A couple weeks ago, I couldn't buy a break. Now they're being handed to me like strip-club leaflets on Las Vegas Boulevard.
I had the Dolphins plus 14.5 -- thankfully, the refs ruled the lineman's forward progress stopped on the late fumble, so the Steelers got neither a defensive TD nor a potential spread-covering field goal. Moreover, I had Juju Smith-Schuster (JSS) going against James Conner in one matchup and JSS against Dionte Johnson in another. I won both games by three points.
• Mason Rudolph is okay, probably worthy of an NFL backup job. He showed something, down 14-0 to a winless team after a bad interception with his career likely on the line. That might sound hyperbolic, but if the Steelers lose at home to the Dolphins and go to 2-5, their season is over, and Rudolph's associated with that failure.
• Mike Tomlin also showed faith in Rudolph as he called for downfield throws all game. Say what you want about Tomlin's down-and-distance decision-making skills, but there was no panic in him, down 14-0.
• James Conner ran hard through good holes and made some nice cuts -- he's a solid back and even better in fantasy, given his workload. But apparently he injured his shoulder in the game and was seen in a sling afterwards.
• Diontae Johnson had a nice catch and run at the end of the first half, but JSS reminds me of peak Hines Ward -- a stout, strong wideout with great hands and focus. If Rudolph can sustain even decent play, expect JSS to have a big second half.
• Ryan Fitzpatrick is the perfect quarterback for the Dolphins. He makes 0-7 fun to watch, and he's not terrible.
• Mark Walton looked okay before his fumble, but he's just a guy -- even if that makes him better than Kalen Ballage.