Every week, I’ll be writing a complete primer on each and every NFL matchup and all the related avid gamers, matchups, tempo and playcalling notes, and accidents. It covers the whole thing you wish to have to understand when atmosphere your lineups. But since that article is huge and calls for a complete pot of espresso, we’re additionally going to provide those extra centered matchup overviews that can assist you get ready for Thursday Night Football.
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New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals
Pace and playcalling notes
- This recreation will have to function at roadrunner velocity. The Cardinals are moment in impartial tempo, adopted by way of the Saints checking in at eighth.
- The offensive play calling will fluctuate. Arizona has been run-balanced (seventeenth impartial passing charge), whilst the Saints are a run-centric workforce (8th in impartial speeding charge).
Quarterbacks
NO QB: TBD on whether or not we see any other recreation from Andy Dalton or if Jameis Winston reassumes the beginning gig. Dennis Allen has said they’re taking the beginning choice as much as kickoff. Fun instances. Dalton has performed higher than his myth finishes have indicated (QB23, QB26, QB22). He’s 1/3 in PFF passing grade, seventeenth in adjusted finishing touch charge, and sixteenth in big-time throw charge (minimal 50 dropbacks). Winston has fared higher as a myth possibility with QB7, QB26, and QB14 outings, however he has been worse from an actual soccer point of view. Winston ranks nineteenth in PFF passing grade and twenty ninth in adjusted finishing touch charge, however he’s flashed the trademark large moves score 1/3 in big-time throw charge (minimal 50 dropbacks). Whichever participant is underneath heart returns to an incredibly tricky matchup towards Arizona. Since Week 4, this move protection has tightened up. They are 8th in move protection DVOA whilst additionally score throughout the peak 12 in passing yards according to recreation (tenth-fewest), EPA (eighth-lowest), and explosive move charge (Eleventh-lowest). Dalton and Winston are handiest mid to low-end QB2s.
Kyler Murray: Murray’s speeding fairness has helped prop up his myth worth. He’s QB6 in general issues due to score 6th in speeding yards (amongst quarterbacks). His efficiency as a passer has been horrible. Terrible is most certainly nonetheless being type. Among 38 quarterbacks with a minimum of 50 dropbacks, he’s twenty seventh in PFF passing grade, thirty sixth in yards according to try, and twenty ninth in big-time throw charge. Because of his legs and a comfortable matchup, Murray stays a top-ten myth quarterback. The Saints’ secondary has been disappointing, score twenty first in move protection DVOA whilst sitting top-ten in passing landing charge, passer score, and yards according to try allowed.
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara: Kamara has been on a tear since his go back from harm. Over the final two video games, he’s been the RB8 and RB10, averaging 27 touches and 159 general yards. He’s treated a daft 26.8% goal proportion averaging 7.5 objectives and 58 receiving yards. His yards after touch according to try have larger in every of the final 3 video games he’s performed from 2.20 to two.63. While the Cardinals’ secondary has performed smartly, you’ll be able to nonetheless run in this protection. Arizona is twenty sixth in explosive run charge whilst score twenty eighth in second-level yards and twenty first in open-field yards. Kamara may have a discipline day towards a protection this is DEAD LAST in DVOA towards receiving backs giving up essentially the most receiving touchdowns and sixth-highest yards according to reception. Kamara is a top-five operating again.
Mark Ingram: Ingram isn’t playable with Kamara again. Since Week 5, he’s averaged 27% of the snaps with 9.5 touches and 36.5 general yards. He has handiest noticed a three.6% goal proportion and an 18.8% direction run charge with none alternatives within the pink zone.
James Conner: Conner has been indexed as a game-time choice. I doubt he’s going to play this week. It appears like Kingsbury being cagey. In the 3 video games, Conner has performed a minimum of 60% of snaps, he has averaged 16.3 touches and 63 general yards. He’s the RB34 in myth issues according to recreation, score thirty first in avoided tackles, thirty fifth in juke charge, and thirty fifth in yards created according to contact. If he’s energetic, Conner is a dangerous RB3.
Darrel Williams: Williams has been dominated out.
Eno Benjamin: Benjamin practiced in complete on Wednesday. He isn’t indexed at the harm record, so be expecting a complete workload. Last week in a plus matchup, Benjamin crapped the mattress with 87% of the snaps, 18 touches, and 65 general yards. He controlled handiest 2.36 yards after touch according to try and a 41.6 elusive score. After generating a long term of six yards and zero.72 yards according to direction run towards Seattle, don’t be shocked if Arizona works in Keaontay Ingram extra this week. Since Week 4, New Orleans has resumed shutting down the run as they’re 10th in speeding yards according to recreation and thirteenth in explosive run charge allowed. They are 9th in second-level yards and thirteenth in DVOA towards receiving backs (fourth-lowest yards according to reception). Benjamin is an RB3.
Keaontay Ingram: Ingram may paintings in tandem with Benjamin this week or be regulated to a breather position. His 3.6 yards according to raise, 2.19 yards after touch according to try, and nil breakaway runs within the preseason don’t encourage a lot self assurance. Those numbers, despite the fact that, promote Ingram quick. In his ultimate season at USC, he was once twenty second in yards after touch according to try and forty first in PFF’s elusive score (minimal 125 carries). Ingram is a low-floor RB4.
Wide Receivers
Michael Thomas: Thomas has been dominated out.
Jarvis Landry: Landry has been dominated out.
Chris Olave: In Weeks 1-4, Olave commanded a 26.2% goal proportion (wow) and a 41.9% proportion of the workforce’s air yards. He averaged 9.2 objectives, 5.2 receptions, and 83.8 receiving yards, with an excellent 2.46 yards according to direction run. Overall he’s 7th in yards according to direction run and 6th in PFF receiving grade (minimal 20 objectives) because the WR17 in myth issues according to recreation. He’ll run about 77% of his routes at the perimeter towards Byron Murphy (61.5% catch charge, 94.4 passer score) and Marco Wilson (61.1% catch charge, 82.2 passer score). Olave has been a stud. He’s a WR2.
Marquez Callaway: Since Week 4, Callaway has been pressed into motion with the Saints overrun by way of accidents. He’s spoke back by way of doing little to not anything. He’s noticed an 18.8% goal proportion (5.3 objectives according to recreation) with out eclipsing 60 receiving yards in any recreation. His 1.15 yards according to direction in spite of an 86.3% direction run charge is mediocre. Even in a bye week crunch, Callaway isn’t a participant I might be rolling into my lineup. Olave is more likely to gobble up objectives whilst Callaway will get his aerobic in operating about 94% of his routes towards Murphy and Wilson at the out of doors.
Tre’Quan Smith: Smith will most probably take over the slot position with Keith Kirkwood having a look more likely to leave out this recreation. Over the final two video games with Smith also known as into motion, he’s been unimpressive with a 12.5% goal proportion and 1.13 yards according to direction run (73.4% direction run charge). Smith most probably suits with Murphy within when the Saints cross 3 huge. Murphy has performed out of doors nook excluding when groups make the most of 11 body of workers then he is going within whilst Antonio Hamilton is helping out at the out of doors. The Saints may bump their use of 3 huge this week to sacrifice Smith to Murphy. This would give Olave higher matchups at the out of doors towards Wilson and Hamilton (occupation 67.1% catch charge, 110.1 passer score). Don’t play Smith.
DeAndre Hopkins: There’s no disputing that Hopkins wasn’t at his height anymore final 12 months, however he wasn’t unhealthy, both. Hopkins drew a 20.5% goal proportion (thirty fifth) whilst score fifteenth in PFF receiving grade and thirty third in yards according to direction run (minimal 50 objectives). He was once the WR20 in myth issues according to recreation, score thirtieth in direction win charge. He’ll most probably reprise his perimeter position, operating 80% or extra routes at the boundary. He’ll see Bradley Roby (45.7% catch charge, 77.3 passer score) and Paulson Adebo (78.6% catch charge, 156.0 passer score) for lots of the day. Hopkins is a WR2 with WR1 upside in his first recreation again.
Rondale Moore: Moore will have to proceed vacuuming up objectives in Week 7. Over the final two weeks, he’s noticed a 24.3% goal proportion (9 objectives according to recreation) with 1.34 yards according to direction run because the WR24 and WR34 in weekly scoring. He’s noticed 3 pink zone objectives in 3 video games performed. He’ll run about 83% of his routes towards the mud ball referred to as Chris Harris. Once upon a time, Harris was once probably the most ultimate slot corners within the league. That fairy story has lengthy since handed. Harris has allowed all 9 objectives in his protection to be secured with a 103.2 passer score this 12 months. Last 12 months he gave up a 62.7% catch charge and 95.1 passer score. Moore is a robust WR3.
A.J. Green: Green is a fossil. He’s the WR104 with 56 receiving yards and a ten.4% goal proportion. He shouldn’t be rostered or performed in any league. Any.
Robbie Anderson: Anderson isn’t playable this week. Kliff Kingsbury has said he’ll be on a snap depend if he’s even energetic.
Tight Ends
Taysom Hill: Hill is slowly on his approach to debunking my disdain for his positional eligibility, as he’s as much as 31 snaps as a receiver (35 at QB). Hill stays stalled at 3.6 routes according to recreation with just one reception for the 12 months. Hill is the TE5 for the 12 months, thank you to 2 large outings. In the opposite 3 video games, he completed because the TE50, TE16, and TE28. He’s averaging 5.3 rushes and 53.2 speeding yards according to recreation which is skewed by way of his 112-yard efficiency. Hill has 3 video games with 35 or extra speeding yards. He’s tied with Kamara with 5 pink zone speeding alternatives. He is a weekly house run swing or whiff on the tight finish place.
Zach Ertz: Ertz continues to turn out that age is only a quantity. By tight-end requirements, he’s no longer in a position for the nursing house simply but, however in his age-32 season, he’s the TE3 in myth issues according to recreation. He’s controlled a 21.6% goal proportion (sixth-best) whilst score moment in direction participation and fourth in air backyard proportion. He’s 1/3 in pink zone objectives and twenty first in yards according to direction run. Mute your expectancies for this week, despite the fact that. New Orleans dominates tight ends, score first in DVOA with the third-lowest catch charge, fifth-lowest receiving yards, and second-lowest myth issues according to recreation allowed. Considering bye weeks and the state of the tight finish place, you’re beginning Ertz in line with projected quantity on my own, however he’s most probably a landing or bust possibility this week.
If you need to dive deeper into myth soccer, take a look at our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which gives your optimum lineup in line with correct consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which lets you briefly see which to be had avid gamers will toughen your workforce and what sort of – we’ve were given you coated this myth soccer season.
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*All knowledge applied on this article courtesy of FantasyProfessionals, PFF, SharpFootball Stats, Football Outsiders, FTN, Rotoviz, and Playerprofiler.com except in a different way specified.*