Eli Manning gave fantasy managers -- whoever's still starting him -- his first QB1 performance of the season thanks to an essentially last-second, one-yard TD pass to OBJ. And that score catapulted OBJ to the top of the Week 7 WR fantasy scoring list, with the continually underrated Sterling Shepard not far behind. Facing the fourth worst pass defense in the league, the Giants came through.
They still lost, of course, and the 2-14 record I suggested was entirely possible last week remains firmly in play. If they lose to Washington next week, they'll head into the bye 1-7 with one more decent chance of a victory (the Niners in Week 9) before their next decent chance arrives (the Titans in Week 14). Again, don't be surprised if Eli calls it quits -- or is forced to call it quits -- before this season ends.
Meanwhile, after a 1-4 start, the Falcons have won two straight to remain relevant. This brief honeymoon probably will end in the coming weeks with road games against Washington, New Orleans, and Green Bay, as well as a home tilt vs. Baltimore. This is an 8-8 team at best. On offense they're #1 in passing yards. But their running game is sub-par, while their defense is atrocious. Good news obviously for Matt Ryan & company in the fantasy realm. Ryan is now #2 in QB fantasy scoring, while Julio Jones is nestled in as the #7 WR, while good ol' Austin Hooper is #7 at TE. It's a bad time to be a Falcons fan, but a good time to roster Falcons.
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Oakland somehow landed a first rounder for Amari Cooper yesterday, washing their hands of the #4 overall pick in the 2015 draft. Cooper proved his worth in his first two seasons before falling off last year and on into this year. Dallas now has a potential #1 receiver for Dak Prescott, though it's anyone's guess whether this change of scenery will matter. Dak Prescott hasn't proven himself to be any better than Derek Carr, and unlike in Oakland, the Dallas offense runs through its backfield, while a smattering of middling receivers (Allen Hurns, Cole Beasley, and Tavon Austin) dot the Texas landscape. Michael Gallup remains an intriguing rising star. It's hard to imagine him and Cooper thriving together.
Of course, the Cowboys gave up a first rounder for Cooper, so maybe they plan to pepper him with passes. The most likely scenario is a more muddled mess featuring Cooper, Gallup, and Beasley with a side order of Hurns, Austin, and Geoff Swaim. I doubt anyone averages more than seven targets as this non-playoff team plays out the season and reasseses its not-quite-good-enough roster in the spring.
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At QB, I'm still pushing Mitch Trubisky because he remains unrostered in 49% of ESPN leagues. I've hyped him the past eight days more than any other player, so no need to re-hash it. Another guy I've been promoting, Brock Osweiler (96% Available), faces a potentially tough Houston D on the road in Week 8. That said, if he can hold off Ryan Tannehill longer, he'll be a solid streamer against the Jets Week 9 and, later, during a three-game stretch vs. the Colts, Bills, and Patriots.
At RB, Latavius Murray (29% Available) is a must-roster in every league, even if Dalvin Cook returns. Raheem Mostert (96% Available) would be a fantastic plug-and-play if Matt Breida's ankle injury sidelines him Sunday against a terrible Arizona run D. Jalen Richard (83% Available) or Doug Martin (also 83% Available) will be streamable at home against the Colts; both should be rostered in most leagues. Austin Ekeler (30% Available) will fare better Week 9 than he did this past Sunday if Melvin Gordon somehow remains out -- and possibly even if Gordon returns. Chris Ivory (91% Available) could earn another start if he gets healthy and LeSean McCoy doesn't, while the plays-better-in-short-spurts Marcus Murphy (100% Available) could be a desperation streamer if McCoy and Ivory sit, though I still wouldn't trust Murphy as more than an RB3/4. And Nick Chubb (21% Available) obviously should be 100% rostered.
At WR, as shared yesterday, Tre'Quan Smith (91% Available) is vastly under-rostered and should roll this season as the Saints' #2 wideout. With Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills hurting -- and DeVante Parker just a guy cashing paychecks -- Danny Amendola (76% Available) could be Osweiler's #1 target in Week 8. Meanwhile, Martavis Bryant (98% Available) or Seth Roberts (100% Available) will pop (relatively speaking) starting opposite Jordy Nelson, making one a solid weekly flyer in deep leagues.
At TE, Vance McDonald (59% Available) keeps coming up on this blog. If you don't have a TE1, he'll give you more upside than any other TE on waivers.
They still lost, of course, and the 2-14 record I suggested was entirely possible last week remains firmly in play. If they lose to Washington next week, they'll head into the bye 1-7 with one more decent chance of a victory (the Niners in Week 9) before their next decent chance arrives (the Titans in Week 14). Again, don't be surprised if Eli calls it quits -- or is forced to call it quits -- before this season ends.
Meanwhile, after a 1-4 start, the Falcons have won two straight to remain relevant. This brief honeymoon probably will end in the coming weeks with road games against Washington, New Orleans, and Green Bay, as well as a home tilt vs. Baltimore. This is an 8-8 team at best. On offense they're #1 in passing yards. But their running game is sub-par, while their defense is atrocious. Good news obviously for Matt Ryan & company in the fantasy realm. Ryan is now #2 in QB fantasy scoring, while Julio Jones is nestled in as the #7 WR, while good ol' Austin Hooper is #7 at TE. It's a bad time to be a Falcons fan, but a good time to roster Falcons.
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Oakland somehow landed a first rounder for Amari Cooper yesterday, washing their hands of the #4 overall pick in the 2015 draft. Cooper proved his worth in his first two seasons before falling off last year and on into this year. Dallas now has a potential #1 receiver for Dak Prescott, though it's anyone's guess whether this change of scenery will matter. Dak Prescott hasn't proven himself to be any better than Derek Carr, and unlike in Oakland, the Dallas offense runs through its backfield, while a smattering of middling receivers (Allen Hurns, Cole Beasley, and Tavon Austin) dot the Texas landscape. Michael Gallup remains an intriguing rising star. It's hard to imagine him and Cooper thriving together.
Of course, the Cowboys gave up a first rounder for Cooper, so maybe they plan to pepper him with passes. The most likely scenario is a more muddled mess featuring Cooper, Gallup, and Beasley with a side order of Hurns, Austin, and Geoff Swaim. I doubt anyone averages more than seven targets as this non-playoff team plays out the season and reasseses its not-quite-good-enough roster in the spring.
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At QB, I'm still pushing Mitch Trubisky because he remains unrostered in 49% of ESPN leagues. I've hyped him the past eight days more than any other player, so no need to re-hash it. Another guy I've been promoting, Brock Osweiler (96% Available), faces a potentially tough Houston D on the road in Week 8. That said, if he can hold off Ryan Tannehill longer, he'll be a solid streamer against the Jets Week 9 and, later, during a three-game stretch vs. the Colts, Bills, and Patriots.
At RB, Latavius Murray (29% Available) is a must-roster in every league, even if Dalvin Cook returns. Raheem Mostert (96% Available) would be a fantastic plug-and-play if Matt Breida's ankle injury sidelines him Sunday against a terrible Arizona run D. Jalen Richard (83% Available) or Doug Martin (also 83% Available) will be streamable at home against the Colts; both should be rostered in most leagues. Austin Ekeler (30% Available) will fare better Week 9 than he did this past Sunday if Melvin Gordon somehow remains out -- and possibly even if Gordon returns. Chris Ivory (91% Available) could earn another start if he gets healthy and LeSean McCoy doesn't, while the plays-better-in-short-spurts Marcus Murphy (100% Available) could be a desperation streamer if McCoy and Ivory sit, though I still wouldn't trust Murphy as more than an RB3/4. And Nick Chubb (21% Available) obviously should be 100% rostered.
At WR, as shared yesterday, Tre'Quan Smith (91% Available) is vastly under-rostered and should roll this season as the Saints' #2 wideout. With Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills hurting -- and DeVante Parker just a guy cashing paychecks -- Danny Amendola (76% Available) could be Osweiler's #1 target in Week 8. Meanwhile, Martavis Bryant (98% Available) or Seth Roberts (100% Available) will pop (relatively speaking) starting opposite Jordy Nelson, making one a solid weekly flyer in deep leagues.
At TE, Vance McDonald (59% Available) keeps coming up on this blog. If you don't have a TE1, he'll give you more upside than any other TE on waivers.