Fantasy Football: A Quick Look at Week 7
Week 6 is still alive, but it's only on life support. As we start our move to the next week, let's first take a look at some of the higher-level things happening in the fantasy football landscape.
Week 7 Hot Spots
- The Atlanta Falcons (whose offense averaged 23.5 points per game at Denver and at Seattle the past two games) return home to face a much less intimidating defense, the San Diego Chargers, this week. Per Pro Football Reference, the Chargers have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs (23.3) and the 10th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (17.8) this season. The Falcons have yielded the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (21.6) and eighth-most fantasy points per game to running backs (21.9). This game currently has a 50.5 Vegas total and all kinds of fantasy goodness can be expected from this one. Matt Ryan is averaging 30.45 FanDuel points at home in 2016.
- The New Orleans Saints travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs in another game with a Vegas total of 50. This game should be approached a bit more cautiously, though -- since the start of the 2015 season, Drew Brees has averaged just 14.93 FanDuel points per game away from the Superdome. His most productive receiver, Brandin Cooks, has averaged just 9.59 FanDuel points per game in 15 career road games. So far this season, opposing wide receivers have been held to 4.95 FanDuel points per game in Arrowhead Stadium. Visiting quarterbacks have not fared any better, averaging 9.15 FanDuel points per game.
- Big Ben Roethlisberger had surgery to repair his torn meniscus and will be out for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 7 showdown with the New England Patriots. No Roethlisberger really puts a damper on what was shaping up to be an absolute fantasy feast in Pittsburgh. What likely would have kicked off as the highest total game of the week now opens with the Patriots as 7.5-point road favorites and has the Steelers implied to score 19 points at home with Landry Jones at quarterback. Tom Brady has been relatively human as a road favorite, averaging 19.54 points per game since the start of the 2015 season.
- Kirk Cousins and the streaking Washington Redskins are in a great spot visiting the Detroit Lions. The Lions have allowed the most passing touchdowns (17) and fantasy points to quarterbacks (24.1) this season.
- Andy Dalton at home against the Cleveland Browns' defense is another matchup that should have fantasy fans licking their collective chops. The Browns have allowed the second-most passing touchdowns (16) and fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks (21.5) in 2016.
- Fresh off a Lamar Miller beatdown, the Indianapolis Colts' run defense travels to Tennessee to face the Titans and the rejuvenated DeMarco Murray. Murray has the sixth-most carries (114), third-most rushing yards (526), and seventh-most rushing touchdowns (4) in the NFL. He's averaged 19.3 FanDuel points per game this season.
- Allen Robinson is coming off a terrible game at Chicago in which he accumulated just three catches for 49 yards. The good news is he's got the cure for what ails him on tap in the Oakland Raiders pass defense. The Raiders have given up the most receiving yards (1,230) and third-most fantasy points to receivers (28.1) so far in 2016. Look for the Jaguars to try and get Robinson involved early and often in this one.
- Rob Gronkowski looked completely recovered from his hamstring injury and very fired up against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. When he's medically healthy, there's no defense that can stop him. Tight ends playing Pittsburgh have been targeted 9.33 times per game this season, and the Steelers have allowed the fifth-most catches (34) to the position this season.
- With he Minnesota defense playing at an incredibly high level to this point of the season, you could try and be contrarian in daily fantasy football tournaments by targeting their opponent's underdog defense this week. The game currently has a ridiculously low total of 40 points, and the Philadelphia D has averaged a whopping 14 FanDuel points per game in two games at Lincoln Financial Field this season.
As always, keep reading numberFire as we get closer to kickoff, as we'll have tons and tons of content covering Week 7 in depth. And, of course, good luck!
