The Commanders defense scored 13 points for mike on Monday night and won him the game, and he released it this morning for the Texans defense, which is the seventh defense he has rostered since September: 49ers, Bills, Jaguars, Colts, Jets, Commanders, Texans. He also won Adonai Mitchell and released Chig Okonkwo, the tight end he signed last Thursday and started Monday for 3.2; won Chris Rodriguez and released Elijah Mitchell, whom he had won on waivers a week ago; and won Kaelon Black. Four claims, four new players, and a man who was 0-3 on September 29 is 5-3 with five straight wins and a lineup that has Isaiah Likely at tight end and Bhayshul Tuten, questionable, in the flex tonight in Baltimore. He plays Nick, who is 3-5 and had Rico Dowdle and DK Metcalf — both Steelers, both on a bye — in his lineup when the lineups were pulled this morning, and who led the series 11-9 last time anyone checked.

Which brings us to the dead-slot count, which Marcus keeps in the sidebar and which this week stands at ten on eight rosters: eight bye-week starters, one Out quarterback and one injured-reserve receiver. The quarterback is Lamar Jackson, listed Out with a thumb, in Tim’s lineup for a fourth straight week after three straight zeros and three straight losses. The difference this week is that the Ravens play tonight, so the slot locks at kickoff, not Sunday, and Brian Thomas is in the same game. Tim plays Sean, who has lost four in a row with the most points in the league and starts nine healthy players with nobody on a bye. A Tim win would be his 75th. The receiver is Davante Adams, on injured reserve, in Michael’s lineup for a third straight week — the fifth straight week that lineup has had a dead slot in it. Michael has lost three straight, and plays John P., who leads the series 11-6, is one win from 110, and is starting Bryce Young with Kirk Cousins on the bench again. Cousins has out-scored Young from the bench four times this season, including the last three weeks, and the last one cost John P. a game by 1.42. Michael has three starters in Minnesota on Monday night: James Cook, Will Reichard and the Vikings defense.

The slate

Owen (2-6) vs. Timothy (4-4). Level at 9-9, the only level series on the board. Owen scored 45.80 last week with 52.7 on his bench, and the bench has been promoted: Tyler Allgeier, 36.1 last Sunday from the bench, is at running back beside Javonte Williams, and Nico Collins is back at receiver. Pat Freiermuth, on the Steelers’ bye, was at tight end Thursday morning; Zay Flowers, who scored 0.0 last week, plays tonight; Michael Penix starts again. Owen released Devin Singletary on Wednesday night, a week after winning him on waivers. Timothy had Chris Boswell on the same bye at kicker, Saquon Barkley, Garrett Wilson and Emeka Egbuka questionable, George Kittle back from the 49ers’ bye, and Dak Prescott starting ahead of Jordan Love, who scored 21.52 on his bench last week.

Josh (3-5) vs. Jeff (6-2). Josh leads 8-6, scored 156.48 last week, and is one win from 100 in the regular season. Carnell Tate — listed Out with a shoulder, and a Titan, on a bye — was in his lineup at receiver Thursday morning, and the Steelers defense, on a bye, was at defense; T.J. Hockenson plays Monday night. Jeff, 6-2 and two games clear atop the Smith House, had Tony Pollard on the Steelers’ bye at running back, Christian Watson and Travis Kelce questionable, Derrick Henry tonight, and Josh Allen and Aaron Jones on Monday. Sam Darnold is Out on his bench.

Nick (3-5) vs. mike (5-3). Covered above. Add that Nick has Parker Washington tonight and Jared Goff coming off 5.04, and that mike has George Pickens questionable along with Tuten.

Sean (4-4) vs. Tim (3-5). Covered above. Sean leads 9-7, has Brenton Strange tonight and Michael Wilson questionable in the flex, and has scored 115.88 and 129.52 in two of his four straight losses. Tim has TreVeyon Henderson questionable after an illness kept him out last week, the Saints defense back from its bye, and Chris Godwin in the flex after 0.0.

John P. (3-5) vs. Michael (4-4). Covered above. John P. has Rashee Rice questionable and Jordan Mason on Monday night. Michael has Patrick Mahomes, Harold Fannin and Jameson Williams on Sunday and the three Monday starters, and would have beaten three of last week’s winners with his 116.34.

Jonathan (6-2) vs. Kevin (5-3). Jonathan leads 12-4, and the Magic Castle by one game over Kevin, mike and Anthony. He won Emmett Johnson on waivers this morning and released Kimani Vidal, won last week; Travis Etienne has gone on injured reserve; Kendre Miller starts beside Cam Skattebo, who is questionable, as is Amon-Ra St. Brown. Kevin had Jaylen Warren, a Steeler, on a bye at running back Thursday morning and Hunter Henry questionable at tight end. Kevin has beaten his projection once in eight weeks and is 5-3. Neither manager has a starter tonight or on Monday night; this one is decided on Sunday.

Anthony (5-3) vs. John E. (3-5). Anthony leads 13-3, the most lopsided series on the board, and held the market’s No. 1 roster for two weeks before John E. took it on Tuesday; by Sleeper’s projections, the two lineups are separated by 0.22. John E. has won three straight, scored 146.98 and 145.60 in the last two, and has Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars defense tonight and DJ Moore, questionable, on Monday. Thursday morning he had Kyle Pitts at tight end and Trey McBride — 27.1 and 20.2 the last two weeks — on his bench. Anthony won Chad Ryland on waivers and released Tyler Loop, and won Mike Gesicki, releasing Jaydon Blue, whom he had won a week earlier; Malik Nabers is back from the Giants’ bye, and Justin Jefferson plays Monday night.

Records and points through Week 8. All-time series include playoffs. Injury designations and lineups from Sleeper as of Thursday morning, November 5: O = Out, D = Doubtful, Q = Questionable, IR = injured reserve; bye = Steelers or Titans player in the starting lineup. Transactions are the league’s completed moves since Tuesday’s recap. Thursday night: Jaguars at Ravens. Monday night: Bills at Vikings.