Let’s dive into some news and notes around the league, my top fantasy plays and favorite picks for Week 7.
Notes:
• I will start with my rant about how the bye weeks make no sense this season. Four teams were off in Weeks 5 and 6, but just two this week, zero in Week 8 and two in Week 9. But what’s really inexplicable is six teams being on a bye in Week 12, zero in Week 13 and six in a critical Week 14. How hard is it to have four or six teams on a bye from Weeks 7-12? This current system makes no sense. End rant.
• We saw the return of several high draft picks who made a significant impact this weekend. Joe Mixon came back from his ankle injury and found the end zone twice. A.J. Brown racked up 100-plus yards and a score. Christian Watson finished as WR17 with his touchdown in the Packers’ win over the Cardinals. Mixon and Brown are must-start players. Watson is a solid FLEX option during the ridiculous bye-week schedule.
• On the flip side, it was another Sunday with injuries to some key players. Jordan Mason has been a superstar with Christian McCaffrey out of action, but now he has a shoulder injury. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Chris Olave both suffered concussions. Travis Etienne and Jerome Ford both were forced out with hamstring issues. Isaac Guerendo looks to be next in line for the 49ers at running back. Make sure you’re active with your waiver-wire pickups this week.
• It was a great week for the rookie quarterbacks. Jayden Daniels has been terrific all season long and is currently QB3. Caleb Williams led all QBs in scoring this week and is QB10 after two awesome performances the last couple weeks. Bo Nix finished as QB8 in Week 6 with 21.7 points, and Drake Maye was right behind Nix as QB9 in his first NFL start. The top two picks are locks in your starting lineup, while the latter are decent options in Superflex leagues.
• Fantasy football managers love the combination of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in the Ravens’ backfield. Both players are leading their position in scoring, and King Henry seems to be a lock to find the end zone each week. The Ravens’ prized acquisition this offseason has taken the No. 1 overall spot in my rankings for the rest of the season.
• It’s another week of early Sunday football as the Jaguars play the Patriots in London. I can’t imagine many players are getting started for either team, but make sure your lineup is set accordingly.
Remember to check the weather heading into Sunday for your kicker selection. Also, talk to your league mates about getting rid of kickers next season.
Thursday Night Game: Broncos vs. Saints
Sunday Morning Game: Patriots vs. Jaguars
Sunday Night Game: Jets vs. Steelers
Monday Night Games: Ravens vs. Buccaneers and Chargers vs. Cardinals
Start ‘Em:
Quarterback: Justin Fields
Running Back: Tank Bigsby
Wide Receiver: Josh Downs
Tight End: Zach Ertz
Defense: Eagles
Sit ‘Em:
Quarterback: Geno Smith
Running Back: Javonte Williams
Wide Receiver: Juju Smith-Schuster
Tight End: Mike Gesicki
Defense: 49ers
Sleepers:
Quarterback: Drake Maye
Running Back: Isaac Guerendo
Wide Receiver: Jordan Whittington
Tight End: Foster Moreau
Defense: Buccaneers
NFL Picks for Week 7
Weekly Pick ‘Em (Season Record: 52-40)
Saints (vs. Broncos)
Jaguars (vs. Patriots)
Falcons (vs. Seahawks)
Bills (vs. Titans)
Bengals (vs. Browns)
Packers (vs. Texans)
Colts (vs. Dolphins)
Lions (vs. Vikings)
Eagles (vs. Giants)
Rams (vs. Raiders)
Commanders (vs. Panthers)
Chiefs (vs. 49ers)
Jets (vs. Steelers)
Ravens (vs. Buccaneers)
Cardinals (vs. Chargers)
Five Picks Against The Spread (Season Record: 13-17)
Patriots +5.5 vs. Jaguars
Lions +2 vs. Vikings
Chiefs +1.5 vs. 49ers
Ravens -3.5 vs. Buccaneers
Cardinals +2.5 vs. Chargers
Five Over-Under Totals (Season Record: 16-14)
Broncos-Saints under 37.5
Titans-Bills under 42
Bengals-Browns under 44
Texans-Packers over 47.5
Jets-Steelers over 36.5
One Bold Prediction for the Week
Week 1: Jayden Daniels finishes as a top-5 fantasy QB against the Buccaneers. (Off to a good start!)
Week 2: Greg Dortch finishes as a top-25 WR against the Rams. (WR89 — yikes!)
Week 3: Derek Carr makes it three straight weeks as a top-five fantasy QB against the Eagles. (Major miss)
Week 4: Malik Nabers remains WR1 after scoring two touchdowns against the division rival Dallas Cowboys. (Still WR1, but no TDs)
Week 5: A running back will finish with more than 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards for the first time this season. (Not even close)
Week 6: The tight end position — which has been AWFUL at this point — leads all position players in scoring this week. (Close! Cole Kmet finished No. 6)
Week 7: The four rookie QBs — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix — combine for more fantasy points than the top four quarterbacks drafted this summer — Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts.