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10 Lineup Busts and Avoids for Week 7

I'm trying a new approach this week with this column, which is that the introductory paragraphs and the recap of last week's games are going to be combined.

But don't worry! That just means I'll be writing more about how good/bad last week's bust picks were! It makes more sense to blabber on about that than to blabber on about whatever other things I would.

Let's get to it.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Baby Gorilla Tournament is now open, featuring a $100,000 grand prize and a $675,450 total prize pool! This 12-team, Tight End Premium contest uses a 20-round draft format, with the overall winners determined by total points scored during Weeks 15–17. Get $25 to use toward your first entry by signing up through our link. Grab your team now! Sign Up Now!

 

Recap of Last Week

Jared Goff and Ben Roethlisberger, whose name I am finally spelling correctly without having to look it up, were the quarterbacks I warned you against last week. Goff took on the dreaded Jaguars defense. If you only believe in scoreboards, you might think Jacksonville looked worse, but don't forget the Rams scored on special teams. Goff was held to 9.9 fantasy points--another in the long list of Jacksonville's victims. Roethlisberger put up 11.9 against the Chiefs, which is a little better than I expected but still not...very good.

Running Back! Isaiah Crowell had his second best week of the year in Standard scoring, which equated to...oh, just 7.3 points--and if you're still playing without decimals, only six points. SIX. I can't understand why the Browns don't at least just see what Matthew Dayes can do. It's probably nothing, but he might be worth a look. Carlos Hyde was not a bust in terms of fantasy scoring, but he was buoyed by two touchdowns--his 13 carries only accounted for 28 yards, though he was involved in the passing game as well. Is that sustainable? And Aaron Jones, splitting time with Ty Montgomery, carried the ball thirteen times for 41 yards, numbers that probably would have been smaller if Aaron Rodgers had remained at quarterback for the entire game.

I highlighted three wide receivers. One of them, Stefon Diggs, didn't play, which means he definitely counts as a bust, right? Although no one would have been playing him, so [insert that emoji that is shrugging its head here if I knew what combination of keys I had to hit to make it look right]. Jarvis Landry got a boost with DeVante Parker out and put in a solid performance, and Mike Evans had...a weird game. Tampa Bay got down big, but Evans only ended up with three catches. Those catches went for 95 yards and a touchdown, though, so it was a good fantasy day, even if the Bucs looked Very Bad at times.

Jared Cook had two catches for 14 yards. Eric Ebron had one catch for nine yards. YOU. NEED. TO. DROP. ERIC. EBRON. IN. ALMOST. EVERY. FORMAT.

Alright. Let's look at ten dudes who will disappoint you this week now!

 

Top 10 Busts - NFL Week 7

Philip Rivers (Quarterback, Los Angeles Chargers)

I picked Rivers as a bust in Week 1 against the Broncos are didn't...do a great job on that pick. I'm doing it again here because the Broncos defense--despite struggling last week against the Giants--is good and the Chargers are inconsistent. Rivers has a turnover in four of the six games he's played and has thrown for 300 yards just twice. He's not a great call this week.

Jameis Winston (Quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Okay, a caveat: Winston might not even play this week after spraining an AC joint in his shoulder last week. If he does suit up, he gets a match-up against the Buffalo Bills, who have held every team they've played to twenty or less (real) points and have given up just two passing touchdowns, while picking off opposing QBs eight times.

Ty Montgomery (Running Back, Green Bay Packers)

This one is more speculation driven than statistic driven, because predicting the drop-off from Aaron Rodgers to Brett Hundley is...difficult. The Packers seem like they'll need to run the ball more and Aaron Jones seems like their best pure runner, which makes me think Montgomery will be in a more limited role this week.

Orleans Darkwa (Running Back, New York Giants)

The Giants discovered a run game last week against a very good run defense, but that likely means the Seahawks--who struggled defensively early in the year but have since improved--will key in on Darkwa and dare Eli Manning to beat them with his arm. The Seahawks did hold Todd Gurley to 43 yards before their bye week.

Melvin Gordon (Running Back, Los Angeles Chargers)

I understand that the Giants performance last week might have broken a hole in the narrative that the Broncos shut down running backs, but don't forget that Gordon only had 54 yards on the ground in the team's first meeting with Denver. Yes, he added a receiving touchdown, but those are a little more fluky. Look for the Broncos run defense to get it back together.

T.Y. Hilton (Wide Receiver, Indianapolis Colts)

The Jacksonville Jaguars passing defense is very good. This has been established. The Indianapolis Colts passing offense, which is currently led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett, is one giant question mark and now gets to face the machine that is the Jags. Jacksonville has allowed just one touchdown to wide receivers in 2017.

Sammy Watkins (Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Rams)

I'm not 100% sure Sammy Watkins even exists anymore. He has just two catches in the past three games and only once this season has he scored more than 5.8 points in Standard scoring. Despite the struggles, it would still be a good bet to say he'll get matched up with Patrick Peterson for a good chunk of this week's game, which caps his upside even more. Stay away.

Davante Adams (Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers)

I could have also listed Randall Cobb at this spot, or taken a bigger risk and said Jordy Nelson, but I'm going with Adams, who has been a favorite downfield target of Aaron Rodgers and figures to lose out on a lot of those kinds of plays with Brett Hundley at quarterback. Yes, he scored a touchdown last week with Hundley in and yes, it is the Saints defense, but staying away from Adams--at least until we see what his usage looks like with a more restricted offense--seems like a good call.

Jason Witten (Tight End, Dallas Cowboys)

Old, reliable Jason Witten did have 61 yards in Week 5 against Green Bay, but he's about to take on a 49ers team that has been surprisingly strong against tight ends over the course of this season. Witten isn't dynamic-enough a player to make him a viable starting option this week.

Coby Fleener (Tight End, New Orleans Saints)

With how difficult to predict the tight end market has been, one might look at Fleener--a player who has shown potential for so long now that we might need to actually admit there isn't any more potential--and think he could be a solid start against the Packers. But he's been targeted just six times in the past three games. Too inconsistent to see your lineups.

 

More Week 7 Lineup Prep




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a Cut Candidate in Dynasty Leagues
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Eric McAlister Worth Drafting in Rookie-Only Dynasty Leagues?
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Impresses Sean Payton During Offseason Program
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Two Relievers Combine to No-Hit the Rangers on Monday
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Dennis Schroder is Ruled Out for Game 4 on Monday
Michael Porter Jr.

Nets Could Trade Michael Porter Jr.
Ajay Mitchell

is Ruled Out for Game 5
Jalen Williams

is Tagged as Questionable for Game 5
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Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin Uncertain for Game 4
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Sitting as Healthy Scratch Monday
Max Domi

Out Indefinitely Due to Offseason Surgery Complications
Tanner Koziol

a Long-Shot Dynasty Tight End?
Dylan Cease

Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Injury
Kevin Coleman Jr.

in the Right Place for Opportunities
Josh Cameron

has Long-Term YAC Upside in Liam Coen's Offense
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Wins at Charlotte in Rain-Shortened Coca-Cola 600
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a Low-Risk Target with Upside in Dynasty Leagues?
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Delivers Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Mark Stone

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Valeri Nichushkin

Exits Early Sunday
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Hurt in Game 3 Loss
Isaiah Hartenstein

Provides Steady Production in Defeat
Chet Holmgren

Has a Quiet Offensive Night on Sunday
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Held Under 20 Points in Game 4
Stephon Castle

Hands Out Six Assists in Game 4 Win
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Returns to Action Sunday
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Rejoins Avalanche Lineup Sunday
Cason Wallace

Joins Starting Unit Sunday
De'Aaron Fox

Doesn't "Feel Great" Entering Game 4
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Won't Play Sunday
Dylan Cease

Removed From Sunday's Start With Hamstring Discomfort
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Exits Sunday's Game Early with Elbow Contusion
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Could Break Out of Slump
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William Byron

Could have A Great DFS Performance at Charlotte
Chase Briscoe

Is A Solid Tournament Option for Charlotte DFS Lineups
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May not be Worth his Salary for Charlotte DFS Lineups
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Bubba Wallace Has Favorable Upside for Charlotte DFS Lineups
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Is A Strong Addition for DFS Lineups at Charlotte
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Should Fantasy Managers Roster Austin Dillon for Charlotte DFS Lineups?
Chase Elliott

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Carson Hocevar

Confident for Coca-Cola 600
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a Chalk DFS Pick at Charlotte
Michael McDowell

Is Michael McDowell A Tournament Option for Charlotte Lineups?
Evan Mobley

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Donovan Mitchell

Struggles at the Line Saturday
Karl-Anthony Towns

Continues Playmaking Surge on Saturday
OG Anunoby

Delivers Clean Shooting Line Saturday
Phillip Danault

Extends Point Streak to Three Games
Josh Anderson

Nets Two Goals in Painful Loss
Jalen Chatfield

Delivers Two Assists in Crucial Win
Mark Jankowski

Contributes Two Assists in Game 2 Victory
Eric Robinson

Scores in Second Consecutive Game
Nikolaj Ehlers

Tallies Two Goals as Hurricanes Bounce Back Saturday
MLB

Orioles-Tigers Game Postponed on Saturday
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Rays-Yankees Postponed on Saturday
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Contributes an Assist in Losing Effort
Ross Colton

Nets Lone Avalanche Goal Friday Night
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Extends Assist Streak to Four Games
Mickey Moniak

Heads to Injured List With Ankle Sprain
Jackson Merrill

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Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Looking to Take Sophomore Leap
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Jadan Baugh Primed to Lead Florida Offense in 2026
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LSU Hires Ed Orgeron As Special Assistant
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North Carolina and South Carolina Cancel Home-And-Home Series
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Confidence High in Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor
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Reds-Cardinals Game Postponed on Friday
Trevor Story

has Hernia Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-10 Weeks
Roman Anthony

Dealing With Sprained Ligament in his Finger
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Lincoln Riley Believes USC is Ready for Playoff Run
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Notre Dame-Stanford Rivalry Renewed Through 2028
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Ahmad Hardy Says He's "Back to the Road to Success"
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Texas Tech Graduate Judge Recuses Himself from Brendan Sorsby Case
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UCLA Tackle Jordan Davis Officially Eligible for 2026 Season
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Bret Bielema Supports Significant College Football Playoff Expansion
Michael Thorbjornsen

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Tom Kim

Hoping to Build on Strong Myrtle Beach Finish
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Sungjae Im Brings Upside to TPC Craig Ranch
Billy Horschel

Looking for Turnaround at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
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Difficult to Trust at TPC Craig Ranch
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Looking for Consistency at TPC Craig Ranch
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Searching for Form at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Aaron Rai

Withdraws From CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Wyndham Clark

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PGA

Matti Schmid Looks to Keep Recent Momentum Going at TPC Craig Ranch
Brooks Koepka

a High-Upside Play at CJ Cup Byron Nelson
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF