Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 7 of the NFL Season

A new week brings a litany of new injuries to respond too and players to replace. Trades are also starting to occur, and we need to stay on top of them. Here’s the fallout…

 

Buccaneers – 28 @ Eagles – 22

 

• With no more than 6 carries in a single game this season, Ronald Jones can be dropped in all but the deepest of formats. He’s purely Leonard Fournette insurance.

 

• OJ Howard had a nice 6 rec, 49 yard, 1 TD line against the Eagles, but Rob Gronkowski was reportedly close on Thursday before ultimately sitting out. With Gronk’s impending return and a loaded offense to compete with, Howard is best left on benches. 

 

• Miles Sanders has played over 83% of snaps the last 2 weeks, and Kenneth Gainwell has been an afterthought during that time – I guess Nick Siriani felt Sanders’ owners’ collective ire. Gainwell can be dropped for more relevant waiver adds in most formats.

 

• Zach Ertz has been dealt to the Cardinals, leaving Dallas Goedert to reclaim his spot at starting TE. This is a positive step for both players presumably, as Ertz will join the best offense in the league, and Goedert will see consistent targets again. Ertz is currently available in 40% of leagues and Goedert in 27%. 

 

Dolphins – 20 @ Jaguars – 23

 

• The Miami backfield was split into an ineffective 3-headed monster versus the Jags, with Salvon Ahmed, Miles Gaskin and Malcolm Brown all getting 8, 7 and 6 touches. This had to irk Gaskin owners who had put him back in lineups after his Week 5 explosion. None can be trusted this week, even against the Falcons. 

 

• Jaylen Waddle hogged the majority(13) of targets in Week 6 for the Dolphins, putting up 70 yards and 2 TDs. Waddle was used almost exclusively in the short passing game though, as none of his gains went for more than 14 yards. If neither DeVante Parker or Preston Willams can return this week, Waddle makes for an upside start against Atlanta

 

• WR Mack Hollins and TE Durham Smythe both had decent games on Sunday, both around 60 yards, but if Parker or Williams can play this week, neither are fantasy considerations. 

 

• WR Jamal Agnew has 7 and 6 targets over his last 2 games for 119 yards. He seems to be the preferred slot WR for the Jags over Lavishka Shenault, who did have a great game Sunday. The Jags have a bye this week, but Agnew is one to watch in PPR formats. 

 

Rams – 38 @ Giants – 11

 

• Sony Michel had 9 carries for 42 yards, but most of his action came while the game was well in hand. He’s only playable in 16 team leagues while Darrell Henderson is healthy. 

 

• Eli Penny scored the lone TD for the Giants on the day, but he only had 4 touches behind Devontae Booker‘s 16. Penny is best left on benches. 

 

• Sterling Shepard returned to game action to lead the Giants in targets(14), catches(10) and yards(76). He’s available in about half of leagues, so go get him. 

 

• Kadarius Toney reaggravated his ankle on Sunday, forcing out of the game early. WR Dante Pettis came in and ended up 2nd in targets(10) for the Giants. If the no Giants WRs can get back on the field this week, Pettis could be flexed in deep leagues this week based on his target share. 

 

Chargers – 6 @ Ravens – 34

 

• The Chargers got absolutely nothing going against the Ravens, save Jared Cook‘s lone TD. Cook did lead the team with 7 targets, but there’s limited upside here. 

 

• Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray and Le’Veon Bell all had at least 8 touches and a TD on Sunday. It was a rout, but it seemed like the Ravens were mixing it up regardless. Murray did get the start, so he remains the best option for fantasy at the moment.

 

• Rookie WR Rashod Bateman tied Mark Andrews for the lead in targets(6) on Sunday, catching 4 of them for 29 yards. The Chargers have one of the league’s best secondaries, so not a lot was expected out of the Raven’s passing game. Bateman makes for a low floor upside play against a beatable Bengals secondary this week. 

 

Chiefs – 31 @ Washington – 13

 

• Darrel Williams didn’t disappoint on Sunday in Clyde Edwards-Helaire‘s stead, posting 89 total yards and 2 TDs. Jerrick McKinnon only had 4 touches behind him and should only be rostered in the deepest of leagues. 

 

• Demarcus Robinson had 46 yards and a TD on Sunday, but Mecole Hardman is still the no.2 WR on the team and the only WR not named Hill you should play this week. Josh Gordon didn’t see a single target and can be dropped in most formats. 

 

• Jd Mckissic had his 2nd best game of the season(110 yards, 16 tou) with Antonio Gibson coming in and out of the game due to his nagging shin injury and the WFT playing catch-up the entire second half. Only rostered in 42% of leagues, McKissic needs to be added where you can get him, as Gibson could miss some time. Jaret Patterson should also be added, as the potential 2-down back if Gibson sits. 

 

• WR Dyami Brown tied Ricky Seals-Jones for 2nd most targets(6) on the day for Washington. RSJ is the higher priority pickup with Logan Thomas on IR, but Brown could end up the no.2 WR in Washington before long, so don’t sleep on him. 

 

Packers – 24 @ Bears – 14

 

• AJ Dillon saw 11 touches on Sunday for 59 yards. This is his 3rd straight week of fantasy relevance behind Aaron Jones. He needs to be owned in all formats and can be flexed in deeper leagues. 

 

• WR Allen Lazard had his best game of the season, catching 3 of 5 targets for 27 yards and a TD. He tied Davante Adams for the team lead in targets, but he hasn’t had more than 3 catches or 42 yards this season. He’s only roster-worthy in the deepest of leagues. 

 

• The Bears leaned heavily on RB Khalil Herbert, with Justin Fields still struggling under center. Herbert put up 112 yards and a score, but Damien Williams is likely to return this week after being on the Covid-19 list in Week 6. Herbert should still be owned in most formats, but his upside will be limited if Williams can play. 

 

• Darnell Mooney (8 tar, 5 rec, 45 yards, 1 TD)continues to be Justin Fields’ favorite target in the passing game, and should be owned in PPR leagues.

 

Vikings – 34 @ Panthers – 28

 

• KJ Osborn returned to fantasy relevance on Sunday, catching 6 balls for 78 yards and a TD. Both he and TE Tyler Conklin flourished in Week 6, but it was a game in which Kirk Cousins threw the ball 48 times. Fortunately for them, the Vikings play the Cowboys after the bye this week, so both will be in play in what will probably be a high-scoring game. 

 

• I had a sneaking suspicion that Sam Darnold and the Panthers’ early season success was mainly due to the lack of competition to start the season, and as they’ve dropped 3 straight it’s starting to show. Darnold has woefully underperformed the last 2 games, but he does get the Giants this week, so maybe there’s a bounce-back on the horizon. 

 

• Robby Anderson has had 11 targets in 2 of his last 3 games, though it hasn’t amounted to much yardage due to Darnold’s inaccuracy. Still, you can’t ignore double-digit looks on almost a weekly basis. Anderson needs to be owned and played this week against the Giants. 

 

Bengals – 34 @ Lions – 11

 

• RB Chris Evans had 7 touches for 67 yards and a TD on Sunday, playing behind Joe Mixon who seemed fine off his recent injury. I’d rather own Evans than Samaje Perine moving forward, but both will be unreliable if Mixon continues to increase his workload. 

 

• Cj Uzomah has 3 TDs in 3 weeks, though he’s had only 5 targets the last 2 games. He’s TD dependent, but he’ll be a decent flyer against the Ravens this  week. 

 

• With the Lions playing from behind, Jamaal Williams took a backseat to D’Andre Swift for most of the day. He’s not an ideal play this week against the high-scoring Rams. 

 

• Kalif Raymond matched Amon-Ra St. Brown this week in targets(7), though neither put up more than 37 yards. No WR on this team is necessary outside of deep PPR leagues. 

 

Texans – 3 @ Colts – 31

 

• Mark Ingram had 20 touches for 81 yards in a losing effort on Sunday. He’s averaging 18 touches the last 2 weeks, but the Texans rarely get within scoring position. He’s a low ceiling flex against Arizona this week. 

 

• Rookie WR Nico Collins caught 4 of 6 targets for 44 yards on Sunday in his first game back after a 3 week absence. His size makes him an intriguing deep league play against the Cardinals this week in a game that the Texans are going to have to go to the air in. 

 

• Ty Hilton led the Colts in targets(4) and Yards(80) in his first action this season, before leaving the game late with a quad injury. He seems ok though, and he should be owned in all formats moving forward. He’s available in over 60% of leagues. 

 

• Paris Campbell had 51 yards and a score, but it was on 1 play. He’s not in the mix. 

 

• TE Mo Alie-Cox has scored 3 TDs over his last 3 games. He’s not seeing a ton of targets, but Wentz is looking for him in the end-zone. There are worse TE streamers. 

 

Cardinals – 37 @ Browns – 14

 

• The Cardinals played with a lead most of the game, so James Conner out-touched Chase Edmonds 17 to 7. Things probably won’t get better for Edmonds this week, as the Cardinals should make light work of the Texans. 

 

• Christian Kirk and AJ Green balled out on Sunday, both catching 5 balls for 75+ yards and a TD. The Cardinals offense is good enough to support both of them most weeks, but things might change now that Zach Ertz is in the fold. It seems that Rondale Moore has fallen to the 4th WR role, and Ertz’s addition won’t help matters. 

 

• Kareem Hunt is out for what could be up to 6 weeks with a calf injury, making D’Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton must adds until Nick Chubb returns. Johnson will be amongst the highest priority players on waivers this week, while Felton is a priority in PPR formats. 

 

• Donovan Peoples-Jones broke out with 4 catch, 102 yard, 2 TD game on Sunday, as the Browns played in comeback mode and Odell Beckham dealt with a shoulder issue. DPJ needs to be added in deeper formats, but I’m not rushing to go get him until I see he can maintain decent targets when Jarvis Landry, who is set to return this week, gets on the field. 

 

Raiders – 34 @ Broncos – 24

 

• Kenyan Drake made the most of his 6 touches, scoring twice and adding 73 yards. Interim coach Rich Bisaccia seems to like Drake in action a bit more than John Gruden, so Drake should be a speculative add where you can find him. 

 

• Tim Patrick has put up double-digit fantasy points in .5 or better PPR leagues in every week but one this season. How he’s still unowned in 65% of leagues is beyond me. 

 

Cowboys – 35 @ Patriots – 29

 

• Michael Gallup will probably return after the Week 7 bye, so neither Cedric Wilson or Noah Brown needs fantasy consideration right now. 

 

• Rhamondre Stevenson‘s stats were padded when he came in for a 1-yard score while Damien Harris limped off the field for what may have been a cramp, but Stevenson’s 3 catches for 39 yards were encouraging. He may be working himself into the receiving back role in New England and is worth an add in PPR formats. 

 

• Kendrick Bourne had 75 yards and a TD, but it all came on one play. That being said, he’s averaging the most fantasy points for a NE WR over the past 4 weeks and has some legs as a flyer this week against the Jets. 

 

Seahawks – 20 @ Steelers – 23

 

• Aftera 98 yard, 1 TD game, Alex Collins is unowned in 60% of leagues. But, he may not play this week with a glute injury. Rashaad Penny is off of IR this week and could take over the backfield. Both Penny and DeeJay Dallas deserve to be added in most formats this week, while we wait and see about Collins. Travis Homer can even be added in the deepest of leagues. 

 

• Najee Harris is the 3rd receiver in JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s absence, over James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud. TE Pat Freiermuth did catch all 7 of his targets for 58 yards, but he’s not a reliable option most weeks.