Browns TE David Njoku drew a season-high 9 targets in Sunday's win over the Colts. He collected a team-high 5 receptions for 54 yards. That also marked a season high in yardage. Njoku has consistently run among the team leaders in routes, which leaves room for more similar performances. But we'll need to see more before counting on it. Njoku entered the day averaging 3.8 receptions per game through five outings.
Browns WR Amari Cooper caught just two of 8 targets in Sunday's win over the Colts, tallying a mere 22 yards. Losing QB Deshaun Watson early certainly didn't help, as P.J. Walker completed just 15 of his 32 pass attempts the rest of the way. Of course, Watson opened the game just 1 of 5 before going down. Unfortunately, we'll have to take games like this from Cooper at times. Watson should be available for Week 8 after clearing concussion testing during Sunday's game -- though it was curious that he never returned. A matchup with the Seahawks at least doesn't hold anything scary in coverage for Cooper. Elijah Moore posted a 4-59 receiving line on 7 targets.
Browns RB Kareem Hunt ran 10 times for 31 yards and 2 TDs, including the game-winner Sunday against the Colts. The latter came from 1 yard out after Jerome Ford had left the game. But Hunt's other score came from 2 yards out early in the second quarter. That marks the second straight game in which he has scored from inside the red zone with Jerome Ford available. If Ford can't go in Week 8, then Hunt would make for a solid RB2 against the Seahawks. Pierre Strong also came on for 25 yards on 8 carries against the Colts.
Tyler Allgeier operated as the Falcons' workhorse RB in Tampa Bay on Sunday, with RB Bijan Robinson barely playing due to an illness. Allgeier struggled to get anything going on the ground, totaling just 59 yards on 21 carries. He added 53 yards on three catches, most of that coming on a 46-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter. We'll look for further updates on Robinson but would expect Allgeier to be back in his prior role next week. He averaged 12.5 carries and 1.7 targets over the first six games of the season. Week 8 brings a tough matchup vs. the Titans' ninth-ranked RB defense.
Browns RB Jerome Ford ran for 74 yards and a TD on 11 carries before leaving Sunday's win over the Colts. Nearly all of that production came on his 69-yard TD run early in the first quarter. Ford added 2 receptions for 20 yards on 4 targets. We'll see about the outlook for his injured ankle.
Colts WR Michael Pittman caught a mid-range pass from Gardner Minshew in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Browns, broke two tackles and took it for a 75-yard go-ahead TD. And thank goodness he did, because Pittman only had one other catch among 5 total targets. That did still account for 21.7% of Minshew's total pass attempts in a game that saw him throw just 23 times. Throw in a matchup with what had been the league's toughest defense coming into the game, and there's nothing to worry about with Pittman's role. Next week holds another non-easy matchup with the Saints.
Falcons QB Desmond Ridder had a solid day throwing the ball in the Week 7 win over the Bucs, completing 19 of 25 passes for 250 yards, 0 TDs, and 0 INTs. He added 38 yards and a score rushing – and almost had a second rushing TD but fumbled right at the goal line. He’s up to three rushing TDs on the season. Ridder gets a Titans defense in Week 8 that should push the Falcons to throw more than usual. He'll be a nice QB2 play in that one. Ridder gets positive matchups the following two weeks vs. the Vikings and Cardinals before a Week 11 bye.
Colts WR Josh Downs racked up 125 yards and a TD on 5 receptions in Sunday's loss to the Browns. Most of his production came via a 59-yard catch-and-run TD in the first quarter. But Downs also drew a team-high 6 targets, 26.1% of QB Gardner Minshew's total pass attempts. This was Downs' third straight game with at least 5 receptions and fourth such game among the past five. He'll be at least in the WR4 mix going forward.
Raiders TE Michael Mayer notched 13 yards on 2 grabs in Sunday's loss to Chicago. It’s a major step down from Mayer’s Week 6 line (5-75), but he wasn’t set up for success alongside Brian Hoyer. The rookie saw only 4 targets – third on the team behind Jakobi Meyers (13) and Davante Adams (12). He’ll look to rebound next Monday night at Detroit. We’ll see if Jimmy Garoppolo (back) can return for that one.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor matched Zack Moss at 18 carries apiece in Sunday's loss to the Browns. Taylor turned his into 75 yards (4.2 per rush) and a TD, while Moss went for 57 yards (3.2). Taylor also tallied 3 receptions for 45 yards on 4 targets, while Moss posted just a 1-5 receiving line on 2 targets. Taylor's performance looks like another big step toward making him someone we can start weekly in fantasy.
Colts QB Gardner Minshew racked up 305 yards and 2 TDs passing in Sunday's narrow loss to the Browns. Minshew added two rushing scores among his three attempts for 29 yards -- one of which came from 17 yards out. It was a particularly stellar performance for Indy's QB2 considering that it came against a league-best Cleveland defense and just a week after he played terribly in a loss to Jacksonville. What should you take away from this? Don't expect Minshew to deliver starter-level fantasy production every week. But this game reminds us that he can be a viable fantasy option. His production came unconventionally against the Browns, including the TD passes from 59 and 75 yards out. Minshew went just 15 of 23 passing overall, also taking 4 sacks and throwing an INT. His next five matchups also look negative by our adjusted fantasy points allowed, surrounding a Week 11 bye. Don't bet on Minshew landing inside the top 12 of our weekly QB rankings.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs mustered only 35 yards on 11 carries in Sunday's loss to Chicago. Jacobs added only 1 catch on 4 targets, although he nearly had more. A mishandled pass turned into one Bears INT. Jacobs also failed to get both feet down in bounds on an end zone target. On the bright side: Jacobs is now tied for the league-lead in targets. And there’s at least a chance he gets Jimmy Garoppolo back for Week 8 at Detroit.
Raiders WR Davante Adams snagged 7 of 12 targets for 57 yards in a Week 7 loss to Chicago. Adams dropped one well-thrown end zone ball, but watching Brian Hoyer in this one was painful. Before getting pulled late in the game, the veteran managed just 129 yards and 2 INTs. Jimmy Garoppolo (back) has a chance to return for a Week 8 date with Detroit. Regardless, Adams will remain a volume-driven WR1.
Browns RB Jerome Ford suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Colts and is officially questionable to return. That leaves Cleveland's backfield to Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong. We'll update Ford's status when we know more.
Packers LB Quay Walker (knee) is active for today's game against the Broncos. Use him as planned in your IDP lineups. S Darnell Savage (calf) and CB Eric Stokes (foot) are also active. It'll be the season debut for Stokes. CB Jaire Alexander (back) is inactive, leaving Green Bay without its top cover guy.
Chargers S Derwin James (ankle) is active for today's game against the Chiefs. We knocked him down the Week 7 rankings for the injury anyway, and there's clearly risk to using James in IDP lineups. But he's available if you need him.
Cardinals S Budda Baker (hamstring) is active for today's game against the Seahawks. CB Kei'Trel Clark (hamstring) and LB Josh Woods (back) are also active after entering the day questionable.
Packers RB Aaron Jones (hamstring) is active for today's game vs. the Broncos. He was limited in practice all week and listed as questionable, so the hammy is still a concern. Remember that Jones tallied just five carries and two targets when he first tried to return from this injury back in Week 4. The good news is the matchup is excellent against Denver’s 32nd-ranked RB defense. Consider Jones a risk/reward RB2 today.
Rams LB Ernest Jones (knee) is active for today's game against the Steelers. Use him as planned in your IDP lineups.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson went without a touch in the first half of Sunday's game at Tampa. After the break came word from HC Arthur Smith that the rookie is "just not feeling all that great," according to Tori McElhaney of the team website. "Don't expect him to play much more," she added. Woulda been nice if fantasy players could have heard that before the game started.
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