With 1/3 of the season behind us, now it’s time to take off to the top of your Fantasy Football league or react to get out of the last positions
Another week begins and after a third of the 2024 NFL season and Fantasy Football, we have entered the phase where errors must be zero, whether for those who are fighting for the top positions or for those who are trying to escape the last positions.
Today, with another thermometer, we will highlight the players who should be selected with confidence and those who you should avoid to beat your opponent in the game within the game.
And to help you scale your team in the best way, the The Playoffswhich continues in its tradition of bringing you the main names that can score or fail in the league round, which brings great duels in the 15 upcoming games.
But before moving on to what matters most, some important clarifications are necessary: superstars like Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and Travis Kelce will not be mentioned, as they are quite obvious choices.
Furthermore, the tips are simple: the hot ones are those players who, for this round, have favorable matchups to score very well. The cold ones are exactly the opposite: those who tend to score few points or a lower score than what is expected as an average from such players, at least this week.
Furthermore, it is noted that the tips are based on the scoring format that left the old “standard” behind, has consolidated itself as the most popular and is already the standard on all major platforms: the PPR, which is the one that assigns one point per reception.
FANTASY FOOTBALL HOT OR COLD, WEEK 7
HOT QB: Jordan Love (GB vs HOU)
Since returning from injury, Love has surpassed 25 Fantasy points twice and his ceiling remains quite high with many touchdown passes. It’s true that the Packers face one of the best defenses against quarterbacks, a strong defense… but Love continues to be extremely reliable and Green Bay’s attack is doing very well, thank you. Game that promises to have a lot of points. Select the “love” QB on your team.
Other hot QBs: Baker Mayfield ( TB vs BAL), Kirk Cousins (ATL vs SEA), San Darnold (MIN vs DET)
QB FRIO: Patrick Mahomes (KC @ SF)
Yes, Mahomes. It’s the first time I’ve put the superstar in the cold column. In other seasons the player wasn’t even mentioned, as he was an obvious lineup choice, but in 2024 things are different for the current league champion QB.
Mahomes averages more than 14 points per game in Fantasy this year and faces a powerful defense, in a game away from home and looking like revenge for the last Super Bowl. The 49ers have only allowed eight passing TDs in six games and have made life difficult for their QBs.
I say this with pain in my heart. But Mahomes isn’t a big name for Fantasy in 2024.
Other cold QBs: Brock Purdy (SF vs KC), Aaron Rodgers (NYJ @ PIT), Justin Herbert (LAC @ ARI)
HOT RB: Tony Pollard (TEN@BUF)
If at the beginning of the season there were doubts about Pollard’s production playing for the Titans, the questions have probably been answered and clearly he is the team’s RB1 with plenty. On top of that, Tyjae Spears is injured and is doubtful, a fact that should further increase Pollard’s production.
The RB has participated in an average of 65% of his team’s offensive snaps and saw that number rise to 75% last week, with averages of more than 19 carries and 80 yards per game.
To further corroborate their lineup, a match against the Buffalo Bills’ defense, the second team that allows the most points to RB’s in the league. Climb it!
Other hot RBs: Chuba Hubbard (CAR @ WAS), Brian Robinson Jr. (WAS vs CAR), Joe Mixon (HOU @ GB)
RB FRIO: Travis Etienne (JAX vs NE)
So far one of the many disappointments of the year, as well as the two teams. With a hamstring injury, Etienne was out of Week 6 and is still doubtful for the game against the New England Patriots. To make matters worse, he hasn’t scored more than 15 points in any game this year and has seven or fewer points in two duels. The ceiling is low and the division with RB2 Tank Bigsby is growing with each round. Unreliable name!
Other cold RBs: Rachaad White (TB vs BAL), Devin Singletary (NYG vs PHI), Nick Chubb (CLE vs CIN)
HOT WR: Zay Flowers (BAL@TB)
Zay Flowers has been on fire this year and has so far taken over Mark Andrews’ place as Lamar Jackson’s favorite target. There were nine passes in his direction in Week 6, with nine receptions for 132 yards, with more than 22 fantasy points for the player.
There are four games with more than 19 points and with nine or more targets for the Ravens’ WR, against a defense that allows many points to players at the position. Promise of a game with lots of points in Florida and Zay Flowers should benefit from it once again!
Other hot WRs: Tyreek Hill (MIA @ IND), Terry McLaurin (WAS vs CAR), Jameson Williams (DET @ MIN)
WR FRIO: Michael Pittman (IND vs MIA)
Pittman had a back injury and still did relatively well in week 6, surpassing ten points. However, the highest score ended up being due to the TD scored that boosted it. Now, with the return of Anthony Richardson, the tendency is for the aerial attack to have less production, as was the case with the starter on the field.
To further prove that choosing Pittman is a risk in week 7, a duel against Miami’s secondary, the third that allows the least points to wide receivers in the season.
Other cold WRs: Calvin Ridley (TEN @ BUF), Jaylen Waddle (MIA @ IND), George Pickens (PIT vs NYJ)
HOT TE: Brock Bowers (LV @ LAR)
Bowers has been the only hot name in a limited attack like Las Vegas, which has now lost Davanta Adams, giving the TE even more room to shine. He is already the leader among position names across the league in targets and receiving yards and the second with the most fantasy points.
Finally, I play against the Los Angeles Rams, the second team that allows the most points to TE’s in the season so far. Plenty of reasons to have Brock Bowers in your starting lineup.
Other hot TEs: Kyle Pitts (ATL vs SEA), David Njoku (CLE vs CIN), Evan Engram (JAX vs NE)
TO COLD: Pat Freiermuth (PIT vs NYJ)
Freiermuth had a limited performance last week, with just two receptions for 16 yards on three targets for a total of 3.6 fantasy points, his worst result of the season. He has scored fewer than ten points in all but one game this season. Additionally, he had fewer than 25 receiving yards in two straight games and surpassed 40 receiving yards just once in 2024.
The production ceiling is low, and explosive games seem increasingly rare, even with Russell Wilson now in charge of the attack. To complicate matters, Pittsburgh faces the Jets’ strong defense, which gives up the seventh-fewest number of Fantasy points to tight ends. Best to avoid Freiermuth this week.
Other cold TEs: Dalton Schultz (HOU @ GB), Mike Gesicki (CIN @ CLE), Isaiah Likely (BAL @ TB)
DEF QUENTE: Cincinnati Bengals (CIN @ CLE)
The Bengals face the Browns’ offense, which so far hasn’t found its place this season. Deshaun Watson has been performing well below expectations and the team lost Amari Cooper, their main receiver. Cleveland has struggled to even get first downs this year and the offense is a real mess. Scaling up the Bengals’ defensive unit is a sign of a lot of points.
Other hot DEF: Indianapolis Colts (vs MIA), Denver Broncos (@ NO), Buffalo (vs TEN)
DEF FRIA: Minnesota Vikings (vs DET)
Here we are talking about the best defense in the league so far, an extremely reliable defensive unit, but facing an attack that is flying and growing. The Lions have gone over 40 points in the last two rounds and Jared Goff and his teammates have been playing too much. Confrontation with many points. Don’t take any chances on the Vikings’ defense.
Other cold DEF: Detroit Lions (@ MIN), San Francisco 49ers (vs KC), Cleveland Browns (vs CIN)
K QUENTE: Younghoe Koo (ATL vs SEA)
There are three consecutive games with 12 points or more for the Falcons’ kicker, very considerable numbers for the kicker position in Fantasy. The team’s attack led by Kirk Cousins has been finding itself more and more and the South Korean has once again become an elite option in the position. Climb it without fear!
Other hot K: Austin Seibert (WAS vs CAR), Ka’imi Fairbairn (HOU @ GB), Chase McLaughlin (TB vs BAL)
K COLD: Daniel Carlson (LV @ LAR)
Although he is a very talented kicker, Carson is part of a team that so far has a completely ineffective attack. It’s okay that the match is against the Los Angeles Rams, who are also not doing well this season, but I can’t see the Raiders positioning the kicker for many kicks or giving opportunities for extra points. I don’t recommend it!
Other cold K: Nick Folk (TEN @ BUF), Dustin Hopkins (CLE vs CIN), Jason Meyers (SEA @ ATL)
