Five to Thrive Five to Dive: NFL Week 7

Welcome into 5 to Thrive, 5 to Dive. In this weekly write-up, I’ll try to predict which players will outperform their weekly FantasyPros rank (Thrives) and those who will underperform (Dives). This isn’t a start-sit piece. It’s simply telling you who has a chance to do what this week. Week 6 was very successful as I went 6-3-1. Like I’ve said before, I consider 5 correct to be a solid week. So if you read last week, you’re welcome. And if you’re reading this week:

Thrives

Daniel Jones, QB New York Giants
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 14)
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First of all, we need a better nickname for Jones than “Danny Dimes.” I can’t think of one but that one just doesn’t hit for me. This week, the rookie from Duke and the Giants will take on the Cardinals in New York. I’m loving Danny Generic Fratboy Jones for a multitude of reasons. The most important one for him is that most of his weapons, Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram, should return from injury. Great news because he won’t have to rely on a running back that they found on the street and a bunch of receiving options that they pulled out of a Manhattan bar. Add on top of that the Cardinals just got buttpounded by Matt Ryan for over 350 yards and 4 TD’s last week and on the season have given up the most fantasy points to QBs and the 3rd most passing yards. This game has shootout potential and Jones should be a QB1 this week in 12 team leagues.

Tevin Coleman, RB San Francisco 49ers
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 18)

Every time I see the name Tevin, I think of Tevin from I Love You, Man because he just the biggest douche in the world. Thankfully, Tevin Coleman isn’t that guy. The 49ers are 5-0. If you saw that coming, you’re either full of shit or an oracle. In his 2 games back from a high ankle injury, Coleman has looked pretty good while getting a ton of goal line work. The 49ers are going to run, run and run some more on a Washington defense that has allowed the 3rd most rushing yards/game in the league and the 6th most fantasy points. The R-Words are going to be in big trouble. I love both Coleman and Matt Breida this week and see Coleman finishing as a high-end RB2.

Frank Gore, RB Buffalo Bills
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 34)
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2 weeks in a row with recommending an old running back. 2 weeks in a row with using the “guy with the old balls” gif from Big Daddy. It’s a good day. If you read my Adrian Peterson write-up last week then you’ve basically read what my Gore article is going to be. The Bills, off of a bye, get to take on the Dolphins this week in a game where Buffalo is heavy favorites. The veteran running back from the U has looked spry for his old age and the Bills have rewarded him with a heavy workload. On the season, Frank the Tank has 11, 19, 14, 17, and 14 carries. He’s getting the volume and this week he gets the matchup with a Dolphins defense that has surrendered the 2nd most fantasy points and 2nd most rushing yards/game to running backs. Frank is gonna Gore the hapless Dolphins (sorry).

Allen Robinson, WR Chicago Bears
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 26)
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I’m going to keep this one pretty short and simple. Robinson is probably going to be shadowed by Marshon Lattimore, who has been lights out the last few weeks so that’s not ideal. ARob’s QB is either Mitchell the Bitchell Trubisky or Chase Daniel and that’s definitely not ideal. But, I don’t think I care. The former Jag WR is just too talented to not think that he finishes this week at least as a WR2. He owns a 25% target share and when actually given an opportunity to shine, he has. Don’t be afraid to fire up Robinson, even with the Saints defense playing well and the Bears QB situation being worse than we can put into words. Fun fact: the Bears passed on Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes for Trubisky. Sorry, Bears fans.

D.K. Metcalf, WR Seattle Seahawks
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 35)

I have no idea what D.K. stands for and I don’t even care to look it up. I’m just going to assume that it means Downfield King. On the season, Metcalf’s aDOT (average depth of target) is over 15 yards. He’s getting the opportunities to make plays downs the field due to his freakish body and athleticism and the fact that he really can’t run the precise routes yet because he looks like an 18 wheeler turning. But, let’s focus on the positives. His quarterback is the front-runner for MVP right now and Baltimore’s defense isn’t what it used to be. They did add Marcus Peters this week but even with that addition, the Ravens can be susceptible to the big play. This game should be a lot of fun between two QB’s who are playing at their peaks. I’ll put my money on Metcalf coming up big on Sunday.

Dives

Lamar Jackson, QB Baltimore Ravens
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 2)
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Well you’ve arrived to the call that scares the shit out of me for the week. Calling Lamar Jackson as a dive is a dangerous idea considering how even when he can’t get the passing game going, he has the ability to be Right Vick and rush for over 100 yards. I don’t love the Ravens’ talented QB’s situation this week, however. He could be without Hollywood Brown once again as the rookie continues to sit out with an ankle injury. The Seahawks have been in the middle of the pack when it comes to QB production but their home-field advantage is a staggering one. Jackson is my favorite QB to watch in the league. He’s exciting and uber talented. He’s not facing a defense like the Dolphins, Cardinals or Bengals this week though. Seattle will make things tough for the Heisman winner.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB Dallas Cowboys
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 4)

I’m thinking that I’m just going to make a rule that whatever running back is playing the Eagles needs to have expectations tempered. On the season, the Eagles defense has allowed the 4th fewest fantasy points and the 2nd fewest rushing yards/game to RBs and this past week they slowed Dalvin Cook and the Vikings run game down. This week, Philly will take on the Cowboys in Dallas in a game where Amari Cooper might not play and we’re still waiting to see if the stud tackles the Boys’ have will return. Elliott does so much with the volume he gets, but he’s going to need Dak to step up a little bit this week and actually earn his $40M/season deal that he wants and create a little bit of breathing room if Zeke is going to return value. I think he finishes outside the Top 10 at RBs this weekend.

Le’Veon Bell, RB New York Jets
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 8)

He’s playing the Patriots. Belichick takes away the other team’s best player. New England’s defense has been ridiculous this season and held him in check a few weeks ago. There is hope with Darnold back but he doesn’t move the needle enough for me to really believe that he’ll return value. Do I need to say more? No? Ok, good.

Michael Thomas, WR New Orleans Saints
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 4)

Michael Thomas is a target machine and has been able to survive without Drew Brees because of Teddy Two Gloves reliance upon him. Things might be a little more difficult for MT this week though. The Bears are coming off of a bye and have given up the 5th fewest fantasy points to WRs on the season. Alvin Kamara is looking very iffy to play this week and if he doesn’t suit up, Chicago should and will key on the big money WR from Ohio State because behind Kamara and Thomas, there’s not much there on offense for the Saints.

Keenan Allen, WR Los Angeles Chargers
(FantasyPros Week 7 Rank: 6)

As a Steelers’ fan, Sunday was awesome to see as there was Black and Gold everywhere in LA. Second, that’s what you get Chargers ownership for moving your team from San Diego. I hope every game is like that for you in the future. But let’s get to Allen. After going scorched earth, motherfucker on everyone to start the season, KA13 has slowed down considerably the last few weeks with only 11 catches for 99 yards the last three games. There’s something seriously wrong with the Chargers’ offense and it’s their offensive line. Noted father of 1800 children Philip Rivers doesn’t have any time to throw and hasn’t hooked up with his top target as much as we’d like. The Titans defense has been very solid on the season and have given up the 6th fewest passing yards in the league. Until we see a get right game, I don’t think Allen finishes in the Top 10.

Author

Hank Mardukus is a Fantasy Football expert and a regular columnist for Blitzed Football. For tips on Fantasy you can find him on Twitter here.