A lot a records were broken yesterday, and they’re well worth discussing, but instead of waxing nostalgic I’m going to touch on some of the less obvious points from yesterday’s games. These are my fantasy takeaways from those matchups:

 

 

-I mentioned it in the garbage grab, but you’re going to be able to start Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams most weeks.

 

–Eddie Lacy looks like his old self, but James Starks is going to prevent him from having many monster games. Lacy only had five more carries than Starks this week.

 

–Kelvin Benjamin continues to prove himself to be matchup proof. He’s a must start.

 

-Right now, the only TE I’d rather have than Greg Olsen is Julius Thomas. I love Jimmy Graham, but he’s becoming a constant injury risk.

 

-The only thing keeping Justin Forsett from being elite is Bernard Pierce vulturing goal line carries. Who would have thought we’d be saying that in the preseason?

 

–Lorenzo Taliaferro is an afterthought in the Ravens offense. This we did know would happen in the preseason.

 

-The Vikings claim they want to get Matt Asiata’s carries back up, but McKinnon out-touched him 19 to 6 this week. Pick up or trade for Jerrick McKinnon while he’s still moderately cheap.

 

–Anthony Dixon became the lead back when Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller were both injured, but I like Bryce Brown to take the reins sooner than later. He’s a must own in all leagues.

 

-Miami TE Charles Clay finally looks healthy. It’s time to pick him up.

 

–Jarvis Landry is sticking around in Miami. He’s quickly become a favorite target of Ryan Tannehill, and he’s a must own in dynasty leagues.

 

–Mark Ingram led the Saints in carries, but Khiry Robinson was their most effective back. He may yet retain decent fantasy value even with Ingram around.

 

–Brandin Cooks has done a disappearing act after a fast start this season. He’s going to show up again, but he’s not the every-week start we were expecting.

 

–Jimmy Graham has become the tight end equivalent of Calvin Johnson injury-wise. He’s such a game changer that he’s a must-start as long as he’s active, even if he’s not healthy, and that can hurt you more often than you’d think.

 

-Colts TE Dwayne Allen is highly TD-dependent, but the Colts depend on him for TDs.

 

-Outside of T.Y. Hilton, the Colts receivers you can depend on are their tight ends.

 

–Jermaine Gresham led the Bengals in targets with 12 on Sunday, and he’ll continue to be a target hog as long as A.J. Green is out. What he does with those targets is a different story.

-The Colts defense is quietly entering the conversation for a weekly start. Either that or the Bengals offensive line is quietly being exposed.

 

-Someone has finally claimed the elusive role of lead back in Jacksonville, and his name is Denard Robinson. He’s not exceptional, but he’s exceptionally valuable in leagues where he is classified as WR/RB.

 

–Andrew Hawkins must have heard my discouraging remarks about him last week, because he reemerged with a 100+ yd game yesterday. He still has yet to score a TD though.

 

-TE Clay Harbor had a ho-hum day on the stat sheet, but he lead the team in receptions. He’s going to remain a viable streaming TE option.

 

-Was it imperative that the Seahawks trade Percy Harvin right before such an important divisional matchup? Probably not, and they’ve got to be kicking themselves for the bad timing.

 

-The stat sheet wasn’t telling, but Paul Richardson was the biggest beneficiary of the Harvin trade, playing 43 of 73 snaps on Sunday.

 

-Rams RB Tre Mason made it clear that he’s the most talented back in St. Louis. He’s a must add in all formats.

 

–Zac Stacy appears to be the odd man out in St. Louis as Mason can be the big back, and Cunningham is efficient as a pass catcher.

 

–Russell Wilson had to go and show those who think he’s just a game manager that he is a game CEO.

 

–Charlie Whitehurst and Justin Hunter are not a good fit in fantasy or reality for that matter. Locker is no great improvement, but at least he can air the ball out.

 

–Jordan Reed is still the TE to own in Washington, despite the yardage in yesterday’s game.

 

-It’s time to pick up RG3 if you’re lacking in the QB department.

 

-Despite the modest production, Keenan Allen is well on his way to fantasy relevance again. This may be the last chance to buy low.

 

-RB DeAnthony Thomas is a sneaky pickup in return yardage leagues.

 

-Cowboys WR Terrance Williams is a terrific sell-high. If not for the one TD catch, he would have had a goose egg yesterday.

 

–Rueben Randle was a target monster yesterday, but Odell Beckham was the Giants’ best receiver. He’s going to lead them in receiving the rest of the way.

 

–Andre Williams won’t be a threat to Rashad Jennings when he returns.

 

-Even though Andre Ellington isn’t a goal-line threat, his presence in the pass game elevates him to RB1 status.

 

–Stepfan Taylor is worth a speculative add in non ppr leagues. Twelve carries, several of them goal line, is nothing to scoff at.

 

-WR Andre Holmes is still worth starting, but his low number of targets makes him slightly unreliable. His ceiling is astronomical, but his floor is below sea level in this Raiders offense.

 

–Darren McFadden is going to be a sneaky RB2 as long as he’s healthy.

 

-Don’t fret Julius Thomas owners, JT was a missed end zone connection away from another paydirt day.

 

–Ronnie Hillman looks like the real thing. He’s fast and becoming more elusive, the kind of back that can produce against the tough defenses the Broncos will be facing this season. Montee Ball may be out of a job.

 

–Stevie Johnson was slippery and caught another TD last night, his third in four games. With a tasty schedule after the bye next week, he’s a sneaky flex play in deeper leagues.

 

–Vernon who?