Week 7 has come and gone. Week 7 handed us three more injuries. Well, one injury for one QB leagues and a second injury for Super Flex leagues and the third came on MNF to a non-passer. Jayden Daniels goes for an MRI early this week so you will want to monitor the results of that appointment and the Commanders practice report throughout the week. For those playing in Super Flex formats, Bryce Young (high ankle sprain) is reportedly set to miss Week 8 at a minimum. Fire up The Red Rifle, Andy Dalton, at your own peril. The reason I mention these QBs at the start of the write-up is because there will be eight teams on bye thus presenting challenges at all positions, to include QB. Week 8 will see our lineups sans the Cardinals (Kyler, Brissett), Lions (Goff), Jaguars (Sunshine), Raiders (nobody cares), Rams (5-TD Stafford), and Seahawks (Vikings legend Darnold). Stay tuned for some names available in most leagues.
The key is to hope for a healthy squad. The plan is to insulate your team against the bye weeks. If you have accomplished both, then you are on your way to a successful Week 8. If not, then maybe just take this week off and enjoy some family time. Or read a book. Or clean the garage. Nah, we are here for the long haul and will be focused on winning our matchups!
Do not forget the @Razzball NFL team of writers will be hosting our Sunday Morning Start/Sit podcast every week starting three hours before kickoff all the way up to the official start of the early games. Sky – @SkyGuasco, Derek – @Derek_Favret, Jeff @Jefferson__21, Dave @crewswe128 and me/Matt – @stiles08, will be answering all your questions to help you win your weekly matchups. Come for the analysis and stay for the laughs!
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WAIVERS:
ADD OF THE WEEK = Joe Flacco – 12% rostered. Don’t look now but Uncle Joe has a solid schedule after dropping 32+ points on the division leading Steelers. This week, Unc welcomes the Jets to town in a game he should take full advantage of propelling your fantasy team to victory. What we saw Thursday is an accurate passer that can get rid of the ball quickly. Add to that the fact he is throwing to (arguably) the best WR in the league in Ja’Marr Chase and a viable WR2 (who would be a WR1 for many NFL teams) in Tee Higgins and you have the makings of a fun story and a path to a lot of fantasy points. Yours truly ran Flacco out there in Week 7 and will be doing so again in Week 8!
QB: Well, folks, the usual suspects are still on your waiver wire. With the bevy of Week 8 byes, if you did not acquire your QB insurance prior to this week, you will be looking at the usual suspects on the wire including Aaron Rodgers, Jaxson Dart, Michael Penix, Spencer Rattler, and Bryce Young’s replacement in Andy Dalton. I would not pay a premium for any of these names other than Flacco. Allow your waivers to run then take your pick of the QB scraps.
RB: Kyle Monangai – 7% rostered is not the Bears RB1 but he did find the end zone in Week 7 and you need healthy bodies this week. The wire is thin, so take touches wherever you can find them.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
Zonovan “Bam” Knight – 22% rostered has taken over the Cardinals lead RB spot, but he will be off in Week 8. You may be able to acquire him on the cheap this week. Knight out touched Michael Carter 17-9 in Week 7.
Brashard Smith – 6% rostered is a sneaky add as his touches are increasing (81 total yards on 19 touches in Week 7). Sure, last week was a blowout versus the Raiders, but again, we need healthy bodies, so swing for the fences here. Of this list, I believe Smith has the highest ceiling. The Commanders were just boat-raced by Dallas, so do not be surprised when the Chiefs do the same.
Samaje Perine – 1% rostered can only be rostered if you feel the Week 7 Chase Brown performance was the exception versus the rule. Week 7 was, by far, Brown’s best game. Is he able to sustain that or will he concede carries/catches to Perine? I am glad I do not have to make this decision.
Xavier Legette – WR – 6% rostered just posted the best game of his young NFL career (9-92-1). The Panthers desperately needed someone to step up as WR2 and Legette certainly looked the part in Week 7. I think the return of Jalen Coker – 14% rostered to the slot will help Legette as he is an out wide WR. For this Week 8 byemageddon, you can do worse than adding WRs with a veteran QB playing in a game script that should require a lot of passing home against the Bills.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
WR: Romeo Doubs – 68% rostered just put up another double-digit performance that will not grab headlines (6-72-0). Games like this are exactly what you need as bye week coverage. The Packers are clearly not at full strength at WR, so might as well look at the currently WR1. Also, know Green Bay is headed to Pittsburgh, the team that just got lit up by Uncle Joe.
Alec Pierce – 9% rostered is heating up. He does not appear to be used only as a deep-threat option lately. I like him as a one week fill-in especially the way the Colts are playing with Indiana Jones under center. His Week 7line of 5-98-0 is one you will happily take in Week 8!
Tez Johnson – 17% rostered looked like the WR with the most upside on MNF especially after Mike Evans left the game with a broken collarbone.
TE: Oronde Gadsden – 4% rostered is absolutely trending in the right direction for a team struggling to run the football. Do not chase Week 7’s line (7-164-1) or you will be disappointed when it does not occur in consecutive weeks. What you want is a healthy body at the position. The Vikings offer a challenge but the Chargers simply cannot run with their battered offensive line, so enter Justin Herbert and his 45+ pass attempts. a classic catch and fall down TE but we need healthy bodies. I am not a fan of chasing prior week’s stats, but am also cognizant of what six teams on a bye can look like for your fantasy roster. Enter the Pat Freiermuth – 7% rostered resurgence. Trust this Packers homer when I tell you when ARod gets locked into a pass catcher he can make that person look like a world beater. This may be the one week streaming TE you need with the revenge game narrative for Rodgers versus the Packers.
As mentioned above, it has only been two weeks, so if you lost, got smashed even, relax. It will be OK. There is no need to rush to drop any specific player, unless you see the name in the opening paragraph.
Follow me @stiles08 on X and send questions comments at the bottom of this article. Make sure you jump around the Razzball site for all your fantasy football needs. We have a ton of free content to include our Slot Versus Wide tool additional articles from our crack team of writers.
-Stiles-
