— He rushed for 1,272 yards in 2016, his first full season of steady work.
— He averaged 3.4 yards a carry behind a depleted Dolphins offensive line this year.
— After not scoring a TD in his last seven Dolphins games, he has scored one out of every eight touches for the Eagles.
— The Eagles have scored more than 50 points in every game since trading for him.
— Ajayi’s arrival in Philadelphia has created significant problems with the team’s fireworks supplies.
Not a bad start. Now he just has to repeat it every time he takes the field.
QB: Jared Goff, 36.44 pts — on Jim’s bench WR: T.Y. Hilton, 26.17 pts — started by Bob
RB: Alvin Kamara, 25.40 pts — started by Jo
TE: Julius Thomas, 14.60 pts — on the wire
K: Greg Zuerlein, 17.00 pts — started by Joel
DEF: New Orleans, 21.00 pts — on the wire
D: Bobby Wagner, 13.50 pts — started by Mom D
The Eagles scored 51 pts and didn’t manage a single player in the top fantasy scorers of the week (RB Corey Clement was close, at 24.60 pts). That’s because the LA Rams also posted 51 pts on Sunday, and had the top QB and K scorers of the week.
But, for the season, the top fantasy scorer in all of the NFL remains QB Carson Wentz, who is almost 15 pts ahead of Kansas City QB Alex Smith. RB Todd Gurley is the top RB, the 11th highest scorer. WR DeAndre Hopkins is the top wideout, and the 29th best player on the board. We can stop with the “wide receivers are great fantasy players” thing now, right?
“Name you know” edition
3rd place: Willie Snead, -1.50 pts — on the wire
2nd place: Jonathan Stewart, -1.90 pts — on Jo’s bench
1st place: New York Giants, -6.00 pts — on the wire
Fun fact: When your defense gives up 51 pts and records no sacks or turnovers, it’s a sign you’re not very good.
By the way, this is the second week in a row that Eagles QB Nick Foles was just on the edges of the worst performers. His fumble on Sunday gave him -0.70 pts for the day and -0.90 pts on the year, worst among all players. And yet the Eagles are 23-9 with him in uniform.
** In the first quarter of the Eagles game, Broncos RB CJ Anderson went down with an injury. When the Eagles came back from a short commercial, Philly play-by-play legend Merrill Reese said somberly the injury could be serious.Color commentator Mike Quick offered his normally appropriate response: “Yeah, that could be the Herr’s Crunch of the Game!”
** From NFL.com on Monday:
Headline — The Cowboys are truely America’s team
Story lede — The Cowboys' star running back, Ezekiel Elliott, rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown Sunday, just two days after a legal victory in a federal appeals court allowed him to play.
America! Winning thanks to questionable legal victories!
** ESPN commentator Jon Gruden, in the third quarter of Monday night’s Packers/Lions game, commenting on a nice pass by QB Matt Stafford:
“He threw that ball right between the corner and the safety. Unbelievable. I call that the turkey hole. Don’t ask me why.”
I was not going to ask.
The Eagles don’t play next week, but there is still plenty of exciting football to watch, including what might be the game of the year: The 1-7 Giants travel to the 0-9 Niners. Consider the potential ramifications:
— If the Niners don’t win, they’ll have a legit chance at finishing 0-16 this year. Four of their final six games are against teams with winning records.
— Despite having a better record, the Giants are actually one-point underdogs in this match-up. Having a 0-9 team favored in a contest against them has to be one of the lowest points in franchise history.
— Whichever team loses, they still might not get the #1 draft pick next spring. The Cleveland Browns are also still winless, with a chance of 0-16.
— In a just world, this could be the last win of Eli Manning’s career. He’s widely expected to step aside next season … or be tossed out the window, given how bad the team has been this year.
— NFL officials have not yet announced it, but if the game ends in a tie, both teams will be required to fight to the death to determine a loser. Not a winner. Just a loser.
Some weeks it is hard to define what makes a Cowboys player particularly evil. Other weeks, they present all the evidence themselves. Consider Dallas linebacker Damien Wilson: LB Damien Wilson
** I am slow in blend
** I am news blind, lo
** I am swollen bind
** I am ill bond sewn
** I am no-wind bells
** I am lewd snob, nil
** I am blown-led sin
At least he is confident in what he is.
** Dad’s misplaced faith the 49ers cost him another tally in our weekly picks. He’s now down six games at the season’s halfway mark. And, unlike the Eagles, he doesn’t get a bye next week. ** I don’t want to alarm anyone, but we’re almost a full month into the NBA season and the Sixers don’t have a losing record.
** On Sunday, WR AJ Green grabbed CB Jalen Ramsey in a headlock, threw him to the ground and punched him twice in the face. He was ejected from the game. On Monday, league officials announced he would not receive any additional suspension for the act.
So, lesson learned. Feel free to punch opponents next week.
** Rest in peace, Roy Halladay. And thanks for all the fun.
Week 9 standings 1 — Foles me Wentz (Capt. Awesome), 1128.28 pts
2 — Gronky Tonk Man (Joel), 1071.39 pts
3 — For Who? For Wentz? (Ant), 1030.28 pts
4 — Animal Crackers (Mom D), 1008.24 pts
5 — Foles v. Sproles (Jo), 954.29 pts
6 — ThePigskin Predators (Dad), 952.89 pts
7 — Cosby's Sleepers (Mike), 938.21 pts
8 — Dat CTE Lyfe (Sam), 923.49 pts
9 — Tiny Trump Gloves (Jim), 836.58 pts
10 — Last Exit 2 Kutztown (Bob), 782.83 pts
11 — Blue Collar Killers (Jeff), 777.78 pts
12 — SmartyPants on Fire (Paul), 775.73 pts
At the halfway point of the season, the team that Yahoo predicted would finish 10th is currently in first place. Take that, second-rate search engine company predictors.
Big week for Joanna and Mike, who both moved up the charts this week. Mom Doyle was this close to hopping over Anthony into medal position, but will have to wait for the return of Tom Brady to her squad next week to do that.
And Paul posted our first sub-50 pts week of the year, thanks to starting five players on a bye and two more who scored zero points. So, there’s that.
Eight weeks left to try and jump up to the top spot. Remember to get those Eagles out of your lineup for one week, to rest them for the Dallas game.
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