Oct 23, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) crosses the goal line for a 46 yard touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
The five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 7 of the 2016 NFL season.
Right now, the most recent image in my head of the NFL is the Sunday Night Football eyesore that ended in a 6-6 tie. From a pure fan’s perspective, the game was ugly. From a fantasy football owners perspective, it was just as bad.
I can assure you nothing from that game will be talked about in this article. Largely because there was one offensive player who mattered—and even David Johnson didn’t get into the end zone.
Here are the five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 7.
Oct 23, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) runs the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins defeat the Buffalo Bills 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
5. Bills Bungled McCoy Situation
Here’s something that shouldn’t come as a surprise: hamstrings are very important to athletes. Yet, don’t tell that to the Buffalo Bills coaching staff.
Four days before the Bills had to travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins, LeSean McCoy suffered a hamstring injury in Wednesday’s practice. The injury forced him to miss the rest of Wednesday’s practice and all of Thursday’s practice. There was some concern McCoy was going to miss multiple weeks with this injury.
Instead, McCoy decided to give it a go despite not being 100 percent—and aggravated the injured hamstring early in the game. What a shocker.
NFL players as a whole are some of the most athletic and competitive people on the face of the earth. If they have a pulse, they are going to try to play on Sundays. The coaching staff should have been smart enough to save McCoy from himself and deactivated him before the game. Hamstring injuries have the ability to linger and if not handled properly, could hinder a player’s entire season.
Look at what the Patriots did with Rob Gronkowski and his hamstring injury earlier in the season. He did not suit up for a couple games and when he finally did play, they eased him back into action. Unlike the Bills, the Patriots were looking at the big picture.
Now the Bills could be without the McCoy for a week or two. If he isn’t out for a week or two and does suit up, he will playing well under 100 percent and is a risky play for fantasy owners.
Oct 23, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) runs against Cleveland Browns cornerback Jamar Taylor (21) during the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
4. The Bengals Offense Explodes
Yesterday was a good day to have Bengals players in fantasy lineups as multiple players went off. Sure it was against the Cleveland Browns but owners don’t care. The points all add up the same.
Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns. With this performance, Dalton now has three straight fantasy weeks of 20+ points.
Many owners were ready to throw the towel in on running back Jeremy Hill but after his game yesterday, I bet they’re glad they didn’t. Despite only having nine carries on the day, Hill still managed to rush for 168 yards and one touchdown. His rushing yards and fantasy points (24) yesterday was the most he’s had in any game this season.
If we are talking about the Bengals, you know we can’t forget about Adriel Jeremiah Green. The Bengals No. 1 WR finished with eight receptions, 169 yards and one touchdown. It’s his third game of the year with 20+ fantasy points.
The Bengals “backup” running back Giovani Bernard might not have had a big of a day as the other three but still did well. He finished the game with 17 carries, 80 yards and one touchdown.
If owners can make it to the playoffs with these Bengals players they should feel good about themselves. You know why? The Bengals take on the Browns once again in Week 14.
Oct 23, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs the ball in the second half as Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Prince Amukamara (21) defends at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
3. Is Murray Mounting a Comeback?
After missing the last two games with an injury, Latavius Murray returned to action in yesterday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before the game I would have told you, “Who cares?” The guy is returning to a backfield where he splits time with two rookies and only averaged 10 carries a game between Weeks 1-4.
After this game, I might be changing my mind.
Murray finished the game with 18 carries. That is the most carries he’s had a game in this season. Before this game, his season-high in carries was 14 back in Week 1. His 59 rushing yards ties the most amount of rushing yards he’s had in any game this season. The last time he had this many rushing yards was back in Week 1. He finished with two rushing touchdowns in the game. The last time he had two rushing touchdowns in a game was Nov. 20, 2014.
Also, don’t forget Murray was involved in the passing game. He saw five targets on Sunday which was the second-most targets he had in a game this season. His two receptions ties for the second-most receptions he’s had in any game this season.
Let me be clear; outside of his two rushing touchdowns, his stats weren’t impressive on Sunday. However, his usage was. If he can continue to get 18-20 touches a game, Murray is going to be a serious asset for fantasy owners. That is certainly something we did not think a week ago.
Oct 23, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) carries the ball as New Orleans Saints inside linebacker Nate Stupar (54) defends during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
2. Jamaal Charles: Ware Are You?
After experiencing swelling in his surgeically-repaired knee, many speculated Jamaal Charles was not going to play on Sunday. However, he suited up and was ready to play. Yet, unless you watched the game you wouldn’t have known. Hell, even if you watched the game you might not have known.
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Charles finished the game with one carry for no yards. Zero. There were four other Chiefs that had more rushing attempts and rushing yards than Charles on Sunday.
So why activate and potentially risk injury to a player who is evidentially not 100 percent healed from his torn ACL from a year ago to only give him one carry? I honestly can’t answer that for you, but you know who doesn’t care?
Spencer Ware owners.
Ware finished the game with 19 touches, 131 yards and one touchdown. He led the team in both rushing yards and receiving yards. The former LSU Tiger is playing too good right now to not touch the ball 15+ times a game. He’s taken this No. 1 RB job and has run away with it (pun totally intended).
When will Charles get 100 percent healthy? That’s another question I can’t answer but what I can tell you is it might not even matter when he finally does.
Oct 23, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) singles for a first down during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
1. The 200-Yard Man
Last week Jay Ajayi ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Many wondered if this was a fluke and/or if he could keep this up. After yesterday, it’s safe to say he answered those questions.
For the second-straight week Ajayi finished with 200+ rushing yards as he finished the game with 28 carries, 214 yards and one touchdown.
A big reason for Ajayi’s success over the last two weeks is the return of Pro-Bowl left tackle Branden Albert and 2016 first-round pick Laremy Tunsil. Both of these players have missed time with injuries but since they came back, this offensive line and running game as made enormous strides. As long as they can stay healthy, Ajayi will continue to find success.
Now will Ajayi run for 200 yards again in any game this season? Probably not. But then again, I would have said the same thing after Week 6. What we do know is Ajayi is knocking on the door of RB1 status and Arian Foster is thing of the past.
If you’re an owner who was able to land Ajayi on your fantasy team after his big game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, you might have struck gold.
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