RADIO
It happens every year in fantasy when there comes a time when the injuries begin to mount, causing undervalued players to emerge. That was the case in Week 7 when you scrolled through the leaderboards at each position. Sitting atop the running back list for the week, we saw waiver wire wonder Deon Jackson take advantage of his opportunities to the tune of 28.1 FP. Other players like Kenyan Drake and Bailey Zappe seemingly came out of nowhere to post fantasy starting numbers at their respective positions. When these types of performances stand out, it creates some confusion for fantasy managers as they look to project forward. You must factor in injury situations, bye weeks, and coaching staff decisions, as offensive game plans can change like the wind. The biggest factor as we sit in the middle of the fantasy regular season is how to navigate the bye weeks.
Week 7 is presenting the biggest hurdle to date for fantasy managers with some heavy-duty firepower out of commission for the week. The Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Rams all have the week off, and it has managers scrambling to fill holes in their starting lineups. Successful fantasy managers typically have a plan in place to counteract this. Whether it's through the draft or how you work the waiver wire coming in, forward-thinking can keep you in a competitive position even when your studs are out of the lineup. As you're digging deeper into your roster to determine a starting lineup more factors come into consideration as you decide between players. Fantasy managers have to become more analytical with their decisions instead of simply looking at the projections as the lone variable.
Relieving the stress of those decisions is what I aim to do each week with this piece. I look for the diamonds in the rough in an attempt to give you an advantage over your competition. Simultaneously, bracing you for what could be disappointing weeks of production from your typical starters. I dive into the numbers to point out these players that I will be wooing and those that will be getting booed.
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Week 7 Woos - Fantasy Football Booms
Matt Ryan - QB, Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans
Little do many know, but Matt Ryan has been quite effective in recent weeks. Week 6 was his second QB1 finish in the last three games as he posted season highs across the board.
Finishing the game with 389 yards passing and three scores produced 27 FP and an overall QB2 ranking. On the season, Ryan currently sits at QB2 in both pass attempts (253) and yardage (1,765), but only QB12 with just eight passing scores.
Things like this typically have a way of working themselves out. Which is something you may come to expect in Week 7 as he will be facing a Titans secondary that is near the bottom in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks (21.9 FPPG). Ryan projects to be a low-end QB1 this week for those fantasy managers needing to find a bye-week filler for Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts.
Josh Jacobs - RB, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans
Coming into the season, Jacobs was a player that drew the ire of many in the fantasy industry. His lack of efficiency was a turn-off for many even though he consistently found himself pushing for RB1 finishes. Add in the coaching change for the Raiders to Josh McDaniels and Jacobs was a full fade for many during draft season.
To this point in the year, Jacobs is the one laughing as he currently ranks as RB5 (19.4 FPPG). The funny thing is that his efficiency has been his bright spot for the year. He is third in the league with 490 yards rushing, RB4 with a 74.6% snap share, but 14th in receiving yards (129), 13th in receptions (17), and 12th with just three scores. Maintaining his route participation (53.5%) and finding more scores can only increase his chances of sustainable success.
Success could come a little easier in Week 7 as he faces a Texans defense that ranks dead last in fantasy points allowed over expectation (+9.78). Jacobs is an RB2 for most fantasy managers but will produce RB1 numbers in this matchup, making him a no-doubt start.
Romeo Doubs - WR, Green Bay Packers @ Washington Commanders
After Week 4, it felt as though Doubs was on the verge of taking that next step to becoming a fixture in fantasy starting lineups. When the Packers left for London two weeks ago, it seems that Doubs got lost along the way and has yet to make it back.
It's been no secret that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' passing game has struggled, but with just 50 yards receiving over the last two games, Doubs has found himself in the fantasy doghouse. He has to improve upon his 79.8% route participation to find any consistency at all with Rodgers.
Look for the rapport to click once again in Week 7 as he will be facing a plus matchup against a Commanders secondary that currently ranks near the bottom in points allowed above expectation (+11.30) to the position. Doubs should be started as a WR3 this week with the upside to produce WR2 numbers.
Gerald Everett - TE, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Everett is among the group of tight ends that have found themselves in and out of fantasy lineups to begin the season. So far, he has produced just three TE1 finishes over his first six games. This inconsistency is what describes the position in fantasy outside of your top-tier group.
If you did not draft a tight end early, you are likely streaming at the position each week looking for the right matchup. Looking from above, Everett's numbers all fit for a player you're starting each week as he ranks inside the Top 10 among all the key categories. His route participation of just 67.3% (21st) shows that he could be off the field at any given moment and lose opportunities.
Opportunities are something that Everett should see plenty of in Week 7 as he faces the league's worst defense in points allowed to the position. The Seahawks currently surrender 21.4 FPPG to opposing tight ends, making Everett a player that should easily be in starting lineups this week.
Week 7 Boos - Fantasy Football Busts
Derek Carr - QB, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Houston Texans
Carr has been solid over the last month with three QB1 finishes over the team's last four games. Except for Week 4 against the stellar Broncos secondary, he has had multiple touchdown passes in each game. He currently ranks QB12 in FPPG (17.2) but in many key categories, he has been underwhelming, to say the least.
On paper, many fantasy managers see the Texans and assume Carr could be in store for a very productive matchup. This secondary has been surprisingly stifling to opposing quarterbacks as they surrender just 13.7 FPPG (25th). With bye week woes in full effect, Carr could be thrust into starting duties for fantasy teams this week, but based on the matchup, tempered expectations should be in place.
David Montgomery - RB, Chicago Bears @ New England Patriots
When it comes to a player trending in the wrong direction, David Montgomery falls into that category. On the season, he has produced just one RB1 finish and two RB2 efforts coming over the last two games in his return from injury. From an offensive standpoint, the Bears rank fifth in run plays per game (32.2), but Montgomery has only translated that to a putrid 10.4 FPPG (RB32) on the opportunities he receives.
He is the pillar of a player that requires a workload to produce numbers, something that could be coming to an end as the team is expected to give more work to Khalil Herbert. With the backfield now becoming less clear, Montgomery goes from a surefire RB2 each week to a possible Flex play based on matchups. That matchup in Week 7 is one to avoid as he faces a Patriots defense that ranks 30th in points allowed against expectation (-5.88).
JuJu Smith-Schuster - WR, Kansas City Chiefs @ San Francisco 49ers
After becoming so untrustworthy for so many fantasy managers to start the season, Smith-Schuster, with the help of a missed tackle for a long touchdown, found his way to a WR1 finish in Week 6. To say his numbers on the season have not been great would be an understatement.
He sits at 28th in targets (40), 59th in snap share (73.1%), and WR37 in FPPG (11.3). The subpar play has been maddening for the managers that believe they would see a resurgence from him after signing with the Chiefs. Don't look for a repeat of last week's performance as he will be facing a strong 49ers secondary that allows just 21.9 FPPG to opposing receivers.
With several quality receivers out of play in Week 7 due to the byes, Smith-Schuster may be a plug-and-hope play for many fantasy managers, but the chances that he produces starter-caliber numbers this week are very slim.
T.J. Hockenson - TE, Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys
Hockenson is a tight end that finds himself in starting lineups each week based on nothing but name value alone. On the season he has produced just two TE1 finishes over five games while failing to go over 38 yards in any of the three other games. To speak to just how bad the position is in fantasy, he sits at TE4 in FPPG on the season (13.1).
All that came on the back of his blow-up game in Week 4 while the Lions were devoid of competent pass catchers. Coming back from the bye week and players back to health, Hockenson should return to the form we've seen for most of the season.
Add in the matchup against a Cowboys defense that is allowing just 6.1 FPPG to the position and you have the makings for a player that you be on the bench in Week 7.
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