Week six was dominated by many players thriving in the passing game. Last week’s top lineup would have included Jameis Winston, Peyton Barber, Marquise Goodwin, and Austin Hooper, none of whom are fantasy football mainstays. If you had these four in your starting lineup, you likely won your Week 6 match-up. For Week 7, Dalvin Cook and TY Hilton, among others, may not be available this week for fantasy football team owners. Your waiver wire should still be filled with some quality players if you need the help.
Last week,we advised to be cautious to add Broncos quarterback Case Keenum who finally had a fantasy football game worth talking about as he threw for 377 yards, 2 touchdowns, and one interception on 51 passes. As he hadn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week 1, it appeared to do more with game flow than anything else as the Broncos fell behind to the Jets in the second quarter and the Jets never looked back racking up 34 points to the Broncos’ 16 points. Well, Keenum put up another 320-plus yard game on 40-plus pass attempts.
This week, be careful to add Dak Prescott whose fantasy football performance was buoyed by two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. This is the first time he ran for a touchdown and the second time he threw two touchdown in a game. He threw the football just 27 times and failed to eclipse two hundred yards passing for the fourth time this season. This game is the exception and not the norm.
Don’t add a player to your fantasy football team if you don’t need one.
QUARTERBACKS
1 Andy Dalton, Bengals
2 Jameis Winston, Buccaneers
3 Mitch Trubisky, Bears
4 Case Keenum, Broncos
5 Baker Mayfield, Browns
There are plenty of options at quarterback for fantasy football team owners as we head into the next month of bye weeks where four to six teams are off each week.
The Bengals Andy Dalton was solid in Week 6 throwing for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions. As we indicated last week, Dalton should continue to roll for the next month (Chiefs, Buccaneers, BYE, Saints) with what looks like the easiest passing schedule among all fantasy football quarterbacks. He’s still available in a quarter of fantasy football leagues and should be your top pick-up in you need a quarterback.
After a rough start against the Falcons, the Buccaneers Jameis Winston rose to the occasion throwing for 395 yards and four touchdowns on the shoulders of 41 pass attempts to finish atop the Week 6 fantasy football rankings. The schedule likely won’t be so easy going forward but Winston is the next best option if you need help. Jameis Winston is available in a little over a third of the leagues.
The Bears Mitch Trubisky continued to roll in Week 6 posting 316 yards and three touchdowns on 31 pass attempts. It’s hard to view Trubisky as a fantasy football back-up anymore especially against opponents like the Patriots (this week) and the Jets (next week). But, the upside is there. He’s definitely a starting option in deeper 16 team leagues.
Case Keenum has been on fire the last two weeks with over 320 yards passed and 40-plus pass attempts per game. This week’s match-up against the Cardinals may prove difficult but later match-ups against the Chiefs and Texans look like games he’ll be throwing the football plenty.
Rookie Baker Mayfield has been on the verge of a breakout game but his receivers have done him no favors. For the next month, his opponents are the Buccaneers, Steelers, Chiefs, and Falcons. Mayfield will be an excellent streaming and QB2 option in two quarterback leagues.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Corey Clement, Eagles
2 Tarik Cohen, Bears
3 Frank Gore, Dolphins
4 Peyton Barber, Buccaneers
5 Marlon Mack, Colts
6 Latavius Murray, Vikings
Give these running backs a look if you need help. The running backs with a longer view are ranked higher.
Even though Corey Clement split touches with Wendell Smallwood (14 to 19), it was Clement who most productive totaling 69 all-purpose yards and a touchdown to Smallwood’s 51 all-purpose yards. Clement would be rostered and is an RB2 consideration going forward. He is available in a little over one-third of leagues.
Despite being a recommended add last week, Tarik Cohen is still available in a quarter of all leagues. Even on reduced touches (from 20 to 12 from Week 5 to 6), Cohen remained productive totaling 121 all-purpose yards and 1 touchdown. The Bears should continue feeding Cohen regularly with touches and could occasionally even give him more than Jordan Howard.
Frank Gore’s carries increased yet again, this time, rushing 15 times for 101 yards (YPC) and adding a reception for 18 yards. Gore has established himself as the team’s primary rushing running back and is being productive despite his age. Frank Gore is available in most leagues if you need the help.
Just when many thought Ronald Jones was about to supplant Peyton Barber as the Buccaneers lead running back, Barber touches the football 17 times to Jones’ four, and totals 106 yards and a touchdown.
Marlon Mack returned to the Colts lineup and immediately turned 12 rushes into 89 yards (7.4 YPC). He’ll be splitting touches with Hines and Wilkins, but is the team’s number one running back and deserves a roster spot for the bye weeks and in deeper leagues.
Latavius Murray is primarily a handcuff for Dalvin Cook fantasy football team owners. Last week, Murray scored the team’s first rushing touchdown and finished with 155 yards rushing on 24 attempts. He’s a worthy RB2 option if Cook is out.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1 Marquise Goodwin, 49ers
2 Tyler Boyd, Bengals
3 Michael Crabtree, Ravens
4 Taylor Gabriel, Bears
5 Chester Rogers, Colts
6 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers
7 Jermaine Kearse, Jets
8 Albert Wilson, Dolphins
9 Christian Kirk, Cardinals
Unlike last week, except for the top grabs, the depth of wide receiver gets thin quickly. But we’ll cover a few players here if you need to pick up a player, even a risky one.
Despite nursing quad and hamstring injuries, Marquise Goodwin blew up the gridiron for 126 yards and two touchdowns in his first game action since week one. Despite his high draft value, he was dropped in so many fantasy football leagues, he’s available in over half.
Tyler Boyd continues to impress totaling two touchdowns and sixty two yards on seven for nine receiving. He’s still available in a bunch of leagues and given the Bengals favorable schedule, a must add if available.
Michael Crabtree is heavily targeted weekly in the Ravens offense and finally scored a touchdown, his first since week one. He’s a must add if available in PPR leagues and available in a quarter of leagues.
Taylor Gabriel is now a must add. Gabriel followed up a 104 yard, 2 TD performance in Week 4 with a 110 yard performance in Week 6. Gabriel is available in three-quarters of the league.
With the Colts TY Hilton continuing to miss games, Chester Rogers continues to command double digit targets which he turned into 55 yards and a touchdown this week. As long as TY Hilton is out, Rogers makes for a solid weekly play in fantasy football. He’s available in most leagues.
The Packers Marquez Valdes-Scantling continues to have a large role in the offense with Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison sidelined. In two weeks with them out, Valdes-Scantling is 10 of 16 for 171 yards and 1 touchdown. As long as this remains the case, he’ll be a solid option for those fantasy football team owners who need help.
With the Jets Quincy Enunwa going to miss several weeks with a high ankle sprain, Jermaine Kearse is a solid waiver wire add. Kearse’s role has been increasing and this week he was targeted ten times, haling in nine passes for 94 yards. He’s almost universally available on fantasy football league waiver wires.
Albert Wilson was a touchdown dependent wide receiver until this week where he went six of nine for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wilson is available in most leagues and a solid add if you need bye week help.
Christian Kirk has emerged as he Cardinals best receiving option. Strictly an option for fantasy football team owners in deeper leagues or PPR leagues, Kirk should only continue to improve. He’s a great bye week option.
TIGHT ENDS
1 Austin Hooper, Falcons
2 OJ Howard, Buccaneers
3 David Njoku, Browns
Austin Hooper appears to have established himself as a regular option in the Falcons offense going for 71 yards and a touchdown on nine-for-ten receiving. Hooper is available in one-third of leagues.
OJ Howard was dropped in many leagues as he was expected to miss Week 6 because of an MCL Sprain. Howard suited up and went four-for-four for 62 yards and a touchdown. He is available in about half of leagues.
With the Browns searching for playmakers, David Njoku stepped up in Week 6 and was targeted twelve times. Njoku caught seven passes, going for fifty-five yards and one touchdown. Njoku is available in about one-third of leagues.
DEFENSES
1 Colts
2 Bills
3 Broncos
The Jets defense is a top five unit in most fantasy football leagues but largely available on two-thirds of waiver wires. The Jets play the Vikings this week. Both teams match-up well and the Jets seem to thrive against teams with good receivers. Against the Lions, Broncos, and Colts, the Jets have 9 interceptions and three defensive touchdowns. In two of three games, they’ve held their opponents to seventeen points or less.
Over the past three games, the Bills defense has stiffened and allowed an average of 18 points per game against the Packers, Titans, and Texans. Over that span, the Bills defense has 11 sacks and 8 turnovers. The Bills defense is almost universally available.
The Broncos defense hasn’t been as good as recent seasons but it showed life tallying four sacks against the Rams Jared Goff. The Broncos should fare as well and even force a turnover or two this week against Cardinals rookie quarterback Josh Rosen.
Week 7 Injury Report