Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Smash Starts for Week 7 Include DeMario Douglas, Ladd McConkey, Rashod Bateman

October 17, 2024

Ellis looks at fantasy football WR sleepers in smash spots for Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season. Target these fantasy football wide receivers as starts in lineups.

We are officially one-third of the way through the NFL season. Even though there are plenty of weeks left, I feel like the fantasy community has finally settled into this season.

In this article, I highlight four WRs who have great matchups and should be considered smash starts this week. Last week, I highlighted Chris Godwin, Zay Flowers, and Tank Dell, who finished the week as the WR1, WR11, and WR17, respectively, on the week. I’m very excited about those results and hope to build on them. This week, I have decided to pick lower-ranked players, with the hopes that they finish in the top 30.

My name is Ellis Johnson and I have been writing fantasy articles for RotoBaller over the last six years. Going into last week, I was the No. 2 Expert WR ranker on the season in the FantasyPros ECR competition. I am very appreciative of my success this season and hope to keep it up over the coming weeks. So without further ado, my WR smash starts for Week 7.

Demario Douglas (WR, NE)

With a new captain steering the ship, the 1-5 Patriots are sailing across the pond to take on the 1-5 Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars are a great matchup for WRs and this week is no different. I’m here to provide the confidence in one of the grossest WR rooms in the league.

Over their last three games, the Jaguars have allowed an average of 301 passing yards per game. That includes last week where we saw another rookie QB, Caleb Williams, have four passing touchdowns. If there was ever a game for Drake Maye to find confidence in the NFL, this is the spot.

After playing in London last week, the Jaguars stuck around for the second straight week and should be itching for a bounce-back game. Although their defense lacks the talent to make that happen, their offense will likely be looking to rack up the score against a Patriots team that just gave up 41 to the Texans.

That means we will need to see some Maye Magic if the Patriots want to stay in this one. Last week, Douglas led the team in targets (nine) and had six receptions for 92 yards and a score. It was clear that these two have a connection, and a WR who can separate is a rookie’s best friend.

Regardless of who lines up on Douglas, I think he is both a volume play with a safe floor and has a good chance to haul in a touchdown. 

Demario Douglas

Since Week 3:
(per @FantasyPtsData)

WR30 in fppg

22.4% target share
58.3 rec yds/game
28.4% first read share

New England's clear WR1 moving forward pic.twitter.com/lUaXV3BLMw

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) October 14, 2024

Jakobi Meyers (WR, LV)

Update: Meyers has been listed as Doubtful for Week 7 - the top pivot option would be Tre Tucker.

I'm expecting Meyers to make his return from an ankle injury this week. Over the last few seasons, Meyers has been consistently underrated both in fantasy and in the NFL. In his last three games, he has seen at least nine targets and 49 yards. Considering he is often viewed as a low-end flex option, that is great usage.

We also received the news that Davante Adams is now a New York Jet, leaving this pass-catching room as Meyers, Brock Bowers, Tre Tucker, and DJ Turner. Based on that list, it’s clear Meyers and Bowers are going to be heavily involved.

The Raiders travel to Los Angeles to take on a beat-up Rams team. The Rams defense has slowly gotten better as the season has gone on; however, they are still not an intimidating defensive matchup. According to Pro Football Focus, Cobie Durant is the highest-ranked corner on the Rams and is graded as the 80th corner in the league.

Additionally, this Rams offense should be able to score against a floundering Raiders team. Although Vegas’ defense has been admirable in its efforts (allowing the third-fewest total yards to opponents over the last three games), Cooper Kupp may return this week and kick-start this Rams offense.

As a result, I expect that the Raiders will either be playing from behind or relying on the sure hands of Meyers to stay in this game. It’s never pretty watching Aidan O'Connell, but he should do enough to keep Bowers and Meyers afloat this week.

Jakobi Meyers is a league winner

- lock for 8+ targets per game
- established chemistry with AOC
- A+ playoff schedule (ATL, JAX, NO)

Buy Jakobi NOW before he takes off. He just had 2 games with 9+ targets and finished outside the top 34 both weeks. Positive regression town.

— K Ivy (@Ivyman_FF) October 10, 2024

Ladd McConkey (WR, LAC)

Although this has not been the breakout campaign many McConkey fans had hoped for, he has visibly been the best receiving option on the Chargers. Considering they have one of the best arm talents dishing out the ball, it’s only a matter of time before McConkey finds consistent production.

Last week, he left the field with a concussion scare; however, he managed to return in the first half. As a result, I am assuming he will be good to go this week, but it’s worth noting in case his symptoms reappear. Much like McConkey, Quentin Johnston left the game with an ankle injury and later returned. Although Johnston is also expected to be back, if he has a setback, it would further increase McConkey’s upside.

This week, the Chargers take on a spiraling Cardinals team on Monday night. Over the last three weeks, the Cardinals have allowed 423 total yards per game (third most over that span). We also saw positive signs from the Chargers offense last week, as Justin Herbert had 34 pass attempts in a game where they had pretty much won at halftime.

Per Razzball, the Cardinals are allowing the 13th-most fantasy points to slot receivers. However, they are also allowing the fourth-most rushing yards. There is a world where the Chargers run the ball all game and limit their receiving weapons; however, I think this Cardinals offense will be looking to bounce back against a beatable Chargers team. If that is the case, I think we could see a nice day for the rookie wideout.

Ladd McConkey really sent Riley Moss flying into a whole new universe pic.twitter.com/DeeIdxWXt4

— No Limit Bolts (@nolimitbolts) October 15, 2024

Rashod Bateman (WR, BAL)

We have another WR playing on Monday night who is primed for a big game. Since being a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Bateman has failed to come through for fantasy purposes. However, the Ravens have found value in the young WR, signing him to a two-year deal this offseason.

This year, although not spectacular, Bateman has had his best start to a season yet. He has at least four targets every week but one, and has tied his career high in touchdowns. This season was filled with offseason excitement from the coaching staff, saying he had taken a step forward.

Then in Week 1, he had a clutch grab against the Chiefs to set up the potential game-winning touchdown. Since then, he has been a steady part of this offense each week.

I believe the biggest concern about the Ravens is their passing volume. In games where they find success running the ball, they aren’t afraid to abandon the passing game altogether. Thankfully, this week, they face a red-hot Buccaneers team that just torched their divisional rivals and dropped 51 points.

The Bucs are allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards over the last three weeks and the fourth-most passing yards over that span. Considering the Ravens have been horrific at stopping the pass, we may be primed for a Baker Mayfield - Lamar Jackson slugfest. 

My only concern is that Bucs corners Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith have graded well this season. Still, the defense has not found a way to slow the pass, and I think it will be focused on Flowers and the tight ends as the primary threats.  

Last week, I planted my flag on Flowers, which worked great. Although Flowers should find success again, I wanted to highlight a deeper option in Bateman. 

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

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