Finding fantasy football players who have week-winning upside is as important as avoiding players who can single-handedly lose you a week. Last week, our selections could have been better with three top-12 positional finishes — Jake Ferguson (TE11), Rico Dowdle (RB2), Ashton Jeanty (RB12) — and two well outside of the top-12 at their positions — Davante Adams (WR43) and Michael Penix Jr. (QB20).
This week, we have a new slate of games and five new selections. With players returning from injury, and others missing time due to injury, it’s a big week for fantasy start sit decisions. In this article, we select five players who are in situations to deliver week-winning performances. My name is Ellis Johnson, and these are your weekly smash starts.
- Waiver Wire Picks
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Smash Starts: Week 7
Davante Adams (WR – LAR)
I’m going to double-dip here. I usually avoid selecting the same player two weeks in a row, but last week’s performance by the Rams left a lot to be desired. Who would have thought that this red-hot offense would only score 17 points against a floundering Ravens’ defense?
This week, the Rams face the Jaguars in London at Wembley Stadium. This should be one of the few electric international games, featuring two offenses loaded with talent. Although Puka Nacua will likely miss this game, a matchup of Sean McVay and Liam Coen is primed to have fireworks.
On the season, Davante Adams leads the league with 13 red-zone targets. Unfortunately, that has only led to two receptions. With Nacua out, Adams is the only primary receiving weapon. As a result, these red-zone targets will need to begin clicking against a mediocre Jaguars defense. The Jags are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to the position, and averaging 165.8 receiving yards to receivers. To go along with my double-dip selection, I’m thinking Adams is primed for a multi-touchdown game this week.
Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE)
Quinshon Judkins’ RB48 performance last week was an unwelcome surprise to fantasy managers. After posting double-digit fantasy points in each of the three previous matchups against tough defenses, his 12 carries for 36 yards were underwhelming.
This should all turn around this week against the disappearing act that makes up the Dolphins’ defense. After being charged with domestic violence and battery this offseason, Judkins’ future in the NFL was in doubt. Since then, the case has been dropped, and he has returned to the Browns. Despite missing all of training camp, Judkins hit the ground running and gave this offense life.
This week, Judkins faces a Dolphins’ defense that has allowed Rico Dowdle to rush for 206 yards and a score two weeks ago. Last week, sophomore back Kimani Vidal tallied 124 rushing yards on 18 carries. Considering Vidal was a sixth-round selection in his first NFL start, the Dolphins should have done a better job stopping him. Instead, they now face Judkins, who has proven to be a furious downhill runner. This could be a big day for the rookie back, and may be one of the few times he could hit multiple touchdowns on the abysmal Browns’ offense.
Caleb Williams (QB – CHI)
Coming out of their bye, the Bears got their revenge from last year’s Hail Mary loss to the Commanders. This offense was humming previously, despite the rain in Washington. What stood out was the improvements to the run game. Ben Johnson came out of the bye and established the run, opening up the field for Caleb Williams.
Although Williams finished last week with a decent QB10 performance, he should do a lot better this week. The Bears take on the Saints at home, in what should be a decent matchup between two sophomore quarterbacks. The Saints have been feisty all season and are guaranteed to put up a fight each week. Unfortunately, the Saints’ defense has let them down. Averaging 2.3 passing touchdowns and 224 passing yards allowed, they are also allowing the third-most fantasy points to the quarterback position.
With Luther Burden leading the team in yardage last week with 51 yards, this entire receiving corps is due for a bounce-back. Rome Odunze is in the middle of his breakout season, Burden and Colston Loveland are increasing their roles and a potentially healthy DJ Moore; all the weapons will be at Williams’ disposal. I have Williams ranked as a top-five quarterback this week.
Mike Evans (WR – TB)
Don’t overthink this one. Mike Evans immediately returns to fantasy WR1 status. With Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka both dealing with injuries, Evans’ return couldn’t have come at a better time. Coming back from his annual hamstring injury, Evans needs to hit the ground running to keep his 1,000-yard streak alive.
Earlier this season, Evans looked like he hadn’t lost a step and was still a top NFL receiver despite being 32 years old. Seeing an average of nine targets a game over the first three weeks, it’s clear that he remained one of Baker Mayfield‘s favourite targets despite the emergence of Egbuka.
This week, the Buccaneers take on the 4-2 Lions in Detroit. The Lions’ offense has been cooking this season, especially at home. As a result, we can expect the Lions to try and run up the score in a potential shootout. If there is one quarterback who lives for a wild west gunslinging shootout, it’s Baker Mayfield. Evans should take advantage of a Lions team allowing 1.7 receiving touchdowns per game to opposing wideouts. I have Evans as a top-eight option at the position this week.
Mason Taylor (TE – NYJ)
The New York Jets are like a Michael Bay movie; highly anticipated, but always ends with everything exploding. No matter the excitement with Aaron Rodgers or Justin Fields, it just doesn’t work with the Jets. I guess hanging your season on a young quarterback that has been on three teams in five years was a risky decision. Especially when that quarterback put up -10 passing yards in a full game last week.
Anyways, I digress. Mason Taylor may be the one bright spot of this passing offense this week. The second-round pick this year has been quietly producing while the spotlight has been on fellow rookie Tyler Warren. Before last week’s implosion, Taylor was coming off back-to-back 65-yard performances with a total of 19 targets and 14 receptions across those games.
This week, the Jets take on a fierce Panthers team that is surprisingly 3-3 on the season. With Garrett Wilson missing time due to a knee injury, someone will need to come through in the receiving game. With the likes of Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why Taylor makes this article. However, what you may not realize is that the Panthers have been terrible against opposing tight ends. They are allowing an average of 0.7 touchdowns and a league-leading 74 receiving yards per game at the position. Even with Fields under center, someone has to come through in the receiving game, right? I have Taylor as a top-five play this week.
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