Game Previews: All Fantasy Relevant Players For Week 7

Saints vs. Ravens

Saints

With Ted Ginn Jr. headed to the IR, which Saints player will benefit the most?

This a straightforward answer, it is Tre’Quan Smith. This might have seemed crazy before his week 5 outburst but here we are. More important than the two long touchdowns or 3 targets was that Tre’Quan ran 28 routes in this game, one shy of Michael Thomas’s total. While Cameron Meredith saw more targets, he ran 9 fewer routes than Smith in this game. Smith’s skill set allows him to fill Ted Ginn Jr.’s role in a way that Meredith cannot. I expect Smith to become the deep threat in this offense and hopefully, his relationship with Drew Brees strengthens with more playing time. While Ginn has the edge in the speed department, Smith has the capability of being a dynamic all-around threat that could dominate defenses opposite of Michael Thomas. The Ravens come in hot off a shutout this week and boast a surefire top 10 defense that is talented in the secondary which makes this matchup a downgrade for these Saints receivers. Michael Thomas remains a strong WR1 play as none of the Ravens corners are exceptional enough to give any major concern. Although Meredith could see more targets in this game, Smith remains the higher upside play.

What will the game flow be like in this game? How will that impact the Saints running backs? How will it impact Drew Brees?

This is one of those matchups that is hard to pin down. On one side of the ball, the Saints explosive offense and plethora of offensive weapons seems unstoppable, but the Ravens defense has continued to play exceptionally well. They suffocated the Titans last week, but the Saints are a different beast. With the Saints having more time to prepare coming off their bye I expect to be able to move the ball, albeit not with the ease they managed against the Redskins. It will also be road game, outside, which notoriously is tough for the team used to the dome. I think something in the neighborhood of 24 points can be expected from this offense. The other side of the ball is similarly tough to judge. The Ravens offense has looked anemic at times but the Saints defense has been porous all year. In any event, I expect this game to be close the entire time. This should be encouraging for Alvin Kamara and Drew Brees owners as close games will tend to feature Drew Brees and the passing attack. Mark Ingram’s presence as a goal-line commodity cannot be ignored but even last year when both were playing, Kamara saw goal-line opportunities as well. Kamara actually dominated the touches from about 5-10 yards away from the end zone last year, which is where he scored many of his touchdowns. So, while Ingram is virtually guaranteed the short yardage carries, Kamra’s touchdown chances still remains solid.

As for Drew Brees, this game is going to come down to him. If he is able to succeed and move the ball against this defense they can win the game. This game will not be won by letting Ingram bang into a wall of purple jerseys, the Ravens defense is too good to let that beat them. I believe, especially with the extra week, Sean Payton and Brees will scheme up enough plays for him to have another strong performance. That being said, this is not an ideal matchup and Brees does get a downgrade, small as it may be. Even With Ingram taking some touchdowns, Brees is an elite fantasy quarterback that you should be playing every week.

Boom: Alvin Kamara

Bust: Mark Ingram

Sleeper: Tre’Quan Smith

In this tough matchup, the Saints will turn to one of their most dynamic “matchup proof” players in Alvin Kamara. While many owners are in a frenzied panic over Ingram’s return, the faithful owners will be rewarded with a strong week from Kamara.

With a boom pick for Kamara, it is only natural that Mark Ingram gets labeled the bust pick of this week. Ingram shines when this Saints team gets ahead, and when they get down to the goal line multiple times. This stout defense will make that harder, which I think limits Ingram’s touchdown chances this week. While I think neither back has an exceptional day on the ground, Kamara’s proficiency as a receiver makes him a much better and safer play.

As I mentioned earlier this matchup is not overly favorable for Tre’Quan Smith, but he could certainly find himself on the end of some long passes from the hall of fame quarterback. Smith gets the sleeper designation because most people won’t (and should not) be relying on him this week but he could put up solid points in limited targets. He essentially should be thought of as Ted Ginn Jr. with a little more long-term upside.

-Stephen Dudas

Ravens

Is Joe Flacco worth a start this week?

He actually might be. I kind of like Joe Flacco as a mid-level QB2 this week. He hasn’t exactly been consistently productive from a fantasy standpoint this year, but he’s going up against a Saints secondary that has been lit up this year, giving up the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks so far this year (an average of 25.1 points). Not only that, but the Ravens will be at home, and they almost always play better at home, especially Flacco. On his career, Flacco has a 78.4 QBR on the road and a 90.6 QBR at home. Now, it’s important to remember, this is Joe Flacco, whose best game this year saw him get 22.2 fantasy points. But up against this secondary, I kind of like him.

If Flacco is going to succeed what about the receivers?

I like the matchups the Ravens receivers have this week. I think John Brown and Michael Crabtree both could make for good plays this week. Brown will likely see Ken Crawley this week, while Crabtree will probably see Marshon Lattimore, both of which I think should be positive matchups for the receivers. However, I also like Willie Snead as an interesting flex play in deeper leagues. He’ll likely be matched up against P.J. Williams, and I think that could provide him with a significant advantage. Flacco seems to like throwing to Snead, so there could be some potential here. However, there is the built-in risk of the volatility of Snead’s target share this year.

Will we see another good week from Alex Collins?

I’m not sure. Last week, the Ravens discovered once again that, if you give Alex Collins a sizable workload, he’ll play well. I’d love to see them keep that up this week, but the Saints run defense has been pretty solid—they haven’t given up more than 76 yards rushing yet—so I could see this being a pass-heavy game, given how bad their secondary has been. If that’s the case, I think Javorius Allen could see a bit of work, however his target share has been kind of volatile, so he’s hard to trust.

Will there be any clarity at the tight end position?

I’d doubt it. So far, it’s been an even mix of Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, and Hayden Hurst, and I expect it’ll be more of the same.

Should their defense be started?

I’ll be honest, I think it’s hard not to start the Ravens defense given how absolutely incredible they’ve been. That being said, this is Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara we’re talking about in this offense (not to mention Michael Thomas and Mark Ingram). I think the Ravens are still a relatively solid defensive start this week (I’ve got them at #11), but I don’t feel great about it.

Boom: John Brown

Bust: Alex Collins

Sleeper: Willie Snead

-Ben Palmer