Fantasy Stat Pack: Week Seven

Ryan McDowell

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well. If so, let me know and I can make this a weekly piece.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

Quarterbacks

Week Six QB1s (top 12 scorers)

The surprise of week six was Dolphins backup quarterback Brock Osweiler, who took the place of injured start Ryan Tannehill to shred the vaunted Bears defense for a career-high 380 yards and three touchdowns. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott earned his first QB1 game of the year.

Year to Date QB1s

First-year starter Patrick Mahomes continues his assault on the league, even as he took his first career loss, falling to the Patriots. This list is a reminder that the quarterback position is deeper than ever.

QB1 Games this Season

Most QB1 Games Allowed

  • 5 KC, ATL
  • 4 CIN, SF, TB, PIT
  • 3 ARI, NE, MIN, NYJ, WAS
  • 2 OAK, LAR, DEN, NYG, IND, HOU, BUF, PHI, NO, CHI, LAC
  • 1 MIA, CLE, GB, DAL, DET, JAX, CAR, TEN, BAL
  • 0 SEA

The Chiefs and Falcons have been the league’s worst this season, each allowing five QB1 games. This is great news for Andy Dalton and, dare I say, Eli Manning, who face these teams in week seven. Dalton is certainly in play but even in what should be a high-scoring game, we should still be cautious with ever using Manning.

On the flip side, the Seahawks have yet to allow a QB1 game and won’t in week seven as the team is on bye.

Running Backs

Week Six RB1s (top 12 scorers)

The top of this list is very chalky as some of the league’s top running backs hold down the top five spots. Bears pass-catching back Tarik Cohen continues to slowly overtake starter Jordan Howard as the Bears back to own.

Year to Date RB1s

Outside of the top running backs on this list, the pass-catching specialists stand out as James White, T.J. Yeldon and Christian McCaffrey have done enough damage through the air to crack this list. Isaiah Crowell may be a bit of fool’s gold.

RB1 Games this Season

  • 6 Todd Gurley
  • 5 Melvin Gordon, Saquon Barkley
  • 4 Alvin Kamara, James Conner
  • 3 Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, Isaiah Crowell, Joe Mixon

Most RB1 Games Allowed

  • 6 ATL, MIA
  • 5 KC, ARI
  • 4 DEN, IND, CLE
  • 3 CIN, OAK, NYG, DET
  • 2 SF, TB, NYJ, HOU, DAL, JAX, CAR
  • 1 PIT, NE, MIN, WAS, BUF, PHI, LAC, GB, TEN, SEA
  • 0 LAR, NO, CHI, BAL

We’ve already seen rookie Saquon Barkley establish himself as a dominant every-week starter and now he gets one of his easiest matchups against the Falcons. Miami faces off against the Lions three-headed backfield committee. Maybe this is the week we see a breakout game from rookie back Kerryon Johnson. Finally, the Broncos became the first team to allow consecutive 200-yard rushing games from an individual player and now face the struggled David Johnson and the Cardinals. Something has to give.

A quartet of teams have yet to allow a top 12 game to a running back. The Rams visit San Francisco and running back Matt Breida, while Chicago faces New England and their duo of rookie Sony Michel and James White. Either or even both backs could break Chicago’s streak. Finally, the Saints and Ravens face each other and Baltimore will have a nearly impossible task of stopping both Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram.

Wide Receivers

Week Six WR1s (top 12 scorers)

It was a bit of a fluky week at the receiver position. Albert Wilson, Cole Beasley and Tyrell Williams each scored a pair of touchdowns to put themselves in the top 12 for the first time this season. Bengals second receiver Tyler Boyd continues his breakout season and has nearly reached the WR1 status for the full season, as well.

Year to Date WR1s

Vikings receiver Adam Thielen is on pace to set records for targets and receptions and has 100+ yards in each of the first six games of the season, the first player to ever do that. Michael Thomas keeps his place on this list even after playing only five games.

WR1 Games this Season

  • 5 Adam Thielen
  • 4
  • 3 Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, Stefon Diggs

Most WR1 Games Allowed

  • 6 PHI
  • 5 TB
  • 4 CLE, GB, TEN, LAR, NO
  • 3
  • 2 ATL, KC, ARI, OAK, KC, NYG, DET, NYJ, DAL, JAX, CAR, PIT, NE, MIN, LAC, SEA, CHI
  • 1 MIA, DEN, IND, SF, WAS, BUF, BAL
  • 0 HOU

The Eagles and Buccaneers have emerged as the teams to target when choosing weekly wideouts. The Eagles host the Panthers in week seven in a potential big opportunity for Devin Funchess. It is nearly impossible to predict other Panthers receivers to focus on as D.J. Moore, Torrey Smith and Curtis Samuel have all flashed at times this season. Tampa Bay gets the Browns in a ‘get right’ game for struggling receiver Jarvis Landry.

The Texans are the only team to maintain a perfect record against receivers when it comes to WR1 games. That streak will likely continue against the Jaguars and quarterback Blake Bortles, though Dede Westbrook is the top option.

Tight Ends

Week Six TE1s (top 12 scorers)

The tight end position continues to be a train wreck, though the return of O.J. Howard and Greg Olsen will help. Nick O’Leary and Chris Herndon are this week’s surprises while Vance McDonald seems to be for real as a key member of the Steelers offense.

Year to Date TE1s

  • TE1 Zach Ertz, PHI
  • TE2 Eric Ebron, IND
  • TE3 Travis Kelce, KC
  • TE4 Jared Cook, OAK
  • TE5 George Kittle, SF
  • TE6 Austin Hooper, ATL
  • TE7 Rob Gronkowski, NE
  • TE8 Jimmy Graham, GB
  • TE9 Kyle Rudolph, MIN
  • TE10 David Njoku, CLE
  • TE11 O.J. Howard, TB
  • TE12 Trey Burton, CHI

Eric Ebron and Austin Hooper are enjoying breakout seasons and fantasy players that held onto them through disappointing seasons are reaping the rewards. Howard’s presence in the top 12 is impressive, given he’s missed time with an injury.

TE1 Games this Season

  • 6 Zach Ertz
  • 5 Eric Ebron
  • 4 George Kittle, Jimmy Graham, Travis Kelce
  • 3 Austin Hooper, Kyle Rudolph, O.J. Howard, Rob Gronkowski, Trey Burton

Most TE1 Games Allowed

  • 5 TB
  • 4 ATL, KC, PIT, CHI, IND, SF
  • 3 CIN, CAR, NE, MIN, HOU
  • 2 CLE, ARI, DET, DAL, LAC, MIA, DEN, WAS, BUF
  • 1 PHI, GB, TEN, LAR, OAK, NYG, NYJ, JAX, SEA, BAL
  • 0 NO

Just as they give it up to opposing wide receivers, the Buccaneers also struggle to stop tight ends. This week, they face one of the league’s hottest tight ends, Browns David Njoku. He looks to be a safe bet, especially given the injuries and struggles of the Browns receiving corps.

The Saints have yet to allow a TE1 game and we can expect that streak to continue as they play the Baltimore Ravens who use a committee of low-scoring players at the position.

Finally, here’s the full defensive chart you might’ve already seen on Twitter.

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ryan mcdowell
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