Week 7 Sit/Start + Mailbag

Aaron Jones has been dominant since Jordan Mason went out; Vikings are undefeated with Jones in the lineup. Matthew Berry expects Jones to get first crack at carries and doesn't expect the team to move away from him significantly unless Jones becomes ineffective. Colts rank seventh-best matchup for opposing running back production, supporting Jones' usage.

Available in 94% of Yahoo leagues; Matthew Berry targets him as a grab-and-stash option with WR3/4 floor and weekly WR2/3 upside given Commanders' weak defense forcing volume and McLaurin's absence creating opportunity.

Williams is expected to see a much bigger role moving forward; he plays mostly slot with some outside snaps, benefits from Jaden Daniels' quick-release passing style due to offensive line issues, and has demonstrated strong yards-after-catch ability.

Matthew Berry mentions Antonio Williams as another wide receiver candidate with better potential opportunity than Jalen Noel, citing him as a topic discussed earlier in the show and positioning him as a preferable target for increased role.

Braylon Allen has earned a bigger slice of the Jets backfield role with recent play and will not go away entirely when Brice Hall returns. Matthew Berry projects a 65-35 split in favor of Hall, with Allen remaining as a touchdown-dependent flex and important insurance back for Hall owners.

In a Dynasty League trade discussion, Christian McCaffrey is being offered for Xavier Leggett. The trade is noted as involving two first-round draft picks, with Leggett being five years younger than McCaffrey, though the trade dynamics are discussed as potentially working in some leagues but not others.

Matthew Berry notes that Colston Loveland is 'now coming on' in the Bears offense, suggesting emerging role/usage. Mentioned alongside Rome Odunze and Luther Burden as part of the Bears receiving corps.

Corey Kiner impressed Matthew Berry with his performance for the Patriots last week, prompting Berry to grab him in a couple of super-deep leagues to monitor his potential role development; this suggests Kiner could be a breakout candidate if he continues to outperform Ramond J. Stevenson and Trayvon Henderson.

Darnell Washington received the tight end touchdown last week instead of Pat Freiermuth, indicating some role competition within the Steelers tight end room. However, Freiermuth maintains higher overall usage metrics with 23% end zone target share.

Denzel Boston is getting production in the Browns offense, receiving targets that might otherwise go to Harold Fennin Jr. As one of the first two draft picks (first or second round), Boston is among the primary pass-catching targets for the Browns alongside Casey Concepcion.

Singletary is ranked in the 50-55 range for Week 7 RB rankings by Matthew Berry, behind both Pacheco and Tyrone Tracy in the Giants backfield pecking order.

Matthew Berry highlights Devontae Smith as part of a questioner's strong wide receiver room, using this context to justify advising against trading Kyron Williams for Rasheed Rice and Jeremiah Love; Smith's presence indicates the questioner has sufficient receiver depth.

Matthew Berry is closing out on Harold Fennin Jr., ranking him TE18 this week against Tennessee. Over the last three weeks, Fennin has just 13% target share and hasn't seen more than five targets in a game since week three. Titans are the second-toughest fantasy matchup for opposing tight ends. Browns have a bottom-five implied team total in week seven, and the offense is getting production from the run game and receivers Denzel Boston and Casey Concepcion instead.

With Najee Harris released by the Giants, the backfield pecking order is uncertain; Matthew Berry ranks Pacheco (referred to as Scadaboo in the transcript) highest among Giants running backs for Week 7 in the 30-35 range, with Tyrone Tracy in the 40-45 range and Devin Singletary in the 50-55 range.

McCarthy is expected to start for the Giants in Week 7 against the Texans per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler; he's an interesting streaming option for fantasy because his mobility will generate rushing points, and the Giants' schedule improves after the Texans matchup.

Matthew Berry believes starting J.J. McCarthy is the right decision for the Giants; McCarthy provided a spark in the fourth quarter against the Saints and gives the team a chance to evaluate the young quarterback while the division is weak and the team has seen enough from Jameis Winston.

Matthew Berry believes J.J. McCarthy can potentially be a fantasy-relevant quarterback option.

Jadarian Price is scheduled to return in Week 8.

Matthew Berry expects Jalen Warren to remain the lead running back for his team despite Rico Dattel's return from injury; Berry describes Warren as 'special' and notes that while production will decrease from when Dattel was out, Warren still retains significant value as the primary back in what will become a committee situation.

Matthew Berry flags Jeremiah Love as a 'big question mark' with uncertainty around both his health and offensive role; Berry advises against trading for Love as part of a package deal, citing role ambiguity alongside health concerns.

Matthew Berry is closing out on Mason's return from thumb injury to the Vikings, ranking him RB30 and touchdown-dependent flex. Concern is Aaron Jones has been dominant in Mason's absence and Vikings are undefeated; Berry wants to see the split before committing, noting uncertainty whether it becomes 1A/1B or 70-30/75-25 to Jones.

Matthew Berry is closing out on Josh Downs, ranking him WR41 this week. Over the last three weeks, Downs is averaging 7 fantasy points per game with just 16% target share; Keenan Allen has gotten more targets than Downs in each of the past two weeks. Matchup against Minnesota Vikings (fifth-fewest fantasy points allowed to WRs) is unfavorable. Berry notes the offense is not scheming Downs open despite preseason optimism.

Matthew Berry highlights Justin Jefferson as part of a questioner's strong wide receiver room, using this context to justify advising against trading Kyron Williams for Rasheed Rice and Jeremiah Love; Jefferson's presence indicates the questioner has sufficient receiver depth.

Matthew Berry expects Keaton Mitchell to maintain a role in the Chargers backfield regardless of coaching changes. Mitchell is part of a running back committee due to injuries and roster limitations on the Chargers.

Keenan Allen has been a wide receiver one killer for fantasy wherever he goes, obliterating expectations for the primary receiver on his team. In Indianapolis, he has gotten more targets than Josh Downs in each of the past two weeks, despite Downs being the preseason favorite. This pattern mirrors his impact in previous stops (LA with Odunze, previous team with Lad).

Matthew Berry expects Kamani Vidal to maintain a role in the Chargers backfield regardless of coaching changes. Vidal is part of a running back committee due to injuries and roster limitations on the Chargers.

Matthew Berry strongly advises against trading Kyron Williams, emphasizing his safety and high floor as a running back in a landscape of injuries and split-back committees; Berry states he would not give up Williams unless it were a 'crazy haul,' positioning him as a dependable asset not to be traded away lightly.

Matthew Berry's preferred Bears receiver over Rome Odunze. Berry notes Burden is an excellent route runner and would want either Burden or Odunze in the high-scoring Bears offense with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson's scheme.

Matthew Berry notes that Marvin Harrison Jr. has recently shown up for the Texans, which limits Jalen Noel's opportunity in the passing game; Harrison's presence is cited as a reason why Noel cannot be considered a true breakout candidate despite recent splash plays.

Michael Wilson has 25% target share on the season with multiple end zone targets in three of the past four games. Matthew Berry ranks him WR25 (mid-tier WR3) this week, keeping him open despite back-to-back poor performances. Berry notes that with Pat Sertan still banged up, Wilson is banking on talent and Jacoby Brissett's understanding, though Kendrick Bourne has seen increased usage.

Matthew Berry mentions Mike Evans as part of a questioner's wide receiver room but adds a caveat that Evans is 'hopefully healthy,' indicating ongoing health concerns about the veteran receiver.

Matthew Berry is keeping Pat Freiermuth open as low-end tight end one (TE12) this week against New Orleans, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Despite a poor performance last week (11 yards), Berry is looking past it and focusing on usage: Freiermuth has 23% end zone target share (top 15 among tight ends) and top-15 route rate this season. Steelers offense targets tight ends regularly.

Matthew Berry expects Rasheed Rice to return this week, which would significantly reduce Xavier Worthy's target share and fantasy value. Rice's return is expected to restore the Chiefs' passing hierarchy, with Worthy becoming a secondary option despite Andy Reid's scheme providing multiple explosive opportunities.

Matthew Berry identifies Rasheed Rice as a 'big question mark' due to health concerns, positioning him as a risky trade target compared to the safer Kyron Williams; Berry advises against acquiring Rice in a proposed trade.

94% route rate since week two; 20% target share in two of the last three weeks. Matthew Berry notes Odunze is averaging up the target so far this year and will have huge games as long as Caleb Williams is the quarterback. Three catches got called back due to penalty, suggesting his actual production is better than currently presented.

Matthew Berry is 'optimistic ish' on Odunze as a wide receiver three, but prefers Luther Burden moving forward. Berry acknowledges Odunze's talent and recent volume increase, but ranks him behind Burden in the Bears receiver hierarchy.

Saquon Barkley faced severe discipline from Coach Harbaugh after one fumble, resulting in zero snaps the following game; Matthew Berry notes this reflects Harbaugh's strict culture change with the Giants.

With Terry McLaurin out, Diggs becomes a high-end WR3 with potential to reach borderline WR2 in the right matchup; volume should increase though touchdown regression expected from early-season pace; better in PPR formats.

Diggs has produced double-digit fantasy points in three of the past five games and is expected to see a bigger role with Terry McLaurin out; slight wrist/hand injury concern noted but assumed to be manageable.

Matthew Berry cites Tank Dell's return to the Texans as a factor that will further limit Jalen Noel's target share and role in the passing game, positioning Dell's comeback as a headwind for Noel's fantasy upside.

Confirmed out for the rest of the season with a torn patellar tendon; this ends his 2024 fantasy relevance and opens volume for teammates in the Commanders offense.

Averaging at least 18 touches over the last four weeks; 88% of Titans' red zone rushes over the last four weeks; 100% of goal line work. Matthew Berry ranks him as low-end RB2, high-end flex this week despite playing Cleveland, citing volume as the primary driver in a thin running back landscape.

Tracy looked good last week and is expected to be involved in the Giants' running game; Matthew Berry projects him in the 40-45 range for Week 7 RB rankings, behind Pacheco but ahead of Singletary; expected to get passing opportunities under new offensive coordinator Greg Roman's run-first scheme.

Matthew Berry expects Tyrone Tracy to get a lot of passing opportunities in the Giants offense.

Matthew Berry is closing out on Xavier Worthy if Rasheed Rice returns this week, ranking him WR40. In the first three weeks with Rice active, Worthy averaged just 7.4 fantasy points per game. Seattle is the third-toughest matchup for opposing wide receivers, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points and second-fewest yards to the position.

Zach Charbonnet has a good chance to return and play in Week 7.

Matthew Berry states that if Charbonnet is active in week seven, he cannot imagine ranking any Seahawks running back in the top 30 due to backfield uncertainty; however, he is "as high as you can on Charb" for the season, noting that when Kenneth Walker has been out and Charbonnet received 20-plus carries, he has scored 20-plus fantasy points. The concern for week seven specifically is the matchup against Kansas City, which allows the second-fewest rushing yards to opposing running backs, combined with Charbonnet's return from ACL injury and the need to regain rhythm against a top-tier run defense.

Charbonnet has historically been a committee back with Ken Walker and faces ongoing backfield uncertainty; Emmanuel Wilson and Jadarian Price (eligible to return week eight) are also on the roster. The speaker notes that Charbonnet's role and workload remain unclear upon his return from injury, and it is uncertain whether he will receive a full workload or continue in a committee situation.

Charbonnet is returning from an ACL injury and has not been tackled in nearly a year. The speaker emphasizes that it will take time for him to regain rhythm and confidence in his physical play, particularly when running between the tackles against one of the best run defenses in the NFL (Kansas City). This is compared to the example of Malik Neighbors, whose head coach had to tackle him during practice because he lacked confidence.