Week number 7 was not quite so lucky for some NFL players and teams (I’m looking at you Baltimore). Hopefully, luck was on your side for fantasy football. If that is not the case, fear not, as we can still use last week’s games in order to discover truths about our favorite fake football game. For all of you fantasy enthusiasts out there, here are 10 things that we learned in week 7.
Staying Sharpe
In the NFL, you never know when your opportunity may come. Or even where. It might be on the other side of the world. For Tajae Sharpe, that moment was week 7 in London. The Titans WR got the first 100-yard game of his career. On Sunday, Sharpe appeared to be a legitimate #2 threat for Tennessee. That is important in order to relieve Corey Davis of a defense’s full attention. Secondly, the Titans need a player to take advantage when Davis is shadowed by a top defensive back, as was the case against the Chargers. With Casey Hayward on Davis most of the game, Sharpe received 9 targets. While he will not have games like that every week, Sharpe may be an option when the depth of the opposing secondary is in question.
Join the Chubb
The NFL world has been rocked by trades recently, including Carlos Hyde getting dealt to the Jaguars. Among other things, that freed up touches in a crowded Cleveland backfield. The question heading into week 7 was how would the workload be split amongst the running backs. In a resounding fashion, Nick Chubb established his dominance by carrying the ball 18 times. Meanwhile, Duke Johnson only got 1 rushing attempt. He did catch 4 passes, but that was something he had done twice already this season, demonstrating no increase in touches. Chubb will probably continue to see the majority of the workload. However, we will find out for in the next three games when they face high scoring offenses (Steelers, Chiefs, Bengals). Perhaps in those matchups, the Browns will need to pass more, potentially expanding Johnson’s role. Maybe Chubb will join the passing game club as he was targeted twice on Sunday.
Lion Vultures
The vultures are circling in Detroit. Kerryon Johnson has run for over 220 yards in the last two games but has no TDs to show for it. LeGarrette Blount meanwhile, has 3 TDs in that span. No matter how productive the rookie has been, the Lions seem to prefer using Blount near the goal-line. It is difficult to fault the team if that is working, and even less likely to expect a change.
The vultering is not just limited to RBs. Up until week 7, only 1 Lions’ reception TD was scored by someone other than their top 3 WRs: Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Golden Tate. That lone exception belonged to Michael Roberts who got into the end zone twice on Sunday. All of this means that the Lions skill players may hold more value in PPR (point per reception) leagues where fantasy point are not as dependant upon TDs.
(Bur)Ton of Targets
Mitchell Trubisky attempted 50 passes in week 7. Almost half of them (23) were directed towards two players, an RB and a TE. Those players were Tarik Cohen and Trey Burton respectively. Neither player disappointed as both were recipients of TD passes from Trubisky, who seemed to favor the middle of the field against the Patriots defense. This has become a trend for the Bears as Burton and Cohen are now both riding 3 game streaks with TDs. Chicago is thankful for their production. With Allen Robinson limited by an injury, the Bears need as many players to step up as possible.
White Blank Page
Another one of those players in week 3 was Kevin White. Yes, you read that right, Kevin White actually still exists. The former 1st-round pick has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. It appears Matt Nagy has given him a clean slate, a white blank page so to speak. Clean sheets were White’s stat lines entering week 7. On Sunday, the WR finally caught his first two passes of the season, including a 54-yard Hail-Marry attempt. He caught the ball, but could not fight his way into the end zone. While it may be disappointing that he could not win the game for this team, White demonstrated strong hands on the catch. There is hope that he can carve out a role for the remainder of the 2018 season.
Still Miller Time
I was one of many who expected Lamar Miller to be a droppable player in fantasy football. I even did that, in not one but two different leagues. Of course, he would go on the produce his first 100-yard game and his first rushing TD of the season. There were signs of his demise, such as Alfred Blue‘s 20 carry game in week 5 and the suspected return of D’Onta Foreman. However, until further notice, Miller owns this backfield, especially if he continues to produce as he did against the Jaguars.
Stefon Struggles
Adam Thielen is playing with more than feeling. His recent 100-yard game has given him seven in a row and he has clearly established himself as the top receiver on the Vikings. Stefon Diggs is also a great player, he has just not produced o a consistent basis in 2018. He scored 3 TDs in the first two games of the season. He has since been held out of the end zone. Diggs has had three games with at least 91 receiving yards, along with four games of less than 44 yards. The 33 yards he gained in week 7 was done on the back of 14 targets showing that Kirk Cousins is not ignoring him. What is even more confusing about the situation is that the Jets were down several defensive backs. This was expected to be an easy matchup, yet Diggs faltered. Because he can go off at any time, he probably must be started most weeks but be sure to keep expectations in check.
Justin, Just Out
Kickers in fantasy football. I know, most of them are pretty indistinguishable but not Justin Tucker. A few years ago, when PATs (point after attempts) were moved to the 32-yard line, kickers started missed them at a much higher rate. Not Justin Tucker, who was a perfect 222 for 222 in his career. That was until he was faced with a PAT at the end of the Saints game with the score 24-23. The PAT would have tied the game and brought it into overtime. Instead, Tucker missed a PAT at the worst possible time. He is considered by most to be the best kicker in fantasy football. That is because he can hit from long range, is incredibly accurate and the Ravens do well enough to constantly put him in position to make FGs (field goals) or PATs. This one miss looks bad but in reality, it should not change our perception of Tucker. I am not advising to trade for him but if one of your league mates overreacts and drops him, I would pick him up.
Washing(ton) Away RB Production
A low key story in this NFL season has been the low rushing totals of teams facing Washington. Other than in weeks 2 and 3, no team as a whole has rushed for 100 yards. Even in those two games, the Colts and Packers barely made it 100-yards with 104 and 100 respectively. Washington has held some great RBs to low rushing totals. Those players include David Johnson, Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffery. None of them topped 37 rushing yards. In week 7 Ezekiel Elliott was the most recent victim as he only ran for 33 yards. While they have allowed RBs, to score, they are essentially TD or bust. Play RBs against Washington in that fashion.
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Curious George
Curiosity reigns as there has been so much inconsistency from the 49ers this season. Most of it can be attributed to injuries and players coming in and out of the lineup. One consistent factor in San Francisco has been TE George Kittle. He demonstrated that in week 7, as the only 49er to produce more than 24 receiving yards. After his monster performance in week 6 against the Packers, it appeared that Marquise Goodwin had become the top target in San Francisco. However, outside of that 126-yard game, Goodwin only has 68 receiving yards on the season. Kittle meanwhile has only had less than 79 yards in a game twice in 2018. One of those contest was the Green Bay game where Goodwin kept beating the secondary deep. In a world where reliable TEs are hard to come by, Kittle certainly one of the safer players.
Thank you for reading. For any comments or questions, I can be found on Twitter @nyama_ks. To learn more about fantasy football and the NFL in general, check out Going for 2 and all of its great content.
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