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FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

Deshaun Watson mulling Achilles surgery options

Mon Oct 21 11:48am ET
Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will soon undergo surgery on the ruptured Achilles he suffered on Sunday, and the signal caller is mulling two surgical options, Cleveland.com reported Monday.

Watson sustained the injury on a non-contact play during Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Watson is deciding between conventional surgery and the "speed bridge" procedure that New York Jets quarter Aaron Rodgers underwent last year, per the report. Rodgers was able to return about four months sooner than with the conventional surgery.

Further, primary backup QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson is also awaiting MRI results on the middle finger of his throwing hand, which he injured after replacing Watson in Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. X-ray results were negative, and MRI results were forthcoming, per reports Monday morning.

On a running play late in the second quarter Sunday, Watson's right knee buckled, causing the three-time Pro Bowl selection to fall to the ground in obvious pain. Once he was loaded into the back of the cart, Watson, with a towel over his head, was visibly emotional as he was brought back to the locker room.

Before the injury, Watson was 15-of-17 passing for 128 yards against the Bengals. Watson, 29, entered Sunday with 1,020 passing yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions through six games (all starts) this season.

In his third season with Cleveland after four seasons with Houston, Watson entered Sunday's start having thrown for 17,776 yards, 123 touchdowns and 48 interceptions in 72 games (71 starts) since entering the league in 2017 as the Texans' first-round pick (No. 12 overall).

Thompson-Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round pick by Cleveland, took over for Watson in his first appearance in 2024. Thompson-Robinson, 24, played in eight games (three starts) last year, completing just 60 of 112 passes for 440 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.

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Player Notes
Darnell Mooney Oct 21 12:10pm ET
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney had a useful day in PPR formats in Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks, nabbing five of eight targets for 46 yards. His 53 targets on the season are more than Terry McLaurin (49) and just two fewer than Stefon Diggs (55), so he clearly has value, but much of his fantasy production came in one blow-up game versus Tampa Bay in Week 5 when he tallied nine catches on a whopping 16 targets for 105 yards and two scores. That contest notwithstanding, the fifth-year pro is averaging four catches on six targets for 52 yards per game. The 26-year-old gets another shot at those same Bucs in Week 8, and while seeing his quarterback heave up 58 pass attempts again is not at all likely, if they try to shut down Drake London who torched them for 12-154-1 the last time out, Mooney and the other receivers would stand to benefit from his added attention.

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Oct 21 11:40am ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 24-of-35 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown but turned the ball over three times in a 34-14 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday. Two of the turnovers came via interception and the other was a fumble that turned into a scoop-and-score for the Seahawks. It was the fifth time in seven games that Cousins failed to record two or more touchdown passes and he now has seven picks in as many games. This was supposed to be a favorable matchup with a banged-up Seahawks secondary and Atlanta favored by three points, but instead, it was a lopsided affair that went in Seattle's favor. While it makes Cousins hard to trust as a weekly streaming option, the good news is that the 36-year-old gets the Buccaneers in Week 8, a team he threw for over 500 yards against with four TDs just a few weeks ago, so he'll get an opportunity to bounce back next week.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Oct 21 11:10am ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts garnered nine looks from Kirk Cousins, tallying seven grabs for 65 yards in Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks. Although the 24-year-old failed to find the end zone for the sixth consecutive week, the target, reception, and yardage totals were all team-highs on the afternoon. The former first-round draft pick recorded seven catches or more just three times from 2021-23 but has now totaled seven catches in two of the last three games for Atlanta, so perhaps the arrow is starting to point up for him. He also was held without a catch in Week 4, so let's not get too ahead of ourselves. Week 8 brings a rematch with Tampa Bay, which saw 58 pass attempts from Cousins the last time out. A more balanced approach should be the expectation this time around, but Pitts did haul in seven for 88 in that contest and should be involved again.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Oct 21 10:40am ET
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson totaled up 24 touches in Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks, with 21 rushes for 103 yards and a score while adding three catches for 40 yards. The number of rush attempts were a season high and he's now caught at least three passes in six of seven games for Atlanta. The 22-year-old flashed his big play ability with a 26-yard rush and a 26-yard catch-and-run, finishing the week within the top 12 at the position in fantasy. Fantasy managers will appreciate the added workload, but we'll see if it sticks as his previous high in rush attempts this season was just 18. On tap in Week 8 are the Buccaneers who the Falcons have faced once already and it ended up being a pass-heavy game script, with Robinson getting just 12 attempts for 61 yards and three catches for 16.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Oct 21 10:10am ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London hauled in six passes on eight targets for 63 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks. It was the sixth consecutive game in which the 23-year-old tallied at least six receptions and he's now scored in five of Atlanta's seven games. London's day perhaps could have been better had Kirk Cousins not killed a couple of drives with interceptions, but the 6-foot-4 wideout put himself in the mix as a WR1 for the week nevertheless. He should continue his stretch of consistent production in next week's matchup versus the Buccaneers, having racked up 12-154-1 against them back in Week 5.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels Oct 21 10:10am ET
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (ribs) underwent some initial X-rays on Sunday after he left the game against the Carolina Panthers. According to Jordan Schultz, those initial tests came back with no fractures to any of his ribs. The rookie phenom is still set to undergo some more tests on Monday as the team is taking a cautious approach to this injury. His status over the next couple of days will need to be monitored to understand the severity of the injury and if he'll need to miss any time moving forward. If he's unable to suit up in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, Marcus Mariota will likely step in again as the starting quarterback.

From RotoBaller

Theo Johnson Oct 21 9:50am ET
Theo Johnson

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson continues to struggle with another abysmal fantasy week in the team's 28-3 loss to their division rivals. The rookie out of Penn State didn't receive a single target while his counterpart, Daniel Bellinger caught his only target for 11 yards. The passing game struggled mightily with Daniel Jones only accounting for 99 yards through the air before Drew Lock entered the game and added six more. Johnson hasn't been able to string together any type of consistency right now, but neither has the tight end position as a whole for the Giants. His next chance to bounce back will be against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8.

From RotoBaller

Andrei Iosivas Oct 21 9:30am ET
Andrei Iosivas

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas posted his first goose egg of the season against the Cleveland Browns. The second-year wideout finished the game with one target but didn't haul it in, and was not used in the running game. When Tee Higgins returned, Iosivas' target share dropped in each game. In fact, Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase received 14 targets combined. As long as the top receivers are healthy, Iosivas has a limited ceiling. He'll have another shot at finding the end zone against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Coker Oct 21 9:30am ET
Jalen Coker

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker struggled to find many targets or open field as did the rest of the passing game against the Washington Commanders. Coker finished the game with one target, one reception, and 10 yards. As a whole, the Panthers produced 85 total yards through the air as Andy Dalton was stifled all game long. The offense has now produced only three games with more than 10 points, which is going to limit Coker's upside until they can figure out their deficiencies.

From RotoBaller

Chigoziem Okonkwo Oct 21 9:22am ET
Chigoziem Okonkwo

Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo hauled in four passes for 50 yards on four targets in a 34-10 loss at Buffalo in Week 7. This marked the young tight end's best game of the season, having failed to top 16 receiving yards up to this point. His 26-yard reception in the first quarter set up Tennessee's only touchdown drive of the game, and he displayed solid chemistry with new starting quarterback Mason Rudolph on the afternoon. With how unreliable this Titans passing attack continues to be, Okonkwo is still not a great option moving forward, but there may be ample opportunity next week in Detroit with the Titans likely playing catch-up.

Jordan Whittington Oct 21 9:20am ET
Jordan Whittington

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington was able to suit up on Sunday despite a shoulder injury throughout the week, but he didn't appear in the box score in this game. Whittington didn't receive any targets even though the Rams had a depleted receiver corps. Tyler Johnson and Tutu Atwell led the receivers while Demarcus Robinson received a target too. With Cooper Kupp (ankle) expected to return for their Thursday night matchup in Week 8, Whittington's value seems to be on the decline in shallower fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Brock Bowers Oct 21 9:20am ET
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers continues to show he's their best offensive weapon. In his Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Bowers caught 10 passes on 14 targets for 93 yards. He's easily their best pass-catcher and chain-mover. He's also an absolute stud in PPR fantasy formats and currently ranks as the TE1 overall. His target volume could remain high even when lead receiver Jakobi Meyers (ankle) returns, and should be better than it was in the early season with Davante Adams was still a part of the team. Las Vegas will square off with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, but matchups should be ignored when deciding to start or sit Bowers. He must be started.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Carlson Oct 21 8:20am ET
Daniel Carlson

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson reminded the fantasy world that he's still great in the Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Carlson booted two kicks of 27 yards, two of 38 yards, and one of 47 yards, all without missing an attempt. He didn't have any opportunities for extra points. It was an uncharacteristic game for the seventh-year pro in that he had just ten field goal attempts through his first six games. While he's a great player at his position, the opportunities for days like this could remain few and far between. The Rams defense has been one of the league's worst. Next, the Raiders will face one of the league's best defenses when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Carlson is unlikely to get much volume and is mostly an option in very deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Aidan O'Connell Oct 21 8:10am ET
Aidan O'Connell

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II was substituted in when lead quarterback Aidan O'Connell (thumb) was forced out for the rest of the game due to an injury when the Raiders played the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7. The former Jacksonville Jaguar finished the game, but it was a dreadful outing. H completed 15 of 34 passes for 154 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. He also carried the ball once for two yards and lost a fumble. Las Vegas lost 15-20, so it's safe to say the giveaways were the difference. O'Connell seems to be set to miss time, so Minshew could start against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. He's difficult to trust against KC's elite defense, even in 2QB leagues.

From RotoBaller

Zamir White Oct 21 6:50am ET
Zamir White

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (groin) was able to return to play in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams. He was only given three carries, which he took for 13 yards, and one catch, which he gained 14 yards on. It's likely that he was used minimally due to the injury he was recovering from. It's hard to draw conclusions based on a game like this. Even star players will sometimes see little to no work in their first game back from an injury absence. That said, he hasn't played well this season, and is best left on the bench in Week 8, when the Raiders face the Kansas City Chiefs and their elite run defense.

From RotoBaller

Tre Tucker Oct 21 6:20am ET
Tre Tucker

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker hauled in three passes on eight targets for 37 yards and rushed one time for 11 yards in the team's loss to the Los Angeles Rams In week 7. He was mostly held in check despite being the top receiver option available for the team. All of Las Vegas' offense has been underperforming for most of the season save for tight end Brock Bowers. Moving forward, the second-year pro isn't an intriguing start option given the state of the offense. With wide receiver Davante Adams now on the Jets, Tucker is the WR2 for the team when Jakobi Meyers (ankle) returns to the lineup. The Raiders face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. Tucker an appetizing start for that matchup.

From RotoBaller

Will McDonald IV Oct 21 5:50am ET
Will McDonald IV

The New York Jets defense struggled in Week 7, allowing 37 points and notching just one sack in a 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jets were shredded by Russell Wilson in his first start of the season as they allowed the Steelers to rack up 409 yards of total offense in the blowout loss on Sunday night. Their lone sack came from Will McDonald IV, who notched his eighth sack of the season. The Jets will look to bounce back in Week 8 against the New England Patriots.

From RotoBaller

Allen Lazard Oct 21 5:40am ET
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard caught all four of his targets for 58 yards in a 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Lazard finished third on the team in receiving yards in the lopsided loss, despite drawing only the four targets. Aaron Rodgers keyed in on his top two receivers in the contest, sending nine targets apiece toward Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. The addition of Adams last week in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders is expected to hurt Lazard the most, although he scratched out a decent game on Sunday night. Expect Adams to be more of a thorn in Lazard's side as the former gets more comfortable with his new team. Treat Lazard as a low-end flex option heading into Week 8 against the New England Patriots.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Conklin Oct 21 5:40am ET
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin caught all four of his targets for seven yards and a touchdown in a 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Conklin did not rack up the yardage in this one but he salvaged his night with a one-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter of the contest on Sunday night. The veteran tight end has been a decent option as a fantasy tight end this season, catching 23 passes for 198 yards and one touchdown through seven games. He will be a TE2 in fantasy in Week 8 when the Jets take on the New England Patriots.

From RotoBaller

Greg Zuerlein Oct 21 5:40am ET
Greg Zuerlein

New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein missed his lone field-goal attempt but added an extra point in a 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Zuerlein has struggled of late as he has missed three field goals over the past two games and has made just eight of 13 through seven games this season. The Jets tried out other kickers last week in practice and could consider pursuing another option at the position again this week. Zuerlein will hope to remain the team's kicker heading into a Week 8 matchup against the New England Patriots.

From RotoBaller