Teams on Bye: Atlanta; San Diego; Dallas & Tennessee.
QUARTBACKS
Mitch Trubisky, CHI: coming off the bye I recommended him last week. He sits right at 50% on two sites and is available in a healthy 80% of NFL.com leagues. The Jets matchup is better than average. He’s an easy add this week, especially if you have Matt Ryan or Philip Rivers on bye.
Ownership: Yahoo 52%; NFL 21% & ESPN 53%.
C.J. Beathard, SF: I’m going to stick with him again, despite being a miss last week. He ran into a Super Bowl caliber buzzsaw defense led by Aaron Donald. I’m not one satisfied with mediocrity, but I can see that performance against that defense as a learning experience/teachable moment and expect better things this week. He just played the Cardinals in week 5 and put up 23 fantasy points. Also keep in mind that despite the backfield’s problems, they do have Beathard surrounded with a better than average class of talent at the skill positions. He” be fine.
Ownership: Yahoo 6%; NFL 2% & ESPN 6%
RUNNING BACKS
Jalen Richard, OAK: this pick might be the biggest reach of the week, but given the circumstances he falls into the “volume play” category. Marshawn Lynch is on the IR. Cooper is shipped to Dallas. I bring that up because his main competitor for touches is Doug Martin, and Richard is the better pass catcher. That, and I just get the notion that Martin is done at this point. Could be wrong.
Ownership: Yahoo 26%; NFL 3% & ESPN 18%.
Ronald Jones, TBB: no, I don’t have some weird thing for the Buccaneers this season, I just think they have spots that will produce points. This guy should be watched closely: Peyton Barber was injured last week but they are being very coy about it. If he cannot play then jones is a great add I’d say. If Barber does play, but sat out practices then I still think Jones is a solid play given the increase in work he was already getting.
Ownership: Yahoo 16%; NFL 45% & ESPN 15%.
Chris Ivory, BUF: it’s a week of interesting RB possibilities, but no one really jumps out. I’m going with Ivory based on the fact he probably has the highest floor, but he has limited upside. Still, you have to like the fact he has the 2 best RB performances this season in Buffalo: weeks 3 & 7 (Minnesota and Indy). I’m looking at that and thinking he’s the main guy this week and Marcus Murphy spells him at times. It won’t be the other way around, meaning Ivory is your guy.
Ownership: Yahoo 8%; NFL 1% & ESPN 9%.
Danny Amendola, MIA: I suppose it was just a matter of time: Amendola is still too wily to be written off. With the injury to Albert Morris and the underwhelming 2018 campaign by Kenny Still thus far, Amendola is a nice add this week as he instantly becomes their best route runner (and likely WR). No, the Lions aren’t the best matchup, but this is a pure volume play: he has 18 targets at WR the last two weeks.
Ownership: Yahoo 10%; NFL 20% & ESPN 25%.
Tre’Quan Smith, NOS: he was a borderline pick for me last week, and this week it is time. Don’t let his lack of points last week fool you: he played way more snaps than CameronMeredith (34 more if you’re counting) and only Michael Thomas ran more routes. At the midway point of Drew Brees’ 2018 season you could do much worse than adding his #2 WR.
Ownership: Yahoo 18%; NFL 3% & ESPN 9%.
Kelvin Benjamin, BUF: I make “volume picks” all the time, and I’m doing something different here: this is a Bro Pick. Derek Anderson and Benjamin go back to some productive games as Carolina Panthers. Consider that with the fact that in Anderson’s first start this season Benajmin had his high in receptions and yards for2018. This week should be his season high in targets, receptions and yards. There’s a lot to be said for familiarity, and that is clearly what is going on here. An off the wall pick, but there’s solid logic behind it.
Ownership: Yahoo 15%; NFL 52% & ESPN 33%.
TIGHT END
C.J. Uzomah, CIN: another guy on the bubble last week, but we wait and see how his involvement is now that the role is his. Week 7, he got a TD and 13 yards. Ot very good, but he has a pulse. But this week, they play the Buccaneers who give up the most points to the TE position. This should be a better week.
Ownership: Yahoo 51%; NFL 5% & ESPN 40%.
TEAM DEFENSE
Pittsburgh Steelers: Baker Mayfield plays great, but gets sacked. A lot. Like 15 times in the last 3 games a lot. The Steelers ate up the also mobile Tyrod Taylor this year in week 1. Sometimes you don’t want to overthink things: the Steelers know the Browns, and Mayfield is making some rookie mistakes. But one mistake he isn’t making: he’s taking the sacks instead of risking a turnover. There’s nothing wrong with that really. But when you’re starting the Steeler this week you know you’ll be getting sacks by design on Cleveland’s part. And that is good!
Ownership: Yahoo 42%; NFL 20% & ESPN 15%.
That’s it for this week folks – best of luck out there!
Pickup & Plays Week 7 results:
QB – Mitch Trubisky, CHI – 2nd
QB – C.J. Beathard, SF – 25th
RB – Peyton Barber, TBB –
RB – Frank Gore, MIA –
RB – Marlon Mack, IND -2nd
WR – Taylor Gabriel, CHI
WR – Chester Rogers, IND
WR – Chris Godwin, TBB
TE – OJ Howard, TBB – 10th
Team Defense – Indianapolis Colts – 4th
