Week 7 Takeaways

Jefferson is taking a few weeks and has asked me to handle this column for him. I’ll try not to let him and you down.

Week 7 is mostly in the books, except for tonight’s game, which is a rivalry game: Cowboys at Eagles. Sadly, the rivalry is not at its best, as both teams enter at 2-4 on the season, and the Eagles in particular will be shorthanded. Sometimes, the sight of the other team’s uniforms can be inspiring, and the limitations will matter less. I like hoping for that.

There is LOTS to sort through, so let’s look at the fantasy performers. But first:

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Quarterbacks

Player: Joe Burrow
Game: at Baltimore
Stats: 292 passing yards, 12 rushing yards, 4 total TDs

A tale of two halves. In the first half, Burrow was 6-of-12 for 43 passing yards, 12 rushing yards, and a sack for 8 yards. The Bengals had 3 first downs and punted three times, with their final possession ending the half on their 35-yard line. The Bengals trailed 13-0.

The second half was stunning: Cincinnati scored touchdowns on five straight drives, with Burrow going 16-of-18 for 249 passing yards and 4 of the TDs. The final Bengals’ possession had Joe Flacco come in to mop up, handing the ball three times to Tajh Brooks before their final punt. The Bengals won 35-13, putting them ½ game out of first in the AFC North, although the Steelers have a head-to-head win against the Bengals. All four teams have a winning record, and Burrow has helped place them squarely in the postseason picture. This was his second straight 4-TD game, bookmarking their bye week. After a slow start, Burrow is top-5 at QB in fantasy in raw points, and 3rd in points per game. We don’t need to worry about starting Burrow.

Notables:

Drake Maye has weathered a tough start against Seattle, Pittsburgh, and Jacksonville and has been very good since, finishing in the top-4 each week. It’s getting boring. The Patriots couldn’t get the job done in Chicago, and Maye made a poor decision that led to an interception with 3:25 left in the first half. He also led a two-play drive in the last 9 seconds of the half, hitting A.J. Brown for 18, then threw a three-yard pass to Rhamondre Stevenson, that he took the final 45 yards, weaving through a Chicago defense that apparently thought someone else would tackle Stevenson, for a TD as the first-half clock expired. In the four-game streak I mentioned, Maye had 1,199 yards, 12 passing TDs to 2 INTs, adding 129 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs. The schedule ahead can be rocky, in the fantasy playoffs in particular. But I don’t see benching him for any game through Week 13.

Geno Smith is proof that we really don’t know anything. In what was forecasted to be a low-scoring game, the Jets and Dolphins combined for 51 points. It’s not that the Jets are incapable of scoring points (see Week 3 at Detroit), but it’s been more miss than hit. This was Geno’s second 3-TD game of the season, and he missed his second 300-yard game by 13 yards. That said, I suppose I could try him in a pinch in Week 8 vs. the Raiders, but he’s not a good option most weeks in 2-QB leagues.

Malik Willis is proof we really, really don’t know anything. Both QBs from this game being fantasy-relevant? We’re not likely to get many 3-TD games from Willis, but one of the things that made him a deep-diver’s favorite going into the season is starting to manifest, as Willis has 111 rushing yards and 2 TDs in his last two games combined. If he continues, he will at least be a safe-floor option that should be considered as at least a bye week replacement. And if we invest now, we’ll avoid the rush and accompanying FAAB inflation. Plus, if he regresses, it won’t hurt to drop him.

Bo Nix is the table-turner of the week, and may have been even less likely to be in lineups than Willis was. I’m still not back on him: while the Broncos had their second 30-point game of the season, Nix only had 222 passing yards and 1 passing TD. Much of his value came on a 62-yard scramble with 3:43 left until halftime; on the play, it appeared the Cards’ D had not made the trip to Denver. His 74 rushing yards for the game were double what he had done in the first six weeks. I have little faith in the Broncos offense, and even with this game, he’s still QB19 on the season.

Patrick Mahomes is my fantasy QB dud of the week. Baker Mayfield threw only 11 times for 64 passing yards, but he at least had a TD. Credit where credit is due: the Seahawks had the plan and the personnel to bottle up the Chiefs’ running game, as well as the KC passing game outside the pittance they allowed to Travis Kelce and Noah Gray. While Mahomes was only sacked once, he was pressured on nearly 2/3 of his dropbacks. Mahomes and the Chiefs are not defense-proof right now, and I’m not betting on Rashee Rice being fully healthy this season. They have some nice matchups in Weeks 10-13, but I’m concerned for Weeks 8 (at Denver) and 9 (versus the Jets). After two top-ten weeks to start the year, it’s been downhill. Mahomes shouldn’t be dropped, but benching him is a consideration.

Running Backs

Player: Tony Pollard
Game: vs. Browns
Stats: 25 carries, 129 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 25 receiving yards, 3 TDs

To quote myself: “Tony Pollard has season highs in rushing yards and TDs. It’s 6:25 into the game.” The other unexpected barnburner (51 total points was significantly over the 36.5-point line) yielded a hero I’m sure many of his shareholders had given up on. Cleveland came into the game 2nd in PPR in points allowed to RBs, so a thing that would slow Pollard is his own team’s offense. I think I have to flex him, and after scoring 58 points in the first five games, the Titans have scored 44 in the last two (with 6 thrown in by the defense). The Titans have also generated five of their seven takeaways for the season in the last two games. I don’t see any teams on the schedule that are among the leaders in giveaways, so Tennessee will have to create. It’s a situation to monitor. I don’t expect he’ll be the RB 1 for a week again, but if he starts turning in finishes in the 15-24 range, that’s a starter in most leagues.

Notables:

Bucky Irving led a rushing attack that followed, to a point, the Bears’ plan of attack against the Panthers. The Bears ran the ball 39 times in 70 plays, amassing 291 rushing yards. On Sunday, the Bucs ran 47 times for 261 yards (not counting two plays in victory formation) in 60 offensive plays. Irving had 106 of the rushing yards and 2 TDs. It was likely Irving’s second top-3 finish among RBs in three weeks. Yesterday’s game was the first with Baker Mayfield in the lineup since Week 3. There are tougher matchups ahead: at Chicago and Detroit are sandwiched around the Week 10 bye, and Irving is a somewhat inconsistent RB2 in PPR, but I’m not sitting him.

Quinshon Judkins has started hitting the end zone, with his second and third TDs in the last three games. He’s been a bit slow coming off the fractured fibula and dislocated ankle suffered in Week 16 of last season, and the Browns will not bowl many teams over with offense, but I’m feeling better about him as a flex. I’d love to see him string together some top-20 finishes, but the volume has been trending upward. The schedule through Week 14 is positive before tightening up around fantasy playoff time. I’d love to be able to not have to worry about having to bench him.

Rhamondre Stevenson did very little in the run game (6 attempts, 22 yards). His damage came on the play I mentioned in my Maye comments, as more than half his points came on one play. It’s nice to see five receptions for 93 receiving yards, and he’s better than we might expect for receptions if not yards. I’m happy with him as a flex.

Christian McCaffrey is having the year naysayers have been prophesying since at least 2023, in part due to reduced touches this season. I saw on a graphic yesterday that his touches are down 25% year over year. The fact that he’s still a top-5 PPR RB is a testament to his still-impressive upside. They have the bye in Week 8 before good matchups vs. the Raiders and at the Cowboys. After that, the 49ers kick off a stretch of seven games where only one is against a below-average run defense. Keep an eye on a quad injury that sent him to the locker room for a while in Atlanta. Kaelon Black has been an able fill-in: Black should be rostered in most leagues.

Derrick Henry is my dud of the week for the second week in a row. It’s possible that, nearing 33, Henry is no longer matchup-proof. But I’ll hold judgment until Lamar Jackson is back. Henry is still receiving the lion’s share of the running back touches for the Ravens. He’s still a fantasy starter.

Wide Receivers

Player: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Game: vs. Chiefs
Stats: 9 receptions, 150 yards on 12 targets

I’m pretty sure all the superlatives have been used to describe JSN over the past two seasons. He’s had six top-8 finishes in seven games this season, including three number 1s. He’s on pace to break the single-season receiving yardage record. This was his second 150+ yard game, and his fourth game with at least 9 receptions. He’s averaging 5.3 PPR PPG more than the second-highest WR. The best. And he’s not 25 yet.

Notables:

Zay Flowers has improved every season he’s been in the league. He was WR 7 last season, and if he stays healthy, he should beat that this season. He took a pass four yards behind the line of scrimmage and outraced the defense for a 48-yard TD on the fourth play of the game on Sunday. Four of his other seven receptions resulted in first downs. He’s had 5 receptions and 50 yards in all six games he’s played. He’s got a solid floor and an above-average ceiling. He needs respect in PPR drafts.

Tee Higgins usually takes a back seat to Ja’Marr Chase, but not yesterday. Like Burrow, Higgins came to life in the second half of Sunday’s game, and he was instrumental in helping the Bengals take control of the game. On their first TD drive, Higgins had two first downs. On the second, a first down and a TD. On the third, he caught a 44-yard pass to give the Bengals first-and-ten at the Ravens’ 23. On the fourth, he hauled in a 43-yard pass to give the Bengals first-and-goal at the Ravens’ 6. All six of his receptions resulted in first downs. Higgins has now had 90+ yards in four of six games. The TDs have been down so far, but Higgins could set career highs in targets, receptions, and yardage for a season.

Jameson Williams for the first three weeks of the season was the guy I never wanted to draft, with 17 targets, 10 receptions, 127 yards, and 0 TDs. Things have been better the last three games with 21 targets. 13 receptions, 240 yards, and 4 TDs. Sunday vs. the Packers was his second straight 2-TD game, and with one game left this week, Jamo leads WRs with 4 red zone targets in Week 7. These are all encouraging signs. The floor is not as high as I’d like for a WR2, but he’s in my lineup weekly.

Amon-Ra St. Brown has 5 weeks with 11+ targets and 67+ yards, and 4 weeks with 8+ receptions. The volume’s been slightly down, but he could have a season-high in TD receptions. His floor is 11.9 PPR points. The opportunities are there. For a game with only 20 points IRL, 50+ points from my two top receivers combined is an offense I want parts of.

Justin Jefferson is my dud of the week, and perhaps of the season. I know the Vikings are undefeated, and they couldn’t care less about our fantasy teams, but I don’t believe I was alone in hoping for a bounceback season for the Vikings offense after a nightmarish 2025 season. To be fair, the defenses the Vikings have been facing have not been giving to WRs, and Jefferson missed part of Week 3 and all of Week 4. The schedule does get better from here on, so hope for a rebound exists. It would be nice if it started against the Lions in Week 8.

Tight Ends

Player: Trey McBride
Game: vs. Broncos
Stats: 10 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD on 13 targets

The first TE 1 overall week of the 2026 season for the player that may have the safest floor in PPR leagues: he has had one week with fewer than 10 targets, and has had 7+ receptions and double-digit PPR points every week. For a tight end, that is worth the high price. The ceiling has been lower, and the schedule has been nasty. Unfortunately, that won’t let up, and the Cards don’t have anyone on offense that would scare a defense except McBride. There could be hope with the return of Jeremiyah Love, but a field-stretching WR would help.

Notables:

Mason Taylor is a player I like. I just don’t want Jets on my fantasy team. Jets tight ends in particular. The two TDs Taylor had yesterday were his second and third of his brief career. He’s an anytime TD dart, and a long shot at that. #RTED

Colston Loveland is here for the second week in a row. In spite of his role as a blocker and the injury to Caleb Williams earlier in the season, Loveland is tied for third in TE RZTs, and they’re starting to cash. Outside of Seattle in Week 8 and Green Bay in Week 16, the schedule is wheels up. He’s had 6+ receptions and 50+ yards in three of his last four with a TD in his last two. If he isn’t in your lineup now, trade him.

Davis Allen is the #RTED poster child. No. Just don’t. In four seasons, this was his second game with double-digit fantasy points. The first was in 2023.

George Kittle had season highs in targets, receptions, and yards. So of course, this is a week with no TDs. The ceiling is not as high as usual, meaning a discount in drafts was justified, but we still got a bargain. Hopefully the bye week gives some of the WRs the time they need to get back on the field.

Isaiah Likely is my dud of the week. Not that this floor did not exist; he had a comparable game in Week 3. But this did nothing to ease my fears that a lack of chemistry may exist between Likely and J.J. McCarthy. Or that Likely may struggle against defenses that defend the TE well. In the six games after the Week 8 bye, only two are plus-matchups. We should find out quickly if Likely can stay near the top of the TE rankings.

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