We’re about halfway through fantasy season now, and things are really starting to take shape. Please note that all the numbers and stats I talk about here (especially regarding Week 7) are pending Monday Night Football. Saquon Barkley was just 14 yards rushing against his old team, a career high, and Jahimul Gibbs ran the Vikings on skates, but they knew they were good. There are other players who are peaking at the right time for us to get here. Is it time to talk about how Kirk Cousins’ fantasy season is fueled by one great performance? Maybe soon, but not yet. Otherwise, let’s talk.
Stock up
Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons
Now, could you please take a look at this? Is there a weekly fantasy starter at tight end? Pitts is averaging 74.3 receiving yards in his last three games, despite Kirk Cousins failing to reach 235 passing yards in two of those games. He was TE4 in total fantasy points during this span, but that’s not just a whimsical chunk play. Pitts, surprisingly, has seemed to be hogging targets over the past three games.
Week 5, 7-88-0 on 8 targets (TE6) Week 6, 3-70-0 on 5 targets (TE13) Week 7, 7-65-0 on 9 targets (TE7)
Pitts should be in the lineup every week at this point in a fantasy tight end environment where Sam LaPorta has caught only one pass for the second straight game.
Brian Thomas, WR, Jaguars
If he hasn’t started already, Thomas should start as a top-level WR2 every week. He proved early in his career to be the Jags’ best offensive weapon with big-play ability. In three of his last four games, he’s at least 5-85-1 and was the WR10 in fantasy points per game during that time. The Jaguars’ offense has played well against weaker defenses, and they will face two of the bottom seven pass defenses in the next four weeks: the Vikings and Lions. That being said, I don’t think it matters who the Jaguars play. Thomas will be needed in the lineup going forward.
Romeo Doubes, WR, Packers
That’s not to say Douce will start every week, but he seems to be fairly involved in the offense considering he was suspended by the team in Week 5. One week after catching 3 of 4 targets for 49 yards and 2 yards. Scoring a touchdown, Dubs finished Week 7 as Jordan Love’s favorite receiver. He caught eight of 10 targets for 94 yards, leading the Packers’ receiver group. These numbers look like Jaden Reed-type numbers, but that’s the crazy thing about these receivers. Any given week, it could be Dube, Reed, Dontaevion Wicks, or Christian Watson. Tucker Craft has been active this season, scoring four touchdowns in the past three games. The biggest thing to note is that Douce is here and deeply entrenched in the Packers’ passing game.
Conquer the season with FantasyLife+. We provide award-winning tools, rankings, and predictions to make this fantasy season a season for the ages. Use promo code SEASON20 to get 20% off at checkout. Click here to get started
Out of stock
Sam Laporta, TE, Lions
LaPorta entered Week 7 as the 15th TE in fantasy points per game and was set to play against the Vikings in an attempt to bounce back. Even though the Lions scored 31 points and Jared Goff threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns, LaPorta only saw two targets and caught them for 25 yards (TE31). This came just one week after he caught his only target for 52 yards and a touchdown. The rise of Jameson Williams to the offensive line and the Lions spreading the ball around affected Laporta’s numbers. He may still have some life left in him, but there’s nothing at this point to indicate LaPorta will continue to be a consistent top-five fantasy tight end.
Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints
Kamara is off to a strong start to the season, becoming the top running back in fantasy football and averaging 26.7 points per game. Kamara scored six touchdowns during that time, but hasn’t been as good since then. They’re still back in the top-12 fantasy over the past three games, but they’ve failed to rush for more than 40 yards in a single game and scored just one touchdown in that span. The Saints offensive line is struggling and the defense can’t get off the field either, which isn’t great for the unit. The good thing for Kamara is that he’s still averaging eight goals per game in his last four games. That’s not the worst thing in the world since Kamara was playing above his draft position, but you’d still want to see him be consistent.
Devin Singletary, RB, Giants
In his first game back (since Week 4) against the Eagles, Singletary gained 18 yards on five carries. Bad game, right? True, but it was more than that. Tyrone Tracy defeated Singletary 9-6 in an apparent setback by the committee. It’s a lot different than when Singletary was the RB17 for the first three weeks of the season. Who wants to be a timeshare starting running back in the sixth-worst offense in the league going forward? Not me, and it’s tough since both he and Tracy are longshots at best in future FLEX plays. Maybe I’m wrong and Singletary was eased back in, but Tracy wasn’t going anywhere and head coach Brian Daboll said as much.
