What We Saw: Week 9 2018

Falcons vs. Redskins

Falcons

Matt Ryan has Masterful Performance

QB Matt Ryan had easily his best day on the road. I was concerned going into this game, because of the Falcons’ offensive struggles away from home, but Matty Ice put those concerns to bed. He threw for 350 yards and four scores, with only one turnover that was caused by WR Calvin Ridley’s slip-up. The offensive line kept him clean and only allowed two sacks. Ryan is playing at an MVP level and will carry this momentum into Cleveland next week.

Julio Scores…FINALLY

WR Julio Jones was a key component of Ryan’s incredible day. He averaged 17.3 yards a catch and finished with seven receptions for 121 yards and a score. After almost a year without a touchdown, Julio found the end zone and did it in beastly fashion. The score came on a 35-yard screen pass that was set up beautifully. Julio sprinted toward the end zone untouched until around the 10 yard line. Newly acquired S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was able to slow him down, but Julio would not be denied. He shook Clinton-Dix off of him and barreled his way in for the touchdown. It was truly beautiful to watch and I must say, I had chills. The receiving game was clicking all day and WR Calvin Ridley and RB Tevin Coleman had big days through the air, but Julio was the headliner in this one.

Tevin Coleman Feasts

Coleman carried the ball 13 times, while RB Ito Smith added 10 totes. They averaged 6.8 and 6.0 yards-per-carry respectively and revived a running game that had been stuck in a rut for much of the season. Neither eclipsed 100 total yards on the ground, but both found the end zone. Ito was able to run one in and Tevin scored on two separate catches. Coleman was the third leading receiver on the team, catching five passes for 68 yards and the two scores. Washington has had a respectable front all season, and it was fascinating to see them get ripped like this. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come for the backfield.

Defense shows real potential

It has been very encouraging to see this defense grow and minimize the losses that they suffered early in the season. This was probably the Falcons’ most complete game of the season and if this defense can continue to gel, this team is downright dangerous. It is still possible they get LB Deion Jones back, and that would be HUGE. The Falcons have also been linked to pass rusher Bruce Irvin, which would be a great get and reunite he and previous DC Dan Quinn.

-Aaron Rader

Redskins

The Skins loss to the Falcons this past Sunday made Alexander’s No Good Very Bad Day look like a Bar Mitzvah party….which, I guess, in reality, isn’t very good either? Well, the point is that the Skins not only suffered a MASSIVE loss as the hands of a fellow NFC playoff hopeful, but also in the process lost a starting WR, and BOTH of their starting guards for the season. How will this loss, and these personnel losses, affect the Skins few fantasy contributors down the stretch? Let’s find out…

A Decent Man

Despite being in catch-up mode for much of the game, Alex Smith still managed to be just decent against what is at BEST a mediocre Falcons defense. Although some of the blame should be placed on the Redskins now deteriorating offensive line, it’s still ridiculous last years gunslinger in Kansas City couldn’t produce more than a single TD in this one. Even with these marked struggles, the Skins get a CAKE matchup this coming week with the Bucs, so keep Smith on your streaming radar for one more week!

Wasting Away Again…

Man is it getting tough to watch, let alone talk about this offense. Playing from behind almost the entire game, Alex Smith and Jay Gruden opted to pepper UDFA Maurice Harris (12 targets), and Vernon Davis (7 targets) over the clearly more talented Josh Doctson (6 targets) and Jordan Reed (6 targets) respectively. It is absolutely mind-boggling that despite the presence of true playmakers both out wide and in close, Gruden can only seem to utilize his running backs properly. Regardless, these Redskins get their best chance to produce left in a matchup with the Buccaneers. Keep an eye on Doctson and Reed, because a solid game here for either could mean better days lie ahead. As for everyone else, best leaving them on the wire.  

RUN AWAY

Before I was able to write glowingly about the resurgent Adrian Peterson, but now I must simply resign myself to sad sentences about the ineptitude of the now destroyed Redskins O-line. Frankly, it could be Emmitt Smith behind this piecemeal O-line, and I don’t think he’d be lighting the world on fire. Despite looking powerful and fast when running, AP should have a very tough time performing as anything more than a low-end RB2 with how ravaged this offensive line is. Although Chris Thompson might be able to salvage his value via passing down work, he remains on the shelf with a couple of painful rib injuries and even when he returns, the Skins get a gauntlet of a remaining schedule after the game against Tampa, facing the Eagles, Texans, Jaguars, and Cowboys in 4 of their next 5. I’d stay away from this RB duo if you can.

The Defense

Yes, they allowed 38 points and generated no turnovers; however, this defense remains extremely talented and ripe for a bounce back against the turnover-prone Buccaneers. I’d hold and see what comes of next week’s matchup, as their playoff schedule may be too great to pass up.

-Alex Silverman