Fantasy soccer analyst Ray Garvin shares his ideas on Week 7’s most noteworthy motion.
Travis Hunter turns into Jags’ WR1 in Week 7
This was the arrival we’ve been ready on.
Jacksonville received embarrassed in London; the Rams stomped them out, 35-7. Trevor Lawrence threw the ball 48 instances, received sacked seven instances and managed only one landing. They couldn’t run. The offense was flat. And nonetheless, Travis Hunter confirmed up like a star.
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Fourteen targets. Eight receptions. 101 yards. First NFL landing.
That’s what it appears to be like like when expertise breaks by.
This wasn’t quantity for quantity’s sake — Hunter earned it. He appeared explosive off the road. Created separation with ease. Reeled in powerful grabs in site visitors. Each time the ball discovered him, it felt like one thing may occur. The velocity, the boldness, the texture for area — all of it clicked.
And the function? Profession-high 68 offensive snaps. He didn’t contact the sector on protection till the second half. That tells you ways dedicated the Jaguars had been to feeding him.
Now the door’s broad open. Brian Thomas Jr. has been struggling. Extra drops, extra missed possibilities. To not point out, a shoulder harm that knocked him out of the sport late. It’s a tough flip for a participant who appeared like the long run final yr, and I’m nonetheless a believer within the expertise.
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However even with all that stated, it’s Travis Hunter’s time now.
After the sport, Jaguars legend Jimmy Smith stated it greatest: “Hunter must be the primary shifting ahead.”
And he’s proper.
That is why you commerce up. That is why you surrender future capital to go get a difference-maker. Hunter’s not only a piece of this offense you play with — he must be a man. The Jags have points, little doubt, however WR1 is now not on that listing.
If Brian Thomas Jr. misses time, Hunter’s a locked-in WR2. If he performs, you continue to have to contemplate Hunter a weekly starter. The breakout is actual. The utilization is legit.
Immediate Response: Known as it within the Week 7 Version of Story of the Take, and Travis Hunter had his breakout. He’s formally a top-24 fantasy WR the remainder of the best way.
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The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are formally again
This was Thanos including that last Infinity Stone into the gauntlet. Rashee Rice returned from his six-game suspension and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs put belt to you-know-where versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
Last rating: 31-0. It wasn’t only a win, it was a demolition. The Raiders managed 12 whole completions, 11 dashing makes an attempt and received completely bullied off the sector. Patrick Mahomes appeared like an MVP front-runner once more, ending with 286 passing yards and three touchdowns whereas barely needing to maneuver on the bottom. For the primary time in what looks like without end, he didn’t lead or end second in dashing for KC — that honor went to Isiah Pacheco, who turned 15 carries into 57 yards and a rating.
The true headline, although, was the return of Rashee Rice.
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You plugged him again in after the layoff and he delivered. Seven receptions, 42 yards, two touchdowns and a team-high 10 targets. That’s double the subsequent closest Chief. It wasn’t the top-five week I known as for in Story of the Take, however Rice reasserted himself because the man on this passing sport. He didn’t look totally ramped but however the offense made it a precedence to get him going early and infrequently.
And the influence went past the field rating. Rice’s presence modified the construction. Travis Kelce was broad open for many of the day. Tyquan Thornton flashed with 39 yards on simply two targets. Hollywood Brown scored. Xavier Worthy was concerned each by the air and on the bottom. Even Brashard Smith noticed prolonged work with 14 carries — a pleasant signal for his function rising if this workforce continues steamrolling opponents.
Kansas Metropolis didn’t should do a lot within the second half. Gardner Minshew II performed all the fourth quarter. However what the Chiefs confirmed whereas the starters had been in? That’s the sort of versatility and explosiveness that makes them a Tremendous Bowl favourite.
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This offense is lastly at full energy and that’s an issue for everybody else.
Immediate Response: Rashee Rice simply gave the Chiefs their last piece. He’s a locked and loaded fantasy WR1.
The Jets lastly bench Justin Fields
Let’s rewind actual fast.
Final week, Justin Fields accomplished 9 passes towards the Broncos and received sacked 9 instances. Quick ahead to this week, and by some means, it feels worse. Fields made it by one half of soccer. Simply six completions, 46 yards, 3.8 yards per try and 22 dashing yards. That was it. That was the day. He received benched after halftime.
The Jets lastly did it.
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Tyrod Taylor took over and accomplished 10 passes of his personal with two interceptions and three sacks. It didn’t precisely ignite the offense, however at the least they moved the ball a bit of. The Panthers walked out of MetLife with a 13-6 win, they usually barely did something. Bryce Younger left late with an harm and was changed by Andy Dalton, however the Jets couldn’t capitalize.
Let’s not overthink this.
There’s no Garrett Wilson. No explosiveness. When your greatest weapon is Josh Reynolds or Mason Taylor, you’re cooked. Tyler Johnson led the workforce with three catches for 60 yards. That’s the listing. Josh Reynolds noticed 9 targets and got here down with three. This isn’t how an NFL offense operates.
The Jets are 0-7. They’re 0-5 at dwelling. This isn’t only a dangerous stretch — this can be a rock-bottom yr. They should decide to Tyrod Taylor the remainder of the best way. It’s not fairly, but it surely’s needed. And if Garrett Wilson can get wholesome, there’s nonetheless an opportunity for a couple of go catchers to matter down the stretch.
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Immediate Response: Justin Fields is finished in New York this season. This was a transfer that needed to occur — and it received’t be the final.
Eagles get off the schneid with assertion win
Philly got here into this one chilly with two straight losses. The sport plan appeared apparent — run the ball. And the Eagles tried. Saquon Barkley received 18 carries after getting 18 whole over the previous two weeks. However he turned that quantity into simply 44 yards. It didn’t matter, as a result of Jalen Hurts was again to being Jalen Hurts.
He solely threw 23 instances however made each one depend — 326 yards, three touchdowns, no turnovers. Devonta Smith was unstoppable. Eleven targets, 183 yards, one landing. Almost 50% of the workforce’s targets. That’s alpha-level utilization. A.J. Brown was quieter in quantity, simply 4 grabs, however two of them went for touchdowns. After they wanted performs downfield or within the crimson zone, he delivered. That’s why you don’t panic. That’s why you reside with the weekly variance on this passing sport.
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This was a reminder of how harmful this offense will be when it doesn’t should chuck it 40 instances. The run sport wasn’t there however they stayed dedicated to it. And Hurts punished the protection after they overcommitted to cease it. This wasn’t a get-right sport — this was a message.
Saquon hasn’t hit but. That’s a reality. He’s been one of many largest letdowns relative to price. However he’s wholesome and getting the work. The large sport is coming.
Immediate Response: Hurts was lights out. Smith went nuclear. A.J. scored twice. Philly’s passing assault is again and Barkley’s bounce-back is subsequent.
Bears discover their thunder and lightning
Ben Johnson has discovered his backfield. D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai gave Chicago precisely what it wanted: stability, physicality and an entire lot of juice on the bottom in a 26-14 win over the Saints.
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Caleb Williams didn’t play his greatest ball. Simply 15 completions, 172 yards, one decide and a QBR of 19. It wasn’t fairly. However when the passing sport’s off, you lean in your run sport — and the Bears did precisely that. Swift was easy. He appeared explosive and shifty in area, and he completed runs with authority. Nineteen carries for 124 and a rating, averaging 6.5 per carry — that’s lead-back work. However don’t sleep on the rookie.
Kyle Monangai, a seventh-round select of Rutgers, got here in and set the tone with toughness. He ran exhausting by contact and gave this workforce a jolt. 13 carries for 81 yards and a landing, exhibiting imaginative and prescient, burst and sufficient energy to win on the second stage. He didn’t simply earn extra touches — he earned belief.
Heading into Sunday Night time Soccer, each Swift and Monangai had been top-five fantasy backs in half-PPR for the week. Swift is locked into beginning lineups shifting ahead, however Monangai? He’s now a must-roster in each league.
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Immediate Response: Kyle Monangai is the waiver wire add you want in Week 8.
Oronde Gadsden II is right here to remain
If there have been any remaining questions on whether or not Oronde Gadsden II is for actual, they had been answered in Week 7.
The Chargers rookie tight finish didn’t simply present up — he broke out. In a sport the place Justin Herbert threw the ball 55 instances, Gadsden wasn’t peppered with quantity, however he didn’t must be. He commanded only a 17% goal share — third on the workforce behind Keenan Allen (14 targets) and Ladd McConkey (15) — however he turned these 9 appears to be like into seven catches for 164 yards and a landing.
That 23.4 yards per reception had been large. Gadsden’s physicality after the catch and talent to work the seam gave Los Angeles the explosive vertical ingredient this offense had been missing from the tight finish place. He appeared like a future star — and possibly even their major pass-game mismatch shifting ahead.
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Veteran TE Will Dissly? He was a non-factor with only one goal.
And the numbers again all of it up. Heading into Sunday Night time Soccer, Gadsden leads all tight ends in scoring for Week 7. When you lump him in with broad receivers, he’d sit because the No. 4 general fantasy scorer amongst pass-catchers in half-PPR codecs. His effectivity additionally pops — posting an elite 4.10 yards per route run, nicely above league common for tight ends.
I highlighted Gadsden on The Knowledge Dump with Matt Harmon this week, emphasizing his rising utilization and alternative in an evolving Chargers offense. This was the week it clicked. We hope you had been forward of the curve.
Immediate Response: Oronde Gadsden II is a weekly top-12 tight finish from right here on out. Go get him if he’s nonetheless by some means in your waiver wire.
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The highest two QBs of Week 7 are … Bo Nix and Jaxson Dart?!
When you had instructed me we’d have the QB1 and QB2 from the Denver Broncos-New York Giants sport heading into Sunday Night time Soccer, I’d have known as you a liar. Nobody would’ve believed it. However that’s precisely the place we’re. Bo Nix and Jaxson Dart each delivered large fantasy performances in an unlikely back-and-forth affair.
Bo Nix was spectacular within the fourth quarter, exhibiting why Denver believes in him as the current and future. He threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns and added one other 48 yards and two scores on the bottom. Nix was in full command late, main a livid fourth-quarter rally that noticed the Broncos drop 33 unanswered factors to steal the win. He received the ball into the arms of his playmakers, with Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin all making key performs.
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Jaxson Dart, then again, matched him punch-for-punch. He threw three landing passes and added a dashing rating of his personal, ending with 283 passing yards. The Giants offense leaned on him on day when the bottom sport by no means really received going, and he responded in a giant approach. Dart’s dual-threat profile and the Giants’ tendency to search out themselves in adverse sport script make him a viable weekly streamer with QB1 upside.
The Giants collapsed late, however the fantasy factors had been banked. Denver walks away with a 33-32 win, and fantasy managers who began both of those quarterbacks had been rewarded handsomely.
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Immediate Response: Bo Nix is a locked-in starter. Jaxson Dart is perhaps a top-12 fantasy QB choice shifting ahead.
Trey McBride is prospering with Jacoby Brissett
In a season the place tight ends have been frustratingly inconsistent, McBride continues to emerge as a weekly difference-maker. Within the Cardinals’ slender 27-23 loss to the Packers, McBride noticed a team-high 13 targets, hauling in 10 catches for 74 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Over the previous two weeks with Jacoby Brissett below middle, McBride has totaled 24 targets, 18 receptions, 156 yards and three touchdowns. That’s elite manufacturing.
Crucial stat? He’s doubled up Marvin Harrison Jr. in targets in back-to-back weeks. The Arizona offense runs by McBride when Brissett is the starter and fantasy managers ought to hope that continues for so long as Kyler Murray is out.
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Immediate Response: Trey McBride is enjoying like the highest tight finish in fantasy soccer with Jacoby Brissett. Tight ends quietly dominated this sport and fantasy managers must be paying consideration.
Cowboys offense continues to fireplace on all cylinders
Even with CeeDee Lamb again within the lineup, this passing assault is spreading the ball round and nonetheless producing fantasy gold. Lamb’s explosive 74-yard reception highlighted a 5-catch, 110-yard day, whereas Jake Ferguson did his greatest red-zone vulture impression, hauling in two touchdowns on seven receptions. He solely went for 29 yards, however fantasy managers received’t care if you rating twice.
George Pickens additionally delivered, catching 4 passes for 82 yards, exhibiting his downfield chops as soon as once more. Importantly, even with Lamb commanding targets, Pickens remained concerned and productive — an ideal signal shifting ahead.
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Javonte Williams did his factor on the bottom, dashing 19 instances for 116 yards and a landing, giving Dallas wanted stability. And Dak Prescott? Environment friendly and poised — 21-of-30 for 264 yards and three touchdowns. This offense appears to be like in rhythm, deep with weapons and really fantasy-reliable.
On the Washington aspect, it was a tricky outing. Jayden Daniels exited with a hamstring harm, and the offense by no means really discovered its rhythm with out its high two wideouts, Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. Jacory Croskey-Merritt was bottled up, and the passing sport by no means gained traction.
Immediate Response: The Cowboys offense can help all three of CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Jake Ferguson, they usually’re all weekly fantasy starters.
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