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Hayden's unexpected fantasy football performances, waiver wire sleepers, and trade targets for Week 8 (2024). Can these NFL players sustain Week 7's success?
The seventh NFL Sunday of the 2024 season was a very interesting one. A thrilling NFC North battle between Detroit and Minnesota ended with a 31-29 Lions victory, and the Packers knocked off the Texans with a field goal in the final seconds. The Steelers also thrived in quarterback Russell Wilson's season debut.
Some notable names provided great performances for their fantasy managers. Saquon Barkley rushed for 176 yards and a score against the Giants, and Jahmyr Gibbs totaled 160 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota. Amon-Ra St. Brown led all receivers with 21.2 half-PPR points.
There were also some more surprising standouts, though. Let's dive into five of this week's unexpected boom performances, starting with a wideout from the Thursday game.
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Cedrick Wilson Jr., New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints were in a tough spot on Thursday. They were without starting quarterback Derek Carr, so they had to start rookie Spencer Rattler instead. New Orleans also had neither Chris Olave nor Rashid Shaheed at their disposal due to injuries, leaving them without their top two receivers.
While the game ended up being a disaster for the Saints, wideout Cedrick Wilson Jr. finished with a decent statline with Olave and Shaheed out. Wilson was second on the team with seven targets, but he tied for the team lead with six catches. He turned those into 57 yards and a late touchdown from quarterback Jake Haener.
Jake Haener finds Wilson for a @Saints TD! 🙌#DENvsNO on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/xcaji499XX— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2024
Wilson had been minimally involved before Week 7. Through the first six weeks of the season, he had just three catches on four targets for 31 yards. Wilson's numbers against Denver earned him 14.7 half-PPR points, though, making him the week's WR10 ahead of the two Monday night games.
Wilson should not be prioritized as a waiver addition. He will be pushed further down the depth chart once Olave clears the concussion protocol, and teammates Mason Tipton and Bub Means appear to be favored in the offense as is. Managers in deep leagues can take a flyer on Wilson, but they should not expect him to consistently contribute.
JaMycal Hasty, New England Patriots
Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty was an afterthought in fantasy football before Week 7. In New England's first six games, Hasty picked up just 43 scrimmage yards on nine touches. His role as the team's RB3 was the driving factor, as both Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson were much more involved than him.
It seems a trip to London was all Hasty needed to get a spark. Despite losing two yards on the ground over the course of the game, Hasty had his best performance of the year. He caught all five of his targets for 49 yards and a first-quarter touchdown. Hasty juked through the Jacksonville defense on his trip to the endzone.
A bit Hasty! @Patriots score on their opening drive.
📺: #NEvsJAX on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/EwA4kDhIoK— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Hasty compiled 13.2 half-PPR points, making him Week 7's RB15 through Sunday. For the second consecutive week, Hasty exceeded a 30 percent snap share; he did not reach 20 percent in any of the first five weeks of the year. He also notably outperformed Gibson, who played a mere 10 snaps according to PFF.
While Hasty is a player to keep an eye on in the New England backfield, he is not worth adding in fantasy leagues. The Patriots will face deficits in many games this season, rendering backup running backs largely inconsequential for fantasy football. Until he can prove he has carved out a sizeable role, Hasty should be left on waivers.
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
The Miami passing attack has struggled mightily ever since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in Week 2. Indeed, in their first three games without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins did not have a single touchdown pass. After a Week 6 bye, they were hoping to be more successful against Indianapolis.
Unfortunately, Miami again struggled through the air in Week 7. Tight end Jonnu Smith did not struggle, though. Smith caught each of his seven targets, converting them into 96 yards. He also provided the team's first receiving touchdown since Week 2 with his first-quarter trip to the endzone.
Huntley finds Jonnu Smith! @MiamiDolphins TD!
📺: #MIAvsIND on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/tjido3d8wb— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Smith stands as the highest-scoring tight end in Week 7 entering Monday. The 29-year-old compiled 19.1 half-PPR points and was responsible for 59.6% of Miami's receiving yards. The performance did not come as a huge shock, as Smith had already posted two games with five-plus receptions this season, but it was still fairly unexpected.
Smith is certainly in the mix to be added to fantasy rosters off of waivers this week. However, there is a chance that Tagovailoa will return to the starting lineup in Week 8, which would likely lead to receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle recapturing their typical target shares. Keep an eye on the situation in the coming days.
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
Cedric Tillman had a forgettable rookie season for Cleveland in 2023. The young wideout caught 21 of his 44 targets last year, and he gained 224 receiving yards. With Cleveland adding Jerry Jeudy this offseason and retaining Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, Tillman remained buried on the depth chart.
Ahead of Week 7, though, the Browns dealt Cooper to the Bills. This opened up an opportunity for Tillman to slide into a larger role. After catching just three passes in the first six weeks of the year, Tillman caught eight in Week 7 for 81 yards. He also made a grab to convert an important two-point conversion.
Two-point attempt is good to cut the deficit to seven.
📺: #CINvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/f8wCBIzD4C— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Tillman's breakout amounted to 14.1 half-PPR points, earning him the week's WR13 ranking through Sunday's games. According to PFF, he played 67 of the team's 82 offensive snaps (82%), marking the first time he played more than 50% of snaps this season. Tillman also had a career-high 12 targets.
Cleveland's quarterback situation is unclear now, as starter Deshaun Watson is suspected to be out for the season with an Achilles injury. Regardless of whether Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Jameis Winston is at the helm, Tillman is someone worth considering on waiver wires this week given his sudden usage increase.
Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels began the season playing very well for the Commanders. Daniels scored 10 total touchdowns while tossing just two interceptions in Washington's first six games, and he led the team to a 4-2 record to start the year. He was expected to continue rolling against Carolina in Week 7.
Unfortunately, Daniels went down with a rib injury. This meant it was veteran passer Marcus Mariota's time to shine. Mariota stepped in without issue, tossing two scores while completing 78 percent of his passes. Mariota threw for 205 yards and ran for 34 more in the blowout win over the Panthers.
Mariota scored 19.6 fantasy points, making him the tentative QB6 for the week. In his first significant playing time with the Commanders, Mariota demonstrated his ability to connect with the team's various playmakers. He even got rookie tight end Ben Sinnott his first touchdown reception in the NFL.
first career catch ✔️
first career TD ✔️📺 #CARvsWAS CBS pic.twitter.com/L51mezv7Pc
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 20, 2024
Mariota's fantasy value will obviously be tied to Daniels's availability. If Daniels is unable to suit up for future games, Mariota will be worth considering for QB-needy fantasy managers. Washington plays Chicago in Week 8, but the lowly Giants in Week 9 would pose an opportunity for Mariota to put up strong numbers again.
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