Let the postseason countdown begin

With just two weeks to go in most fantasy leagues’ regular seasons, it’s crunch time for teams on the postseason bubble. And things are about to get very interesting.

Josh Gordon is set to return in Week 12 against a very vulnerable Falcons secondary. With Andrew Hawkins stepping up and tight end Jordan Cameron nearing his return from a concussion, Cleveland’s offense is about to get turbo-charged. Don’t be surprised if Brian Hoyer turns in some stellar performances in the weeks ahead.

The Adrian Peterson saga could be resolved at any minute, giving the Vikings a fresh-legged superstar to carry the load down the stretch.

Marginal teams that have socked Peterson and/or Gordon away could become contenders overnight.

The mercurial Marshawn Lynch is unhappy with his lame duck status in Seattle so he will presumably be gunning for a massive payday in the offseason. I’m glad I’m not one of the poor souls that has to tackle an angry, motivated Beast Mode.

Meanwhile, just when we thought we could never trust Jay Cutler or Andy Dalton again, both quarterbacks reminded us how quickly things can change when you have talented receivers at your disposal. Which is why you shouldn’t count out Matt Ryan or Matt Stafford after their sub-par performances, and why Ben Roethlisberger will continue to make your start/sit decisions so confounding.

Even Josh McCown is worth a gamble in favorable matchups, thanks to the emergence of rookie Mike Evans and his equally explosive counterpart, Vincent Jackson.

Apparently, a well-stocked receiving corps and solid running game isn’t enough for Robert Griffin III, though.

Several other players served notice in Week 11 that they could be factors in the second half of the season, including Ryan Tannehill, Tre Mason, C.J. Anderson and the Packers’ defense.

And remember…if you’re the Raiders of your league, don’t just tank it. The integrity of the competition depends upon everyone putting up their best fight every week. If you can’t win it all, at least spoil someone else’s season. Isn’t that what friends are for?

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Jonas Gray, RB, Patriots. Talk about a great way to vault onto the fantasy radar! If you watched Sunday night’s game, you don’t need me to tell you to grab Gray. Just be warned: What Bill Belichick giveth, Belichick loves to taketh away. Gray certainly looks like workhorse material, especially with the winter weather kicking in; but how the undrafted free agent will be deployed going forward is anybody’s guess.

Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns. Ben Tate had his turn. Then came the Terrance West Experiment. Now, the starting job in Cleveland is in Crowell’s hands; and while he didn’t exactly soar with the opportunity, he seems destined to get another shot this weekend. Given the aerial firepower at the Browns’ disposal, and Crowell’s effectiveness around the goal line, he certainly merits consideration for teams dealing with RB injuries and/or ineffectiveness.

Josh Gordon, WR, Browns. Somehow, last season’s most prolific fantasy receiver is set to return to action this weekend and yet he’s still available in about a third of all leagues. If your league is one of those, what on earth are you waiting for?

Coby Fleener, TE, Colts. When Dwayne Allen was carted off with an ankle injury Sunday night, Fleener became Andrew Luck’s go-to receiver. The Stanford teammates obviously have a good rapport, and if Allen misses more time, Fleener will have the dreaded tight end “committee” job all to himself.

Don’t be fooled

Charles Sims, RB, Buccaneers. Any starting RB is worth a fantasy roster spot. Unless he plays in Oakland, or Tampa Bay. Sims took over for Bobby Rainey, who made everyone forget Doug Martin. But despite the favorable matchup and plenty of opportunities, Sims managed just 44 combined yards. Thanks, but I’ll pass.

Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals. There’s a reason Floyd is available in a third of all fantasy leagues: If he doesn’t deliver in the first half, he doesn’t deliver. Fortunately, he reeled in two TD receptions in Sunday’s first quarter; then he promptly disappeared and didn’t have another catch. If you grab him, be prepared for more frustration.

Kenny Britt, WR, Rams. Britt is notorious for underachieving, and he’s unlikely to put that reputation behind him in St. Louis. His physical skills have always made Britt intriguing, but it’s hard to trust a guy that has squandered every chance he’s been given.

Sunday morning Foolishness -- Week 11

Good morning, Fools. It's cold, drizzly and overcast in Dallas but, as always, it's a beautiful day in Fantasyland.

Lots of news to cover this morning, so let's get right to it…

Arian Foster has been ruled out for today's game in Cleveland, so get ready for the Alfred Blue show. He's a solid RB2 or flex play today.

As mentioned in my Starters/Benchwarmers column on Friday, you should be very wary if you're an Andre Johnson or DeAndre Hopkins owner, given the tough matchup and the first NFL start for their new QB, Ryan Mallett.

There were some worries about Marshawn Lynch's status a couple days ago when he added a rib injury to his ailments, but he is expected to play as usual today. Hopefully he'll go all Beast Mode on the Chiefs today.

We already knew Gio Bernard was out, giving Jeremy Hill at least one more week as the workhorse in Cinci.

Reggie Bush will not be active, leaving the backfield in the hands of Joique Bell and Theo Riddick. They'll have a rough go of it in Arizona.

C.J. Anderson will start for the Broncos today, but Montee Ball will play and could see plenty of action. This may be the only week that Anderson is worth starting; and even now, he's a dicey proposition.

Ryan Mathews will reclaim his starting gig today, and POOF goes Branden Oliver's fantasy value.

By the way, if Josh Gordon is still available in your league (as he is in roughly a third of them), grab him pronto. He's eligible to return to action next weekend!

Delanie Walker is expected to sit out Monday night due to his concussion. Hopefully you have a TE backup plan.

Okay, that's it for now. Heading over to Twitter for the inactives and other late-breaking news, and to answer your questions. Good luck, Fools!

Week 11 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Tom Brady and Emmanuel Sanders, or to bench Ryan Mallett and Zac Stacy? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 11 of the 2014 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Robert Griffin III, QB, Redskins vs. Buccaneers. Coming off his bye and a solid, though certainly not spectacular, return in Week 9 against the Vikings, Griffin should be well prepared for the vulnerable secondary heading to FedEx Field. Given the play-making receivers at his disposal and a solid running game to keep the Bucs guessing, RG3’s ceiling is high.

Frank Gore, RB, 49ers at Giants. This has been a frustrating year for Gore and his owners, but he turned in a solid performance in New Orleans last week. Up next: A Giants defense that was just throttled by the Seahawks for 350 yards and five TDs on the ground. Surely Gore can cash in as well.

Steven Jackson, RB, Falcons at Panthers. The aging veteran is trending up recently, riding a two-game scoring stretch while keeping his backfield mates’ touches to a minimum. Carolina has given up big chunks of yardage and a league-worst 13 rushing TDs (tied with the Giants and Falcons).

Brandon LaFell, WR, Patriots at Colts. Tom Brady is en fuego while Indy’s pass defense is getting pummeled harder than a Democratic politician in Texas. LaFell has been targeted 24 times in just the last two games (six more than Rob Gronkowski), illustrating just how comfortable his QB has become with him. It’s good to be Brady’s BFF.

James Jones, WR, Raiders at Chargers. It goes against my nature to endorse a Raider, but given the pathetic recent track record of the San Diego secondary and Derek Carr’s stellar performance against this team in Week 6, I’m semi-interested. Jones is getting a lot of Carr’s attention lately, mostly at the expense of Andre Holmes. He is a viable bye-week or injury substitute.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Philip Rivers, Matt Stafford; RBs Mark Ingram, Ahmad Bradshaw, Jerick McKinnon, Terrance West, Alfred Morris, Darren Sproles, Jeremy Hill, Rashad Jennings, Alfred Blue; WRs Julian Edelman, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Roddy White, Kelvin Benjamin, Martavis Bryant, Odell Beckham, Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans, Keenan Allen, Brandin Cooks, T.Y. Hilton, Golden Tate.

Roll ‘em back

Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks at Chiefs. Despite some favorable matchups, Wilson has struggled as a passer over the last three weeks. And the road gets much bumpier in Kansas City, where the Chiefs seemingly always rise to the occasion. They also give up an NFL-low 205 passing yards per game. Wilson’s rushing prowess won’t compensate enough to make him a solid play in this matchup. 

Lions RBs at Cardinals. Reggie Bush (ankle) may sit out with yet another injury, leaving the backfield to Joique Bell and Theo Riddick. While each back brings something to the table, none has a promising outlook against Arizona’s top-notch run defense. Give them a rest on the road.

Broncos RBs at Rams. With Ronnie Hillman (foot) out and Montee Ball set to return, the backfield touches are likely to be parsed out among three mid-level players. C.J. Anderson is coming off the best game of his brief career against the lowly Raiders, but Ball will siphon off plenty of carries (if not the starting assignment). Mix in goal-line vulture Juwan Thompson, and the fact that Denver’s QB could care less about running, and this tough matchup is best avoided altogether.

Andre Johnson, WR, Texans at Browns. With Ryan Mallett making his first NFL start and shut-down corner Joe Haden shadowing him up and down the field, Johnson’s prospects are dim in this tough road contest. Don’t count on much from DeAndre Hopkins, either. Houston’s passing game is in transition, and not in a good way.

Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles at Packers. The rookie is on a nice roll, thanks in part to the extra attention being paid to him by new starter Mark Sanchez. But the Packers sport a stingy pass defense and they are likely to get an assist from the weather gods at frigid Lambeau Field. Matthews is a risky proposition.

More thumbs down: QBs Mark Sanchez, Andy Dalton, Jay Cutler, Eli Manning, Drew Stanton, Zach Mettenberger; RBs Tre Mason, Bishop Sankey, Andre Williams, Shane Vereen, Darren McFadden; WRs Wes Welker, Doug Baldwin, Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright, Kenny Britt, Michael Crabtree, Marques Colston.

TAKING A FLIER

Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers vs. Raiders. Branden Oliver’s last strong outing came against the Raiders in Week 6, but Mathews has practiced fully all week and is expected to reclaim his starting gig on Sunday. Given San Diego’s recent slide, Mathews will be given every opportunity to jumpstart the offense in this highly attractive matchup.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…benches Andre Ellington due to the tough matchup with Detroit. To be sure, the Lions play some mean run defense. But with Drew Stanton under center, the Cardinals must lean on their bell cow. Ellington contributes as a receiver as well, so he’ll get plenty of opportunities to pile up the fantasy points.
 

Week 10 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…

QBs

Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Pistol-whipped the Bears with 315 passing yards, 6 TDs and no turnovers.

Peyton Manning, Broncos – Rang up 340 yards, 5 TDs and 2 INTs against the lowly Raiders.

RBs

Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks – Was in full Beast Mode, running for 140 yards and 4 TDs, plus a 23-yard reception.

Justin Forsett, Ravens – Ran for 112 yards and 2 TDs.

C.J. Anderson, Broncos – Took over for hobbling Ronnie Hillman, running for 90 yards and taking 4 passes for 73 yards and a TD.

WRs

Dez Bryant, Cowboys – Torched the Jags with 6 receptions for 158 yards and a pair of TDs.

Jordy Nelson, Packers – Reeled in 6 passes for 152 yards and 2 terrific TDs.

Martavis Bryant, Steelers – Turned 4 passes into 143 yards and a trash-time TD.

Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos – Scored twice and accumulated 67 yards on 5 receptions.

Jordan Matthews, Eagles – Soared with 7 receptions for 138 yards and 2 TDs.

Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers – Shined through a terrible loss with 3 catches for 70 yards and 2 TDs.

TEs

Jimmy Graham, Saints – Claimed 10 passes for 76 yards and 2 TDs.

Julius Thomas, Broncos – Reeled in 6 passes for 63 yards and a pair of TDs.

DSTs

Cardinals – Finished strong with TDs on an INT and a fumble, and collected 3 turnovers and 6 sacks.

Eagles – Accumulated 9 sacks, 3 INTs, 2 fumbles and TDs on an INT return and a punt return. Wow.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs

Andy Dalton, Bengals – Imploded on MNF, passing for just 86 yards, no TDs and 3 INTs.

Brian Hoyer, Browns – Led the Browns to victory, but his 198 yards without a score didn’t do his fantasy owners any favors.

Carson Palmer, Cardinals – Just 241 passing yards with an INT and no scores before leaving with an injury.

RBs

Shonn Greene, Titans – Lost a fumble at the goal-line and ended with 5 yards.

Jeremy Hill, Bengals – Finished with 55 rushing and 6 receiving yards, and fumbled.

Lamar Miller, Dolphins – Played poorly while dinged up, finishing with just 10 rushing and minus-4 receiving.

Ronnie Hillman, Broncos – Just 13 rushing and 9 receiving yards before leaving early with a minor injury.

Reggie Bush, Lions – Only 20 rushing yards to pair with a 5-yard catch.

Darren McFadden, Raiders – Combined for just 36 yards.

Chris Ivory, Jets – Ran for 51 yards.

WRs

A.J. Green, Bengals – Just 23 yards on 3 receptions.

Mohamed Sanu, Bengals – Held to 20 yards on 2 passes.

Terrance Williams, Cowboys – Went AWOL in London.

Andre Holmes, Raiders – Also posted a goose egg.

Michael Floyd, Cardinals – Notched an 11-yard reception on the day.

Justin Hunter, Titans – Had a 17-yarder.

Steve Smith, Ravens – He took 3 receptions to get 17 yards.

James Jones, Raiders – Had 8 catches but only took them 20 yards.

Sammy Watkins, Bills – Had his chances, but finished with just 27 yards on 4 receptions.

Doug Baldwin, Seahawks – Just 31 yards on 4 catches.

Marques Colston, Saints – Only 36 yards on 2 receptions.

Eric Decker, Jets – Limited to 24 yards on 3 balls.

Percy Harvin, Jets – Ran for 33 yards but just 3 catches for 23.

Jeremy Maclin, Eagles – Only 38 yards on 3 passes.

Rueben Randle, Giants – Took 5 passes 39 yards.

TEs

Vernon Davis, 49ers – Caught an 8-yarder.

Owen Daniels, Ravens – Just 20 yards on 2 balls.

Travis Kelce, Chiefs – Got 19 yards on 2 passes.

It’s never too early to give thanks

Tis the season of giving thanks for our blessings. So it seems fitting to express my gratitude to one Marshawn Lynch, who strapped two of my fantasy teams to his back and carried them to victory on Sunday. There’s nothing quite like watching him go all Beast Mode on an overmatched opponent and turning your online fantasy tracker into a slot machine.

Jordy Nelson, I’m likewise thankful for the bounty you bestowed upon one of my squads this weekend. Sadly, you also shared the fruits of your labor with my opponent in another league. I hate it when that happens.

I sincerely appreciate the stellar second quarter turned in by Dez Bryant in London, but am left wondering if he got lost in the bowels of Wembley Stadium after halftime. It was good to see Tony Romo back in fine form, too. I’ll bet he’s thankful for the bye week.

Many of you are surely singing glad tidings for Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning today, even as I mourn the fate of Carson Palmer just one week after losing Nick Foles. Suddenly, that upper echelon fantasy team is careening off the rails, and I doubt Zach Mettenberger or Austin Davis can save it.

Ben Roethlisberger, you get an honorable mention for crashing back down to Earth just in time for our matchup. You even saved your lone TD throw for my favorite new acquisition, Martavis Bryant. I appreciate that, man.

Vernon Davis, I’m just thankful I didn’t hold onto you for name value alone. After all, a roster spot is a terrible thing to waste.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers. If you didn’t heed my advice and grab him before this weekend’s games, you’ll have to compete on the waiver wire for him now. Mathews is set to return from his knee injury in Week 11, and he’s still available in nearly half of all leagues. Though he may be eased into the rotation his first game back, the clock is clearly ticking on Branden Oliver’s workhorse role in San Diego.

Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers. Now that the bulk of the bye weeks is behind us, it’s time to clear out the deadwood (e.g., backup defense, kicker, Jaguar receivers) and restock our rosters with players that could soar down the stretch. Hyde is one of those high-upside backups that just needs an opening; and given Frank Gore’s up-and-down season, the rookie could get his chance sooner than later. At the very least, Gore’s owners should have Hyde handcuffed. (Fools in the Bay Area can discuss his prospects with him personally when Hyde appears at the new Bennigan's in Santa Clara from 5-7 pm this evening!)

Don’t be fooled

C.J. Anderson, RB, Broncos. We don’t yet know the severity of Ronnie Hillman’s foot injury, but we do know that Montee Ball (groin) is getting very close to returning to the backfield. If Hillman is well, he will likely start in Week 11. But if not, Ball should vault over Anderson to reclaim his starting job. Anderson is a nice change-of-pace option, but he’s unlikely to be trusted with a major workload if the others are available.

Mychal Rivera, TE, Raiders. You know why I’m not recommending the semi-hot Oakland tight end? It’s simple. He’s playing in the NFL backwater that is the Raiders’ offense. Just when you think a receiver is poised to emerge as a fantasy star, they inevitably revert to being, well, Raiders. (See Jones, James and Holmes, Andre.) You likewise won’t find me recommending Derek Carr to anyone but the most QB-challenged of owners.

Sunday morning updates -- Week 10

Good morning, Fools. I hope you're having a great weekend and are primed for a winning day of fantasy. We're nearing postseason time, so I trust you're still in the hunt for the big prize.

Let's take a quick scan across the NFL for the news we can use:

Looks like Romo will play today. That's obviously welcome news for Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams owners, though I still would hesitate to start the fragile QB until we see how nimble he is out there.

Two key Bills players -- Fred Jackson and Sammy Watkins -- are game-time decisions, but it now seems likely they will suit up for a tough matchup with KC. I can't wait to see what F-Jax will do once he has the backfield all to himself, but I just don't see that happening today. He's not even expected to get the start. Watkins is a risky play as well, as discussed in Friday's column. I would avoid them both, and Kyle Orton, if possible.

Megatron is back, but facing a stout Dolphins secondary. At 100%, no defense can stop him; but I'm not sure he's near 100%. Of course you start him, but don't expect Mega-production.

The Dolphins are planning for Lamar Miller to suit up against the Lions, but he is likely to be limited. Against Detroit's top-rated run defense, that should make your decision easy.

We should get our first look at rookie Charles Sims in the Bucs' backfield today. Not much, but a glimpse anyway. Doug Martin is expected to be inactive, leaving the lion's share of the touches in Bobby Rainey's hands. With Josh McCown back at the controls, figure on a heavier-than-normal rushing workload for Tampa Bay.

Montee Ball will return in a limited, backup capacity, while Ronnie Hillman continues to serve as the lead horse in the Broncos' backfield. Keep Ball on your bench but don't hesitate to keep Hillman rolling.

Already ruled out for Week 10: Nick Foles, Rashad Jennings, Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas.

That's it for now. Heading to Twitter for the inactives and other late-breaking news. Good luck, Fools!

Week 10 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Drew Brees and Jordy Nelson, or to bench Maurice Jones-Drew and Brandon Lloyd? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 10 of the 2014 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers at Eagles. In a week when three star QBs are idle, Newton offers hope. Though he hasn’t had a TD strike since Week 7, he ran one in last week; and he’ll be facing a very hospitable Philly defense. Newton is hard to trust, but he always manages to rebound. Why not under the Monday night lights?

Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens vs. Titans. Forsett leads Baltimore’s two- or three-headed (depending on the whims of his coaches) backfield committee into a sweet matchup with one of the league’s weakest rush defenses. Unlike last week, the Ravens won’t be trying to keep pace with a red-hot QB, so look for plenty of touches for Forsett as both a runner and receiver.

Bobby Rainey, RB, Buccaneers vs. Falcons. Assuming Atlanta doesn’t get off to another 35-0 lead by halftime, as they did in Week 3, Rainey should have success against the NFL’s most generous run defense (13 rushing TDs surrendered already). Though rookie Charles Sims is expected to see his first NFL action, Doug Martin’s likely absence should leave the lion’s share of the touches to Rainey.

Roddy White, WR, Falcons at Buccaneers. A lot has changed since that fateful Thursday night blitzkrieg in September, but not the state of the Bucs’ secondary. It’s still awful. Matt Ryan has looked White’s way far more often than any other receiver recently, so the veteran wideout’s ceiling is very high this week.

Martavis Bryant, RB, Steelers at Jets. Ben Roethlisberger is going to cool off eventually, but it would be a big surprise if it happened against the secondary that has allowed a league-worst 24 passing TDs this season. Bryant has five scores over the last three weeks. Yeah, I’d say the rookie is a good bet for more.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer, Russell Wilson; RBs Ronnie Hillman, Andre Ellington, Denard Robinson, Mark Ingram; WRs Larry Fitzgerald, Kelvin Benjamin, Jeremy Maclin, Doug Baldwin, Odell Beckham, Jr., Steve Smith.

Roll ‘em back

Matt Stafford, QB, Lions vs. Dolphins. Even with the expected return of Calvin Johnson, Stafford is in for a tough outing against the NFL’s second-ranked pass defense. An active Megatron could be eased back in primarily as a decoy – as they’ve done before – making the Dolphins’ job less demanding.

Lamar Miller, RB, Dolphins at Lions. The surprisingly effective Miller has been limited in practice this week due to a shoulder injury sustained against the Chargers. Though expected to tough it out, he’ll do so against one of the league’s stingiest run defenses. Give him a rest if you can.

Tre Mason, RB, Rams at Cardinals. Though we finally have some clarity in St. Louis’ backfield – Mason is the lead – that’s not likely to be worth much against the Cardinals’ rock-solid defensive front. A week after holding the league’s rushing leader to just 79 yards, Arizona should have little trouble containing the rookie.

Marques Colston, WR, Saints vs. 49ers. Now that Jimmy Graham is back in action, Colston has reverted to the shadows. He’s had just eight targets over the last two games, and hasn’t found the end zone since Week 3. Facing a solid 49ers secondary, Colston’s prospects are dim.

Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers vs. Falcons. A popular waiver-wire pickup this week, Evans’ arrow is certainly pointing up. But despite the favorable matchup, the rookie will need to adjust to a quarterback, Josh McCown, that he hasn’t seen since Week 3. Just as Mike Glennon was turning Evans into a star.

More thumbs down: QBs Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton, Ryan Tannehill, Eli Manning, Alex Smith, Austin Davis, Joe Flacco, Michael Vick; RBs Reggie Bush, Frank Gore, Andre Williams, DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Bishop Sankey, Chris Johnson, Anthony Dixon, Darren McFadden; WRs Terrance Williams, Wes Welker, Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree, Dwayne Bowe, Eric Decker, Cecil Shorts, Sammy Watkins.

TAKING A FLIER

Justin Hunter, WR, Titans at Ravens. While it’s too early to trust Zach Mettenberger, hope abounds that his development will jumpstart the Titans’ pathetic passing attack. Hunter was targeted 10 times last week and notched his second TD in the last four games. Facing Baltimore’s injury-riddled secondary, he’ll have a good opportunity for more.

 

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…lets Ryan Mathews linger on the waiver wire any longer, especially if you are RB-starved or counting on Branden Oliver. Given Oliver’s weak showing over the last two games, Mathews should have no trouble getting his starting gig back when he returns from his knee injury after the Chargers’ bye.