Quarterback
Carson Wentz (vs New York Giants) **Thursday**
Wentz gets Desean Jackson back to add a deep threat and give the team two legitimate outside receivers so James Bradberry canceling out one won’t hurt the offense as much. Lane Johnson should also be back to stabilize the offensive line against the opportunistic Giants defense. Wentz has been productive as a runner, so while Miles Sanders being out won’t exactly help the offense as a whole, it could put even more of the offense on Wentz’s shoulders.
Kyle Allen (vs Dallas)
This one is a simple test of just how bad is the Dallas defense? So bad that even Kyle Allen with Dontrelle Inman as his #2 wideout and Logan Thomas as his tight end can dunk on them? Daniel Jones did fail to account for an offensive touchdown against them two weeks ago, but otherwise, quarterbacks have created 14 total touchdowns against the Cowboys in the other four games in the last five.
Teddy Bridgewater (at New Orleans)
Bridgewater was slowed by the stingy Bears defense last week, but this week he returns to New Orleans to face a Saints defense that has allowed at least three total touchdowns to every quarterback they have faced this year. His contributions as a runner improved to 48 yards last week, and he should have to play with a more aggressive mentality as a passer to keep up with Drew Brees and the Saints offense.
Sam Darnold (vs Buffalo)
Darnold should be back this week and that could produce a surprise result against the reeling Bills defense if you’re hard up for a QB2 or Superflex. He was outstanding in his first game back from mono last year, with 338 yards passing and two touchdowns in an upset win over Dallas. The Bills defense was run ragged by Ryan Tannehill and then Patrick Mahomes II and Clyde Edwards-Helaire and this will be their third game in 12 days. Darnold’s best fantasy game as a passer so far this year came in the first meeting with the Bills, and his best fantasy game as a runner came the last time we saw him play vs. Denver. Darnold should also get Denzel Mims back this week for his first game, although he's unlikely to have Jamison Crowder, who had a big game against Buffalo in Week 1.
Running Back
Latavius Murray (vs Carolina)
The Panthers have been a plus matchup for opposing running backs this year, giving up eight rushing scores to running backs and big games to downhill runners Todd Gurley and Leonard Fournette. Murray has been a more consistent part of the game plan than he was last year with double-digit touches in four of five games, and over 50 total yards in the last three. He could get extended run this week if the Saints build a big lead at home against the struggling Panthers offense.
J.D. McKissic (vs Dallas)
McKissic has quietly established himself as a high floor RB2/Flex play in PPR leagues over the last three weeks. He has at least six catches in each of the last three games, and he tied a season-high in carries last week with eight. In each of the two weeks with eight carries, McKissic has at least 43 rushing yards. The Cowboys have already seven scores to opposing running backs and McKissic could get more work if Washington actually has a lead to nurse this week.
Boston Scott (vs New York Giants) **Thursday**
Scott will get the start in place of Miles Sanders on Thursday night. He has been lackluster in limited duty this year but had three scores and 138 total yards against this Giants team in the season finale last year. The Giants have already allowed receiving scores to Jeff Wilson and David Montgomery, and three backs have had at least four catches against them in the last two games, so there should be a solid PPR floor there for Scott at home.
JaMycal Hasty (at New England)
Jerick McKinnon also belongs here, but you have to wonder about Kyle Shanahan’s commitment to him after he looked like he lacked burst and was replaced by Hasty in the fourth quarter last week. Hasty ran with suddenness and urgency and did his job to ice the game, and Bobby Turner is known to prefer a hot hand approach. There’s no doubt who the hottest hand is coming into this game. The Patriots gave up a 100-yard game to Phillip Lindsay last week and their game plan should be focused more on George Kittle and Deebo Samuel than the 49ers backfield without Raheem Mostert.
Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley (vs Jacksonville)
Both Chargers backs are worth a look this week against a Jaguars defense in steep decline. Last week they gave up three scores to Lions running backs, David Johnson had his best rushing yards day of the year against them the previous week, and Joe Mixon accounted for three scores against them the week before that. The Chargers should be able to control this game enough to get both backs into double digits and the Jaguars have seen at least 33 running back touches against them in three of the last four weeks. Jackson has been playing better and should be involved more in the passing game, while Kelley has the better goal line game and would be more likely to get the carries in the second half to salt the game away.
Wide Receiver
Demarcus Robinson (at Denver)
Robinson, not Mecole Hardman got starter snaps last week with Sammy Watkins out, and he responded by leading the team in receiving yards (69) and tying Travis Kelce for the team lead in receptions (5). The Patriots sputtered against the Broncos last week, but in the previous three games before that, at least two receivers went for 64 yards in each game, and the Broncos allowed five scores to wideouts, with only the Jets failing to record at least two.
Desean Jackson (vs New York Giants) **Thursday**
James Bradberry has been outstanding in locking down the #1 receiver for the opposition this year. The question against the Eagles is whether Bradberry will cover Travis Fulgham or Desean Jackson more often. Bradberry’s length is a much better match for Fulgham, so it could be Jackson against one of the lesser Giants corners on Thursday night. Jackson has a 6-64 game under his belt from earlier this year, and while he is an in-game injury risk, he also has 100+ with multiple scores upside.
Adam Humphries (vs Pittsburgh)
Humphries should be a key part of the Titans game plan against a Steelers defense that will likely hold Derrick Henry in check and create a lot of pressure on Ryan Tannehill without his stud left tackle Taylor Lewan. Randall Cobb had his biggest game of the year against the Steelers, finding a lot of room in the middle of their defense, which will be without Devin Bush after he tore his ACL last week. Humphries is a safe play with at least six targets, four catches, and 41 yards in every game he has played in this year, and scores in two of the last three.
Dontrelle Inman (vs Dallas)
If you’re truly desperate at wide receiver this week, Inman should be there for you on the waiver wire. He’s facing a Cowboys secondary that has allowed 11 wide receiver touchdowns in the last five games and Inman caught all five targets from new quarterback Kyle Allen last week. He also had a two-touchdown game this year and the Cowboys should be focused on trying to take Terry McLaurin away, leaving Inman to create big plays if there are busted coverages.
Gabriel Davis (at New York Jets)
John Brown hasn’t practiced yet this week, which could open the door to a full complement of snaps for Davis, who has had at least 58 receiving yards and four catches in each of the two games that Brown either missed or left early due to injury. In the first matchup between these two teams, the Bills wideouts amassed 25 catches, 249 receiving yards, and a score, so there should be a lot of production for the Bills wide receiver group to divide amongst themselves this week.
Tight End
Richard Rodgers (vs New York Giants) **Thursday**
The Eagles are down to Rodgers at tight end, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a viable fantasy option at the position for Week 7. He caught three balls for 31 yards last week, two of which came in the second half of the fourth quarter after Zach Ertz left the game. Carson Wentz has targeted his tight ends 74 times already this year, we’ll see if Rodgers can keep the position prominent in progressions.
Albert Okwuegbunam (vs Kansas City)
Okwuegbunam got four end zone targets from Drew Lock last week, which is more than most tight ends have this year. Noah Fant will be back this week, but expect more two-tight end sets from Denver after Lock rekindled the connection with his favorite touchdown target in college. The Chiefs have already allowed three scores to tight ends this year and Hunter Henry also posted a 6-83 line against them.
Darren Fells (at Green Bay)
Jordan Akins hasn’t practiced yet this week, so it looks like Darren Fells will get another start and he’s about as hot as any tight end in fantasy football right now. He caught both of his targets for 57 yards and a score two weeks ago, and six of seven for 85 yards and a score last week. The Packers just allowed Rob Gronkowski to relive the glory days last week and Fells should be the last priority for a Packers pass defense that has to account for Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller.
Eric Ebron (at Tennessee)
Ebron hasn’t had a breakout game yet with the Steelers, but before last week’s blowout that saw the passing game mothballed in the second half, he had at least five targets in each of the previous three games, and he has a red zone target in three of the last four games. The Titans have given up a touchdown to a tight end in four of five games and Dawson Knox left with a calf injury in the other one. Tyler Eifert and Kyle Rudolph scored on Tennessee, so Ebron can too.
