"If you are meek, gutless, schizophrenic, masochistic, lazy, gullible, indecisive, illiterate, easily distracted, criminally minded, an excuse maker, a hallucinator, a self-doubter, depraved, or Internet-deprived, then fantasy football is not for you."
That's from the first chapter of "Fantasy Football for Winners," and it's as true today as it was when I wrote it. And it's an appropriate lead-in to another rundown of a wild Sunday of football.
Titans -- The running game finally got going. Derrick Henry got the score, but Dion Lewis out-touched him (19-13) and thoroughly out-played him.
Chargers -- Tyrell Williams went off for 118 yards for the second straight week, and now has three TDs in that stretch. A weekly boom-bust option given his limited targets, Williams nonetheless has proven to be a capable receiver throughout his brief career.
Patriots -- New England pulled out this highly entertaining game despite losing Sony Michel to a potentially serious knee injury. Journeyman (and 2017 Super Bowl champ) Kenjon Barner could be a great low-risk add this week if Michel's forced to miss time. The Pats could also look to free agency. Whoever lines up next to James White in the backfield should be on all fantasy radars.
Bears -- I hyped up Mitch Trubisky three times in my previous six columns. He was favorite waiver pickup (Tuesday), one of my top Week 7 bargains (Saturday), and the cornerstone of Sunday's "ideal" 50/50 lineup. I rarely go out on such a limb about such an undervalued player. Out of 45 national experts, he was Week 7's 16th ranked QB out of 28 starters. While far from perfect, he was yesterday's second-highest-scoring QB. That's a scary thought.
Bills -- Buffalo has two TDs and 11 turnovers in their past four games. Fortunately, they can revel in their players' modest fantasy success -- for example, Chris Ivory and Kelvin Benjamin. If LeSean McCoy's injury is serious, Ivory could become a weekly RB2/3. And if the completely overmatched Derek Anderson somehow earns another start, expect continued chemistry with his former Carolina teammate Kelvin Benjamin.
Colts -- T.Y. Hilton rewarded patient fantasy managers (like me) with a borderline WR1 performance. The bigger story is Marlon Mack's destruction of the Bills' D. I poo-poo'd Mack this summer, and he's proven me very wrong the past two weeks.
Vikings -- After a slow start to the season, Latavius Murray has looked like a bellcow back the past two weeks. The risk here is that when Dalvin Cook returns, Minnesota probably won't want to give Cook an out-sized workload. We could be looking at a timeshare, which I wouldn't have strongly considered a couple weeks ago.
Jets -- Sam Darnold was completely outmatched in this one. There will some ups and plenty of downs for the rookie. But the Vikings owned a bottom-8 pass defense coming into Sunday. Darnold needed to do better.
Panthers -- A mind-numbingly impressive comeback for a road team that trailed by 17 with 11 minutes left and by 11 with just over four minutes remaining. Cam Newton comes through with an improbably near-elite QB outing and now has five straight games with multiple TDs. He'll enter Week 8 among the top 8 fantasy QB scorers, and with his bye already completed, he remains a great bet to finish the year in the top 3.
Eagles -- This one hurt. Philly's now in pretty big trouble at 3-4. They need to go 7-2 to have a great shot at the postseason; 6-3 probably won't cut it unless Washington slows down. In the fantasy universe, Zach Ertz continues to shock and amaze. My apologies for urging folks to sell high a couple weeks ago. He's on pace for a record-setting TE season.
Lions -- Kerryon Johnson continues to impress, and has now exceeded 5.3 YPC in five straight contests. Incredible.
Dolphins -- Two notable stories. First, I've been urging some of you to stick with Kenyan Drake -- that eventually Miami will once again figure out how to use him. While Detroit's terrible run D is not a great indicator of future success, Drake remains a sneaky hold as we get closer to the fantasy playoffs. Also, Brock Osweiler continues to outshine the sidelined Ryan Tannehill -- another in a long line of Miami backups to do just that. He's on the verge of supplanting Tannehill for the rest of the year.
Browns -- Nick Chubb rebounded mightily after a slow start, far exceeding my expectations for the rookie against a tough Bucs run D. He'll be an RB2 going forward.
Buccaneers -- A reader asked me a week ago why I was so down on Jameis Winston. "Is it personal?" he asked. Yesterday should help answer that question. No, it's never personal. But Winston is a middling NFL QB who simply can't match teammate Ryan Fitzpatrick's early-season numbers. With upcoming road games against Cincy and Carolina, and then a tough matchup vs. Washington, the Bucs' postseason prospects -- and Winston's prospects as Tampa Bay's long-term franchise QB -- could come down to these three games.
Texans -- Lamar Miller was one of my biggest bargains of the week, and he came through. That should help his value heading into fantasy league trade deadlines. It's also important to mention that Keke Coutee's expected to miss Week 8 with a hamstring injury, while Deshaun Watson continues to play hurt.
Jaguars -- After a solid start to the season, Blake Bortles has collapsed in 2+ games: three TDs and eight turnovers. Cody Kessler could get the nod for the reeling 3-4 Jags next weekend against the Eagles, making him a fortuitous streamer in two-QB leagues.
Rams -- They make it look easy. Averaging nearly 34 points per game, this team obviously has serious 19-0 potential. Malcolm Brown continues to soak up backup RB touches, helping to cement his positioning as a must-roster handcuff in nearly every league.
49ers -- Matt Breida's 1A role in San Fran's backfield came to a screeching halt Sunday; he ran poorly, lost a fumble, and was forced out early after re-injuring his ankle. A glass-half-full view would suggest the Niners were out of this by midway through the third quarter anyway, and a healthy Breida remains the most talented RB in this backfield. After all, he was logging 6.8 yards per game entering Week 7. That said, Raheem Mostert is a clear threat to Breida's startability in the near term.
Cowboys -- Cole Beasley once again led the way in targets and receptions. His return to relevance could be short-lived, however, as rookie Michael Gallup has a higher ceiling.
Redskins -- Washington won this one on the defensive end and in their backfield, where Adrian Peterson continued to surprise me, while Kapri Bibbs was effective as Chris Thompson's replacement. This team is near the bottom of the league in passing attempts per game, making the running game that much more important.
Saints -- Tre'Quan Smith started opposite Michael Thomas and caught three balls on six targets. The preseason phenom is officially a must-roster WR in every league, with top-35 potential the rest of the way. Cam Meredith? Zero targets. Don't think Meredith's 2016 "breakout" earns him a fantasy roster spot two years later. Smith is the guy to have.
Ravens -- Let's put this in perspective: Justin Tucker entered Sunday having never missed an extra point attempt: 220-for-220. He's also 116-for-118 inside the 40-yard-line. Yet his missed extra point in the closing seconds of yesterday's game could end up costing Baltimore a postseason berth. Utterly insane. From a more interesting fantasy perspective, John Brown kept me humble by going off again.
Bengals -- The consensus 7th-ranked QB for Week 7, Andy Dalton was a disaster. Next week's home matchup vs. the Bucs will be an entirely different story. And with a pretty favorable fantasy playoff schedule, he's a terrific buy-low option in 2-QB leagues.
Chiefs -- Patrick Mahomes does it again, continuing his historically torrid offensive output. More interestingly, Spencer Ware had his best game since 2016, compiling 89 yards on only 11 touches. If Kareem Hunt goes down, Ware probably would be an RB1. I've been pushing him hard since July, and he's rostered in only 3% of ESPN leagues. It should be at least 50%.
That's from the first chapter of "Fantasy Football for Winners," and it's as true today as it was when I wrote it. And it's an appropriate lead-in to another rundown of a wild Sunday of football.
Titans -- The running game finally got going. Derrick Henry got the score, but Dion Lewis out-touched him (19-13) and thoroughly out-played him.
Chargers -- Tyrell Williams went off for 118 yards for the second straight week, and now has three TDs in that stretch. A weekly boom-bust option given his limited targets, Williams nonetheless has proven to be a capable receiver throughout his brief career.
Patriots -- New England pulled out this highly entertaining game despite losing Sony Michel to a potentially serious knee injury. Journeyman (and 2017 Super Bowl champ) Kenjon Barner could be a great low-risk add this week if Michel's forced to miss time. The Pats could also look to free agency. Whoever lines up next to James White in the backfield should be on all fantasy radars.
Bears -- I hyped up Mitch Trubisky three times in my previous six columns. He was favorite waiver pickup (Tuesday), one of my top Week 7 bargains (Saturday), and the cornerstone of Sunday's "ideal" 50/50 lineup. I rarely go out on such a limb about such an undervalued player. Out of 45 national experts, he was Week 7's 16th ranked QB out of 28 starters. While far from perfect, he was yesterday's second-highest-scoring QB. That's a scary thought.
Bills -- Buffalo has two TDs and 11 turnovers in their past four games. Fortunately, they can revel in their players' modest fantasy success -- for example, Chris Ivory and Kelvin Benjamin. If LeSean McCoy's injury is serious, Ivory could become a weekly RB2/3. And if the completely overmatched Derek Anderson somehow earns another start, expect continued chemistry with his former Carolina teammate Kelvin Benjamin.
Colts -- T.Y. Hilton rewarded patient fantasy managers (like me) with a borderline WR1 performance. The bigger story is Marlon Mack's destruction of the Bills' D. I poo-poo'd Mack this summer, and he's proven me very wrong the past two weeks.
Vikings -- After a slow start to the season, Latavius Murray has looked like a bellcow back the past two weeks. The risk here is that when Dalvin Cook returns, Minnesota probably won't want to give Cook an out-sized workload. We could be looking at a timeshare, which I wouldn't have strongly considered a couple weeks ago.
Jets -- Sam Darnold was completely outmatched in this one. There will some ups and plenty of downs for the rookie. But the Vikings owned a bottom-8 pass defense coming into Sunday. Darnold needed to do better.
Panthers -- A mind-numbingly impressive comeback for a road team that trailed by 17 with 11 minutes left and by 11 with just over four minutes remaining. Cam Newton comes through with an improbably near-elite QB outing and now has five straight games with multiple TDs. He'll enter Week 8 among the top 8 fantasy QB scorers, and with his bye already completed, he remains a great bet to finish the year in the top 3.
Eagles -- This one hurt. Philly's now in pretty big trouble at 3-4. They need to go 7-2 to have a great shot at the postseason; 6-3 probably won't cut it unless Washington slows down. In the fantasy universe, Zach Ertz continues to shock and amaze. My apologies for urging folks to sell high a couple weeks ago. He's on pace for a record-setting TE season.
Lions -- Kerryon Johnson continues to impress, and has now exceeded 5.3 YPC in five straight contests. Incredible.
Dolphins -- Two notable stories. First, I've been urging some of you to stick with Kenyan Drake -- that eventually Miami will once again figure out how to use him. While Detroit's terrible run D is not a great indicator of future success, Drake remains a sneaky hold as we get closer to the fantasy playoffs. Also, Brock Osweiler continues to outshine the sidelined Ryan Tannehill -- another in a long line of Miami backups to do just that. He's on the verge of supplanting Tannehill for the rest of the year.
Browns -- Nick Chubb rebounded mightily after a slow start, far exceeding my expectations for the rookie against a tough Bucs run D. He'll be an RB2 going forward.
Buccaneers -- A reader asked me a week ago why I was so down on Jameis Winston. "Is it personal?" he asked. Yesterday should help answer that question. No, it's never personal. But Winston is a middling NFL QB who simply can't match teammate Ryan Fitzpatrick's early-season numbers. With upcoming road games against Cincy and Carolina, and then a tough matchup vs. Washington, the Bucs' postseason prospects -- and Winston's prospects as Tampa Bay's long-term franchise QB -- could come down to these three games.
Texans -- Lamar Miller was one of my biggest bargains of the week, and he came through. That should help his value heading into fantasy league trade deadlines. It's also important to mention that Keke Coutee's expected to miss Week 8 with a hamstring injury, while Deshaun Watson continues to play hurt.
Jaguars -- After a solid start to the season, Blake Bortles has collapsed in 2+ games: three TDs and eight turnovers. Cody Kessler could get the nod for the reeling 3-4 Jags next weekend against the Eagles, making him a fortuitous streamer in two-QB leagues.
Rams -- They make it look easy. Averaging nearly 34 points per game, this team obviously has serious 19-0 potential. Malcolm Brown continues to soak up backup RB touches, helping to cement his positioning as a must-roster handcuff in nearly every league.
49ers -- Matt Breida's 1A role in San Fran's backfield came to a screeching halt Sunday; he ran poorly, lost a fumble, and was forced out early after re-injuring his ankle. A glass-half-full view would suggest the Niners were out of this by midway through the third quarter anyway, and a healthy Breida remains the most talented RB in this backfield. After all, he was logging 6.8 yards per game entering Week 7. That said, Raheem Mostert is a clear threat to Breida's startability in the near term.
Cowboys -- Cole Beasley once again led the way in targets and receptions. His return to relevance could be short-lived, however, as rookie Michael Gallup has a higher ceiling.
Redskins -- Washington won this one on the defensive end and in their backfield, where Adrian Peterson continued to surprise me, while Kapri Bibbs was effective as Chris Thompson's replacement. This team is near the bottom of the league in passing attempts per game, making the running game that much more important.
Saints -- Tre'Quan Smith started opposite Michael Thomas and caught three balls on six targets. The preseason phenom is officially a must-roster WR in every league, with top-35 potential the rest of the way. Cam Meredith? Zero targets. Don't think Meredith's 2016 "breakout" earns him a fantasy roster spot two years later. Smith is the guy to have.
Ravens -- Let's put this in perspective: Justin Tucker entered Sunday having never missed an extra point attempt: 220-for-220. He's also 116-for-118 inside the 40-yard-line. Yet his missed extra point in the closing seconds of yesterday's game could end up costing Baltimore a postseason berth. Utterly insane. From a more interesting fantasy perspective, John Brown kept me humble by going off again.
Bengals -- The consensus 7th-ranked QB for Week 7, Andy Dalton was a disaster. Next week's home matchup vs. the Bucs will be an entirely different story. And with a pretty favorable fantasy playoff schedule, he's a terrific buy-low option in 2-QB leagues.
Chiefs -- Patrick Mahomes does it again, continuing his historically torrid offensive output. More interestingly, Spencer Ware had his best game since 2016, compiling 89 yards on only 11 touches. If Kareem Hunt goes down, Ware probably would be an RB1. I've been pushing him hard since July, and he's rostered in only 3% of ESPN leagues. It should be at least 50%.