Week 7 of the fantasy season is here, and the Houston Texans’ backfield just blew wide open, making Woody Marks an absolute must-start. After David Montgomery went down with an injury, Marks stepped up, taking 15 carries. His backfield mate Jawhar Jordan also got seven touches and scored a touchdown, but now *he’s* out for this game too. That leaves Dare Ogunbowale, a pass-catching specialist, as the only other back. Woody Marks is looking at near-guaranteed volume, something rare and precious in fantasy football right now.
Marks to Explode Against Shaky Giants Run D, Plus the Steelers’ PPR Goldmine
This isn’t just about volume for Marks, though, it’s about the matchup. The New York Giants are straight-up awful against the run, ranking bottom-five in fantasy points allowed to opposing rushers. Even with the Texans’ less-than-stellar run-blocking offensive line, this is a prime spot for Marks to feast. Imagine the red-zone trips if the Texans defense can cause some chaos against J.J. McCarthy. You’re setting Marks and forgetting him. Meanwhile, up in Pittsburgh, the Steelers wideouts are about to put on a show. DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard combined for a whopping 27 targets in Week 6! With a ton of other receivers injured, they became the clear focus. This week they face the New Orleans Saints, a team that loves to play fast and pass heavy, which means more opportunities against a defense that’s been struggling. Last season, Aaron Rodgers was a zone-coverage killer for fantasy points, and that specifically benefited Metcalf. With limited options for the Steelers’ QB, expect both Metcalf and Bernard to rack up the receptions again.
Higbee’s History Without Adams and the Jets’ Slot Threats
Don’t sleep on Tyler Higbee this week either, especially with Davante Adams sidelined. Last season, when Adams missed three games, the Rams tight ends combined for five touchdowns. Higbee has been the go-to guy at tight end already, with Terrance Ferguson out, Colby Parkinson just coming back from injury, and Davis Allen more of a blocker. His route share has been consistently high, giving him a fantastic chance to find the end zone if the Rams lean into their heavy 13 personnel (three tight ends, one receiver) without Adams in the lineup.
On the other side of the country, the New York Jets have a couple of rookie receivers making noise. Omar Cooper Jr. burst onto the scene with a touchdown (and another called back!) and over 100 receiving yards. With Adonai Mitchell out, Cooper has stayed on the field in two-receiver sets, lining up across from Garrett Wilson. The Jets offense has had its struggles, but they’re looking to bounce back against a Miami defense that only really slowed down a Vikings team playing without Justin Jefferson. Cooper’s yards after the catch ability combined with his short targets gives him a great floor and ceiling balance. And don’t forget Malik Washington in that same game. He’s getting carries, screens, and will often match up against the Jets slot corner, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., who’s ranked in the bottom five in fantasy points allowed to receivers. The Jets defense is super tough against outside receivers, holding them to 6.4 points below average, but they can’t seem to stop the slot. Washington’s been a steady bet in deeper PPR leagues, consistently putting up 11.1-12.1 fantasy points.
This week is all about capitalizing on opportunity, whether it’s injuries creating new RB1s or defensive matchups favoring specific receivers. Don’t leave those points on your bench!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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