Eric Moody, ESPN
The NFL is a “subsequent man up” league and, by extension, your fantasy soccer league is as nicely. Irrespective of how nicely your draft went, it is the strikes you make because the season unfolds that may in the end determine in case you’re playoff-bound or planning for subsequent season. Each week, we’ll make it easier to determine the gamers obtainable in additional than 50% of ESPN leagues whose worth has taken a flip for the higher and needs to be added to your roster as starters or as sensible stashes to your bench.
There have been a variety of accidents suffered throughout Week 7. From a fantasy standpoint, probably the most impactful one would be the 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk, whom the group fears tore his ACL on Sunday towards the Chiefs. Final season, Aiyuk completed with 75 catches, 1,342 yards and 7 touchdowns, rating as fantasy’s WR14. He has struggled this season, nonetheless, with simply 25 catches for 374 yards and no touchdowns. Aiyuk has managed double-digit fantasy factors in only one recreation.
If the group’s fears are realized, Jauan Jennings (rostered in 45.6% of ESPN leagues) will assist fill Aiyuk’s void for the 49ers, and his roster share is ready to rise considerably. Jennings displayed his potential in Week 3 towards the Rams when he scored 46.5 fantasy factors towards the Rams. Regulate Ricky Pearsall (5.5%) in deeper leagues. He’ll tackle a bigger position within the 49ers’ offense shifting ahead.
Now, let’s dive into this week’s waiver wire, beginning with a bunch of extensive receivers who will help you.
Vast receiver
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Discipline Yates calls Romeo Doubs a beneficial bench piece
Discipline Yates breaks down Romeo Doubs’ fantasy outlook for the remainder of the season.
Keon Coleman, Buffalo Payments (44.4% rostered): Fantasy managers is likely to be stunned to study Coleman is the largest beneficiary of the Payments’ acquisition of Amari Cooper. The rookie will not face the stress of being Josh Allen’s No. 1 goal, which might result in extra favorable cornerback matchups. Plus, he advantages from being mentored by Cooper. Coleman noticed seven targets and completed with 16.5 fantasy factors towards the Titans on Sunday. His 125 receiving yards have been probably the most by a Payments rookie since Sammy Watkins in Week 14 of 2014. Coleman is a stable flex possibility in deeper leagues towards the Seahawks in Week 8.
Romeo Doubs, Inexperienced Bay Packers (37.0%): Doubs led the Packers in targets (10), receptions (8) and receiving yards (94) on Sunday towards the Texans. He is now scored 17 or extra fantasy factors in back-to-back video games. Inexperienced Bay faces the Jaguars in Week 8 and the Lions in Week 9. Each defenses rank within the high 5 for fantasy factors allowed to extensive receivers. It is a good time to select him up as bye weeks begin piling up.
Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys (26.8%): The Cowboys had a Week 7 bye, however remember Tolbert. With Brandin Cooks on IR, Tolbert is now the No. 2 receiver. He is seen 15 targets over the previous two video games. Additionally, in line with my colleague Mike Clay’s energy of schedule matrix, the Cowboys have one of many best WR schedules for the remainder of the season.
Fast hits
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (46.6%): It is a stash play for future bye weeks right here, as Smith-Schuster left Sunday’s recreation towards the Niners early after aggravating a hamstring damage he had suffered throughout apply a couple of days prior. He has already been dominated out for this week’s recreation towards the Raiders, so you might have to be affected person in awaiting his return. With Rashee Rice out for the season, the Chiefs actually need him.
Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (0.7%): Franklin’s position within the Broncos’ offense is rising. Over the previous two weeks, he leads the group in targets (9) and receptions (7). He is scored a minimum of 10 fantasy factors in back-to-back video games, his snaps are growing and he is constructing an awesome rapport with Nix. He is a stable add for deeper leagues.
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (0.3%): With Amari Cooper traded to the Payments, Tillman’s position within the Browns’ offense elevated considerably. He led the group with 12 targets and ran practically as many routes as Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku on Sunday towards the Bengals. Tillman completed with 18.1 fantasy factors, making him a stable possibility in deeper leagues. The Browns face a weak Ravens secondary in Week 8, so he is value contemplating.
Quarterback
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Is Russell Wilson’s sizzling debut recreation one thing or nothing?
Daniel Dopp, Discipline Yates and Stephania Bell react to Russell Wilson’s spectacular play vs. the Jets.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (45.3%): Darnold managed 16.2 fantasy factors towards the Lions in Week 7 however scored a minimum of 20 factors in every recreation throughout Weeks 2 via 4. He has robust receiving playmakers in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, who ought to return quickly from a knee damage. From Weeks 8 via 10, Darnold faces the Rams, Colts and Jaguars — every of whom ranks high 12 in fantasy factors per recreation allowed to quarterbacks. Should you want a QB, do not overlook Darnold.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (16.1%): Nix is not lighting it up like fellow rookies Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams, however he is been quietly constant. He is scored a minimum of 19 fantasy factors in three of his previous 5 video games and he is rushed for 47 yards or extra thrice in that span, including two speeding TDs. With a good Week 8 matchup towards the Panthers, Nix gives a secure ground, particularly in superflex codecs.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots (13.3%): Maye is a rookie quarterback on the rise. He is the primary quarterback in 5 seasons to throw for greater than 200 yards and two touchdowns in his first two begins. He is additionally scored a minimum of 19 fantasy factors in back-to-back video games. This makes him a stable possibility as your QB2 in superflex codecs. Maye will face a Jets protection in Week 8 that simply allowed 24.8 fantasy factors to Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson on Sunday evening.
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (5.2%): It is only one recreation, however the Steelers’ offense regarded extra balanced and efficient with Wilson beneath middle. Pittsburgh sometimes depends on its working recreation, however Wilson established a powerful reference to George Pickens, ending with 24.8 fantasy factors. He is more likely to stay the starter towards the Giants in Week 8 given this efficiency and is a stable possibility for managers in superflex codecs.
Fast hits
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (26.5%): The Dolphins’ offense has struggled mightily with out Tagovailoa. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reviews he’s anticipated to renew training this week for the primary time since struggling a concussion in Week 2 towards the Payments. The hope is he’ll be able to play Sunday towards the Cardinals.
Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns (0.4%): Winston began the day because the emergency QB, however all the things modified when Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles damage. He was changed by Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who then sustained a finger damage, resulting in Winston stepping in. The final time Winston began was with the Saints in 2022, when he averaged 286 passing yards per recreation over three begins. Regulate which signal-caller the Browns tab because the starter within the coming days, however Winston is definitely the extra fantasy-viable possibility.
Operating again
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What to make of the Giants backfield
Daniel Dopp, Stephania Bell and Discipline Yates break down the uncertainty of the Giants backfield between Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (47.5%): Tracy had a quiet recreation on Sunday towards the Eagles, ending with simply 9 touches and 6.2 fantasy factors. That is a giant drop from the 23 touches and 22.7 factors he posted towards the Bengals final week. However context issues. The Giants have been enjoying from behind, resulting in solely 18 speeding makes an attempt total. Regardless of this, Tracy led in snaps and routes run over Devin Singletary. He needs to be rostered in all leagues because the Giants look to bounce again towards the Steelers in Week 8.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (45.1%): Warren noticed practically as many snaps as Najee Harris on Sunday evening towards the Jets, ending with 14 touches in comparison with 9 the week prior towards the Raiders. As Warren strikes farther from his knee damage, his workload might proceed to develop. He and Harris will function as a committee for now. Nonetheless, if Harris misses time, Warren may very well be a league-winner in a Steelers offense that ranks second in speeding makes an attempt per recreation. He is on the flex radar towards the Giants in Week 8.
Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders (42.5%): Mattison has taken over as the highest possibility within the Raiders’ backfield, surpassing Zamir White. He led the group in snaps, routes run and touches on Sunday towards the Rams. Over the previous three video games, Mattison has averaged practically 21 touches, scoring 10 or extra fantasy factors in every of these video games, together with two with a minimum of 15 factors. Regardless of the Raiders’ offense rating twenty fifth in complete yards and twenty sixth in factors scored per recreation, a working again like Mattison, together with his quantity of touches, deserves a spot on extra fantasy rosters.
Ray Davis, Buffalo Payments (14.7%): When you have James Cook dinner in your fantasy group, Davis must be in your bench. In Week 6, when Cook dinner was inactive towards the Jets, Davis stepped up with 23 touches and 18.2 fantasy factors. Quick ahead to Sunday: the Payments had a giant lead on the Titans, and Davis turned simply six touches into 11.7 fantasy factors. If Cook dinner misses any time, Davis can simply fill that void. He is a rookie who needs to be rostered in additional ESPN leagues.
Fast hits
Tyler Goodson, Indianapolis Colts (9.0%): Goodson has had eight or extra touches and 9 or extra fantasy factors in three consecutive weeks. He’ll proceed to be a viable flex possibility in deeper leagues till Jonathan Taylor returns.
Tight finish
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (27.3%): Henry is a well-known face on this column, however I get why some fantasy managers are hesitant to belief him given the Patriots’ inconsistent offense. Nonetheless, with Maye beneath middle, New England’s offense has improved over the previous two weeks. Henry has seen 5 or extra targets and scored a minimum of 13 fantasy factors in back-to-back video games. He leads the group in routes run and targets, making him a key a part of the passing recreation. You’ll be able to confidently view him as a low-end TE1 this week towards a Seahawks protection that struggles towards tight ends.
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks (7.7%): Fant has remained productive, even with the Seahawks’ tight finish rotation. He leads the group in routes run and targets. Fant has additionally recorded 4 or extra targets in consecutive video games and scored greater than 10 fantasy factors in every. Should you want a good finish, do not overlook him. The Seahawks rank ninth in performs per recreation, giving him ample alternatives to build up targets. Fant faces a Payments protection that enables the Tenth-most receptions to tight ends. He is firmly on the TE2 radar.
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins (1.7%): Smith has been a vivid spot within the struggling Dolphins offense. Prior to now two video games, he is racked up 15 targets and 33.7 fantasy factors. What occurs when Tua Tagovailoa returns is unsure, however with how bleak the tight finish panorama is, Smith is firmly on the TE1 radar.
