Fantasy Footnotes: Murray sets record; Wilson takes charge; Watkins is for real
Every gameday during the regular season, theScore's fantasy editors recap the most important news and notes from around the league.
Murray tops century mark in 7th straight
What can we say about Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray's incredible season that we haven't said half a dozen times already?
Murray became the first player in NFL history to open a season with seven straight games with at least 100 rushing yards Sunday, trampling all over the Giants' defense for 132 yards and a touchdown on 29 touches.
Murray entered the game tied with the great Jim Brown at six games over the century mark to begin a season. Now he stands alone.
He stands alone atop big boards around the world, too. The most valuable player in fantasy football isn't Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, Peyton Manning or Calvin Johnson. It's DeMarco Murray.
Murray is succeeding this season because he's running with a ferocity he lacked in his first few seasons as a pro. He was a slasher early in his career. He still has those elements to his game, but he can push the pile when he needs to, too. He's an all-around stud.
As always, the question with Murray is how long he can keep it up. He's never played a full 16 games in his career and has battled numerous injuries.
The Cowboys say they want to limit Murray's workload and preserve his health, but their actions prove otherwise. Murray is now on pace for over 400 carries this season, a number that's nearly impossible for a running back to reach. The human body wasn't built to stand up to that kind of punishment. A breakdown seems inevitable for Murray.
But he just keeps rolling.
If you believe Murray can absorb the pounding and keep producing, you're golden. Just keep riding him and you'll end up with a fantasy championship if you're right.
If you believe he can't keep it up, you'll never have a more appealing sell-high window than you have right now. But can you really bring yourself to pull the trigger on a trade?
Wilson thrives in 1st game without Harvin
Russell Wilson looked like anything but a game manager Sunday, leading the Seahawks in rushing with 106 yards and a touchdown and adding 313 yards and two touchdowns with his arm.
Incredibly, Wilson's huge performance wasn't enough to produce a win for the Seahawks. It was probably enough to produce a W for his fantasy owners, though. Wilson finished the day with more than 37 points in standard leagues, 13 points better than his closest competitor.
Perhaps Wilson and the Seahawks wanted to make a statement in their first game since trading away alleged locker room cancer Percy Harvin. There are rumors Harvin and Wilson clashed.
More likely, it was uncharacteristically poor performances from the vaunted Seahawks defense and Marshawn Lynch that forced Wilson to abandon his typical conservative passing approach and put the team on his shoulders.
Either way, we saw a version of Wilson on Sunday that we've rarely seen since he entered the NFL. He, not Lynch nor Harvin nor the defense, was the centerpiece. It's now clear that these Seahawks will go as far as their quarterback takes them.
That's great news for Wilson's fantasy owners.
Bills rookie Watkins is the real deal
Sammy Watkins is already the face of the Bills' offense.
With Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller both exiting Sunday's game with what are believed to be serious (and perhaps season-ending) injuries, the rookie wideout was instrumental in the Bills' last-second win.
A season ago, the Bills were among the NFL's top three teams in run-to-pass ratio. Sunday, Kyle Orton attempted 43 passes and handed the ball off a mere 18 times.
Watkins was the primary beneficiary of the Bills' sudden pass-heavy approach. The No. 4 overall draft pick finished with 122 yards receiving and two touchdowns, good for more than 24 points in standard fantasy leagues – the highest point total of any skill position player.
Watkins was a popular bust candidate among fantasy prognosticators this summer. He's too short, some said. The Bills' passing attack isn't very good, others opined.
How silly those opinions look now. Watkins is a high-end WR2 verging on WR1 status moving forward.
Notable Fantasy Lines
Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks
313 yards passing, 2 TDs, 106 yards rushing, TD
Wilson was a one-man wrecking crew in the Seahawks' first game without Percy Harvin, but it wasn't enough to lead his team to a win.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
255 yards passing, 3 TDs, 21 yards rushing
Rodgers has thrown 18 touchdowns to just one interception this season. The pick came back in Week 1 on a tipped pass.
Peyton Manning, QB, Broncos
318 yards passing, 4 TDs
Manning leads the Broncos to a blowout win and takes his place atop the NFL's all-time passing touchdown list.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Colts
52 yards rushing, TD, 36 yards receiving, TD
Bradshaw now has six receiving touchdowns on the season. That's more than many WR1s.
Stepfan Taylor, RB, Cardinals
40 yards rushing, TD, 19 yards receiving, TD
Taylor vultured two touchdowns from starter Andre Ellington.
Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals
17 yards rushing, -1 yard receiving
The Bengals just couldn't move the ball against the Colts. They need A.J. Green back to draw coverage.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills
122 yards receiving, 2 TDs
This is why the Bills traded up to draft Watkins.
Golden Tate, WR, Lions
154 yards receiving, TD
Tate continues to produce in a featured role with Calvin Johnson injured.
Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks
123 yards receiving, TD
Baldwin is the Seahawks' No. 1 receiver with Percy Harvin gone.
Odell Beckham, WR, Giants
34 yards receiving, 2 TDs, 13 yards rushing
The rookie looked good in his first game starting in place of the injured Victor Cruz.
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos
171 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Thomas is regaining his dominant form after a slow start to the season.
Gavin Escobar, TE, Cowboys
65 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Don't expect another performance like this from the Cowboys' No. 2 tight end.
Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns
5 yards receiving
Nothing was working on offense for the Browns this week.
Injury Ward
Fred Jackson, RB, Bills
Jackson was carted off with what is believed to be a somewhat serious groin injury. He could be out for a few weeks.
C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills
In a double whammy for the Bills, Spiller reportedly broke his collarbone on his first carry in relief of Jackson. His season is probably over.
Trent Richardson, RB, Colts
Richardson exited the game in the fourth quarter after pulling his hamstring. The severity of the injury is unknown.
Waiver Wire Targets
Denard Robinson, RB, Jaguars
Making the first start of his career at running back, Robinson scored his first touchdown as a pro and finished with 127 yards rushing on 22 carries. Toby Gerhart isn't getting his job back. Note: Robinson is listed as a WR in Yahoo fantasy leagues.
Tre Mason, RB, Rams
Zac Stacy didn't have a touch Sunday. Mason carried the ball 18 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. This is the rookie's team now. Benny Cunningham is the Rams' receiving back.
Bryce Brown, RB, Bills
The Bills lost their top two tailbacks to potentially serious injuries, opening the door for Brown to emerge as the team's top rusher. Brown was inactive Sunday because he doesn't play special teams, but he could lead the team in carries from now on.