Hot Fire Fantasy Football Questions: Week 7

Our “Hot Fire Fantasy Questions” series examines a completely upside down Week 7 following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Our Hot Fire contributors from our Fantasy Footballers writing staff includes Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT), and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg). Give them a follow on Twitter along with all of our Footballers accounts to get goodness like this:

Kearse was…worse than I could have ever imagined. Believed fully in him this week, as many did with no Enunwa or Pryor. A painful whiff. Can I distract you with an accurate almost upset??? pic.twitter.com/gvflijuZ1r

— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) October 21, 2018

jared garf! pic.twitter.com/qbFzX2dQVH

— Mike Wright (@FFHitman) October 21, 2018

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1. Which player surprised you the most in Week 7?

As a physical therapist, I’m going to take a medical approach to this question. Marcus Mariota may not have wowed fantasy owners this week, but I was encouraged by what I saw. He’s been dealing with an ulnar nerve contusion in his throwing arm, and his play has been significantly affected. The nerve that is involved can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand. However, this was the first game I watched where his accuracy and velocity on the ball looked normal. It’s an encouraging sign for a Titans offense that has looked anemic thus far. –Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT)

I did not see Marlon Mack having a week changing performance and neither did Yahoo owners as he was started in only 24% of leagues. 159 total yards, 2 TDs, and a 2-pt conversion is top-shelf stuff from a guy who I thought would be muddled among his other Colts backfield mates. He’s the lead-dog and capable of chunk gains, especially in the screen game. Nyheim Hines will eat into some of his targets in games where Andrew Luck is having to bring the team back from trailing but Mack is an every week high-end RB2. –Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)

2. Which breakout RB would you rather have ROS: Marlon Mack, Kerryon Johnson, Nick Chubb?

Nick Chubb. I love Kerryon Johnson as much as the next guy, but I simply don’t trust his usage in the offense. Chubb steps right into a clearly defined role on an up and coming offense with virtually no competition for carries. I expect him to put up RB2 numbers on a consistent basis just like his predecessor, Carlos Hyde. –Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT)

Jason called out Kerryon’s breakout week as the matchup was unbelievable against the Dolphins. He’s explosive and it showed on the field even beyond his 71-yard run in the 2nd quarter. He saw 59% of the snaps compared to LeGarrette Blount‘s 33%. Yes, Blount got the TD again but Johnson still saw 4 carries and 1 target inside the 20 but only one inside the 5. His usage is high-end RB2 territory and if he sees 4-5 targets a game and get in the end-zone you’re looking at a dependable Detroit Lions RB… something few of us thought we would ever say. –Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)

3. Which offense was the most disappointing in Week 7?

I’m going to go with the 49ers on this one. After coming off of an offensive explosion last week against the Packers where they put up 30 points, the offense just did not look good on Sunday. They only scored 10 points and put up a grand total of 228 yards from the line of scrimmage. When you play against the Rams, your offense has to do more in order to be competitive. I wasn’t expecting them to beat the Rams, but the Niners’ offense should have been able to do more against a Rams defense who has been giving up an average of 27.3 points to opposing offenses over the last three weeks. –Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT)

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

What happened with the Bengals? They totaled only 239 total yards after the Chiefs defense came in this week allowing the most yards ever in the first 6 games of the season. They were hemorrhaging yards and Andy Dalton and company couldn’t buy any. Joe Mixon had a terrific matchup setup as the Chiefs were worst against the run and he finished with just 51 total yards. Apart from a CJ Uzomah TD and AJ Green’s first half, there were very few bright spots Sunday night with only 10 points scored. Owners that were filled with hope for a shootout woke up disappointed this morning. –Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)

4. Give us one player owners need to drop and stop hanging on for hope.

It’s time for fantasy owners to let go of Nelson Agholor. It’s Agholor’s fifth straight game with less than 11 fantasy points, and in the last 4/5 games, he’s failed to top 50 receiving yards. The Eagles offense, in general, is down from last year, and the low percentage scoring plays that made Agholor what he was in 2017 isn’t happening. Move on until he proves otherwise. –Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT)

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Be done with Keelan Cole. I drafted him in many leagues this year hoping he would establish himself as the alpha in Jacksonville after an insane run at the end of 2017. Apart from Week 2’s line of 7/116/1, he’s been irrelevant in a mush of Jaguars mess. With Blake Bortles tumbling to the bench, I don’t have many hopes that Cody Kessler can turn it around either. Just stay away and punt him off the bridge before this week’s London game and the Week 9 bye.  –Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)