Tag: Week 7 fantasy football

Fantasy Football Market Report: Week 7

The top risers and fallers heading into Week 7.

On most draft days, there wasn’t a lot of love for the NFC North. Jordan Love was the only QB1 (maybe) in a 10-team league. Jahmyr Gibbs was probably the only RB1. Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown were the only WR1s.

Flash forward two months. Perhaps no division in recent memory has had as many players drafted as part-time starters or backups force their way into weekly lineups.

All four QBs are putting up starter numbers. Five running backs are lineup fixtures. A case can be made for 10 wide receivers and four tight ends when T.J. Hockenson comes back are in lineups. It’s a good time to have players from the 17-5 NFC North. Let’s see if we can identify a few others who are climbing into this tier of fantasy worth.

Fantasy Football Market Report: Week 7

The top risers and fallers heading into Week 7.

Back in the old days of fantasy football, the touchdown was king. Yardage wasn’t measured in the tenth of a point. PPR wasn’t a thing. You accrued yardage juice (if any) in increments of 25 or 50 yards.

Touchdowns are no longer the primary measuring stick, which was a good thing in Week 6. Of the 15 games played, if you bet the Under on every game, you went 13-2.

Ten teams won while scoring 21 or fewer points, and only three teams scored more than 24 points (and one had 26). The point totals from top to bottom were 63, 57, 40, 40, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 30, 27, 26 and 23.

In the modern era of the NFL, we have never seen this – nor will we again. Here’s to hoping your fantasy team won with a season-low point total.

8 sleepers to play in fantasy football for Week 7

Check out these eight sleepers to play in Week 7 of fantasy football.

The arrival of bye weeks has fantasy football managers scrambling to fill out lineups in Week 7, especially considering the talent that will be left on the bench.

Though only four teams are on a bye in Week 7, it includes immense fantasy firepower at almost every position. Finding production elsewhere from sleepers makes this endeavor risky and difficult. But we’re here to help with that decision-making process.

We will be using The Huddle’s weekly PPR projections and rankings as a reference to find some potential boom games this week.

Here are eight sleepers to play in fantasy football for Week 7:

The best fantasy football gamble of Week 7

Can this Colt continue to find success in Week 7, or will this trend be bucked?

Every week, at least one player becomes my fascination of whether he’s worthy of a fantasy football start as a streamer. The decision can be a mental wrestling match, but for the purpose of brevity, only one player can be chosen as the fantasy football gamble of the week.

The best fantasy football gamble for Week 7

Tracking my predictions: 2-4-0
Win: Player produces ≥ 75% of projected fantasy points
Loss: Player produces >75% of projected fantasy points
Tie: Player is ejected, leaves with an injury, or lands on COVID-19 list after publishing

2021 record: 8-9-1
2020 record: 5-10-1

How unlucky can one get? Last week’s inclusion of Chicago Bears wideout Darnell Mooney netted 13.8 PPR points of the forecasted 20.7, so it gets chalked up as a loss. It was not only on the right track but a slight bobble at the goal line away from being within a point of the projected finish. Securing the ball a millisecond sooner would have done the job, and it truly is a game of inches at times.

While that’s two of four losses by the slimmest of margins, we don’t let it get in the way of taking calculated risks. Forward we go …

QB Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans

Perhaps recency bias is at play here, but these division rivals met just three weeks ago, and Ryan tossed a pair of touchdowns, one interception, and 356 yards worth of completions for 25.4 fantasy points. Since, the Colts have battled injuries in the backfield with Nyheim Hines (concussion), Jonathan Taylor (ankle), and Deon Jackson (quad) all missing varying amounts of time in the past two games.

While Hines is ready to return, and Jackson will be available if Taylor cannot go, the most successful way to attack this vulnerable defense is through the air. On the ground, running backs have averaged the third-fewest fantasy points, scoring a single touchdown in 2022 vs. Tennessee. This defense has given up an average of 44.3 PPR points per game to WRs, which is tied for the most in the league, powered by eight TD grabs on only 68 receptions. Tight ends also have found considerable success.

The Titans have surrendered at least 317 passing yards in four straight contests, and every quarterback to face Tennessee this season has tossed a pair of TD passes or more. The Washington Commanders are the only team to have yielded passing scores at a higher rate than Mike Vrabel’s squad. Just four of 180 attempts have been intercepted, and the position hasn’t rushed for any meaningful stats to skew this matchup in favor of more athletic QBs than the stationary Ryan. Four of the five outings have resulted in three or fewer sacks tallied by the Titans.

So what does that look like in fantasy? Throwing for 300 yards and two touchdowns — we’ll even include an interception based on Ryan having thrown at least one in four of six appearances as a Colt — produces 22 fantasy points. And barring unforeseen circumstances working against Indy, this should be considered Ryan’s floor.

My projection: 319 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rushing yard (23.05 PPR fantasy points)

DFS Fantasy Football: Favorite Pro Plays – Week 7

WinDailySports’ CEO Jason Mezrahi checks in with his top Week 7 DFS fantasy football for FanDuel and DraftKings

Top-ranked daily fantasy sports pro Jason Mezrahi, founder and CEO of WinDailySports.com, breaks down his favorite DFS plays at various salary ranges for Week 7 of the NFL season. We are back for another year of DFS domination and we have some new tools to take advantage of from my team over at WinDailySports.com.
 
Our projection model, lineup optimizer, and data tools have been revamped and back tested to start the season off right. So what I will do in this article is list some of our highest projected players based off raw points and our highest point-per-dollar plays based on DraftKings.com pricing. Special Huddle Member Discount: If you would like to give our membership at Win Daily a try, take advantage of a FREE 2-week promotion where you will gain an all access gold pass to our DFS package. Use promo code “thehuddle” at checkout for 2 weeks FREE for both our DFS Gold Package. Sign up now.
 
 
These are some of the players Jason will be locking in his lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel for this weekend’s slate.

Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

$8,400 DRAFTKINGS
$8,800 FANDUEL

We have Mahomes in a game with a total of 57.5. Let’s not get cute here … create exposure to Mahomes in cash and tournaments. The Tennessee Titans are bad defensively, and I still don’t know how they defeated the Buffalo Bills. Outside of Henry trying to slow down the clock slightly, this is “all systems go” for Mahomes. The Chiefs are projected to score 31 points as per Vegas, and without much of a running game, this could line up to be a four- to five-touchdown game. The Titans rank 31st against opposing quarterbacks and are currently allowing 276 yards passing and 384 total yards per game. This should be a ceiling game for Mahomes, so we could see a 35-plus-point performance out of him in Week 7. 

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

$7,400 DRAFTKINGS
$8,400 FANDUEL

Just when everyone was doubting Lamar as a quarterback and stating that he has taken a step backwards, he has done nothing but play at an elite level to start this season. The running upside has remained and passing yardage has creeped up this season. With the addition of Raahod Bateman, he now has an additional wide receiver to look to, and it looks like Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews have remained as solid targets each week. Cincinnati is middle of the pack in regards to their defense, but Jackson is a different breed when it comes to defending him. I like him and the discount he provides over Mahomes on DraftKings but prefer Mahomes on FanDuel. If you want to pay down at the position I will also have a couple shares of Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford, and Derek Carr. 

Running Backs

Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

$9,200 DRAFTKINGS
$11,000 FANDUEL

Do not stand on the tracks when the Henry train is coming through. Henry is averaging 130 yards per game and is coming off back-to-back 34-plus-point games. I know it might sound crazy, but the matchup versus the Chiefs might produce his best game yet. The Chiefs are allowing 133 rushing yards per game and are ranked 19th against opposing running backs. This combination should bear fruit, the only question is the price tag, especially on FanDuel. The risk to fade him is great, and you will need ownership in cash games and tournaments. If you choose to fade Henry, look to Darrell Henderson, D’Andre Swift, and Leonard Fournette, 

Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams

$6,600 DRAFTKINGS
$8,000 FANDUEL

Game script will be heavily in Henderson’s favor and the Rams’ run game. The Rams are favored by 15 currently, and the Lions won’t be able to keep pace. We will see a heavy dose of Henderson against a Lions defense that currently ranks 32nd against running backs. The Lions are allowing 132 rushing yards per game, which should provide a nice boost to Henderson’s production. Henderson has yet to eclipse 100 yards this season,  but my prediction is that Sunday will be his first. He has scored four touchdowns in the five games in which he played, so the red zone opportunities have been consistent. Henderson is one of your safer price-per-dollar plays at the running back position, so lock him in for Week 7. 

Wide receivers

Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

$8,900 DRAFTKINGS
$9,000 FANDUEL

Adams has been sort of boom or bust, but this should be a week he pays off. Washington is league worst at defending the pass and ranks 31st against wide receivers. We called for touchdown regression out of Adams prior to the season at Win Daily, but this looks like a “get right” spot for him. The Packers are projected to score 28 points this week, and the best way to attack Washington is through the air. Adams, Tyreek Hill, and Cooper Kupp are all in great spots, but I give the slight lean to Adams in this matchup. I will have shares of all three of them and will also have some shares of Calvin Ridley and the Titans’ passing attack.

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Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs

$4,300 DRAFTKINGS
$5,400 FANDUEL

We need to find some value on this slate with all the high-priced players in great matchups. Hardman, at this point of the season, has a floor around 10 DraftKings points, and I am fine with that floor at his current price tag. Now, add in the matchup and shootout potential we have versus the Titans, and he becomes a solid play for both cash games and tournaments. For the same reasons I like Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and this game stack, in general, I like Hardman. He is the cheapest exposure to this game, and you will need shares of it in every lineup. Some other value plays I like at the wide receiver position are as follows: Jakobi Meyers, DeVonta Smith, Rashod Batemen, Marquise Brown, and Hunter Renfrow all line up to be solid value plays in Week 7. 

Tight ends

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

$7,600 DRAFTKINGS
$8,200 FANDUEL

Please read the above statements on why we like the Chiefs offense so much in this game. This is a week to pay up for tight ends as the low end is sketchy. With three expensive tight ends being in great spots, I don’t want to take too many risks on cheap options. If you do want value, the best plays are Dallas Goedert and Ricky Seals-Jones, presuming RSJ can play through a shoulder injury. But I can see Kelce, Darren Waller, and Andrews all put up 20-plus points in Week 7, so let’s start with the best one in Kelce. The over in this game has risen up to 57.5, and I would take the over if I was forced to bet this game. The Titans are allowing 276 passing yards and 384 total yards per game. Kelce hasn’t performed to his elite level the past three weeks, putting up 6, 17, and 17 points, which I hope drives down his ownership. It’s still early, but he is currently sitting at only 14 percent ownership on our lineup optimizer on WinDailySports.com . I will be locking in shares of each of the three tight ends mentioned above, and I will be over the field in Week 7 on Kelce.

Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders

$6,700 DRAFTKINGS
$6,800 FANDUEL

The Eagles secondary has my mouth watering, and I’m sure Waller is looking to feast. Waller has been rather quiet since Week 1 when he scored 29.5 DraftKings points. People have lost interest in Waller, and we may see sub-10 percent ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Waller is in an ideal spot against the Eagles, who currently rank 22nd versus the tight end position. The Eagles defense has shown some improvement, but they have been exposed by the Bucs, Chiefs, and the Dallas Cowboys recently. Waller and the Raiders have been playing inspired ball since the departure of Jon Gruden. Waller is currently No. 2 in our projections, and I will take the discount on Kelce in spots. For every two shares of Kelce, I will have one share of Waller in Week 7.

Good luck in Week 7, and if you ever have any questions, please hit me up on Twitter!

Jason Mezrahi has been a professional, top-ranked Daily Fantasy Player on FanDuel and DraftKings for more than eight years. He has won FanDuel’s $155,555 King of the Diamond competition and placed second in DraftKings’ Fantasy Basketball World Championship, earning him $300,000. He owns and operates WinDailySports.com, which supports the DFS and Sports Betting community with resources such as tools, projection models, expert chat, in-depth written analysis and podcasts, plus much more.

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The best fantasy football gamble of Week 7

Will this Green Bay wideout be the latest receiver to exploit Washington?

Every week, at least one player becomes my fascination of whether he’s worthy of a fantasy football start or bench. The decision can be a mental wrestling match, but for the purpose of brevity, only one player can be chosen as the fantasy football gamble of the week.

The best fantasy football gamble for Week 7

Tracking my predictions: 2-4-0
Win: Player produces ≥ 75% of projected fantasy points
Loss: Player produces >75% of projected fantasy points
Tie: Player is ejected or leaves with an injury

Brutal.

Just brutal.

Last week, then-Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz was my choice, and the projected line was 17.6 PPR points. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ertz produced four catches, 29 yards and a touchdown, generating 12.9 points. This failed to crack the 75 percent threshold by 1.7 percent … do realize how close that is in terms of actual statistics? Three yards would have done it. On one third-and-five play, quarterback Jalen Hurts overthrew a wide-open Ertz for an easy first down.

So, there you have it … about as close to “W” as you can get until Hurts’ inaccuracy snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and my record falls to 2-4 after my fourth bad beat of the year.

I’ll chalk it up as a moral victory since he still helped gamers but wasn’t quite as prolific as expected. … On to Week 7 we go!

WR Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Football Team

What makes Cobb so risky? In three of his six outings in this reunion season with the Packers, the veteran has one or fewer targets, and he has landed no more than three passes in all but one of the games. Cobb has recorded more than 32 yards in only Week 4, getting shut out completely in Week 6.

This offense obviously funnels through Davante Adams first and then running back Aaron Jones. Then it comes down to the matchups available to Aaron Rodgers. This one is not particularly appealing for tight ends, especially when it comes to finding the end zone, suggesting Robert Tonyan’s dumpster fire of a season burns brightly for another week.

Jones is second on the team in targets with 23, and Washington has done a quality job of limiting pass-catching backs from doing damage through the air. In Week 5, Alvin Kamara’s 5-51-1 receiving line was the top output vs. this defense, and it’s hard to fault Washington for giving up that line to arguably the best receiving back in the game. Austin Ekeler, Saquon Barkley and Mike Davis combined for five targets, four catches, 24 yards and a score. Jones is Cobb’s biggest threat for success in this one.

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Washington’s weak — by weak, I really mean embarrassingly pathetic — spot on defense is containing wide receivers of all varieties. In the past five weeks, no team has allowed more fantasy points in PPR and non-PPR scoring. This is the easiest matchup to exploit for touchdowns in relation to volume faced — the third-most catches against have resulted in a TD every 7.2 grabs.

The 15.8 catches per contest permitted to WRs have produced 213.6 yards, on average, which also ranks third. Fourteen receivers have posted at least 10 PPR points against the Football Team, and eight wideouts have five or more receptions to their credit. Six accounted for double-digit returns in point-per-reception scoring without even getting into the end zone.

That’s a ton of volume, so even if the softest defense, in terms of allowing touchdowns, manages to prevent Cobb from scoring, there’s still a chance he could deliver enough via receptions and yardage to off-set the lack of TDs.

The only real fear I have about Cobb falling way short of the mark is if the Packers do something like this: Non-Cobb playmakers score several touchdowns, and the Packers go into a grind-it-out mode to chew up the clock, making the game far lower scoring than expected. Tipico Sportsbook has a 47.5 Over/Under on this one, and I’m not too confident in Washington scoring more than 17 points, so can Cobb get some love in the remaining 30 points coming from the Pack? I can see a defensive touchdown being in that equation, too, so this recommendation is best followed if six teams on a bye week have you in a dire situation.

My projection: 5 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD (16.9 PPR points)

Fantasy football start/bench list: Week 7

Check out where your roster options fit into our Week 7 start/bench tiers.

Player analysis and projections can be found in our Start/Bench Tool customized to your myHuddle league scoring and rosters. All player listings by groups are in no particular order.

Key: Upgrade / Downgrade

QUARTERBACKS WIDE RECEIVERS
BEST BETS Opp BEST BETS Opp
Aaron Rodgers WAS Davante Adams WAS
Patrick Mahomes @TEN Deebo Samuel IND
Matt Ryan @MIA Tyreek Hill @TEN
M. Stafford DET GREAT STARTS Opp
GREAT STARTS Opp A.J. Brown KC
Lamar Jackson CIN Cooper Kupp DET
Jalen Hurts @LVR Calvin Ridley @MIA
Tom Brady CHI Antonio Brown CHI
Kyler Murray HOU DeAndre Hopkins HOU
SOLID STARTERS Opp Brandin Cooks @ARI
Derek Carr PHI D.J. Moore @NYG
Jameis Winston @SEA SOLID STARTERS Opp
Ryan Tannehill KC Jaylen Waddle ATL
T. Bridgewater @CLE Mike Evans CHI
Joe Burrow @BAL Hunter Renfrow PHI
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp M. Pittman Jr. @SF
Tua Tagovailoa ATL A. St. Brown @LAR
Jimmy Garoppolo IND Robert Woods DET
Sam Darnold @NYG S. Shepard CAR
Daniel Jones CAR Mecole Hardman @TEN
Justin Fields @TB Marquise Brown CIN
Taylor Heinicke @GB Robby Anderson @NYG
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp Tim Patrick @CLE
Case Keenum DEN DK Metcalf NO
Geno Smith NO Jakobi Meyers NYJ
Carson Wentz @SF Darnell Mooney @TB
Zach Wilson @NE Chris Godwin CHI
Mac Jones NYJ C. Sutton @CLE
Jared Goff @LAR Ja’Marr Chase @BAL
Davis Mills @ARI DeVonta Smith @LVR
Taysom Hill @SEA M. Callaway @SEA
RUNNING BACKS Terry McLaurin @GB
BEST BETS Opp FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp
Derrick Henry KC Randall Cobb WAS
Alvin Kamara @SEA Jamison Crowder @NE
GREAT STARTS Opp Tee Higgins @BAL
L. Fournette CHI Henry Ruggs III PHI
D. Henderson DET Demetric Felton DEN
Chuba Hubbard @NYG Rondale Moore HOU
J.D. McKissic @GB A. Robinson II @TB
James Conner HOU Christian Kirk HOU
SOLID STARTERS Opp Julio Jones KC
Aaron Jones WAS T.Y. Hilton @SF
Josh Jacobs PHI Tyler Lockett NO
D’Andre Swift @LAR Tyler Boyd @BAL
Jonathan Taylor @SF Kendrick Bourne NYJ
Darrel Williams @TEN A.J. Green HOU
Damien Harris NYJ Quez Watkins @LVR
Joe Mixon @BAL Brandon Aiyuk IND
C. Patterson @MIA Deonte Harris @SEA
Mike Davis @MIA Adam Humphries @GB
Chase Edmonds HOU SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp Corey Davis @NE
DeeJay Dallas NO Sammy Watkins CIN
K. Gainwell @LVR O. Beckham Jr. DEN
Chris Evans @BAL DeVante Parker ATL
Nyheim Hines @SF Kenny Golladay CAR
Myles Gaskin ATL Tre’Quan Smith @SEA
Kyle Juszczyk IND Darius Slayton CAR
Miles Sanders @LVR P. Williams ATL
Latavius Murray CIN Van Jefferson DET
Alex Collins NO Dyami Brown @GB
Devontae Booker CAR O. Zaccheaus @MIA
AJ Dillon WAS Devin Duvernay CIN
J. Williams @CLE Rashard Higgins DEN
M. Gordon III @CLE Kalif Raymond @LAR
Elijah Mitchell IND Allen Lazard WAS
R. Stevenson NYJ N. Westbrook-Ikhine KC
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp T. Marshall @NYG
Devonta Freeman CIN Bryan Edwards PHI
Jamaal Williams @LAR Jalen Reagor @LVR
Sony Michel DET Nelson Agholor NYJ
D. Johnson DEN Chris Moore @ARI
Ty Johnson @NE Kendall Hinton @CLE
Giovani Bernard CHI D. Peoples-Jones DEN
Jerick McKinnon @TEN Elijah Moore @NE
Jaret Patterson @GB Rashod Bateman CIN
Khalil Herbert @TB Mohamed Sanu IND
Mark Ingram @ARI Jarvis Landry DEN
Rashaad Penny NO Mack Hollins ATL
Antonio Gibson @GB R. Gage Jr. @MIA
David Johnson @ARI DEFENSIVE TEAMS
Michael Carter @NE BEST BETS Opp
Damien Williams @TB Rams DET
TIGHT ENDS GREAT STARTS Opp
BEST BETS Opp Buccaneers CHI
Travis Kelce @TEN Cardinals HOU
Mark Andrews CIN Broncos @CLE
GREAT STARTS Opp Patriots NYJ
Darren Waller PHI SOLID STARTERS Opp
Dallas Goedert @LVR Panthers @NYG
SOLID STARTERS Opp Saints @SEA
Zach Ertz HOU Packers WAS
Hunter Henry NYJ Ravens CIN
R. Seals-Jones @GB FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp
T.J. Hockenson @LAR Raiders PHI
Kyle Pitts @MIA Giants CAR
Mike Gesicki ATL 49ers IND
Noah Fant @CLE Falcons @MIA
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp Colts @SF
Tyler Higbee DET Browns DEN
Gerald Everett NO SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp
Mo Alie-Cox @SF Seahawks NO
C.J. Uzomah @BAL Chiefs @TEN
Cole Kmet @TB Titans KC
Juwan Johnson @SEA Jets @NE
Anthony Firkser KC Lions @LAR
David Njoku DEN Eagles @LVR
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp Texans @ARI
Evan Engram CAR Bears @TB
O.J. Howard CHI Football Team @GB
Ian Thomas @NYG Dolphins ATL
Ross Dwelley IND Bengals @BAL
Robert Tonyan WAS
Rob Gronkowski CHI
Tommy Tremble @NYG

The Huddle’s Blitzed Fantasy Football Podcast: Episode 153

Talking DFS fantasy football, NFL injuries, and more ahead of Week 7.

In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL news, IR stashing, and “DFS Pay-ups, Stay-aways and Value Plays.” So Huddle up, tune in, and get Blitzed!

Or click here to listen

Fantasy Football Rest of Season Rankings: Week 7

All of the notable movers and shakers adjusted as we enter Week 7.

These fantasy football rankings track a player’s value for the remainder of the season and are intended to be used as a tool, not necessarily a definitive guide to player valuation.

The scoring system is performance PPR. There is no exact science behind season-long rankings, considering all of the variables and situational uncertainties at work.

Rankings key:
UP/DN is trending up or down from week’s ranking.
NR means the player wasn’t ranked last week.
UP/DN numbering shows where the player was ranked the prior week.

Fantasy football rest of season rankings

Quarterbacks
Rk Never leaves lineup Bye Up/Down Notes
1 Josh Allen, BUF 7
2 Kyler Murray, ARI 12 good to see his reported shoulder injury didn’t affect him after what we saw in 2020; his running has fallen off a cliff
3 Patrick Mahomes, KC 12 two more INTs, including one that was so absurd it looked like a Madden glitch
4 Lamar Jackson, BAL 8
5 Justin Herbert, LAC 7 rough outing; you have to wonder if Williams being less than 100% really hampered the offense
Rk Lineup regulars Bye Up/Down Notes
6 Tom Brady, TB 9
7 Dak Prescott, DAL 7 suffered a calf strain in Wk 6; team is on Bye in Wk 7 but his status for Wk 8 is TBD
8 Matthew Stafford, LAR 11 UP10
9 Jalen Hurts, PHI 14 keeps creating value in spite of a terrible game plan for a young QB, but is it sustainable?
10 Joe Burrow, CIN 10
11 Aaron Rodgers, GB 13 DN9 HE OWNS YOU! ALL HIS LIFE!! HE STILL OWNS YOU!!!!!
12 Matt Ryan, ATL 6
13 Kirk Cousins, MIN 7
14 Russell Wilson, SEA 9 on IR w/ a finger injury; he’s set to miss 4-8 weeks, eligible to return in Wk 10
Rk Weekly matchup plays Bye Up/Down Notes
15 Derek Carr, LV 8 that was an encouraging performance from Carr and the Raiders for life after Gruden
16 Sam Darnold, CAR 13 DN12 that offense hasn’t looked great without McCaffrey, who will now miss at least two more games
17 Ryan Tannehill, TEN 13
18 Teddy Bridgewater, DEN 11 UP22 had four TOs in Wk 6, but there are some weapons in DEN and their defensive struggles could mean more passing
19 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT 7
20 Baker Mayfield, CLE 13 re-injured his labrum in Wk 6; returned to the game and is expected to play through it, but it’s a real concern
21 Daniel Jones, NYG 10 DN18 G-Men are a mess due to injuries, but four TOs and no TDs for Jones is still a bad look
22 Mac Jones, NE 14
23 Taylor Heinicke, WAS 9 DN19 back-to-back subpar games; if this trend continues it’d be easy to see the job revert to Fitzpatrick when he’s healthy
24 Trevor Lawrence, JAC 7
Rk Fringe plays/roster depth Bye Up/Down Notes
25 Jameis Winston, TB 6
26 Carson Wentz, IND 14
27 Justin Fields, CHI 10 UP31 was up and down as a passer in Wk 6 but did more running (6-43-0); that’s a positive sign for his fantasy prospects
28 Trey Lance, SF 6 suffered a knee sprain in Wk 5; his status for Wk 7 is TBD, but Garoppolo is expected to start
29 Tyrod Taylor, HOU 10 eligible to return from IR (hamstring); David Culley called him “day to day” w/ the injury
30 Tua Tagovailoa, MIA 14 UP33 activated from IR (ribs) and started in Wk 6
31 Jared Goff, DET 9
32 Jimmy Garoppolo, SF 6 did not play in Wk 5 w/ a calf injury; likely to start in Wk 7
33 Zach Wilson, NYJ 6
34 Geno Smith, SEA 9
35 Ryan Fitzpatrick, WAS 9 on IR w/ hip injury
36 Deshaun Watson, HOU 10 trade deadline is two weeks out, could Watson actually be moved?
Running backs
Rk Never leaves lineup Bye Up/Down Notes
1 Derrick Henry, TEN 13 in a lot of ways he belongs in his own tier at this point
2 Alvin Kamara, NO 6
3 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL 7
4 Nick Chubb, CLE 13 did not play in Wk 6 w/ a calf injury; has not been ruled out for Wk 7
Rk Lineup regulars Bye Up/Down Notes
5 Jonathan Taylor, IND 14 UP8 his last three games it’s looked like he’s back at Wisconsin
6 Austin Ekeler, LAC 7
7 Dalvin Cook, MIN 7 returned in Wk 6 after missing 2 of 3 gms and immediately got 31 touches; it’s incredible they don’t try to manage his usage
8 Aaron Jones, GB 13
9 Najee Harris, PIT 7 UP13 he’s undoubtedly the centerpiece of that offense now
10 James Robinson, JAC 7
11 Joe Mixon, CIN 10 looked to be full go in Wk 6 after being on a “pitch count” the previous game w/ lingering ankle soreness
12 D’Andre Swift, DET 9
13 Christian McCaffrey, CAR 13 DN4 placed on IR w/ a hamstring injury; he’s eligible to return in Wk 9 but how can you trust him at this point?
14 Darrell Henderson, LAR 11 UP19 he could be a poor man’s Todd Gurley (circa 2018) if he can just stay healthy
15 Antonio Gibson, WAS 9 dealing w/ a shin injury that limited him in Wk 6; his status for Wk 7 is TBD
16 Saquon Barkley, NYG 10 missed Wk 6 w/ an ankle injury; he’s week-to-week
Rk Weekly matchup plays Bye Up/Down Notes
17 Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL 6
18 Leonard Fournette, TB 9 UP24 three straight gms of 100+ total yards
19 Damien Harris, NE 14 UP28
20 David Montgomery, CHI 10 on IR w/ a knee injury; eligible to return in Wk 8 but likely to be out beyond that
21 Josh Jacobs, LV 8
22 Miles Sanders, PHI 14 imagine living in a world where Sanders actually gets the football…
23 Chase Edmonds, ARI 12
24 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC 12 DN18 placed on IR w/ a knee injury; he’s eligible to return in Wk 9
25 James Conner, ARI 12 UP27
26 Javonte Williams, DEN 11
27 Kareem Hunt, CLE 13 DN15 suffered a calf injury in Wk 6 and will miss multiple games
28 Jamaal Williams, DET 9
29 Elijah Mitchell, SF 6 UP33
30 Zack Moss, BUF 7
31 Chuba Hubbard, CAR 13 UP61 at this point who knows when McCaffrey is coming back?
32 Melvin Gordon III, DEN 11
33 Chris Carson, SEA 9 DN17 placed on IR w/ a neck injury; he’s eligible to return in Wk 10 but that injury sounds worrisome
34 AJ Dillon, GB 13 UP38 235 yds and a TD over his last three games
35 Darrel Williams, KC 12 UP48
36 Mike Davis, ATL 6
37 Devin Singletary, BUF 7 DN31
38 Tony Pollard, DAL 7 he’s filling the role Mattison should be filling in MIN
39 J.D. McKissic, WAS 9 UP40
40 Alex Collins, SEA 9 UP45 he would’ve jumped higher but suffered a hip injury late in Wk 6; the severity of the injury is TBD
Rk Fringe plays/roster depth Bye Up/Down Notes
41 Mark Ingram, HOU 10 UP46
42 Nyheim Hines, IND 14
43 Sony Michel, LAR 11
44 Michael Carter, NYJ 6
45 Latavius Murray, BAL 8 suffered an ankle injury late in Wk 6; the severity is unknown
46 Damien Williams, CHI 10 DN41 DNP in Wk 6 after testing positive for COVID; he should return in Wk 7
47 Khalil Herbert, CHI 10 UP56 he played well as the primary back in Wk 6
48 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI 14
49 Myles Gaskin, MIA 14 DN37 nothing looks good in Miami right now
50 Alexander Mattison, MIN 7 DN36 well, we’ve once again established Mattison will have zero role whenever Cook is healthy; make it make sense!
51 Ronald Jones, TB 9
52 Devontae Booker, NYG 10
53 Kenyan Drake, LV 8 two TDs in Wk 6 but still just six touches; color me skeptical
54 Trey Sermon, SF 6
55 Devonta Freeman, BAL 8 NR led the Ravens in rushing in Wk 6; looks like he has more left in the tank than Bell
56 Malcolm Brown, MIA 14 UP57
57 Phillip Lindsay, HOU 10
58 Giovani Bernard, TB 9
59 Marlon Mack, IND 14 *drums fingers on table* trade? anyone?
60 Rhamondre Stevenson, NE 14 UP66 my curiosity has been activated
61 Carlos Hyde, JAC 7
62 D’Ernest Johnson, CLE 13 NR w/ Chubb banged up and Hunt injured, Johnson could suddenly be asked to fill a meaningful role
63 Ty’Son Williams, BAL 8 DN43 inactive in Wk 6; second time in three games he’s been held out via coach’s decision
64 David Johnson, HOU 10
65 Samaje Perine, CIN 10 DNP in Wk 6 after testing positive for COVID; he should return in Wk 7
66 Darrynton Evans, TEN 13 designated to return from IR (knee) but has yet to be activated
67 Justin Jackson, LAC 7 this could be Jackson, Rountree or Kelley; as long as Ekeler is healthy LA’s RB2 means nothing
68 Le’Veon Bell, BAL 8
69 Tarik Cohen, CHI 10 on the PUP list w/ a knee injury; eligible to return in Wk 7
70 DeeJay Dallas, SEA 9 NR if Collins’ injury sidelines him, Dallas could start; Rashaad Penny (calf) could also return from IR
Wide receivers
Rk Never leaves lineup Bye Up/Down Notes
1 Davante Adams, GB 13
2 Cooper Kupp, LAR 11 UP3 first or second in the NFL in receptions (46), yards (653) and TDs (7)
3 Tyreek Hill, KC 12
4 Justin Jefferson, MIN 7
5 DK Metcalf, SEA 9 DN4
6 Terry McLaurin, WAS 9
7 DeAndre Hopkins, ARI 12 UP8 only three catches in Wk 7, but two of them were TDs
8 Keenan Allen, LAC 7
9 Stefon Diggs, BUF 7
10 Mike Williams, LAC 7 caught just two passes in Wk 6 amid reports of a bad knee; it’s something to monitor entering Wk 7
11 D.J. Moore, CAR 13
12 Mike Evans, TB 9
Rk Lineup regulars Bye Up/Down Notes
13 Calvin Ridley, ATL 6 set to return in Wk 7 after missing Wk 5 for personal reasons
14 CeeDee Lamb, DAL 7
15 Ja’Marr Chase, CIN 10
16 Deebo Samuel, SF 6
17 Diontae Johnson, PIT 7 had 13 targets on SNF; nobody else had more than 7
18 Adam Thielen, MIN 7 UP22
19 Brandin Cooks, HOU 10
20 Robert Woods, LAR 11 went from 14 targets and 12 receptions in Wk 5 to 5 and 2, respectively, in Wk 6
21 Tyler Lockett, SEA 9
22 A.J. Brown, TEN 13 dealt w/ a bout of food poisoning on MNF; easily led the team w/ a 7-91-0 line
23 Antonio Brown, TB 9 UP27 went ahead and flipped AB and Godwin; it just feels like Brady is more “invested” in Brown’s success
24 Chase Claypool, PIT 7
25 Amari Cooper, DAL 7
26 Julio Jones, TEN 13 returned in Wk 6 after missing two games w/ a hamstring injury but re-injured the hamstring; the severity is unknown
27 Chris Godwin, TB 9 DN23
Rk Weekly matchup plays Bye Up/Down Notes
28 Courtland Sutton, DEN 11 UP30
29 Tee Higgins, CIN 10
30 Jaylen Waddle, MIA 14 UP44 his 10-70-2 in London was the silver lining of a worrisome loss to the Jags
31 DeVonta Smith, PHI 14 Philly’s offense brings me no joy right now; I don’t even know what their game plan is
32 Marquise Brown, BAL 8
33 Marvin Jones, JAC 7 UP40 ultimately, I think Jones will carry the most value among JAC’s WRs
34 Allen Robinson II, CHI 10 if you’re optimistic you could consider his 4-53-0 in Wk 6 as a step in the right direction
35 Emmanuel Sanders, BUF 7
36 Henry Ruggs III, LV 8 UP39 he’s got that modern day D-Jax “feast-or-famine” feel to him
37 Michael Pittman Jr., IND 14 DN31 it looked like Hilton was the top option in Wk 6, but it’s only one week
38 Kenny Golladay, NYG 10 missed Wk 6 w/ a knee injury; he’s week-to-week
39 Laviska Shenault Jr., JAC 7
40 Michael Thomas, NO 6 on the PUP list w/ an ankle injury; eligible to return in Wk 7
41 Rondale Moore, ARI 12
42 Corey Davis, NYJ 6
43 Odell Beckham Jr., CLE 13 banged up his shoulder but played through; posted a 5-79-0 line but had a key 4th down drop
44 A.J. Green, ARI 12 UP45
45 Darnell Mooney, CHI 10
46 Sterling Shepard, NYG 10 UP55 returned in Wk 6 after missing two games w/ a hamstring injury; targeted 14 times w/ several other WRs out
47 Jakobi Meyers, NE 14 had his first NFL TD erased on a penalty; he now has 121 career receptions w/o a score
48 Jamison Crowder, NYJ 6
49 Cole Beasley, BUF 7 UP54 his usage has been wildly inconsistent this season
50 Brandon Aiyuk, SF 6
51 Curtis Samuel, WAS 9 missed Wk 6 w/ a groin injury; he’s week-to-week but could end up on IR again
52 Jerry Jeudy, DEN 11 on IR w/ a high ankle sprain; expected to return around Wk 8
53 Hunter Renfrow, LV 8
54 Jarvis Landry, CLE 13 eligible to return from IR (knee); his status for Wk 7 is TBD
55 Mecole Hardman, KC 12 UP58 another solid game
56 Tyler Boyd, CIN 10 DN50
57 T.Y. Hilton, IND 14 UP66 activated from IR (neck) in Wk 6; led IND in receiving but suffered a quad injury, it’s not believed to be serious
Rk Fringe plays/roster depth Bye Up/Down Notes
58 Christian Kirk, ARI 12 capable of delivering WR3 production any given week, but ARI has so many options he’s impossible to trust
59 Robby Anderson, CAR 13
60 DeVante Parker, MIA 14 missed second straight game w/ a hamstring injury; his status for Wk 7 is TBD
61 Russell Gage Jr., ATL 6 missed third straight games w/ an ankle injury; he could return in Wk 7
62 Sammy Watkins, BAL 8 missed Wk 6 w/ a hamstring injury; he’s week-to-week
63 Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET 9
64 Tim Patrick, DEN 11 UP70 he only sits this low because of Jeudy’s eminent return; he has short-term value as a flex play
65 Marquez Callaway, NO 6
66 K.J. Osborn, MIN 7 UP71 posted a 6-78-1 line in Wk 6 after doing almost nothing for 3 gms; it’s still Jefferson, Thielen and then everyone else
67 Bryan Edwards, LV 8
68 Rashad Bateman, BAL 8 UP77 made his season debut after missing five games w/ a groin injury; caught 4 of 6 targeted passes
69 Jalen Reagor, PHI 14
70 Michael Gallup, DAL 7 on IR w/ an ankle injury; eligible to be activated but has not returned to practice
71 Kadarius Toney, NYG 10 DN65 suffered an ankle injury in Wk 6 and did not return; his status for Wk 7 is TBD
72 Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLE 13 NR he’s CLE’s only player w/ multiple receiving TDs
73 Van Jefferson, LAR 11
74 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB 13 on IR w/ a hamstring injury; eligible to return in Wk 7
75 Kalif Raymond, DET 9
76 Jamal Agnew, JAC 7 NR 13 targets and 11 catches in two games since DJ Chark’s injury
77 James Washington, PIT 7 DN67 returned after missing Wk 5 w/ a groin injury; was targeted once
78 Nelson Agholor, NE 14 DN72
79 Josh Gordon, KC 12
80 Will Fuller, MIA 14 placed on IR w/ a broken finger; eligible to return in Wk 8
Tight ends
Rk Never leaves lineup Bye Up/Down Notes
1 Travis Kelce, KC 12
2 Darren Waller, LV 8 still a must start but hasn’t had a big game since Wk 1
3 Mark Andrews, BAL 8 Andrews bumps up into Tier 1
Rk Lineup regulars Bye Up/Down Notes
4 T.J. Hockenson, DET 9 good to see Hockenson (8-74-0) play well after a few quiet games in a row
5 Kyle Pitts, ATL 6
6 George Kittle, SF 6 on IR w/ a calf injury; eligible to return in Wk 9
7 Dallas Goedert, PHI 14 UP8 missed Wk 6 on the COVID list; trade of Ertz should make him an even more popular target
8 Rob Gronkowski, TB 9 missed third straight game w/ a rib injury in Wk 6; his status for Wk 7 is TBD
9 Dalton Schultz, DAL 7 UP11 he’s only 14 receiving yds behind Amari Cooper this year
10 Hunter Henry, NE 14
11 Noah Fant, DEN 11 he’s doing well in games that DEN is losing, which always feels a bit dicey
Rk Weekly matchup plays Bye Up/Down Notes
12 Mike Gesicki, MIA 14 encouraging to see his usage stay high w/ Tagovailoa returning at QB
13 Dawson Knox, BUF 7 DN10 suffered a hand injury in Wk 6 and did not return; BUF is on Bye in Wk 7
14 Tyler Higbee, LAR 11
15 Robert Tonyan, GB 13
16 Jared Cook, LAC 7
17 Zach Ertz, ARI 12 UP24 acquired from PHI; could slide into the Maxx Williams role, which was producing
18 Logan Thomas, WAS 9 on IR w/ a hamstring injury; eligible to return in Wk 8
Rk Fringe plays/roster depth Bye Up/Down Notes
19 Pat Freiermuth, PIT 7 UP30 seven targets on SNF; he’s someone to watch
20 Evan Engram, NYG 10 DN15 had 3 catches in a game where Jones threw 51 times on the wrong side of a blowout loss; not good
21 Tyler Conklin, MIN 7
22 Jonnu Smith, NE 14 DN19
23 Dan Arnold, JAC 7
24 Gerald Everett, SEA 9
25 Austin Hooper, CLE 13 DN21
26 Cole Kmet, CHI 10
27 Ricky Seals-Jones, WAS 9 NR had a 4-58-1 line in Wk 6; value is likely short term unless Thomas’ injury lingers
28 C.J. Uzomah, CIN 10
29 Blake Jarwin, DAL 7
30 Juwan Johnson, NO 6
Defensive teams
Rk Never leaves lineup Bye Up/Down Notes
1 Bills, BUF 7
2 Rams, LAR 11
3 Buccaneers, TB 9 their secondary is a mess due to injuries
4 Steelers, PIT 7 UP6
Rk Lineup regulars Bye Up/Down Notes
5 Ravens, BAL 8 UP7 what they did to the Chargers was impressive
6 49ers, SF 6
7 Cardinals, ARI 12
8 Cowboys, DAL 7 Diggs is a turnover machine
9 Bears, CHI 10
10 Browns, CLE 13 DN4 suddenly CLE can’t stop anyone
11 Patriots, NE 14
12 Saints, NO 6 UP14
Rk Weekly matchup plays Bye Up/Down Notes
13 Broncos, DEN 11
14 Panthers, CAR 13 MIN did whatever they wanted against them in Wk 6
15 Vikings, MIN 7 UP18
16 Colts, IND 14
17 Packers, GB 13 better offenses on the horizon and lots of injuries to key personnel
18 Chargers, LAC 7
19 Bengals, CIN 10 NR
20 Eagles, PHI 14

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 7 free-agent forecast

Six teams on bye and injuries galore make for an all-important week of waivers.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. FAAB $ amounts are based on a $100 budget.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Bye weeks: Bills, Cowboys, Vikings, Steelers, Chargers, Jaguars

Fantasy football waiver wire targets

Priority free agents

1) D’Ernest Johnson, Cleveland Browns: No Nick Chubb (calf) in Week 6 left Kareem Hunt as the feature back, and the veteran’s day came to a premature end as he was carted off with a calf injury of his own. While it doesn’t sound season-ending in nature, Hunt will miss a few weeks and has been placed on the Reserve/Injured list. Johnson is closer to a prototypical NFL back for this smashmouth offensive system, whereas RB/WR Demetric Felton (more below) is cut from the change-up, pass-catching cloth. Cleveland was without both of its starting tackles in Week 6, which will warrant some attention before playing Johnson on this short week of rest. Ahead for Cleveland: Denver, Pittsburgh, at Cincinnati and at New England. One or both of the Chubb-Hunt duo should be back by the end of that stretch.

Availability: 98%
FAAB: $34-36

2) QB Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints: Reiterating from last week … It’s easy to get hung up on his Week 5 performance that was highlighted by four touchdown strikes, but it’s not easy to also forget the prior three games of utter mediocrity. The Saints return from a Week 6 bye and are eligible to get injured WRs Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith back in Week 7. Looking at the schedule, the former Tampa Bay quarterback will have a legitimate month’s worth of lineup utility. The Weeks 7-10 slate serves up the exploitable defenses of Seattle, Tampa, Atlanta and Tennessee before the schedule stiffens again.

Availability: 64%
FAAB: $4-5

3) RB Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears: A reminder from last week’s inclusion, in case your entire league passed on the rookie: Herbert remains available in 35 percent of leagues polled. Damien Williams missed Week 6 on the COVID list, but Herbert saw more attempts in Week 5 when both were on the field throughout the contest. Given the strength of Herbert’s Week 6 showing (19.2 PPR), expect him to see the lion’s share (bear’s share?) of the reps. The downside: a murderer’s row of running back defenses ahead of the Week 10 bye with matchups at Tampa, vs. San Fran, and at Pittsburgh. Chances are high someone in your league won’t think about the schedule and will overbid based on Herbert’s recent results.

Availability: 36%
FAAB: $20-22

4) RB Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots: It has been a tumultuous ride for the rookie as he was a preseason darling and then found himself in the doghouse after an early-season fumble. Damien Harris entered with injured ribs but managed to rush 18 times for 101 yards and a score vs. Dallas. The Pats turned to Stevenson on the goal line for a short TD on one of his five rushes. A three-target, three-catch, 39-yard showing is more intriguing, especially as 31-year-old Brandon Bolden had one target and a lone rushing attempt in Week 6. Ahead on the schedule for the Patriots: NYJ, @LAC, @CAR, CLE, @ATL, TEN and @BUF before a Week 14 bye. It may be tricky knowing when to play Stevenson. We have the benefit of a heavy dose of bye teams this week, and the Jets coming to New England is a fine time to give it a go.

Availability: 67%
FAAB: $6-7

5) TE Ricky Seals-Jones, Washington Football Team: A week after being included here as a one-week play for the strength of the matchup and a legitimate role, RSJ deserves to be put on rosters for the near future. He could be useful for the next few weeks while Logan Thomas is out, and the tight end position has been as volatile as ever of late. The upcoming two weeks send Washington on the road to Green Bay and Denver — trust him vs. the Packers before reevaluating his utility against Denver.

Availability: 71%
FAAB: $3-4

6) RB Le’Veon Bell, Baltimore Ravens: Latavius Murray scored a TD in Week 6 — as did both Bell and running back Devonta Freeman — before an ankle injury cut short the former Saint and Raider rusher’s day. While we don’t know the severity of Murray’s injury just yet, there’s value to speculatively adding Bell (and even Freeman). Baltimore faces Cincinnati in Week 7 before going on bye, making Bell a so-so rental with potential staying power should he show out.

Availability: 93%
FAAB: $2-3

7) PK Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons: Check for the talented kicker on the wire after his Week 6 bye likely cast him free from the clutches of your opponents. While he hasn’t been as strong of a performer as in 2020, Koo has a great chance of turning things around as Atlanta gains comfort in head coach Arthur Smith’s system and a mess of absent players return to the field.

Availability: 53%
FAAB: $1-2

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One-week plays

WR Quez Watkins, Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Purely a flier for a cheap touchdown during “Bye-mageddon” Week 7. The Bucs have given up the third-most catches to WRs, but that’s not Watkins’ game. As Tampa focuses on slowing impressive rookie receiver DeVonta Smith, Watkins will see isolated coverage and has a plus-chance of breaking free against an injury-ravaged secondary. Keep in mind, though, this is an all-or-nothing type of lineup commitment.

Availability: 98%
FAAB: $0-1

TE Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals vs. Houston Texans: Ertz appeared in this spot last week and delivered on Thursday night, only to be traded to the Cardinals the next day. The former Philadelphia stud still has some juice left in the tank, and while he doesn’t have as high of a ceiling these days, Houston offers one of the softest matchups for the position in Ertz’s first game in the desert. No team has allowed more points in PPR, and it’s an excellent matchup in standard scoring, too, as the Texans have yielded the five scores over 36 receptions faced. It’s a risky recommendation due to the newness of his tenure in Arizona, but the matchup is prime.

Availability: 40%
FAAB: $1-2

RB Chris Evans/Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens: This recommendation comes with the caveat of Perine (COVID-19) could be back this week, and, if he is, substitute him for Evans. The sole purpose of playing either back is for a touchdown flier — Baltimore has yielded seven offensive scores (1 receiving) to the position at a top-10 rate of once every 20.5 touches. Whichever back is slated to be Joe Mixon’s direct backup is worthy of a desperation play in a pinch with six teams on bye.

Availability: 95%
FAAB: $1-2

TE Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: We saw signs of life from the second-year pro in Week 6 as he landed four of five looks for 49 yards. In the prior month of action, Kmet totaled five receptions for 39 yards. Justin Fields is slowly starting to settle in a little more as an NFL starting quarterback, and this week brings a trip the Tampa Bay — a defense that has granted tight ends a score every 10 grabs in 2021. Only two teams have permitted more receptions to the position, and an average of one TE per week has posted 10 or more PPR points against the Bucs. Kmet is a super risky play, but there’s ample upside.

Availability: 99%
FAAB: $0-1

PK Graham Gano, New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers: Gano has averaged 2.8 field goal attempts in the past five games, connecting on 12 of the 14 tries. He has made all five of his PATs. The offensively battered Giants may have just enough fight in them to put the veteran into range enough to matter. Seven of the nine total field goals attempted vs. the Panthers have come in the last two outings, possibly an indication of a developing trend.

Availability: 90%
FAAB: $0-1

New England Patriots D/ST vs New York Jets: New England’s neutrally ranked fantasy defense (16th) still manages to carry name recognition, which likely has them rostered in more casual formats than advanced, but it’s worth inspecting the wire for its presence. Other than the Week 2 trip to the Jets, when the Patriots created four turnovers and posted as many sacks, this defense has not come even close to matching that output. It has four total takeaways and nine sacks otherwise. Some of it is matchup-related, but this isn’t your older sibling’s Pats defense … that is, unless it is facing a rookie quarterback not named Davis Mills. Go back to this well once more vs. Zach Wilson and crew.

Availability: 42%
FAAB: $0-1

Carolina Panthers D/ST at New York Giants: The 18th-ranked Carolina fantasy defense is floating about on nearly half the wires polled, and it’s no wonder why after this group has two or fewer points in a pair of the last three contests. The Giants have allowed defenses to score 8.0 fantasy points in each of the past two weeks as injuries have decimated this offense. That number of points just happens to match the high point of Carolina’s defensive capabilities seen thus far in 2021, so understand there’s a fair amount of risk associated here.

Availability: 47%
FAAB: $0-1

Grab & stash

RB Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers: Wilson is eligible to return this week after being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list following offseason knee surgery. The lack of interest in utilizing Trey Sermon (two plays) in Week 5 before San Fran’s bye is telling, and Wilson has been a coach Kyle Shanahan favorite. Roster him and wait to see what kind of role he has upon returning, but it’s likely to be notable in the red zone, even if Elijah Mitchell dominates touches between the 20s.

Availability: 81%
FAAB: $1-2

Keep your eye on ’em

WR/RB Demetric Felton, Cleveland Browns: As mentioned above, Cleveland’s backfield is an infirmary. Give Felton a look in deep PPR formats if thoroughly desperate for an option during the week with six bye teams. For all other settings, it’s best to keep him in your sights as we await to hear more about Chubb entering Week 7’s Thursday nighter.

Availability: 99%

RB Travis Homer & DeeJay Dallas, Seattle Seahawks: Keep tabs on Chris Carson (neck) and Alex Collins (hip, glute) this week as Homer and Dallas will have a sizeable roles if they both must sit. The downside here, and largely why neither isn’t a true recommendation, is the matchup with the New Orleans Saints as they return from a bye week. Not only is this a dominant run defense but they’re also well-rested, which spells trouble for first-string backs, let alone third/fourth-teamers.

Availability: 99%

Eligible-to-return tracker

The following fantasy-relevant players are eligible to return from the Reserve/Injured list and could be on waivers, but inclusion below doesn’t guarantee coming back in the upcoming week. The date when the player was placed on IR is in parentheses.

  • RB Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks (10/2)
  • WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers (10/2)
  • WR Tyrell Williams, Detroit Lions (9/23)
  • QB Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans (9/21)
  • WR Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns (9/21)
  • WR Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos (9/14)
  • QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington Football Team (9/14)
  • WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (9/13)
  • WR Tre’Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints (9/10)
  • PK Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints (9/6)

Deep diving for running backs

If you’re in a competitive league, it is unlikely running backs are just chillin’ on the waiver wire. But that doesn’t mean gamers aren’t still in need of “break in case of emergency” running backs. These players could be available for a dumpster dive:

  • RB Ty Johnson, New York Jets (averaging 7.8 utilizations)
  • RB Jaret Patterson, Washington Football Team (Antonio Gibson insurance)
  • Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers (FB with an adoring coach)
  • Carlos Hyde, Jacksonville Jaguars (James Robinson insurance)
  • Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts (maybe gets traded?)