What You Need to Know From Week 7

Photo: Douglas DeFelice, USA Today Sports

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NO @ ARI

• Andy Dalton threw six scores, but two were two Arizona defenders. It’s not clear whether he or Jameis Winston will start vs. the Raiders. Dalton would be better for Alvin Kamara, and Winston for Chris Olave.
• Olave is going to be a good start no matter who is at quarterback. He even got a big gain on a pass from Taysom Hill.
• Hill caught a touchdown and is a bonafide TE1 for fantasy this year.
• Juwan Johnson caught two scores and will be streamable for at least as long as Adam Trautman is out. We’ll see if Trautman’s ankle has healed for him to face Las Vegas. Play your tight ends against Arizona. Irv Smith is next.
• Kyler Murray only had eyes for DeAndre Hopkins, who ran a ton of routes out of the slot, much to the chagrin of anyone who started Rondale Moore. Hopkins is a PPR WR1 going forward.
• Zach Ertz was a non-factor, but he could still have value in a game the Cardinals trail in the second half, which was the norm for them going into this one.
• Eno Benjamin was patient and effective and posted his best game of the season by a large margin, one that will make us want to put him in our lineups any time James Conner is out.
• Keontay Ingram had a touchdown and a nice run-after-catch on a 24-yard reception but was ineffective otherwise. If he eventually has to start due to injury, he could have some value.

CLE @ BAL

• Jacoby Brissett had a good game, but a costly fumble in the red zone ended up being too much for the team to overcome. The offense is looking more viable heading into what should be a high-scoring game against the Bengals.
• Kareem Hunt scored as the offense recovered from its Week 7 low. He could get traded in the next week.
• Amari Cooper was quiet but had a long go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter negated by his offensive pass interference penalty. He remains viable with Brissett at the helm.
• David Njoku went down with a high ankle sprain, and Pharaoh Brown suffered a neck injury and was evaluated for a concussion. Harrison Bryant should get the start against the Bengals. He’s a viable Kelce/Everett bye replacement or streamer for Week 8.
• Lamar Jackson was contained as a passer, and the Ravens went extreme run-heavy (44 runs - 16 passes) in Gus Edwards' return from a severe knee injury. Jackson’s fantasy expectations are way down, assuming this change in philosophy takes.
• Edwards wasn’t quite back to his previous physical level, but the team worked him early and clearly trusted him for a large workload. He’s worth a lot of what you have left in your waiver wire wallet, as Kenyan Drake somehow averaged less than a half-yard a carry, and Justice Hill almost fumbled the game away.
• Devin Duvernay was supposed to be much more involved, but the quiet passing game muted his production. Rashod Bateman might not be 100%. The Ravens passing game might not support more than Mark Andrews' fantasy value going forward.
• Andrews wasn’t 100% and Lamar Jackson said the Browns took him away in the passing game anyway. Just like the rest of the Ravens passing game, Andrews' value looks a little more fragile going forward.

TB @ CAR

• Tom Brady had a miserable game, and it will hard to trust him in our lineups until he has two good games in a row now.
• The Bucs abandoned the run, Brady barely threw to the running backs, and there was a 60-40 snap split between Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White. Fournette is a boom/bust RB2, and White is still a priority stash with the possibility of a Fournette injury or a more even split at some point.
• Mike Evans dropped an easy long score early that seemed to put this game on a bad track for the Bucs offense.
• Cade Otton posted a solid line and was involved enough in the futile comeback attempt to remain a viable streamer or Kelce/Everett bye coverage while Cameron Brate is out (neck/concussion). With a Thursday game this week, Otton should again vs. Baltimore.
• DOnta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard were running roughshod over the Bucs defense. Foreman is a priority pickup, with Hubbard leaving the game because of an ankle injury. Hubbard is worth an end-of-the-bench add while we wait for more news on his condition. This could be a high water mark for the unusually effective Panthers offense, although the reeling Falcons defense is up next.
• D.J. Moore was finally a good play, and P.J. Walker was reasonably effective as a desperation play. It’s a decent bet that they will be again this week vs. Atlanta.

ATL @ CIN

• The Falcons kept running the ball even though they were down by multiple scores in the second half. Kyle Pitts and Drake London feel unplayable right now, although Pitts drew a pass interference on an end zone target.
• Tyler Allgeier had a score, but he continues to look pedestrian running the ball and is only a desperation play against the Panthers. Cordarrelle Patterson could be back as soon as Week 9.
• Joe Burrow and this offense is peaking. Burrow is back to the record-setting level of production he hit late last season, and the team barely threw the ball in the second half.
• The Falcons defense is one to pick on as long as A.J. Terrell is out. He left this one with a hamstring injury and is “week-to-week,” according to the team.
• Tyler Boyd broke free for a long touchdown and had seven other catches to put up a week-winning score. He needs to be in lineups as long as this offense stays hot.
• Hayden Hurst posted a good PPR stat line, and he is probably above the line of startable fantasy tight ends because of the quality of the offense.
• Ja’Marr Chase left briefly. He was on the injury report with a hip issue, and it’s possible this was related to that. We’ll be watching the practice reports.