Every week during the NFL season, it tends to happen. There are players who put up huge fantasy football numbers that few if any owners had on their teams. Week 7 fantasy football was no different. Yeah, there are the usual suspects who do what we all expect them to do. Aaron Rodgers rewarded those who started him handsomely. Dalvin Cook did so as well. But in this column, we highlight the lesser-known names that balled out during the previous week’s NFL action.
Note: all references to ownership percentages are based on data from Yahoo Sports leagues.
Week 7 Fantasy Football Surprise Sensations
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Vegas installed the Miami Dolphins as massive 17-point underdogs to the Buffalo Bills in Week 7. It was the most the Bills were favored in a game since 1992. But that probably didn’t come as much of a surprise since the Fins appear to be in tank mode and Buffalo’s defense has established itself as one of the most formidable units in the league. But Fitzpatrick and company put up a spirited effort at New Era Field. They took a 14-9 lead into halftime before a Bills second-half surge gave them a 31-21 victory. And the former Buffalo signal-caller finished with 21.58 fantasy points, the seventh-highest total among quarterbacks in Week 7. It probably ensures Brian Flores stays with the wily veteran for the foreseeable future rather than hand the reins over to second-year man Josh Rosen.
Zach Pascal
If you started T.Y. Hilton or Eric Ebron, you’re probably not too mad about this because they both enjoyed impressive outings themselves. But make no mistake about it. Pascal’s performance caught everyone by surprise. The Old Dominion product went undrafted in 2017 and bounced around the Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans practice squads during his rookie year. But he made the Indianapolis Colts roster in 2018 and finished the season with 268 yards and two touchdowns. On Sunday against the Houston Texans, he equaled that scoring output. And he registered his first career 100-yard game in the 30-23 win over the Texans. The Colts appear to be in good hands with Jacoby Brissett under center. And in his second season at the helm, Frank Reich is continuing to do a phenomenal coaching job.
Chase Edmonds
In contrast to the situation with the Colts regular contributors, David Johnson owners weren’t happy with what transpired on Sunday. Practically all of his production was siphoned away by Edmonds as he managed just a single carry for two yards. The 2018 fourth-round pick out of Fordham totaled 33 non-PPR fantasy points in Week 7, the highest total among running backs. He’ll certainly be one of the more popular waiver-wire adds heading into next week’s games. And, on a side note, the Arizona Cardinals are a quiet 3-3-1. That said, their three wins came against the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, and New York Giants by a combined 10 points. Not exactly the stiffest competition.
Josh Hill
Prior to Week 7, Hill had totaled just 16.80 PPR fantasy points all season. In the New Orleans Saints 36-25 win over the Chicago Bears, he nearly equaled that number. Hill registered three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown in the game which kept quarterback Teddy Bridgewater unbeaten in relief of Drew Brees. To say that Hill didn’t help anyone’s fantasy team is a “thanks Captain Obvious” statement since exactly zero percent of players in Yahoo leagues had him on their roster. Despite Hill’s impressive outing, Jared Cook likely remains the least risky Saints tight end in fantasy. He caught touchdown passes in each of the Saints games prior to Week 7. And he might be in line for a rebound after scoring no points on Sunday with the Cardinals surrendering the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
Stephen Hauschka
Prior to Sunday, Hauschka was fairly quiet from a fantasy standpoint. Most of his production came from extra points as the Bills currently rank second among NFL teams in red zone touchdown percentage. But he was put to work on fourth down against the Dolphins and was a perfect 3/3 from field goal range. It included two 40+ yarders which result in a bonus point in many leagues. Taking that into account, he totaled 13 fantasy points, his first double-digit haul of the season. And it was tied for the third-highest mark among NFL kickers in Week 7. But his ownership rate in Yahoo leagues was a meager five percent. Buffalo’s opponent next week, the Philadelphia Eagles, concedes the 10th-most fantasy points to kickers thus far in 2019. So the streamers might want to consider him.
Arizona Cardinals Defense
Chase Edmonds isn’t the only Cardinals fantasy surprise from Week 7. The defense put up relatively large numbers even though only six percent of Yahoo owners had them on their roster. In particular, they made rookie New York Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones‘ life a living hell, sacking him eight times. It was the highest sack output the Cardinals managed since registering nine in a 38-8 win over the Green Bay Packers on December 27, 2015. And they had, by far, the lowest ownership rate in Yahoo leagues among defense/special teams that managed a minimum of 10 points in Week 7. Having said all of that, steer clear this coming weekend. The Cardinals are traveling to New Orleans to face a Saints team that’s rolling despite the absence of Drew Brees.
