With Week 7 already underway after the Green Bay Packers wound up rolling past the Chicago Bears, it means that it’s time to lock in those fantasy lineups before Sunday’s action. There are a few great games on the slate, and an early game for those in the United States between the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants. So, let’s jump into the fantasy football action for Week 7 and take a look at three under-the-radar studs that you’ll want to get in your lineups.
Jacquizz Rodgers, running back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With the Buccaneers placing Charles Sims on injured reserve and starting RB Doug Martin apparently suffering some type of a setback according to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, the heavy lifting will fall on Rodgers. This is great news for fantasy football owners who picked up Rodgers before his bye week and chose to hold onto him through Week 6 as well.
Not only does Rodgers have an excellent matchup against a San Francisco 49ers defense who has been absolutely shredded on the ground, but he’s going to be getting a workhorse role as well. The 49ers have given up by far the most rushing yards per game to opponents in 2016 (174.5). Two weeks ago on Monday Night Football we saw Rodgers rush 30 times for 101 yards, and also caught five passes as well. Don’t hesitate to get Rodgers in your lineup, because he should be in for a monster day.
Jack Doyle, tight end, Indianapolis Colts
With No. 1 tight end Dwayne Allen ruled out for at least this Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, it means that Doyle is poised for a full-time role as the top tight end. Obviously, this is big news, as Doyle has proven that he can produce in limited action, so the potential for him to put up big numbers in this spot is absolutely there.
Over the first three weeks of 2016, we saw Doyle catch 13-of-15 passes that came his way, for 137 yards and two touchdowns. While he fell off quite a bit over the next two weeks, Doyle returned to relevance in Week 6, catching all four of his targets for 53 yards and a touchdown. There’s a lot to love about the spot that the 26-year-old tight end is in this week, and he and quarterback Andrew Luck seem to have a connection already built.
Pierre Garcon, wide receiver, Washington Redskins
Surprisingly, Garcon has tallied at least four receptions in five of Washington’s six games this season. Unfortunately, he’s failed to score in each game but one and hadn’t topped 60 receiving yards or seven targets. That is, until Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles rolled around. The Eagles have a pretty impressive defense this season, so it was good to see Garcon get 11 targets, catching six of them for 77 yards.
The key here is that Garcon and the Redskins will now be playing their second-straight game without tight end Jordan Reed, who is one of quarterback Kirk Cousins’ favorite targets. Apparently, with Reed out of the game last week, Cousins decided to turn his attention to the veteran in Garcon. Not only should fantasy football players love the fact that Garcon got so many looks last week, but they should also love the matchup. The Redskins draw a Detroit Lions defense who has allowed 271.3 yards per game through the air this season, ranking them No. 23 in the league. Garcon is not only an excellent flex play this week, but there’s an argument to be made that he should be a starting WR in your lineups.
