DEZELSKE: Fantasy Football 2014-15: Week 7

Written by Brian Dezelske

Week 7 of the NFL season means we’re into the second half of the fantasy football season. We have some favorable matchups that fantasy owners need to take advantage of, if they want any chance at making it to their respective playoffs.

As always, our information is based off a 12-team standard scoring format. You also won’t see discussions involving players such as Aaron Rodgers and LeSean McCoy here, as players in that class should be in your lineups each and every week.

 

Starts

Carson Palmer vs. Oakland Raiders

After missing the last three games with a nerve issue, quarterback streamers were certainly curious to see what Carson Palmer would do upon his return, and he didn’t disappoint. He dropped 250 yards and two scores on the Washington Redskins, making him a very intriguing plug-and-play option for this week against Oakland. The Raiders have allowed five touchdown passes in the last two games, and are giving up an average of 16.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

 

Brian Hoyer vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

I was all over Ben Roethlisberger’s matchup against the Jaguars defense two weeks ago, and I got burned… bad. In fact, Big Ben was the first quarterback this year to not throw at least two touchdowns against the Jags. And now Jacksonville has only allowed one touchdown pass in the last two weeks; they allowed 11 scores in the first four games. So, what do we make of this? Did Jacksonville figure something out on defense, or did they just happen to catch the Steelers and Titans sleeping—like actually sleeping? I’m leaning towards the latter, which is why I’m buying Brian Hoyer this week, and all quarterback matchups against the Jags going forward.

 

Justin Forsett vs. Atlanta Falcons

Justin Forsett seems to have locked down the starting job in Baltimore, and is averaging almost 15 touches per game. He also just recorded his first 100-yard game of the season, and notched his second touchdown in the last three contests. Now he’s taking on a Swiss-cheese Atlanta defense that’s given up 11 touchdowns to opposing runners—three more than any other team. This is a no-brainer. He needs to be in your lineup.

 

Brandon Oliver vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The reason owners should be all-in on Brandon Oliver is simply because of Philip Rivers. He’s slinging the pill and keeping defenses on their heels. This is allowing Oliver to be productive, even against tougher run defenses like the Jets. Kansas City is another tough matchup for any runner because they have not allowed a running back to smell the end zone yet. But this feels like the week the Chiefs finally give one up on the ground. Oliver is getting all the goal-line touches, making him a worthy flex option in Week 7.

 

Cecil Shorts vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 6 was the first time we saw all four of the Jags’ top receiving options suited up at the same time. What we also saw was who Blake Bortles prefers out of the group. Cecil Shorts hauled in 10 receptions for 103 yards, but more importantly, he was targeted 16 times. Allen Robinson was next on the list with nine targets. Shorts has a juicy matchup this week against the Browns, who have allowed an average of 31.5 fantasy points per game opposing receivers over the last two weeks.

 

Kendall Wright vs. Washington Redskins

Another player who burned me recently was Kendall Wright. I had him slotted firmly as a WR2 with mid-level WR1 upside last week against Jacksonville. And just like Big Ben the week before, Wright made me look like a complete novice. He posted a stat line of 1-6-0—arguably his worst game in his three-year career. Before last week, he had only dipped under five receptions one other time, and the expectation is that he will bounce back against a Washington defense that allows 22.8 fantasy points to wideouts.

 

Sits

 

Andy Dalton vs. Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts have given up eight passing touchdowns this year, but only five in the last five games (they faced Peyton Manning in Week 1). You combine that with Andy Dalton only having two multi-touchdown games and no A.J. Green to rely on, and you have the perfect recipe for mediocrity. Carson Palmer and Ryan Tannehill are both better options this week, given their softer matchups.

 

Austin Davis vs. Seattle Seahawks

Fantasy owners who were struggling at the quarterback position were dashing to the waiver wire to get their hands on Austin Davis, after his back-to-back 300-yard three-touchdown performances. But owners were slapped in the face with some reality this past week when Davis was shut down by a legit San Francisco 49ers defense. The Niners held Davis to 11 fantasy points, but he may not even see double-digit points this week. The Rams host the Seahawks who were just embarrassed at home by the Dallas Cowboys. It’s safe to say Seattle will get back on track on the defensive side of the ball, and at the expense of Davis.

 

Jerick McKinnon vs. Buffalo Bills

The Jerick McKinnon show finally took center stage this past week, as he notched his first-career start against the Detroit Lions. The plus that owners can take away is that McKinnon had 17 touches to Matt Asiata’s three, unveiling a shift taking place at the running back position in Minnesota. However, McKinnon owners may want to pump the breaks a bit and think twice about starting him against Buffalo. The Bills give up the fewest fantasy points per game (8.7) to running backs, and have not allowed a touchdown to opposing backs yet this year. If you’re decimated at the running back position like I am in a couple leagues, then you probably have no choice but to play him like I will be this week, but he should be on most benches with a low-end flex grade going into Sunday.

 

Pierre Thomas vs. Detroit Lions

The last time we heard from Pierre Thomas was in Week 5 when he went off for two touchdowns and 22 fantasy points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, owners will need to temper their expectations this week. The Saints will face the Detroit Lions on Sunday, and their defense only gives up 12.5 fantasy points to opposing runners. The Lions also give up just 73.5 yards per game on the ground. And let’s not forget the return of Mark Ingram this week, adding more chaos to an already chaotic backfield.

 

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Dallas Cowboys

Conventional thought would lead some to believe the absence of Victor Cruz in the Giants lineup would open things up for exciting rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. He’ll now be starting opposite Rueben Randle and should garner a few more targets per game. However, with Larry Donnell seemingly entrenched as Eli Manning’s top red zone option, and Randle now stepping into the No.-1 receiver role, Beckham may find it difficult to be effective against a Cowboys defense who gives up the fourth-fewest fantasy points (14.0). This matchup has ‘boom or bust’ written all over it.

T.Y. Hilton vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Owners are chomping at the bit to see what Hilton will do for an encore to last week’s 9-223-1 performance. And while some think it could be more of the same, there needs to be pause for concern here. The Bengals have only allowed one receiver (Steve Smith) to eclipse the 100-yard mark, and that was back in Week 1. Also, Cincy has only given up three touchdowns this year to the position. Production could likely end up in the WR3 range, when it’s all said and done.