Fantasy Football Player Notes

Week 7 Rankings
Patrick Mahomes photo 1. Patrick Mahomes KC (vs . CIN)
Matt Ryan photo 2. Matt Ryan ATL (vs . NYG)
This season's QB2 behind Patrick Mahomes, Ryan has averaged 354.75 passing yards and 3.75 touchdowns per game at home. Following a strong defensive start against underwhelming opponents (Jaguars, Cowboys, Texans), the Giants have relinquished at least 33 points in each of their last three games. Not far off from his 2016 MVP production, Ryan remains in consideration for Week 7's top quarterback spot. He's a start either way, but keep an eye on Calvin Ridley and Mohamed Sanu's availability after both wideouts left Week 6's game early.
9 hours ago
Jared Goff photo 3. Jared Goff LAR (at SF)
Goff mustered one touchdown and three picks in his last two starts at Seattle and Denver. He'll have to play Week 7 without Cooper Kupp, who was ruled out with a knee injury. Yet the 49ers have allowed over 20 fantasy points to every opposing quarterback besides Josh Rosen. The Los Angeles quarterback still leads all starting passers in yards per attempt (9.94), so Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks should be enough to orchestrate a massive bounce-back outing.
4 hours ago
Cam Newton photo 4. Cam Newton CAR (at PHI)
Newton has offered remarkable fantasy consistency by tallying at least two touchdowns in each of Carolina's last four games. A road contest against the up-and-down Eagles creates a wider range of outcomes, but he should attain volume as an underdog with Greg Olsen back in tow. He's still a rock-solid QB1.
11 hours ago
Kirk Cousins photo 5. Kirk Cousins MIN (at NYJ)
The Jets have coughed up over 300 passing yards in each of the last three games, which is especially troubling considering the opponents (Blake Bortles, Case Keenum, and Andrew Luck). Cousins finally took it easy with a lighter workload against Arizona's atrocious rushing defense, but he should get a chance to pick apart a battered secondary if Trumaine Johnson (groin) and/or Buster Skrine (concussion) sit out again. Cousins is a fine, low-floor starting option.
11 hours ago
Tom Brady photo 6. Tom Brady NE (at CHI)
Andy Dalton photo 7. Andy Dalton CIN (at KC)
It appears that missing John Ross has had an effect on the offense overall, as Dalton went from throwing 299.3 yards per game with 11 touchdowns the first four games with Ross, to just 238.5 yards per game and three touchdowns the last two games without him. The Chiefs defense has been better the last three weeks, allowing just two passing touchdowns in the three games combined, though they have still allowed an average of 26.7 points per game, so where did the points come from? Well, they've allowed six rushing touchdowns in those games, so it's kind of a pick your poison thing with them. The cornerback trio of Kendall Fuller, Orlando Scandrick, and Steven Nelson have played much better than anyone expected them to, though none of them have the talent to hang with A.J. Green. They've now allowed 44 plays of 15-plus rushing yards/20-plus receiving yards, which is the most in the NFL (next closest team is at 37). They've also allowed three 400-yard games this year, so the yardage is there. It's hard to avoid a quarterback in a game with a 58.5-point over/under. He's definitely on the QB1 radar.
8 hours ago
Jameis Winston photo 8. Jameis Winston TB (vs . CLE)
Winston goes from facing the Falcons-who have allowed more fantasy points to quarterbacks than any team other than his own-to the Browns, who have surrendered the fourth-fewest points per game to opposing quarterbacks. He has already ceded four interceptions in 61 pass attempts, and Cleveland has poached nine picks with the third-lowest opposing completion percentage (58.4). Don't get carried away by Week 6's return in the perfect matchup. He's a borderline QB1 in a less favorable spot.
11 hours ago
Philip Rivers photo 9. Philip Rivers LAC (vs . TEN)
Andrew Luck photo 10. Andrew Luck IND (vs . BUF)
Is it possible that we finally see a game where Luck throws the ball less than 40 times? Yes, it's already happened once this season, but it's a rare occasion. Luck is actually on pace to break the all-time record for pass attempts, as his current pace is 768 pass attempts. He's obviously missing a lot of his weapons, though there's a possibility that he starts getting some back soon. Against the Bills though, it's tough to love him as a QB1 this week. Outside of the one game where Kirk Cousins threw 55 attempts against them (needed to as they fell behind big), no other quarterback has totaled more than 40 pass attempts against the Bills. Looking at their last four games, they've been a somewhat elite defense, allowing just 60 combined points to the Vikings, Packers, Titans, and Texans offenses. They've not allowed Cousins, Rodgers, Mariota, or Watson to finish with more than 17.0 fantasy points, and they've all finished outside the top-18 quarterbacks for the week. They've allowed just 6.2 yards per attempt to quarterbacks thus far, which ranks as the third-lowest mark in the NFL. Luck is just a middling QB2 this week whose volume likely won't carry him through.
8 hours ago
Carson Wentz photo 11. Carson Wentz PHI (vs . CAR)
Wentz has tossed eight touchdowns in four games since returning from a torn ACL. He has actually performed better than last season in terms in completion percentage (68.4), yards per pass (7.54) and quarterback rating (104.7). The QB8 upon his arrival gets the Panthers, whose 15th-ranked passing defense owes some gratitude to an early schedule loaded with Philadelphia's lackluster NFC East contemporaries. Ranked 21st in defensive DVOA, Carolina is no longer a matchup a fear. Roll with Wentz as a top-10 option.
11 hours ago
Drew Brees photo 12. Drew Brees NO (at BAL)
Facing the Ravens on the road is as tough as it gets for Brees. Baltimore tops the NFL in opposing completion percentage (55.6), yards per attempt (6.0), and sacks (26) after accumulating 11 against Marcus Mariota. The Jaguars have allowed just one fewer passer yard. He didn't throw a touchdown in his only outdoor game so far (Week 4 at NYG), so temper expectations and stay away in DFS. Sitting Brees for a streamer such as the opposing Joe Flacco, however, is too bold for this writer's comfort.
11 hours ago
Matthew Stafford photo 13. Matthew Stafford DET (at MIA)
The Dolphins have stymied opposing passers to the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game on the strength of their NFL-leading 11 interceptions, but they're also on the hook for 278.5 passing yards per game and 8.1 yards per attempt. While Stafford threw just 26 passes in Week 5's upset over Green Bay, that's not the norm in Detroit's pass-first offense. Consider him a low-end QB1 who should offer a reasonable, but likely unspectacular return.
11 hours ago
Baker Mayfield photo 14. Baker Mayfield CLE (at TB)
It's been a bit of a bumpy road for the rookie, who was shoved into a first-team role without any reps, though that excuse will wear out here relatively soon, as he's now had three weeks preparing as the starter. But here's the thing… opposite of Mitch Trubisky, Mayfield's production doesn't match what you see on the field. He's poised in the pocket, maneuvers well, and throws with precision, though his receivers haven't helped him out to this point. His wide receivers have a 9.8 drop percentage, which ranks as the most in the NFL. In fact, there's just two other quarterbacks whose receivers have more than a 6.6 percent drop rate. Mayfield tweaked his ankle while running out of bounds last week, but he's reportedly going to be fine. The Bucs might be the cure for his ailments, as they've now allowed five straight quarterbacks to throw for at least 334 yards, and 4-of-5 to throw for at least three touchdowns. It forced them to fire defensive coordinator Mike Smith last week, promoting linebackers coach Mark Duffner to be the interim coordinator. There was definitely issues in the scheme, but the talent is just not there for the Bucs to succeed, as they have a weak trio of cornerbacks (that includes two rookies) who are now dealing with injuries and are down to their second-string safety after Chris Conte went to injured reserve. Provided Mayfield is healthy heading into this game, he should be started as a low-end QB1.
8 hours ago
Joe Flacco photo 15. Joe Flacco BAL (vs . NO)
After throwing five touchdowns the first two weeks, he's simmered down and thrown four of them over the last four weeks despite a somewhat favorable schedule. There are many who will say Flacco is one of the best streamers this week, though I'm not sure I'd subscribe to him as a sure thing. The Saints defense had been brutal through the first three weeks allowing 10 passing scores and 11.2 yards per attempt, to just one passing touchdown and 6.6 yards per attempt the last two weeks. It's not as if they played Josh Allen, either. They made Alex Smith look as bad as he ever has (bounced back in Week 6 against the Panthers) and Eli Manning was… well… Eli Manning. But still, the defense we saw the first three weeks would've allowed 30-plus points to almost anyone, and they've now allowed just 37 combined points the last two games. They're also coming off their bye week which should've given them time to regroup and become the defense we expected them to be. They have generated three sacks in each of their last four games, so I don't think this is a cakewalk for Flacco. He's a middling QB2 and one who could disappoint if the Saints are the defense we thought they were.
8 hours ago
Mitch Trubisky photo 16. Mitch Trubisky CHI (vs . NE)
Here's a list of quarterbacks who've posted a better QB Rating than Trubisky this year: Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Ryan, Patrick Mahomes, and Jared Goff. That's it. The list of quarterbacks I'd rather own than Trubisky in fantasy is much longer than that. 18 of them to be exact, as he's currently my No. 19 quarterback for the remainder of the season. He hasn't played as well as his numbers say he has, and it's only a matter of time before the numbers catch up. It might not be this week, though, as the Patriots are coming off a three-game home stretch. They've only played two games on the road and in those games, they allowed Blake Bortles 377/4 and Matthew Stafford 262/2. Over their last five games, there's just one where they've held the opposing quarterback less than 17.5 fantasy points (Ryan Tannehill). Knowing how much the run-game is struggling to move the ball, Trubisky and the Bears will have to keep up with Brady and company somehow, making him an upside high-end QB2 who's on the streaming radar.
8 hours ago
Deshaun Watson photo 17. Deshaun Watson HOU (at JAC)
This was supposed to be a game we looked forward to, but Watson is dinged-up and the Jaguars defense has been demolished the last two weeks. It's now the story of who can get back on track the quickest. After totaling at least 36 rushing yards in each of the first five games, Watson was held to just two rushing yards against the Bills last week, leaving us to wonder just how much this chest injury was bothering him. The Jaguars are going to bring the pressure and although they didn't look like it last week, they're still one of the elite defenses in the game who'll be back at home. Dak Prescott was the second quarterback over the last two years who's posted top-12 numbers against them and the first quarterback who posted more than 22 fantasy points. Considering Prescott had failed to score more than 18 points in any game this year prior to that one, we're going to accept it as an outlier to the Jaguars defense. Prior to that, the Jaguars had held Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes to a combined 547 yards and two touchdowns. If Watson can't run, he's got issues against this defense. He's also known to throw the ball up to Hopkins and Fuller in one-on-one situations, though that may not be wise against Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. Watson is just a QB2 whose floor is lower than we thought given his lack of mobility at the moment.
8 hours ago
Blake Bortles photo 18. Blake Bortles JAC (vs . HOU)
He's now down to his third-string left tackle, as both Cam Robinson and Josh Wells have found their way to injured reserve. It's allowed him to be sacked eight times over the last two games after being sacked just six times in the first four games. The Texans pass-rush has been solid with J.J. Watt back disrupting the middle of the field, as they've racked-up 12 sacks over their last four games. If a quarterback can get protection, their secondary is exploitable, as they've allowed at least 7.2 yards per attempt to every quarterback not named Blaine Gabbert or Josh Allen. They also stop the run very well (allowed just one rushing touchdown all year), which means it's going to be on Bortles to win this game. This game will be at home, which is where Bortles has played well against the Texans, averaging 281.8 yards and 2.3 touchdowns in the four games.
8 hours ago
Eli Manning photo 19. Eli Manning NYG (at ATL)
Having allowed at least three passing touchdowns in each of the last five games, the Falcons are an ideal opponent for Manning. Yet it's awfully difficult to trust someone who has amassed 14 fantasy points per game and 4.6 average completed air yards. There are better streamers (Baker Mayfield, Joe Flacco, Mitchell Trubisky) available, but Atlanta's anemic secondary makes him a viable deep-league option.
11 hours ago
C.J. Beathard photo 20. C.J. Beathard SF (vs . LAR)
Averaging 0.1 fewer fantasy point per game than Tom Brady, Beathard has tossed two passing touchdowns in all three starts since replacing Jimmy Garoppolo. As double-digit home underdogs against the Rams, he could compile garbage-time yards against a team that has let each of the last four opposing quarterbacks finish the week as a top-15 scorer. He's not the worst desperation play with a healthy Marquise Goodwin in the mix.
11 hours ago
Alex Smith photo 21. Alex Smith WAS (vs . DAL)
Smith, who completed more than 65 percent of his passes in each of the last four seasons, finished each of the last two games with a completion rate below 60. That's hard to do in a league where 28 quarterbacks hold a mark above 61.0. Only one quarterback (Deshaun Watson tied for QB8 in Week 5) posted a top-12 QB output against the Cowboys, and this game unsurprisingly carries one of the week's lowest over-under lines (41.5 as of Wednesday). He's only playable in two-QB leagues, especially if Chris Thompson and/or Jamison Crowder sit again.
10 hours ago
Dak Prescott photo 22. Dak Prescott DAL (at WAS)
Apparently oddsmakers weren't impressed with Prescott's performance last week, as this game has the lowest total on the slate with the Cowboys projected to score just under 20 points. The Washington defense has played a bit of Jekyll and Hyde this year, as they looked good early on, only to allow Drew Brees make them look like the worst pass defense in the league. Outside of that game, though, they've yet to allow a quarterback more than 6.9 yards per attempt. Prescott himself hasn't topped that mark in 4-of-6 games and will have to rely on his legs against Washington. The issue is that they've held mobile quarterbacks such as Andrew Luck to two rushing yards, Aaron Rodgers to 13 yards, and last week Cam Newton to 43 scoreless yards. They have an athletic front-seven who's healthy, so it's not a matchup to target, especially on the road in a divisional game. Prescott may have raised his stock last week, but he's still finished outside the top-15 quarterbacks in 5-of-6 games. Until we see a trend, look elsewhere for a streamer.
8 hours ago
Case Keenum photo 23. Case Keenum DEN (at ARI)
Marcus Mariota photo 24. Marcus Mariota TEN (at LAC)
Sam Darnold photo 25. Sam Darnold NYJ (vs . MIN)
Josh Rosen photo 26. Josh Rosen ARI (vs . DEN)
Rosen cleared the 200-yard barrier for the first time, but he has earned just two passing touchdowns in three starts while attempting just 83 combined passes. The Broncos are coming off a strong showing against Jared Goff, and the Cardinals have a "slightly" weaker passing attack than the Rams. The rookie still isn't on the fantasy radar beyond two-quarterback leagues.
11 hours ago
Brock Osweiler photo 27. Brock Osweiler MIA (vs . DET)
Derek Anderson photo 28. Derek Anderson BUF (at IND)
Lamar Jackson photo 29. Lamar Jackson BAL (vs . NO)
Taysom Hill photo 30. Taysom Hill NO (at BAL)
Nathan Peterman photo 31. Nathan Peterman BUF (at IND)
Tyrod Taylor photo 32. Tyrod Taylor CLE (at TB)
Brandon Weeden photo 33. Brandon Weeden HOU (at JAC)
Ryan Fitzpatrick photo 34. Ryan Fitzpatrick TB (vs . CLE)
Nick Foles photo 35. Nick Foles PHI (vs . CAR)
Josh McCown photo 36. Josh McCown NYJ (vs . MIN)
Matt Cassel photo 37. Matt Cassel DET (at MIA)
Matt Schaub photo 38. Matt Schaub ATL (vs . NYG)
Colt McCoy photo 39. Colt McCoy WAS (vs . DAL)
Blaine Gabbert photo 40. Blaine Gabbert TEN (at LAC)
Alex Tanney photo 41. Alex Tanney NYG (at ATL)
Mike Glennon photo 42. Mike Glennon ARI (vs . DEN)
Geno Smith photo 43. Geno Smith LAC (vs . TEN)
Teddy Bridgewater photo 44. Teddy Bridgewater NO (at BAL)
David Fales photo 45. David Fales MIA (vs . DET)
Sean Mannion photo 46. Sean Mannion LAR (at SF)
Trevor Siemian photo 47. Trevor Siemian MIN (at NYJ)
Jacoby Brissett photo 48. Jacoby Brissett IND (vs . BUF)
Cody Kessler photo 49. Cody Kessler JAC (vs . HOU)
Chad Kelly photo 50. Chad Kelly DEN (at ARI)
Cooper Rush photo 51. Cooper Rush DAL (at WAS)
Kyle Lauletta photo 52. Kyle Lauletta NYG (at ATL)