RADIO
Another week in the books fantasy football lovers and it’s the same old Tennessee Titans who cannot buy an offensive snap without Marcus Mariota being greeted with a defensive player in his face. As I was typing this he was sacked again. Mariota is only the 12th player in NFL history to take 11 sacks in a single game, what is worse than that you might ask? He has thrown for over 200 yards just once this year!
Luckily for Mariota, he was not the only quarterback to continue his downward spiral. Derek Carr and Amari Cooper just cannot seem to get it together. He threw for 142 yards on 31 pass attempts (4.58 yards per attempt) and had no touchdowns. Let that sink in a moment. To put it into perspective, Todd Gurley had 149 yards eight minutes into the third quarter. Dak Prescott has a career rushing day (82 yards) against one of the best defenses in the league (Jaguars). Tarik Cohen has back to back 120 scrimmage yards weeks, while Jordan Howard continues to remain a mystery. His usage has dropped seeing over 70% of offensive snaps to just over 50%. He is seriously flirting with becoming a touchdown-dependent flex option if this continues. For the Cleveland Browns, can Baker Mayfield please start doing what you did so well in college in the NFL, and become more accurate, Jarvis Landry leads the league with 44% of balls thrown his way deemed uncatchable. How about this for inefficiency, last week Antonio Callaway and Jarvis Landry saw 19 combined targets for a whopping 20 yards. We will not be seeing any more of the Nathan Peterman and his 11.4% interception rate show as the Bills announced the sloth Derek Anderson as the starter.
What a week of football it was and with still so much to talk about let’s dive into the most added and dropped players of the week. What a time to be watching the NFL and playing fantasy football. Alright, without further ado, here are the top six added and dropped positions players of the week.
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Most Added - Week 7
Albert Wilson (WR, MIA vs. MIN), 3946 Adds – 49% Owned
The most added position player of the week might also be the hardest to predict player from week to week. A straight burner, Albert Wilson started his season slow averaging just over three targets a game while averaging 44% snap share on offense. In the last three weeks, he has seen that average go up to seven targets a game, with an increased average snap share of 83%, with one of those games (against the Bengals) where he was on the field for 100% of the offensive snaps. Though he scored two touchdowns last week, one was on a short pass that went the distance with bad tackling and the other was on a busted coverage where Wilson was wide open. Until we see his targets increase, he makes for a bit of a boom or bust type flex play in all formats.
Ito Smith (RB, ATL vs. NYG), 3425 Adds – 40% Owned
With Devonta Freeman placed on injured reserve, with his season likely over, Ito Smith will be thrust full time into the Tevin Coleman role. Do not let that fool you though, Ito Smith has seen a red zone carry in every week he has been active (he was a healthy scratch week 1). Having had 10 and 13 touches in the last two games, while seeing the field 43% and 46%, his stock is increasing as he has also been efficient with his touches compared to Tevin Coleman. His floor and ceiling will heavily rely on if he continues to see his touches and snap share either stay consistent or increase. Based off being one of the most added players this week, fantasy owners are banking on the increase in usage as well. He is a mid to low flex option with a dependence on scoring a touchdown.
Taylor Gabriel (WR, CHI vs. NE), 2172 Adds – 47% Owned
Everyone expected Taylor Gabriel to lose work because of the return of Anthony Miller, yet he still produced yet again with a 110-yard performance and five receptions, while seeing only five targets. Seeing no less than five targets in a game all season, while averaging 79% of the snap share on offense in the last three games, he can be started in 12 to 16 man leagues as a flex, but can be vaulted with into the WR2 conversation if Allen Robinson does not play this week, as he was a DNP Thursday with a groin injury after being limited on Wednesday. This is a story to monitor closely leading up to the game.
Austin Hooper (TE, ATL vs. NYG), 2152 Adds – 69% Owned
Let me start off with saying, Austin Hooper had two great games, I am not going to take that away from him, having stat lines of 9-77 and 9-71-1 is great for a very thin position this year. But that is where my compliments end and it’s reality time. He went up against the # 1 and # 2 worst defenses in the league against the tight end back to back weeks, getting targeted 12 and 10 times. Last week Ridley left the game in the first quarter due to injury and never returned. The targets had to go somewhere right? Now he faces a Giants defense that has allowed the fourth fewest receptions, one touchdown and just 6.2 fantasy points per game to the position. Having said all of this, if Ridley or Sanu is to miss this game as they recover from their injuries, Hooper becomes a stream worthy option. If they are active, owners are best to look elsewhere for streaming options like Cameron Brate/O.J. Howard.
Marquise Goodwin (WR, SF vs. LAR), 2141 Adds – 69% Owned
I put him in the same category as Albert Wilson but worse. Last week he saw the most targets he had all season with five. Granted he converted four of them for receptions totaling 126 yards and two touchdowns. Marquise Goodwin is a fine player, but he cannot be trusted to produce on a weekly basis, as he is reliant on the deep ball. How many players outside of Tyreek Hill and Brandon Cooks can you truly trust week in and week out with the deep ball on your fantasy rosters? I rather have Pierre Garcon who at least has averaged eight targets a game over the last three weeks. The LA Rams front seven are not the Green Bay Packers. Beathard may not have enough time against that defensive front to get Goodwin the ball deep for two touchdowns, but the Rams are vulnerable against the deep pass with injuries to their secondary. If the offensive line can give enough time for Goodwin to get downfield there may be points to be had, the question is, are you ready to take that chance?
C.J. Uzomah (TE, CIN vs. @KC), 2125 Adds – 33% Owned
Uzomah was on the field for over 90% of the offensive snaps in back to back weeks now and that is not going to suddenly end this week with the Tyler Twins both out. While running 36 routes against one of the worst defenses against the tight end position (Steelers), he put up a stat line of 6-54 off of seven targets. Now he gets the chiefs who are bottom five in every offensive category defending against the tight end, including receptions and yards allowed. They are also giving up the third most fantasy points to the position. I have no reservations about anyone starting Uzomah this week in a dream matchup.
Most Dropped - Week 7
Quincy Enunwa (WR, NYJ vs. MIN), 2172 Drops – 37% Owned
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. It wasn’t long ago we were talking about Enunwa being a late-round steal in drafts, in some cases, he was a waiver wire freebie. With a high ankle sprain, we do not expect to see him back for at least two to three weeks. He was easily leading the team in targets, being Darnold’s go-to receiver. Now that position will be manned by Jermaine Kearse who needs to be added in all formats especially PPR, as he slid right into the Enunwa role and (you guessed it) led the team with 10 targets and finishing with a 9-94 stat line. Since he will be in the slot he will avoid Xavier Rhodes (Thank you fantasy gods) and has a friendlier matchup as he should be defended by Trae Waynes, who is ranked 121, with a coverage rating of -23.5 , which is 60th in the league. Fire up Kearse in a game I expect Darnold to check down often to his slot man against the Vikings.
Alfred Morris (RB, SF vs. LAR), 2004 Drops – 43% Owned
We all knew Morris would lose touches once Matt Breida returned, but one snap, ONE!!! What happened? Raheem Mostert happened my fantasy friends. Mostert had 12 carries (one fewer than what he had his entire career), and turned it into 87 yards on the ground. The offense looked a lot better with Mostert on the field compared to when Morris had been prior to this game. I see no logic in why Morris should see much of the field moving forward. I still hold him for one more week just to be safe, but in 10 to 12 man leagues you can safely drop Morris. As for Mostert, unless we get a clearer picture from the coaching staff prior to the game, he is a low-end flex option at best. The Rams are more vulnerable to the passing down back than the ground, allowing the fifth most receptions to the position (40) but the eighth-fewest yards (210 yards) and ninth-fewest fantasy points to the position. Matt Breida is the safer option in a game many expect the Niners to be playing from behind.
Devonta Freeman RB, ATL vs. NYG), 1883 Drops – 81% Owned
This was expected as he was placed on the IR with a groin injury. He successfully had groin surgery Thursday and although can return late this season, he is not worth holding on to in redraft as his return this season is unlikely. This is going to be the Tevin Coleman and Ito Smith show the rest of the way. The Falcons must really be dreading that extension last year (six-year, $43.088 million contract, $22 million guaranteed, and a $15 million signing bonus). With Tevin Coleman set to be a free agent after this season, the Falcons may need to address this backfield in the offseason as Freeman cannot find a way to avoid the doctor’s office.
Cameron Brate (TE, TB vs. CLE), 1137 Drops – 57% Owned
When Brate began the game with a touchdown reception, I am sure all of us who own him must have been ecstatic as we expected a big day from him. Who knew that would end up being his only target of the game. He ran 41% the offensive snaps, and 15 routes but only saw the lone target that he caught. The problem you ask? O.J. Howard. Running 45.9% of the offensive snaps and 18 routes (three more than Brate), saw four targets (two in the red zone) for 62 yards and a touchdown. We all know Howard is the more explosive player of the two. Why he is not seeing more of the field is beyond me. The sooner the Buccaneers wake up and realize he needs to be on the field a lot more than what he is now, the better that offense will be off, and of course us fantasy owners as well. Brate is a weekly desperation play at best if you need a bye week filler. Howard is the more consistent play but also touchdown dependent, as he has seen more than four targets in a game just once this year (8).
Mike Davis (RB, SEA vs. BYE), 1133 Drops – 34% Owned – Bye Week
After running for over 100 yards, Mike Davis’s usage suddenly dropped and actually lost nine carries to rookie Rashaad Penny. Davis was already a low-end flex option, where you are hoping he finds his way into the end zone. Therefore, it's a little surprising fantasy owners are already giving up on him. The Seahawks were comfortably winning the game against the Raiders when they brought Penny. I would wait for one more game (after the bye) before totally giving up on Davis, as I expect he will be used more in closer games.
Jared Cook (TE, OAK vs. BYE), 1095 Drops – 79% Owned – Bye Week
After averaging nine targets a game in the first four weeks and for a brief period was a top-five tight end in fantasy, he saw a combined eight targets in the last two weeks. His snap share was actually over 94% in both those games, and against the Chargers, he saw three red zone targets. There is a lot wrong with the Raiders offense, Cook is not one of them. Look to pick him up after this week, considering the position is as weak as it is this year, I am very surprised this many owners dropped him.
