FSH NOTEBOOK: FF WEEK 7 STARTS & SITS

October 21st, 2023

David’s Daily Digest

Saturday Evening Edition

Fantasy Football: Week 7 Starts & Sits

The available options off the Wire or from the free agent pool may feel scarce this week with six teams (Cincinnati, Carolina, Houston, Tennessee, Dallas, and New York Jets) on byes, but there are still plenty of streaming options available to fill lineup holes. With CeeDee Lamb, Nico Collins, Derrick Henry, and others taking the week off, fantasy managers will have to check in every nook and turn over every stone to find some fantasy value in Week 7.

Well, that’s why I am doing here. In my search under rocks and behind opened doors, here’s what I have found for the Week 7 slate.

Week 7 Starts

The Passers

Sam Howell (Commanders) Howell has been the fantasy QB3 the past two weeks passing for 539 yards with 5 touchdowns. A Week 7 matchup against a middle of the pack Giants defense puts Howell on the streaming radar.

Jordan Love (Packers) With the Packers coming off their Week 6 bye, Love and company are on the road at Denver. Love did not look good in his last game, back in Week 5, but nothing spells get-well better than the Broncos defense. The Broncos defense has allowed a top-7 performance to opposing quarterbacks in 3 of their last 4 games. The Pack are getting healthy with Christian Watson and Aaron Jones expected to be available, Love is in the streaming mix this week.

Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers) Mayfield versus the Falcons this week would be more of a reach play for fantasy managers in most leagues. The Falcons have allowed 4 passing touchdowns the past two weeks and Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans is now a couple of weeks removed from his hamstring injury before the team’s bye. With a healthier Evans, these two should hook-up for a score.

The Ball Carriers

Brian Robinson Jr (Commanders) Facing the Giants defense that is allowing more than 5-yards per carry this season, including over 140 yards on the ground per game for the last four weeks, Robinson Jr figures to get plenty of work. He’ll be a mid-to-high RB2 this week.

Jerome Ford (Browns) Over the past four weeks, the Colts defense has allowed the 6th most fantasy points to opposing running backs. The Browns running back Jerome Ford should find plenty of success this week. Consider him a strong RB2 this week.

Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots) The Patriots offense would like to keep the ball out of Josh Allen’s hands, so it’s safe to expect a heavy dose of the run game. In this one Stevenson is the preferred option in the Patriots backfield, now off the injury report. Facing the Bills defense that has been rolled the past two weeks surrendering over 250 yards on the ground and over 4 yards per carry. Stevenson figures as a back-end RB2 this week.

The Pass Catchers

Marquise Brown (Cardinals) The Seahawks secondary has allowed the 3rd most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Brown has been targeted 31 times over his last three games. This week Hollywood shows up.

Wan’Dale Robinson (Giants) The Giants receiver has been seeing a steady diet of targets  the past several weeks. In his last three games he’s been targeted 20 times, including 8 in Week 6. Over the past four weeks the Commanders defense has allowed the 3rd most receiving yards to opposing receivers. This matchup sits well for Robinson, he’s a WR3/flex play this week.

Zay Flowers (Ravens) I like this kid a lot this week against the Lions. He’s the clear number one and over the past three weeks, he’s getting 7.7 targets, 4.7 receptions, 59.7 yards per game. Over their last two games the Lions defense has allowed the 4th most receptions to opposing receivers. Flowers is a borderline WR2/WR3 play this week.

Mecole Hardman (Chiefs) Having just been traded back to his old team, Hardman could be a sneaky sleeper play this week. For weeks he was comatose in New York (Jeets), but he returns to a Chiefs team that has yet to find their big play receiver this season.

The tight ends

Cade Otton (Buccaneers) The Bucs have not gotten much production from the tight end spot this season, but fantasy managers with few options might want to take a flier on Otton this week when he faces the Falcons. The Falcons defense has had some trouble this season with the tight ends, allowing the 7th most fantasy points. With fewer options this week Otton, a boom or bust candidate, could score his second touchdown of the season on Sunday.

Michael Mayer (Raiders) Mayer is coming off his most productive game this season a week ago against the Patriots. With Brian Hoyer getting the start for injured Jimmy Garappolo against the Bears this Sunday, Mayer could be in line for continued success. The Bears have allowed the 5th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends over the past 4 weeks. Mayer could crack TE-1 scoring this week.

My Week 7 Sits

Russell Wilson (Broncos-QB) The Broncos play host this week and Wilson will get a taste of the Packers defense that allows the 5th fewest points to opposing quarterbacks. Wilson is coming off a poor Week 6 (Thursday night) showing and fantasy managers would be better served to steer clear.

Gus Edwards (Ravens-RB) Already in a crowded backfield that includes quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Ravens running back could struggle this week to find running room against the Lions. The Lions defense allows the 2nd fewest yards per carry and the 6th fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. 

Ram backfield - With Kyren Williams placed on IR, the Rams have added pieces and elevated players. It’s just a tough situation to predict and with the return of Cooper Kupp, head coach Sean McVay may place the ball in the hands of quarterback Matt Stafford. I’m avoiding this situation altogether.

Josh Downs (Colts-WR) Downs has been seeing steady work, but this week he draws a tough matchup against a very good Browns defense. The Browns have allowed the fewest fantasy points, receptions, and receiving yards to wide receivers this season. I am looking elsewhere this week.

Elijah Moore (Browns) Facing the Colts this week, Moore’s outlook is not good. First he’s only caught 6 passes for 39 yards the past two weeks, there’s uncertainty at the quarterback position this week (although Watson may return), and the Colts have allowed the 6th fewest fantasy points to wide receivers the past 4 weeks. I’m moving along here.

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: THE WAIVER WIRE

September 19th, 2023

David’s Daily Digest

Tuesday Evening Edition

The Waiver Wire

With two full weeks in the books, it’s time again to take a look at those rosters and check out the Waiver wire. With several significant injuries this past week and your championship hopes on the verge of being derailed, it might be time to work the wire and make the magic happen.

Week 3 Waiver wire options;

RB-Matt Breida (Giants) - With Saquon going down in week 2 and expected (although not ruled out yet) to miss Thursday night, running back Matt Breida looks to be the next man up. Breida is a career 4.8 yards per carry guy should fill the role fine in the short term. He may not be featured like Saquon, but he could be a low-end RB2/Flex option for the time being. Barkley isn’t expected to be out too long, so go get Breida if you have the need.

RB-Jerome Ford (Browns) - Following the very unfortunate season ending injury to Nick Chubb, Ford stepped in and did more than a commendable job. Ford carried the ball 16 times on Monday night for 106 yards and added 3 catches for another 25 yards. He also added a receiving touchdown finishing the week as RB6 (ppr). Odds are he won’t finish that high by season end, but he certainly looks like a guy he could be a borderline RB1/RB2.

RB-Jaylen Warren (Steelers) - This pickup, if Warren is available in your league, harbors on the fact that running back Najee Harris has just been ineffective the first two weeks of the season (74 rushing yards in two games). As Harris continues to lumber, Warren will continue to see his workload increase (10 touches on Monday night).

WR-DeVante Parker (Patriots) - Right now Parker is a fix for the flex spot in deeper leagues, but he should be owned. He has the talent to be a solid WR2 if he can stay healthy (11 games missed the past two seasons). Parker was targeted 8 times on Sunday night and pulled in six passes for 57 yards.

WR-Tutu Atwell (Rams) - With all the talk deservedly surrounding Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, quietly Atwell has made a case himself to be owned in fantasy leagues. After a week one stat line of 6 receptions for 119 yards, he followed that up with 7 catches for 77 yards this past Sunday. Atwell has been targeted 17 times over the first two weeks of the season. With that kind of volume he remains in the flex mix every week.

TE-Zach Ertz (Cardinals) - The fantasy tight end position can look like a wasteland at times, when you are checking weekly results. It becomes a tough spot to find production. But everyone knows before you have production, you must have that volume of opportunity. Over the past two weeks Ertz has been targeted 18 times. He’s also on the field plenty (72.4% snap share) for those opportunities. If you are streaming tight ends, it’s time to grab Ertz (11 receptions for 77 yards in 2023 - currently fantasy TE9.

A few more notables to consider and at the very least should be on your bench, if not already owned include, (WR) Josh Reynolds, (WR) Tank Dell, (WR) Jayden Reed, (RB) Zack Moss, (WR) Marvin Mims Jr, and (RB) Tony Jones Jr. These players could become steady contributors down the stretch. 

Others that could be in the cards down the road to provide some depth relief for the coming bye weeks and are worth watching now include (RB) Damien Harris, (RB) Roschon Johnson, and (WR) Chase Claypool.

Check your leagues for availability and good luck in week 3.

That's my take!

~David G. Ortega