Some things in this world are just made for each other. Summer and the pool. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. Halloween and… football? I know, I know. Thanksgiving is supposed to be the holiday of pigskin. But wild things have taken place when Oct. 31 falls on an NFL Sunday.
Flashback to 1994, when the ‘Halloween Monsoon’ brought torrential rain and strong winds to Lambeau Field as the Packers demolished the Bears in supernatural conditions. A decade later in 2004, rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers ended the longest winning streak in NFL history, sending the defending champion New England Patriots’ 21 victories to the record books.
The point is, expect the unexpected when Halloween collides with NFL action and, of course, fantasy football. Could we see 30 points from a kicker? Sure. Russell Wilson throwing left-handed for three touchdowns? Stranger things have happened. Negative rushing yards for Derrick Henry? Okay, maybe not.
Let’s see who’s been hot and cold — the treats and tricks over the past few weeks:
HOT:
QB: Jalen Hurts (PHI)
Jalen Hurts… more like hurts to play against him! The dual-threat passer is remarkably the most consistent fantasy quarterback in 2021. With a soft schedule ahead, including two games against Washington, Hurts is an asset to treasure.
RB: Jonathan Taylor (IND)
The floodgates have opened for the Colts’ running back, who’s averaging102 rushing yards per game over the past four weeks. Taylor relies on chunk plays to some extent, but his explosiveness and volume are justifying the first round pick managers used on him.
WR: Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)
Chase has Offensive Rookie of the Year all but locked up, with more receiving yards through his first seven games than any other player in NFL history. His rooted chemistry with his former college quarterback Joe Burrow edges him into top 10 fantasy territory.
TE: Dalton Schultz (DAL)
Who says Cowboys’ tight ends can’t be fantasy relevant? Schultz has emerged as the leading option over Blake Jarwin, snaring five or more passes in every game but one this season. Without one of the elite players at his position, Schultz is a fine option to turn to.
COLD:
QB: Daniel Jones (NYG)
Despite a rare Giants victory last week, Danny Dimes hasn’t found the end zone enough times to justify inclusion in lineups. Jones has dealt with injuries at playmaking positions, but lacks enough upside even with a full cast of characters.
RB: Chase Edmonds (ARI)
Edmonds battles James Conner for touches, and the latter has been winning the tug-of-war lately. Cardinals’ coach Kliff Kingsbury clearly prefers the former Steeler near the goal line, leaving Edmonds utterly dependent on passing game work — a recipe that’s lacked spice up to this point.
WR: Keenan Allen (LAC)
The rise of Mike Williams has meant, to some extent, the fall of Allen. The North Carolina native has yet to top 20 points in PPR leagues this year. In a potent Chargers’ offense led by Justin Herbert, Allen is an interesting buy-low candidate entering the trade deadline.
TE: Tyler Higbee (LAR)
Higbee has established himself as a middling, play-him-if-you-have-to pass-catcher. Cooper Kupp evidently gets the lion’s share of the targets, and Robert Woods is getting more looks now too. Touchdown dependency is the name of the game with tight ends, and Higbee continues that trend.
