The middle stretch of the season has officially begun. The contenders are separating themselves from the pretenders, and there have been substantial fantasy implications. Here are some fantasy football lessons to take into Week 7.
Fantasy Football Lessons for Week 7 and Beyond
The Bears Offense Has Found Its Feet
The Chicago Bears offense started the season slowly, managing only 39 points in their first three games en route to a 1-2 record. D’Andre Swift was getting stuffed on seemingly every run, and Caleb Williams struggled. Three weeks later, things are looking a whole lot different.
Williams has thrown for seven touchdowns in his last three games, and Swift has produced games of 29.5, 20, and 21.9 fantasy points, respectively. DJ Moore has been average outside of a two-touchdown performance in Week 5, but the volume is there. Keenan Allen scored two touchdowns against the Jags, and Cole Kmet is the TE3 overall on the season.
Williams is now a startable quarterback, Moore is a WR2 with upside, and Kmet is a top-10 TE. Swift should also be in all lineups after his last three weeks. The Bears haven’t played the most formidable defenses in this stretch, but they finally have a foundation upon which to build. After their bye this week, they play the Commanders and Cardinals, two more porous defenses that will give their players a chance to shine in fantasy.
Tight Ends Finally Showing Their Value
The tight end position has been disappointing in fantasy this season. Even though six tight ends had an ADP of 53 or below in redraft leagues, only five are averaging over 10 points per game. Only George Kittle and Brock Bowers have been actual standout performers of those five.
Well, Week 6 was the week that all changed. Mark Andrews, Sam LaPorta, and Cade Otton scored for the first time this season, while Evan Engram and Trey McBride also shone, seeing high target volume. Engram surpassed 100 yards in his first game back from injury, and McBride became Kyler Murray’s first option after Marvin Harrison Jr. suffered a concussion.
Travis Kelce should continue his resurgence as Patrick Mahomes’ main target with Rashee Rice out. Hunter Henry is also an intriguing option, with Drake Maye now starting for the New England Patriots. Week 6 might have just been a flash in the pan for tight ends, but they showed their worth for the first time all season. Tight end is an unglamorous position in fantasy, much like in real life. But having a consistent set-it-and-forget-it option can be crucial to fantasy glory.
Veteran Running Backs Continue To Produce
Running backs have short NFL careers. The workload, combined with the number of hits they have to take, does not bode well for a long career. Due to this, running backs usually start to decline at the ages of 28-30. For this reason, many veteran running backs tend to be avoided during fantasy drafts.
However, in 2024, veteran running backs have flourished. Derrick Henry has continued his onslaught, leading the league with nine touchdowns in six games. Alvin Kamara is the overall RB1 and continues to see elite volume and production. Joe Mixon and Aaron Jones have dealt with injuries but have been outstanding fantasy options when they’ve played. Although he is a tad younger, David Montgomery has played like Derrick Henry-lite, producing 18.1 fantasy points per game in a Detroit Lions offense that looks unstoppable,
All of these players are top 12 fantasy options for the rest of the season despite being 27 or older. Whether it be new situations or just incredible longevity, many veteran backs are thriving. They might not be the most valuable in Dynasty leagues, but running backs this year have bucked the trend of hitting the wall at 28.
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