I was wrong about Tyreek Hill.
He scared me entering this season as a legitimate WR1. His targets weren’t great in the past, but his home-run ability was among the best in the league. This year, though, he’s showing signs of improving on the targets and that home-run ability may even be better.
He’s been a pleasant surprise in the wide receiver category and that was on full display in week 6 against New England. Hill was targeted 12 times, tallied 142 yards receiving and scored three touchdowns.
In a position that is tough to trust, Hill is showing some consistent ability as a fantasy producer. He’s worth a regular start. For the questionable calls at the position, here’s the week 7 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em guide.
Start
Marvin Jones vs. Miami Dolphins
I’m not buying the Dolphins as a top-10 team in limiting fantasy points to wide receivers.
The Dolphins rank 10th in the NFL in allowing the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. But the Dolphins allow 7.8 yards per pass attempt, ranking 28th in the NFL. This is a case where the Dolphins aren’t that good against the pass, but opponents early in the season weren’t competent throwing the football.
The Lions are extremely competent and Jones will benefit. Miami gives up big plays consistently, which should play into Jones’ hands as a big-play threat. His targets have dipped this season, but after a bye week, I’m anticipating better numbers out of Jones and this passing game.
Devin Funchess vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Don’t be fooled by that week 6 performance against the Giants. The Eagles still have plenty to worry about in the secondary.
The Eagles allow the eighth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. That will pose some difficulties against a Carolina team that is seeking some offensive consistency through the air. Funchess has been consistent this season, generating at least seven targets per game during the last four games.
He’s pretty much the only reliable wide receiver weapon for Carolina and that will pay dividends this week against a leaky Philadelphia secondary. The Panthers will be forced to air it out in this one, so expect good things from Funchess.
Sammy Watkins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Watkins was a major disappointment in week 6 against New England, attracting only four targets and hauling in only two catches. The Patriots should have offered a nice window for Watkins to get involved, but he failed on the national stage.
This week, though, he should get back on track.
The Bengals are getting worse against the pass. After a nice start, Cincinnati has allowed 7.8 yards per pass attempt in the last three games, much higher than their season average of 7. The Bengals also are allowing the 14th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, which is also rising on a weekly basis.
Kansas City does a nice job of getting Watkins involved in the gameplan. The Bengals would be wise to focus on Hill, therefore allowing Watkins room to maneuver.
Sit
Keelan Cole vs. Houston Texans
He’s been a tough one to back in recent weeks.
Cole is probably the No. 1 receiver on the Jaguars, but with Blake Bortles at quarterback, it’s impossible to trust his consistent output. He’s sandwiched some high-target performances with a low amount of targets in two of the last three weeks.
I’m not sure if it’s Cole’s ability or if it’s totally on Bortles, but he’s just an inconsistent mess at the moment.
Meanwhile, in recent weeks, the Texans haven’t been bad against the pass, allowing the 12th-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers in the last four weeks. This has the makings of a low-scoring affair, with little consistency from the Jaguars passing attack.
Albert Wilson vs. Detroit Lions
Don’t do it.
I know Wilson had a huge game in week 6, to the tune of 155 yards receiving and two touchdowns. He even attracted nine targets.
However, the targets he generated are not high-producing balls. He basically turned two screens into touchdowns against a Bears defense that was gassed. You can’t count on that on a consistent basis. Wilson is not a down-field target who can separate. He’s more of a player who hovers near the line of scrimmage and tries to take screen passes to the house.
That’s not sustainable in fantasy football, so there’s little reason to trust that production weekly.
The Lions have enough resistance that Wilson won’t have a similar outing compared to his week 6 effort.
Demaryius Thomas vs. Arizona Cardinals
The overall consensus is that this game will be a low-scoring, run-filled contest. That doesn’t bode well for Thomas, who has not looked good in the early portion of 2018.
He has just 22 targets in the last four games. He has one over-100 yard performance, but the rest of his games have been mediocre at best. Arizona is allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers in the last four weeks.
The Cardinals can’t stop the run, so I’m assuming the Broncos will turn to their depleted running attack against this Arizona defense. That will lessen the amount of targets Thomas can attract, reducing his overall impact on the game.
Without the targets, I don’t see much from Thomas in week 7.
