Week 7 was fantasy football troll week with blustering winds, injuries galore and countless touchdowns to random players who aren’t relevant whatsoever in fantasy football. Chances are, most of you weren’t able to see all the action, but don’t worry because I’ve got you covered. My week always starts by watching each and every play thanks to NFL Game Pass’ Condensed Game Film. While I watch, I’m jotting down all kinds of notes. Let me tell you about my top takeaways from the week.
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#6) Spencer Ware is the best backup running back in football
Many fantasy teams are still worried about bye weeks or have players like Leonard Fournette and/or Dalvin Cook clogging up their bench. I get it if that is you, but if you are carrying Baker Mayfield or Jared Cook on your bench or for whatever reason, rostering some scrub WR5 like Donte Moncrief or Kenny Stills, it is time to drop them for a high-upside piece like Ware. When Hunt leaves the field and Ware comes in, you don’t notice a difference except for the fact that Hunt is faster and Ware is more of a bruiser. To put it simply: if Hunt were to go down with an injury, we would be looking at Ware as a top 8 fantasy running back and there isn’t a single other backup in football you can say that about.
#5) O.J. Howard is a top-tier receiving tight end
I’ve had to get over this misconception with Howard from when I heard he was a block-first tight end coming out of the draft. While that may be true, that does not mean he is a pass-only tight end. In fact, he is a top-notch blocker and a top-notch receiver. It should come as no surprise, of course, that in the weeks he has started, Howard is right up there with the three other star fantasy tight ends (Ertz, Kelce, Gronk). I’m not quite saying he should be regarded similarly for the rest of the season, seeing that Tampa has weapons coming out of their ears, but when I watch Howard play, I see another Tony Gonzalez type stud who is going to be drafted in the top 50 picks each and every year.
#4) Keenan Allen looked like one of the best receivers in football
It was beginning to look like Allen might have been over-drafted because for whatever reason, the Chargers just weren’t using him the same way this season, but then Allen came out this week and reminded everyone why he should still be included with the best fantasy receivers in football. He was spectacular, getting open at will and hauling in several seemingly uncatchable passes. Had the Chargers not had run just 54 plays (thanks to two long touchdown passes), Allen may have finished with a classic 8 reception, 100-yard game like we grew to expect last season. Let’s not forget that over the second half of last season, Allen led all fantasy receivers with 183 PPR points in 8 games. To put that into perspective, DeAndre Hopkins was second yet over 20 points behind him!
#3) The Jaguars offensive line was abysmal
This is no apology for Blake Bortles, who was awful, or the subpar mediocre core. Rather, it is a stark warning to anyone getting excited about Leonard Fournette returning to rescue their fantasy season. Yes, it is true that the Texans have a tremendous defense, but even against a bad offensive line, they wouldn’t have had half the pressure Bortles and crew saw Sunday. We are talking about 2017 New York Giants’ offensive line type of bad. With Cody Kessler or perhaps Bortles back under center, you can expect stacked boxes on 60% of Fournette’s runs, which when paired with the dreadfully bad offensive line may leave the supremely talented Fournette, who mind you, will be splitting a backfield with Carlos Hyde, looking like 2016 Todd Gurley. Trade him the moment it is announced he is returning as the starter.
#2) Josh Gordon is an elite weapon again
The Patriots haven’t quite used him as such, and perhaps it won’t happen considering Tom Brady‘s average depth of target is low, plus all the receivers Gordon has to split targets with from Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman to James White and Chris Hogan. Regardless, when you watch the 27-year-old play, it is difficult to not compare him to unbelievable talents like A.J. Green and Mike Evans. He checks every single box with speed, size, instinct, hands, route running and ability after the catch. The only thing holding him back from top 10 rest of season numbers is target share, but even that may not be enough.
#1) Sean McVay is the real MVP
This isn’t to say that Todd Gurley isn’t a superstar or that Jared Goff isn’t improving drastically each year, but I can’t help but come away from every Rams game thinking, “Well the defense played fine, but everyone was just so open.” I’m always scratching my head as to how it happens again and again and again, and I’ll bet opposing defensive coordinators are doing the same thing. The matter of the fact is that McVay really is just that much better than everyone else and I sincerely believe that includes Bill Belichick at this point. Defenses stack the box a league-low, 18% versus Todd Gurley which is just baffling. Their receiver’s average separation is top in the league and both of those point directly to the superior play calling of McVay.
Additional Notes
- Nick Chubb is better than Carlos Hyde and could be a top 12 fantasy back
- You won’t want to pick on the Saints D/ST anymore in matchups
- Marlon Mack can be a top 15 fantasy RB in Indy
- Christian McCaffrey is extraordinarily gifted and underutilized
- Greg Olsen is an afterthought in an offense filled with weapons
- We have never seen a better version of Alshon Jeffery than we have this year
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