Cooper Kupp is on pace to have the greatest fantasy season ever by a wide receiver, averaging 27.2 fantasy points per game up to this point. Even though the extra game is helping Kupp, I feel he is not getting enough love. His current 17 game pace is 136 receptions on 196 targets for 1964 yards and 21 touchdowns. To put these crazy stats even more into perspective, the previous greatest season by a wide receiver was Randy Moss in 2007, as he caught 98 passes for 1493 yards and 23 total touchdowns, which resulted in 385.3 PPR fantasy points. Cooper Kupp is on pace for 462.4 fantasy points which would shatter that record. It’s looking like we’ll see a new name at the top of this list by the end of the season.
Cooper Kupp should be in your lineup every week, but I’m going to go over some players that you might need to decide on. Here is one start and one sit at each position.
Quarterback:
Start: Jalen Hurts PHI vs DET
While some games haven’t looked the prettiest, Jalen Hurts has been the most consistent quarterback in fantasy football. Through 7 weeks, the young Eagles signal-caller has never had below 20 fantasy points and never above 29. This could be the game where Jalen Hurts finally crosses the 30 point threshold as he gets a cupcake matchup with the Detroit Lions. Detroit is allowing the 10th most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and they are coming off a game against the Rams where Matthew Stafford torched them for 334 yards and 3 touchdowns. I’m going back to picking on the Lions, and Hurts should have yet another big game.
Sleepers: Geno Smith SEA vs JAX and Carson Wentz IND vs TEN
Sit: Sam Darnold QB CAR vs ATL
Sam Darnold has really fallen off after a great start to the season as he is only averaging 7.87 fantasy points per game over his last three. To go along with that bad streak, he is averaging 2 turnovers per game. All Sam Darnold owners need to keep him on their bench until he proves himself worthy of running the high-flying Joe Brady offense. The Falcons are a great matchup, but there are plenty of other quarterbacks that I would start over the struggling Panthers quarterback.
Busts: Mac Jones NE vs LAC and Jimmy Garoppolo SF vs CHI
Running Back:
Start: James Robinson JAX vs SEA
James Robinson has found himself in this spot numerous times this season, and I am putting him back here as he gets an absolute cupcake of a matchup against Seattle. Not only is Seattle allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to running backs, but they are also sputtering on offense without Russell Wilson. This should be another close, back-and-forth game, where running will be an option the whole game. This should be very similar to the Miami game in London a couple of weeks ago, but Robinson is playing a far worse rushing defense.
Sleepers: Alex Collins SEA vs JAX and Khalil Herbert CHI vs SF
Sit: Myles Gaskin RB MIA vs BUF
Myles Gaskin finally received a normal-sized workload with 15 carries against the Atlanta Falcons. This week should be no different in terms of carries but should be a whole lot more different in terms of output. Buffalo has looked outstanding this season and they are giving up the 2nd least amount of fantasy points to running backs. Gaskin is likely projected to be a flex start this week, but I would look elsewhere as Buffalo will shut down this run game and make Tua Tagovailoa beat them with his arm.
Busts: Cordarelle Patterson ATL vs CAR and Aaron Jones GB vs ARI
Wide Receiver:
Start: Courtland Sutton DEN vs WAS
Courtland Sutton has had a very up-and-down fantasy season as he has produced under 10 fantasy points in 3 games and over 23 in 3 games. Sutton gets to face the worst pass defense in the NFL and it is looking like he is primed for another “boom” week. Last week, Washington game up 19.6 fantasy points to star wideout Davante Adams, and the week before that they gave up 22.6 points to Tyreek Hill. This week screams “boom game” for the Broncos wideout who could put up his best game of the season.
Sleepers: Robert Woods LAR vs HOU and Allen Lazard GB vs ARI
Sit: Mike Evans TB vs NO
The fact that Mike Evans was going in the fifth round baffles me and I wish I could have drafted him in more leagues. He is currently sitting as the WR7 with only 2 “bust” games of under 6 fantasy points. I am thinking he will have a third this week as he gets a tough shadow matchup with Marshon Lattimore. Outside of DK Metcalf’s 84-yard touchdown, he only caught 1 pass for 12 yards. Mike Evans is not DK Metcalf and will not make superhuman plays. Picking Buccaneers receivers can be like trying to hit a bullseye with a dart while blindfolded, but I feel wary of Mike Evans’s floor this week against a tough defense.
Busts: Brandin Cooks HOU vs LAR and Tee Higgins CIN vs NYJ
Tight End:
Start: TJ Hockenson DET vs PHI
TJ Hockenson has made this column before as the Lions have some very weak games on their schedule. I am confidently starting TJ Hockenson everywhere this week as he draws an opponent who is allowed the 6th most fantasy points to tight ends this season in Philadelphia. Detroit will likely be playing from behind yet again and Goff will always be looking for his safety blanket in TJ Hockenson in a soft middle of the defense. This could be the game we finally see Hockenson replicate what he did in weeks 1 and 2 as the matchup is immensely favorable.
Sleepers: Tyler Higbee LAR vs HOU and Noah Fant DEN vs WAS
Sit: Robert Tonyan GB vs ARI
The fact that ESPN has Robert Tonyan projected at 10 fantasy points baffles me, as the Packers’ tight end as he has had under 5 fantasy points in 5 of his 7 games this season. Tonyan has become extremely touchdown dependent and I don’t think he gets one this week against a very tough Cardinals defense who is allowing the least amount of fantasy points to tight ends. I don’t own Robert Tonyan anywhere, but if I did he would be staying put on my bench this week.
Busts: Jared Cook LAC vs NE and Rob Gronkowski TB vs NO
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