Week 7 had a bit of everything. One offense got back on track. A tight end maintained momentum in a loss. Yet, it wasn’t all good. The Chiefs are the final remaining unbeaten squad, but everything isn’t coming up roses for them. A high-priced free-agent signing is also continuing to flop. Finally, a team’s hand was ultimately forced at the quarterback position.

Fantasy Football Week 7 Surprises

The Bills Were Back at the Buffet After Fasting for a Few Weeks

The Bills had a decent showing against the Jets on Monday Night Football in Week 6. However, Ray Davis dominated in that contest, and Josh Allen bailed them out on some second-reaction plays. Buffalo got off to a slow start against the Titans in Week 7. Yet, the offense looked cohesive and smooth when they found their footing.

Amari Cooper‘s presence was critical, even in a rotational role. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Cooper’s 19 passing snaps and 12 routes were the fourth-most among Buffalo’s wide receivers and were also behind Dalton Kincaid‘s and Dawson Knox‘s marks. The veteran wideout had an ugly drop on third down early in the game but atoned for the mistake, reeling in four receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Kincaid benefited from bumping down a spot in the passing-game hierarchy. Coleman and Shakir were tied for the team-high in targets (seven), and the former had four receptions for 125 receiving yards, while the latter had seven for 65. Kincaid also had three receptions for 52 yards on six targets. Cooper is a WR2, Shakir is a WR3, Coleman is a WR4 — with upside to climb into the WR3 range — and Kincaid is a low-end TE1 if Sunday’s showing was a sign of things to come for the Bills. A high tide raises all ships.

James Cook reprised his role atop Buffalo’s backfield, playing 29 snaps, running 16 routes and toting the rock 12 times versus 13, seven and five for Davis and 12, 10 and one for Ty Johnson. All three of Buffalo’s running backs scored a touchdown against the Titans. Still, Cook is an RB1, and Davis a handcuff who could emerge as a bye-week fill-in RB2 if he absorbs slightly more work. He was on the injury report in Week 7. So, Davis might see more work after a healthier week of practice. Still, gamers must see it before trusting him. Thankfully, no one has a bye next week, and gamers can keep Davis glued to their bench.

Kyle Pitts Has Settled Into a Groove

Kyle Pitts is officially in the circle of trust. The “elite” tight ends haven’t lived up to expectations. Nevertheless, Pitts is turning into a reliable contributor. He had nine targets, seven receptions and 65 receiving yards against the Seahawks in Week 7. It was his third consecutive effort of at least 65 receiving yards, amassing 88, 70 and 65 since Week 5. Pitts has also hauled in seven, three and seven receptions in that stretch.

Since Week 5, Pitts has run 113 routes and had 22 targets (0.19 targets per route run), 17 receptions (5.7 per game), 223 receiving yards (74.3 per game) and 1.97 yards per route run. Unfortunately, Pitts hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1. Regardless, his receptions and receiving yards were plenty to provide fantasy gamers with value, and Pitts is in the upper tier of TE1s.

Fantasy Football Week 7 Disappointments

Patrick Mahomes is Droppable

The expectations for Patrick Mahomes were sky-high in the preseason. The Chiefs traded up in the NFL Draft to select Xavier Worthy, signed Marquise Brown in free agency and Rashee Rice avoided a suspension. Worthy is the only one of the three still standing, and he hasn’t made a seamless transition to the NFL.

JuJu Smith-Schuster had a resurgent performance for the Chiefs in Week 5. Sadly, he re-aggravated a hamstring injury he picked up during practice leading up to Week 7, and Smith-Schuster will likely miss time.

#Seahawks DK Metcalf – Video suggests MCL. Avg = 2 wks but severity varies. Comments optimistic. Early data slightly favors sitting Wk 8#Browns Deshaun Watson – Likely return Wk 1 of ’25#Chiefs JuJu Smith-Schuster – Re-aggravation avg = 3-4 wks. Data favors missing Wk 8

2/8

– Deepak Chona, MD. SportsMedAnalytics (@SportMDAnalysis) October 21, 2024

Mahomes has struggled this season, even when he had Rice.

Patrick Mahomes has played 7 games – he has failed to reach 17 fantasy points in any of them

He has scored fewer than 14 in four of his last five

– Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) October 20, 2024

Gamers in 12-team leagues with deep benches or larger formats can hold Mahomes through the trade deadline, hoping the Chiefs trade for an upgrade at wide receiver. However, it’s entirely reasonable to cut Mahomes in 12-team leagues with medium or shallow benches and smaller leagues.

Calvin Ridley Continued to be Inefficient

It was supposed to be different for Calvin Ridley this year. He piled up unrealized air yards (yards the ball traveled in the air that didn’t result in a reception) for the Jaguars last year. It’s more of the same for his new AFC South employer.

In the previous two weeks, Ridley has had 17 targets, three receptions and 42 scoreless yards. Yuck. He’s reached at least 50 scrimmage yards just twice this year, securing three receptions for 50 yards in Week 1 and four for 77 and one touchdown reception with a 10-yard touchdown run in Week 2. In four subsequent games, Ridley has had five receptions, 56 receiving yards, two rush attempts and 19 rushing yards.

Mason Rudolph started for the Titans in Week 7 and didn’t fix Ridley. The Titans could trade DeAndre Hopkins before the NFL’s trade deadline, leaving Ridley as the team’s unquestioned top wideout. Nevertheless, not all targets are created equal, and the targets from Will Levis and Rudolph haven’t turned into tangible results for Ridley. The veteran wide receiver is droppable in 12-team leagues with small benches or smaller leagues, and Ridley should be stuck on the bench in deeper formats.

Miscellaneous Note

The Browns Are Finally Switching Quarterbacks

The Browns had stuck by Deshaun Watson through his on-field ineptitude, but he ruptured his Achilles on Sunday.

Deshaun Watson just ruptured his Achilles.

Jameis Winston is inactive today.. pic.twitter.com/QQqM57qVl1

– Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) October 20, 2024

Dorian Thompson-Robinson was Cleveland’s No. 2 quarterback in Week 7, and Jameis Winston was the team’s emergency No. 3 quarterback. DTR suffered a finger injury, allowing Winston to enter the game. DTR’s finger injury reportedly isn’t serious, though.

#Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the presumptive starter with Deshaun Watson out, is not believed to have suffered a major finger injury, sources say.

But it’s not that simple. How he responds to treatment and how he can grip a football will determine his availability. pic.twitter.com/k2s8yifjGt

– Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 20, 2024

The second-year quarterback completed 11 of 24 passes for 82 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. DTR isn’t an asset for Cleveland’s pass-catchers. Winston would be a boon for David Njoku and could turn Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman or Elijah Moore into intriguing fantasy options of varying degrees if DTR’s finger sidelines him for any games or the Browns bump Winston ahead of the youngster on the depth chart.

Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.