There are few things worse than waiting. Whether it is stoplights, a grocery line, watching the food cook at a fondue restaurant — waiting is just awful.
But there is something that can be worse than the wait: When the wait doesn’t pay off.
Your light turns green but someone is blocking the box. You finally get your turn to ring in groceries and you need a price check. You overcook your steak. It turns the inconvenience of waiting into a disaster.
Sort of like if you were waiting a large chunk of the season to get back Cooper Kupp only to watch him suddenly struggle. Or De’Von Achane to return only to immediately leave the game.
Or, you got a draft bargain on Jonathan Taylor, then were happy when it became clear he would actually play. But, oh no! You had to wait the first four weeks for him to return from an ankle injury.
He finally gets back, but, oh no! You have to wait for his reps to get ramped up and for him to play his way back into a bellcow role. But finally — finally! — he ranked in the top 10 RBs three times over the span of five weeks with things looking up.
Then, oh no! Taylor will be out multiple weeks having undergone thumb surgery. And let’s hope you handcuffed Zack Moss to him, since he likely hit your waiver wire after Taylor returned, because he becomes an immediate plug-and-play.
When Moss previously manned that role earlier this season, he turned in four top-10 RB weeks over a five-game span from Weeks 2-6. He scored five touchdowns over the period. He was RB3 overall in that span — trailing only Raheem Mostert and Christian McCaffrey.
Now, we don’t expect those kind of heights. In fact, the matchup isn’t great — against a Tennessee defense much better defending the run than the pass.
However, the Titans defense earlier this season ranked much better against the run. Then came Week 5, when Moss racked up 165 yards and two touchdowns. So we’re not too worried about this matchup, or really any, because his volume alone should carry the day.
How sound of a play is Moss? We would prefer to use him over either Mostert or Achane this week. Yeah, you hear that? That is outrage of the fantasy community. Turn in one 50-point effort and you’re a must-start every week for eternity, right Achane truthers?
Don’t get us wrong, we like Mostert and love Achne’s upside. But a lot can go wrong there. One or the other could monopolize the rushing TDs. They could split the production enough so that both are just OK but neither are great. Mosert is dealing with an ankle/knee issue. Achane is still dealing with a knee problem after leaving almost immediately in his initial return in Week 11.
Moss carries no such concerns. All he provides is comfort. He was a warm blanket early this season when Taylor was out. Snuggle up with that blanket again.
Big weeks
Derek Carr QB, Saints, vs. Lions (FanDuel $7,000/DraftKings $5,600)
We didn’t expect the world from Carr this season, but it has been a surprisingly pathetic. However, if in a QB bind this week, he should have to play keep-up with the Lions, who have one of the softest defenses against opposing fantasy QBs.
Brian Robinson Jr. RB, Commanders, vs. Dolphins (FD $6,800/DK $6,100)
Flies under radar that he is RB5 overall this season. Yet, he is being started in less than half of ESPN leagues. Get this guy in your lineup regardless of matchup. He has a big enough role in the passing game to be effective even when trailing.
Adam Thielen WR, Panthers, at Buccaneers (FD $7,000/DK $6,600)
Yeah, it has been rough for Adam T. the past few weeks. But he has a juicy matchup and a new coach, so maybe that fixes some of what’s broken with this offense.
Courtland Sutton WR, Broncos, at Texans (FD $6,900/DK $5,400)
He has scored a TD in eight of 11 games. After giving up just two TDs to WRs in the first eight games. The Texans have yielded four WR scores in the past three games.
Small weaks
Kyler Murray QB, Cardinals, at Steelers (FD $7,700/DK $7,000)
You’ll probably be fine using him, but don’t thrust him into your lineup, against a tough Steelers D, ahead of guys like Justin Herbert, Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa, Trevor Lawrence, Russell Wilson or even Sam Howell.
Breece Hall RB, Jets, vs. Falcons (FD $6,700/DK $6,400)
Atlanta gives up 4.6 fantasy points per week fewer than the league average — second-stingiest. Plus, Hall is dealing with a hammy issue. Plus, he has been pretty ho-hum for the bulk of the past month.
D’Andre Swift RB, Eagles, vs. 49ers (FD $6,700/DK $6,600)
Has been better than RB15 overall just once since Week 6 in PPR. The Niners have given up just three TDs to RBs since Week 3.
Cooper Kupp WR, Rams, vs. Browns (FD $7,100/DK $7,800)
Look, we can’t explain it. We wish we could. But Kupp has been in single digits for five straight weeks. And now the Rams have their marquee RB back in Kyren Williams. And they’re playing the toughest defense vs. fantasy WRs. This week isn’t a prime bounce-back opportunity.
Daily Duel
Drew Loftis and Jarad Wilk submit dueling rosters into a DFS contest:
Site: DraftKings
Slate: Sun. main (10 games)
Type: $12 tourney
Top prize: $20K
Pot: $200K
Betting on the NFL?
Drew’s Crew
QB: Brock Purdy — SF (at Phi) $6,100
RB: Brian Robinson Jr. — Was (vs. Mia) $6,100
RB: Zack Moss — Ind (at Ten) $4,600
WR: Deebo Samuel — SF (at Phi) $6,200
WR: DeVonta Smith — Phi (vs. SF) $7,300
WR: Courtland Sutton — Den (at Hou) $5,400
TE: Taysom Hill — NO (vs. Det) $5,200
Flex: Jerome Ford — Cle (at LAR) $5,500
DST: Falcons — Atl (at NYJ) $3,400
Wilk’s Warriors
QB: Brock Purdy — SF (at Phi) $6,100
RB: Zack Moss — Ind (at Ten) $4,600
RB: Rachaad White — TB (vs. Car) $6,300
WR: Brandon Aiyuk — SF (at Phi) $7,200
WR: Michael Pittman Jr. — Ind (at Ten) $7,100
WR: Courtland Sutton — Den (at Hou) $5,400
TE: David Njoku — Cle (at LAR) $4,100
Flex: Bijan Robinson — Atl (at NYJ) $6,700
DST: Patriots — NE (vs. LAC) $2,400
For late changes to Daily Duel rosters, follow @NYPost_Loftis on X
Season risked: $114
Season’s winnings: Drew $58, Jarad $9
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