As a Denver Broncos fan, it is hard to imagine anything more painful than losing a game on a leverage penalty.

Leading 28-26, the game appeared over as Indianapolis kicker, Spencer Shrader’s last second, 60-yard field goal attempt was both short and right.

That’s when the whistle blew.

Apparently, Denver lineman Dondrea Tillman, was flagged for using another player to vault himself into the air, in an effort to block the kick.

Rather than calling it a leverage penalty, I’m calling it a beverage penalty because the officials had to be drunk to make that call.

That game hurt, but after losing in fantasy, 113.02 – 112.98, pain had found itself a new champion and I have plenty of blame to go around.

With a fantasy roster full of disappointments, injuries, and underperforming running backs, all I can say is, you can kiss my Ash…ton Jeanty.

• Ashton Jeanty’s 30 carries for 81 yards and 2.7 yards per carry have been rough, but what happened to my other running back, Derrick Henry, on Sunday? 11 carries for 23 yards despite the team scoring 41 points? More like Derr Ick Henry.

• At least Henry wasn’t the worst of the Ravens on Sunday. Tight end Mark Andrews started off slow last season, but 2 receptions for 7 yards after two games? With Baltimore averaging over 40 points a game and Isaiah Likely scheduled to come back next week, it’s Likely Andrews is available on every free agent roster.

Credit via Bristol Farms

• Speaking of tight ends. How cheesy is it that a guy named Kraft, playing in Wisconsin, has 8 catches for 140 yards and 2 TDs this season?

• What can Brown do for you? 6 catches for 48 yards and 11 fantasy points over two games if your name is AJ, and just 2.4 yards per carry if your name is Chase. So, apparently not too much.

• Unless you are running the Tush Push, 2.4 yards per carry just won’t do.

• Receivers are struggling all over the place. Drake London has the same number of receptions (11) as Kyle Pitts this season. What a bloody let down.

• Justin Jefferson has just 7 catches in two games, so I looked at the film for answers. It seems that when defended by Man-to-Man, Cover 2, or in the Nickel Package, his quarterback still sucks.

• To make things worse, JJ McCarthy is now sidelined with an injured throwing arm. Hold on, it’s not his throwing arm, it’s his ankle. I just assumed.

• The number of injured quarterbacks is staggering. What are the odds that Brock Purdy gets sidelined, but Christian McCaffrey hasn’t missed a game? Purdy damn low, I’d say.

• Joe Burrow is out for 3 months. Turf Toe for Turf Joe. And if he was your fantasy quarterback, you’re now burrowing too.

• Justin Fields went 3 for 11 passing for just 27 yards before exiting early in the game with a concussion. Okay, he exited late in the game with a concussion, but with those stats, I assumed the injury occurred early.

• Two quarterbacks that didn’t struggle were Russell Wilson (30/41, 450 yards, 3TDs) and Daniel Jones. Jones has completed 45 of 63 passes for 588 yards and 2 TDS, while also running for 3 additional touchdowns. Hey Daniel, 2022 called, they want their quarterback back.

Credit via ESPN

• I guess Russ can still cook, and Cook can cook too. James Cook has 34 carries on the season for 176 yards and 3 TDs. Too many Cooks may spoil the broth, but not if they’re on your fantasy roster.

• The Los Angeles Chargers are 2-0, but if you drafted Omarion Hampton you may be in trouble. Hampton had only 8 carries on Monday night, the same as Najee Harris, and one less than Justin Herbert. With just 72 yards rushing this season, you can continue to start the Hampton Inn, but I’m Hampton out.

• And I know that Kickers and defense don’t count in fantasy football, but I picked the Steelers, and they stole all my draft money.

• As for kickers, Brandon Aubrey scored 24 fantasy points after hitting 4 field goals, including a 64-yard field goal to tie it, and a 46-yard game-winner. I had Atlanta’s Younghoe Koo, and he gave me a serious kick in the ….

Credit via nbc5dallasftworth

Images via newsweek, bristolfarms, minnesotavikings, espn, nbc5dallasftworth

Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship