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Week 6 Review
- Ken Walker balled out in his first start, so congratulations if you got him last week.
- Taysom Hill didn’t boom, but he was involved in the Saints’ game plan. Considering the state of the tight end position for fantasy, Hill is still worth the risk.
- Rondale Moore was on the field for 99% of the Cardinals’ offensive snaps in Week 6. There wasn’t enough production to make fantasy managers happy, but his role is clearly established. Arizona’s offense is in significant flux, with DeAndre Hopkins returning from suspension, Robbie Anderson acquired via trade, and Marquise Brown possibly done for the season. The Cardinals might be a mess again in Week 7, but I’m keeping Moore rostered while it shakes out.
- Eno Benjamin totaled 65 all-purpose yards in a game where Arizona only managed 9 points. If James Conner and Darrel Williams remain sidelined, I’m starting Benjamin again in Week 7 and hoping the Cardinals are forced to put more points on the board against New Orleans.
- Alec Pierce paid off on a day Matt Ryan threw 58 passes, scoring once on three receptions. Pierce was out-targeted by Parris Campbell on the day, but I’m still riding with Pierce as the more reliable option moving forward.
Top Players to Add in Week 7
Teams on Bye: Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams
Kenyan Drake (5%)– Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said J.K. Dobbins’ knee tightened up in Week 6, causing him to miss the second half of the Ravens’ loss to the Giants. That’s never a good sign, especially coming back from an ACL. Kenyan Drake made a strong case for himself, rushing ten times for 119 yards and a touchdown. It’s hard to know what to make of the situation, but I think Drake would be a plug-and-play RB2 if Dobbins misses any time. He’s mentioned below, but I prefer Gus Edwards to Drake over the rest of the season if Edwards doesn’t suffer any more setbacks. However, I’m putting my money on Drake for Week 7.
Bid: 7-10%, depending on how desperate you are.
Wan’Dale Robinson (8%)– Robinson played in his first game for the Giants since exiting with a knee injury in Week 1. Robinson only played 23% of New York’s offensive snaps but made the most of them, with three receptions for 38 yards and a score. It’s only a one-week sample size, but Robinson’s snap share should increase now that he’s healthy. Of the receivers on this list, Robinson possesses the most upside due to his talent, draft capital, and opportunity to establish himself as the top receiver for the 5-1 Giants.
Bid: 10-12%
Rondale Moore (46%)– Moore’s roster percentage continues to creep up each week, so his name is on my list for the third straight week. Moore and Zach Ertz are the two most stable options for Kyler Murray on a Cardinals offense that’s in upheaval with Marquise Brown’s injury, Robbie Anderson’s signing, and DeAndre Hopkins’ return from suspension. The big week hasn’t happened yet, but Moore’s ten targets in Week 6 are encouraging. I’m sticking it out with Moore in the hopes Arizona can figure it out.
Bid: 5%
Alec Pierce (38%)– We discussed Alec Pierce last week, and he proved a worthy start in Week 7. I don’t expect Matt Ryan to throw 58 times very often, and Pierce is the most likely of the Colts receivers to function as the team’s WR2 moving forward.
Bid: 3-5%
Deon Jackson (43%)– The feeling heading into Week 5 was that Jonathan Taylor almost suited up for the Colts on Thursday Night Football. We mentioned Deon Jackson in the “Other Adds” section of the Week 6 Waiver Wire article, but I assumed Taylor would be good to go for Week 6. As it turned out, both Taylor and Nyheim Hines were both ruled out, and Deon Jackson filled right in. Jackson exited the game with a quad injury, so his Week 7 availability is unknown. If Jackson were to be active and Taylor and Hines miss another game, Jackson would be a must-add.
Bid: 10-15% if Taylor misses Week 7
Other Adds:
Jahan Dotson has shown a nose for the end zone so far, and he comes back from injury to a Commanders team in need of a spark. If you have an empty IR spot, consider waiting on Treylon Burks to come back and make an impact in the second half of the season. With Carolina listening to trade offers, D’onta Foreman is worth a speculative add in case Christian McCaffrey is traded. For that matter, Terrace Marshall Jr. might be worth the pickup in case D.J. Moore is on the move to another city.
At the tight end position, Daniel Bellinger has emerged in New York, Evan Engram is earning targets in Jacksonville, and Hunter Henry had his best game of the season despite Jonnu Smith returning from injury. I’m comfortable streaming any of them this week.
At quarterback, Marcus Mariota is coming off a huge win against San Francisco, and his rushing ability provides a safe floor. Kansas City is allowing the 7th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, so I like Jimmy Garoppolo in a game where the 49ers will have to keep up with the Chiefs.
For streaming defenses, last week’s picks (Washington and New England) were excellent, and I’m recommending the Patriots again as they face off with the lowly Bears. The Jets have seen solid defensive finishes the last four weeks, and I think they could keep it rolling against a Denver offense that hasn’t found its way.
(Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)