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Quarterback
Start of the Week: Anthony Richardson (v MIA)
Richardson is set to return this week after missing two games with an oblique injury, and we can expect him to be at full strength after getting in a full practice ahead of Week 6 before being held out. Miami isn’t the best matchup with the third-fewest passing yards per game allowed in the league (159.6), but you’re starting Richardson based on what he can do as a runner—so I wouldn’t hesitate to get him back in lineups as an upside QB1. Also, time watching from the sideline can often benefit a young quarterback, and Richardson might be more settled down after seeing Joe Flacco run the offense for a couple of weeks.
Start: Jared Goff (@ MIN)
There is a low floor when facing the Vikings because of how effectively they can bring pressure to potentially ruin a game plan, but they’ve still allowed the third-most passing yards per game (263.0)—and Goff has been on fire by completing 83.7% of his passes for 303.5 yards per game and a 5:0 touchdown-interception ratio over the past two weeks. If the Detroit offensive line holds up as expected and Goff takes care of the ball, he should pay off as a top-ten option considering his play and all the weapons in Ben Johnson’s attack.
Start: Justin Herbert (@ ARI)
Herbert looked much healthier coming out of the bye after dealing with a high-ankle sprain to begin 2024, and he went for season-highs in completions (21), pass attempts (34), and passing yards (237) in the win over Denver. Not having to face Pat Surtain II (concussion) for most of the game helped, but Los Angeles might be more aggressive throwing the ball moving forward, and Monday night is a possible shootout opportunity. Overall, the outlook for Herbert is as favorable as it’s been all year.
Start: Andy Dalton (@ WAS)
The Commanders were at least able to record their first interception of the season last week, but they remain perhaps the worst pass defense in the league—allowing a 12:1 touchdown-interception ratio to opponents while ceding the third-most yards per attempt (8.1). Although he has cooled off since lighting it up in his season debut, Dalton has thrown for multiple touchdowns in three-of-four starts this season, and Carolina has certainly been willing to air it out. Look for that to continue this weekend as Dalton is forced to keep up with Jayden Daniels to make the veteran a quality streaming option.
Sit of the Week: Aaron Rodgers (@ PIT)
The rest-of-season value for Rodgers obviously shoots up with the Jets trading for Davante Adams, and the four-time NFL MVP has been extremely sharp in terms of his accuracy and precision this season. However, I wouldn’t rush to get Rodgers in lineups this week versus a Pittsburgh defense that hasn’t allowed a quarterback to reach 16.5 fantasy points in a game so far this year—and Mike Tomlin will have had two weeks to prepare for Adams ahead of what they’d like to make a low-scoring matchup.
Sit: Kyler Murray (v LAC)
Murray is a borderline QB1 because of what he can do as a runner, but the Cardinals could be without Marvin Harrison Jr. (concussion) on Monday night, and the Chargers have improved significantly on defense with the sixth-fewest yards per game (289.2) and fewest points per game (13.2) allowed through six weeks. The key to stopping Arizona’s offense this year has been keeping Murray contained as a runner, so look for that to be a focus for Los Angeles—and the former No. 1 overall pick notably has just one game with multiple touchdown passes this season.
Sit: Drake Maye (@ JAX)
Maye threw for three scores in his first career start, and many are ready to put him in the high-end QB2 ranks as a dual-threat passer with a relatively high fantasy ceiling (19.52 points last week). I’m worried about the Jacksonville pass rush coming alive versus a very shaky offensive line, though, and Maye didn’t deal with pressure well despite the numbers against Houston—also turning it over three times and being sacked four times. Based on the floor in New England’s offense, I’d look elsewhere.
Sit: Bo Nix (@ NO)
We remain higher than on Nix as anyone, and I think he’ll eventually have a breakout performance where he lights an opponent up through the air. That said, much of the production for the No. 12 overall pick has come with Denver trailing—as was the case last week—and that might not happen versus an undermanned New Orleans squad on a short week. With the Broncos struggling to create separation and Courtland Sutton set to see a lot of Marshon Lattimore, you’re probably banking on Nix to do damage as a runner to finish as more than a low-end QB2.
Running Back
Start of the Week: J.K. Dobbins (@ ARI)
Dobbins had a difficult matchup last week in Denver, but he saw a monster workload with 27 touches—and it’s clear the Chargers will lean on him in a big way with Gus Edwards (ankle) out. Assuming he gets another 20+ touches, Dobbins is positioned to have a huge outing versus an Arizona defense that has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game (153.0) with two weeks where enemy backfields have gone for 36.0+ fantasy points. Dobbins should be at least a borderline RB1/RB2 on Monday night.
Start: Tank Bigsby (v NE)
Bigsby is set to draw the start for Jacksonville this weekend with Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) out, and the former Auburn standout has showed very well in 2024 with 41 attempts for 297 yards (7.2 YPC) and two touchdowns. Now, he’ll have the clear short-yardage role with increased opportunities in the passing game, and the Patriots are allowing a healthy 4.6 yards per carry this season. With rain in the forecast for the Jags’ second London game, Bigsby should be fed as they try to climb out of a 1-5 start.
Start: Kareem Hunt (@ SF)
It was good to see rookie Carson Steele wasn’t totally phased out in Week 5 after losing a fumble against the Chargers the prior week, but Hunt was the no-doubt feature back—turning 28 touches into 117 yards and a touchdown. While the Chiefs didn’t have a ton of success running the ball against San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII, Isiah Pacheco still saw 24 touches for 92 yards, so we can at least expect Andy Reid will want to have balance. Even if Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) returns and is active this week, Hunt will be a top-24 option at the position.
Start: Tyrone Tracy Jr. (v PHI)
Devin Singletary (groin) should be back on Sunday, but Tracy has earned the lead role for his work over the past two weeks—totaling 130 yards in a win over Seattle and being the primary source of offense with 107 yards and a score in the loss to Cincinnati. The Eagles are very inconsistent defending the run with 4.8 yards per carry allowed on the season, and Tracy’s pass-catching skills being highlighted last week is something that should continue. Keep rolling with the impressive rookie as a low-end RB2/FLEX play.
Sit of the Week: Jordan Mason (v KC)
Mason is a clear start and comfortably sits in the top 20 at running back, but the Chiefs have shown an ability to stop the run at a high level by allowing just 3.7 yards per carry—including being the only team to bottle up Derrick Henry (13 carries for 46 yards and one touchdown). So, the matchup combined with Mason dealing with a shoulder injury that limited him to one snap last Thursday night creates some risk to give fantasy owners something to think about if stacked with quality options at running back and/or the FLEX spot.
Sit: Rachaad White (v BAL)
The Ravens have been suffocating versus the run with NFL-lows in yards per game (59.0) and yards per carry (3.0) allowed—so White returning from a groin injury this week would put him in an unfavorable spot. And perhaps more importantly, the starter now faces the prospects of a three-man committee with Sean Tucker having a breakout game alongside rookie Bucky Irving in Week 6. The receiving ability is something you can hang your hat on if forced to play White, but we currently have him as our overall RB38 for Week 7.
Sit: Chase Brown (@ CLE)
Brown’s stock is rising after he drew the start over Zack Moss last week and sealed the game with a 30-yard touchdown—but he only had nine carries for 23 yards before his final attempt, and Cleveland showed they can still limit the run by holding the big-play-seeking Saquon Barkley to 18 carries for 47 scoreless yards in Week 6. Plus, for as bad as things have been for the Browns, the entire team should get a boost with Nick Chubb (knee) making his season debut, and Brown (62% snaps played last week) continues splitting work with Moss (45%).
Sit: David Montgomery (@ MIN)
I’m not advising fantasy owners to bench a running back in Montgomery that has gone for fantasy-point totals of 15.8, 15.0, 19.7, 14.5, and 20.5 so far this season—but expectations should be kept in check versus a Minnesota defense that only trails Baltimore in rushing yards per game allowed (67.2) and held Montgomery to 55 and 40 rushing yards in their 2023 meetings. With the Vikings allowing just one touchdown on the ground this season, Montgomery’s outlook should be lowered to more of an RB2 than RB1 with 12 or fewer carries in three-of-five games.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: Diontae Johnson (@ WAS)
Aside from a predictable quiet week versus a stout Chicago defense, Johnson has gone for lines of 8/122/1, 7/83/1, and 6/78/1 in Andy Dalton’s starts—and he’s now in position to go off versus a Washington secondary that allowed Zay Flowers to catch nine-of-nine targets for 132 yards in the first half last week. Other than Flowers, we’ve seen Chris Godwin (8/83/1), Mike Evans (5/61/2), Malik Nabers (10/127/1), Ja’Marr Chase (6/118/2), and Flowers (9/132) destroy the Commanders, and Johnson should be next as the focal point of the Carolina passing attack.
Start: Romeo Doubs (v HOU)
Texans-Packers has the makings of a shootout, so all the pass-catchers are worth considering in lineups—including Doubs after he returned from a one-game suspension to catch two touchdowns in Week 6. On the season, Doubs is now up to 14.5 yards per reception and 9.1 yards per target, and the role in scoring territory is something that should continue (he could have easily had two scores in the opener). I like him as a low-end WR2/FLEX option this weekend with Houston allowing the second-most touchdown passes in the league (12).
Start: Christian Kirk (v NE)
Kirk was quiet last week in a tough spot versus the Bears, but he was heating up with lines of 8/79, 7/61/1, and 4/88 in the previous three games—and the 27-year-old should be featured on Sunday while mostly avoiding top cornerback Christian Gonzalez. With the Patriots playing a lot of man coverage and Kirk often being more of a factor against man coverage, he should bring a nice combination of upside and floor with New England just struggling to stick with Stefon Diggs (6/77/1) and Tank Dell (7/57/1) in a 41-21 loss.
Start: Ladd McConkey (@ ARI)
The Chargers opening up the passing attack will certainly benefit McConkey in the weeks ahead, and he’s coming off a season-high eight targets versus a stingy Denver defense after a 5/67/1 line versus Kansas City prior to the bye. With the Cardinals allowing the second-most yards per attempt in the league, I like all three of McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Joshua Palmer—but the rookie is the clear top guy from a fantasy perspective and ranks as a definite top-36 option with a case to be in the top 30 for this week.
Others: Jameson Williams (@ MIN), Jordan Addison (v DET)
Sit of the Week: George Pickens (v NYJ)
Although the Steelers switching to Russell Wilson at quarterback will be a definite boost for Pickens’ rest-of-season outlook, Sunday night won’t be a great spot for him to immediately get going—as the talented wideout should see a bunch of Sauce Gardner on the outside. The hope for anyone rolling with Pickens would be that D.J. Reed (groin) is out and Gardner doesn’t travel, but I highly doubt that would be the case; I’d wait until another primetime opportunity next Monday night against the Giants to get Pickens in lineups.
Sit: Amari Cooper (v TEN)
Cooper is another wide receiver that will see increased value the rest of the way thanks to a trade that sent him to Buffalo—but I’d imagine he’ll have a limited role for at least this week as the former Pro Bowler adjusts to a new offense. Even if he were to play a full complement of snaps, Cooper gets a tough draw versus L’Jarius Sneed and a top-ranked Tennessee pass defense that has allowed the fewest passing yards (137.0) and yards per attempt (5.5) in the league. Consider Cooper a shaky FLEX that might even be a decoy more than anything else in his Bills debut.
Sit: Courtland Sutton (@ NO)
Sutton had a highlight touchdown grab last week and continues to be the only Denver pass-catcher you can feel good about in lineups, but Thursday night will be tough versus a New Orleans secondary that fares best against bigger wideouts—which we have seen with Mike Evans over the years, including last week with two receptions (on six targets) for 34 scoreless yards. The Broncos will ideally lean on the running game and defense if they can on a short week, and I’d look for the speed of Marvin Mims Jr. and rookie Troy Franklin to potentially be more of a priority based on the matchup.
Sit: Garrett Wilson (@ PIT)
Davante Adams should draw coverage away from Garrett Wilson to help the New York offense from a real-life perspective, but it’s tough to argue the move will be a good thing for Wilson’s fantasy value—as Aaron Rodgers could often be locking onto his old friend (especially in key spots and in scoring territory). In general, I think Wilson should remain highly productive but with increased volatility, so a matchup against Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers on Sunday night might slant towards being a floor game for him as more of a low-end WR2 that won’t have the same kind of touchdown potential if Adams is immediately a full-time player.
Others: Tee Higgins (@ CLE), Michael Pittman Jr. (v MIA)
Tight End
Start: of the Week: Dalton Schultz (@ GB)
The production was modest with four receptions for 27 scoreless yards, but Schultz saw a season-high eight targets in the first game without Nico Collins (hamstring) in the lineup—and this week sets up better for him and the Houston passing attack for a potential shootout. Also, Schultz is bound to find the end zone sooner or later with zero touchdowns on the season, and Green Bay has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends (10.8).
Start: Noah Fant (@ ATL)
Fant hasn’t shown a huge ceiling so far this season, but he’s at least been involved on a weekly basis and has actually caught all 17 passes thrown his direction over the past four weeks—including two games with 60+ yards. With the Falcons allowing tight ends to surpass 40 receiving yards in five-of-six games to begin the season, Fant should be a solid streaming option for those seeking at least decent production at the position.
Start: Grant Calcaterra (@ NYG)
If Dallas Goedert (hamstring) is unable to go this weekend, Calcaterra will get a chance to build on what he did last week with four receptions (on four targets) for 67 yards—and the Giants allowed Goedert to catch seven passes for 71 yards in last season’s first matchup (Philadelphia pulled the starters early in Week 18). The concern would be the Eagles playing too much through Saquon Barkley versus his former team with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith featured through the air, but Calcaterra is worth a look.
Sit of the Week: Colby Parkinson (v LV)
Parkinson will go from a “sit” to a “start” if Cooper Kupp (ankle) is out again, but I don’t think we can expect Matthew Stafford to target him 13 times like he did in the loss to Green Bay prior to the bye if his favorite target is back; that makes Parkinson more of a touchdown-dependent TE2 that has yet to find the end zone with just one reception on six targets in scoring territory to begin the season.
Sit: Tyler Conklin (@ PIT)
Before a difficult matchup on Monday night, Conklin seemed to be heading in the right direction with target totals of six, eight, and nine in the previous three weeks. Unfortunately for anyone counting on him at a frustrating position, Conklin might go back to being an afterthought with Davante Adams in town—and Aaron Rodgers has never been one to play through tight ends on a consistent basis.
Sit: Mike Gesicki (@ CLE)
Gesicki has still been on the field for a nice chunk of passing plays for Cincinnati, but Tee Higgins being back and in a full-time role has limited his production—resulting in negative-nine yards, 31 yards, and zero yards over the past three weeks. The athletic weapon is another tight end that has yet to find the end zone through six weeks, so I’d rather go with someone like Noah Fant that has a more stable path to targets.