🐺 Wolf Sports Weekly

Tight ends dominate on National Tight Ends Day

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Wolf Sports
October 29, 2024

What a week. Yesterday was the 31st Sports Equinox in history, and tight ends went off on Sunday’s National Tight Ends Day with a record 177 receptions by the position along with 16 touchdowns.

⭐️ TEs lead the way in Week 8

On Sunday Night Football, National Tight Ends Day founder George Kittle caught six passes for 128 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers held on to beat the Cowboys, 30-24. QB Brock Purdy was off at first for San Francisco, but he picked it up and threw for 260 yards and a touchdown while adding 56 yards and another score on the ground versus a short-handed Cowboys defense that was still without LB Micah Parsons (ankle) and CB DaRon Bland (foot).

Maryland Miracle: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels hit WR Noah Brown for a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown as time expired to stun the Bears, 18-15, in a matchup that included the No. 1 overall pick (Caleb Williams) and the No. 2 pick (Daniels). Erasing a potential game-winning drive by Williams, Daniels held the ball for nearly 13 seconds before launching it deep, and Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson is under fire for taunting Commanders fans as the ball was snapped on the final play. Stevenson apologized for his actions.

Key divisional victories: Led by two touchdowns from TE Kyle Pitts (including one that certainly looked like a fumble at the goal line but was not overturned), the Falcons beat the Buccaneers in another shootout. Meanwhile, the Texans won another intense battle with the Colts despite RB Jonathan Taylor (20 carries, 105 yards, one touchdown) returning for Indy, as QB Anthony Richardson again struggled as a passer (10/32, 175 yards, one touchdown, one interception). Atlanta and Houston have now defeated the second-place team in their respective divisions twice already this season, giving them a nice cushion.

“Oh, I started praying instantly.” Browns QB Jameis Winston led Cleveland to an upset victory over the Ravens capped by a 38-yard touchdown toss to WR Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds remaining. In addition to Winston stepping in at quarterback with Deshaun Watson done for the year, the Browns made a play-caller switch, with OC Ken Dorsey taking the play-calling duties from HC Kevin Stefanski.

Other Week 8 results:

  • Rams 30, Vikings 20: Rams WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua both played well in their returns to the lineup, and the Vikings’ TNF loss was sealed by a brutal non-call on a clear facemark of QB Sam Darnold.

  • Eagles 37, Bengals 17: In a battle between teams looking to build on two straight wins against struggling opponents, the Eagles certainly looked more legit while pulling away at Cincy. Jalen Hurts ran for three touchdowns and threw a deep bomb to WR DeVonta Smith when the game was tied at 17.

  • Patriots 25, Jets 22: Since 1940, teams were 756-0 when scoring 20+ points, committing zero turnovers, and holding the opponent under 250 yards. Make it 756-1, with the Jets’ nightmare continuing after Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett (in for rookie Drake Maye, who left due to a concussion) led a comeback win. New York is now 2-6.

  • Cardinals 28, Dolphins 27: It was great to see Tua Tagovailoa back on the field, and Miami’s offense looked much better with him in the lineup. But Kyler Murray played outstanding on the other side, leading a tight victory to get the Cardinals up to 4-4 in the crowded NFC West.

  • Lions 52, Titans 14: The Lions continue to totally dominate, including with yet another trick-play touchdown (RB David Montgomery throw to TE Sam LaPorta). Jared Goff’s 76 passing yards are the fewest in a three-touchdown performance since 1976. Jahmyr Gibbs (AKA “Sonic”) go zoom.

  • Packers 30, Jaguars 27: Green Bay lost Jordan Love (groin, day-to-day), but RB Josh Jacobs powered the win to get the Packers to 6-2 ahead of a matchup with the Lions.

  • Chiefs 27, Raiders 20: Kansas City remained unbeaten as Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdowns (one interception) in his first opportunity to face the Raiders since a lot of offseason talk.

  • Bills 31, Seahawks 10: Josh Allen finally threw an interception, but Buffalo was overwhelming even on the road at Seattle behind two touchdowns from Allen and two from RB James Cook while the defense bottled up Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III (nine carries, 12 yards).

  • Chargers 26, Saints 8: Offensively, New Orleans continues to look like a mess without QB Derek Carr in the lineup, and Chargers QB Justin Herbert was tremendous with 279 yards and two touchdowns—both to rookie WR Ladd McConkey, who caught six passes for 111 yards.

  • Broncos 28, Panthers 14: This one was not as close as the score indicates, with rookie QB Bo Nix totaling four touchdowns (one rushing)—and with Panthers players not being happy with Sean Payton for what they felt was running up the score. Ironically, Panthers CB Jaycee Horn was the one yelling most at Payton, and Payton coached his father Joe Horn with the Saints. Regarding his defense playing well again, Denver’s head coach said, “it’s not a good offense we played. It’s just the truth.”; and the next day, Payton said Carolina should “play better” instead of complaining.

  • Steelers 26, Giants 18: All three phases stepped up for Pittsburgh, including a 73-yard punt return touchdown from Calvin Austin III. Russell Wilson and George Pickens connected on one of throws of the year in the fourth quarter of the win.

🔥 Top fantasy performers in Week 8

  • Eagles QB Jalen Hurts: 35.14 points

  • Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb: 33.1 points

  • Broncos QB Bo Nix: 29.76 points

  • Falcons QB Kirk Cousins: 28.64 points

  • Bills RB James Cook: 26.8 points

(point totals are for half PPR scoring)

👀 Chiefs get stronger

There are some transactions to track ahead of next Tuesday’s trade deadline, and the Chiefs have already acquired more talent in their quest for a three-peat. Last week, they got veteran WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans for a conditional fifth-round pick that can become a fourth. And yesterday, they sent a late-round pick to the Patriots for underrated pass rusher Josh Uche. Other recent moves:

Also, Raiders owner Mark Davis emailed ESPN: “We’re Not Trading Maxx Crosby. Before Or After The Trade Deadline!!!”

🩼 Injury updates

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (hamstring) is expected to be out through Tampa Bay’s Week 11 bye. Meanwhile, while WR Chris Godwin (ankle) is likely done for the year but might have a chance to return for a deep playoff run.

Vikings star LT Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL and MCL in last Thursday’s loss to the Rams and is out for the season.

Jaguars WR Christian Kirk is done for the year after suffering a broken collarbone versus the Packers.

QB Derek Carr is expected to return for the Saints in Week 9. Carr missed the previous three games with an oblique injury.

Texans WR Stefon Diggs suffered a non-contact knee injury in Week 8, and there is currently uncertainty around the extent of the injury. Houston faces the Jets on Halloween night.

If his ramp-up goes well, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is set to make his 2024 debut in Week 10 following San Francisco’s bye week.

Broncos WR Josh Reynolds was wounded in a shooting but is thankfully somehow OK after being hit twice.

🏈 More league updates

The Commanders released former first-round pick LB Jamin Davis, who was selected by the team in 2021.

Giants owner John Mara says the franchise will not make any big changes this season and does not anticipate doing so this offseason.

Former Jets HC Robert Saleh is helping the Packers in a fluid role. Saleh and Packers HC Matt LaFleur have been great friends for years.

Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey missed practice time last week due to jury duty.

Asked how to prepare to face Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Browns S Grant Delpit said they can put 6’8”, 374-pound OT Dawand Jones at running back in practice.

The Modern-Era Player category for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 has been narrowed to 50 candidates.

Our latest waiver wire rankings from Fantasy Consigliere include a couple of guys you should run to the wire to claim if they are somehow still available in your league.

1. Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG RB
Tracy went off last night before unfortunately leaving late with a concussion, and he was the best source of offense for New York—totaling 150 yards and a score on 22 touches. If somehow still available, Tracy should be added as a back that has shown clear star potential. 

2. Keon Coleman, BUF WR
The connection between Josh Allen and Coleman continued to grow on Sunday, and the rookie wideout caught five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown—which was a highlight jump ball from two yards out. As stated last week, Coleman will only benefit from Amari Cooper drawing coverage from opponents, and he’s averaging 11.6 yards per target on the season.

3. Jared Goff, DET QB
Detroit didn’t need to throw the ball around the yard in the win over Tennessee, but Goff still had three touchdowns on just 15 attempts—giving him 10 scores and zero interceptions over the past four games. Although there will be some tougher games down the stretch for the Lions, Goff needs to be rostered as a QB1.

4. Jonathon Brooks, CAR RB
Panthers head coach Dave Canales saying “it could be” possible that Brooks doesn’t play this season creates some pause about him as an add, but we find it hard to believe a team wouldn’t give him valuable experience when deemed healthy—which could be as early as this week. Brooks remains worth the stash based on his ability.

5. Bo Nix, DEN QB
Nix has been a solid fantasy option to begin his career because of what he can provide as a runner, so it was great to see him have a breakout statistical game through the air with 284 yards and three touchdowns in Week 8. Now a top-10 fantasy quarterback on the season, Nix has played his way into weekly consideration.

Other Sports Updates

🙏 Gone too soon: Rest in Peace to legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, USF basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, MLS goalkeeper Holden Trent, and Browns announcer Jim Donovan.

⚾️ World Series: The Dodgers lead the Yankees, 3-0, ahead of Game 4 tonight at 8:08 PM ET on FOX.

🏈 College football highlights include Kennesaw State getting its first win by stunning undefeated Liberty, No. 14 Texas A&M coming back to beat No. 8 LSU, No. 12 Notre Dame blowing out unbeaten No. 24 Navy, No. 1 Oregon coasting versus No. 20 Illinois, and No. 4 Ohio State surviving against Nebraska ahead of a huge matchup with No. 3 Penn State this Saturday at noon ET.

🫡 Sending our best to college QBs Grayson MacCall and Jack Tuttle, who both medically retired from football.

🐺 Found on wolfsports.com