Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 20th, 2024, 9:30 ET
Location: Wembley Stadium, London
Network: NFL Network
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Drake Maye: Start, QB1
It feels like a big middle finger to send a team called the “Patriots” to play a game in England, but maybe the Brits will forgive us if we can entertain them with a second straight impressive rookie QB performance. Drake Maye made his NFL debut in Week 6 against the Texans and turned in a solid fantasy performance despite turning the ball over three times. Maye finished as the QB10 on the week against Houston, which is exactly where he slides in for our weekly rankings in Week 7 thanks to his matchup with the team allowing the most fantasy points to opposing QBs. Maye is a fun back-end QB1 this week and could remain as such if he can display growth in his second game.
Running Back
Rhamondre Stevenson: Start, RB2*
Antonio Gibson: FLEX Option, RB3
JaMycal Hasty: Sit
The Patriots’ run game was utterly abysmal without Rhamondre Stevenson last week, though their early deficit definitely contributed to a lack of opportunity on the ground. Rhamondre did not practice on Wednesday, but if he is able to suit up on Sunday, he will be a low-end RB2 in an improved Patriots offense. While Antonio Gibson averaged a horrid 1.5 YPC as the “lead back” on Sunday, he would rank as an iffy FLEX option if Stevenson is unable to go thanks to a softer matchup against the Jaguars.
Wide Receiver
DeMario Douglas: Start, WR2
Ja’Lynn Polk: FLEX Option, WR4
Kayshon Boutte: Sit
The New England passing attack saw an immediate uptick in its stock with Drake Maye at the helm, and DeMario Douglas was the most immediate beneficiary of the QB change. “Pop” paced the team in targets, receptions, and yards in Week 6 while also adding a touchdown. Functioning as the team’s slot receiver, Douglas has a good chance to act as a safety blanket for the rookie QB and has a great chance to build on a strong Week 6 performance. He ranks as our WR24 this week, making him the very end of our WR2 plays. The other Patriots receivers are risky plays but still ones you should monitor for future matchups. Ja’Lynn Polk has shown flashes of talent this season but didn’t quite click with Maye last week, making him a desperation FLEX play at best. Meanwhile, Kayshon Boutte caught Maye’s best pass of the day last week, but he hasn’t seen more than 3 targets in a game, making him a recommended “Sit” with a very low floor.
Tight End
Hunter Henry: Streaming Option
Hunter Henry clocks in as a streaming option along with about a dozen other TEs in Week 7. Henry’s matchup against the Jaguars, who allow the third-most points to TEs, makes him a stronger streaming option than most, especially after he showed a modest connection with Maye last week. You could do much worse at TE this week, but he doesn’t quite crack our Top 12.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence: Sit, QB2
What an abysmal year it’s been for Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville offense. Lawrence has finished higher than QB16 just once this season and clocks in as a low-end QB2 this week against a Patriots defense allowing the tenth-fewest points to QBs. He’s not a great start, even in Superflex leagues, at least until head coach Doug Pederson is inevitably fired and we get some new life breathed into the offense.
Running Back
Travis Etienne: FLEX Option?*
Tank Bigsby: Start, RB2
D’Ernest Johnson: Sit
Is Travis Etienne going to play this week? More importantly, do you want him to play this week after he “earned” you negative points against the Bears? Etienne got in a limited practice on Wednesday, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see him take a week off after sustaining a hamstring injury last week. If he does play, he would still have FLEX value against the Pats, who allow the fifth-most points to RBs. This makes Tank Bigsby an appealing play as an RB2 this week, especially if ETN misses this contest. Bigsby has looked like the much better back this season, though his nonexistent involvement in the passing game limits his upside. D’Ernest Johnson is still a “Sit” option in all but the deepest of leagues, where he provides low-floor, low-ceiling PPR value if and only if Etienne sits.
Wide Receiver
Brian Thomas Jr.: Start, WR2
Christian Kirk: FLEX Option, WR4
Gabe Davis: Sit
Brian Thomas Jr. has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the season and has made quite the impression in the first month and a half of his career. The Pats have a fairly stingy secondary, and BTJ struggled against the Bears’ stout pass defense last week (and dropped a touchdown), but he’s deserving of our trust this week and slides in as a back-end WR2. Christian Kirk, meanwhile, has looked more like the prototypical PPR slot receiver many expected him to be over the past month. After starting out with two clunkers, Kirk was looking like a much more reliable receiver before disappointing against the Bears. The re-emergence of Evan Engram calls into question just how many targets Kirk will receive, so he profiles more as a middling FLEX option this week. Finally, yes, Gabe Davis caught two touchdowns last week. Please don’t start him. We’ve seen this song and dance far too many times to fall into this trap again.
Tight End
Evan Engram: Start, TE1
The Jaguars and the tight end position as a whole certainly were missing the presence of veteran Evan Engram. In his return to action in Week 6, Engram looked much like he did in his breakout 2023 campaign, leading the Jaguars pass-catchers by hauling in all 10 of his targets for 102 scoreless yards. In 2024’s TE wasteland, there are few options with the upside Engram possesses. Start him with confidence.