Some big names are back this week!

By Martin Richardson

Week 7: the week before what is termed by many as ‘bye-mageddon’.

Week 7: the week to get your lineups sorted to avoid bye week hell.

Week 7: of course this is the week players are back from injury. Yes everyone, George Kittle and Ceedee Lamb are back this week and aim to play. Terry McLaurin is still stealing a living by taking Fantasy players on a magical will-he-won’t-he journey that ends the exact way you’d expect. These of course have massive implications on what we Fantasy players need to do to try and get the most out of our teams and get some W’s on the board.

GEORGE PICKENS

Speaking of Ceedee Lamb, this is an interesting one. Pickens has been incredible and has probably got Fantasy players to a commanding position as a complementary WR2 or a WR1 if injuries have hit your lineup. He’s been motoring down the field, amassing yards and touchdowns for the Cowboys in a way that will make Steelers fans twitch. He has scored 6 touchdowns this season and has tipped over 500 yards this season, and in two of his last three games he’s gone nuclear with over 130 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers and then 168 yards and a touchdown last week against the Panthers.

But, this week sees the return of Ceedee Lamb. Now I have Lamb on my team, so I’m delighted with the news. But what is the impact on someone like Pickens? Lamb said he could have come back last week, but chose to sit in order to be fully healthy from this week. This cannot be good news for Pickens Fantasy players as his role and impact how many points he will get forging forward. It will be really interesting to see how he reacts to that and how he makes the most of the chances he gets. To play devils advocate, there is a chance that both can work in tandem, as it was Pickens who was getting the redzone chances prior to the Lamb injury, and it was Lamb who was getting the big chunks of yardage.

DRAKE LONDON

Some may say I have it in for Drake London. I wrote in the summer how he needs to step it up this year with a new QB, and the year before that I may have said the same when Kirk Cousins rolled into town and even the year before that with… you get the idea. So, even though it pains me, I’m going to try and be a bit more positive with London and his fantasy outlook.

Either side of the Falcons bye week, London has scored a touchdown, hit over 100 yards in those games and has been a valuable part of the team, along with Bijan Robinson hitting the MVP form he has shown he could do. London and the Falcons now need to push on and show that he can consistently be a top 20 Fantasy WR and an elite weapon for the NFC South team (this is really tough to say as a Bucs fan).

The counter to that, is that he has been average against a Panthers team and my Bucs team that haemorrhage yards to every team they play. With games coming up against a banged up 49ers team, an circus down in Miami and then some tricky games against the Patriots and Colts. This is now the time to see if London can be what he was hyped to be since he was drafted. There is the chance he could be flirting with the top 10 of Fantasy standing, or he could do what he has done so far in his career, sink into infuriating mediocrity.

JAXON DART AND CAM SKATTEBO

This could be really fun.

Like seriously, it could end up being an interpretation of that Simpson’s meme: ‘stop, he’s already dead.’ Not because the Giants suddenly are incredible and invincible, but because Jaxon Dart and Cam Skattebo don’t know any other way to play. They play like that haven’t just sniffed a smelling salt or two, its as if they’ve sniffed the whole packet, licked the wrappers and then rubbed what’s left on their unmentionables before every snap.

For Fantasy players, Skattebo is a must start and will get you so many points. He is a red zone destroyer and will get you double figures most weeks just from the chance of multiple touchdown opportunities. The fact that Skattebo has more 3 TD games than Saquon Barkley is incredible to me. He really has become the focal point on the Giants offense and has the chance to be a top Fantasy RB

And in order for Skattebo to be in those positions, Jaxon Dart can sling with the best of them this season and get his RB in those positions to punch it in. There is of course the slight chance that Dart will throw an interception or two, but given how fun he has been to watch, it is kind of worth the risk. With games coming up against a mean Broncos D and the Eagles again (who will be wanting revenge after their humbling in the last matchup) before the 49ers and Bears, there will be chances for Dart and Skattebo to push the Giants forward and help their Fantasy outlook.

And let’s face it, irrespective of Fantasy just for a moment, these two are fun, so just sit back and enjoy them. And if they are on your Fantasy team, then that’s just a bonus at this point.

 

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AND THEIR INJURIES

Well I’ve managed to make it to week 7 before I’ve mentioned the Buccaneers in detail. But, with a big win against the 49ers, being the first seed in the NFC and with mounting injuries, the Bucs face a big test in the coming weeks.

First of all, the win against the 49ers shows that not only is Baker Mayfield entering Chuck Norris levels of legend and legacy, but that Jason Licht can put together an offense that can work to a system and it work well. He’s drafted players that know their roles and can step up whilst other players are injured in some way.

With that in mind, the Bucs should welcome back Hall of Famer Mike Evans against a very good Lions team on Monday night. What will be interesting is how much the Bucs lean on him so early and with a week 9 bye on the horizon. Whilst the Bucs need bodies back, I would imagine they limit his big play involvement and see him as a bit of red zone surety that we have come to know and expect over the years. For Fantasy players, this means he kind of falls into the ‘touchdown or bust’ territory this week, but post bye week, someone like Evans is going to be really important all the way to the end of the season.

Which is even more prevalent now that Rookie of the Year contender Emeka Egbuka is out with a hamstring injury for a little bit of time. Egbuka has taken to the NFL with ease and has 5 touchdowns already, as well as two games with over 100 yards. He has established himself as the heir apparent to Mike Evans when that fearful day approaches and the top 10 Fantasy WR has staked a claim to be a top pick in next year’s Fantasy drafts.

In Evans’ and Egbuka’s absence though, there has been the emergence of a potential talent in Tez Johnson. His massive touchdown last week showed he had the speed and the hands to be a threat that perhaps the Bucs have been lacking in recent times given Evans’ age and Godwin’s injuries. It will be really interesting to see how Mayfield et al use Johnson against the Lions this week, given they are used to training with Jameson Williams every day, but with Godwin and Evans coming back from injuries, Johnson has a chance to stake a claim long term. For Fantasy weeks, there is a Bye-mageddon and someone like Johnson could be crucial in staying relevant in week 8. Stash him this week and see how he does against the Lions, then see how he can be utilised against the Saints before a bye week in week 9. If there are still injuries to Godwin and Egbuka, and Evans needs to have his workload managed, then watching Tez Johnson against the Saints could be very fun indeed.

MARTIN RICHARDSON

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Yorkshireman living in Lancashire, Martin is a massive NFL fan but his heart belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also a huge Fantasy Football enthusiast and spends far too long crunching the numbers! Follow him at @MRBucsFan31

5/5