What You Need to Know From Week 7

Photo: Brian Spurlock, USA Today Sports

DEN @ CLE

• Teddy Bridgewater looked limited by injury in this game, which shows you just how badly the Broncos don’t want to play Drew Lock. Hopefully the return of Jerry Jeudy helps the offense, but it seems destined to underperform going forward and is only getting more crowded
• Case Keenum can keep the offense on schedule even though the deep passing game might be put on moth balls while he’s in.
• Donovan Peoples-Jones hurt his groin in warmups and missed this game. Odell Beckham is playing through injuries in both shoulders. There’s not much here for fantasy in this passing game right now.
• D’Ernest Johnson is the truth in this running scheme and he’s worth holding even as Nick Chubb returns this week.

KC @ TEN

• Patrick Mahomes II is trying to do too much while the line does too little. We could be adjusting expectations for the Chiefs against middling to good defenses going forward.
• Byron Pringle is stepping up among the secondary receivers, so if defenses are making it hard to hit Hill and Kelce, he could be the main beneficiary. Keep him on your waiver wire watch list.
• Even when Derrick Henry is held in check, he can throw a touchdown.
• A.J. Brown looks completely back from early season injury issues. Julio Jones looks back too, but just wasn’t used as much in the blowout win.

WAS @ GB

• Taylor Heinicke moved the ball against the mediocre Packers defense, but stalled out in the red zone multiple times to account for the margin of victory.
• Allen Lazard had a whole afternoon on one drive to show he and Aaron Rodgers still have chemistry, but he was placed on the covid list and might not be available for Week 8. Davante Adams was also placed on the covid list this week.
• The Packers abandoned the run against the Washington defense, which is weak vs. the Pass. Expect Denver to do the same this week, not that Pat Shurmur needs an excuse.
• A.J. Dillon fumbled and wasn’t used much in this one. Watch out for Kylin Hill, who might be closing the gap between the #2 and #3 backs.
• Robert Tonyan Jr had a big game just in time for a contest where he may be one of Aaron Rodgers top targets because of the covid list issues.

CIN @ BAL

• Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are surging and might be a duo that defines fantasy league outcomes and the AFC playoff bracket.
• Joe Mixon was held in check until his and Samaje Perine’s long touchdown runs were the daggers in the stunning road win. Mixon should be a lot better for fantasy this week against the Jets defense that just gave up five scores to Patriots running backs.
• Tee Higgins was featured with 15 targets, but didn’t convert any into big plays. As long as Chase is balling, Higgins will have more opportunities to break out.
• C.J. Uzomah had his second two touchdown game in the last four, and he scored in Week 6. He and Burrow have a great connection and the ups make riding through the downs worth it if Uzomah is your fantasy tight end.
• Lamar Jackson’s arm is the foundation of this offense and he took a lot of hits after a cold start. The running game is a non-starter at least until Nick Boyle comes back.
• Rashod Bateman is getting more downfield targets and continues to be a big enough part of a surprisingly productive passing game to have legitimate fantasy value.
• Marquise Brown had a ton of targets and unrealized air yards, so he could be in for a big game against the Vikings coming out of the bye.

CAR @ NYG

• Sam Darnold played poorly and got benched. P.J. Walker is even worse. Maybe the Panthers will trade for Deshaun Watson. The whole offense was miserable and worthless for this one.
• Daniel Jones was accurate, but conservative missing most of his best players. He could trend up in the second half of the season.
• Devontae Booker scored in garbage time and should get one more start this week against the Chiefs in a fantasy RB2-worthy spot.
• Evan Engram, Darius Slayton, and Dante Pettis have a desperation play pulse as long as Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard, and Kenny Golladay are sidelined.

ATL @ MIA

• Kyle Pitts is the real deal and the Falcons used him as we hoped - a downfield outside target - coming out of the bye.
• Cordarrelle Patterson wasn’t as involved as a receiver, but that’s ok, he took over the backfield, making Mike Davis droppable.
• Russell Gage added deep speed in his return to the field, catching a long score and rekindling hopes that Calvin Ridley could start seeing some deep targets again.
• Myles Gaskin was used more by necessity once Malcolm Brown went out. He looked good and could have lasting value with Brown landing on injured reserve.
• Tua Tagovailoa had some hiccups, but it’s clear that he’s going to have solid fantasy value and keep Mike Gesicki and Jaylen Waddle’s value up, at least in good matchups like this one. We’ll see if he is frustrated against the Bills coming off of a bye this week.

NYJ @ NE

• Zach Wilson went down with a knee injury and was replaced by Mike White, who hit Corey Davis for an impressive score, but then fell apart.
• Elijah Moore’s speed was apparent on an end around touchdown, but his passing game role is still very small.
• Damien Harris ran for two scores, Brandon Bolden caught on, and JJ Taylor had two more in garbage time. Start your running backs against the Jets. Look for another big day for Harris against the Chargers this week.
• Jonnu Smith hurt his shoulder and Hunter Henry scored for the fourth straight game.

PHI @ LV

• Miles Sanders went down with an ankle injury and will miss time. Kenny Gainwell and Boston Scott will split the work, probably producing no fantasy running back of consequence.
• Dallas Goedert tied his season high in targets (5), but is still a marginal fantasy TE1 as long as Jalen Hurts is keeping the passing game at lukewarm temperature.
• Foster Moreau can play, will be a good starter one day, and fantasy relevant for any more games that Darren Waller misses.
• Josh Jacobs went down with a chest injury, but should be ok after the bye. Kenyan Drake continues to show he can have value in complementary role, and he’s got Jacobs injury upside.

DET @ LAR

• The Lions tried to hang in with onside kicks and fake punts, but it wasn’t enough even though it was fun to watch.
• Kalif Raymond is improving and bordering on fantasy relevance as the #1 receiver in the offense.
• Third wide receiver Van Jefferson played over 90% of the snaps with second tight end Johnny Mundt out for the year. He should be on rosters in every format.

CHI @ TB

• Justin Fields had yet another miserable afternoon even though the Bears trailed big throughout. Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney are not startable in typical leagues.
• Khalil Herbert looks like he could be the future starter for the Bears if they don’t want to sign David Montgomery to a second contract.
• Without Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady just zeroed in on Mike Evans to be the first to go over 600 touchdowns.

HOU @ ARI

• The Texans sorely need Tyrod Taylor back to help the offense and he is due back this week in good news for Brandin Cooks.
• Zach Ertz got five targets, turning them into 3-66-1, and appeared to be integrated into the offense right away. He’s a solid TE1 going forward.
• The Cardinals have a balanced offense and resurgent defense, so Kyler Murray doesn’t always have to put up big numbers for fantasy for the team to cruise to wins against inferior teams.

IND @ SF

• Carson Wentz was effective in a monsoon and should get even better against the weak defenses coming up on his schedule.
• Michael Pittman defied the conditions and should remain in fantasy lineups even after T.Y. Hilton is healthy.
• Elijah Mitchell is still the clear starter for the 49ers and worth an RB2 play every week.

NO @ SEA

• Jameis Winston isn’t going to be very productive when he isn’t throwing to Alvin Kamara, at least until Michael Thomas is back, which isn’t going to happen in Week 8.
• Tyler Lockett is unstartable until Russell Wilson returns to the lineup.
• Alex Collins was running against stacked boxes and Geno Smith couldn’t do anything to punish the Saints for it. The Seahawks looked like the same old run-obsessed offense even to the detriment of the team.