Week 7 Offensive Sleepers

Photo: Kirby Lee, USA Today Sports

Quarterback

Mac Jones, New England (vs Chicago)

Jones should be back this week, and he’ll be piloting a Patriots offense that has taken off since he left the lineup. The Bears defense has held down quarterbacks like Carson Wentz, Davis Mills, and Trey Lance (in a rainstorm), but the Patriots embarrassed a previously respectable Browns defense last week. It’s possible - even likely - that the offense will be better with Mac Jones than it was with Bailey Zappe.

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco (vs Kansas City)

The 49ers offense ran through Garoppolo for a lot of Week 6, partly because their defense is banged up, allowing the Falcons to open up a second-half lead. If Marcus Mariota and a running game led by Caleb Huntley and Tyler Allgeier were able to do that, how likely is it that the Chiefs will be playing from ahead in Santa Clara? The 49ers also might have some trust issues with Jeff Wilson after his costly fumble last week. Trent Williams will be back to help the pass blocking as Garoppolo may be forced into a quarterback duel with Patrick Mahomes II.

Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh (at Miami)

Pickett has been practicing in full and Mike Tomlin said the rookie will start if he clears concussion protocol, so expect Pickett to be out there on Sunday night. The Dolphins haven’t faced a ton of pass attempts except when they beat Josh Allen, but they have still given up numbers to Lamar Jackson on only 29 attempts (318-3), Joe Burrow on only 31 attempts (287-2), and even Zach Wilson on 21 attempts (210 yards). Pickett should be throwing a lot to his talented wide receiver trio.

Matt Ryan, Indianapolis (at Tennessee)

Ryan is facing a Titans defense that he hung 356 yards and two scores up on back in Week 4, but he’s not the only one that had great success against the Titans through the air. Every quarterback they’ve faced has thrown at least two scores, and all but one passed for over 300 yards. The only one who didn’t was Daniel Jones, who still threw for 17 completions, 188 yards, and two scores on only 21 attempts. Ryan had 58 pass attempts last week.