Sneaky Starts, Pivot Plays, and Post-Waiver Pickups for Week 7 - DeMario Douglas, Tank Bigsby, Rashod Bateman, and More

October 20, 2024

Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 7 of 2024. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.

The bad news is that key players suffered new injuries last week. That will make it tougher to set your lineup and get a win in fantasy football this week. 

The good news is this is a pretty decent week with pivot options you can either elevate from your bench or plug and play from the waiver wire. Those players should help you get by and stay afloat until the rest of your roster is healthy again. 

Whether you are 5-1 or 1-5, there is still a lot of season left. Each week's goal is to optimize your lineup and win the week. If you do that enough, you can get back into the race. 

Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options

If you need a QB… 

Kirk Cousins could have another big game this week. He gets a fantastic matchup against Seattle, who has allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to QBs in the last month. Recently, it has allowed Jared Goff to throw a perfect game and score over 27 fantasy points. Then, it allowed over 22 fantasy points and a top-10 fantasy QB finish for Daniel Jones without Malik Nabers. Last week, it allowed Brock Purdy’s second-best fantasy game of the season and a top-6 fantasy QB finish. Cousins is very much in play this week. 

Sam Darnold averaged 19.6 fantasy PPG in his first four games with 11 touchdown passes. A bad game against the Jets in London doesn’t negate that. Plus, the Lions are elite at stopping the run, but they struggle through the air. They also put up plenty of points of their own, which tends to make teams throw more against them. Darnold is an upside play this week. 

Daniel Jones is running more and that translates to fantasy success. He is coming off a season-high 56 rushing yards and now has 20-plus in four of his last five games. Three times he topped 30. He has topped 18 fantasy points in three of his last five games. Now, he gets the Eagles, who struggle against the pass in a game where the Giants could be chasing points. The floor is low, but there is an upside here. 

Drake Maye finished as a QB1 in his first NFL start. It may not have been very pretty, but he threw three touchdowns and ran for 38 yards. His running ability is underrated and adds sneaky fantasy value. He gets the Jags, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to QBs. Just like with Jones, the floor isn’t sturdy, but there is the upside. 

#Patriots WR Demario Douglas in the Drake Maye led huddle following his first NFL touchdown:

“Ooo I like this Drake! Ooo he’s got confidence! Uh-oh.” 👀

Something special is cooking up in New England…

(🎥 @Patriots) pic.twitter.com/IzCPVIipCe

— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) October 15, 2024

Russell Wilson will be in play in two QB leagues if he starts this week. Due to it being his first start and a tough matchup against the Jets, I would only start him in a one QB league if very desperate. Spencer Rattler is in a similar situation. It is a tough matchup, but sometimes in two-QB formats, you do not have a choice. 

If you need an RB… 

Tank Bigsby is very much in play this week. He has been leading the Jags on the ground and gets the Patriots, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to RBs. Plus, the Jags are already in London, which I think is a huge advantage for them. Bigsby in a favorable game script may mess around and finish as an RB1. 

Hit teammate, D'Ernest Johnson, is a deeper option as well. For as well as Bigsby has run, they do not use him much in the passing game. That role goes to Johnson if Travis Etienne Jr. is out. He is a deeper league play in a good matchup. 

Isaac Guerendo is very much in play if Jordan Mason sits this week. He carried the ball 10 times last week after Mason exited and ran for 99 yards. The upside is always so high for a speedy back in Kyle Shanahan’s run system. The matchup may be tough, but if Mason is out, you should start Guerendo. If Mason starts, you can get away. 

Ray Davis is similar to Guerendo. Davis was awesome last week, running 20 times for 97 yards. He also caught all three of his targets for 55 yards. He has a very different play style than James Cook, so he could carve out his role on this offense, but we would need to see that before trusting him. However, if Cook is out this week, Davis is a must-start option. 

Tyler Allgeier carried the ball 18 times last week for 105 yards and a touchdown. He has now reached double digits in two of his last three games. The floor is low, but Allgeier has a role in this Falcons offense and brings upside. He also is an injury away from being a must-start RB, so he is worth rostering. If you are in a pinch, you can take a shot at him remaining involved.

Kimani Vidal ran four times last week and saw just two targets. Yet, he finished with double-digit fantasy points due to catching a long TD. He was second in college football in explosive runs last year, so he has juice. That is the kind of player who can produce even on limited touches. But I do question if J.K. Dobbins can hold up for another 27 touches, especially since they will not be coming off a bye this week. 

"I was just telling him: 'Man, don't let your opportunity pass you by.' ... I see greatness in him. He will be a great back."

J.K. Dobbins tells @AJRoss_TV advice he gave @chargers rookie RB Kimani Vidal ahead of his first NFL action pic.twitter.com/FnDHlUckTD

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 13, 2024

If you need a WR… 

Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs were on the waiver wire in a good amount of leagues last week. That surely has changed. Watson led the Packers with 68 yards and scored a touchdown. Meanwhile, Doubs had 49 yards and two scores. Dontayvion Wicks is banged up, so more volume should go to these two. While I prefer Watson due to the higher ceiling, both are in play in what could be a very high-scoring game with two stud QBs. 

JuJu Smith-Schuster led the Chiefs with 130 yards the last time we saw him. What I care about is that he saw eight targets. And he was running a lot of the Rashee Rice routes, which are shorter but often lead to a lot of room to run. Smith-Schuster had 83 yards after the catch in that one. The Chiefs will have to try and put up points this week against the Niners. You can do much worse than Smith-Schuster this week. 

DeMario Douglas had a team-high nine targets in Drake Maye’s first start. He finished with six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. I trust Douglas to be a safety blanket for Maye over the middle of the field. I expect he will bring a safe floor in that role, but as we saw last week, there is an upside to be had as well. He is a great pivot option against the Jags, who have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to WRs. 

#Patriots QB Drake Maye on his chemistry with WR DeMario Douglas:

“Pop, you can’t guard him in a phone booth… he’s got a knack for finding his own… makes my job a little easier.” pic.twitter.com/xJ8SXDxXUt

— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) October 16, 2024

Alec Pierce has led the Colts in receiving yards in four of their six games. More importantly, he led them in all three games that Anthony Richardson started and finished. The floor is low, no doubt about that. But you can say that for all the Colts receivers with Richardson. But if you can’t bank on a consistent floor, you should be chasing the ceiling. And no Colts receiver brings a higher weekly ceiling than Pierce. Understand he may get you two points, but if he hits, he could alter your week. 

Rashod Bateman has been playing better as of late. He has 12 targets in his last two games combined. He has 58 and 71 yards in those games. He has topped 11 fantasy points in three of his last four games. He is getting volume from an MVP QB in a high-powered offense. And if you are still not sold, the Bucs have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to WRs this season. 

Rashod Bateman's route-running is filthy.

Watch especially on the first and fourth at how hard it is to press him and stick at the top of his route. #SeparationKing pic.twitter.com/JyfI45vdiB

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) October 14, 2024

If you need a TE… 

Cade Otton has averaged seven targets per game in the last four weeks. That has led to him averaging 9.5 fantasy PPG. Plus, he is tied to a good QB and an offense that is scoring a ton of points. Lastly, the Ravens have allowed the fifth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends. Otton and his safe floor is in play as a streaming option this week. 

Zach Ertz has five or more targets in three of his last four games. He had eight targets two weeks ago. He has topped eight fantasy points in three of his last five games. It may not sound like much, but when you are diving deep at a tight end and you can get eight to 10 points, you should take it. Plus, he is tied to a good offense and QB and has a favorable matchup this week. 

Grant Calcaterra is in play this week with no Dallas Goedert. Calcaterra was tied for the second-most targets on the Eagles last week with four. His 67 yards was second on Philly behind only A.J. Brown. In total, he scored double-digit fantasy points and finished as the TE12. He also played over 90 percent of the snaps. He will be out there as the lead tight end for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. That is enough to have him in play in deeper formats. 

Grant Calcaterra appreciation post pic.twitter.com/nRcqOItPS3

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 16, 2024

Ja'Tavion Sanders is another sleeper tight end I like. He was second on the Panthers last week in targets (seven), catches (five), and receiving yards (49). He is a big-bodied tight end who can pick up yards after the catch and be used in the red zone. Plus, the Panthers are always in catch-up mode. He is a low-floor play that brings upside. 

Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.

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