Game Previews: All Fantasy Relevant Players For Week 7

Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire

Each week, our staff here at QB List will be previewing all the fantasy-relevant things you should be on the lookout for in this week’s games. Today, we preview all the upcoming Week 6 action.

Texans vs. Jaguars

Texans

Quarterbacks

QB Deshaun Watson is showing what we all thought we’d see last year. Since last year he’s gone eight straight games with at least one interception. In this league, turnovers are usually a lot more costly than in college. He’s received minimal help from his offensive line, but there are still times where he holds the ball far too long. This Sunday’s matchup should be a big test – he’ll be facing a Jaguar team that is looking for vengeance after giving up 30+ points in back to back weeks. It’ll be interesting to see how much time Watson gets to make throws in this one – I don’t anticipate it being a good statistical day for him, but I’ve been wrong before.

Wide Receivers

it’s been a weird stretch for the Jaguar defense, like I highlighted above. Normally a defense to stream away from, they’ve become very beatable. That is, unless you have an offensive line like Houston does. The horrible line play affects both the running and the passing game. Obviously, if you own WR DeAndre Hopkins, you have to start him. He’ll be shadowed by CB Jaylen Ramsey, which will be a challenge. This makes starting WR Keke Coutee, an intriguing idea. Hopefully you have options, but if you own Will Fuller V, Coutee might be the better play here, given Fuller’s lingering injury and the fact he’ll get the second best coverage option in CB AJ Bouye. Coutee has been a good outlet for Watson, either when the pocket has broken down or after Watson fails to go through all his progressions correctly.

Running Backs

This position is barely worth mentioning given the season-long ineptitude. RB Lamar Miller isn’t worth starting if you can help it.

Defense

This defense has been hot lately, with DEs JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney showing up and then the coverage being very formidable. I’ve lost confidence in QB Blake Bortles right now and this defense is probably not the one he’s like to face. He’s also having offensive line issues, but more on the health front. This defense is a must-start every week due to the potential for sacks and, thus, turnovers.

-Joe Hanretty

Jaguars

Dallas came out of the gate kicking last week and the Jaguars never recovered. For fantasy purposes, Blake Bortles is usually good for garbage time scoring when the team is behind (sometimes even enough to reclaim the lead), but the Cowboys kept him and the rest of the offense completely bottled up. At least for the sake of this week, the Jags will be able to lick their wounds against their division rivals, the Texans. Both teams are 3-3, but are coming in to the matchup with far different momentum, so for fantasy’s sake, hope for the “get right” game.

 

Bortles and the WR

Houston hasn’t been great at getting to the quarterback this season, which is surprising given the return of J. J. Watt. Watt can’t do it all alone, which is what the Texans have been “trying” this season, so if the offensive line for the Jaguars can hold off the pass rush, Bortles could join the rest of the NFL in gashing the Houston corners. Choosing which WR will do well during a particular week for the Jaguars is a fickle affair, but it looks like Dede Westbrook is turning into the receiving weapon that is seeing the most success. They have been putting Westbrook in the slot, which is where the Texans have been struggling the most on defense, so expecting WR3 or Flex play from Westbrook is not out of the question. Honestly, anything that requires a nickel corner or more should lead to positive yardage for the Jaguars. Between Donte Moncrief or Keelan Cole, sit both because there is no way to know if either is going to have success. That being said, Jonathan Joseph can only cover one of them, so it really depends on which WR gets the respect.

 

What a Fine Mess We Have Now

In a wonderful bit of burying the lede, welcome to the discussion of the trade for Carlos Hyde and what that will mean for the running game. It will likely mean nothing this week, as Hyde isn’t even certain to play. If Hyde does suit up, he is a better pure runner than T. J. Yeldon, so you would expect to see him on the field for obvious rushing downs. Given his lack of familiarity with the offense in place in Jacksonville, expect Yeldon to be on the field for passing downs and for any down where they option between run and pass. As the veteran for the running game in Jacksonville, Yeldon knows all of the reads and will be the back trusted in providing extra support to the line. Expect Yeldon to be a RB2 this week and Hyde as a potential Flex if he plays.

 

Should you start the Defense?

By all means, start the Jaguars defense this week. Houston has been awful at pass blocking over the past few weeks and Deshaun Watson is starting to get hit like human pinata David Carr. The Texans haven’t been able to get the running game going, so they have been expecting Watson and the line to carry the load, which is a recipe for the Jaguars to get themselves out of the loss column this week. Start the Jaguars defense with confidence.

 

BOOM: Jaguars DST

BUST: Blake Bortles

SLEEPER: Keelan Cole (if you are feeling lucky)

-David Fenko