2023 Fantasy Football Week 8 Target Report Preview: Wheels Up for Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Targets are paramount when it comes to evaluating pass-catchers for fantasy football. There are no air yards, receiving yards, receptions, or touchdowns without first earning a target. And to earn a target, you need to be deemed “open” by the quarterback. It’s one big trickle-down effect. There’s a reason the biggest and most consistent target-earners are near the top of fantasy football ADP: They can be relied on by not just their team’s offense to earn targets and produce on those targets, but that also trickles down to the fantasy managers drafting those pass-catchers and starting them in their lineups each week.

In this season’s Fantasy Football Target Report, we’ll take a weekly team-by-team look into these target earners and separate the wheat from the chaff. To properly lead into what we’ll be looking at this season, we’ll have to establish a baseline of the most important things we’re looking at with targets and other receiving metrics that paint the full picture for who we should be rostering, who we should be adding, and who we can drop. Combing the box score stats doesn’t paint a clear picture of the players we should target, roster, and start. Fantasy football rankings can only paint so much of the picture as well.

Everything we’ll be talking about here and this season in this season’s Fantasy Football Target Report will be some of the best statistics and metrics that correlate with fantasy football production. Think of targets as a page in a coloring book, just the outline yet to be colored. Coloring on that page adds context and flavor to that page. That’s what we’ll be doing with targets — adding more context than just some target totals and saying, “go add this player,” which doesn’t help anybody.

This season, we're adding a video component, so if you want to get some of the juiciest nuggets of the target report in video form, check out the Target Report Bulletpoints for the upcoming Week 8!

Bye Weeks:

• Week 5: CLE, LAC, SEA, TB
• Week 6: GB, PIT
• Week 7: CAR, CIN, DAL, HOU, NYJ, TEN
• Week 9: DEN, DET, JAX, SF
• Week 10: KC, LAR, MIA, PHI
• Week 11: ATL, IND, NE, NO
• Week 13: BAL, BUF, CHI, LV, MIN, NYG
• Week 14: ARI, WAS

NOTE:

• Always Start Your Studs: These are players you should be starting in all formats, regardless of matchup. Use your judgment in shallower leagues where startable players are plentiful.
• Start ‘Em: Players that should be starting most weeks on your fantasy rosters.
• Keep Them Rostered: Players that should be rostered in most formats but shouldn't be started unless you’re in a pinch or during bye weeks. Maybe they’re not startable due to various issues like a backup quarterback playing, a player coming back from injury, a contingent running back, or are just unproductive, consistent, or dependable at the moment. League size designations or other designations (bench stash, etc.) will be in parenthesis next to players for deeper leagues. Depending on your league, this is a general recommendation, so use your best judgment.
• Example: Robert Woods (deeper 12 & 14-team), Royce Freeman (bench stash).
• Add ‘Em: Players that warrant an add due to circumstances, productivity, or metrics that show they’re being utilized heavily in their offenses. These will usually have a format that they should be added in. 
• Listing a player as “12-team leagues” assumes that player also be an addition in deeper 12-team and 14-team formats as well. 
• Dump ‘Em: Players that you should be dropping from your rosters. Use your judgment in deeper leagues where players with usefulness on waivers aren’t as plentiful.
• Any player not listed in any of these categories for a particular team is assumed to not be rosterable in most fantasy formats.
   

All statistics below are listed in the following format:

• WR/TE as:
  • (10-4-100-2) Targets - Receptions - Rec. Yds. - TD
• RB as:
  • (18-75-1; 10-4-100-2) Rush Att. - Rush Yds. - TD; Targets - Receptions - Rec. Yds. - TD

NFL Target Report

Arizona Cardinals

After James Conner left the game in Week 5 with a knee injury, Emari Demercado (13-58; 5-4-17) filled in solidly for the rest of the game with 10 carries, 45 yards and a touchdown. Conner was placed on IR before Week 6, and in that week, Demercado still got the lion’s share of snaps and routes but only saw 2-of-20 carries and 1-of-4 targets, splitting with Keaontay Ingram (no offensive snaps in Week 7) and Damien Williams (1-2; 18% snaps). We thought that this backfield would be pretty murky until Conner got back into the lineup.

Then, Week 7 happened.

Demercado saw a whopping 80% of snaps and 74% of routes, 13-of-14 running back carries, and five targets in Week 7 as he dominated utilization for the Cardinals. Ingram was active but did not play one single offensive snap, as he only saw time on special teams. Demercado looks locked into most running back opportunities, with Williams spelling him going forward until Conner returns.

While Demercado is likely a high-end RB3 with matchups against Baltimore and Cleveland on deck, Demercado will still get between 12-15 carries each week and a handful of targets. For now, you can bet that type of utilization from Demercado in your flex spot.

Joshua Dobbs has regressed a bit over the last couple of weeks, and just in time for the Kyler Murray come up as his window to return from IR opened this past week. A healthy and solid Murray should help some of the efficiency woes on this team, as Marquise Brown (7-3-49) has been languishing with just 15 receptions on 31 targets in his last three games. Brown’s still probably a WR3 option and a decent start, but with his next two games vs. Baltimore and Cleveland, the lean weeks may continue into November.

Week 7 Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Marquise Brown

Keep Them Rostered:  James Conner (on IR), Emari Demercado (deeper 12 & 14-team) Joshua Dobbs (14 team), Michael Wilson (14 team), Rondale Moore (14 team)

Add ‘Em: Kyler Murray (if he’s hanging around on waivers and you need a QB, grab him here)

Dump ‘Em: Keaontay Ingram (played no offensive snaps last week)

Atlanta Falcons

After the Bijan Robinson (1-3) slash Arthur Smith “MigraineGate2023” saga that unfolded in the early slate and brought everybody together in one unifying force on social media, we will have the squeakiest wheel in the history of squeakiest wheels with Bijan up against the Titans in the dreaded but seldom-seen “Arthur Smith revenge narrative” spot. Too much has been said (by me) about how much I don’t care for Arthur Smith from his fly-by-night usage of top-eight draft picks in favor of Mack Hollins and Jonnu Smith (3-3-27), but this is just Exhibit Q in the laundry list of things proving that maybe the trust-fund son of a shipping magnate just isn’t fit to be the head coach of one of the 32 member clubs of the NFL.

Per Smith, the Falcons “rode the hot hand” with the running backs in Week 7, which means we had to get Tyler Allgeier (21-59; 3-3-53) 21 carries for under 3.0 yards per carry. Exemplary. Cordarrelle Patterson (10-56) saw extra run with Bijan sidelined as well, and the elder statesman of the Falcons looked markedly better than Allgeier, so that could be something to watch, especially knowing how Arthur Smith loves to operate in the face of anybody who dares criticize him.

Drake London (7-6-54; 93%) and Kyle Pitts (4-3-47; 75% routes) led the Falcons in targets in Week 7, but Pitts’ routes over the last three have been sub-80%, which is concerning but not a surprise.

Week 7 Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Bijan Robinson

Start ‘Em: Drake London, Kyle Pitts

Keep Them Rostered: Jonnu Smith, Tyler Allgeier (14-team)

Add ‘Em: Cordarrelle Patterson (worked his way into some more touches; with the way Atlanta runs the ball, he’s a cheap workload-based stash)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens put their foot on the throat of the Lions and never relented as they throttled the Lions 38-6. Lamar Jackson was hyper-efficient, where the team only had 33 dropbacks and Jackson threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns.

Two of the touchdowns went to Mark Andrews (6-4-63-2), and the other touchdown was a throwaway (for fantasy purposes) to Nelson Agholor (1-1-12-1) on his only target. The Ravens use a ton of secondary and ancillary players, so those players are always going to take from the WR2/3 types, like Odell Beckham (7-5-49; 64% routes), who still led the Ravens in targets and receptions. The two players that Baltimore’s mixing and matching of personnel doesn’t affect are Andrews and Zay Flowers (6-4-78; 82% routes) — any coincidence that those are the two consistent pass-catchers and every-week starters in fantasy?

Gus Edwards (14-64-1; 1-1-80) and Justice Hill (4-46; 1-1-2) both had 50% of snaps in Week 7, but Edwards had 15 touches, and Hill had just five despite running 67% of Baltimore routes to just 24% for Edwards. Also, the fact that Edwards also had an 80-yard reception (no joke) that, A) accounted for 28% of his ENTIRE CAREER RECEIVING YARDAGE, and B) didn’t go for a touchdown, are both wild in and of themselves.

Week 7 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Zay Flowers

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Gus Edwards, Justice Hill (deeper 12 & 14-team), Odell Beckham (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Buffalo Bills

A pretty eventful week for the Buffalo Bills as not only did they drop a winnable game to the New England Patriots, but Dawson Knox (3-1-10) is set to have wrist surgery which could knock him out up to four weeks.

This means Dalton Kincaid (8-8-75; 63% routes) gets a bit of a bump in the target hierarchy and could set in motion his ascension to what we thought he could be in the preseason — the possible second target in an elite Buffalo Bills offense.

Stefon Diggs (12-6-58-1; 219 air yards - most in Week 7) is still awesome. Any second target that can work their way in and be consistent will be even more of a plus for Diggs. It’s probably not Gabe Davis (5-1-6; 94% routes). 

James Cook (13-56; 3-3-46-1) did come back up to 51% routes, and Latavius Murray (4-8; 2-2-20) saw his carries cut from 12 last week to just four this week. Some good signs, but Murray remains a barnacle in this offense for Cook’s upside.

Week 7 Buffalo Bills Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs

Start ‘Em: James Cook, Dalton Kincaid

Keep Them Rostered: Gabe Davis, Latavius Murray (contingent play; deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Carolina Panthers

BYE WEEK

Week 7 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Adam Thielen

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Miles Sanders (missed Week 6 - shoulder), Chuba Hubbard, Jonathan Mingo (deeper 12 & 14-team), D.J. Chark (deeper 12 & 14-team), Bryce Young (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Chicago Bears

With no Justin Fields, we were treated (in a way) to Tyson Bagent at quarterback and he was 21-of-29 for just 162 yards, a 2.0-yard aDOT and 56 total air yards. It was a heavy run gameplan with D’Onta Foreman (16-89-2; 5-3-31-1) and Darrynton Evans (14-48; 3-1-6) with both Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson out for Week 7. Even if Johnson returns for Week 8, expect Foreman to at least retain a role in this offense, unlike earlier in the season when Foreman was a healthy scratch.

Anytime you have a season-low 56 air yards — a season-low for every NFL team through seven weeks, not just for the Bears — the production is going to be limited. Still, DJ Moore (9-8-54; 91% routes) was far and away the top target earner and still put up 13.4 fantasy points. Cole Kmet (no stats; 79% routes) ran some cardio but wasn’t targeted. Darnell Mooney (4-4-32) ran 91% of routes as well and earned a few targets, but his disappointing 2023 continues.

Week 7 Chicago Bears Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: DJ Moore

Start ‘Em: Justin Fields (missed Week 6/7 - thumb)

Keep Them Rostered: D’Onta Foreman, Cole Kmet, Khalil Herbert (Missed Week 6/7 - ankle), Roschon Johnson (Missed Week 6/7 - concussion)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cincinnati Bengals

BYE WEEK

Week 7 Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Ja'Marr Chase

Start ‘Em: Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, Joe Mixon

Keep Them Rostered: Tyler Boyd

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cleveland Browns

Cleveland wins 39-38, but what did they win? On the surface, you’d think there had to be some offensive firepower, but, of course, this is the Cleveland Browns, so no. Their defense, despite giving up 38 points, was massive as they forced Gardner Minshew into three lost fumbles (one for a touchdown), four sacks, and an interception. Myles Garrett is a freak of nature.

Deshaun Watson left the game after just five attempts and an interception, ceding the rest of the quarterbacking to P.J. Walker, who had a completion percentage under 50% and threw an interception himself. Naturally, the receiving options weren’t very efficient at all, with Amari Cooper (8-2-22) catching just two balls, David Njoku (9-5-54) having the best overall efficiency and production day, and Elijah Moore (7-4-59) hanging around and compiling. All three ran routes on 90%+ dropbacks. Clearly with Walker at the helm in Week 8, the Browns’ pass-catchers will be downgraded as fantasy options.

The high-ankle epidemic sweeping our nation’s football fields claimed yet another victim, with Jerome Ford (11-74-1; 4-2-20) leaving the game and not returning, though he did get a super nice 69-yard touchdown run in before his exit. Kareem Hunt (10-31-2; 1-0-0) got a couple of scores in Ford’s stead and deciphering Hunt vs. Pierre Strong (8-25) to nab the 60%+ workload will be tough, considering Strong handled over 60% of rushing attempts on the final four drives of the game minus Ford.

Week 7 Cleveland Browns Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Deshaun Watson (left Week 7 - shoulder), Amari Cooper, Jerome Ford (left Week 7 - ankle), Kareem Hunt 

Keep Them Rostered: Elijah Moore, David Njoku

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Dallas Cowboys

BYE WEEK

Week 7 Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Dak Prescott, Brandin Cooks, Jake Ferguson (deeper 12 & 14-team), Michael Gallup (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Denver Broncos

Despite this win at home against the Packers, the Broncos haven’t been very fruitful on offense; especially for fantasy. New Sean Payton “slant boy” Courtland Sutton (6-6-76-1; 97% routes) scored a touchdown and Jerry Jeudy (5-5-64) was solid enough. Most of the other targets were split almost evenly by the running backs as no tight ends matter here and Payton steadfastly refuses to use one of his best players, Marvin Mims (1-0-0; 45% routes).

Looking like more of the flag-bearing running back than we’ve seen this season, Javonte Williams (15-82; 4-3-14) took 53% of snaps to the detriment of Jaleel McLaughlin (5-45; 2-1-1; 17% snaps). He’s looking more like a clear top back in this offense with McLaughlin and Samaje Perine (2-10; 3-3-31) jockeying for position behind him.

Week 7 Denver Broncos Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Courtland Sutton, Javonte Williams

Keep Them Rostered: Jerry Jeudy, Jaleel McLaughlin, Samaje Perine (deeper 12 & 14-team), Russell Wilson (deeper 12 & 14-team), Marvin Mims (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions — America’s kneecap-biting sweethearts so far this season — took a clean shot to the chin at the hand of the Baltimore Ravens. The Lions 100% got outworked, but I don’t think it changes too much, as good teams just have these games.

No David Montgomery and a banged-up through the week Craig Reynolds (3-16; 1-1-9) meant Jahmyr Gibbs (11-68-1; 10-9-58) absolutely thriving in all facets of the game, including the only Lions touchdown and only points. The Lions did abandon the run with 53 pass attempts to just 14 rush attempts, so there was a ton for the receivers, including Gibbs’ 10 targets.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (19-13-102) continues to feast and absolutely be a man among boys. What else is there to say at this point? Yes, that 19 is correct. 19 targets. I guess there is something to say about Sam LaPorta (7-6-52) being such a top-5 locked-in tight end that he still pretty much got there on a week where the two higher target-earners had 29 combined targets. That’s something! Also something? Jameson Williams’ six catchless targets on 45% of routes. That 45% is still his season-high, and he’s getting downfield targets (143 air yards - 23.8-yard aDOT), so if you can keep him stashed away, I’m doing so.

Week 7 Detroit Lions Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, David Montgomery (Missed Week 7 - rib)

Start ‘Em: Jahmyr Gibbs, Jared Goff

Keep Them Rostered: Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds (14-team), Craig Reynolds (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Green Bay Packers

The Packers just plain stink and there’s no two ways about it. This was a get-right spot if there was one, against the Denver Broncos defense, and they made them look competent.

Christian Watson (5-3-27; 88% routes) and Romeo Doubs (5-2-30-1) were the primary route-running receivers, yet not much production due to only 180 yards passing from Jordan Love. Doubs missed a second touchdown that actually took a fortuitous carom, and Jayden Reed (4-3-21-1; 52% routes) caught that in the end zone.

Luke Musgrave (5-4-30; 68% routes) left the game and was seen in a walking boot afterward, so that may not be the best sign for Week 8, but we’ll see what transpires.

I know Aaron Jones (8-35; 5-3-22; 38% snaps) wants to be on the field to help the Packers, but he’s clearly not 100%, so I don’t know what good it does the team if he’s running 60% of his typical workload. AJ Dillon (15-61; 2-2-34; 55% snaps) was typical AJ Dillon, which just isn’t very good.

Week 7 Green Bay Packers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Aaron Jones (clearly isn’t 100% right now), Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Luke Musgrave (deeper 12 & 14-team), Jordan Love (14-team), Jayden Reed (14-team), AJ Dillon (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Houston Texans

BYE WEEK

Week 7 Houston Texans Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Nico Collins, Tank Dell (missed Week 6 - concussion), C.J. Stroud

Keep Them Rostered: Dameon Pierce, Devin Singletary, Dalton Schultz, Robert Woods (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Indianapolis Colts

Colts vs. Browns was a fun, weird, crazy affair that wasn’t just a pass-first offensive shootout. In fact, Gardner Minshew had only 23 pass attempts to 40 runs. Even on 23 pass attempts, he still got over the 300-yard mark and tossed two touchdowns.

It’s been several seasons since we’ve been able to start multiple Colts pass-catchers in fantasy as weekly starts, but we’re at that point now with Michael Pittman (5-2-83-1) and Josh Downs (6-5-125-1).

There’s some concern about Downs being a primary slot guy, as he’s played exactly zero snaps in two-WR sets this season (per PFF), but the Colts play 11-personnel on at least 75% of their offensive snaps, making it much more comfortable to start him going forward. Downs has eclipsed 80% routes per dropback five weeks in a row, and has scored 13+ fantasy points in his last three games, and the only two games where Downs has three or fewer receptions were games Anthony Richardson started.

Make no mistake, you can lock Downs in as a weekly fantasy starter and is looking like a solid bet at the current time to be a top-24 wide receiver in fantasy this season. He gets cornerback Alontae Taylor in Week 8, who has been a turnstile in the slot for the Saints.

Jonathan Taylor (18-75-1; 4-3-45; 50% snaps) continues to split snaps evenly with Zack Moss (18-57; 2-1-5; 50% snaps), but it’s going to go in Taylor’s direction very soon. Still, Moss has probably earned another start in Week 8 for fantasy managers.

Week 7 Indianapolis Colts Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Michael Pittman

Start ‘Em: Zack Moss, Jonathan Taylor

Keep Them Rostered: Josh Downs, Gardner Minshew (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Jacksonville Jaguars

We got an island game worth watching on Thursday Night — what did we do to deserve this?

Calvin Ridley (4-1-45) got “Marshon Lattimore’d” and continued his fantasy fall from grace over the past few weeks. He’s not unstartable by any means, but I put Christian Kirk (6-6-90-1) and Ridley on an even playing field right now. All three of Kirk, Ridley, and Evan Engram (7-5-45) ran at least 88% of routes and after Jamal Agnew (6-4-36) — who saw more work because of Zay Jones not being in the lineup — no other Jaguar pass-catcher ran more than 18% of routes.

Travis Etienne (14-53-2; 5-3-24) is pretty #good and kept up his massive role where he’s seeing 19 carries per game in his last three, with two rushing touchdowns in EACH game. He’s also alternated five and three targets in each game this season, so it looks like Week 8 against Pittsburgh will be a three-target week. Etienne also saw a season-high 88% snap rate and his second-highest route rate of 71%. He’s cooking.

Week 7 Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Etienne, Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk

Start ‘Em: Evan Engram, Calvin Ridley

Keep Them Rostered: Zay Jones (missed Week 6/7 - knee)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce (13-12-179-1) is a monster. This weekly article will ALWAYS be a safe space to celebrate Kelce and Taylor Swift. Where:

You already know my disdain for the Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver carouse that’s really just spinning round and round. In a massive rotation for the Chiefs that has spanned EIGHT players, one receiver stands out above the rest through seven weeks: Rashee Rice (6-5-60-1). Some injuries to players like Justin Watson and Kadarius Toney (1-1-13; 17% routes) have opened up pockets of time on the fields, and while some others like Justyn Ross (no stats; 22% routes; looming legal trouble) have seen increases in routes per dropback, nobody has done more or deserved more routes per game than Rice. He’s also been THE most consistent of all the Chiefs’ receivers.

In Week 7, Rice had a season-high 65% route participation and put up his third-straight double-digit fantasy point performance in a row. Paired with his consistency, Rice has been by far the most efficient Chiefs receiver on a per-route basis, with a season-long 2.58 yards per route run and an elite 29% targets per route run rate. With middling performances by Skyy Moore (3-2-15; 61% routes), Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s (5-3-84-1; 76% routes) disappointing start (except Week 7, which may be the one or two good games he has all season) that you could have set your watch to, and Toney’s inability to stay on the field and be anything more than a line-of-scrimmage, gadgety player that’s now competing with those targets with new/old Chief Mecole Hardman (3-1-6; 17% routes), Rice has the inside track to be a huge factor in fantasy with his trajectory. This offense needs SOME kind of stability at WR to play off of Kelce with the best quarterback on planet Earth, Patrick Mahomes. Rice has the best chance to be that for 2023. I’m happy with him as my WR3 in fantasy, knowing he’s going to be targeted when he’s on the field with upside for much more down the line.

There's nothing new to report with the running backs for Kansas City. Isiah Pacheco (13-32; 4-4-28-1) still carries the bell, Jerick McKinnon (2-2; 2-2-24) gets a couple of targets and carries each game, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (2-5; 1-0-0) is a barnacle that clings to the hull of this ship.

Week 7 Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes

Start ‘Em: Isiah Pacheco

Keep Them Rostered: Rashee Rice, Jerick McKinnon (deeper 12 & 14-team leagues) Rashee Rice 

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Las Vegas Raiders

With a lot of moving parts in Week 7 with backup quarterbacks and all that, Brian Hoyer and Aidan O’Connell both saw action, but ultimately, it didn’t matter as the Chicago Fighting D’Onta Foremans easily dispatched the Raiders 30-12.

The Raiders, in most weeks, consolidate their touches to the trio of Davante Adams (11-7-57), Jakobi Meyers (13-7-50-1), and Josh Jacobs (11-35; 4-1-6) and even in a trailing script that saw Adams only run routes on 72% of dropbacks, that was still the case. Michael Mayer’s (4-2-13) ascension may take a week or two as a trailing script with multiple backup quarterbacks didn’t seem super ideal to begin with, but Mayer saw his routes dip to 54%, and his snaps took a slight dip to 71%, but still played well above Austin Hooper (2-2-18; 30% routes, 34% snaps), so no worries on that front.

Week 7 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs

Start ‘Em: Jakobi Meyers

Keep Them Rostered: Michael Mayer

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers were much more run-heavy than they typically are (-8.3% PROE, their lowest of the season), but it didn’t help them with guys like Austin Ekeler (14-45; 2-1-1), who has been hampered a bit by the Justin Herbert deep ball stuff.

We know with the coordinator change from Joe Lombardi to Kellen Moore there would be less emphasis on the shorter dump-offs and more on getting the ball downfield to guys like Mike Williams before his season-ending injury, Keenan Allen (9-4-55) and Joshua Palmer (7-5-133). Is that taking stuff off the table for Ekeler; throws from Herbert that should be there, but ignoring them for the deeper, riskier chances downfield? 

Quentin Johnson (2-1-20; 69% routes) is not looking good and honestly, as much of a ”noted ageist” as I am, I can’t be allocating roster spots to guys like Johnston who haven’t just shown any ability to make a difference. That’s even more damning with the Williams injury earlier in the season, as Palmer has actually shown a lot more than we thought was there with him.

Week 7 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Keenan Allen, Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler

Start ‘Em: Joshua Palmer

Keep Them Rostered: Gerald Everett (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: Quentin Johnson (it might just be JOEVER.)

Los Angeles Rams

No surprise here; the passing game hinges on Cooper Kupp (7-2-29; 100% routes) and Puka Nacua (12-8-154; 94% routes), who combined for over 70% of the targets in Week 7. Tutu Atwell (2-1-31-1; 66% routes) did snag a touchdown on his two targets, but it’s getting increasingly harder to start him each week, knowing that the targets from Matthew Stafford are clearly funneled to two players.

The running game utilization would be the key story here with the Rams as Darrell Henderson (18-61-1; 2-1-5) jumped out of bed and into a sizable role for the Rams in Week 7. Henderson had 57% of snaps to Royce Freeman’s (12-66) 43%, and Zach Evans logged exactly zero snaps. With Sean McVay typically rolling with one running back and not a committee in most instances, Henderson looks primed to get even more work going forward.

Week 7 Los Angeles Rams Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Cooper Kupp, Puca Nacua

Start ‘Em: Darrell Henderson

Keep Them Rostered: Matthew Stafford, Tyler Higbee (deeper 12 & 14-team), Royce Freeman (deeper 12 & 14-team), Tutu Atwell (14-team), Kyren Williams (on IR - ankle)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: Zach Evans, Myles Gaskin

Miami Dolphins

In a wild turn of events, the Philadelphia Eagles’ front is so good that the Dolphins only ran the ball 12 times to 32 pass attempts. Because of the lack of a run game, obviously, that affected Raheem Mostert’s (9-45; 3-1-6) bottom line. Jeff Wilson (no carries; 1-1-4) and Salvon Ahmed (2-3; 2-1-0) weren’t factors but should be against teams without stout defensive fronts that literally change the team’s game plans like the Eagles did to the Dolphins.

Tyreek Hill (15-11-88-1) is a damn superstar. Jaylen Waddle (6-6-63) clearly plays second fiddle this season instead of putting up the regular monster games that he did last season, so it’s hard to say he’s been a disappointment, but he was also banged up here with a back injury that may knock him out of Week 8. It’s noted that Waddle did return to the game, however.

Week 7 Miami Dolphins Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Tua Tagovailoa, Raheem Mostert

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: DeVon Achane (on IR - knee), Jeff Wilson

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Minnesota Vikings

Jordan Addison (10-7-123-2), come on down. What a performance, and we always knew you had that dog in you. Despite my professed love for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, I’ve been talking about Addison since the NFL Draft and then doubled down when I had to make a “Sophie’s Choice” of Addison or JSN in fantasy football drafts. Minus Justin Jefferson, Addison ran only 73% of routes but did a ton of damage. It could have been more; Addison almost had a THIRD touchdown if Kirk Cousins hadn’t sailed a ball over him.

Next to Addison’s monster night, T.J. Hockenson (12-11-86; 82% routes) led the Vikings in most receiving categories, while K.J. Osborn (6-5-47; 96% routes) was the clear third target. Even Brandon Powell (5-4-64) was pretty involved at 72% of routes.

Alexander Mattison (8-39; 3-2-3; 53% snaps) has to be feeling some crunch from Cam Akers (10-31; 3-2-30) as Akers earned more work in the backfield than ever since he’s been a Viking.

Week 7 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: T.J. Hockenson

Start ‘Em: Jordan Addison, Kirk Cousins

Keep Them Rostered: Alexander Mattison, K.J. Osborn, Cam Akers, Justin Jefferson (on IR - hamstring)

Add ‘Em: Brandon Powell (seeing ~70% of routes each week; in a pinch, he could be useful with byes)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New England Patriots

Continuing the theme of “you can’t predict ball”, the Patriots, of course, beat the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots love to spread the ball around to a bunch of (old, unathletic) receivers, but Mac Jones was surprisingly efficient (25-of-30, 272 yds., two TD) and kept them afloat.

Leading the charge for New England was Kendrick Bourne (7-6-63-1), who has been a regular thing as of late, with 18 targets and 16 receptions in his last two games. Not many other options have stepped up to help him out, but doing his best was Demario “Pop” Douglas (6-4-54; 1-20). I typically abstain from calling him “Pop” because it furthers the stereotype of old, dusty Patriots receivers and that’s not fair to him as somebody with actual youth on his side. Douglas ran a season-high 76% routes per dropback and could be working his way into more with such an ambiguous wide receiver room. The Patriots need all the youth and athleticism they can get, so featuring Douglas vs. guys like DeVante Parker (1-1-8; 58% routes) makes sense.

Hunter Henry (3-2-27; 46% routes) was the only other Patriots receiver/tight end mentioned here who had more than two targets, but he’s been playing through an ankle injury, so that’s the likely reason his routes have decreased.

The split between Rhamondre Stevenson (9-34; 6-6-51) and Ezekiel Elliott (11-31-1; 1-0-0) gets uglier by the day as Elliott saw each green-zone touch, but Stevenson maintains some of the early-down work and most of the receiving work. Stevenson is still the back we want in New England, but ceding work doesn’t exactly instill a ton of confidence in him going forward as anything more than a low-end RB2.

Week 7 New England Patriots Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Rhamondre Stevenson, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry (deeper 12 & 14-team), Ezekiel Elliott (deeper 12 & 14-team), JuJu Smith-Schuster (deeper 12 & 14-team), Mike Gesicki (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New Orleans Saints