Fantasy Football Week 7 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em Wide Receivers: Darnell Mooney a must-start, plus sleepers, more

5

Davante Adams is expected to play for the Jets at Pittsburgh in Week 7, and Amari Cooper will play for the Bills against Tennessee. That’s great news for Fantasy managers that both receivers who joined new teams will be active. But should both be started in the majority of leagues?

For Adams, the answer is yes. His hamstring injury is fine, and he should be able to get on the same page with Aaron Rodgers quickly. He has a tough matchup in Week 7 against the Steelers, but Adams will likely get plenty of targets as the Jets plan to show off their new toy.

I would start Adams as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues. And even with Adams now in New York, Garrett Wilson is still worth starting as a No. 2 receiver as well. Wilson has 33 targets in his past two games against Minnesota and Buffalo, and I don’t expect Rodgers to forget about Wilson now that Adams is on the roster.

In Buffalo, I would only start Cooper in three-receiver leagues in Week 7. He has plenty of potential being paired with Josh Allen, but let’s see how this rapport looks after just a few days in practice.

Keep in mind that the Bills are facing a Titans defense that is No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Allen might not lean on Cooper right away against a good secondary. Still, it’s hard to sit Cooper since he finally has a good quarterback to play with this year.

I’m excited to see how Adams and Cooper do in Week 7. They both improved their outlook for this season following the trades that happened this week.

WRs to Start
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Darnell Mooney


WR


ATL

Atlanta

• #1

Age: 26

• Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


vs

SEA


ATL -3
O/U 51

OPP VS WR

11th

PROJ PTS

13.6

WR RNK

23rd

YTD Stats
REC

27

TAR

45

REYDS

368

TD

3

FPTS/G

13.6

Mooney had a down game in Week 6 at Carolina with 6.8 PPR points, but prior to that he had scored at least 14.6 PPR points in three of his previous four outings. I expect him to get back on track in Week 7 against Seattle. The Seahawks have allowed five receivers to score at least 16.0 PPR points in the past three games against the Lions, Giants and 49ers, and I expect Mooney and Drake London to both perform at a high level in this matchup at home.
player headshot

JuJu Smith-Schuster


WR


KC

Kansas City

• #9

Age: 27

• Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


@

SF


SF -1.5
O/U 47

OPP VS WR

12th

PROJ PTS

9.2

WR RNK

26th

YTD Stats
REC

9

TAR

12

REYDS

147

TD

1

FPTS/G

5.9

The last time we saw Smith-Schuster in Week 5 against the Saints he looked awesome with seven catches for 130 yards on eight targets, and I’m excited to see what he can do against the 49ers coming off the bye in Week 6. San Francisco has allowed six receivers to score at least 12.8 PPR points this season, and I expect Patrick Mahomes to lean on Smith-Schuster and Travis Kelce a lot in this matchup. Smith-Schuster is worth trusting as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
player headshot

Wan’Dale Robinson


WR


NYG

N.Y. Giants

• #17

Age: 23

• Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


vs

PHI


PHI -3
O/U 43

OPP VS WR

27th

PROJ PTS

13

WR RNK

24th

YTD Stats
REC

37

TAR

58

REYDS

280

TD

2

FPTS/G

13.1

Robinson scored just 10 PPR points in Week 6 against Cincinnati with five catches for 50 yards, but he had 11 targets. That’s now three games this season with at least 11 targets, and he had at least eight targets in all but one game. Malik Nabers (concussion) is expected to return in Week 7 against the Eagles, but Daniel Jones will still lean on Robinson quite a bit. He’s worth starting in all PPR leagues, and the Eagles are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers this season.
player headshot

Tank Dell


WR


HOU

Houston

• #3

Age: 24

• Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


@

GB


GB -2.5
O/U 47.5

OPP VS WR

17th

PROJ PTS

12.4

WR RNK

27th

YTD Stats
REC

20

TAR

30

REYDS

194

TD

1

FPTS/G

9.8

In the first game without Nico Collins (hamstring) in Week 6 at New England, Dell stepped up with seven catches for 57 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. It was his most targets in a game this season, and he scored his first touchdown. Dell should continue to be a go-to option for C.J. Stroud against the Packers, and Green Bay has allowed eight receivers to score at least 12.5 PPR points this season. I like Dell as a No. 2 receiver in all leagues in this potential shootout.
player headshot

Jameson Williams


WR


DET

Detroit

• #9

Age: 23

• Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


@

MIN


MIN -1.5
O/U 51

OPP VS WR

32nd

PROJ PTS

12

WR RNK

32nd

YTD Stats
REC

16

TAR

29

REYDS

365

TD

3

FPTS/G

14.9

I don’t love that Williams has received four targets or less in three games in a row against Arizona, Seattle and Dallas. I do love that despite the low volume, he still scored at least 16.0 PPR points in two of those outings. And now he’s facing a Vikings defense in Week 7 that is No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. A pair of receivers has scored at least 12.6 PPR points in each of Minnesota’s past three games against Houston, Green Bay and the Jets, with five receiving touchdowns over that span. This should be a good outing for Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown in a shootout.
Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Demario Douglas


WR


NE

New England

• #3

Age: 23

• Experience: 2 yrs.

Drake Maye started his first NFL game in Week 6 against Houston, and Douglas had his best game of the year with six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He now has nine targets in three of his past four games, and I love his matchup in Week 7 against Jacksonville in London. In PPR, Douglas can be considered a borderline starter in all leagues, and hopefully his connection with Maye will continue all season. The Jaguars are No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and 10 receivers have scored at least 12.3 PPR points against Jacksonville this season.
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Christian Watson


WR


GB

Green Bay

• #9

Age: 25

• Experience: 3 yrs.

We’ll see what happens with Jayden Reed (ankle) and Dontayvion Wicks (shoulder) in Week 7 against Houston, but I like that Watson is healthy for this potential shootout with the Texans. I would use Watson and Romeo Doubs as No. 3 receivers in the majority of leagues. For Watson, he played well in Week 6 against Arizona with three catches for 68 yards and a touchdown on four targets. And Doubs had three catches for 49 yards and two touchdowns on four targets against the Cardinals. This should be a high-scoring game against the Texans, and Watson and Doubs are worth using as starters in three-receiver leagues.
player headshot

Jordan Addison


WR


MIN

Minnesota

• #3

Age: 22

• Experience: 2 yrs.

The Lions are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers and just lost their best pass rusher in Aiden Hutchinson (leg) for the season. That should bode well for Addison and Justin Jefferson, and Addison is worth using as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. He only scored 6.6 PPR points against the Jets in Week 5, but he had eight targets in that matchup. In his last game against the Lions last season, Addison had four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown, so hopefully he can repeat that level of production or better in this Week 7 NFC North showdown.
player headshot

Jaxon Smith-Njigba


WR


SEA

Seattle

• #11

Age: 22

• Experience: 2 yrs.

I like Smith-Njigba as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver any time the Seahawks are going to be in a potential shootout, and that should be the case again in Week 7 at Atlanta. He has three games in a row with at least seven targets, and he scored 13.1 PPR points in two of those outings. The Falcons are No. 11 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and all seven receivers with at least seven targets against Atlanta this season have scored at least 13.5 PPR points. Let’s hope Smith-Njigba, DK Metcalf and even Tyler Lockett all get seven-plus targets this week.
player headshot

Xavier Legette


WR


CAR

Carolina

• #17

Age: 23

• Experience: Rookie

Washington is No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, which makes Diontae Johnson a must-start receiver in all leagues, and Legette is a starter in three-receiver leagues. Legette caught a touchdown in Week 6 against Atlanta, and he now has a touchdown in each of his past two healthy games (he left Week 5 at Chicago with a shoulder injury). Let’s hope he can find the end zone again in Week 7, and Washington is tied with Baltimore with the most touchdowns allowed to receivers this year with 10.
WRs to Sit
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Michael Pittman


WR


IND

Indianapolis

• #11

Age: 27

• Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


vs

MIA


IND -3
O/U 43.5

OPP VS WR

3rd

PROJ PTS

10.6

WR RNK

41st

YTD Stats
REC

25

TAR

42

REYDS

273

TD

2

FPTS/G

10.7

Pittman played in Week 6 against Tennessee despite his back injury, and he scored a touchdown for the second game in a row. But both of those touchdowns came with Joe Flacco under center, and now Anthony Richardson (oblique) is back. In three games with Richardson, Pittman scored 7.6 PPR points or less, so I would only use Pittman in three-receiver leagues. I like Josh Downs better than Pittman, but keep in mind that Miami is No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
player headshot

Calvin Ridley


WR


TEN

Tennessee

Age: 29

• Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


@

BUF


BUF -9.5
O/U 41

OPP VS WR

8th

PROJ PTS

8.4

WR RNK

48th

YTD Stats
REC

9

TAR

27

REYDS

141

TD

2

FPTS/G

7.6

There could be a squeaky wheel game coming for Ridley after he complained about his targets in Week 6 against Indianapolis, but he got eight targets and didn’t record a catch. Part of that is how bad Will Levis is playing this season, but Ridley is also not performing well. For the season, Ridley has one game with more than 8.0 PPR points, and he combined for 5.3 PPR points in his past three games against Green Bay, Miami and the Colts. There’s little reason to trust Ridley right now heading into Week 7 at Buffalo, and I wouldn’t start him in three-receiver leagues.
player headshot

Christian Kirk


WR


JAC

Jacksonville

• #13

Age: 27

• Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


vs

NE


JAC -5.5
O/U 42.5

OPP VS WR

20th

PROJ PTS

11.7

WR RNK

37th

YTD Stats
REC

24

TAR

39

REYDS

296

TD

1

FPTS/G

10

Evan Engram returned from his four-game absence with a hamstring injury in Week 6 against Chicago, and Kirk had just three catches for 39 yards on six targets. This is an easier matchup in Week 7 against New England, but I would only use Kirk in three-receiver leagues. Brian Thomas Jr. should get back on track against the Patriots, and it’s doubtful Engram will have a reduced role. Kirk is the third option at best, and I’m not willing to trust him in most formats this week.
player headshot

Jaylen Waddle


WR


MIA

Miami

• #17

Age: 25

• Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


@

IND


IND -3
O/U 43.5

OPP VS WR

23rd

PROJ PTS

10.7

WR RNK

33rd

YTD Stats
REC

21

TAR

28

REYDS

258

TD

0

FPTS/G

9.5

We have one more week until Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) is eligible to return, and then we can start trusting Waddle and Tyreek Hill again. I’ll stick with Hill as a No. 2 receiver in most leagues, but I’m only using Waddle in a desperate situation in three-receiver formats. Including the Week 2 game against Buffalo when Tagovailoa was injured, Waddle has scored 8.6 PPR points or less in each outing. He needs Tagovailoa back, and hopefully that happens in Week 8. For now, keep Waddle reserved in most leagues, even in a favorable matchup against the Colts.
Bust Alert
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Brandon Aiyuk


WR


SF

San Francisco

• #11

Age: 26

• Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP


vs

KC


SF -1.5
O/U 47

OPP VS WR

7th

PROJ PTS

12.2

WR RNK

22nd

YTD Stats
REC

23

TAR

41

REYDS

351

TD

0

FPTS/G

9.7

Aiyuk only had three catches for 49 yards on six targets in Super Bowl LVIII against the Chiefs, and I’m afraid he could post a similar stat line in Week 7. Aiyuk is only worth starting in three-receiver leagues. For the season, Aiyuk has scored 9.8 PPR points or less in all but one game, and he has four games with five targets or fewer. The Chiefs are No. 7 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and it’s tough to call Aiyuk a must-start Fantasy option with how he’s performed all year. Deebo Samuel should do well in his role for the 49ers, but Fantasy managers should use caution with Aiyuk in this matchup.
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