You’ve got the “Bye Week Blues.” I understand completely. A number of top fantasy wide receiver options are off of the table this week because of Byes. Others are being impacted by the numerous quarterback changes at play this week.
What impact does Tim Tebow have this week (see below?
Can Christian Ponder reinstate Percy Harvin as a fantasy option (Harvin’s a WR3 for me this week)?
What is John Beck’s potential on the road against the Panthers (Moss is a mid-WR2 for me)?
Charlie Whitehurst in Seattle (see below)?
And, of course, we eagerly await Carson Palmer’s introduction to Raider Nation. Bang the drum for Darrius Heyward-Bey!
Let’s roll.
Exclude: Calvin Johnson, Miles Austin, Dwayne Bowe, Mike Wallace, Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Jennings, Steve Smith, Roddy White, Dez Bryant, Anquan Boldin, Vincent Jackson
HUGE Bye Week: Philadelphia, New England, Buffalo, New York Giants, Cincinnati and San Francisco
Click here for Harmon’s Week 7 QBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 7 RBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 7 WRs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 7 TEs
Week 7 Heroes
Marques Colston, NO vs. IND: Colston has reclaimed his place as the No. 1 receiver (non-Jimmy Graham) for Drew Brees and stands on the cusp of an addition to my “Exclusions” list. In the past two weeks, Colston has amassed 12 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown (a 38-yarder against the Buccaneers). He’s a strong play this week against the middling Indianapolis pass defense 267.2 yards and 1.5 touchdowns allowed per game to opposing receivers.
Pierre Garcon, IND at NO: Fantasy owners didn’t get the fireworks that they’d anticipated in Week 6 against the Bengals, but it’s hard to ignore Garcon’s eight receptions. He tallied 21 receptions in the past four weeks and had eclipsed 80 receiving yards in three games prior to last week’s 52-yard effort.
I logged Curtis Painter as a “Ninja” in my “Lineup Calls” piece for the week, so naturally I anticipate big output from Garcon. The Saints allow 275.3 yards and two touchdowns per game. New Orleans is heavily favored at home here, so Painter’s efforts in catch-up will be welcome by fantasy fans everywhere.
Brandon Lloyd, STL at DAL: Lloyd joins a new team with a familiar system and solves that messy “Who’s No. 1?” question that we’ve been asking about St. Louis. He might have forgotten a couple things in Denver, but I’m sure that his speed made the trip. I’m ill-concerned whether it’s Bradford or Feeley under center this week. Josh McDaniels is going to try and stretch the field against the Cowboys (258.6 yards and 1.8 touchdowns allowed per game to opposing receivers). This Dallas defensive unit is on the come, but St. Louis puts up yardage and points in comeback mode.
Eric Decker, DEN at MIA: When last we saw the Broncos, Tim Tebow was running around in the backfield and fantasy owners were lamenting Decker’s woeful two-reception, two-yard effort against the Chargers.
Decker assumes the No. 1 slot vacated by Brandon Lloyd, and I suspect that he sees a high target count from Tebow against this suspect Miami defense. The Dolphins have allowed 293 yards and two touchdowns per game to opposing receivers through five weeks. I certainly don’t expect Tebow to reach those averages (the boys in Nevada have him in the 175-yard range), but there will be opportunities downfield.
Sidney Rice, SEA at CLE: Rice faces an interesting one-on-one matchup this week against Joe Haden, who returned to practice on Friday after missing several weeks because of a knee injury. Still, I’m not sure that Haden will be able to go full-tilt, and I suspect that Pete Carroll tests that knee early and often.
Doug Baldwin’s (see the “Ninja” section below) ascent in the receiving corps can only help the flow of the offense, and Rice had the Bye week to acclimate himself to Charlie Whitehurst’s style.
Jordy Nelson, GB at MIN: Nelson’s target count naturally fluctuates given Aaron Rodgers’ propensity to spread the ball around. He has recorded a reception of at least 36 yards in four of the Packers’ first six games, including last week’s 93-yard sprint to daylight.
The Packers are a heavy favorite at home this week against the Rams. The Rams rank 14th in the NFL against opposing receivers. St. Louis has allowed 251.6 receiving yards and 2.2 receiving touchdowns per game.
Greg Little, CLE vs. SEA: Little posted his second consecutive six-reception game in Sunday’s loss to the Raiders and is emerging as the No. 1 option for Colt McCoy. He’s been targeted 33 times this season, a total that ranks third on the team behind Ben Watson and Mohamed Massaquoi.
He’s a strong play against the Seattle secondary this week. Opposing receivers are averaging 23 receptions and 280 receiving yards per game with 1.2 touchdowns.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK vs. KC: Heyward-Bey has developed into a consistent downfield option in Oakland. That it occurred so quickly surprised me as well. In the past three weeks, Heyward-Bey has amassed 17 receptions for 296 yards with a touchdown.
Obviously, Heyward-Bey’s value is in question for this week with Carson Palmer under center. I wondered aloud whether Palmer had to do “go routes” with the speed receivers before Hue Jackson finalized the trade. The fact that Palmer will start following just several days of week tells me that the team believes his arm is ready. The Chiefs allowed 255 receiving yards and 2.4 touchdowns per game to opposing receivers ahead of the Week 6 Bye.
Week 7 Ninja Alerts
Demaryius Thomas, DEN at MIA: The second-year receiver has been a full participant at practice this week, so he appears set to assume at least part of the target count vacated by Brandon Lloyd. Thomas showed flashes at times as a rookie in 2010 (22 receptions for 283 yards), but injuries have kept him from becoming an impact player. He represents Tim Tebow’s best downfield threat in the new era of Denver football.
Eric Decker is the No. 1 option and represents a solid PPR option for short and intermediate routes as a safety valve for Tebow. Eddie Royal’s coming back from injury and will also vie for attention. I’m just curious to watch this deep threat at work. If he’s on the field, he’ll have opportunities against this heretofore brutal Miami pass defense.
Devin Hester, CHI at TB: Hester will reportedly be ready to go after sustaining a chest injury in Week 6 against the Vikings. He’s still a raw and, at time, maddening wide receiver. However, Hester has become a more consistent target for Jay Cutler in recent weeks. He’s amassed 13 receptions for 185 yards in the past three weeks, including the 48-yard touchdown reception against the Vikings.
Steve Breaston, KC at OAK: I liked the move to bring Breaston in as a No. 2 option for Matt Cassel when it was announced. I felt foolish following two weak efforts to open the season, but he came on strong in three games prior to the Chiefs’ Week 6 Bye. Breaston caught a total of 11 passes for 196 yards with two touchdowns during that period.
He’ll have his opportunities over the top against the suspect Oakland secondary. Stanford Routt and the safeties will be preoccupied with Dwayne Bowe, leaving Breaston to feast in man-to-man coverage. I like Cassel and this Kansas City offense (with Jackie Battle moving the chains) to upset the feel-good week in Oakland.
Doug Baldwin, SEA at CLE: Baldwin has quietly put together a strong season in Seattle. He’s caught four or more passes in three of the Seahawks’ first five games with at least 83 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Sidney Rice will be matched up against Joe Haden (if he’s cleared after practicing Friday), leaving Baldwin to work on veteran Sheldon Brown. More importantly, Baldwin is coming off a breakthrough game in Week 5 during which he caught eight passes for 136 yards. He demonstrated a strong rapport with Charlie Whitehurst (likely to play as of this writing) and became his go-to option.
Torrey Smith, BAL vs. JAC: Smith’s role as a deep threat will force owners to hold their collective breath with this hit-or-miss option. Of course, Smith has been targeted 20 times by Joe Flacco in three games, producing nine receptions for 237 yards and three touchdowns (all against St. Louis).
The Jacksonville pass defense ranks seventh overall, surrendering 222.2 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game. However, they have been beaten over the top by speed receivers with regularity.
Week 7 Flop Alerts
Brandon Marshall, MIA vs. DEN: Marshall had the opportunity to post a monster game in Week 6 against the Jets. He dropped a sure touchdown pass and stumbled out of bounds on another glorious opportunity. Still, Marshall finished the game with six receptions for 109 yards.
He returned to practice on Thursday and appears set to square off against his old squad. Marshall remains a WR2 play for this week, but the one-on-one battle against Champ Bailey is daunting.
Santonio Holmes, NYJ vs. SD: Holmes’ target count took a huge hit in Week 6 (he had four) but he found his mark with a 38-yard touchdown reception against the Dolphins. It was his second straight game with a touchdown reception and third of the season.
Despite the season-long reception, I’m not anticipating a huge follow-up effort this week against the second-ranked San Diego pass defense (189 receiving yards and 1.4 receiving touchdowns allowed per game). Holmes has yet to blow the doors off of any of the competition. He hasn’t eclipsed 70 receiving yards in a single game this season (three games with 42 yards or fewer) and the continuity of the New York offense remains a concern.
Kevin Walter, HOU at TEN: Walter remains a solid play in PPR as a short and intermediate route-runner for Matt Schaub. He’s logged 11 receptions for 133 yards with a touchdown in the past two weeks.
For owners in standard leagues, Walter represents a more difficult proposition. The Titans have allowed 231.2 yards per game to opposing receivers and nine touchdowns. Remember, five of those touchdowns came in the Week 5 game against the Steelers. The Tennessee defense played well in its other four games and had the Bye to address any deficiencies in the secondary.
With Houston struggling to run the ball in Andre Johnson’s absence, I’m bearish on the receiving options.
Lance Moore, NO vs. IND: Can we get a ruling? Can you be a teammate and a nemesis? Moore’s role in the New Orleans offense has shrunk markedly in parallel with the ascent of tight end Jimmy Graham. In the past three weeks, Moore has recorded 10 receptions for 126 yards and zero touchdowns.
This is a good spot on paper for New Orleans at home against the Colts. The Saints are heavy favorites and likely put up a hefty point total. However, there’s no guarantee as to which of the secondary receivers behind Graham and Marques Colston will factor prominently in the box score.
*Graham appeared on the late-week injury report because of an ankle injury. If he’s unable to go, Moore rises to WR3 status against the Colts.
