Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates his rushing touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes )
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates his rushing touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes )
Stop the presses! The greatest fantasy football idol on the planet is not playing this week!
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Josh Allen fans will be weeping in their Buffalo wings because the Bills’ quarterback is on bye (along with standouts from Jacksonville, Washington and the Los Angeles Chargers).
No, 17 is clearly the No. 1 player both in fantasy and in the NFL itself. He has nine touchdown passes and eight TD runs. No other QB has more than two TD dashes.
But Allen’s not the only player to far exceed the preseason forecasts and earn consideration for MVFF: Most Valuable Fantasy Fellow.
Here are another magnificent seven at the one-third mark of the season:
Kenneth Walker III (Chiefs RB) — The ninth-rated RB before the season, Walker has been near the top of the league with eight touchdowns and 760 total yards for unbeaten K.C.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) escapes a tackle attempt by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Del'shawn Phillips, bottom, as Cam Hart (20) moves in to make this stop during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) escapes a tackle attempt by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Del'shawn Phillips, bottom, as Cam Hart (20) moves in to make this stop during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Chuba Hubbard (Panthers RB) — Rose from 36th RB before the season to top 12, with 511 total yards and six touchdowns for the surprisingly spry Carolina offense.
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks WR) — The late first-round pick before the season now leads the league in every receiving category with 49 catches for 717 yards and 7 TDs.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) dives for extra yardage after a catch as San Francisco 49ers safety Ji'ayir Brown (27) and middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) try to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) dives for extra yardage after a catch as San Francisco 49ers safety Ji'ayir Brown (27) and middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) try to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Christian Watson (Packers WR) — The league’s No. 3 fantasy receiver started the season outside the top 24 but has tallied 29 catches for 538 yards and six touchdowns.
Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson catches a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson catches a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Isaiah Likely (Giants TE) — The long-time second-tier tight end from Baltimore is the NFL leader in the Meadowlands with 39 catches for 383 yards and five TDs.
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely (9) is upended by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams and Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., right, during an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely (9) is upended by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams and Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., right, during an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Brock Purdy (49ers QB) — Outside the top 10 in the summer, he’s now second only to Allen, coming into Monday night’s game with 13 TD passes and almost 1,200 passing yards.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy celebrates after a runs against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy celebrates after a runs against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Bryce Young (Panthers QB) — The former Heisman Trophy winner wasn’t even in the top 25 before Week 1. Now he’s top 10, passing for 1,549 yards and 11 TDs.
Carolina Panthers running back AJ Dillon celebrates after scoring with quarterback Bryce Young during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Carolina Panthers running back AJ Dillon celebrates after scoring with quarterback Bryce Young during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Sitting stars
New England is now using three running backs, Corey Kiner, Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, which makes none of them worth starting against Chicago. … Speaking of the Patriots, don’t count on WR A.J. Brown until he remembers how to catch a football. … Forget about Giants RB Cam Skattebo while he’s in the doghouse. … Cleveland’s defense will give up very little to Tennessee RB Tony Pollard. … The Vikings will shut down Indy’s entire offense except for RB Jonathan Taylor. … Seattle QB Sam Darnold and Denver QB Bo NIx were unwatchable against each other last week, and they’ll be equally ugly when the Seahawks play the Chiefs and the Broncos face Arizona.
New England Patriots running back Corey Kiner during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots running back Corey Kiner during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Matchup game
A week off should do wonders for Vikings RB Aaron Jones, as will facing the Colts’ defense. … Green Bay’s Jordan Love and his top receivers will thrive against Detroit and so, too, will RB Josh Jacobs if he’s reactivated in time. … Kansas City RB Kenneth Walker III will try to show up his old Seattle teammates this week. … Houston’s pass offense, boosted by the arrival of Marvin Harrison Jr., will continue its hot run against a Giants defense embarrassed by New Orleans last week. … A couple of breakouts could be ahead for Miami RB Ollie Gordon against the Jets and Browns WR K.C. Concepcion versus Tennessee. … Carolina wideouts Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker will post great numbers against Tampa Bay. … And now that Chicago tight end Colton Loveland has awakened, it’s OK to start him against the Patriots.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr., right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr., right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Injury watch
The huge injury news is that Eagles QB Jalen Hurts will miss the rest of the season because of blood clots in both of his lungs. Just terrible news. … Will Philly get RB Saquon Barkley back to try to save the season? … Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson could return this week, as could the Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield. … Notables dealing with injuries include four running backs (Houston’s David Montgomery, Cleveland’s Quinshon Judkins, Arizona’s Jeremiyah Love and the Jets’ Breece Hall) and five pass catchers (Kansas City’s Rashee Rice, San Fran’s Deebo Samuel, Baltimore’s Rashod Bateman, the Chargers’ Ladd McConkey and Colts tight end Tyler Warren).
Jalen Hurts throws
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 11: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The deepest sleeper
Remember that J.J. McCarthy fellow? The one-time Vikings savior fell off the face of the Earth a few weeks ago, and now he’s BACK! He passed for 243 yards and a touchdown in just the fourth quarter of the Giants’ loss to New Orleans, and he’s very likely to be New York’s quarterback of choice the rest of the season because Jameis Winston still does Jameis Winston things. Even if the former Wolverine has to wait a little more, he’s going to be a starting quarterback very soon. And possibly a decent one.
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy (18) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy (18) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Thursday pick
Patriots at Bears (-2½):
Pick: Patriots by 3
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) celebrates after tight end Hunter Henry scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) celebrates after tight end Hunter Henry scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Breaking news
We’ll be updating our column, based on the latest injuries and innuendo, right up until Sunday’s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X— @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.