What do you get when you add an overpowered offensive weapon and a statistically exploitable defense? The perfect conditions for a monster fantasy football performance. Elite players can produce against even the stingiest defenses...
In Week 7, many fantasy football managers are feeling desperate. Six teams are on a bye, four of which have top-12 scoring offenses...
D'Ernest Johnson's Fantasy Outlook After Breakout in Browns' Win over Broncos
Oct 22, 2021
Cleveland Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson burst onto the scene with a huge performance in Thursday's 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos, making him a must-add for fantasy managers who hadn't already done so.
In his first career start, Johnson rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Browns running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have calf injuries, and Hunt will miss at least two more weeks after being placed on injured reserve.
But it looks like Cleveland has a more than adequate replacement. Johnson's big night helped the Browns control the game with 36 minutes, 51 seconds in time of possession.
What a night for D’Ernest Johnson.
• 3 carries in 2021 before Thursday night • Filling in for injured Nick Chubb & Kareem Hunt • Career-high 22 carries & 146 yards • First career rush TD
D'Ernest Johnson's 146 rushing yards for the @Browns on #ThursdayNightFootball are the most by a player in his first career start since his teammate Kareem Hunt had 148 rushing yards for the Chiefs in Week 1, 2017@DernestJohnson2
Fantasy managers who picked up Johnson prior to Thursday's contest have to be happy with their decision. The third-year back gained 53 yards more than expected, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
D'Ernest Johnson was impressive in his first career start, gaining a career-high +53 rushing yards over expected.
Johnson outgained his expectation on 15 of his 22 carries (68.2%), the 2nd-highest rate in a game since 2018 (min. 20 carries).#StatThat | Powered by @awscloudpic.twitter.com/4Fv08qcGl9
Johnson's high volume of carries bodes well for his fantasy potential. The Browns rushed the ball 33 times, matching Case Keenum's 33 pass attempts as he filled in for Baker Mayfield, who was out with a shoulder injury.
And as long as Chubb and Hunt are out, Johnson is a must-start. But even when Chubb returns, Johnson is worth a roster spot because he will likely take the touches that would go to Hunt.
In the five games that Chubb and Hunt played together, Hunt outperformed him three times despite Chubb's status as the starter. Johnson could be deployed in a similar role until Hunt returns.
Another week of NFL action is set to get underway Thursday night when the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns go head-to-head. And this week has the potential to be a crucial one for fantasy football managers...
Week 7 is a rough one for fantasy managers. It's not just a matter of some teams sitting at 2-4 or 1-5, teetering on the brink of disaster with the injuries that continue to wreak havoc on fantasy lineups...
Fantasy Football Week 7: Examining Trade Value for This Year's Top 100 Players
Oct 21, 2021
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins celebrates after scoring a 13-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
The MLB postseason is in full swing, the NHL and NBA are back and European soccer is well underway. But, let's be honest: You're living for Thursday through Monday to see what your NFL fantasy team can do.
If you haven't liked what you've seen thus far, there are always trades out there to make. That's where the weekly trade chart comes into play.
Remember, the chart is here to give you a rough valuation of your players. Always take into account your own team needs and league rules. Players not listed below have a trade value of one.
Hopefully your depth chart is loaded through the bye weeks. But if you are running lean, well, may the fantasy points be with you!
Have you considered selling high on DeAndre Hopkins? Because he isn't trending in the best direction.
"Wait," you might be thinking, "but he has three touchdowns in his past two games. He's averaging 16.5 points per game in PPR leagues and ranks 13th among wide receivers. Why would I trade him?"
DeAndre Hopkins' total games with less than 25% of Cardinals targets this year: 4
Hopkins games with less than 25% of targets last season: 4
Well, if you don't have other solid options at wide receiver, you shouldn't. But if you are loaded at the position, consider some of the warning signs at play.
For one, Hopkins has just 38 targets in a Cardinals offense that really likes spreading the ball around. That's barely more than A.J. Green (32), Christian Kirk (31) and Rondale Moore (28). Oh, and they just brought in Zach Ertz at tight end, who is sure to siphon plenty of targets himself.
DeAndre Hopkins caught a TD on 2 of his 3 targets today.
He's averaging 6.0 targets per game (20% share) this season, which is way down from 9.9 per game in 2020 (29%).
Yes, Hopkins is finding the end zone. And yes, the Cardinals offense seems capable of supporting multiple fantasy producers. But you drafted Hopkins to be a WR1, and it's possible you could get a WR1 trade package for him on name recognition alone.
But, truthfully, he's seeing the usage of a role player, at least until the Cardinals get into the red zone. Cooper Kupp, the top wideout in fantasy, has 30 more targets than Hopkins. Among wideouts, he's tied for 38th in that stat. Overall, his target share is even worse:
To this point, the touchdowns have sustained him. But unless you are comfortable betting on Hopkins scoring a touchdown per game, which is his current pace—or unless you think the Cardinals will reverse a six-week trend of giving him a pretty modest usage rate—you might want to consider selling high while you have the chance.
According to the trade chart, Hopkins could get you back players like Cordarrelle Patterson, Leonard Fournette or DeAndre Swift. But given his name recognition, you could probably bamboozle a fellow player into giving you a far better return than that. Shoot for a Jonathan Taylor, James Robinson or Joe Mixon.
Now might be the time to put out some feelers. It never hurts to ask.
Injuries, uncertainty and bye weeks will continue to be fantasy storylines in Week 7. The Cleveland Browns, for example, will be without running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt on Thursday night...
Having six weeks of the 2021 NFL season in the books should give fantasy football managers a good feel for their teams. It should also make clear what their club lacks—either for the upcoming slate or the weeks to follow...
Odell Beckham Jr., Browns Fantasy Outlook After Baker Mayfield Injury
Oct 20, 2021
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. runs a route during the first half in an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. The flashy, fashionable wide receiver sported an expensive watch, worth over $250,000, during his debut Sunday. The NFL plans to speak with Browns star Odell Beckham Jr. about wearing a watch in games. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
The Cleveland Browns had high expectations in 2021, but the team suffered a major setback with Baker Mayfield due to miss Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos,
The Browns announced Mayfield will be out because of an injury to his non-throwing (left) shoulder.
Cleveland will now have to turn to Case Keenum, who is one of the top backups in the league and has made 62 starts.
Though he has never been much of a fantasy star, the 10-year veteran has shown enough to believe he can keep the offense functioning while Mayfield is unavailable. He should be able to get the ball down the field to his receivers, who could include Odell Beckham Jr.
Veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported Beckham is a game-time decision for Thursday's game with a Grade 3 AC joint sprain.
With Jarvis Landry out with a knee injury, Beckham has become the primary target for the team in the passing attack. If he is healthy enough to play, that won't change with the quarterback switch.
Though the 28-year-old has been a risky fantasy play the past few seasons even with a healthy quarterback, his upside is obvious with his ability to turn any play into a touchdown. It's also difficult to expect Keenum to move through his progressions as well as Mayfield, which will likely result in the No. 1 option getting more targets.
It's hard to trust anyone else in the passing attack, however, in part because the combined absences of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt raise significant questions about the ground game. Keenum may find life difficult if the Broncos don't have to respect the run and drop more defenders back.
