The Yahoo team highlights several players they believe will have memorable Week 7 performances in your fantasy football lineups.
All in on Josh Downs
Josh Downs is a guy I’ll be playing this week, even with Anthony Richardson back in the lineup. Joe Flacco brings some stability, but was far from perfect himself. He was prone to knocking down pass catchers and turning the ball over, even if the misses weren’t as egregious as Richardson’s. It’s also worth noting that we haven’t seen a healthy Downs and Richardson play together for any extended action this season, as Downs was coming off a high ankle sprain in the preseason.
Downs is the type of layup receiver that can alleviate accuracy issues for a quarterback. The coaching staff will likely prioritize those throws upon Richardson’s return and dial back his admirable aggression early in the season. This will be especially crucial against a tough Dolphins defense that specializes in interior pressure. A guy like Downs, who is extremely talented and has been targeted on more than 35% of his routes run over the last three games, is a tough player to bench according to Fantasy Points Data. There’s a real chance he’s the best receiver on the Colts roster and still isn’t viewed that way by the fantasy community. — Matt Harmon
Tank Dell continues its recovery campaign
Maybe not tank Dell yet complete back to his pre-injury rookie form, but he certainly seems to be back for the most part. Dell was outstanding against the Patriots last week, capturing seven of his nine targets, including a short TD. He was also among the leaders in first read target share, according to Fantasy Points Data – a promising sign.
At his best, Dell is an explosive playmaker with an erratic ability to change direction. He won’t lack for opportunities this week in a potential shootout with Green Bay, a defense that allows the eighth-most passing yards per game. Dell’s best stat line of the season is about to drop. Boost him for a possible top 10 finish. — Andy Behrens
Another big match is planned for JuJu Smith-Schuster
The Chiefs’ offense these days is driven by a shorter passing game, and that went right into JuJu Smith-Schuster’s wheelhouse in Week 5. The only reason JuJu’s roster remains so low is because the Chiefs didn’t play in Week 6.
As long as Smith-Schuster is healthy on game day — keep a close eye on his status, as he appeared on the injury report with a hamstring issue — I suspect he’s on track for another 6-8 catches, in part because the 49ers would rather not would do. being beaten because of deep connections elsewhere. I’ll call Smith-Schuster this week as a confident WR3 with his WR2 upside. — Scott Pianowski
Sam Darnold… a top-three QB?
Sam Darnold’s TD percentage (8.0%) will certainly decline in the future, but he will also likely average more than 27.4 passes per game in an offense with the fourth-highest PROE (+3.7%) . An increase in volume should start Sunday against a pass-funnel Detroit defense that will greatly miss Aidan Hutchinson. Darnold has posted a whopping 12.1 YPA against the man this season, coverage the Lions have used at the sixth-highest level in the league. Aided by a quick, fast-paced matchup, Darnold finishes as a top-three fantasy QB this week. — Dalton Del Don
Chuba Hubbard stays warm
Hubbard remains one of the best backs in all of fantasy. In Week 6, he made a season-high 82% of snaps and 86% of backfield opportunities. He parlayed this strong usage into 103 total yards on 23 touches. Over the past four games, Hubbard ranks second in fantasy points, behind only Derrick Henry. Hubbard was great, and his success should continue this week.
Hubbard will face the Washington Commanders. They are allowing the fourth-most rushing yards per game and the most explosive runs of 10+ yards this season according to NFL Pro. This is a great spot for Hubbard, who is averaging 5.4 yards per touch this season. Expect another strong performance from the former Oklahoma State defensive back. — Sal Vetri
