Welcome to Week 7 of the 2025 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.
This week's roundtable features these four topics:
Let's roll...
Matt Waldman: Puka Nacua will miss this week and likely additional time. Other than Davante Adams, who becomes a viable option for Matthew Stafford?
Jason Wood: Matt, as you implied, Davante Adams will go from a 1B to a genuine target vacuum; I expect him to average 10+ targets per game in Nacua's absence.
As for other beneficiaries, it should be a balanced attack. Jordan Whittington has played 62 percent of snaps this season, including 92 percent of snaps in Week 6. I expect Whittington to approach flex or WR3 value over this stretch. However, Sean McVay appears set to utilize different receivers in different subpackages while Nacua is out, so I wouldn't get too excited or pay up for Whittington on waivers.
It's also worth mentioning veteran tight end Tyler Higbee. His value isn't necessarily driven by Nacua's injury, as he was already poised to become a more important part of the passing attack now that he's back from his own injury. However, Higbee is a longtime member of the squad, and it stands to reason Matthew Stafford will look to him more often as a trusted underneath option with his go-to target on the sidelines.
Dave Kluge: Jordan Whittington is the obvious beneficiary. He set season highs in targets and receptions last week while running the second-most routes in a single game this season.
Whittington is the nephew of former NFL running back Arthur Whittington, and he followed in his footsteps. He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and started his career at the University of Texas as a running back. He made the transition to receiver around the midway point of his college career, but his running back background still shows up when he's got the ball in his hands.
Like Nacua, Whittington bullies defenders after the catch. He doesn't shy away from contact. He seeks it. Whittington was starting to get going in Nacua's absence last year. In Weeks 4 and 5, he totaled 18 targets, 13 receptions, and 151 yards before exiting the game with a shoulder injury.
He won't be able to beat man coverage or win downfield the way Nacua can, but he should see a lot of the jet sweeps, end-arounds, slants, and screens that will allow him to lean on his physicality. Tyler Higbee had his best game of the year last week, but he's an admittedly risky tight end to start given the other likely available options.
