Wow, how are we already at Week 7? We'll already be halfway to fantasy playoffs after this week. You all should be planning your route to the playoffs... Unless if you're 1-5, then you should also be saying your prayers. I've seen more unlikely things happen in my life so keep at it and make some trades. Risk it for the biscuit!
In the meantime, let's get you through Week 7 with another W and some of your best matchups:
QUARTERBACKS
START Geno Smith vs Atlanta Falcons
Now this one isn't fully about a great matchup actually. Smith had a down week against the elite defense in San Francisco. This week he gets to go up against a not-so-elite defense in Atlanta. According to our fantasy points against page (see here) the Falcons are in the middle of the pack when it comes to allowing points to QBs this season (15th most). I will also remind you that Smith has been a Top 10 QB most of this season and has put up stellar numbers against decent defenses like Denver and Detroit. I would not hesitate to play Smith even after a down week.
SIT Kyler Murray vs Los Angeles Chargers
Two of the last three weeks, Murray has looked downright atrocious. He's finished at QB24 both of those weeks with less than 12 points each of those weeks. There was a QB5 in between those down weeks but I am not a fan of how he's been trending lately. This week presents a tougher challenge for Murray as they take on the Chargers who have allowed the 6th least amount of points to QBs this season. He may be the QB10 so far on the season but his inconsistencies concern me. Murray goes up against the 4 toughest teams against QB's this season and he may need to ride the bench until after his bye.
RUNNING BACKS
START Austin Ekeler vs Carolina Panthers
The once-elite Ekeler has been super steady this season so far. 3 of his last 4 games he's finished as RB25 (yes, the same ranking each of those weeks) and the other week he's finished as RB16. Needless to say, he's been reliable to put up at least 11 points a week in PPR formats. He gets a tasty matchup vs the Panthers who are turnstiles for RBs this season. Even if Brian Robinson plays this week, Ekeler can be viewed as a nice FLEX option who should be plenty capable of getting you those 11 points closer to a W.
SIT Buccaneers Running Backs vs Baltimore Ravens
The Tampa rushers have been ultra talented this season giving us three solid producers this season. But that also presents the problem: Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker all should be given solid opportunities this week as stated by head coach Todd Bowles. That will give each guy less snaps and less opportunity to turn out a great fantasy stat line you may need in a FLEX option. It doesn't help them that they will be going up against the Ravens who have allowed the 5th least points to RBs this season. I would be weary of playing any of them this week until we see an alpha stick out from the pack.
WIDE RECEIVERS
START DeMario "Pop" Douglas vs Jacksonville Jaguars
We have ourselves another game in London, lads! This final one is the "home" team Jacksonville Jaguars playing host to the New England Patriots. In comes Drake Maye who last week injected a bit of life into the Patriots' offense. Douglas, the current top pass catcher for NE, has been on a nice stretch of increasing his target share. 3 of his past 4 games he saw 9 targets and caught at least 6 of them in each game. Douglas had his best game last week where he found the end zone for the first time this season. Luckily for him, the Jaguars are the worst team in the league against the passing game. You will be rolling out "Pop" with much confidence as I can see this as a breakout game for Maye even if it's across the pond.
SIT George Pickens vs New York Jets
I will admit, I was all in on Pickens at the start of this season. Now I fully regret it. He has everything working against him going into Week 7 as well. He will transition to Russell Wilson as his quarterback who may or may not be better than Justin Fields at this point in his career. The Steelers also go up against the Jets who are one of the best defenses in the league while allowing the 7th least points to WRs. Pickens is also expected to be covered by elite CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner like a shadow. He's finished no better than WR24 this season with also two lowly performances at WR63. His inconsistency and lack of TD's has been a huge concern for fantasy GMs and should be placed on the bench for this weekend. His upside is undeniable but let's wait until we see what he can do while Danger-Russ is under center in Pittsburgh before we play him.
TIGHT ENDS
START Zach Ertz vs Carolina Panthers
Yeah you can kind of play all of your players that are playing the Panthers each week. Ertz is no exception and has been quite steady. He has finished as a Top 10 TE in 3 of the 6 games so far this season. He's seen a pretty consistent 4-5 targets a game from QB Jayden Daniels and has been a massive YAC guy who took those targets and turned it into 68 yards last week. If you need just a consistent guy at a shaky TE position, don't be afraid to play Ertz this week. He may not be the #1 or #2 target in the passing game but he gets enough volume to make plays and the matchup is too juicy to ignore (7th most points to TEs).
SIT Tucker Kraft vs Houston Texans
He had a pretty big fall from grace after two straight TE1 games. While I don't see Kraft ultimately falling off the massive cliff like that all season going from TE1 to TE31, his matchup and circumstances don't offer him any favors. He gets to go up against the Texans who have given up the 3rd least points to the TE position so far this season. It also doesn't help him the fact that all four of QB Jordan Love's wide receiver weapons look to be healthy enough to play (Reed, Doubs, Watson, Wicks) Kraft's huge games have come when the receiver room has missed a key pass-catcher or two. Watson missed both of those games while Doubs was suspended for one of them. I would sit Kraft this week knowing that he won't get the attention he once got without the Packers' other weapons.
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