Stars of Week 7
QB: Andrew Luck: 21-38, 228 yards, 3 TDs (4 carries, 29 yards, 1 TD)
RB: Matt Forte: 16 carries, 91 yards, 3 TDs
WR: Calvin Johnson: 9 catches, 155 yards, 2 TDs
TE: Jordan Reed: 9 catches, 134 yards, 1 TD
No major surprises for the honor roll this week (Reed would not be a surprise if you read this column last week). We’ll take another look at Reed this week, and if he’s available, you need to add him to your roster. Andrew Luck beat out a few other noteworthy contenders for the top QB spot. Forte and Megatron making this list should surprise no one.
Week 7 Takeaways – A Closer Look
Each week we’ll take a closer look at a handful of performances and sort out what such performances mean going forward.
Matt Ryan: 20-26, 273yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
Analysis: Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons have had a tough few weeks, notwithstanding the win against the Bucs on Sunday. With star WR Julio Jones out for the season, and Roddy White also battling injuries, Ryan’s receiving corps has been decimated. Can Harry Douglas help? He sure did against the Bucs. We’ll take a closer look below. As for Matt Ryan, where does he stand in the new Julio Jones-less reality? Ryan remains a QB1, so don’t overreact to the injury situation. But, he certainly drops a few slots, and should be viewed as a back end QB1 now. He’s still a terrific QB, and the cupboard is not bare in Atlanta, so Ryan should only drop a few spots from where he was viewed at the start of the season.
Ryan Tannehill: 19-37, 194 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Analysis: Tannehill sometimes gets mentioned with the dynamic young QB group from the 2012 draft, and other times not. The reality is that Tannehill has yet to reach the Luck-RGIII-Wilson level, and while he’s shown flashes of taking the next step, he’s fallen short thus far. Sunday’s line against the Bills was a mixed bag, better for fantasy purposes than for real life. For the big picture, Tannehill will not be anything more than a mid-level QB2 this season. He’s fine as a bye week fill-in.
Roy Helu : 11 carries, 41 yards, 3 TDs
Analysis: Frustrated Alfred Morris owners need to remember who’s running the show in Washington. In case you’ve forgotten, it’s none other than that mad football scientist, Mike Shanahan. He can’t just let things be. Instead, he needs to tweak the RB situation just for the sake of doing so. Last year was the outlier when he let Morris take the RB job on a solo basis. Should Morris’ owners be concerned? Don’t overreact to Helu’s performance on Sunday, as Morris will still be the lead back and will find the endzone. But, Helu will also be a factor, especially near the goal line. If you need another RB, Helu certainly deserves a look. Consider him a flex play or bye-week fill in.
Hugh Douglas: 7 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD
Analysis: Douglas was a popular add once Julio Jones was announced to be out for the year. The initial impression made by Douglas against the Bucs was quite positive. While his performance on Sunday was fantastic, how useful will Douglas will be going forward? Roddy White is expected to return soon, and that will reduce Douglas’ targets on some level. Douglas falls into the popular WR3/flex category, with a slight bump in favorable matchups. Douglas can certainly help you if you need another WR.
Jarrett Boykin: 8 catches, 103 yards, 1 TD
Analysis: Boykin had a great day against the Browns this past Sunday, and has forced his way onto the fantasy landscape after just one performance. The underlying facts indicate that Boykin amounts to more than a one day wonder. For starters, Aaron Rodgers targeted Boykin 10 times, which led the team. Secondly, he will have plenty of opportunity to continue in the Packers\' offense, with Randle Cobb out for the foreseeable future. And finally, he\'s got Aaron Rodgers throwing to him. Teams needing a WR should place a claim in for Boykins. As long as Cobb remains out, Boykins should be a WR3/flex play, but he will have occasional WR2 performances mixed in as well. Plenty of catches to go around in Green Bay.
Jeremy Kerley: 8 catches, 97 yards, 1 TD
Analysis: Jeremy Kerley, yet another young WR with promise, has also forced his way into the fantasy football conversation. Quickly becoming one of Geno Smith\'s favorite receivers, Kerley has seen an upswing in targets over the past month. Kerley still struggles with week to week consistency, but he certainly deserves your attention if you need another WR. You should view Kerley as a WR3/flex play as well going forward.
Jordan Reed: 9 catches, 134 yards, 1 TD
Analysis: Jordan Reed was highlighted here last week, and as a point of emphasis, we want to express the message one more time in case you missed it: if you need a TE, then add JORDAN REED! Reed\'s performance has earned capital letters here, and this will likely be your last chance to add him in anything but the shallowest of leagues, so note that he\'s a stud in the making and go grab him. Reed\'s forcing his way into TE1 status.
Buy Low
Colts WRs: In this case, we’re going with a group rather than an individual player. With Reggie Wayne out for the season, other Colts pass catchers will need to step up, and with Andrew Luck running the show, rest assured that people will step up. Luck has that rare ability to lift those around him to new heights. TY Hilton and Darrius Heyward-Bey are the first two names that come to mind, and look for both of them to increase their productivity with Reggie Wayne out of the picture.
Week 8 Rankings
Quarterbacks
1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (at MIN)
2. Drew Brees, Saints (BUF)
3. Peyton Manning, Broncos (WAS)
4. Matthew Stafford, Lions (DAL)
5. Cam Newton, Panthers (at TB)
6. Robert Griffin III, Redskins (at DEN)
7. Tony Romo, Cowboys (at DET)
8. Colin Kaepernick, 49ers (at JAC)
9. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (at STL)
10. Tom Brady, Patriots (MIA)
11. Matt Ryan, Falcons (at ARI)
12. Michael Vick, Eagles (NYG)
13. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at OAK)
14. Terrelle Pryor, Raiders (PIT)
15. Eli Manning, Giants (at PHI)
16. Carson Palmer, Cardinals (ATL)
17. Alex Smith, Chiefs (CLE)
18. Andy Dalton, Bengals (NYJ)
19. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (at NE)
20. Geno Smith, Jets (at CIN)
Running Backs
1. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (at STL)
2. LeSean McCoy, Eagles (NYG)
3. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (CLE)
4. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (GB)
5. Frank Gore, 49ers (at JAC)
6. Alfred Morris, Redskins (at DEN)
7. Eddie Lacy, Packers (at MIN)
8. Knowshon Moreno, Broncos (WAS)
9. Stevan Ridley, Patriots (MIA)
10. Le\'Veon Bell, Steelers (at OAK)
11. Reggie Bush, Lions (DAL)
12. Fred Jackson, Bills (at NO)
13. Darren Sproles, Saints (BUF)
14. Giovani Bernard, Bengals (NYJ)
15. Darren McFadden, Raiders (PIT)
16. Zac Stacy, Rams (SEA)
17. Joseph Randle, Cowboys (at DET)
18. C.J. Spiller, Bills (at NO)
19. Steven Jackson, Falcons (at ARI)
20. Chris Ivory, Jets (at CIN)
21. Lamar Miller, Dolphins (at NE)
22. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers (at TB)
23. Mike James, Buccaneers (CAR)
24. Andre Ellington, Cardinals (ATL)
25. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bengals (NYJ)
26. Pierre Thomas, Saints (BUF)
27. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars (SF)
28. Roy Helu, Redskins (at DEN)
29. Willis McGahee, Browns (at KC)
30. Peyton Hillis, Giants (at PHI)
Wide Receivers
1. Calvin Johnson, Lions (DAL)
2. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (at DET)
3. Jordy Nelson, Packers (at MIN)
4. A.J. Green, Bengals (NYJ)
5. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (WAS)
6. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers (CAR)
7. Wes Welker, Broncos (WAS)
8. Victor Cruz, Giants (at PHI)
9. Pierre Garcon, Redskins (at DEN)
10. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (ATL)
11. DeSean Jackson, Eagles (NYG)
12. Josh Gordon, Browns (at KC)
13. Marques Colston, Saints (BUF)
14. Antonio Brown, Steelers (at OAK)
15. Justin Blackmon, Jaguars (SF)
16. Eric Decker, Broncos (WAS)
17. Steve Smith, Panthers (at TB)
18. Anquan Boldin, 49ers (at JAC)
19. Terrance Williams, Cowboys (at DET)
20. Jarret Boykin, Packers (at MIN)
21. Cecil Shorts, Jaguars (SF)
22. Harry Douglas, Falcons (at ARI)
23. Mike Wallace, Dolphins (at NE)
24. Hakeem Nicks, Giants (at PHI)
25. Julian Edelman, Patriots (MIA)
26. Rueben Randle, Giants (at PHI)
27. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs (CLE)
28. Michael Floyd, Cardinals (ATL)
29. Steve Johnson, Bills (at NO)
30. Denarius Moore, Raiders (PIT)
Tight Ends
1. Jimmy Graham, Saints (BUF)
2. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (MIA)
3. Vernon Davis, 49ers (at JAC)
4. Julius Thomas, Broncos (WAS)
5. Jordan Cameron, Browns (at KC)
6. Jordan Reed, Redskins (at DEN)
7. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons (at ARI)
8. Greg Olsen, Panthers (at TB)
9. Jason Witten, Cowboys (at DET)
10. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (GB)
11. Heath Miller, Steelers (at OAK)
12. Charles Clay, Dolphins (at NE)
13. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions (DAL)
14. Jared Cook, Rams (SEA)
15. Jeff Cumberland, Jets (at CIN)
Neema Hodjat is the fantasy sports writer for RealGM. He can be reached via email at nhodjat@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @NeemaHodjat.