Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Jordan Love (@ Den) – The last time we saw Jordan Love he threw 3 interceptions against the Raiders. It was a rough outing for Love but up next he faces the lowly Broncos defense. The Broncos are allowing an average of 21.5 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and the Packers are coming off a bye. For the most part, Love has had a solid debut season in Green Bay and he is a viable fantasy option with his rushing ability. I expect Love to finish with 2 passing touchdowns and over 30+ rushing yards in this one.

Sit ‘Em

Trevor Lawrence (@ NO) – As of now it looks like Lawrence will suit up tonight against the Saints. He is dealing with a minor knee injury but it’s not expected to be serious. Even if completely healthy the Saints have mostly shut down opposing quarterbacks allowing an average of 14.1 fantasy points per game to them. If Lawrence does play I expect the Jaguars to lean heavily on Travis Etienne in this one. I would also be hesitant to start any Jaguars pass catchers tonight.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Brian Robinson Jr. (@ NYG) – Robinson has yet to break the 100+ rushing mark in a game but that could change on Sunday. Robinson will go up against a Giants defense that as a team is giving up 147.5 rushing yards per game. Really the only thing holding Robinson back is the pass-heavy play calling by Eric Bieniemy. This is the week to lean in on the run as wind could be a factor in this game.

Sit ‘Em

Raheem Mostert (@ Phi) – Sit a skill player on the Dolphins offense? It sounds crazy but Miami is set to face the Eagles defense that has been stout against the run. The Eagles are allowing an average of just 9.4 fantasy points to opposing running backs thus far. It will also be a chilly Sunday night game in Philly which favors the Eagles at home. This will be a good measuring stick game for the Dolphins on the road. I will be watching closely to see how well their offense performs in these conditions.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Drake London (@ TB) – Drake London started the season slowly but is starting to heat up. He had 9 receptions on 12 targets for 125 receiving yards last week vs. the Commanders. London has had 21 targets in the last two games as the Falcons are looking to get him more involved in the passing game. Up next is Tampa Bay who have struggled to contain #1 receivers this season. I see London getting his 3rd touchdown of the season in this one.

Sit ‘Em

George Pickens (@ LAR) – Last time we saw him Pickens scored the go-ahead touchdown in week 5 vs. the Ravens. He finished with 130 receiving yards in that game and 23.6 fantasy points. Up next is the Rams defense who have been solid against opposing wide receivers so far this season. On top of that, it looks like Diontae Johnson is set to return from IR which will take some of the targets away from Pickens.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Michael Mayer (@ Chi) – It took some time but Michael Mayer finally showed off his potential in week 6. Mayer finished with 6 catches and 75 receiving yards on 6 targets against the Patriots. Up next he gets the Bears defense who have struggled stopping opposing tight ends this season. If you are thin at tight end, Mayer is worth starting and he is still just 12.8% rostered in leagues.

Sit ‘Em

Hunter Henry (vs. Buf) – Henry had a strong start to the season but has been non-existent in his last two games. He is also dealing with an ankle injury that will limit his mobility. The matchup isn’t great either as the Patriots will face the Bills at home on Sunday. Sit Henry until he regains his early-season form.

Start of the Week

Aaron Jones (@ Den) – Despite dealing with a hamstring injury that has him limited in practice, Jones is set for a big day on Sunday. The Packers are coming off a bye which should help in Jones’s recovery. He is also facing the Broncos rush defense whom have been abysmal at stopping opposing running backs. As usual, be sure to monitor his injury but if he is good to go Jones should go off in week 7.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 7 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Mike Gesicki (Patriots-TE) | ADP-169 | TE-21

What happened to Mike Gesicki in 2022? Gesicki all but disappeared from the Miami Dolphins offense and despite playing in all 17 games was only targeted 52 times. He is now with the New England Patriots and hoping the change of scenery will benefit him. Of course, Gesicki will be behind Hunter Henry on the depth chart but that doesn’t mean he should be ignored.

When Gesicki was involved in the offensive gameplan he has shown he can produce. For instance, in week 6 vs the Minnesota Vikings he had 6 receptions for 69 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 21.9 fantasy points propelled Gesicki to the #1 tight end for that week. I expect the Patriots to give Gesicki more opportunities in their passing game as they love to utilize 2 tight end sets. Look for him to be targeted often in the red zone and expect a bounce back year in 2023.

Michael Mayer (Raiders-TE) | ADP-171 | TE-23

The Las Vegas Raiders decided to part ways with Darren Waller this past offseason. In his place, they now have three tight ends competing for the starting role. Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard were brought in and the Raiders drafted Michael Mayer in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite the competition at the tight end spot, I expect Mayer will be the starter in week 1.

Mayer was a star for Notre Dame in his final 2 seasons. He totaled 1,649 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in that span. At 6’4″, Mayer has the length to be a big-time red zone target in the Raiders offense. Expect Mayer to benefit from Jimmy Garoppolo and his quick, accurate passes. I project Mayer to finish inside the top 20 at the tight end position.

*Cole Turner (Commanders-TE) | ADP-NA | TE-NA

If you’re looking for a deep tight end sleeper look no further than Cole Turner. It’s easy to forget about Turner as he had a quiet rookie season plagued with injuries. As a result, Turner finished with only 2 receptions for the Washington Commanders in 2022. Logan Thomas is presumably the TE1 in Washington but can he be trusted for a full season?

Turner is a massive 6’6″ tight end that can make acrobatic catches. His athleticism was on full display at the Commanders training camp last season before his hamstring injury. Turner is now back fully healthy and already making some noise at OTA’s. The tight end position has always been a key component in an Eric Bieniemy offense. With that said, I see Turner being a better fit than Thomas in this new Commanders offense. If he can stay healthy, Turner could be one of the steals of the year that no one is talking about.

Looking for more fantasy advice? Check out our fantasy football section.

*Deep sleeper

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Denver Broncos: RB Samaje Perine (ADP: 167.7)

The Denver Broncos picked up RB Samaje Perine during the offseason in order to beef up their RB depth chart. Javonte Williams is still recovering from injury and there is some doubt that he may miss some parts of the season. Perine will take over the load at first and can be a suitable backup as he also has good pass-catching skills. The Broncos want Javonte to take his time so Perine has his reps.

Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jerick McKinnon (ADP 175.8)

It’s challenging to trust Kansas City Chiefs’ players not named Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Their depth and plays make it possible for anyone to stand out. For this, we will trust Jerick McKinnon. He played an integral role in Kansas City’s run to the Super Bowl. The difficult part is that the Chiefs also have Clyde Edwards-Helaire, La’Mical Perine, and Isiah Pacheco. Hopefully, McKinnon will stand out due to his pass-catching ability.

Las Vegas Raiders: TE Michael Mayer (ADP: 138.9)

The Raiders drafted who many thought is the top TE in this year’s draft. Michael Mayer, a TE from Notre Dame, was picked up by Las Vegas in the second round. He is known for his offensive skills coming out of college. He will have some competition with Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard in the depth chart. Mayer has the most upside among the three and can be a sneaky pickup in the later rounds.

Los Angeles Chargers: WR Quentin Johnston (ADP 106.7)

Quentin Johnston landed in the perfect situation with the Chargers. Even if he’s the third-best WR on the team, the top two are often injured so this will open up more opportunities for him. With the addition of Kellen Moore on the team, the Chargers are bound to throw the ball deep more often which will help Johnston as he is likely to take those reps.

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Michael Mayer TE Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders stole the top TE prospect in multiple draft boards in Michael Mayer in the second round. The tight end from Notre Dame was expected to go in the first round but fell to the early part of the second rounder. With the Raiders trading away Darren Waller, they get a pass-catching TE that will be able to start right away for the Raiders. Jimmy Garoppolo will enjoy having a reliable tight end in day one.

Tank Dell WR Houston Texans

CJ Stroud’s wish came true when the Texans used their third round pick on Tank Dell. A WR out of the University of Houston, he is the perfect slot receiver who will help Stroud. He had 1254 yards and 15 TDs in his last season in college, however his size pushed him to the third round. Being in the QB of the future’s wishlist does make Dell someone worth monitoring. With no established names in the wide receiving corp, Tank Dell can surprise everyone in training camp.

Jalin Hyatt WR New York Giants

The Giants did their job off giving more help to Daniel Jones when they selected Jalin Hyatt in the third round. A lot projected him to be selected higher but this is a steal for the Giants. A deep threat, he will help stretch the field and hope to catch deep passes from Jones. If all goes well, the Giants hope to make the playoffs again next season.

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BACKGROUND

Michael Mayer is a 6’4″ tight end prospect out of the state of Kentucky. In his senior season, he caught 49 passes for 970 yards and 15 TDs. Rivals ranked him the 36th overall prospect in his class and the 3rd best TE overall. He was named the Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year.

COLLEGE CAREER

As a freshman, Mayer started four games and played 12 games. He caught 42 passes for 450 yards for two TDs. The Notre Dame TE got his break as a sophomore when he started all 12 games and caught 71 passes for 840 yards and seven TDs. This led him to a Third-Team All-American.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

Michael Mayer had a lot of expectations after his breakout sophomore campaign. In 12 games, he had three games where he caught over 100+ passing yards. He had 11 catches, 118 yards, and two TDs in the Week 5 matchup against BYU. This was his best game for the season. His ability to receive and block made him a popular discussion late in the first round. He was awarded a Consensus All-American to close the year.

STRENGTHS: Versatility

Michael is a talented TE prospect who can catch and block. He has a very high floor, especially with how TEs are used in today’s NFL. His smoothness and quickness will give defenders nightmares on how to defend him. His impressive pass-catching ability make him a day 1 starter in the NFL.

WEAKNESSES: Athleticism

For a player this talented, it was very difficult to find a weakness in his game. One weakness that experts mostly talked about was his lack of athleticism. Other TEs will be able to do more athletically than him and that could be valued by other coaches and teams.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Jason Witten

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

Multiple mock drafts have Mayer in the middle to late 1st round. A TE as talented as him in the pass-catching and run-game is a weapon in today’s NFL. Personally, I like the fit with Green Bay at 15 as he can form a dangerous combo with Christian Watson. It gives Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love another weapon to use. He could be a sleeper pick for teams ahead of Green Bay if he can show to be on the same level as the WRs available.

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