Ravens-Bucs Promises Plenty of Fantasy Action

In-season trading has begun!

What a crazy week it has been. Davante Adams to the Jets, nudging his way in-between Garrett Wilson and up-and-coming fantasy star Allen Lazard. Cam Akers to the Vikings—creating uncertainty around Ty Chandler’s relevancy in wake of Aaron Jones’ injury. Last but not least: Amari Cooper to the Bills, finally giving him some relevance in 2024 now that he’s parted ways with Deshaun Watson.

How these big names will affect their new teams is yet to be determined, but the stocks of their teammates will either rise or fall come Week 7.

(All fantasy-related statistics are derived from FantasyPros.com and are based on standard format unless otherwise specified).

Buccaneers-Ravens Fantasy Outlook

Start

Cade Otton, TE

Baltimore has struggled to defend tight ends in the opposing pass game this season, and that trend has shown in just about every game thus far. The Ravens currently lead the league in most receiving yards allowed to tight ends (491), and tie the 49ers for most touchdowns allowed to the position as well (5). In standard format, tight ends average seven points against Baltimore, but in PPR, Zach Ertz, Jake Ferguson and Brock Bowers have had respectable, double-digit finishes. Otton himself is an especially appealing candidate in PPR this week, as his floor looks to be around nine points based on his game log numbers since Week 3.

Chase McLaughlin and Justin Tucker, K

Both Chase McLaughlin and Justin Tucker look to be lock-in kickers now, as both sit within the top-10 ranking of their position on most fantasy websites. According to FantasyPros, Tucker is the second-best kicker heading into Week 7, and McLaughlin is the eighth. While there’s no doubt that Tucker had a much slower start to his season, he’s finished the past two weeks with 13 points. McLaughlin is currently on a similar pace, averaging 12 fantasy points across his past three games. Baltimore allows the 25th-most points to kickers in fantasy, and Tampa Bay allows the 18th-most, so both kickers in this Monday night game should be started with confidence that they’ll surpass 10 points.

Others to start: Lamar Jackson (QB), Baker Mayfield (QB), Derrick Henry (RB), Mike Evans (WR), Zay Flowers (WR), Chris Godwin (WR), Mark Andrews (TE)

Sit

Isaiah Likey, TE

Even though Isaiah Likely had the hotter start to the 2024 season, Mark Andrews appears to finally be reaching his expected form after finishing with 15.6 PPR points in Week 6 against Washington and 9.5 points the week prior against Cincinnati. Now that Charlie Kolar is starting to become more involved in the pass game as well, there’s just too much uncertainty still looming around Baltimore’s tight end corps, but Andrews has trended in the direction of being Lamar Jackson’s favorite of the three over the span of Baltimore’s past two games. While Likely saw 46 snaps against Washington in comparison to Andrews getting only 34, the pair each received four targets, and Andrews finished with one more reception.

Rachaad White, RB

Rachaad White already has his back against the wall heading into his Week 7 matchup against Baltimore. He’s coming off of a foot injury that caused him to miss his game against the Saints in Week 6, Tampa Bay is trending towards using a committee backfield that brings on competition from Bucky Irving and Week 6 breakout Sean Tucker, and he’s up against Baltimore’s highly touted run defense that has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards (354) and lowest yards per carry (3). The only upside for White, if he does in fact play, is that Baltimore’s defense sits in the middle of the pack for rushing touchdowns allowed so far this season with five.

Others to sit: Justice Hill (RB), Sterling Shepard (WR), Buccaneers D/ST, Ravens D/ST

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Frontrunners Around the League

Start

Amari Cooper, WR

Amari Cooper’s past six weeks in Cleveland are undoubtedly a reflection of his floor moving forward, as the 10th-year receiver is experiencing a huge upgrade in the transition from Deshaun Watson to Josh Allen. While he may need some time to connect with Allen at the helm, the Bills have been needing a clear WR1, and they’ve finally found their guy in Amari Cooper. He’s already listed as WR1 on the depth chart.

Tennessee has one of the best passing defenses in the league, allowing the fewest yards (756) and only five touchdowns in the air, but Amari Cooper thrives in man coverage. He’ll certainly reach double-digits in Week 7 and serve as a suitable WR2, WR3, or flex play.

Davante Adams, WR

Despite having to move cross-country from Las Vegas to New York this week, Davante Adams should be expected to fare the best in Week 7 out of the league’s recently traded players, as he reunites with Aaron Rodgers, who he played eight seasons with from 2014 to 2021. Consider what Rodgers has already had to say about Adams’ comfortability in New York:

Davante Adams is staying with Aaron Rodgers until he gets settled in the New York area

Rodgers on Adams: “He looks like he’s drank the elixir from the fountain of youth” pic.twitter.com/Tv4y3ZgoAF

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 16, 2024

And even though Adams missed his past three games as a Raider while dealing with a hamstring injury, head coach Jeff Ulbrich has already confirmed that Adams is playing Sunday against Pittsburgh:

Jets HC Jeff Ulbrich confirmed that WR Davante Adams — who has missed the past three games due to a hamstring injury — is expected to play Sunday vs. the Steelers.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 16, 2024

Adams was always a must-start in fantasy when he played with Aaron Rodgers, but he never quite had the competition against talent in Green Bay like he does now against Garrett Wilson. His exact target share moving forward is uncertain, but Adams is a fine candidate for your WR2 or WR3 slots this week. Pittsburgh’s defense sits exactly in the middle of the pack for receiving yards allowed (228 per game).

Sit

Allen Lazard, WR

After such a strong start to his fantasy season that ranked him as high as the 11th-best receiver on websites like ESPN, Lazard is now impacted greatly by Davante Adams’ arrival to New York. Averaging 15.2 PPR points across his first six games, it was apparent that Lazard was the go-to compliment receiver of Garrett Wilson, but there’s no doubt that role will now transition to Adams and leave Lazard to likely handle some more blocking duties. Above all else, Pittsburgh’s defense is toughest for pass-catchers. The Steelers have only allowed seven receiving touchdowns across six games, but their yardage allowed to receivers thus far is nothing above average.

Ty Chandler, RB

While Cam Akers’ arrival to Minnesota is less likely to impact Aaron Jones when he’s fully healthy, it certainly makes for an interesting scenario as Jones is currently questionable and RB2 Ty Chandler remains present. Jones has been practicing in limited fashion so far this week which bodes well for his return, but this also suggests that both Chandler and Akers should be sidelined in Week 7. Chandler has not done much for the Vikings or in fantasy as of yet, only having double-digit rushing attempts in Weeks 2 and 5, and he’s yet not notch a touchdown. Akers has two touchdowns thus far (receiving and rushing), perhaps offering more upside to Minnesota moving forward.

Feel free to leave me your questions in the comments, or tweet me @BrennanStewart_ . Also, be sure to check out Tanner George’s top free agent picks for Week 7.

Good luck!

The post Ravens-Bucs Promises Plenty of Fantasy Action appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2024/10/19/fantasy/ravens-bucs-promises-plenty-of-fantasy-action/