Week 7 Recap: And What It Taught Us About Handling Bye Weeks

The NFL is like Rowdy Roddy Piper: just when you think you have the answers, it's changing the questions. Every week is it's own chapter in the book of the season. Bye weeks, in particular, shape the top 10 or 20 players at each position in a given week. Superstars miss their designated week, and other, less-hyped players step into their places among the scoring leaders.

Over 30 players fall into the "Overperformers" category in this article, and they all rank in the top 20 at their position. Guys like Derrick Henry, Ja'Marr Chase, and CeeDee Lamb were on bye, leaving the Jake Bobos and Darrell Hendersons of the world to climb the ranks.

As we recap Week 7, I'll point out instances in which a player's performance can teach us something about how to handle bye weeks. Four more weeks have at least four teams on bye (Weeks 9, 10, 11, and 13), meaning owners can take advantage of the quirks of the bye if prepared.

Fantasy scores and rankings are from ESPN

No Explanation Needed

These guys did what they were supposed to do as consistent fantasy performers.

QB

• I write often about rushing production being the most important aspect of quarterback fantasy production. Week 7 proved the rule: Jackson, Allen, and Hurts all lost a fumble, but it didn't affect their status in the top five because they each ran for at least 17 yards and a touchdown.

RB

• Kamara also caught a two-point conversion. His receiving is on another level: Kamara missed the first three weeks while suspended yet has nine more receptions than any other back. He's great in Standard scoring but exemplary in PPR, now with games of 12 and 13 receptions.
• Barkley did lose a key fumble, but his team held on to win, and he was a top-10 back. A hyperextended elbow could affect him, but it sounds like he won't miss any time.

WR

• Meyers has performed like a weekly starter. Teammate Davante Adams had one less target and seven more yards than Meyers but didn't score a touchdown, leaving his fantasy performance more middling.
• Hill dropped two touchdowns in Week 7; his week could have been huge. His number two, Jaylen Waddle, continues producing at a WR2 level (six catches, 63 yards). DeVonta Smith (four catches, 49 yards) is doing the same thing in Philly behind Brown, who is making history.

TE

• Kelce missed Week 1, but it doesn't matter: he's still head-and-shoulders above his position in fantasy scoring.

Overperformers

These players stood out this week and turned heads.

QB

• QB rushing strikes again: Minshew had 29 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his best game in years. Even three lost fumbles couldn't knock him out of the top three in scoring.
• Taylor had a great matchup against Washington. I had a friend pick up Baker Mayfield (who did just fine) and say he'd rather commit unspeakable acts than start Taylor in fantasy: Taylor scored 5.5 more points than Mayfield. The best matchups are often places to focus for a replacement rather than the player you think is better.
• Cousins was bad in Week 6, his first without the injured Justin Jefferson. He turned things around against a good San Francisco defense, though, and Cousins looked like the player from the beginning of the season.

RB

• David Montgomery could miss multiple games, and Gibbs made the most of his opportunity in Week 7. Gibbs has a chance to carve out a more consistent role.
• Foreman emerged as the guy in Chicago after Khalil Herbert went down with injury. He carried the offense on a day in which Justin Fields was also out. Foreman should be the lead back for now, though that's a fluid situation.
• Ford led the backfield in Cleveland before leaving with an ankle injury. Hunt is in line for a lot of work if Ford misses time, as is Pierre Strong (eight carries for 25 yards). Cleveland has used multiple backs since Nick Chubb went down.
• This performance wouldn't be a surprise for Taylor under normal circumstances, but this was just his third game back from injury, and he had been out-performed by Zack Moss in the previous two. The most likely scenario is the timeshare continues, but strong performances from Taylor could lead to him taking over more of the backfield duties.
• Harris scored his first touchdown of the season; it's been a rough year. Jaylen Warren had six rushes for 32 yards and a touchdown of his own as the Steelers moved the ball against a tough Rams' defense.
• Henderson led the backfield after Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers were placed on IR last week. He had seven more touches than Royce Freeman, who gained 66 yards on 12 carries. The hype train for Zach Evans ran off the tracks before it ever got going.

WR

• DK Metcalf missed the first game of his career, and Smith-Njigba had the most yards of his career and his first touchdown. He is sure to see his role expand as the season continues: Tyler Lockett might be cooked.
• The returning Diontae Johnson had 79 yards on five catches while Pickens led the way for Pittsburgh. Pickens has three games with over 100 yards.
• There is a lot of trade buzz around Sutton and Jerry Jeudy (five catches for 64 yards). They both had productive games against a good Green Bay pass defense.
• With Mike Williams out for the year, opportunity was presented for Palmer and rookie Quentin Johnston. Johnston has struggled to get up to speed, but Palmer excelled in Week 7 with the third-most yards among wide receivers. Superstar Keenan Allen was held to a modest 55 yards on four catches.
• Rice and Valdes-Scantling present one perfect archetype for the bye week starter: a lower-ranked receiver in a great passing offense with a good matchup. The Chargers give up a ton of passing yards, and these guys were beneficiaries of Mahomes going over 400 yards.
• We expected Addison to take over the number one role with Jefferson out; it just took him a week to break out. The top-scoring receiver in Week 7 has at least two more games as the top option in Minnesota with Jefferson on IR.

TE

• Hill ran the ball five times for 18 yards and a touchdown. This production for him is the same as quarterbacks getting a rushing boost. Weeks with multiple good tight ends on bye, like Week 13 with Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, and Darren Waller, leave Hill as an almost no-brainer to start.
• Kincaid had the biggest game of his career. Most importantly, fellow tight end Dawson Knox only had one reception on three targets, possibly signaling a bigger role for Kincaid.

Underperformers

These players didn't live up to expectations, leaving fantasy owners frustrated.

QB

• Watson left the game in the first quarter to get checked for a concussion and didn't return (though he was cleared). An unfortunate result on a day in which his team scored 39 points.

RB

• The Bears have been bad on defense, but they completely shut down the Raiders with Jimmy Garoppolo out. Jacobs joined in the disappointment.
• It wasn't Robinson's fault: he was held out most of the game with an illness. Still, it's disappointing for fantasy owners who were counting on him since he was still active. His teammate Allgeier took advantage with 112 total yards.
• McLaughlin's day was fine for what it was, but he had a few big games when Javonte Williams was out before being out-touched 18 to six in Week 7. Williams has reaffirmed himself as the top back in Denver.
• Ekeler hasn't produced like himself in two games since returning from a high ankle sprain. Backs and receivers take the longest of any offensive position to return to form after that injury, and Ekeler is showing the effects. His backup, Joshua Kelley (who struggled with Ekeler out), ran seven times for 75 yards and a touchdown.
• Good defense beat good offense as Mostert had a pedestrian day.

WR

• Ridley also ran the ball once for no yards on a frustrating day. New Orleans has a good pass defense, but his teammate Kirk had 90 yards and a touchdown (while losing a fumble).
• Kupp caught a two-point conversion, but the receiving touchdown went to Tutu Atwell, who had just that one catch. Kupp and Nacua have had one good week together, one good week for only Kupp, and one good week for only Nacua. Both players are weekly starters despite the recent inconsistency.

TE

• Ertz is here because of his competition for playing time, Trey McBride. McBride had the same three catches (on six targets) for 29 yards. McBride had more catches and yards than Ertz in Week 6 and more yards in Week 5. McBride will likely get more work moving forward: even more likely is that Ertz is traded before the end of the month.

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