Game Previews: All Fantasy Relevant Players For Week 7

Browns vs. Buccaneers

Browns

Hello everyone, and thank you for taking the time to stop by for a read. Week 7 sees the start of a series of very juicy matchups for the Browns. After a topsy-turvy start to the season, there should be a much higher point total for all Browns players moving forward and ideally, that will stay higher as the season goes on and the team becomes more comfortable with each other. So let’s see what’s in store for week 7.

Is Baker struggling to play well like it seems he is?

It’s hard to say with QB Baker Mayfield whether or not he is to blame for the series of horrendous drops that appear to be plaguing the Browns of late. He sure looks to be very accurate still, although last week against the Chargers he was harassed so much he finally started missing throws, but when your team drops as many passes from all receiving options you start to wonder if the QB plays a part. I still believe in Mayfield, and I have him rostered and starting in my main money league, so take that for what it’s worth. The Chargers’ defense is improving and they played so well, I think the Browns simply got The Business from them. If the receivers do not beat themselves next week in Tampa, they should really catch fire. The Tampa defense is currently riddled with injuries, playing poorly, and now they just fired their defensive coordinator. It’s hard to say if a new DC will play better, worse, or the same, but it’s just a bit of an unknown and probably will not make much of an impact because of the injuries anyway. I say, fire up your Mayfield as a top 10 QB option- the matchup is just so juicy.

Jarvis has been stinking it up, just like the rest of them, what’s the deal?

WR Jarvis Landry has been dropping balls just like the rest of the team. That is pretty uncustomary for him, and I have to think that will come under control. With a much easier defensive matchup, I fully expect him to bounce into top WR form. I would guess high end WR2 with WR1 upside. That being said, if the whole team still has the YIPS, then we could be headed for disappointment. I give Landry a medium bust potential rating. As for WR Antonio Callaway (Droptonio Callaway as some have taken to calling him), I can’t recommend playing him, even with this amazing matchup. Last week he dropped a touchdown and another big pass, being wide open in coverage from Casey Hayward. He wasn’t defeated by coverage, he was defeated by being mentally weak. Or something. Whatever it is, it means you can’t play him until you see him turning it around. WR Rashard Higgins is still out with an MCL sprain, but filling in for him is WR Damion Ratley who had a relatively great performance against the Chargers, catching 6-of-8 for 82 yards. He was the only Browns WR who looked like an NFL player, although he did also drop a TD pass. In any event, if you are desperate for a WR, Ratley offers significant upside for this week, and if he does go off then it would be better to at least have him on your bench for now.

How will the Carlos Hyde trade affect the Browns backfield? What about the rest of the backfield?

RB Carlos Hyde has been traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. I don’t know how he will be used in Jax, but it’s safe to fire up your Chubbs. RB Nick Chubb makes a great start against a terrible Bucs Def, and Duke Johnson Jr. probably also sees a bump. Chubb will most likely be the starter and get the majority of carries while Duke sees the targets out of the backfield with a handful of carries as well. Duke is a Flexworthy/borderline RB2 this week and Chubb is a solid RB2 with RB1 upside. Good luck to those of you that were able to get either of them!

TE David Njoku… did he break out?

I think so, yes. TE David Njoku’s target share has been rising and he finally saw the end zone last week. I’ve been a big believer in Njoku all season and it looks like things are finally aligning for him. The Bucs give up enough points that I think he’ll have at least one more touchdown this week, so I’m playing him in my lineup with confidence. I’m pretty excited for this whole game, and more so than for just fantasy purposes. It should be a great game with a lot of excellent offense from both teams.

Is the defense falling apart?

Well, the defense is struggling, that’s for sure. CB EJ Gaines is apparently out with a concussion and will be replaced by TJ Carrie who is not as good. Denzel Ward shadowed Keenan Allen last week and did rather well, but I’m not sure if he’ll be used again in shadow coverage or if he will be covering Mike Evans or DeSean Jackson even if he is used that way. He’s pretty small compared to Evans so my gut says Jackson, but maybe Ward is just good enough to take on the likes of Evans who was held in check last week in Atlanta. Briean Boddy-Calhoun has not been great in slot coverage, and of course, the Chargers picked on the single high safety coverage by the Browns last week to the tune of the 3 long bombs to Tyrell Williams, including 2 touchdowns. You know what team is really good at long bombs? I’ll give you a hint- it starts with Tampa Bay and ends with Buccaneers. The Browns have been mostly good in run defense aside from getting destroyed last week by Melvin Gordon, but Peyton Barber is not Melvin Gordon, so I don’t see him having a big game. All that to basically say you probably shouldn’t play the Browns defense this week.

-Sam Turrubiartes

Buccaneers

Can Jameis Winston Overcome Cleveland’s Defense?

 

In Week Six, Jameis Winston had a sterling as the top quarterback of the week in first start of the season — against one of the league’s worst pass defenses. In Week Seven, Winston will face a challenge against a defense that is only averaging 282 passing yards per game (252 if you consider Week Four to be an outlier) and 1.5 touchdowns per game (0.8 per game if you again count Week Four as an outlier). Tampa Bay has had a boom or bust, all or nothing approach to their offense this season and Winston is an upgrade at the position, but it may not be enough to overcome a defense that has stymied Baltimore, New Orleans, and the Los Angeles Chargers. Tampa Bay will test Cleveland’s deep coverage more than any other team this season and without EJ Gaines – Winston may be able to convert enough deep throws to be fantasy relevant. In Week Seven, it is a risky proposition.

 

Does Peyton Barber have a path to fantasy relevance?

 

For as stout as Cleveland’s pass defense has been, they rank near the bottom in run defense. To date Tampa Bay’s run game has not taken shape, but if Tampa Bay can keep the game close in the first half, Barber should be good for around 15 rushing attempts and although he has a paltry 3.6 YPC his opportunity to have a break out as he did in Week Six if Tampa Bay’s offensive line can hold up as well as they did in Week Six. Consider Barber a low floor, low ceiling play in Week Seven, but streamable on matchup alone.

 

Is Chris Godwin the answer?

 

DeSean Jackson and Chris Godwin lead the team with nine targets a piece in Week Six. Godwin converted six for 56 yards and a touchdown. It is unlikely that Mike Evans draws only five in Week Seven although Evans will likely draw coverage from budding superstar Denzel Ward, which could limit his productivity. If Winston and Tampa Bay’s offensive line is able, Jackson and Godwin should benefit the most from EJ Gaines absence. Godwin and Jackson are still listed as co-starters and both should be heavily involved in Tampa Bay’s game plan with 31 targets a piece.

 

Can you trust O.J. Howard?

 

Probably, not – but that does not mean you should not play him in Week Seven. A surprise non-scratch in Week Six, O.J. Howard collected four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. 30% of Howard’s fantasy points this season have come from a pair of touchdowns and despite having high receiving number game-to-game, Howard is averaging about 4 targets a game and has made himself “relevant” by breaking off at least one big play over the past three games. His ability to do so makes him unique, but the lack of usage in the passing game and dependence on that one big play make him a riskier boom or bust than a tight end like David Njoku that is heavily involved and will have more opportunities to produce. Do not count on Howard to carry your team forward in Week Seven.

 

The Picks

Boom Pick: Jameis Winston

Bust Pick: O.J. Howard

Sleeper Pick: Peyton Barber

-Brennen Gorman