Week 7 of the NFL has been filled with trade action, from the Buffalo Bills trading for one of the league’s top wide receivers from the Cleveland Browns to the New York Jets also acquiring a top wide receiver from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Dallas Cowboys were completely and utterly demolished by the Detroit Lions this week, while the Bills narrowly clinched a win against the Jets with a 22-yard field goal from Tyler Bass. In the AFC South, Joe Flacco stepped up as the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. Here’s the breakdown of the action. 

Reuniting Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams might be just what the Jets need. 

The Jets gave up a conditional third round draft pick for veteran wide receiver Davante Adams, formerly of the Raiders. The star had complaints with the Raiders’ choice at quarterback as the team had initially traded away Derek Carr, the previous quarterback for the Raiders and close friend of Adams.  

This trade reunites Aaron Rodgers with Adams. The previous Green Bay Packers quarterback and wide receiver duo played together for seven years during the 2014 to 2021 season. The Jets, who are currently third in the AFC East with a win-loss record of 2-4, are closer to becoming Super Bowl contenders with this addition.

Prepare for the Amari Cooper and Josh Allen experiment.

Josh Allen has led the Buffalo Bills to four wins without star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, but those wins did not come easy, with only one field goal separating the winning team from the Jets. The team’s first and second wide receivers, Khalil Shakir and rookie Keon Coleman, have had mixed results this season. The combined receiving yards from last week’s performance from both players was less than 50 yards. Despite this, Shakir is coming back from an injury and currently has the highest receiving completion rate in the NFL at 95.2%.  Rashee Rice, Ja’Marr Chase and Chris Godwin only have around 80%.

The Bills decided to trade for star 30-year-old wide receiver Amari Cooper to try to bolster their receiving core. The deal made sense for both parties, as Cooper has struggled in the Browns’ offense this year with only 41.7 yards per game compared to last year’s 83.3 yards per game. This trade gives the Bills a chance at Super Bowl contention and fills in the need of a star wide receiver. 

The quarterback debacle: Joe Flacco or Anthony Richardson?

Last year, Flacco won Comeback Player of the Year as he led the Browns to the playoffs. This year, he was signed as the backup quarterback for the Colts. The 39-year-old led the Colts to a win against the Tennessee Titans Oct. 13 with two touchdown passes. The Colts are now 3-3 with Flacco bringing two wins under his tenure, but the Colts have rookie Anthony Richardson returning. 

At the beginning of the season, star rookie Anthony Richardson was a starting quarterback. But the Colts started the season 0-2, with Richardson throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. The team won the next game against the Bears, but Richardson did not score a touchdown and only had two interceptions. The next game, Richardson went down and Flacco got subbed in, winning against the Steelers. Now both quarterbacks are an option for the Colts, but who would be better suited to lead the team? The Colts quarterback decision is vital for a franchise, with both players having abundant future capabilities that could affect your fantasy team greatly. The Colts have decided to start Richardson this week. 

Jordan Love is back and better than ever. 

Last week’s Packers game against the Cardinals resulted in a 34-13 win for the Packers, with Jordan Love throwing four touchdown passes. In last week’s Packer vs. Los Angeles Rams game, Love came away with a quarterback rating of  95.7. Love’s rating increased to 119.5 against the Cardinals. 

During the Rams vs. Packers game, Love only scored two touchdown passes with an interception, but the Packers were able to win by four points. The game prior to that was his first game returning from a medial collateral ligament sprain, which resulted in a loss against the Minnesota Vikings with three interceptions thrown by Love. In the game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Love proved to be a top fantasy quarterback option by scoring 25.62 points in PPR leagues. 

The Cowboys are in the Lion’s den. 

One of the biggest NFL blowouts this season occurred Oct. 13 with the Lions completely and utterly destroying the Cowboys. The only points the Cowboys scored that game were by Brandon Aubrey. The kicker was able to miraculously score two of those field goals at around the 50 yard line. The Lions, on the other hand, scored multiple touchdowns as Jared Goff threw a barrage of passes, one of which was an impressive 52 yard pass to tight end Sam LaPorta. With the Cowboys currently third in the NFC East, are they still Super Bowl contenders and can the Lions become the new kings of the NFC North?

The Cowboys, a team with a standing of 3-3, have multiple talented players, from wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to linebacker Micah Parsons to quarterback Dak Prescott. Even though the team was obliterated by the Lions, it’s still in contention. The Cowboys have talent to do well, but just need the wins. 

The Lions, now 4-1, are currently in the only conference divisions where all teams have a winning record. As competitive as the NFC North has become this season, the Lions are a win away from tying for first in the division if the Vikings lose their next game. With this victory, the team is now on the horizon for Super Bowl contention. 

Week 6 Predictions: Who should you start and sit?

Week 6 brought a whole lot of embarrassment, whether that was the Cowboys losing 47-9 against the Lions, or Nick Sirianni yelling back at his own fans and being a bit too happy for winning against the worst team in the league by four points. Hopefully this week won’t leave our faces stinging with mortification, but it depends on who you start and who you sit. 

Start

A.J. Brown (WR, PHI) (Away vs. NYG)

Philly fans are thanking God wide receiver A.J. Brown is back. This season has been a rough start for the Eagles and with Brown back, Philly can finally breathe. Let’s be honest, Brown is the only reason why the Eagles won against the Browns on Oct. 13. 

With this being his first game back from a hamstring injury — he had played week one in Brazil prior to his injury in practice during week two  — he was able to perform just like how a normal Brown can execute. In both games Brown played in, he secured a touchdown for the Eagles, the first of only two touchdowns by the Eagles Oct. 13. Being targeted nine times, he was able to catch the ball six times — his longest catch of the game coming in at 40 yards. Brown’s comeback comes at a perfect time as the Eagles head to New York to face division rival Giants. The Giants are last in the NFC East with a 2-4 record, and their defense is ranked at 24th. This team has been consistently blown out by good offensive teams, and with Brown and fellow Philly legend DeVonta Smith, the team should be in good hands.   

Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL) (Away vs. TB)

Lamar Jackson has been having a good season, but he isn’t grabbing the spotlight. In the Baltimore Ravens’ last game Oct. 13 against the Washington Commanders, he managed a 76.9% completion rate. In this season so far, he had over 1,500 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. 

But it’s Jackson’s run game that makes him impressive. In just the last game, he carried the ball 11 times for 40 yards. In his best carrying game Sept. 22 against the Cowboys, he ran the ball 14 times for 87 yards. This week, the Ravens are taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are led by Baker Mayfield, whose quarterback ranking falls slightly below Jackson’s 69.4% at 62.5%. It is Jackson’s legs that are going to separate these two quarterbacks who we all know can throw. Mayfield also has a higher interception number than Jackson, 5 to 2, respectively, and this trend could benefit the Ravens.

Kyren Williams (RB, LAR) (Home vs. LVR)

The Rams are not having a good season, but running back Kyren Williams is. With the exception of the Rams game against the Arizona Cardinals Sept. 15, Williams had at least 18 carries or more in each game. Just two weeks ago, Oct. 6, he carried the ball 22 times for 102 yards. This season, he is projected to have over 320 carries for over 1,220 yards, an expectation that he can certainly reach. 

Recovered from an ankle injury last season, Williams has proven himself consistent for the Rams, especially in terms of touchdowns. He has scored a touchdown in every game, and the game against the 49ers, he scored two. This week, Los Angeles is playing the Las Vegas Raiders at home. The Raiders have a slightly better record at 2-4, while L.A. has a 1-4 record due to their bye last week. The only wins that Las Vegas has are against the Cleveland Browns, one of the worst teams in the league, and the Baltimore Ravens. The only win Rams have is against their NFC West rival the San Francisco 49ers, who are currently 3-3. The rest of the teams they have played were good, like the 4-1 Detroit Lions and the 4-2 Chicago Bears. This is not an excuse for the Rams, but they have been able to stay in the game against these teams unlike the Raiders. 

Sit 

Zack Moss (RB, Cin) (Away at Cleveland) 

Cincinnati Bengals’ running back Zack Moss should not be starting on your fantasy roster. He has barely been carrying the ball since the start of the season, even then he was not at the average number of carries. The most carries he has had was Sept. 29 against Tampa Bay, with only 15 carries for 51 yards. On Oct. 13 against the Giants, he carried the ball six times for 13 yards, meaning he only averaged 2.2 yards. The best thing that happened for Moss this season was his singular touchdown against the Commanders Sept. 23. 

Next week the 2-4 Bengals are playing against 1-5 Cleveland, but the Browns’ defense is not their problem. In fact, they are the fourth-highest defense in the NFL. Their defense keeps Cleveland in the game, as we saw in their game against the Eagles. Moss’s bad record against worse defenses is not going to help him in this game, and will definitely not help your fantasy league. 

Jaylen Warren (RB, PIT) (Away vs. NYJ)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has not been carrying the ball far. This season so far, in total, he has run the ball 61 yards. Last week, Oct. 13, against the Las Vegas Raiders, Warren carried the ball six times for seven yards, meaning he averaged 1.2 yards. His receiving isn’t great either. In Pittsburgh’s game Sept. 22 against the Los Angeles Chargers, he had one reception, with negative four yards. 

This past week was a little better, as Warren had three receptions for 11 yards. His fantasy football percentage dropped this past week by 6.8. There is absolutely no need for Warren to start. Looking to this week against the New York Jets, who just acquired wide receiver Adams from Las Vegas, Pittsburgh will be putting up a fight in this game. If Rodgers can make that pass to Adams consistently, then the game is done. The Pittsburgh offense will need to be steady in their passes and keep the Jets offense off the field. If the Steelers can maximize their time on the field as an offensive unit, they are shutting down the best, and only, angle for the Jets.  

Calvin Ridley (WR, TEN) (AWAY vs. BUF)

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley had a terrible game last week. At an Oct. 13 game against the Indianapolis Colts, he did not catch any of his eight targeted passes. So far this season, Ridley only had nine receptions, earning 141 yards. This means that his best game came Sept. 15 against the New York Jets, where the Titans lost 24-17. In this game, he caught four of the six targeted passes with 77 yards. Ridley’s longest catch that game was 40 yards. 

In their next two games, Ridley caught one out of three targeted passes for each game. The first game he earned nine yards, and the following game, he earned five. This week, Tennessee plays in Buffalo against the 4-2 Bills, while the Titans are 1-4. This isn’t going to be a beating as you might expect — looking at their record, Tennessee’s defense is what keeps them in their games. But their offense, including Ridley, has been crumbling. What adds a spark to the flame is that the Bills defense has been able to shut down without many of their key players due to injuries. Buffalo has the second-lowest net yards per passing attempt and yards per play, so this will not help the already struggling Titans. Ridley needs to sit.