The Wire - Week 7
By Levi Ellis
Welcome to week 7 of the NFL season. It’s time to separate the winners from the pretenders and just by reading this article it means you’re still putting in the work which is a winner in my book. Now is that time of year where some guys just fade off and quit on their team. Keep grinding the waiver wire and the W’s will come.
Bye Weeks - Buffalo, Dallas, Jacksonville, Minnesota, Los Angeles Chargers & Pittsburgh
All players are listed in priority order based on position.
(2 QB Leagues Only)
Geno Smith - 23/32 209 yards, 1td, 1 carry, -1 yards, 1 fbl - Geno has played better than expected with Wilson out and he’s locked into the starter role for several more weeks. 5% of your remaining faab budget.
Case Keenum - 1-3, 6 yards - The Browns play on Thursday night and Baker is banged up so I think there’s a good chance that Keenum could get the start. Also factor in that it’s a revenge game against the Broncos. It will be a matchup but Keenum is a gunslinger and he’s not afraid to air it out. 5% of your remaining faab budget.
Darrel Williams - 21 carries, 62 yards, 2tds, 4 targets, 3 catches, 27 yards - If he’s somehow unowned, rush to your waiver wire now and place that bid. He’s guaranteed to start at least two more games and the Titans are on tap this week. 35% of your remaining faab budget.
Alex Collins - 20 carries, 101 yards, 1td, 1 target, 1 catch, -3 yards - It’s unlikely that he’s available but if he is snatch this guy up with Carson on the IR for at least two more weeks. Collins impressed last week against the Steelers. 35% of your remaining faab budget.
Khalil Herbert - 19 carries, 97 yards, 1td, 3 targets, 2 catches, 15 yards - Herbert was very impressive in his debut as the starter. Damien Williams could be back next week but Herbert should still have a role after a performance like this. 20% of your remaining faab budget.
JD McKissic - 8 carries, 45 yards, 10 targets, 8 catches, 65 yards - Gibson is all banged up and while we don’t know just yet if it will translate to him missing any games there’s a good chance that McKissic will be involved in nothing less than to manage Gibson’s workload. 20% of your remaining faab budget.
Kenyan Drake - 4 carries, 34 yards, 1td, 2 targets, 2 catches, 39 yards, 1td - Drake is back from the dead in the non John Gruden era and he came up big last week. While I would proceed with caution Drake is a very talented player so there is some hope here. 15% of your remaining faab budget.
Chris Evans - 4 carries, 18 yards, 3 targets, 3 catches, 49 yards, 1td - His role is not yet known but Evans had a nice game last week so he’s worth consideration with the running back injury purgatory we are all facing right now. 10% of your remaining faab budget.
D’Ernest Johnson - 1 carry, 2 yards, 1 target, 1 catch, 7 yards - Kareem Hunt came away from last week's game banged up and with the uncertainty of Nick Chubb’s health right now Johnson is worth a look and should be the next guy up. 10% of your remaining faab budget.
Rhamondre Stevenson - 5 carries, 23 yards, 1td, 3 targets, 3 catches, 39 yards - Stevenson is very talented but if he doesn’t start picking up the blitz he won’t be in the league long. With that being said he came away with a pretty good game last week with limited touches so he’s a guy to keep an eye on. 5% of your remaining faab budget.
Devonta Freeman - 9 carries, 53 yards, 1td, 2 targets - The Ravens appear to like the running back by committee right now and Freeman is firmly entrenched in that role. His upside is limited but he has some value. 5% of your remaining faab budget.
Possible real life trade candidates: Marlon Mack, Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay, & David Johnson. 5% of your remaining faab budget.
Rashod Bateman - 6 targets, 4 catches, 29 yards - Bateman was designated to return from IR late in the week so there’s a possibility he may be unowned, however it’s very slim. 25% of your remaining faab budget.
KJ Osborn - 7 targets, 6 catches, 78 yards, 1td - KJ was huge again after a couple of weeks of cooling off. I think Osborn is a better player than most realize at this point so scoop him up however keep in mind he is on bye this week. 20% of your remaining faab budget.
TY Hilton - 4 targets, 4 catches, 80 yards - Hilton came up big in his first game back however he also picked up a quad injury this week so check his status before placing your bid. 15% of your remaining faab budget.
Donovan Peoples-Jones - 5 targets, 4 catches, 101 yards, 2tds - This guy is so talented but his usage has been inconsistent. With that being said, if they start involving him more the sky's the limit so he has to be considered. Also keep in mind that Jarvis will most likely be back this week. 10% of your remaining faab budget.
Amon-Ra St. Brown - 7 targets, 5 catches, 26 yards - He’s the most talented WR in Detroit and while I know that doesn’t mean much, this kid has talent if everything clicks at some point this season he could be a league winner. 10% of your remaining faab budget.
Nico Collins - 6 targets, 4 catches, 44 yards - Houston is likely to play from behind all year and Collins is a player they will want to see more of. Plus it doesn’t hurt that he’s big and talented. 5% of your remaining faab budget.
Jamal Agnew - 6 targets, 5 catches, 78 yards - Two weeks in a row and he has had a role on offense and has produced. Keep in mind Agnew is nothing more than a dart throw at this point and he’s on bye this week. In Case you’re wondering, he plays for the Jaguars. 3% of your remaining faab budget.
Cedrick Wilson - 7 targets, 4 catches, 42 yards - Wilson would be higher on this list if it wasn’t for the pending bye week and the likelihood of Gallup coming back soon. Wilson has proven to be talented and Dak isn’t afraid to throw him the ball. 3% of your remaining faab budget.
Dante Pettis - 11 targets, 5 catches, 48 yards - Ok be honest, how many of you still knew he was in the league? It’s hard to believe that he received 11 targets even with Toney leaving early for an injury. This is a worst case scenario pickup though. Pettis has always had talent but he’s never put it all together, however if Slayton, Golladay and Toney all miss next week he may see another large target volume. 1% of your remaining faab budget.
Kalif Raymond - 7 targets, 6 catches, 37 yards - Someone in Detroit has to catch the ball but don’t expect anything great but he can probably prevent you from getting a zero. 1% of your remaining faab budget.
Kendall Hinton - 5 targets, 5 catches, 37 yards - Hinton is the new slot receiver for this team until Jeudy comes back which should happen anytime in the next couple of weeks but if you need a one week fill in, he appears to be involved. 1% of your remaining faab budget.
Mack Hollins - 5 targets, 4 catches, 61 yards - Hollins is only a target if both Parker and Fuller remain out. 1% of your remaining faab budget.
Pat Friermuth - 7 targets, 7 catches, 58 yards - With Juju on IR and Claypool constantly banged up, I fully expect Friermuth to pick up the slack. He’s a must own in all formats at this point. Pittsburgh is on bye this week though. 25% of your remaining faab budget.
Ricky Seals-Jones - 6 targets, 4 catches, 58 yards, 1td - Seals-Jones has looked good recently and while Logan Thomas is still out he has to be a consideration. 15% of your remaining faab budget.
Cole Kmet - 5 targets, 4 catches, 49 yards - Finally Chicago can move the ball and Kmet was involved. I would temper your expectations but if Chicago’s offense starts to click Kmet is very talented and a guy to definitely keep your eye on. 10% of your remaining faab budget.
Tyler Conklin - 5 targets, 3 catches, 71 yards - Conklin continues to be a reliable yet unspectacular player but sometimes that’s all you need in fantasy. 5% of your remaining faab budget.
OJ Howard - 7 targets, 6 catches, 49 yards, 1td - Keep an eye on Gronk’s injury situation and if he misses another game then Howard could be a high risk high reward start. 3% of your remaining faab budget.
Dan Arnold - 5 targets, 2 catches, 27 yards - Arnold has been very busy since joining the Jaguars via trade a few weeks ago and I expect that to continue however he is on bye this week. 1% of your remaining faab budget.
Jordan Akins - 6 targets, 4 catches, 41 yards - Aikens is nothing more than a dart throw but if things are that bad then here you go. 1% of your remaining faab budget.
Dead to Me (redraft leagues only)
Ronald Jones - Still dead
Nyheim Hines - Clearly Indy hates to use their talented RBs
Myles Gaskins - I like consistency and that isn’t the Dolphins run game
Cameron Brate - Gronk will be back soon and the Bucs have too many weapons
Jalen Reagor - He was only alive for a brief stint
Randall Cobb - He’s MIA
Desean Jackson - He’s the forgotten man, AGAIN
Robert Tonyan - Why does Rodgers hate Tonyan so much?
On Life Support
Miles Sanders - Eagles must hate this guy
Kenneth Gainwell - This guy too
Giovani Bernard - He should be on the “Dead to Me” list but I still believe when he’s fully healthy he will be a factor.
John Ross - Just like that he went from interesting to irrelevant
Jonnu Smith - So much talent and so uninvolved
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