Fantasy Football / NFL
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- Written by Tad Bukowski
This is where the confidence pools get good.
This week, six teams are on bye. That means that we will only have 13 games this weekend…only 13 chances for points. If you are towards the top of your pools, that means less chances for others to gain ground. If you’re behind, it means that every game is critical – let’s not blow it this time!
Week 8 – HERE WE GO!!!!
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
13 – PHILADELPHIA over San Francisco – A team that looks like a Super Bowl favorite is hosting a winless team that will be traveling across the country. Nothing really to think about here.
12 – NEW ENGLAND over Los Angeles Chargers – The Chargers have been looking better as of late. But just like the 49ers, they are traveling across the country to take on the team that always seems to be in the Super Bowl conversation.
11 – Minnesota over CLEVELAND (game played in London) – As a promotion, apology to the London fans for giving them the Browns to look at, I believe the 20,000 person that enters the stadium will spend the 3rd quarter playing quarterback for the Browns.
10 – CINCINNATI over Indianapolis – The Bengals are always a hard team to figure out, but it’s pretty easy to see them get past the lowly Colts. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK, THE COLTS WILL BE SHUTOUT.
9 – KANSAS CITY over Denver – After the hottest start in the league, the Chiefs have lost their last two games. Lucky for them this Monday Night matchup sees them hosting a lost and confused division rival.
8 – BALTIMORE over Miami – The week starts on Thursday with two teams that are just mediocre at best. The Dolphins lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler last week…so that should at least give them a chance.
7 – NEW ORLEANS over Chicago – Simply put, you’re going to have to complete more than four passes to beat Drew Brees, Mitchell.
6 – SEATTLE over Houston – DeShaun Watson will find out what it means to be in a low scoring game – something I don’t think he can overcome…yet.
5 – TAMPA BAY over Carolina – Did the real Cam Newton stand up last week in Chicago? No, but I don’t think that MVP Cam will be back this week either.
4 – Oakland over BUFFALO – The Raiders incredible 2016 season was based on winning close games…like they did last week. I think the 2016 Raiders have finally joined 2017.
3 – Atlanta over NEW YORK JETS – Who would have thought that this would actually look like a good game on paper?
2 – DETROIT over Pittsburgh – This should be a shootout to say the least. Big Ben’s road woes will find their way to Sunday Night Football though.
1 – WASHINGTON over Dallas – Just like the Raiders looked like their successful team from a year ago, the Cowboys finally dominated last week. Only difference is that it was against the 49ers.
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- Written by David Biggs
It's the end of another exciting week of football which means it's time to put your claims in for available free agents in your fantasy league to strengthen your team. I'll be going over who I think are the top five picks for you to target this week so don't miss out on them. Good luck!
Note: %owned is based on Yahoo! leagues at the time of publication.
5) Josh Doctson (WAS) - 14% owned - Doctson looks to move into the top receiver role on the Redskins' offense after Pryor and Crowder have seemingly run out of chances. A good candidate to really break out over the next few games, and he has already had a bye week which makes him a great fill-in play.
4) DeAndre Washington (OAK) - 4% owned - Washington played (along with fellow RB Jalen Richard) on Sunday, filling in for the ejected Marshawn Lynch. As Lynch will be heading for a one-game suspension, Washington will get the same opportunity to put up fantasy points in week 8 and it's important to note that Washington got the goalline touchdown call, not Richard. On a high-powered offense like the Raiders, he'll have more of these opportunities against Buffalo.
3) JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT) - 15% owned - Smith-Schuster is really stepping up this season and, after quickly rising past incumbent slot receiver Eli Rogers, has also started to clearly become the #3 option in the passing game (after Brown and Bell). With the rumor mill going into high gear about a possible trade or suspension for troubled speedster Martavis Bryant, even more opportunities may open up for Smith-Schuster going forward.
2) Marlon Mack (IND) - 41% owned - Mack is going to be involved in every Colts game going forward after Robert Turbin's injury knocked him out for the season. With Andrew Luck out indefinitely, the Colts will continue to lean on the running game where they can, and Mack will continue to perform (especially in the receiving game - 4/6 for 40 yards in week 7 with another 30-yard catch called back).
1) O.J. Howard (TAM) - 14% owned - 6 receptions for 98 yards and 2 scores in last week's matchup was exactly the breakout game that Howard owners were looking for (if they were still hanging on), and we'll still see Cameron Brate involved just as heavily in the offense, but there may be room for both to be productive depending on how the offensive schemes develop in Tampa. I'm betting he'll be a flex option going forward, which makes him worth owning (and spot starting) in every league.
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- Written by David Biggs
We hit on more than a few guys this past week, and with all of the bye weeks upon us it's more important than ever to pick upside players that can dish out a good performance as a fill-in for your roster. Hopefully you're going into week 8 with a good record and a lot of confidence, but even if you have not been doing so well it's not too late to turn the ship around. Pay attention to this week's rankings, with special consideration to a few guys: Tyrod Taylor, Ameer Abdullah, Matt Forte, Michael Crabtree, Robby Anderson, Austin Hooper, Steven Hauschka, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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- Written by Jason Evans
Welcome to Statistically (in)Significant, the place to find great stats that probably only matter at the water cooler (or bar). Each week I'll dig through the stats of the week gone by and deliver you some choice conversation starters.
10,363 Consecutive Snaps
We'll step aside from fantasy for just a moment to mention the incredible streak that was broken on Sunday. Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas has been playing for 11 years and never missed a snap. That's 10,363 in a row, eat your heart out, Brett Favre. Most of us have a hard time getting through a month without checking out of work, so big props go to Joe and his true Ironman streak. This is one that should go down in the books right next to Favre and Cal Ripken, as his streak is probably the toughest one to achieve. Get well soon, Joe, and I hope you can start a new streak next season.
33-0
So far this year, London has been treated to two shutouts over three games after the Rams shellacking of the Cardinals yesterday. If the NFL isn't careful (and if we're lucky), they might not be invited back anymore if we just keep sending them our garbage. Of course, this is the crux of the problem with London games. These games have to be scheduled far in advance, so they can't flex to a better schedule, and the break in routine messes with teams, especially ones that are struggling. If the NFL wants to fix their ratings problems, they need to focus on delivering a better quality product… I'm looking at you, Thursday Night Football.
2 Return TD's
Bears rookie Eddie Jackson provided all the offense needed on Sunday when he returned a Cam Newton fumble 75 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. He added more just for fun in the second when he returned a deflected pass 76 yards for another touchdown. Jackson single-handedly scored more points than the Panthers, Browns, Colts, Falcons, Giants, Cardinals, Broncos and 49ers. This allowed fellow rookie Mitch Trubisky to win with only 4 completions, which I feel must be some sort of achievement you can try for in Madden. 40% of the Bears total offense came on one play, a 70-yard completion to yet another rookie, Tarik Cohen.
8 RB's over 17 Points
The running back position continues to be top-heavy and even more productive than their receiving counterparts. Led by Ezekiel Elliott, there were 8 RB's that put up 17 points or more - 7 of them going for 100 yards or more on the ground. By comparison, the top 8 WR's only had 2 guys go over 100 yards and scored 3.3 points less per player. The WR's were helped out by the reappearance of Amari Cooper, more on him below. The RB's are propping up some weaker QB performances, the TD:INT ratio this week was only 37:19, reminiscent of weeks 1 and 2 when the NFL saw a rather flat offensive start.
33 Fantasy Points
Amari Cooper put up a huge 33 points on Thursday Night Football, showing me that not all football on Thursday night is automatically bad. Cooper had only 8.4 points total over his last 5 games - 3 of those games he had less than 1 point. A player who was drafted to be a WR1, he was only started by 69% of Yahoo teams last week, so if you're kicking yourself for not starting him, at least you aren't the only one. His 19 targets are tied with Antonio Brown for the most on the season for all players. Derek Carr is also back, putting up by far his best game of the season - he scored 31.5% of his total points this season by putting up 417 yards and tossing 3 TD's, including the little touchdown that could at the end of the game.
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- Written by M.J. Nicholas
Are you looking for a vote of confidence when picking spreads, money lines and the under/ over in the NFL? Let me be that football wizard who has seen the prophecies of victory and has the ability to put your precarious souls at ease. Almost 20 years of sports wagering experience is proudly listed on the resume, as well as playing in my 21st season of fantasy football(definitely a self-proclaimed pioneer). But enough about this guy. In this weekly column, I'll offer up anything from sportsbook's outcomes, moods and reflections, as well as offer words of advice and knowledge on betting strategies. Additionally, for every game, I'll have my picks for the spread, moneyline and under/ over ready to go. And if you're good(or I just happen to be feeling generous), I'll offer up one of my tantalizing, high-odds 'Nicks Picks', a ticket too good to be true. Anyway, if for some reason any of Nick's Picks let you down, I'm cool with you telling your bookie it was all my fault. Yeah... right.
NICK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - 3 GAME PARLAY | NEP -3.5 | BUF -3 | JAX -3
TENNESSEE TITANS @ CLEVELAND BROWNS - TEN -5.5 | TEN -237 | UNDER 45
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ GREEN BAY PACKERS - NOS -4 | NOS -203 | OVER 47.5
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - JAX -3 | JAX -161 | OVER 43.5
CAROLINA PANTHERS @ CHICAGO BEARS - CHI +3 | CAR -160 | OVER 41
ARIZONA CARDINALS @ LOS ANGELES RAMS - LAR -3 | LAR -142 | OVER 45.5
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ BUFFALO BILLS - BUF -3 | BUF -151 | UNDER 45
NEW YORK JETS @ MIAMI DOLPHINS @ - JETS +3 | JETS +147 | OVER 38.5
BALTIMORE RAVENS @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS - MIN -4.5 | MIN -215 | OVER 38.5
DALLAS COWBOYS @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers - DAL -6.5 | DAL -281 | OVER 48.5
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS @ NEW YORK GIANTS - NYG +3.5 | SEA -186 | OVER 39.5
DENVER BRONCOS @ LOS ANGELES CHARGERS - LAC +1 | LAC +106 | OVER 40.5
CINCINNATI BENGALS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS - PIT -5.5 | PIT -232 | UNDER 40.5
ATLANTA FALCONS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - NEP -3.5 | NEP -168 | OVER 56.5
WASHINGTON REDSKINS @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - PHI -4.5 | PHI -216 | UNDER 49
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
SPREAD 3-9
MONEYLINE 3-9
TOTAL O/U 8-4
YTD RESULTS:
SPREAD 41-45
MONEYLINE 47-39
TOTAL O/U 44-42
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- Written by Matt Cochrane
Atlanta is a city full of losers who will never win at anything. Seriously, is there another city so synonymous with choking? Ya got the Braves of the 90's that couldn't win shit with arguably the 3 best pitchers of their era, the Hawks who once signed Joe Johnson to a max contract, and the biggest joke of them all, the Falcons who just blew a 17-point halftime lead to a Jay Cutler led Dolphins team at home.
Last week's Las Vegas sports book's wet dream ended many survivor pools nationwide and widdled mine down to the final 62.
This week's column is gonna be short and sweet since I have lost my lust for life after the Falcon implosion. Very tough slate of games on the week 7 schedule, with not a single team favored by 7 or more. The safest pick in my opinion is the Dallas Cowboys traveling to a winless 49ers team who will be given 3rd round pick QB C.J. Beathard his first career NFL start. The Boys need a win bad to keep pace with the surging Eagles. I expect them to beat the 9er's like an Ezekiel Elliot ex-girlfriend.
Honorable mention: The Titans over the Browns.
Cheers
Drink Five!
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- Written by Shawn Foss
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Week 6 was another wild one in the NFL. One of the most exciting things about the league is how unpredictable it can be. 7 underdogs came away victorious, including two that were double-digit underdogs in the Giants and Dolphins. Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending broken collarbone and opened up the NFC North race in the process. The Bears managed to top the Ravens by running the ball an astounding 54 times, and the Jets took a 14-0 lead on the defending champs before falling by 10. It was another week of top rookie performances, as Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette turned in top-10 running back weeks. Deshaun Watson maintained his spot as fantasy’s top scoring QB with a 3-touchdown day, and Evan Engram made the most of the lack of other receiving options for the Giants and finished as the TE3 for the week. There were let downs too, like Aaron Jones and Elijah McGuire, but all in all it was a decent week for the rookies. We also got to see another rookie QB take over as Brian Hoyer was benched in favor CJ Beathard in the bay. There’s plenty more on tap for week 7, so let’s dive in and discuss what to expect…
Rookies to Start:
RB Kareem Hunt, KC (Wk. 7: @Oak.): Last week didn’t go quite according to plan for Hunt or the Chiefs, but the matchup is strong again this week. Hunt is still an obvious start in season-long leagues. He topped 100 scrimmage yards again last week and finished as the RB15 even in a down week. He should be a solid DFS option this week as well. The Raiders have allowed 85.9 PPR points to opposing backs in the past 3 weeks. That’s 28.7 per game, which would be the 4th-most in the league. Hunt is safe as usual.
RB Leonard Fournette, Jax. (Wk. 7: @Ind.): As long as the twisted ankle Leonard suffered last week doesn’t keep him sidelined, you have to play him. He came up big for you again last week, and the Colts allow the 4th-most RB fantasy points per game in the league. The volume for Leonard is unlikely to change despite him tweaking the ankle. He should be worth the price tag in DFS lineups this week as well.
RB Alvin Kamara, NO (Wk. 7: @GB): If their week 1 matchup with the Seahawks were removed from the equation, the Packers would go from allowing the 14th-most RB points per game all the way up to 4th-most. Kamara is still taking a back seat to Mark Ingram in the wake of the Adrian Peterson trade. He was out-snapped by Ingram 47-30 last week, but in the past 2 games Kamara has seen at least 14 touches and 85 yards in each, and I’d expect that usage to continue again this week. He’s got a high volume role in a plus matchup. He should return RB2 value in PPR leagues with no problem.
TE Evan Engram, NYG (Wk. 7: vs. Sea.): The matchup with the Seahawks isn’t as daunting as you might expect this week. Seattle is in the middle of the pack when it comes to limiting tight end points. They have allowed the 15th-most TE points per game, and have given up 11+ PPR points to the position in 4 of their 5 games. Engram became the focal point of the Giants’ passing attack last weekend with their decimated WR group, so his target share should be strong again this week even if Sterling Shepard is able to play. The Seahawks are good enough to shut the Giants down as a whole, so I would probably fade Engram in DFS lineups, but he should be a low-end top-10 TE in PPR leagues this week.
Borderline Rookies:
RB Christian McCaffrey, CAR (Wk. 7: @Chi.): McCaffrey is a guy you should be starting every week in PPR leagues, but he’s much less of a sure thing in standard formats. He’s been held under 50 scrimmage yards in 3 out of the 6 games he’s played this season, but he’s kept up his PPR floor with at least 4 catches each week. It would be nice to see CMC’s rushing usage go up, but there’s no way to bank on it this week. The Bears are a middling run defense in terms of fantasy points allowed to RBs, but they’ve given up a rushing score in 5 of 6 games and 90+ rushing yards to opposing backs in 4 of 6. If McCaffrey gets an increased rushing load, he might finally start to hit that ceiling we’ve been waiting on. In the meantime, the floor is working out just fine. He’s the overall RB10 in PPR leagues despite just 2 top-10 weekly finishes.
RB Joe Mixon, CIN (Wk. 7: @Pit.): I’m not quite sure what to make of Pittsburgh’s run defense so far this year. On the surface, they’re pretty bad. They’re in the bottom-10 in the league in terms of yards per carry, yards per game, and rushing TDs allowed, and they’ve allowed the 6th-most RB fantasy points per game, but they also rank a respectable 12th in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat and just held all-world rookie Kareem Hunt to 21 yards on 9 carries. Hunt did save his day with receiving yardage, but it was the first time all year he was held under 80 rushing yards. The Bengals had the bye week to gameplan for this one, and the Steelers would qualify as a plus matchup for running backs, but I see Mixon as no more than an RB2 this week. He’s cracked the top-20 PPR backs just once in 5 games on the season.
RB Aaron Jones, GB (Wk. 7: vs. NO): Splitting reps with Ty Montgomery likely saps the value for both backs going forward. Green Bay may try to run a bit more this week with Aaron Rodgers sidelined with a broken collarbone and Brett Hundley under center, but the Saints have been improved against running backs in their last 2 games. There is still upside to be had here, as the Saints’ defense still ranks just 24th in run defense DVOA and has allowed the 3rd-most running back receiving yards despite their recent improved play. Jones may still wind up being a fine flex play in a pinch this week, but I’d lean on more reliable options if I have them.
RB Tarik Cohen, CHI (Wk. 7: vs. Car.): Cohen’s usage had taken a nosedive recently, but it should rebound with Benny Cunningham back on the shelf with another hamstring injury. Assuming Benny doesn’t play, Cohen should see significant snaps as he did in week 6. Cohen handled 15 touches in week 6 after seeing just 17 of them in weeks 4 & 5 combined. He also threw a TD pass, but that was a fluke trick play. Don’t expect it again. There is some warranted concern that only one of Cohen’s 15 touches was a reception, but I’d expect the game script to be a bit more negative this week, and only 2 teams have allowed more running back receptions than the Panthers. Cohen is back in play as a PPR flex option this week despite the Panthers allowing the 11th-fewest RB points per game.
WR Cooper Kupp, LAR (Wk. 7: vs. Ari.): Any WR that doesn’t draw Patrick Peterson has a chance to burn the Arizona defense, but slot wide receivers have been especially effective. Golden Tate lit them up for 10-107 in week 1, and in the past 3 weeks they’ve allowed 5-47 to Trent Taylor, 4-93-1 to Nelson Agholor, and 6-51 to Adam Humphries. Kupp is as good a bet as any Ram to lead the team in catches this week, and the best bet to catch a TD pass. Despite Patrick Peterson being one of the premiere corners in the game, allowing just 7-82-1 total in 6 games on throws into his coverage, the Cardinals still allow the 5th-most WR fantasy points per game. Pat Pete should be on Watkins in this one, making Kupp a sneaky DFS play and decent flex/WR3 option.
TE George Kittle, SF (Wk. 7: vs. Dal.): Kittle has seen his target share take off in a big way in the past 2 weeks, and the installation of his college QB CJ Beathard as the 49ers new starter should only help. The Cowboys have allowed 50+ receiving yards to the opposing tights end in 4 of 5 games this year, and gave up a TD in the other. While they usually split that yardage allowed between multiple opposing TEs, the 49ers don’t really have much else at the position. The 49ers have targeted the tight end position 38 times on the year, and 31 of those targets went to Kittle, including 17 of 20 in the last 2 weeks. As long as that target volume continues this week, Kittle should be a solid streaming option in PPR leagues.
Rookies to Sit:
QB Mitch Trubisky, CHI (Wk. 7: vs. Car.): The Panthers’ pass defense has shown some holes this season. They rank 15th in pass defense DVOA, they allow the 7th-highest QB rating to opposing QBs, and they’ve allowed multiple passing scores in 4 straight contests. With that said, they also rank 2nd in the league in quarterback sacks and allow the 7th-fewest passing yards per game. The Bears showed us what their gameplan is with Trubisky last week. Run, run, and run some more. They piled up a ridiculous 54 rushing attempts against Baltimore, compared with 16 pass attempts for Mitchell. If the Panthers don’t run out to a big lead, the Bears will lean on the run again. If Carolina does get out in front, Mitch lacks the weapons to put up a big game in garbage time. He’s a lackluster QB2 option against the Panthers on Sunday.
QB DeShone Kizer, CLE (Wk. 7: vs. Ten.): The Browns have made the decision to go back to Kizer this week at QB, and he may even have a decent game, but I’d be hard pressed to use him in any lineups. The Titans have allowed the 6th-most QB fantasy points per game, but they allowed 33+ points each to Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson, which has skewed their overall average. In their other 4 games, facing Derek Carr, Blake Bortles, Jay Cutler and Jacoby Brissett, they’ve allowed just 12.25 points per game which would rank 7th fewest in the league. I’d argue Kizer seems to fit better into that second group of signal-callers than the first in terms of where you’d rank them as a fantasy QB. I hope he plays better in his second stint as the starter, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
RB Matt Brieda, SF (Wk. 7: vs. Dal.): It pains me to say you should bench Brieda against a Cowboys’ team that ranks dead last in run defense DVOA, but I’d expect the 49ers to be showcasing Carlos Hyde for any potential trade suitors in this plus matchup. Brieda’s playing time is already on the decline of late. The 17 snaps he played in week 6 were the fewest he’s seen in the past 3 contests. I’d expect similar usage for Brieda this week, and that kind of snap count doesn’t bode well for his fantasy prospects. You should still hold on to him on your bench if you can.
RB Wayne Gallman, NYG (Wk. 7: vs. Sea.): Gallman’s run as New York’s lead back was shorter than expected. Orleans Darkwa appears to have stolen the job from him after racking up 117 rushing yards against a Denver defense that had allowed just 165 rushing yards to RBs in the previous 4 games combined. Gallman saw just 11 touches in that game, and that kind of usage isn’t going to get it done against Seattle. The Seahawks allow the 4th-fewest RB fantasy points per game.
RB Elijah McGuire, NYJ (Wk. 7: @Mia.): It was a disappointing week for McGuire as Matt Forte returned from injury and took away his opportunity to play as the Jets’ lead back. I expected the Jets to ease Forte back in, but they didn’t hold him back much. Forte didn’t exactly dazzle as a runner with just 22 yards on 9 carries (McGuire had 22 on 10), but Forte received 8 passing game targets compared to zero for Eli. What was even more disappointing was seeing Travaris Cadet get 3 targets. The Dolphins aren’t nearly as giving to RBs as the Patriots, and the lack of receiving usage makes McGuire basically unstartable this week regardless of whether or not Bilal Powell returns.
RB Samaje Perine, WAS (Wk. 7: @Phi.): It seems very likely that Rob Kelley will be able to play this week, which would send Perine back to a bench role. He scored a TD last weekend, but he still hasn’t really capitalized on the opportunities he’s been given. Even with the TD, Perine was outscored by receiving back Chris Thompson in non-PPR scoring. The Eagles allow the 6th-fewest RB points per game and have allowed just 40 rushing yards to opposing backs per week. There’s no way Perine posts a usable week with Kelley back.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT (Wk. 7: vs. Cin.): JuJu continues to see more usage than Martavis Bryant in this offense, but the matchup isn’t a great one this week. The Bengals allow the 3rd-fewest WR PPR points per game, allowing only Green Bay’s receiver group to eclipse 20 total points against them. As I mentioned, JJSS is still playing more snaps than Martavis Bryant, but he hasn’t had quite enough volume to be a trustworthy flex play. His matchup is tougher than it was last week, and yet his DraftKings price is $200 higher. I’d avoid him in all formats this week.
WR Taywan Taylor, TEN (Wk. 7: @Cle.): Jon Gruden referred to Taylor as a ‘gadget receiver’ during Monday Night Football this week, but I think Taywan had the last laugh after catching a 53-yard TD in the 4th quarter of the game. He’s shown some serious ability when given the chance with two 40+-yard catches on the season, but even with Corey Davis sidelined the volume just hasn’t been there. He has just 7 receptions in total. Here’s a weird stat for the Browns that will work against Taylor this week: The Browns have allowed 2 wide receivers to reach 40 yards in the same game just once this season (TY Hilton & Donte Moncrief). With Rishard Matthews and Eric Decker around, it’s hard to believe the guy to get to 40 yards will be Taylor if the Titans only get one.
TE Gerald Everett, LAR (Wk. 7: vs. Ari.): Everett scored his first career TD last week, but has hauled in just 3 catches for 20 yards on 9 targets in the past 4 games. The Cardinals were shredded by Brate & Ertz in the past 2 weeks, but there’s no reason to expect that from Everett. Tyler Higbee is the play if you want to attack the Cardinals’ TE defense.
TE David Njoku, CLE (Wk. 7: vs. Ten.): With Kevin Hogan under center last Sunday, Njoku saw a season-high 5 targets, but he caught just 2 of them for zero yards. Njoku has scored 3 TDs in 6 games, but he’s no more than a low-volume TD dart throw this week. The Titans allow the 12th-fewest TE points per game.
TE OJ Howard, TB (Wk. 7: @Buf.): Howard has been almost a non-factor in the passing game. He’s averaged just 2.4 targets per game, and the Bills have allowed the 8th-fewest TE points per game. It’s an easy call to avoid OJ this week.
Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:
QB CJ Beathard, SF (Wk. 7: vs. Dal.): It’ll be Beathard’s first NFL start, but he acquitted himself well in mop-up duty against Washington last week and he gets a nice matchup in week 7. The Cowboys have allowed multiple passing TDs and at least 18 fantasy points to each QB they’ve faced in the past 4 games. The bye might have helped them get their heads on straight, but it’s hard to know. This will be Dallas’s first game since Jerry Jones issued his anthem ultimatum, and Ezekiel Elliott was only legally cleared to play on Tuesday. There could be some distractions affecting the team. Even if the Cowboys play well, Beathard should be playing from behind and have increased passing volume. He’s an interesting 2QB streamer option and upside DFS tournament play.
RB Marlon Mack, IND (Wk. 7: vs. Jax.): Marlon Mack has a chance to explode this week. Robert Turbin has played at least 28% of the offensive snaps in every single game Mack has been active for. Turbin was lost for the season with an elbow injury at the end of the MNF game this week. The Jaguars have allowed an NFL-worst 5.2 yards per carry and 2nd-worst 145.7 rushing yards per game. Both Gore and Mack have brighter outlooks with Turbin out of the picture, but Mack is the more explosive back. Pat Thorman of Pro Football Focus noted this week that the Jaguars have allowed 21 carries of 10 or more yards this season, 4th-most in the league, and Marlon Mack has 5 such carries in just 27 attempts. As long as Mack picks up some of the slack left behind by Turbin, he should be a great cheap DFS option and a fun sleeper for deeper leagues.
WR Zay Jones, BUF (Wk. 7: vs. TB): Jordan Matthews’s status is still up in the air for this week, and Charles Clay is definitely out. If there was ever a spot for Zay Jones to get his rookie year on track, this is it. The Buccaneers allow the most WR PPR points per game by an incredible 8.7-point margin over the 2nd-worst unit (Eagles). That point gap is the same as the one between the Eagles and the Dolphins. The Dolphins allow the 17th-most WR points. Tampa has been absolutely shredded by wide receivers. I know Zay has just 5 catches on 23 targets for the year, but if Matthews sits out again he could see 8+ targets in this game against that Buccaneer defense. You can’t trust him in season-long leagues, but he could be a great value in DFS tournaments at just $3,600 on DraftKings.
WR Mike Williams, LAC (Wk. 7: vs. Den.): The Broncos are never an ideal matchup to play a wide receiver, so this is about reminding you that Williams is still a solid stash for deeper leagues. He had just 1 catch in his debut, and will likely be eased in slowly, but the Chargers could use some wide receiver help. Only 16 of Philip Rivers’s 46 completions in the past 2 weeks went to wide receivers, and only 7 to receivers who weren’t Keenan Allen. Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin aren’t getting it done. Among waiver wire WRs, I like Corey Davis’s upside more in terms of the rest of the season, but Davis has already been ruled out for this week. You can wait a week in most places to pick him up. You might not have that luxury with Williams.
WR John Ross, CIN (Wk. 7: @Pit.): Ross is just a stash at this point. You can’t put him in the lineup this week, but with Tyler Boyd out, Ross might actually make an impact against Pittsburgh. You could beat the rush and pick him up this week in really deep leagues. Monitor Ross’s usage this week. Cincinnati gets the Colts, Browns and Titans in three of their next 5 games. There could be a couple big games for him if he manages to carve out a role.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps with some of your tough lineup decisions. I always try to include every fantasy relevant rookie, and if you see two guys at the same position under the same header, I try to rank them in the order I would play them this week. Keep an eye on the injury report throughout the week, and always check for any surprise inactives on game day. If you have any questions, or want to yell at me about anything above, feel free to hit me up on twitter (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.
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- Written by Tad Bukowski
The NFL…it is a fickle league!
But let’s be honest, its unpredictability is a big part of what keeps us entertained. Any Given Sunday isn’t just a notch on Al Pacino’s belt. (pause for awkward groan)
It’s been a rough couple weeks but we keep fighting strong. It’s time to get back on the right path!
Week 7 – HERE WE GO!!!!
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
15 – PITTSBURGH over Cincinnati – The Steelers’ reward for taking down the last undefeated team is a home game against a team seemingly in shambles. Should be an easy one.
14 – PHILADELPHIA over Washington – Haven’t said this since McNabb…the Eagles are a legitimate Super Bowl threat! A home game against Washington shouldn’t be a worry for them.
13 – NEW ENGLAND over Atlanta – So last week against Miami, the Falcons had a big lead toward the end of the game…the Dolphins came back to win…now Atlanta heads to Foxboro to play the Patriots… … … do you see where I’m going with this?
12 – MINNESOTA over Baltimore – Anytime you lose a home game to the Bears, you’re probably going to lose the next week on the road as well.
11 – Dallas over SAN FRANCISCO – It seems like Ezekiel Elliot’s status for this game changes by the hour. Don’t really think it matters though – 9ers won’t be able to stop him, Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden or whoever they have behind Dak.
10 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Arizona – Honestly, there are a lot of games that are almost too close to call. The way the Rams have been looking lately put them as what I like to refer to as the best of several evils.
9 – Carolina over CHICAGO – The Bears were good enough to come home from Baltimore last week. But, well, basic match – Cam >>>> Flacco.
8 – Tennessee over CLEVELAND – Remember when it looked like the Browns might be taking a step in the right direction as a franchise? Well, then the season started.
7 – GREEN BAY over New Orleans – I really don’t think that (another) Aaron Rodgers injury is necessarily a death sentence for Green Bay thisseason. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that EVEN WITH THE RODGERS INJURY, THE PACKERS WILL STILL WIN THE NFC NORTH.
6 – Denver over LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – Denver needs to shake off the images of the nightmare that was last week. A road game in a soccer stadium full of people who MIGHT know the Chargers are the home team is a good way to help that out.
5 – Seattle over NEW YORK GIANTS – Safe bet is that the Giants put all of their eggs in the basket last week.
4 – OAKLAND over Kansas City – A couple of years ago, the Chiefs went to Oakland for a Thursday Night matchup. The Raiders came in to the game with an unintimidating 0-10 record. I picked the Raiders to win that night … and they did. It can happen again, right?
3 – MIAMI over New York Jets – I know that the Jets are one horrible call away from a 4-2 record but I just can’t get on the bandwagon just yet.
2 – BUFFALO over Tampa Bay – Tampa would be the pick here if Jameis was 100%.
1 – INDIANAPOLIS over Jacksonville – Eh, someone has to win this game, right?
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- Written by David Biggs
Week 7 is on the horizon and in addition to losing some more big names out there in fantasy-land, we've really begun to see a trend in RB production that is surpassing the last several years. Generally WRs outperform RBs early in the season, but this year we're seeing a return to more touches for a primary ball-carrier. We'll see how it all shakes out! These rankings will be updated throughout the week, but the players that I'm looking at outperforming the consensus this week are: Jared Goff, Jerick Mckinnon, Derrick Henry, Adam Thielen, Eric Decker, Jimmy Graham, Nick O'Leary, and the Minnesota Vikings.
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- Written by Jim Hutchins
It's the end of another exciting week of football which means it's time to put your claims in for available free agents in your fantasy league to strengthen your team. I'll be going over who I think are the top five picks for you to target this week so don't miss out on them. Good luck!
Note: %owned is based on Yahoo! leagues at the time of publication.
5) Dallas Cowboys DEF (DAL) - 7% owned - The Cowboys defense has a great situation this week coming off a bye and playing against a rookie quarterback in C.J. Beathard.
4) Darren McFadden (DAL) - 52% owned - A speculative grab assuming Elliott's suspension will stand for weeks 7 through 12 and also assuming McFadden would be the lead back over Alfred Morris in that situation (which I do). The reward feels worth the risk if you have the bench space to spare.
3) Nelson Agholor (PHI) - 55% owned - Agholor finally looks to be a key component of the Eagles offense in his third season as he almost has hit his yardage for all of the last season and has double the touchdowns he had last season. Look for another productive game against a mediocre Redskins pass defense this week.
2) Orleans Darkwa (NYG) - 11% owned - Darkwa impressed against a tough Denver defense last week rushing 21 times for 117 yards and looks to be the favorite for carries in the Giants backfield for the time being. There are still a lot of concerns with the Giants offense but Darkwa is a decent depth grab and bye week fill in if needed.
1) Sterling Shepard (NYG) - 52% owned - It's painfully clear the Giants need someone to step up as a number one receiver especially after there were only TWO catches from all Giants wide receivers last week. When he is back in the line up from his ankle injury he should have enough targets to maintain a safe floor.