NFL Week 7 Fantasy Warfare: The Game-Changing Players and Tactics You Can’t Ignore

Week 7 NFL Showdown: Jaguars Tangle with Saints and 49ers Clash with Vikings

As the NFL season blasts into its seventh week, we're looking at a slate of 13 adrenaline-pumping games. Kicking off the action, we have the Jacksonville Jaguars prowling into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to face off against the New Orleans Saints. With an over/under of 40.0 and the Saints favored by a slim margin of -1.0, this Thursday night duel, starting at 8:15 PM EST, promises to be a nail-biter.

Fast forward to the grand finale of the week, we'll see the San Francisco 49ers locking horns with the Minnesota Vikings at the US Bank Stadium. The over/under is set at a tantalizing 44.0 with the 49ers leading the charge at -7.0. This Monday night spectacle, also kicking off at 8:15 PM EST, is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Stay tuned as we delve into key players and potential game-changers in the upcoming matchups.

Quarterback Conundrum: Who's Leading the Pack?

Jalen Hurts, Eagles - Projected 26.1 pts

With an average of 25.1 points over his last three games, Hurts is proving to be a consistent force on the field. Despite a rocky performance against the Jets, where he threw for 280 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions, he's still a top contender this week. He's up against the Dolphins, who are currently ranked 19th in the league for pass defense. They're giving up an average of 252.3 yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game, which could provide Hurts with the opportunity to bounce back and put up some serious points.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs - Projected 24.7 pts

Mahomes has been a bit of a rollercoaster recently, averaging 17.6 points over his last three games. His latest match against the Broncos saw him throw for 306 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. However, this week he's up against the Chargers, who are currently the weakest team in the league when it comes to pass defense. They're allowing an average of 317.8 yards and 1.6 touchdowns per game. This could be the perfect storm for Mahomes to reignite his spark and rack up some serious fantasy points.

Lamar Jackson, Ravens - Projected 24.7 pts

Despite a somewhat underwhelming average of 19.7 points over his last three games, Jackson is still a player to watch this week. His last game against the Titans saw him throw for 223 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. This week, he's up against the Lions, who are ranked 18th in the league for pass defense. They're giving up an average of 242.3 yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game. Jackson has the potential to exploit this and put up a strong performance, making him a solid choice for your fantasy team.

The Running Back Rundown

Josh Jacobs, Raiders - Projected 19.5 pts

Josh Jacobs is a force to be reckoned with, averaging a solid 19.7 points over his last three games. Despite a tough matchup against the Patriots last week, he managed to rack up 77 yards on the ground and added a couple of catches to his tally. However, he's up against a formidable Bears defense this week that ranks 8th in the league against the run, allowing just 89.5 yards per game and a measly 0.7 rushing TDs. Jacobs will need to bring his A-game to break through this defensive line.

Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks - Projected 19.3 pts

Next up, we have Kenneth Walker III of the Seahawks, who's been on a tear lately, averaging 20.8 points over his last three games. He's coming off a solid performance against the Bengals, where he rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown, while also hauling in 3 receptions. This week, he faces a Cardinals defense that has been struggling against the run, ranking 24th in the league and allowing an average of 133.3 yards and 1.3 rushing TDs per game. This could be a big week for Walker.

Austin Ekeler, Chargers - Projected 18.5 pts

Last but not least, we have Austin Ekeler of the Chargers. Ekeler has been consistent, averaging 15.5 points over his last three games. Despite a tough outing against the Cowboys last week where he only managed 27 rushing yards, he did contribute with 4 receptions. This week, he's up against a Chiefs defense that ranks 12th against the run, allowing 100.2 yards per game and just 0.2 rushing TDs. Ekeler will need to utilize his dual-threat ability to maximize his fantasy points this week.

Top Wide Receivers in the Game

Tyreek Hill, Dolphins - Projected 23.8 pts

When it comes to consistency, Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins is your guy. Over the past three games, he's been averaging a solid 23.5 points per game. His last game against the Panthers was nothing short of spectacular, where he racked up 163 yards, a touchdown, and 6 receptions. This week, he's up against the Eagles, who are currently struggling with their pass defense, ranking 21st in the league and allowing an average of 254.0 yards and 1.8 touchdowns per game. Hill is definitely one to watch out for.

Cooper Kupp, Rams - Projected 23.4 pts

Cooper Kupp of the Rams is another wide receiver who's been making waves. He's been averaging 16.8 points over his last three games, and his performance against the Cardinals was a standout, with 148 yards, a touchdown, and 7 receptions. This week, he's facing the Steelers, whose pass defense is ranked 26th in the league, allowing an average of 265.4 yards and 1.6 touchdowns per game. Kupp is certainly a player to consider for your lineup.

Stefon Diggs, Bills - Projected 21.1 pts

Stefon Diggs of the Bills is a player who's been on fire lately. Over the last three games, he's been averaging an impressive 27.0 points per game. His last game against the Giants saw him catch for 100 yards with 10 receptions. This week, he's up against the Patriots, who have a decent pass defense, ranking 12th in the league and allowing an average of 217.3 yards and 1.0 touchdowns per game. Despite the tougher matchup, Diggs is a player who can't be ignored.

Titans of the Tight End

Travis Kelce, Chiefs - Projected 21.0 pts

Travis Kelce, the Chiefs' tight end juggernaut, is a force to be reckoned with. He's been on a hot streak, averaging 18.7 points over his last three games. His most recent outing against the Broncos saw him racking up a whopping 124 yards on 9 receptions, although he didn't manage to find the end zone. This week, he's up against a Chargers defense that's been struggling to defend the pass, ranking last in the league with an average of 317.8 yards allowed per game and 1.6 passing touchdowns. Given these stats, it's no surprise Kelce is projected to score a hefty 21.0 points in this week's slate.

Mark Andrews, Ravens - Projected 17.4 pts

On the other side of the coin, we have Mark Andrews of the Ravens. He's been consistently delivering solid performances, averaging 16.1 points over his last three games. In his recent clash with the Titans, Andrews pulled in 69 yards on 4 receptions. This week, he's facing a Lions defense that ranks in the middle of the pack (#18) in pass defense, allowing an average of 242.3 yards per game and 1.3 passing touchdowns. With a projected score of 17.4 points, Andrews is poised to make a significant impact in this week's lineup.

Fantasy Point Mismatches

Let's kick things off with a couple of fantasy point mismatches that are too good to ignore. First up, we have the Chiefs, a team that ranks #5 in generating fantasy points with an impressive 95.9 per game. They're up against the Chargers, who are struggling defensively, ranking #31 in the league and giving up a whopping 100.9 points per game. This matchup could be a goldmine for fantasy players. Next, we have the Dolphins, who are leading the league in generating fantasy points with a staggering 124.4 per game. They're facing the Eagles, who are ranked #20 in giving up fantasy points at 87.0 per game. Expect the Dolphins to capitalize on this mismatch.

Passing Yards Mismatches

Moving on to passing yards mismatches, the Chiefs are once again in the spotlight. Ranking #6 in passing yards with an average of 270.7 per game, they're up against the Chargers who are dead last in the league, giving up an average of 317.8 passing yards per game. On the other hand, the Rams, who rank #3 in passing yards with 279.5 per game, are facing the Steelers, who are struggling defensively, ranking #26 in giving up passing yards at 265.4 per game. These mismatches could lead to some big plays in the air.

Rushing Yards Mismatches

When it comes to rushing yards mismatches, the Eagles and the 49ers are the teams to watch this week. The Eagles, who rank #2 in rushing yards with 150.0 per game, are up against the Dolphins, who are ranked #20 in giving up rushing yards at 114.7 per game. Meanwhile, the 49ers, who rank #3 in rushing yards with 148.3 per game, are facing the Vikings, who are ranked #18 in giving up rushing yards at 112.3 per game. Expect some ground and pound action in these matchups.

Sacking The Quarterback Mismatches

Finally, let's talk about sacking the quarterback mismatches. The Commanders, who rank #9 at sacking the QB with 3.2 per game, are up against the Giants, who are struggling to protect their QB, ranking last in the league and allowing 6.2 sacks per game. Similarly, the Colts, who rank #11 at sacking the QB with 3.0 per game, are facing the Browns, who are ranked #28 in protecting the QB, allowing 3.6 sacks per game. These matchups could lead to some game-changing defensive plays.