Fantasy Football

Daniel Jones and the Giants have been up and down, but have shown the ability to hang around and produce close games. Sterling Shepard and Kadarius Toney have gobbled up targets and have been solid WR2’s. Devontae Booker has been quietly effective as the temporary lead back, but looks to improve on a stretch of RB3 performances.

There’s not much to say about the Chiefs. While the offense has struggled recently, this is the perfect get-right spot. They elite playmakers weren’t leaving lineups regardless. Other players like Darrel Williams and Mecole Hardman are high risk/high reward.

Kalif Raymond is top-25 among wide receivers in Yards After Catch Per Target (3.38) and Yards After Catch Per Reception (5.08). Why is this important? The Eagles defense is allowing a completion percentage of 74.36-percent of all passes and their 821 Yards After Catch allowed is 12th-most in the NFL. If Terry McLaurin can’t get his yards through the air, he’ll have a difficult time getting it after the catch. The Broncos have allowed 653 (third-fewest) Yards After Catch this season.

This brings us to the Rams’ opponent, the Houston Texans. Their defense has allowed 1149 (No. 4) Completed Air Yards and have allowed an Average Target Distance of 8.7 (ninth-most in the NFL). There aren’t many wide receivers available in free agency that have six consecutive weeks of 25+ Routes Run. Scoop up Van Jefferson and start him this week!

Heading into Week 8, Cooper Kupp leads all NFL WRs in receptions (56), targets (81), receiving yards (809), touchdowns (9), and of course, Fantasy Points Per Game (27.2). Kupp is poised to easily smash his career best 1162 yard and 10 touchdown season that he posted on 94 receptions in 2019. Trending way up in 2021, the 28-year-old Kupp’s dynasty stock accrues 19.29 Lifetime Value points (the most of any WR in the latest rankings update) to move six spots to WR15.

After struggling in last week’s match-up against the New York Giants, Sam Darnold was shown the bench early in the fourth quarter. Since he posted the top QB performance in Week 4, the wheels have fallen off. Darnold has thrown five interception in the last three games, averaging a mere 4.7 Yards Per Attempt. On the season, he has an underwhelming Accuracy Rating of 7.2 (No. 29) with a True Completion Percentage of 68.6-percent (No. 28). Darnold loses 8.10 Lifetime Value points (the biggest QB faller this week) and five spots to slip to QB29 in the dynasty rankings.

The Green Bay Packers come into this game missing both Davante Adams and Alan Lazard. With a depleted receiving core, Aaron Jones and Robert Tonyan look to fill the void. With Aaron Rodgers, there’s always a chance, but the Packers will have to play lights out to win tonight.

The Arizona Cardinals are undefeated, and steamrolling opponents. The Konami QB Kyler Murray is putting up monster numbers, DeAndre Hopkins has found his groove again, and Zach Ertz could take this offense to another level. The Cardinals are rightfully heavy favorites tonight.

Javonte Williams inches closer and closer to his breakout game every week. He’s efficient through both the ground and the air, and has a mouth-watering end-of-season schedule. Dallas Goedert is now free of the chains of Zach Ertz, allowing himself to soak up even more opportunity on a pass heavy offense deprived of reliable pass catchers.

Antonio Gibson is this weeks “buy of the week”. He has an incredible prospect profile, and earned a hefty Opportunity Share to start the season. Hindered with a shin injury for the time being, the value of Gibson is tanking. Now is the time to capitalize on this before he regains health and begins to explode yet again.

Damien Harris has been an aggressive, excellent runner for the Patriots. He had a 7.4-percent (No. 9 among qualified running backs) Breakaway Run Rate entering Week 7, and ripped off 106 rush yards on 14 carries in Week 7. Meanwhile, the Chargers have allowed over 100 yards rushing to opponents every week except Week 4 this season. The Patriots use several different backs, but Harris is the primary downhill runner, seeing at least 14 carries the last three weeks and scoring in all three games.

You may be thinking of starting Ben Roethlisberger as a streamer in case you have Lamar Jackson or Derek Carr on bye. Don’t. Despite good WRs and a 90.7-percent (No. 1 among QBs entering Week 7) Protection Rate, Roethlisberger has average 13.2 (No. 29 entering Week 7) Fantasy Points Per Game. He also ranked No. 1 among QBs entering Week 7 for Danger Plays and Interceptable Passes.

Kenny Gainwell has appeared in this column multiple times this season. Miles Sanders exited the game early, and while Boston Scott should also see increased touches, Gainwell is the Eagles back to roster. The Eagles offense has issues, but I am excited to see Gainwell in a more significant role. He is a good pass catcher already and could spark a team that badly needs one. In deeper formats, consider adding Scott as well. 

Allen Lazard is an excellent streamer this week. The Packers will need to keep up with the high-powered Arizona Cardinals, and Davante Adams should miss the game. Lazard should be Aaron Rodger’s preferred target. He caught five passes this past week and found the end zone. 

The New Orleans Saints come in with a solid defense and an offense beginning to find its legs. Alvin Kamara dominates the teams offensive production, while Jameis Winston struggles to produce QB1 numbers consistently.

With Geno Smith at the helm, the Seahawks offensive production will go down, but their rushing attempts will go up. Alex Collins thrived in his workhorse roll last week, and will see one again tonight. Geno Smith limits the outlook of all pass catchers.

For the Mark Andrews fantasy manager or TE streamer, Ricky Seals-Jones has 14 targts the past two games with Logan Thomas out. The former is now a full-time player, running 34-plus routes in each of the past two contests as well. This week, the Football Team play the Packers, ranking 14th-worst in Pass DVOA. Let’s see if Seals-Jones and the Football Team can make a name for themselves this week.

With Chris Carson on IR, Alex Collins paced the Seahawks backfield with 20 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown. He hauled in his lone target for –3 yards as well. Explaining Collins’ 59.4% snap share is the fact he missed part of the final quarter and all of overtime. This week, the Seahawks’ bellcow plays against the Saints. The defense hasn’t allowed 100 rushing yards in a game thus far. But, they have allowed three rushing touchdowns in their past two games.

Joe Burrow finished Week 6 as the QB8 in fantasy, his best outing of 2021. The sophomore has now delivered fantasy managers three consecutive 20-plus point performances. Thus far, the 4-2 Bengals have enjoyed positive Game Script (+1.07, No. 9), averaging a low 29.2 Team Pass Attempts Per Game (No. 29). However, Burrow has been efficient. Through six games, he owns a True Completion Percentage of 75-percent (No. 4) and is delivering 8.9 Yards Per Attempt (No. 4). Burrow rises two spots to QB9 to join the PlayerProfiler’s QB dynasty rankings Top 10.

Nyheim Hines played a season low 23.4-percent of snaps in the Colts’ Week 6 rout of the Texans. Over the past three weeks, he has earned just 10 carries and five targets. With Jonathan Taylor dominating backfield touches and trade candidate Marlon Mack recently getting five carries per week, Hines’ usage has been limited. He’s produced a total of 6.1 points in fantasy football. Best kept on benches until his opportunity metrics improve, Hines’ dynasty value loses 6.41 Lifetime Value points to slip to RB44.