a 59% catch price to Ridley’s 36% (regardless of additionally logging a deeper aDOT of 12.8 yards, in contrast with Ridley’s 11.3).
Given his school pedigree (and Subject Yates’ enthusiastic approval), maybe the fantasy group ought to have seen this coming. The Stanford product did, in any case, rack up 13 grabs, 294 receiving yards and three TDs after halftime in opposition to a Travis Hunter-led Colorado protection in 2023. Nonetheless, Ayomanor’s skilled future stays vibrant. Even with Callahan turning over the playcalling duties to QBs coach Bo Hardegree, the Titans’ receiving corps stays shallow — Tyler Lockett seems to be a shell of his former self, managing eight targets on 72 routes over three efforts — and determined for juice. Ayomanor, 22, won’t garner beginning enchantment this coming Sunday, however with bye weeks quick approaching, he must be preemptively rostered. He’s at present out there in almost 80% of ESPN fantasy leagues.
RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos: If solely Sean Payton loved shiny (and shifty!) new toys as a lot because the fantasy group does. Harvey, who was drafted sixtieth by the Broncos and 74th by digital managers, has logged 16 complete fantasy factors three video games into his first skilled marketing campaign. His utilization has remained frustratingly static, suggesting not more than a complementary function whereas J.Ok. Dobbins stays wholesome.
In the meantime, the previous Charger has continued his unlikely comeback marketing campaign, transferring from one AFC West contender to a different. Averaging over 15 fantasy factors per sport (RB12), Dobbins has accounted for almost 55% of Denver’s dashing alternatives. He has additionally impressed along with his probabilities, registering seven runs of 10 or extra yards (tied for first amongst RBs with Jonathan Taylor and James Prepare dinner) and discovering the top zone in three consecutive outings. Dobbins, 26, ought to construct on these numbers in a probable optimistic sport script (the Broncos are 7.5-point favorites) in opposition to the Bengals on Monday evening. He’s the ESPN consensus ranked RB14. Harvey, then again, is the group’s RB39.
Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets: Regardless of NFL bloodlines coursing by means of his veins, Jason Taylor’s progeny has largely flown beneath the radar in redraft circles. A dependable chain-mover who recorded only one drop in 2024, the LSU product is thirteenth on the place in snap price (79%), rating above Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, Brock Bowers, Jake Ferguson and T.J. Hockenson. His routes run and targets drawn have elevated for the reason that begin of the season. Apparently, these numbers coincide with Josh Reynolds’ (hamstring) absence.
With Reynolds anticipated to take a seat once more in Week 4, Taylor figures to stay concerned. Even higher if Justin Fields clears the concussion protocol, as Fields has demonstrated a penchant for concentrating on his tight ends ultimately zone. Actually, when Fields was his crew’s starter (from the start of 2022 by means of Week 6 of 2024), he threw the fifth-most passing scores to tight ends, behind solely Mahomes (Kelce), Jackson (Andrews), Jared Goff (Sam LaPorta) and Brock Purdy (George Kittle). Lastly, the matchup at Miami definitely helps because the Dolphins have allowed the third-most fantasy factors and two TDs to opposing TEs. A sleeper, Taylor may very well be the place’s subsequent massive shock in Week 4.
