Everything Just Changed - Week 7

Had a poor performance in first game back from injury with multiple drops on 10 targets that would have been massive plays. However, drops are easily correctable and it was his first week back, so he remains a wide receiver one rest of season despite the disappointing outing. Dameon Pierce notes he was frustrated as a Drake Maye owner but still confident in Brown's long-term value.

Alvin Kamara scored a touchdown in Week 7 against the Giants, but the speaker is concerned about the Saints backfield being a running back by committee with Kendre Miller getting significant carries (20 carries); the speaker may look for another option next week and expects significant changes when Travis Etienne and Jordan Tyson return in Week 9.

Dameon Pierce notes that while Amari Cooper's usage improved slightly this week, it has no fantasy value given the Chargers' offensive dysfunction. The team scored only 6 points and is 0-6, with markets having identified them as the worst offense in the NFL.

Potential return could improve passing offense efficiency. Dameon Pierce, who has Igwebuike on his team, expresses hope that early reports of Baker Mayfield potentially returning in Week 7 materialize, as it may make the overall passing offense more efficient and benefit pass-catchers.

Breaking off big plays in Cardinals backfield with confirmed involvement. Pierce highlights Knight as the Cardinals running back producing in Week 7 when Arizona had 35 rush attempts; Pierce notes that now that Knight's involvement is confirmed, Tyler Allgeier cannot be played in a running back committee situation with Knight in the Cardinals offense. Pierce also notes the Cardinals will throw Knight a considerable amount of touches.

Didn't do anything in Week 7 during a blowout loss to Chicago, but Pierce is not worried about him at all; he remains a smash play despite the poor performance, indicating confidence in his long-term value and recovery from the down week.

Dameon Pierce notes it felt weird to see how much Blake Corum was getting used in the Cardinals-Rams game, prompting Pierce to question whether Kyren Williams was injured. Corum finished with 11 opportunities compared to Williams' 16—a significant step forward from previous patterns, though Pierce cautions against overreacting given the larger sample size favoring Williams.

Losing work to Isaiah Davis in the backfield; expectations should be lowered from set-it-and-forget-it must-start to low-end RB2 if the Jets remain bad. Still had 19 opportunities in the game and shouldn't be panicked on, but the emergence of Davis signals a shift toward committee usage. Dameon Pierce notes this is similar to the Jaylen Warren situation with Rico Dowdle returning.

Completely benched; didn't play a snap in the second half in Week 7. Dameon Pierce thinks Brian Thomas Jr. is likely to get traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Dameon Pierce designates Brock Bowers as the stud tight end for the Raiders despite a quiet game, emphasizing his primary target role in Kirk Cousins' high-volume passing offense (40+ attempts, 300+ yards).

Bryce Young wasn't ranked highly for Week 7 because Philadelphia wasn't going to put points on the board and the Eagles have a pretty good defense, limiting the need for aggressive passing. However, he still got the job done and should be played based on matchups rather than as a set-it-and-forget-it quarterback.

Looks damn good and is going to be viable in fantasy; more importantly, he looks capable of putting up production for receivers. Even a bad Stroud has been able to support Nico Collins as the solidified alpha, and now with Stroud playing well, there is a chance he could support a second wide receiver every week.

Cam Akers did not touch the ball a single time in Week 7 and was effectively benched, despite Dameon Pierce's recommendation to play him over Najee Harris—a call Pierce describes as his worst ever. Pierce had previously flagged Akers as an avoid pick pre-season due to committee usage concerns and limited receiving involvement. However, Pierce still believes Akers is the most talented back in the Giants committee and expects there's a real possibility they revert to him as lead back next week. Must be rostered despite poor performance, but cannot be trusted to play next week; eventual lead-back role likely but timing uncertain.

Can continue to separate and earn more targets in the Cleveland offense; Pierce sees Tillman as having more upside than other Browns receivers despite Watson concerns, positioning him as the preferred target option in the passing game.

Dominated with 18 targets in the Cowboys' high-volume passing game (54 Dak Prescott dropbacks); set-it-and-forget-it WR1. Briefly got banged up and went off the field momentarily but expected to be fine. Dameon Pierce emphasizes Lamb's consistency and reliability as a top-tier wide receiver option to start every single week.

Chris Olave did not see crazy target volume in the Saints-Giants blowout game, but Dameon Pierce cautions against overreacting to this game environment and maintains that Olave should be started in normal circumstances, particularly in good matchups.

Got 11 carries in the Jacksonville game, but Beathard O'Toole has taken over the receiving work, suggesting Rodriguez won't catch the ball and limiting his fantasy upside.

Sees 28 out of 33 potential carries in the Carolina offense, positioning him as a top-10 running back, especially if Bryce Young continues to play well and the offense moves the ball down the field; Pierce calls him a 'freaking beast.'

Colston Loveland scored a receiving touchdown early in the Bears-Giants game and can be considered a start any given week, but the speaker cautions that his ceiling is high while his floor is low, indicating significant volatility in his production.

Pierce is incredibly optimistic about the Bears offense and recommends starting De'Andre Swift every week going forward, though he cautions that usage may change when Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman return from injury.

Dameon Pierce designates Dalton Kincaid as a low-end TE1 to start every week. Kincaid leads the team with 8 targets and scored a touchdown (though it was called back on a holding penalty). Pierce acknowledges Kincaid suffered an injury in the game but maintains his TE1 status.

Had 15 carries and three targets out of the backfield for 18 total opportunities in Week 7, repeating the pattern from last year when he was the starting running back with no David Montgomery. Pierce notes you're probably starting Dameon Pierce when you have no Montgomery, which will be next week, but then in two weeks the team has the bye and Montgomery returns, after which no running backs will be startable in Houston.

Dameon Pierce flags Davante Adams' injury status as unknown and critical to the Rams' fantasy outlook. If Adams misses time, it significantly elevates Puka Nacua's tier at wide receiver.

Boom-bust wide receiver in Cleveland; despite looking like a very good player, Pierce doesn't think Deshaun Watson has efficient quarterback play in his range of outcomes at this point, limiting Mims' upside and making him a risky start.

Derrick Henry was very disappointing in Week 7 because he doesn't catch the ball in the backfield; when touchdowns aren't there, he looks horrible. However, with Lamar Jackson's return next week, he'll revert to being a set-it-and-forget-it running back one.

Looked pretty good earlier in the season, but Dameon Pierce is not a Deshaun Watson believer despite him having a couple good games at the beginning of the year. With the large sample of play showing Deshaun Watson being a bad NFL quarterback, Pierce has pretty much everybody in the Browns offense as a sell high, including Quintez Cephus and Denzel Mims.

Saw 14 targets in Week 7 and scored a touchdown despite briefly appearing injured; Pierce calls him a definite start and the primary pass-catcher in Philadelphia.

Must-start designation with concentrated target volume; 15 targets, 11 receptions, 93 receiving yards in Week 7 game that went to overtime. Dameon Pierce notes Metcalf and Jeremy Bernard are set-it-and-forget-it must-start plays every week until Roman Wilson or Michael Pittman Jr. return, at which point target concentration may decline.

Had 10 targets out of 33 potential in Week 7, maintaining his consistent 30% team target share that has never changed in the Atlanta offense; Pierce calls him a 'smash' pick, indicating strong confidence in his target volume and fantasy value despite the blowout loss.

Drake May has returned to being a good fantasy quarterback after being the worst QB in fantasy through the first three weeks. Dameon Pierce moved him to QB2 rest of season, describing this as incredibly aggressive. May is now in a tier with Brock Purdy, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Caleb Williams as a solid weekly QB1 to play every week regardless of matchup, with only Josh Allen sitting alone at QB1.

Dameon Pierce moved Drake Maye to QB2 rest of season after he was the worst QB in fantasy through the first three weeks. Maye has now returned to being a good fantasy quarterback and is in a tier with Brock Purdy, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Caleb Williams as a solid weekly QB1 to play every week regardless of matchup. Josh Allen sits alone at QB1. Pierce is very bullish on Maye's turnaround.

Sliding down rest-of-season rankings due to target share dilution from Omar Cooper Jr. and Kinyon Seddiq emerging. Dameon Pierce expects Wilson's target share to decrease from 33% to closer to 25% as other round-one pass catchers get involved, reducing the value of his role if the Jets offense remains poor.

Dameon Pierce moved Isaiah Likely up to TE3 rest of season. Likely continues to get absolutely peppered with targets, with all target volume flowing between him and Malik Nabers. Pierce is confident Likely will crush regardless of QB situation (J.J. McCarthy vs. potential Jameis Winston), making him a high-confidence tight end play.

J.J. McCarthy entered the Giants game late and showed efficiency with 243 passing yards on only 21 pass attempts. However, Dameon Pierce is uncertain whether the Giants will start McCarthy again next week, making his role going forward unclear.

Jaylen Coker looked incredible in Week 7 with 13 targets, earning set-it-and-forget-it must-start status after Dameon Pierce wanted to see a larger sample size beyond his first two games; he's now a reliable weekly starter.

Poor check-down tendency raises efficiency concerns for pass-catchers. Dameon Pierce questions whether Jaylon Daniels is good for Igwebuike, noting that Daniels didn't check the ball down very often, which limits efficiency for receiving options. Pierce suggests a quarterback who can run the ball himself when the pocket collapses would be preferable.

Dameon Pierce reaffirms James Cook as a set-it-and-forget-it must-start RB1 every week. Cook posted 150+ total yards, 25 opportunities, and a goal-line rushing touchdown; Pierce notes this performance dispels concerns about fumbling affecting his role.

Maintained three-down running back usage in the Cowboys offense; set-it-and-forget-it RB2 based on consistent volume. Dameon Pierce highlights Williams' reliable floor and consistent workload as a dependable fantasy option at the running back position despite the team's offensive struggles.

Sell-high candidate with declining opportunity share as Rico Dowdle returns. Dameon Pierce notes Warren is likely more talented than Dowdle but his opportunity share is declining from 90-plus percent to 70-ish percent; Warren had 18 total opportunities in Week 7 while Dowdle had 11 in his return game, signaling a shift toward a committee approach.

Looked incredible with over 100 receiving yards but only had four targets, highlighting that Stroud can support a second wide receiver; however, the identity of that second receiver remains unclear week-to-week.

Had 12 targets with 11 receptions for 87 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in a game with concentrated target distribution; positioned as a must-start play every week until Roman Wilson or Michael Pittman Jr. return.

Technically the lead back in Cleveland when Quintez Cephus is unavailable, but Pierce questions whether you really ever want to start the third-string running back for the Cleveland Browns; he advises being very selective on who you start in Cleveland.

Strong individual Week 7 performance (150+ total yards, rushing TD) but Pierce is considering trading him away. Pierce, who owns Taylor, notes Taylor will continue to produce but expresses willingness to trade Taylor plus a piece to acquire Bijan Robinson, indicating preference for Robinson's situation going forward despite Taylor's consistent output.

Jordan Tyson, a top 10 NFL draft pick, is expected to return in Week 9 for the Saints after the Week 8 bye. Dameon Pierce expects this return to significantly change offensive usage in New Orleans, potentially impacting the running back committee and other skill position players.

Pierce is done with Josh Downs, ranking Keenan Allen ahead of him rest of season. Pierce cites Downs' four-year NFL career trajectory—WR52 (rookie), WR32 (year two), WR54 (year three), WR51 (year four)—as evidence of chronic underperformance; even in Week 7 when Downs drew eight targets with no Alec Pierce or Tyler Warren, he still failed to produce. Pierce calls him unusable and says the excuses are over.

Dameon Pierce questions Justin Herbert's current quarterback ability in 2026, suggesting he may have been good in the past but is not performing at that level now. Pierce cites the Chargers' status as the worst offense in the NFL and advises viewing them similarly to the Miami Dolphins going forward.

Premium pickup once Tyler Warren was ruled out; Pierce ranks Allen ahead of Josh Downs rest of season. However, Pierce tempers enthusiasm, noting the Colts offense is garbage and that Allen's target share will become tougher once Warren and Alec Pierce return, limiting his long-term ceiling.

Kendre Miller received 20 carries in the Saints-Giants blowout game, but the speaker indicates this was a game-specific environment and that the Saints backfield is clearly a running back by committee, making Miller's workload unreliable going forward.

Top-three running back in fantasy football with a bye-week advantage; Kenneth Walker has already completed his bye, giving him an extra game compared to other elite RBs like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs who still have byes ahead. Dameon Pierce regrets trading him away for Justin Jefferson before the season.

Dameon Pierce advises against being overly optimistic about Keon Coleman. The Bills have a bye in week 7 and DJ Moore returns in week 8; once Moore returns, Coleman becomes a secondary receiver with limited upside. Pierce is not excited about secondary receivers like Coleman.

Dameon Pierce confirms Kyren Williams remains the feature back with 16 total opportunities in the Cardinals-Rams game, despite Blake Corum's increased usage. Pierce notes the larger sample still supports Williams as the primary back and cautions against overreacting to one game where Corum received 11 opportunities.

Luther Burden is now a must-start wide receiver for the Bears, drawing targets at a much higher clip than Rome Odunze despite Odunze's increased snap count, indicating Burden has secured the primary receiving role in the offense.

Malik Nabers looks 100% healthy and ranks as a top-12 wide receiver for sure. However, Dameon Pierce is slightly concerned about JJ McCarthy's QB play limiting his ceiling, citing Justin Jefferson's experience being completely unusable with McCarthy in Minnesota last year. Pierce acknowledges it's a different scenario and McCarthy may improve, but would be concerned if McCarthy is the long-term starter; there's a chance Atlanta goes back to Jameis Winston next week. Main takeaway is Nabers' health is confirmed but QB play is a ceiling risk.

Played like no snaps at all; only 12 snaps and 12 routes run, with four targets off those limited opportunities. Despite the improved Houston offense, Harrison's snap count remains severely limited, raising questions about his role going forward.

Potential wide receiver one in fantasy; scored 20 points in the game but had massive drops that cost him significantly. If he had not dropped the ball, he could have had 50 fantasy points. Every target in the Packers' pass-heavy game (41 attempts) went to three players: Golden, Christian Watson, and Tucker Kraft. Dameon Pierce sees upside if Golden improves ball security.

Injury return will reduce target concentration for Metcalf and Bernard. Dameon Pierce notes that while Bernard and Metcalf are absolute set-it-and-forget-it must-start names now, that may change once Pittman returns to the offense because Pittman will see snaps and run routes, fragmenting target share.

Dameon Pierce is starting to get slightly concerned with Michael Wilson after the Cardinals-Rams game. Pierce notes that Kendrick Bourne out-targeted Wilson, and while the Cardinals have a bad defense and will throw the ball a ton, Wilson's recent double-digit target average may not hold up.

A pre-game report suggested Najee Harris would be the starting running back and see more work than usual due to Cam Akers' fumbling issues, but Harris only received 4 carries for 2 rushing yards in Week 7. Dameon Pierce explicitly recommended avoiding Harris this week, making it a major missed call. The Giants backfield usage remains unclear and warrants a wait-and-see approach before committing to either back.

Round one talent making his first game back from ankle injury placement on IR; went over 100 receiving yards and scored a receiving touchdown in his return game. Dameon Pierce positioned him as a waiver wire priority with plans to bid for him in leagues.

Still incredible with 11 targets leading the team. Only scored 10 fantasy points but came close to a couple of massive plays with Trevor Lawrence that they weren't able to connect on. Remains a must-start player every single week.

Limited to 80 receiving yards in Week 7 due to Matthew Stafford's 222 passing yards. Pierce emphasizes that Davante Adams' injury status is critical to assessing Nacua's tier; if Adams misses time, Nacua will be in his own tier at wide receiver with elevated target share.

Dameon Pierce notes Quez Watkins, a rookie wide receiver, had 9 targets but is not rosterable as part of a historically bad Chargers offense (0-6, worst in NFL). Cannot be started until the team shows actual production improvement.

Shares running back duties in a three-way split in New England; not startable unless the other back (Trevion) gets injured. Should be rostered as a handcuff but only playable if injury occurs to the primary back.

Rome Odunze was on the field significantly more than Luther Burden in Week 7, but Burden continues to draw targets at a much higher clip, suggesting Burden has the more consistent receiving role despite Odunze's increased snap count.

Roschon Johnson may be worth a roster spot as a short-term handcuff to De'Andre Swift in the Bears backfield, but the speaker cautions against being overly optimistic, as Johnson will likely return to minimal usage once Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman return from injury.

Not startable despite being the Titans' three-down running back. Pierce cites Week 7 performance where Pollard had 20 opportunities but scored only 7.6 points, demonstrating his inability to produce even with significant volume in a Titans win.

In deeper leagues, Dameon Pierce thinks you could look at Travis Etienne off the waiver wire with the expectation that Brian Thomas Jr. will probably end up getting traded, which will lead to Etienne actually getting some more involvement in the Jacksonville offense. Additionally, Travis Etienne is expected to return in Week 9 for the Saints, which could significantly change the running back usage in New Orleans and potentially reduce Alvin Kamara's role in the backfield committee.

Got banged up during the game but expected to be fine; remains a set-it-and-forget-it tight end despite the minor injury scare. Dameon Pierce expects Kelce to be available and reliable going forward.

Dameon Pierce classifies Trey Tucker as a boom-bust flex option despite 7 targets and a touchdown. Pierce explicitly states Tucker is not a set-it-and-forget-it must-start player, emphasizing the volatility of his role in an offense where 18 targets went to tight ends.

Continues to look really good and is a quarterback you can plan on starting 99% of weeks. The only exception is when he has to play against the Minnesota Vikings.

Dameon Pierce rates Trey McBride as an S-tier set-and-forget tight end every week. McBride drew 9 targets out of 34 potential in the Cardinals-Rams game and remains elite despite the Cardinals' committee approach at running back.

Looked seriously injured during the game but returned to play; received targets in the Packers' pass-heavy game (41 attempts). Injury status unclear but he did finish the game, suggesting the injury was not severe enough to sideline him.

Cannot be played in Cardinals running back committee with Bam Knight. Pierce initially thought Allgeier was startable based on volume, but the Cardinals have a committee approach to running backs that limits his standalone value despite receiving opportunities.

Tyron Tracy scored both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in Week 7, demonstrating dual-threat involvement in the Giants offense. However, Dameon Pierce notes Tracy is not a good running back and has fumbling concerns. Pierce says Tracy must be rostered in every league with reasonable depth but won't rank him as a top-24 RB in weekly rankings due to the real possibility the Giants revert to Cam Akers as lead back next week. Tracy's waiver wire pickup value is actionable in deeper formats.

Dameon Pierce identifies Xavier Worthy as startable while Rashee Rice is out. Worthy is limited to crossing routes in the Chiefs offense due to lack of deep-ball threats (no Tyquan Thornton), making him a temporary flex option until Rice returns.

Zay Flowers had 11 out of 31 potential targets in Week 7 with Tyler Huntley; with Lamar Jackson's return next week, he'll revert to being a set-it-and-forget-it wide receiver one.