We are entering perhaps the most challenging week yet with six teams on a bye, injuries everywhere, and teams more than ever using a multiple-back approach at running back. Who is healthy? Who can play? Who can you add? In the interest of keeping your team competitive, it may be wise to not replace some players who are out or have bye weeks. It's better to take a zero for one week than lose out on a quality player that you may not be able to get back. The same goes for your defense. I'm talking to you if you roster Buffalo or Dallas Defense/ST, who both have a Week 7 bye.
Week 7 - Bloodbath - RBs
— Jesse Morse, MD (@DrJesseMorse) October 18, 2021
OUT
Chubb
Hunt
Saquon
CEH
CMC
Carson
(Byes)
Dalvin
Ekeler
Zeke/Pollard
JRob
Najee
Z. Moss
‘Healthy’
Henry, Taylor, Kamara, Henderson, Mixon, Jones, Edmonds, Swift, Gordon
M Davis, Gaskins, Sanders, Jacobs, Mitchell, Hubbard
Gibson?
Collins?
😮
And that's just the running backs...
The name of the game is scoring fantasy points. What are some factors that lead to scoring more fantasy points that can be beneficial to your decision-making?
- Players on high-scoring teams
- Players against teams who allow high-scoring
- Players on teams who run a lot of plays
- Players against teams who allow a lot of plays
Teams scoring the most points per game
- Dallas 34.2 - Week 7 Bye
- Buffalo 33.8 - Week 7 Bye
- Tampa Bay 32.5
- Arizona 32.3
- Kansas City 30.8
- Los Angeles Rams 29.8
- Baltimore 28.3
- Tennessee 27.7
- Cleveland 26.0
- New Orleans 25.4
Teams allowing the most points per game
- Washington 31.0
- Atlanta 29.6
- New York Giants 29.5
- Miami 29.5
- Kansas City 29.3
- Jacksonville 28.7 (Week 7 Bye)
- Houston 28.7
- Detroit 28.7
- Tennessee 26.8
- Philadelphia 25.3
Teams running the most plays per game
- Dallas 70.0 (Week 7 Bye)
- Buffalo 69.8 (Week 7 Bye)
- Minnesota 69.8 (Week 7 Bye)
- Tennessee 69.5
- Tampa Bay 68.8
- Carolina 68.7
- Kansas City 67.7
- Atlanta 67.6
- Baltimore 66.7
- Los Angeles Chargers 66.2
Teams allowing the most plays per game
- Seattle 72.8
- Washington 70.5
- New York Jets 70.4
- Miami 69.2
- Los Angeles Rams 68.8
- Las Vegas 68.8
- Philadelphia 68.2
- New York Giants 66.5
- New Orleans 66.2
- New England 65.7
Target players on these teams
- Dallas
- Buffalo
- Tampa Bay
- Kansas City
- Tennessee
- Minnesota
- Arizona
- Baltimore
- Los Angeles Rams
- Carolina
- Atlanta
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Cleveland
Target players against these teams
- Washington
- Miami
- New York Giants
- Seattle
- Atlanta
- New York Jets
- Kansas City
- Los Angeles Rams
- Jacksonville
- Philadelphia
- Las Vegas
- Houston
- Detroit
- Tennessee
- New Orleans
- New England
HELPFUL QUARTERBACK STATS
300-YARD PASSING GAMES
4 times
- Derek Carr, LSV
3 times
- Josh Allen, BUF
- Tom Brady, TB
- Kirk Cousins, MIN
- Sam Darnold, CAR
- Justin Herbert, LAC
- Patrick Mahomes II, KC
- Dak Prescott, DAL
- Matthew Stafford, LAR
2 times
- Teddy Bridgewater, DEN
- Jalen Hurts, PHI
- Lamar Jackson, BAL
- Trevor Lawrence, JAC
- Baker Mayfield, CLE
- Kyler Murray, ARI
- Matt Ryan, ATL
1 time
- Joe Burrow, CIN
- Jimmy Garoppolo, SF
- Jared Goff, DET
- Taylor Heinicke, WAS
- Daniel Jones, NYG
- Davis Mills, HOU
- Aaron Rodgers, GB
- Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
- Tua Tagovailoa, MIA
- Ryan Tannehill, TEN
- Carson Wentz, IND
- Russell Wilson, SEA
300-YARD PASSING GAMES ALLOWED
4 times
- Dallas
- Jacksonville
3 times
- Baltimore
- Cincinnati
- Kansas City
- Seattle
- Tampa Bay
- Washington
- Miami
2 times
- Baltimore
- Denver
- Houston
- New England
- New Orleans
- Tennessee
- Cleveland
- New York Giants
1 time
- Carolina
- Detroit
- Los Angeles Rams
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Pittsburgh
- Indianapolis
- Las Vegas
- Minnesota
- New York Jets
- San Francisco
0 times
- Buffalo
- Green Bay
- Philadelphia
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Arizona
FANTASY WEEKLY TOP 12 FINISHES - QUARTERBACK
Five times
Four times
- Tom Brady, TB
- Dak Prescott, DAL
Three times
- Jared Goff, DET
- Taylor Heinicke, WAS
- Jalen Hurts, PHI
- Daniel Jones, NYG
- Kyler Murray, ARI
- Aaron Rodgers, GB
- Russell Wilson, SEA
Two times
- Josh Allen, BUF
- Kirk Cousins, MIN
- Sam Darnold, CAR
- Justin Herbert, LAC
- Lamar Jackson, BAL
- Matt Ryan, ATL
- Matthew Stafford, LAR
- Jameis Winston, NO
One time
- Teddy Bridgewater, DEN
- Joe Burrow, CIN
- Trevor Lawrence, JAC
- Davis Mills, HOU
- Ryan Tannehill, TEN
- Tyrod Taylor, HOU
- Carson Wentz, IND
Injured player? Who benefits?
Quarterback
Russell Wilson, SEA - A finger fracture and a ruptured tendon have sidelined Wilson to Injured Reserve. He may not be healthy enough to return until the end of November. In the meantime, Geno Smith has taken over duties. Smith has struggled to make an impact after a promising appearance taking over mid-way through Week 5.
Baker Mayfield, CLE - Mayfield is going to try to play through a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Cleveland has been sacked with injuries and while he'll try to gut it out, it may hurt his ability to play. Case Keenum is the Browns' backup who may wind up seeing action one way or another this season.
Jimmy Garoppolo, SF - A calf strain forced Garoppolo to miss Week 5 and a fortunate Week 6 bye allowed him to miss just one game. He is probable to play in Week 7.
Tyrod Taylor, HOU - A hamstring strain has kept Taylor sidelined since Week 2. He is eligible to return now and may be back for Houston's Week 7 game at Arizona.
Running Back
Antonio Gibson, WAS - Gibson has not missed a game yet but a stress fracture in his shin may be too much of a load before the Week 9 bye. J.D. McKissic is the only back who has remotely come close to a carry-share with Gibson. Jaret Patterson would be next in line.
Christian McCaffrey, CAR - McCaffrey has missed Weeks 4, 5, 6 and he'll miss at least Weeks 7, and 8. Taking over for him has been Chuba Hubbard by a wide margin with Royce Freeman picking up some carries here and there.
Chris Carson, SEA - A neck injury has sidelined Carson indefinitely. He is eligible to return from Injured Reserve in Week 10. Filling in for Carson has been veteran Alex Collins who is coming off a 100-yard game with a touchdown in Week 6. He'll face New Orleans in Week 7.
Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, CLE - Both Cleveland's backs are dealing with a calf strain, however, Hunt's injury is a bit more worrisome as a grade-2 strain. Hunt will be out for 4-6 weeks. Chubb has been ruled out for Week 7 but could be back in Week 8. Filling in for Cleveland is DErnest Johnson and Demetric Felton. Felton is more of a receiving threat while Johnson has the form of a rusher and could be the back who sees more carries in Week 7.
Saquon Barkley, NYG - An ankle injury sidelined Barkley in Week 6 and he's not a lock to return in Week 7, although he has not been ruled out. Devontae Booker took over as the Giants' primary ball carrier and receiving target out of the backfield while Elijhaa Penny filled in for short-yardage plays.
David Montgomery, CHI - A left knee sprain has Montgomery out of the lineup until around Week 11. Replacing him has been the duo of Damien Williams and rookie Khalil Herbert. Williams was out in Week 6 due to COVID restrictions and Herbert filled in nicely with over 100 total yards and a score. If Williams is able to play in Week 7 look for another committee approach with perhaps the hot hand seeing more action.
Latavius Murray, BAL - The Ravens' three-way approach at running back has been reduced to two with Murray's ankle injury keeping him out until Week 9 or so. Devonta Freeman and LeVeon Bell will hold down the fort for the Ravens' strong rushing attack. Freeman may have the upper hand but both could see significant carries in Week 7. Baltimore has a bye in Week 8.
Clyde Edward-Helaire, KC - A right MCL sprain has Edwards-Helaire sidelined on the Reserve/Injured list until Week 9, however, it may not be until Week 10 that he's able to return to action. Darrel Williams has taken over duties as the Chiefs' primary rushing option and topped 89 total yards on 21 carries with two scores in Week 6.
Wide Receivers
Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton, Kadarius Toney, NYG - The Giants are dealing with several injuries to their wide receiver corps. Toney (ankle) re-aggravated his ankle in Week 6 and may miss multiple games as a result. Slayton is returning from a hamstring injury and may be able to play in Week 7. Golladay hyper-extended his knee and is looking like he won't be back until Week 8 or later. Sterling Shepard, Collin Johnson, and Dante Pettis are the available options for the Giants with Shepard being the biggest beneficiary.
Curtis Samuel, WAS - A groin strain that has not gone away is keeping Samuel from taking the field. He may continue to be out multiple games as he heals from this nagging, lingering injury. Dyami Brown and Adam Humphries have seen a boost in snaps and targets as a result of Samuel's absence. Brown had 15% of the team's targets in Week 6 while Humphries had a mere 5%.
Julio Jones, TEN - Jones tried to play through a hamstring strain and re-aggravated it in Week 6. He'll be out until Week 8 at the earliest. A.J. Brown will benefit the most but this means we'll see more from Chester Rogers and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Parris Campbell, IND - a foot injury has sidelined Campbell once again. He'll likely be out for the rest of 2021. T.Y. Hilton and Zach Pascal are the ones who will likely benefit the most.
Sammy Watkins, BAL - A hamstring injury has sidelined Watkins and likely will keep him out in Week 7. His absence gives Rashod Bateman a chance to get some experience and reps in the Baltimore offense.
DeVante Parker, Will Fuller MIA - Parker is dealing with a hamstring injury and may be out Week 7. Mack Hollins saw an increase in snaps and production in Week 6 catching 4 passes for 61 yards. Jaylen Waddle may be the biggest beneficiary of Parker's injury. Will Fuller has a finger fracture and won't be back until Week 8 or later.
Michael Thomas, NO - It is looking like Thomas (ankle) may be able to return in Week 9. The Saints have struggled without him but some options include the veteran Kenny Stills and the diminutive Deonte Harris.
Jerry Jeudy, DEN - a high ankle sprain has kept Jeudy sidelined since Week 1. He is eligible to return but he may not hit the field again until at least Week 8. Denver's bye isn't until Week 11. Tim Patrick has filled in replacing Jeudy as well as K.J. Hamler who was lost for the season with an ACL tear.
Michael Gallup, DAL - A calf strain has kept Gallup on the mend since Week 1. With the Dallas bye being Week 7, we may see Gallup in Week 8. Cedrick Wilson has seen a boost in activity in Gallup's place.
Tight End
Rob Gronkowski, TB - An injury to multiple ribs has kept Gronkowski out of the lineup since Week 3. He may be able to return in Week 7. If he cannot go, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate have seen intermittent action in his place.
Dawson Knox, BUF - Knox suffered a right-hand fracture in Week 6. The Bills have their bye this week which may give Knox enough time to heal for a return in Week 8. Tommy Sweeney would be the tight end replacement if Knox is unable to return in Week 8.
George Kittle, SF - A calf strain is keeping Kittle from playing. He is eligible to return from Injured Reserve in Week 9. Kyle Juszczyk has been the biggest beneficiary in Kittle's absence.
Logan Thomas, WAS - He is expected to be out until Week 8 at the earliest, but it may be longer, especially with Ricky Seals-Jones playing well in his place.
Questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome. Hit me up on Twitter.
