Fantasy Football

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.

The Broncos have performed well to start this season, starting off with a 3-3 record. Teddy Bridgewater is moving the offense and the defense has been stout. They face a depleted Browns offense, and have a great spot for fantasy assets.

The Browns are a nightmare. They are without Baker Mayfield, Kareem Hunt, Nick Chubb, Odell Beckham Jr., and potentially even Jarvis Landry. With limited talent at receiver and running back, along with Case Keenum at the helm, the Browns are going to struggle to move the ball and compete in this matchup.

Miles Sanders is seeing a larger Opportunity Share and a consistent Target Share, and he’s trending towards seeing higher-value touches against week defenses. The connection between Jakobi Meyers and Mac Jones is growing stronger. Meyers has the talent and the opportunity, but the touchdowns haven’t come yet.

Rashod Bateman is here, people. He blew expectations out of the water in his first game, and it’s only gonna get better from here. The Ravens have a favorable schedule going forward, and it’s clear that Bateman is going to play a large role in this passing offense.

The Eagles allowed over 120 total yards to Leonard Fournette last week and have allowed four straight games with 80-plus rushing yards given up to a lead RB. Philadelphia has also allowed 4 or more receptions to RBs every game this season. While Kenyan Drake is generally the primary pass-catching back, Jacobs has 11 receptions in four games this season and will continue to see targets from Derek Carr. Jacobs is set up for a great matchup against Philadelphia Week 7.

Sterling Shepard is left standing, but will likely face one of Donte Jackson, A.J. Bouye, or C.J. Henderson (if healthy). The Panthers allowed less than 200 passing yards to opponents four of the last five weeks. A Week 6 Vikings matchup broke that streak (Kirk Cousins threw for over 370 yards). Despite a bad performance against a great Vikings WR corps, the Panthers secondary has been sneakily solid against opposing WRs. Now they face Daniel Jones, who has 4 touchdowns to 4 interceptions this season. Shepard and the limping Giants WR corps is not in for a good matchup this week.

Khalil Herbert may still be available in some leagues. We recommended Herbert last week and hopefully, you have him rostered. If he is somehow still available, he may have taken over Chicago’s RB job with his strong performance against Green Bay. He rushed 19 times for 97 yards and a TD and added two catches. He looks explosive and instinctual as a runner. This week, Damien Williams may or may not be off the COVID list, but Herbert is an ascending player who is earning more and more opportunities.

Rashod Bateman was recommended as an addition in previous articles and now I am stomping my feet for you to please add him. This past week, he was tied for a team-high six targets. The Baltimore offense is humming, and Bateman could quickly become a weekly starter. Get him rostered before the inevitable breakout game.

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are steamrolling everyone in their path and improving every week. This week’s improvement is going to be in the Josh Allen/Stefon Diggs connection. The Bills playmakers are valuable fantasy assets this week in a likely beatdown of the Titans.

The Titans took a 180-degree turn from last season. This is the toughest turn-around spot struggling stars Ryan Tannehill and A.J. Brown could ask for. The only bright spot has been the production of Derrick Henry, who looks to be fed yet again in an attempt to jump-start the offense.

Through five weeks, Mark Andrews is seeing a 74.6-percent (No. 15 among qualified tight ends) Snap Share; an improvement from 2020. The fourth year TE owns a 24.5-percent (No. 3) Target Share, trailing only George Kittle and Darren Waller. Andrews leads the position with 400 receiving yards, churning out a healthy 13.8 (No. 4) yards per reception. The biggest TE gainer on the dynasty rankings, Andrews gains 17.22 Lifetime Value points to rise two spots to TE6.

Hopes were high for the Jets’ second round pick throughout the offseason. To this point in the season, Elijah Moore has failed to meet expectations. Playing four games, Moore has hauled in eight of 20 targets for 66 yards (No. 114). He has averaged 66.1-percent of snaps (No. 65). Moore drops five spots to WR40, this could be a good time to take advantage the value dip. After all, the rookie does have 206 Unrealized Air Yards (No. 20).