"If I was given Brady’s 600th TD ball by accident all I’d want in return is complete ownership of the Buccaneers and unchecked authoritarian rule of the city of Tampa Bay"
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Welcome back!
We’re 7 games in, which for some of us means it’s time to make some bold moves. We have a jam-packed trade target section this week to help you take some shots. Enjoy!
-Will
Analysis & Hype:
Highest graded rookie pass-catchers per PFF:
1. Kyle Pitts: 85.2
2. Ja’Marr Chase: 83.5
3. Kadarius Toney: 77
2021 Leaders in YPRR (Yards per route run):
1. Ja'Marr Chase (3.35)*
2. Cooper Kupp (3.30)
3. Deebo Samuel (3.27)
4. Davante Adams (3.25)
5. Kadarius Toney (2.94)*
6. Antonio Brown (2.82)
7. Rondale Moore (2.51)*
* rookie
“Kyle Pitts is on pace for almost 1,200 yards this season and the Falcons didn't even figure out how to use him until like two weeks ago. That dude is different.”
“Kyle Pitts had 163 yards today, breaking the Falcons franchise record for a TE. He has 471 yards in his first 6 games, the most by any TE in the last 50 years.”
Kyle Pitts is the first rookie TE with back-to-back games of 100+ Rec yards since 1970.
Most receiving yards per game this season for TEs:
1. Kyle Pitts - 78.5
2. Travis Kelce - 76.1
3. Mark Andrews - 73.7
4. Darren Waller - 63.0
5. Rob Gronkowski - 61.3
“Marlon Humphrey - one of the league's best corners - shadowed Ja'Marr Chase yesterday. Chase went for 8-201-1 on 10 targets.”
Ja’Marr Chase’s 754 receiving yards in his first 7 NFL games is the most in NFL history.
Kadarius Toney has seen a target on 38.5% of his routes run the last three games
That’s a higher targets per route run rate (TPRR) than Cooper Kupp (36.8%), who is averaging 11.7 targets per game the last three games
Also a higher rate than Davante Adams (34%) over that stretch
Tua’s last two weeks:
— 6 TD (3 INT)
— 620 yards
— 74.7 completion %
— Two go-ahead 4Q TD drives
— 4th-best PFF QB grade
Among QBs with at least 90 pass attempts between 1994 and 2021, Tua Tagovailoa currently has the highest 4th quarter passer rating ever.
Khalil Herbert has the third-most rushing yards in the NFL behind only Derrick Henry (359) and Jonathan Taylor (305) over the last three weeks.
Bears beat: Khalil Herbert climbing RB depth chart - Herbert could "be the first one off the bench" to spell David Montgomery (knee) when Montgomery returns from injured reserve.
WR Leaders in FPG:
1 Cooper Kupp (27.2) - Round 4
2 Deebo Samuel (22.5) - Round 7
3 Tyreek Hill (21.8) - Round 1
4 Ja'Marr Chase (20.9) - Round 6
5 Davante Adams (20.6) - Round 1
6 Mike Williams (19.8) - Round 9
7 Antonio Brown (19.1) - Round 8
D'Andre Swift now on pace for 189 carries and 102 catches (17-game season).
Would join Christian McCaffrey, Ladainian Tomlinson and Matt Forte as only RBs in history with 180+ carries and 100+ catches.
This chart shows D’Andre Swift is currently in a league of his own, and Jonathan Taylor might deserve more targets.
D’Andre Swift remains the league leader in yards after catch with 426.
D’Andre Swift currently leads DET in both rushing fantasy points & receiving fantasy points.
“D'Andre Swift is the PPR RB2 through seven weeks of action. RB4 on a per game basis. Take away all 78 of his rush attempts ... and he'd still be the overall RB14, and RB20 per game. Madness.”
Damien Harris league ranks through seven weeks per PFF:
1st in runs of 20+ yards (5)
2nd in 100+ yards games (3)
3rd in TD's (5)
5th in first downs (25)
7th in yards after contact (311)
7th in missed tackles (20)
8th in yards (437)
If Ja'Marr Chase (the current WR3 in fantasy football) caught an ADDITIONAL one touchdown per game through every week this year... He still wouldn't have as many points as Cooper Kupp.
Most Fantasy Points by a WR Through First 7 Games of a Season All-Time:
1. Cooper Kupp, 2021 (190.4)
2. Marvin Harrison, 1999 (186.8)
3. Adam Thielen, 2018 (179.2)
4. Torry Holt, 2003 (178.3)
5. Wes Welker, 2011 (177.3)
6. Randy Moss, 2007 (177.2)
7. Steve Smith, 2005 (175.5)
Chart: Highest Yards/Attempt Through Week 7 (min 130 attempts).
D’Ernest Johnson had a 90.0 PFF rushing grade vs the Broncos, which is the highest single-game rushing grade this season.
Yet another example of Kyler Murray being elite.
Thread on /r/DynastyFF: “Dynasty 2021 Rookie Stock Watch - Week SEVEN Update!”
Cold Water:
This chart is not kind to Justin Fields.
Regarding Jalen Hurts: “Just landed and I see that the Eagles have started the process of eventually making Gardner Minshew the starting QB Right or wrong decision, seems like only a matter of time now”
Potential Trade Targets:
Bottom-five players in catchable target rate among 101 dudes with 25+ targets this season (PFF):
Elijah Moore (42%)
Robby Anderson (55%)
Odell Beckham (56%)
Kenny Golladay (60%)
Allen Robinson (63%)
Teams with best remaining strength of WR schedule:
1. Falcons
2. Rams
3. 49ers
4. Cardinals
5. Eagles
6. Jets
7. Seahawks
8. Broncos
9. Bucs
10. Steelers
Teams with best remaining strength of RB schedule:
1. Broncos
2. Colts
3. Giants
4. Steelers
5. Saints
6. Dolphins
7. Chargers
8. Patriots
9. Falcons
10. Raiders
Teams with best remaining strength of TE schedule:
1. Broncos
2. Eagles
3. Bills
4. Giants
5. Texans
6. Falcons
7. Dolphins
8. Browns
9. Raiders
10. Saints
Thread on /r/fantasyfootball: “At this point in the season, most busts have busted, most breakouts have broken out, but which players do you think still have a chance to break out?”
“Tua hasn’t even started 16 games. When he’s started 16 games, which is a full NFL season - ONE SEASON - let’s stack it up and evaluate. Until then let’s stop the he’s a bust talk cause he’s one of the most efficient QBs this franchise has had since Marino, and he’s just started.”
“*IF* the Texans were to make Brandin Cooks available in a trade, he’d be a valuable/realistic target for several teams because of his salary. He’s due ~$1.5M for the rest of this year. Hard to find affordable trade targets that would bring as much of an impact as Cooks could.”
Many will read this Kyle Shanahan regarding Brandon Aiyuk as negative, but I like to think of it as an indication that Shanny isn’t giving up on Aiyuk yet.
“Big role change for Michael Carter coming out of the Jets bye. He got his usual 11 carries, but finally took over as the main passing down back.
In Weeks 1-5, Carter ran a route on just 30% of the pass plays.
That jumped to 65% vs. Patriots, which is Swift / Ekeler territory.”
With Miles Sanders sidelined, this quote is worth recalling: “Kenneth Gainwell was the 2nd best RB in week 4, according to PFF (90.0) He is their 5th highest graded RB through 4 weeks.”
“This 2nd year WR is having a breakout season and is still incredibly underrated amongst the dynasty circles.
#14 in receiving yards
#3 in route participation
#19 in target share
#14 in routes run
#6 in the NFL in snap share
#18 in red-zone targets
Go buy Michael Pittman Jr.”
"A couple QBs through 11 career starts
Kyler Murray
393 attempts
2703 pass yards
14 pass TDs
5 INTs
7.02 A/YA
418 rushing yards
219.9 PPR points
Jalen Hurts
375 attempts
2635 pass yards
15 pass TDs
7 INTs
6.99 A/YA
633 rushing yards
262.7 PPR points” (Yes, I know Hurts is also in the cold water section)
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The Fun Stuff:
“If I was given Brady’s 600th TD ball by accident all I’d want in return is complete ownership of the Buccaneers and unchecked authoritarian rule of the city of Tampa Bay.”
It’s really hard not to like Matthew Stafford.
I can’t stop watching this Sports Center clip.
AJ Brown has been getting flamed on Twitter for his MJ/Pippen post.
Leonard Fournette laughing like a madman everytime he gets hit.
Mike Evans realizing he gave away Tom Brady’s 600th TD ball is the best part of this game.
Brandon Aiyuk at 49ers practice.
“Jalen Hurts currently has 12 fantasy points thru nearly 3 quarters, putting him on pace for 41 fantasy points today”
A very large rookie getting into a shove match with Aaron Donald.
Sam Darnold Weeks 1-3 and 4-7.
Standards and Practices guy at ESPN after Marshawn Lynch joined the Manning’s broadcast:
Drafting the QB proof Allen Robinson then realizing he’s not Matt Nagy proof.
Derrick Henry throwing a touchdown.
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