Stop, drop, shut ’em down, open up shop
Oh, no, That’s how The Undroppables roll
Stop, drop, shut ’em down, open up shop
Oh, no, That’s how The Undroppables roll
Oh you think this is funny, then you don’t want to make money. I opened up the shop again last night and wrote and wrote and researched my way to this column. While listening to a lot of hip hop, I think that has surprised my buddy Tommy Mo. Tommy is saying I have swag; if only Tommy knew just how much. Doing nerd stuff like my regular job and analyzing numbers for fantasy purposes isn’t exactly swaggy. It makes me feel like the Office Space guys trashing the printer in the field.
Oh, you think it’s funny
Then you don’t know me, money
(It might be a little funny)
So if you are new around here, this is how it works:
Money Maker – I think this person will perform well this week and be better than expectations
Heart Breaker – These players will not meet projections
Quarterbacks
💰 Money Makers
Justin Herbert – This guy has over 300 yards or a minimum of 3 touchdowns in every game he has played. In Week 7 Herbert goes up against the Jaguars who are a bottom 10 defense against the pass (8th worst). Herbert has been airing it out and appears to have a great connection with his wide receivers. Not only would I charge up Herbert, but I am where I have him (see what I did there). ($7,500 on FanDuel and $6,400 on DraftKings)
What are these stats saying? Justin Herbert is averaging 22.6 FPG (8th-best)
If his schedule were perfectly neutral, we could say he'd be averaging 27.3 FPG (4th-best)
His matchup this week — Jacksonville, ranks 13th-worst (+1.4), so could say 28.7 FP expectation this week https://t.co/Kgqn58Gkkx
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) October 20, 2020
Teddy Bridgewater – Two weeks ago Teddy was a maker, last week a breaker. Both held true. This week Teddy gets to face his old team, which is one of the friendliest defenses to the passing game in the NFL. The Saints defense has given up multiple passing touchdowns in EVERY game this season. You can look for that trend to continue this week. ($6,800 on FanDuel and $5,800 on DraftKings)
Joe Burrow – The Browns are next up for Burrow, and they are the 6th friendliest defense to quarterbacks. I think it’s great that they are so kind. The last time Burrow faced the Browns he threw for 316 yards and 3 touchdowns, I simply can’t ignore that. Burrow has thrown for over 300 yards in 4 games this season. I say plug him in that lineup. ($7,100 on FanDuel and $5,500 on DraftKings)
Other quarterbacks I like in Week 7:
There is the obvious: Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, and Deshaun Watson
The not so obvious: Matthew Stafford and Gardner Minshew
💔 Heart Breakers
Baker Mayfield – Is anyone even interested in playing him anymore? With his rib injury and how bad he has played, he really shouldn’t even be rostered. The Bengals are the number 6 defense against quarterbacks. They kept Mayfield in check for the most part in the first meeting. Even if Baker plays, NO ONE should have any interest in playing him.
Nick Foles – Foles hasn’t been bad, but he hasn’t been great as well. He’s a middling quarterback so far this season. Playing against the Rams is not where I would expect a middling QB to get a big game. Jimmy G did light them up last week, but I don’t expect that from Foles.
Others quarterbacks to avoid: Cam Newton, Daniel Jones, Derek Carr, and Jared Goff
Running Backs
💰 Money Makers
Todd Gurley – Gurley has a starter’s volume on his side and an offense that can really get it going. Last week he only totaled 67 yards. This week Gurley is playing against the Lions who have given up 7 touchdowns to the running back position on the season. Gurley is capable of doing damage on the ground or catching the ball. He will bounce back this week. ($6,600 on FanDuel and $6,000 on DraftKings)
Ronald Jones – Jones is tearing it up. Over 100 yards in each of the last three games and 2 touchdowns last week against the Packers. The worst defense against the run in the NFL is up this week in the Raiders. The Raiders have given up an average of 100 yards per game on the ground and have also given up 8 touchdowns to the position. Jones will continue producing in Week 7. ($5,000 on FanDuel and $6,000 on DraftKings)
Justin Jackson – Jackson had 71 yards rushing in relief of Austin Ekeler last week. This week he gets the Jaguars defense that was just torched by the Lions running backs for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns. There will be opportunities for both Jackson and Joshua Kelley here. ($6,100 on FanDuel and $6,800 on DraftKings)
Looks like Justin Jackson will power teams through November. https://t.co/crlm131916
— Paul Charchian (@PaulCharchian) October 21, 2020
Other running backs to play:
The obvious: Ezekiel Elliott, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, Mike Davis, and Aaron Jones
The not so obvious: Kenyan Drake, David Johnson, D’Andre Swift, Jerrick McKinnon, and JD McKissic.
💔 Heart Breakers
Darrell Henderson – Henderson is back here again as a heart breaker. I don’t want people to think Henderson is reaching Mixon status with me, as he isn’t. This is simply another tough match-up facing the Bears run defense. Henderson did produce 88 yards last week on the ground, so I think you can expect something similar. But don’t expect multiple touchdowns or double-digit scoring this week from Henderson.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Denver is the best defense against the run in the league. Since the second week of the season, they have not given up a 100-yard rusher. The Broncos give up on average only 68 yards on the ground a game. With the addition of Le’Veon Bell to the team and a tough defense, I would expect a down week for CEH in Week 7.
Other running backs that will cost you in Week 2: David Montgomery, Damien Harris, and Frank Gore
Wide Receivers
💰 Money Makers
Tee Higgins – Over the past four weeks, Higgins has averaged 8 targets per game and has totaled 304 yards and 2 touchdowns. This week he is going up against the Browns and the 3rd worst defense against wide receivers. You can expect another 8 or more targets and some seriously good production against a bad defense. ($5,700 on FanDuel and $5,300 on DraftKings)
Over the last 5 weeks, Tee Higgins ranks …
* 14th in targets
* 6th in air yards
* 20th in catches
* 15th in yards
* 24th in PPR points— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) October 21, 2020
Terry McLaurin – McLaurin has not seen less than 7 targets all season. In Week 6, McLaurin had a 29% target share consisting of 12 targets for 7 receptions and 74 yards. This week, McLaurin is playing against a defense that has given up 13 touchdowns to the position. Wide receivers have caught 11 touchdowns, ran for 1, and even thrown a touchdown against the Cowboys. This sets up nicely for a scary day for Cowboys defenders. ($7,100 on FanDuel and $5,800 on DraftKings)
Christian Kirk – Kirk was in here last week and he only caught two passes… for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns! This week the Cardinals get to play the league’s worst defense against the pass, the Seahawks. Kirk has 55 yards and/or a touchdown in four straight games. I would expect Kirk to potentially have a few more catches and some yards over the top in what appears to be this week’s shootout. ($5,400 on FanDuel and $4,900 on DraftKings)
Jamison Crowder – Crowder hasn’t seen less than 10 targets yet this season. The Bills are up in Week 7. The Bills defense is pretty good against wide receivers, but the place to beat them is in the slot. This happens to be where Crowder plays. In Week 1, Crowder had 7 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. In Week, 2 Isaiah Ford for the Dolphins for 7 receptions for 76 yards. In Week 3, Cooper Kupp scorched the Bills for 9 receptions, 107 yards, and a touchdown. This is where you beat the Bills, and Crowder will have the volume to make it happen. ($6,300 on FanDuel and $5,900 on DraftKings)
Other wide receivers to play:
The obvious: Deandre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Julio Jones, Tyler Lockett, Calvin Ridley, and Tyreek Hill
The not so obvious: – Keelan Cole, Mike Williams, and Robby Anderson
💔 Heart Breakers
Michael Gallup – Andy Dalton looked pretty bad in Week 6. This week, the Cowboys draw the Washington Football Team which gives up an average of 131 yards per game and 0.3 touchdowns per game. Gallup had 2 receptions for 23 yards in Dalton’s debut as a Cowboys starting quarterback. That means you can expect less from Gallup, Amari Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb this week. YUCK!
Cooper Kupp – Kupp has been targeted heavily lately, seeing 9 targets in Week 6. He turned those 9 targets into 3 receptions for 11 yards against the Niners. The Bears are actually even better against the pass than the Niners are. Expect it to be tough going for Kupp once again this weekend.
Other wide receivers will cost you: Tim Patrick, Julian Edelman, Jarvis Landry, and DJ Moore
Tight Ends
💰 Money Makers
Hunter Henry – Henry is averaging 7 targets per game. The Jaguars give up an average of 4.7 targets, 3.7 receptions, and 58 yards per game as the ninth-worst defense against tight ends. Look for Henry to be active in the passing game for the Chargers. ($5,800 on FanDuel and $4,500 on DraftKings)
T.J. Hockenson – Hockenson is averaging 5 targets per game. He has a touchdown in each of his last two games and this week draws the second friendliest defense to tight ends in the league, the Atlanta Falcons. Hockenson has faced three bottom-10 defenses against tight ends this season; he has a touchdown in each of those games. So it is easy to see why he is a money maker here. This week you can call him TD Hockenson. ($5,900 on Fan Duel and $5,000)
Most TE1 games allowed (w/ Wk 7 foes)
5- ATL (Hockenson)
BUF (Herndon)
NO (I Thomas)
4- CIN (Hooper)
PHI (Engram)— Ryan McDowell (@RyanMc23) October 21, 2020
Dalton Schultz – Schultz has been pretty bad since Dak Prescott got injured. His targets went down significantly. While I was just telling you about how the Washington Football Team is good against wide receivers, they aren’t so good against tight ends. Washington is the fourth-worst defense against the position, and I expect Dalton to move the ball through Schultz. ($5,200 on FanDuel and $3,900 on DraftKings)
Other tight ends to play:
The obvious: Darren Waller, George Kittle, and Travis Kelce
The not so obvious: Austin Hooper, Rob Gronkowski, and Jimmy Graham
💔 Heart Breakers
Jared Cook – Each of the last two games Cook has only seen 2 targets. The Saints are playing the Panthers in Week 7. The Panthers have not allowed any tight end to get more than 50 yards this season and have given up only 1 touchdown to the position. I would look elsewhere.
Darren Fells – The last two weeks Fells has had 52 yards and a touchdown and 85 yards and a touchdown. This week, two things are happening that can ruin this production: Jordan Akins returns to the lineup, and the Texans are playing the Packers, who are great against the tight end. The Packers are the third stingiest defense against the tight end position. Don’t fall into the Fells trap.
Other tight ends that will cost you: Tyler Eifert and Drew Sample
If you are looking for Defenses to stream take a look at The Stream Option by Kyle Larson.
Thanks for checking out our Money Makers and Heart Breakers column. For more great content from the Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, follow @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back for Mike’s weekly UNtangling the Wire (waiver wire) article.
