With solely two groups on bye, we’ve got most groups at our disposal in Week 7, however with accidents, trades (whats up, Davante Adams and Amari Cooper) and extra complications, let’s be sure you have all the data you want on your fantasy soccer begins/sit selections. Rankings, projections and, after all, some enjoyable!
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Week 7 Waiver Wire
Week 7 SOS Ranks (coming quickly)
Fantasy 101 (weather, start/sit, trading, more)
🎙️All in Fantasy Podcast🎙️
WEEK 7 FANTASY FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
BYES: CHI, DAL
Broncos at Saints, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Devaughn Vele, WR, DEN — I’d change to Courtland Sutton if Marshon Lattimore had been to be traded, however the Saints are slightly weak to intermediate work. It is a very deep sleeper although.
- NOTES: The Saints may very well be with out each high receivers. If Rashid Shaheed performs, he’s a increase/bust WR3 even with Patrick Surtain out. The Broncos can deal with him with Bub Means stepping in because the No. 2 Saints wideout, and Spencer Rattler — regardless of exhibiting promise — is in a troublesome spot for his second begin… Audric Estime is an attention-grabbing stash to see if Sean Payton offers him early work with Javonte Williams turning into the timeshare, passing-down choice.
Patriots at Jaguars (London), Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Kayshon Boutte, WR, NE — As with Vele, going a bit deeper right here, as Demario Douglas is clear with the Drake Maye enhance. Boutte is in play for some deep photographs towards a weak protection.
- NOTES: Jerod Mayo referred to as out Ja’Lynn Polk, and whereas he’s behind Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas for the second, I’d solely belief Douglas for now. Polk nonetheless had 4 targets to a few for Boutte, the 2 combining for lower than Douglas’ 9… Trevor Lawrence is third — behind each Dolphins QBs — in 1stRead% (75.9). Evan Engram had a 28.1 1stRead% in Week 6 and Brian Thomas Jr. 18.8%, whereas Thomas was 26.2% in Weeks 2-5 with out Engram (per FantasyPoints). I like shopping for low on Thomas, however he’s extra of a WR3 now slightly than a WR2.
Seahawks at Falcons, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Darnell Mooney, WR, ATL — Preserve him within the lineup. Coming off a down sport, Mooney will rebound towards one of many worst cross defenses.
- NOTES: The Falcons use Cowl-3 fourth most (45.8%), and there’s a huge hole with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has a lowly 0.30 YPRR towards it (DK Metcalf 2.20, Tyler Lockett 1.25), whereas he has 1.50 towards the rest (Metcalf 1.72, Lockett 1.60)… Kenneth Walker is the one working again with 4+ touchdowns and fewer than 309 speeding yards (234)… Bijan Robinson had his lowest RBTouch% (48.6) in his finest sport (24.0 FPs) — going through the Panthers helps.
Titans at Payments, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Calvin Ridley, WR, TEN — He’s removed from reliable, and the Bills cross protection will be good, however the one space the place they’ve been constantly weak is extra of the mid-field, intermediate sport, the place Ridley is more proficient than DeAndre Hopkins.
- NOTES: Search for extra Josh Allen downfield makes an attempt once more this week. The Jets enable the very best proportion of deep throws (17.0%), the Titans are eighth (13.0%) and Allen has the fifth-highest proportion (14.1%)… Although DeAndre Hopkins topped the field rating, Calvin Ridley led the Titans with eight targets (29.6 TmTGT%), however it occurred to be the very best OffTGT% for Will Levis and Ridley of the season (37.5%). Ridley additionally has the eighth-lowest catchable targets price (61.1% — min 50 routes, 10 targets).
Bengals at Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Jerry Jeudy, WR, CLE — Sport script and quantity now… if solely he had a distinct QB.
- NOTES: After Zack Moss fumbled, he didn’t get one other contact. The shift to Chase Brown is right here, however we’ve got to see if meaning bellcow work or simply the lead with Moss now stealing some short-yardage and goal-line alternatives… The Browns use essentially the most Cowl-1 (39.1%), and Ja’Marr Chase goes from 2.60 YPPR to 1.94 towards it, whereas Tee Higgins goes from 1.92 to 2.31… The Browns averaged 118.6 speeding yards in 2023 and are at simply 97.2 in 2024 (fifth worst). The Bengals are permitting the fifth-most speeding yards at 146.0, which is sweet timing for Nick Chubb’s return.
Texans at Packers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Christian Watson, WR, GB — The Texans cross protection has given up a bunch of massive performs (and for touchdowns) this yr.
- NOTES: Per FTN information, Tank Dell went from 5.3 targets and 5.8 FPPG to 9.0 and 15.2 as soon as Nico Collins bought damage this yr… No workforce makes use of 5+ DBs greater than the Texans (97.7%), and Jayden Reed is fourth (Rashee Rice — unhappy face, Nico Collins — extra sads, A.J. Brown are the Prime 3) in YPRR towards 5+ DBs (2.99).
Dolphins at Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Josh Downs, WR, IND — Right here solely as a result of I would like you to cease doubting him — shouldn’t be a sleeper.
- NOTES: With Raheem Mostert again, he’s within the RB2 dialog, with De’Von Achane having an RB1 ceiling however RB3 ground… If Achane is out, Mostert will get a slight enhance, however Jaylen Wright turns into a RB3 flier… Tyler Goodson has a 64.9% explosive yards price to 35.2% for Trey Sermon, which was evident final week. There’s extra upside with Goodson till Jonathan Taylor returns.
Lions at Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Simply play everybody — Onerous to discover a fantasy choice who isn’t value beginning.
- NOTES: Jameson Williams has 10.3 TD/TGT% (eighth highest, min 20 targets), which might have been second solely to Courtland Sutton final yr (11.1% — certified WRs) with Sam LaPorta the very best Lions receiving choice (8.3)… To that time, LaPorta is at 6.7% this yr… If, after seeing that, you will have considerations for T.J. Hockenson, the excellent news is that he solely dropped a bit in TmTGT% (23.4 to twenty.7) when enjoying with out Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison in comparison with each being on the sphere, and his TD/TGT% was truly increased with each at 4.1% in comparison with 3.6% with out them.
Eagles at Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Grant Calcaterra, TE, PHI — Tremendous deep and determined groups solely however…
- NOTES: As soon as Dallas Goedert left Week 6, Calcaterra had 18.2 TmTGT%, leading to a 4-4-67 line… Tyrone Tracy Jr. is in play as a Prime 20 choice — even increased if on a greater workforce — but when Devin Singletary returns, Tracy has a slightly low ground given the danger of Brian Daboll leaning on Singletary, who he loves. Tracy would additionally get a little bit of a ding if Malik Nabers is again, however nowhere close to as extreme as if Singletary performs.
Raiders at Rams, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Jakobi Meyers, WR, LV — The Rams cross protection is weak, and Aiden O’Connell will typically hone in on one receiver.
- NOTES: Tre Tucker is fifth in designed play goal price (screens, and so on.) at 28.0%, behind Curtis Samuel, Jayden Reed, Luke McCaffrey and Olamide Zaccheaus. As you possibly can see, it’s not a assure to have manufacturing, however with Rashee Rice, Zay Flowers and Khalil Shakir simply behind Tucker, he’s nonetheless worthy of a deep-league flier with Davante Adams formally gone… Solely the Falcons use three wideouts extra ceaselessly than the Rams (96.7% to 93.8%), which is why I wouldn’t drop any of Jordan Whittington, Tutu Atwell or Demarcus Robinson till we see how issues shake out with Cooper Kupp again. Whittington has the very best ceiling however most threat (eradicated from the combo).
Panthers at Commanders, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Xavier Legette, WR, CAR — The Commanders cross protection is weak, they usually misplaced a giant pass-rush piece in Jonathan Allen.
- NOTES: Since Andy Dalton took over and Adam Thielen bought damage, Diontae Johnson has a 26.4 TmTGT% with 4 purple zone targets and 5 finish zone targets. These rank 14th, T-Eleventh and T-1st, respectively… The Panthers enable the very best TD/Drive% at 35.3 (Rams are second at 34.0), and the Commanders lead the league in TD/Drive% (34.5; Ravens second at 32.3)… Even whereas lacking a sport, Brian Robinson Jr. continues to be T-Third in goal-to-go speeding makes an attempt (11), behind solely Kyren Williams (13) and Derrick Henry (12). Austin Ekeler bought the one G2G and goal-line makes an attempt (one every) in Week 6 — file that away in case Robinson is sidelined once more.
Chiefs at 49ers, Sunday, 4 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC — For those who grabbed him off waivers, I’d begin him as a WR3.
- NOTES: In Weeks 4-5, Kareem Hunt dealt with the fifth-highest % of his workforce’s RB touches (75.9%)… Final yr, Brandon Aiyuk had 3.38 YPRR towards man protection and a couple of.94 towards zone, however this yr, he’s at 1.77 and 1.80, respectively. He’s additionally seeing simply 21.7% of his receptions for 20+ yards after 37.3% final yr, which fits in keeping with what I discussed in waivers — groups are maintaining the 49ers receivers in entrance of them, which impacts Aiyuk essentially the most.
Jets at Steelers, Sunday, 8 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Pat Freiermuth, TE, PIT — One other needy-play tight finish, and the Jets cross protection is powerful, however whether or not it’s Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, Freiermuth may discover the tip zone.
- NOTES: Breece Hall had his highest RBTouch% since Week 1 (88.5, and Week 1 was 91.3)… Justin Fields has almost an identical stats to Russell Wilson’s 2023 season (Comp%, YD/Att, YD/Comp, and so on. and so on.) besides in TD/Att% — Fields is 3.1 whereas Wilson was 5.8. Sure, completely different workforce, but when Wilson begins, George Pickens will get a slight enhance on landing potential.
Ravens at Buccaneers, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Mark Andrews, TE, BAL and Cade Otton, TE, TB — If you must gamble yet another week on Andrews, his snap depend and utilization isn’t altering, however the matchup is constructive, as is Otton’s, because the Ravens proceed to be exploitable with tight ends.
- NOTES: Derrick Henry has scored on 45.5% of his GL rushes, which is definitely decrease than Gus Edwards’ mark of 52.2% final yr. Sure, it may very well be even higher for Henry… Baker Mayfield has the fourth-highest Catchable% (79.9) behind Jayden Daniels (83.7), Joe Burrow (82.6), and… checks the location… squints… rubs eyes… Gardner Minshew (80.7).
Chargers at Cardinals, Monday, 9:00 p.m. ET
- SLEEPERS: Quentin Johnston, WR, LAC — Again to the Aiyuk state of affairs, his finest sport was towards the Cardinals, who play tighter in protection, they usually’ve given up some huge performs with receivers getting downfield. That’s Johnston’s sport and upside.
- NOTES: J.K. Dobbins is one among 5 working backs with 100% of his workforce’s GL rushes (James Conner, Tony Pollard, Rhamondre Stevenson, Breece Corridor)… With a tweaked ankle and the sport properly out of hand, the Cardinals held again James Conner in Week 6. Don’t overreact to Conner’s work if he’s lively in Week 7, and if he’s out, Trey Benson could be a high-upside/threat RB2/3, just like Ray Davis final week. He may very well be the clear lead and look nearly as good as he did in school, or Benson may cut up with Emari Demercado, ceding passing-game work.
FUN WITH RANKS
One other good reader suggestion — preserve them coming! It’s time for the most effective snacks whereas watching the video games! Now, earlier than you yell, “The place’s pizza?!” and so on., know that I’m maintaining it to one-handed objects. And, certain, you possibly can deal with a slice of pizza with one hand… sort of… so perhaps have a look at this extra as “only some bites.” You’ll sense the theme if you see (and hate) the listing.
Prime 15 Soccer Watching Snacks
- Buffalo dip — And it must be rooster. One of the best. No query
- Pretzel bites — Gentle ones, dippable — I may crush 50
- Lumpia — Prime 5 meals snack ever
- Wings… properly, nuggets — First, boneless wings are nuggets, and as a lot as I like common wings, an excessive amount of mess, hand involvement (phrasing, sir!), and so on.
- Pizza bagels or rolls — You get the pizza in bite-size model
- Salsa queso — Sure, that’s one factor, and you may separate them if you would like boring, however that is so good — additionally, will be messy in the event you’re not paying consideration
- Sliders
- Buffalo (small) meatballs — For the uninitiated, attempt them! After which thank me!
- Donut holes — Need to have a dessert blended in
- Pigs in a blanket
- Antipasta — There are numerous variations, however my dad’s mixture of soppressata, pepperoni, jalapeno havarti and white cheddar is my go-to (with Italian dressing — I take out the artichokes)
- Fried pickles — By no means had them till I met Nicole… yum
- Jalapeno poppers
- Hushpuppies
- Chips and dip (or simply chips) — Easy, but essential
Overrated: Nachos — full-blown loaded nachos are horrible outdoors consuming your self as a meal (perhaps at Moes) — I don’t need different peoples’ grubby palms touching something I eat… stuff sticks collectively and doesn’t separate correctly… you undergo eleventy hundred napkins… shall I proceed? Simply have chips and salsa queso.
WEEK 7 FANTASY FOOTBALL PROJECTIONS
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These can differ from my rankings, and MY RANKS are the order I’d begin gamers outdoors of added context, equivalent to, “Want highest upside, even when dangerous.” Additionally, based mostly on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point relaxation, and Half-PPR
Obtain Hyperlink Added Thursday
WEEK 7 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨
- There isn’t any excellent widget on the market, sadly, nonetheless. I do know many view this in your telephone, however 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop computer/and so on. if attainable or 2) open in your telephone’s browser, particularly for Android customers, to get the scrolling to work (or Android folks can attempt a two-finger scroll).
- ECR=“Knowledgeable” Consensus Rating (which isn’t up to date by everybody constantly, so take with a grain of salt).
- Up to date repeatedly, so test as much as lineups locking.
(Prime photograph of JuJu Smith-Schuster: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Pictures)
Jake Ciely is rankings: Fantasy Soccer, Fantasy Baseball, sweet, motion pictures, video video games, cereal… something! Actually, Jake is a rating prodigy. Oh, he is additionally the senior fantasy author for The Athletic, an award-winning analyst and loves DuckTales. Ensure you #CheckTheLink and #BanKickers … woo-oo! Comply with Jake on Twitter @allinkid
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