The issue is simple.
People are drawn to stars.
But we play with numbers.
We get obscured by the famous, the exciting, the flair for the dramatic. Players on big market teams, diva wide receivers, famous quarterbacks.
But none of that wins fantasy matchups.
The only thing that wins?
Numbers.
Pure, boring, nothing to see here statistics.
With six weeks behind us, we enter the middle portion of the regular fantasy season, and we are starting to get a real sense of what players are and are not this year. Well, at least we are with their statistics, if not their names.
This is something I have done for years and years and years. Over the years I have seen many others, ahem….. oh, let’s say “adopt” this format… and I get why. It works. It shows you, without the influence of a name to sway your opinion, exactly what players are or are not doing.
So without further ado… here’s the 2022 Edition of “Blind Resumes.”
Quarterback A: 12.9 PPG (245.3 pass yds/game), 7 TDs, 6.98 yards/attempt, QB26 after Week 6
Quarterback B: 13.5 PPG (233.8 pass yds/game), 9 TDs, 6.71 yards/attempt, QB24 after Week 6
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QB A is Mac Jones six weeks through his rookie season LAST YEAR.
QB B is reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers six weeks into THIS YEAR.
Quarterback C: 19.0 PPG (271 pass yds/game), 2 games w/ 22+ fantasy points
Quarterback D: 19.0 PPG (244 pass yds/game), 2 games w/ 22+ fantasy points
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QB C is Jared Goff – Currently QB7 in PPG and was being drafted as QB26.
QB D is Kyler Murray, whose preseason ADP was QB4.
Quarterback E: 24.5 PPG (247 pass yds/game), 13 total TDs
Quarterback F: 25.4 PPG (251 pass yds/game), 13 total TDs
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QB E is Jalen Hurts, my 2022 Fantasy Ride or Die.
QB F is Lamar Jackson through the first 6 weeks of 2019, the year he had (at the time) the greatest season in fantasy football history and won the MVP.
Quarterback G: 18.9 PPG (261 pass yds/game), 7.99 yds/attempt, 2 games w/ 24+ fantasy pts
Quarterback H: 14.7 PPG (240 pass yds/game), 7.28 yds/attempt, 1 game w/ 24+ fantasy points
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QB G is Geno Smith, who went undrafted this year in almost every fantasy draft.
QB H is Russell Wilson, who was drafted as a top 10 quarterback in fantasy this year and recently signed a $245 million contract extension.
Player I: 236 total rush yards (39.3 rush yds/game)
Player J: 264 total rush yards (44 rush yds/game)
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Player I is Quarterback Daniel Jones.
Player J is Running back Najee Harris.
Running Back K: 118 total fantasy points, 670 total yards, 3 total TDs
Running Back L: 101.9 total fantasy points, 609 total yards, 4 total TDs
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Running Back K is Christian McCaffrey
Running Back L is Breece Hall
Running Back M: 19.7 PPG, 19.7 touches per game, 111.7 scrimmage yards per game, 3 TDs
Running Back N: 19.4 PPG, 21.6 touches per game, 123.8 scrimmage yards per game, 3 TDs
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Running Back M: Christian McCaffrey
Running Back N: Josh Jacobs
Wide Receiver O: 46 total fantasy points, 170 yards, 2 TDs
Wide Receiver P: 51.1 total fantasy points, 171 yards, 3 TDs
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WR O is Allen Robinson.
WR P is Michael Thomas, who has missed three games this year.
Wide Receiver Q: 50.3 total fantasy points, 204 yards, 1 TD
Wide Receiver R: 52.8 total fantasy points, 221 yards, 1 TD
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WR Q is D.J. Moore.
WR R is Ben Skowronek.
Wide Receiver S: 150.6 total fantasy points, 25.1 points per game, 65 targets, 49 receptions, 656 receiving yards, 6 TDs
Wide Receiver T: 152.8 total fantasy points, 25.5 points per game, 68 targets, 46 receptions, 653 receiving yards, 7 TDs
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WR S is Stefon Diggs through six games this season
WR T is Cooper Kupp through six games last year, the greatest WR season in fantasy football history.
Wide Receiver U: 24 receptions, 358 yards, 15.6 fantasy points/game
Wide Receiver V: 24 receptions, 321 yards, 15.7 fantasy points/game
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WR U is Mike Evans.
WR V is Jakobi Meyers.
TE W: 7.2 PPG, 5.0 targets, 2.6 receptions, 33.8 yards, 1 TD
TE X: 8.2 PPG, 5.3 targets, 3.7 receptions, 34.7 yards, 1 TD
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TE W: Kyle Pitts
TE X: Tyler Conklin
Just some food for thought as you enter into trade negotiations or just as you evaluate players. Remember, it’s not who you read about or see in the highlights. It’s just the boring numbers we care about. My thanks to Fantasy Football Happy Hour researcher Blake Friedman and NBC Sports producer Damian Dabrowski for their help at various points in the column.
A reminder that Fantasy Football Happy Hour airs live every day at Noon ET on Peacock and then is available on demand on Peacock, the NFL on NBC YouTube channel and of course wherever you get your podcasts.
And on Sunday, Fantasy Football Pregame airs from 11 am ET to 1 pm ET on Peacock and CNBC (from noon to 1) as we get you ready for kickoff with fantasy football and a bunch of good prop bets as well. We answer more questions than any other pregame show so be sure to use the #FFPregame on Twitter.
And if you want more fantasy news and analysis delivered right to your in box seven days a week in an email that’s a quick five minute read, sign up for my free Fantasy Life newsletter at FantasyLife.com.
Let’s get to it.
Quarterbacks I Love in Week 7:
Justin Herbert vs. Seattle
I feel like a lot of people are sleeping on Justin Herbert. Is it because Monday night’s Chargers-Broncos game put most of the country to sleep? No doubt. In fact, these days I have begun injecting Red Bull directly into my heart before attempting to watch any Broncos game. That’s just smart medicine. But I also think people are sleeping on Herbert because he so far hasn’t performed up to his preseason ADP of being a top-three quarterback. But this week we’ll see the quarterback he was drafted to be. That he was meant to be. That he was born to be. Herbert (not his first name! But could be!) actually leads all quarterbacks in pass attempts this season. He’s putting it up 42.8 times per game while Seattle is allowing the third-most yards per pass attempt AND the third-most yards per completion. Even after last week’s letdown by Arizona against this Seahawks team, I’m back in on targeting them. The over/under in this one is 51 points, the highest on the slate, with the Chargers also having the highest implied team total in Week 7 and there’s even a chance he gets Keenan Allen back. Probably not but one can hope. I see Herbert easily going over his 17.2 FPPG average on the season. He’s a top-three quarterback play for me this week.
Joe Burrow vs. Atlanta
Burrow has put up at least 16 fantasy points in every game this season, he has 20-plus fantasy points in three of four, and last week he posted a season-high 32.5 points. High floor, high ceiling. Nothing I love more. (Also, please tune into my new home remodeling show on Peacock where I install high floors and high ceilings into every home. Sure, it doesn’t sound exciting, but good luck getting useful fantasy advice from Chip and Joanna Gaines.) Now Burrow gets a Falcons team allowing the second-most passing yards on the season (281.2 per game) and the second-highest completion rate. Teams facing Atlanta are averaging the second-highest pass attempts per game. More throwing, more fantasy goodness. By the way, Burrow is also running more than he did a season ago when he returned from his knee injury. In 2021 he had just one game with 25-plus rushing yards. This season? He already has three. But we’ll talk more about that on my next episode of “High Floors and High Ceilings with Matthew Berry and that third Property Brother you didn’t know existed but that we’re trying to make a thing of, like Cooper Manning.” For now, Burrow is my QB4 in Week 7.
Tua Tagovailoa vs. Pittsburgh
Tua is back under center this week and he should go right back into lineups. Pittsburgh allows the third-most passing yards per game (277.8) and is tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed with 12. Miami ranked sixth in pass rate during the two full games Tua played this season, and with all signs pointing to Jaylen Waddle being a go on Sunday night, I have Tagovailoa inside my top eight at the position.
Others receiving votes: Everyone who drafted Jonathan Taylor 1-1 this season wanted him to A) be healthy for all 17 games and B) carry the ball 175 times in all 17 of those games. But entering Week 7, the volume on the Colts is going to… Matt Ryan? Yes, Matt Ryan, as noted above in the blind resumes. He is actually second in the NFL in pass attempts per game (42.1). This week he faces a Tennessee defense allowing passing touchdowns at the highest rate. The Titans are also league-worst in passing yards allowed per game. Sorry, Jonathan Taylor managers … Jimmy Garoppolo has back-to-back games with 18-plus fantasy points, and teams facing the Chiefs this season average a league-high 40.8 pass attempts per game. You could do worse and probably have ... If Kenny Pickett gets cleared before kickoff on SNF, he’ll face clear skies throwing against a Dolphins defense that allows opposing quarterbacks to put up 21.5 FPPG. The Dolphins have also yielded multiple touchdown passes in four of their six games and you know I like Miami to put points up on the Steelers, so game script should work in Pickett’s favor.
Quarterbacks I Hate in Week 7:
Jared Goff at Dallas
Earlier this week Christen Harper, an accomplished model and Jared Goff‘s fiancé, was named SI Swimsuit Rookie of the Year. If I am being honest, I wasn’t aware that rookie honors for swimsuit models existed, but, hey, if you have Ms. Harper in any of your swimsuit model dynasty leagues, well done! You’ve got a franchise building block. But as far as her fiancé's fantasy prospects in Week 7? I don’t think Goff will be winning any awards. Goff has been all boom or bust this season: 29.6 PPG versus the Commanders and Seahawks, but just 11.8 PPG in his other three games. Considering the Cowboys are allowing only 12.5 PPG to quarterbacks this season … and have yet to allow 17-plus fantasy points to anyone … and have surrendered one or fewer touchdown passes in five of their six games … and are second in sack rate this season … and I could honestly go on for a little while longer with bad matchup stats ... it’s very likely that Goff adds a fourth game to his “bust” tally for the season. I am generally a Goff fan for fantasy this year but not this week.
Russell Wilson vs. New York Jets
Looking at the NFL schedule before the season started, you would have thought that Russell Wilson taking on the lowly New York Jets at home was a good bet to make the Week 7 Love list. But then the Russell Wilson version of the Denver Broncos attempted to play football and, well … things change. Among them: the Jets defense isn’t too shabby! Over the past four weeks, the Jets rank top eight in passer rating allowed and yards per pass attempt. Wilson, meanwhile, has just one game over 14 fantasy points in his last five as well as a single game on the season in which he’s thrown multiple touchdown passes, and now there are reports of a hamstring injury. Playing on a short week to boot, I have Wilson well outside my top 15 in Week 7.
Running Backs I Love in Week 7:
Josh Jacobs vs. Houston
Before the 2019 season, I declared Josh Jacobs my “ride or die” player. And Jacobs had a pretty good season in 2019, finishing as RB16 in PPG despite missing some time to injury. But I recently realized that because I said Jacobs was my “ride or die” in 2019, people thought I meant for the 2019 season. But that wasn’t the case at all! What I actually meant was that Josh Jacobs was my “ride or die” forever. No matter how many times I put him on the pre-season or weekly “hate” list after 2019. Yeah, that’s it! I knew three years ago that Josh Jacobs would be RB5 in PPG in 2022 thanks to back-to-back games with 30-plus points and never said anything because I had declared him my ride or die in 2019 and it’s not my fault if you don’t listen closer when I say stuff, okay? That one was on you. So listen when I tell you that Jacobs is in line for another big game in Week 7. Houston is allowing a league-high 133.6 rushing yards per game to running backs this season. In fact, three backs have already scored 25-plus fantasy points against the Texans. With Jacobs getting 83% of the Raiders’ running back touches this season, including 20-plus touches in three of his past four games, it’s a solid bet Jacobs becomes the latest back to give Houston a problem. He’s my RB6 in Week 7.
Breece Hall at Denver
The state of New Jersey hasn’t seen a young football prospect this exciting since the Verbum Dei High School Falcons had a freshman defensive lineman by the name of A.J. Soprano. But at risk of having my legs broken, I’ll say it: Breece Hall is probably even better. Over the past four weeks, Hall is RB8 with an average of 19.7 FPPG. And the Jets know how good he is, too, because his workload continues to increase. Hall has three consecutive games with 19-plus touches while the Broncos have allowed 75-plus scrimmage yards to a running back in five of their six games. Add in his continued passing game usage and Hall is RB7 for me this week and will have many saints of Newark (and elsewhere) cheering his name on Sunday.
Ken Walker III at Los Angeles Chargers
Because Ken Walker goes by Ken Walker III, I started to research to see if by chance his father was Kenny “Sky” Walker, the high-flying forward who played for some very good New York Knicks teams. But then I realized the Knicks were good so long ago that there’s almost no possible way that Ken Walker could be Kenny Walker’s son. Was that an unnecessarily long way to go to disparage the New York Knicks in a fantasy football column? No. Making fun of the Knicks is always worth the journey. So where were we? Ah, yes … fantasy football. Ken Walker III handled 23 of Seattle’s 25 running back touches last week. That kind of workload will literally go a long way against a Chargers team giving up a league-high 5.8 YPC to backs. Running backs getting 15-plus touches versus LAC this season are averaging 18.0 FPPG, and over the last four weeks, only two teams in the NFL allowed more rushing yards per game to opposing running backs. That’s why I have Walker III inside my top 13 and the New York Knicks well outside of my top 20 NBA teams.
Others receiving votes: It hasn’t always been pretty, but Ezekiel Elliott has 75-plus scrimmage yards in four straight games and now gets a very attractive Week 7 matchup against the Lions. Over the past four weeks, Detroit is allowing a league-high 158.7 rushing yards per game and 6.1 YPC to backs … Turns out the reports of Travis Etienne‘s demise were greatly exaggerated. Etienne has back-to-back games with at least 12 touches and 100 scrimmage yards. He is also out-performing James Robinson in both YPC (5.6 to 4.2) and YPR on the season (11.2 to 5.1). Etienne should continue to trend in a positive direction against a Giants defense that, over the past four weeks, is allowing 126.5 rushing yards per game to backs and 5.7 YPC … While I continue to protest outside of the NFL league office so they change their rule preventing rookies from being named Comeback Player the Year, I also want you to keep Brian Robinson in mind for your Week 7 lineups. In his two games since returning, Robinson is getting 72% of Washington’s running back carries. And with Carson Wentz on the shelf, expect the Commanders to lean on the run against a Packers defense allowing the fifth-most YPC (5.3) to backs this season … D’Andre Swift‘s return isn’t necessarily a negative for Jamaal Williams. Williams had 12-plus touches in both games Swift was healthy this season. And regardless of Swift’s presence, Williams is Detroit’s goal-line back. His 11 goal-to-go carries this season are second-most in the league.
Running Backs I Hate in Week 7:
Jeff Wilson vs. Kansas City
Wilson is coming off his worst game of the season since taking over for Elijah Mitchell: 25 rushing yards on seven carries, a lost fumble and a single target in the passing game. Unfortunately, I don’t think his performance will improve much in Week 7. Wilson’s snap rate has declined in four straight weeks, and now he gets a Chiefs team allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game to running backs this season. Another negative for Wilson? The 49ers are the underdog in this game (Teams facing KC average the second-fewest running back carries a game), and Wilson has just 19 combined carries in San Francisco’s last two losses.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire at San Francisco
In an incredibly cool bit of personal and professional news from yours truly, I am now partnering with EA Sports and Madden 23 to select a top performer each week for Madden Ultimate Team. To be part of this, I had to wear one of those skin-tight morph suits and have balls attached all over my body for the motion capture process. Okay, not really. I mean, the Madden part is true, just not me in a skin-tight morph suit with everything clearly visible. But now that you have that horrifying image in your head, I have one that might be even worse: Clyde Edwards-Helaire taking on the 49ers. San Francisco is allowing the second-fewest yards per game to running backs this season, and CEH has just one game this season with more than nine rushing attempts. The only running back to have even 60 yards from scrimmage against the Niners this year is Christian McCaffrey. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is not Christian McCaffrey. Hashtag analysis. Anyways, CEH is just RB52 over the past two weeks. He is outside my top 30 in Week 7.
Pass Catchers I Love in Week 7:
Chris Godwin at Carolina
If it wasn’t for Chris Godwin, Tom Brady would be yelling at a lot more linemen and breaking way more Microsoft Surfaces. Since returning from a strained hamstring three weeks ago, Godwin has at least six receptions in every game as well as 10-plus targets in two of those three games. Last week, Godwin had a 32% target share. So at a time in which we all need a comfort blanket, Brady’s is clearly Godwin. Look for Godwin to finish inside the top 10 receivers this week against a Panthers defense that allows the fifth-most receptions per game to the slot.
Jaylen Waddle vs. Pittsburgh
The Steelers allow a league-high 210.5 yards per game to wide receivers this season, and their nine touchdowns allowed to the position is tied for the most. So it’s not surprising that wide receivers who see six-plus targets against Pittsburgh this season average 19.2 PPG. It’s about as positive a matchup as you could find for Jaylen Waddle, especially when you consider that he has 15-plus fantasy points in all three games this season with Tua at quarterback. All of it means Waddle will be must-see TV when the Dolphins host the SteeIers this Sunday Night on NBC and Peacock, right after the award-winning Football Night in America pregame show! (I, ahem, am a company man). Anyways, Waddle is WR10 for me in Week 7.
Amari Cooper at Baltimore
For years the Baltimore Ravens have been trying to develop a star wide receiver. The wait is over. Because the Ravens’ defense produces a star receiver almost every Sunday. Baltimore has allowed 12-plus fantasy points to a wide receiver in every game this season, and their seven touchdowns yielded to the position is tied for sixth-most. Amari Cooper should be the beneficiary of Baltimore’s defensive benevolence in Week 7. Cooper has seen 10-plus targets from Jacoby Brissett in four of his past five games. He’s also tied for sixth among wide receivers in red zone targets this season. The Ravens will let Amari fly the Coop this week! Look, you never know when a Dad joke will strike, same as Amari Cooper, who is a top 12 WR in Week 7.
Gerald Everett vs. Seattle
In the revenge game everyone has been anticipating for weeks, it’s Gerald Everett returning to Seattle where he spent one legendary season. Look, some of these need more hype than others, okay? But there’s reason for excitement. The Seahawks have allowed 50-plus yards to a tight end in four of six games this season while Everett saw seven targets last week, meaning he has now had six-plus targets in four of his past five games. That all makes Everett a Week 7 tight end Love. Although I’ll admit that I kind of hate that Everett now wears jersey No. 7. It’s a confusing number for a tight end. But if No. 7 keeps getting seven targets a game? I’ll get over it. I have him as a … wait for it… top seven tight end this week.
Others receiving votes: The Green Bay Packers playing football stinkier than Limburger cheese has obscured the fact from many that Allen Lazard is producing. Aaron Rodgers’ new No. 1 has eight-plus targets in three straight games and, over the last four weeks, is WR15 in PPG. He should have another good week against a Washington defense that is tied for the third-most touchdowns allowed to wide receivers … Hey, is your name Rondale MORE because you’re getting a lot of extra targets without Marquise Brown in the lineup? Okay, that was terrible. But Rondale Moore has not been. In three games since returning from injury, he has 23 targets. Now he gets a New Orleans defense that has allowed six wide receivers to go for at least 15 fantasy points this season … Why can’t Wan’Dale Robinson be the Giants receiver who emerges from the pack? In his first game back last week, Robinson put up a 3-37-1 line on four targets and was targeted on 36% of his routes. And Brian Daboll says Robinson’s role will only grow. Even if you don’t start him, Robinson is a must-stash for your bench … Alec Pierce has three straight games with 12-plus fantasy points and now faces a Tennessee defense that allows the second-most yards per game to wide receivers … Michael Gallup saw season highs in targets and snap rate last week. And this week he’s getting what he’s been waiting for. Oh, you thought I meant Dak Prescott‘s return? I mean, sure. But what I’m talking about is much better: getting to play the Detroit Lions defense … Hey, Patriots fans, if you thought Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski was good, wait until you get a load of Bailey Zappe to Hunter Henry! Okay, I’m possibly exaggerating. But Henry does have three straight games with a target share over 20% and back-to-back games with 50-plus yards … Atlanta ranks bottom-three in yards and receptions allowed to tight ends, and they’ve allowed at least 40 yards to a tight end in every game this season. Which means it’s another good week to stream you some Hayden Hurst.
Pass Catchers I Hate in Week 7:
Drake London at Cincinnati
The Drake London for Offensive Rookie of the Year train has slowed to a stop, tipped off the tracks, rolled down an embankment, and burst into flames while a pack of wolves circles the destruction to pick at what remains when the inferno finally burns itself out. It’s the most disappointing development for London since Liz Truss. Look they don’t all have to make sense, the important part here is that London has four straight games with fewer than 55 receiving yards and hasn’t caught more than four passes in a game since Week 2. The Falcons passing game volume continues to wither away like a head of lettuce. And now London, Drake that is, faces Chidobe Awuzie and a Bengals defense that has allowed just two touchdowns to wide receivers on the season. London is outside my top 30 wide receivers in Week 7.
D.J. Moore vs. Tampa Bay
If you skipped the blind resume opening story to this week’s column, you might be aware that despite averaging 7.3 targets per game, Moore is just WR61 in PPG (8.4) this season. If you’re new to fantasy football, I can tell you that a wide receiver barely averaging more fantasy points per game than targets per game is hashtag: NotGood. And there’s a lot more #NotGood to share with you when it comes to 2022 D.J. Moore. For example: he has fewer than 60 receiving yards in every game this season and the change at quarterback didn’t help in the slightest. In Week 6 with P.J. Walker running things, Moore had three catches for seven yards. And now this week Moore will likely get the Carlton Davis shadow? No, thank you. Even in “Byemegeddon” where a number of elite fantasy wide receivers are out, I still have Moore outside my top 40 at the position this week.
Robert Woods vs. Indianapolis
Does a bear $#*! in the woods? Easy answer, right? But how about the answer to this riddle: Should fantasy managers start Woods? For me, that’s an even easier answer: No way. Robert Woods has fewer than 40 yards in four of his five games this season and zero games with more than four catches. I don’t see much improvement in Week 7 against a Colts defense allowing the fewest yards to wide receivers on the season.
Robert Tonyan at Washington
My Washington Commanders don’t have much going for them outside of leading the NFL in lawsuits. But they do have this: Washington has allowed the fourth-fewest yards to tight ends this season. They even managed to hold T.J. Hockenson, Dallas Goedert and Evan Engram all under 30 yards. HTTC, baby! So I’m confident my Washington Fightin’ Lawsuits can hold Bob Tonyan in check this week, considering the Packers tight end has just two games this season with a snap rate above 50%. Tonyan also has fewer than 40 receiving yards in five of his six games. I have Tonyan outside my top 10 at TE in Week 7.
Matthew Berry – The Talented Mr. Roto – hopes your playoff chances last longer than a head of lettuce. He is the founder of the Fantasy Life App (FantasyLifeApp.com) and the Fantasy Life Newsletter (FantasyLife.com)
