We are starting to build data that is usable in predicting future outcomes. The information we get from the first six weeks can to give us enough information to be confident in our predictions. Let's also keep in mind that the NFL is a weekly league, things change very quickly. Most analysts want to tell you that whatever happened last week explains everything, but that's far from reality.
The Process
The process in developing these Fantasy Football Rankings is to only take data from the previous six weeks. Anything older than that holds little relevance unless there is a player returning from injury or some reason to discount the newer information. We now have six weeks of information, but we need to recognize that the first couple of weeks were particularly wacky this season.
Play on Underdog! Click link and use promo code WHEELER for a 100% initial deposit match up to $1000!!!
Fantasy Football Weekly Rankings
When examining these fantasy football rankings - Week 7, take into consideration that we are looking at positional ranks, not flex or overall rankings. When it comes to who you start in the flex a lot will depend on your specific league rules and roster construction. If players are ranked within 3 spots of each other the difference between them is negligible, they are expected to score the same amount of points, in those cases go with your gut, flip a coin, or join our FREE Discord Channel.
Quarterback
The Steelers are likely starting Russel Wilson for a few possible reasons. The first and foremost is that Justin Fields was traded for sixth-round draft pick that could become a fourth-round selection based on playing time. Coach Tomlin also promised Wilson the opportunity to start and Wilson was in that role for most of the preseason. Ultimately we should really expect the Steelers to use both QB’s in every game going forward. Expect Fields to be used in a hyper Taysom Hill type role, lets not forget, the first “slash” player was the Steelers Kordell Stewart.
Jalen Hurts completed one deep pass in three games without A.J. Brown. Hurts went 1-of-8 on his deep shots during this stretch and trailed only Tyler Huntley in PFF passing grade on deep attempts. He has completed four long balls—three of which were touchdowns—in his two games with Brown active.
Running Back
David Montgomery is averaging more yards after contact per carry and more yards per route run than Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery is top-10 in yards after contact per carry and is one of four backs averaging at least two yards per route run. Monty has out-carried Gibbs (8-4) inside the five-yard line. The match-up against Minnesota in Week 7 isn’t great for either of these running backs, but it would be difficult to bench either one given the shallow RB pool this season.
In Week 6, Breece Hall earned a 86 percent snap share, his highest since Week 1.Hall also set a season high in route rate (76 percent), he touched the ball 23 times for 169 yards, both marks were the best of his season.
Kenneth Walker is averaging 5.3 receptions per game, he is on pace for 89 receptions and 578 yards. Walker’s rushing totals haven’t been elite, but he is scoring touchdowns and getting receiving usage that most backs only dream of.
Wide Receiver
The Amari Cooper trade to be Buffalo Bills should benefit just about everyone on the offense. It may cap the upside of Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman, but we haven’t seen much of any upside from them in the first six games. Cooper will add to drives, getting first downs where they weren’t getting them before, leading to more opportunity for targets and TD’s for everyone.
After missing the past couple of weeks with the Raiders, Davante Adams appears to be fully healthy following his trade to the Jets. He should be ready to make his debut with the team Sunday night against the Steelers. The only other player that will be drastically affected by this is Mike Williams who has been slow to return from a plethora of injuries and is likely to be traded soon. This move should allow Garrett Wilson more snaps from the slot position where he should absolutely torch slot-cornerbacks. .
Tee Higgins has out-targeted Ja’Marr Chase in three consecutive weeks. The only game he didn’t out-target Chase was his first of the season. He fell one short of Chase’s seven targets. Higgins has a 31-24 lead over Chase since then. He is also averaging more air yards than Cincinnati’s supposed WR1. Week 7 sets up great for both Cincinnati receivers against Cleveland. Cleveland plays the least amount of double coverage and Chase has seen a 42% double-coverage rate this season, per Legendary Upside.
Tight End
Brock Bowers has been targeted on 27 percent of his routes, the highest rate among all tight ends with at least 50 routes. Bowers’ target rate is 34 percent in the two games without Davante Adams in the lineup.
Trey McBride in four healthy games this season:
87% routes (elite)
28% targets (elite)
28% air yards (great)
13.9 fantasy points per game
In Week 6, Trey McBride ran 76 percent of his routes from the slot and caught six passes from the slot.
Dallas Goedert left last week's game early with a hamstring injury, and Grant Calcaterra filled in admirably, catching all four of his targets for 67 yards. He has 4.62 speed so he can stretch the seam.
Kicker
Defense/Special Teams
Since the 2021 season, Robert Saleh's first in New York, the Jets defense is first in points per drive, first in EPA per play, and third in success rate, despite playing the fourth-most snaps over that stretch.
Comments