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0 out of 10
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Believe it or not, we are nearing the middle of the 2018 NFL season. It's a pivotal period for league teams and a turning point for fantasy owners.
If you are in a deeper league, you can start the series in a little more than a month. Week 7 offers a great opportunity to consolidate your position as a playoff team or return to the game if you have a bad start.
You will not be able to rely solely on matches not to be missed, as four teams – the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks – are on the road. Taking risks during tough fights will be part of this week's game plan. We need to help with some of these matches by analyzing factors such as opponent, performances at the beginning of the season and health of the players.
We will make our selections based on the Reception Pointing Formats (PPR). All rankings and fantasy statistics via FantasyPros.
1 of 10
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The Buffalo Bills have been a top-down team this season, but their defense has appeared strong in recent weeks and ranks third (311.7 yards per game allowed) and sixth against the pass (219.2 ).
That's a big challenge for quarterback Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts, even at home. The 1-5 Colts are not very good and they have not surrounded the chance to get a lot of talent this season.
Luck has been a fighter, though. He has accumulated at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in each of the last three games. He could also have the top-tail T.Y. Hilton back after Hilton has missed the last two weeks because of a hamstring problem.
The receiver returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.
Verdict: beginning
Projection: 308 yards passing, 28 yards rushing, three touchdowns, one INT
2 out of 10
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Brock Osweiler made his triumphant return to the NFL starting lineup last week and helped lead the Miami Dolphins to an exciting overtime win over Ryan Tannehill. He managed 380 yards and three touchdowns (with two choices) against a very good defense of the Chicago Bears, which is impressive.
Osweiler is about to start again this week and, with Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, you may be tempted to test it as a streamer. Against the Detroit Lions, however, this might not be such a good idea.
Detroit has only two or three goals and has had its share of difficult outings. However, the defense has been strong recently, especially against the pass. The Lions are seventh in pass defense (222.0 yards per game) and have 17 sacks in just five games.
Osweiler took the Bears by surprise. He will not do the same thing in Detroit.
Verdict: seat
Projection: 235 passing yards, one touchdown, two interceptions
3 of 10
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While we expect Osweiler to be a little missed in Week 7, his teammate Kenyan Drake could be in reserve for a big performance. He had a decent game last week (four receptions, 78 yards combined), but he also had a critical overtime fumble that almost cost his team a win.
Drake had a chance of redemption when Chicago missed a goal. He was able to help Miami to take a stand for the winning move.
He will find more points in Week 7 against a Lions team that has awarded the third largest number of fantasy points to opponents.
Frank Gore, Drake's ageless wonder, will remain on his background. He should still be a man on whom the Miami offense will be backed by Osweiler's second start in 2018.
Verdict: beginning
Projection: 65 rushing yards, five receptions, 38 passing yards, one touchdown
4 out of 10
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New York Jets running back Isaiah Crowell has been hard to understand for fantasy owners. He had zero rushing yards and only one receptions in Week 4 but had 219 rushing yards the following week. He fell to the ground with 40 yards on the floor and two receptions last week against the Colts.
Will we see Crowell's good return to Week 7? We think not.
Crowell and the Jets will face a team from the Minnesota Vikings who have awarded the ninth-smallest number of fantastic points to opposing midfielders this season. The teams averaged 3.9 yards per race against Minnesota.
In addition, Crowell was injured in the ankle. He did not practice Wednesday with foot disease, according to Blaine Blontz of FantasyPros.
Verdict: seat
Projection: 45 yards rushing, receiving, 10 receiving yards
5 out of 10
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Midfielder Kerryon Johnson finally gave the Lions a 100-yard run in the third week, but he has only accumulated 125 yards and a touchdown in two games since. Part of the problem lies in the fact that Johnson, despite his exceptional talent, finds himself in direct contact with LeGarrette Blount and Theo Riddick in the backfield.
"I think we have a lot of good half-strikers and I think we're trying to use them appropriately," head coach Matt Patricia told reporters.
This makes Johnson a question mark for fantasy owners, who probably do not believe that Patricia is using it properly.
Well, there should be little question about Johnson versus the Dolphins because he should have another strong exit.
Miami ranks only 21st in the race (118.2 yards allowed per game) and has lost the sixth highest number of fantasy points to the other half.
Johnson could even hit that 100 yard mark again.
Verdict: beginning
Projection: 92 yards rushing, two receptions, 18 receiving yards, one touchdown
6 out of 10
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Tennessee Titans running back Dion Lewis was another fantastic choice this season. He's generally good for the PPR's reasons, and sometimes great, like his nine-game defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, he has a poor performance (nine yards on the ground, two receptions) and has to face a tough match for the 7th week.
Lewis and the Titans will play a strong defense of the Los Angeles Chargers in London this week. While the Chargers were 11th against the race (96.8 yards per game allowed), they have stiffened in recent weeks.
Marshawn Lynch averaged only 3.4 yards per race against L.A. two weeks ago. Carlos Hyde averaged a full yard less (2.4) last week.
As was the case all season, Lewis will share the time lost with Derrick Henry in the backfield. He can take a handful of receptions, but do not expect Lewis to go on the Chargers.
Verdict: seat
Projection: 18 rushing yards, three receptions, 28 receiving yards
7 out of 10
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Chris Godwin has been a forgotten man in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive this season. He has accumulated only 249 yards in five games, even though he's scored four times. Still, it could be a solid home-based streamer this week against the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns' defense had excellent performances, but the turnarounds fueled these outings. Cleveland has not been great for limiting opposing violations by meter.
The Browns rank 28th in total defense (406.5 yards per game allowed) and 20th against the pass (268.3). The last time they were on the road, they gave 45 points to the Oakland Raiders.
Expect Cleveland's defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to focus on slowing down DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans in the passing game. This should open up opportunities for Godwin and make it a viable WR3 or Flex starter.
Verdict: beginning
Projection: five receptions, receiving 78 yards, one touchdown
8 out of 10
Bill Feig / Associated Press
New Orleans Saints rookie receiver, Tre Quan Smith, was part of a historic feat two weeks ago, as he was attempting to pitch that made Drew Brees the leader of NFL assists.
Smith has accumulated 111 yards on a pass and two touchdowns in this match, and he is becoming an important part of the New Orleans attack.
Still, it is not a good week to rely on Smith in the fantasy world. He will be on the road and will face a Baltimore Ravens defense that has given the fewest fantastic points to his wide receivers. This defense has just sacked Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota 11 times on the road.
Oh, and the Ravens are the only team Brees has ever defeated. This could change at week 7, but beware of Smith.
Verdict: seat
Projection: three receptions, 47 meters
9 out of 10
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Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield continues to watch his wide pass receivers, and will have to start relying more on his opponent David Njoku. He made it last week against the Chargers and both scored seven goals for 55 yards and one touchdown.
Expect this nascent partnership to continue in week 7, both because the Browns need it and because the Buccaneers are struggling to slow down their opponents.
Tampa has granted the most fancy points to the position this season.
Cleveland will likely have to move often to keep up with Tampa Bay, averaging 28.2 points per game. This should lead to a big day for Njoku.
Verdict: beginning
Projection: five receptions, 68 yards, one TD
10 of 10
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The Carolina Panthers' defense is a solid unit of the real world. He ranks 10th in points (22.8 per game) and has 12 sacks and seven interceptions.
There are two games against the New York Giants, the Panthers were bombarded with 31 points. Last week against the Washington Redskins, they only gave 23, but they also allowed Washington to control the game and play football without error.
While the Panthers fired Alex Smith three times, they were unable to force a turnaround.
Things are not going to be easier this week against the Philadelphia Eagles, who seem to be on the rise (34 points against the New York Giants).
The Eagles can attack the Panthers with the race and the short game, as do the Giants and Washington. This could lead to a similar result for Panthers D / ST fantasy owners.
Verdict: seat
Projection: 28 points awarded, two bags, one INT
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