RADIO
Amari Cooper was a huge boom on Thursday night. Marshawn Lynch was a huge bust.
The booms and busts are not letting up, especially the under-the-radar ones. With only two teams (Detroit and Houston) on bye this week, there are more under-the-radar boom/bust candidates than in previous weeks. Lucky me!
Here are some under-the-radar booms and busts for the seventh week of NFL action to help you set a winning lineup!
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Week 7 Under-the-Radar Booms
Doug Baldwin (WR, SEA) at NYG
The opinionated pass catcher never passes up an opportunity to speak out about controversial topics, but he has been quiet for his fantasy owners this season. Other than his 10-catch, 105-yard, one-TD vintage performance during Week 3, Baldwin has only averaged roughly four receptions and 45 yards per game and failed to the reach the end zone in his other four outings. Coming off a bye week freshened up and hopefully with a kick-started Seattle offense, Baldwin will run routes against New York’s 26th-ranked pass defense. Look for Baldwin to cash in against the Giants’ overpaid and unhappy secondary.
Hunter Henry (TE, LAC) vs DEN
Fantasy owners might be hesitant to use Henry this week because Denver held him catchless in their first meeting of the year in Week 1 and since the Broncos have the third-ranked pass defense in the NFL. Don’t be. After a terrible start to the season, Henry has rebounded better than DeAndre Jordan to rack up 10 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns over his last three contests. Denver has also shown that while the secondary may be above-average overall, they have issues covering top tight ends. Buffalo’s Charles Clay, New York’s Evan Engram and Dallas’ Jason Witten have all caught touchdown tosses against the Broncos during Denver’s last four games.
Austin Hooper (TE, ATL) at NE
What do New Orleans’ Coby Fleener, Houston’s Ryan Griffin, Tampa Bay’s Cameron Brate and New York’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins have in common? No, their first names are not finalists for when my firstborn enters the world. All four caught touchdown passes against New England’s laughable pass defense that is ranked dead last in the NFL. Hooper, who will be Matt Ryan’s second option in Atlanta’s passing attack this week if Mohamed Sanu’s hamstring is not 100 percent, should be a solid start even though he racked up more receiving yards in his opening game (128) than he has over his last four combined (114). The Pats have yet to find a tight end that they can cover, and it is doubtful that Hooper will be the first.
Week 7 Under-the-Radar Busts
Aaron Jones (RB, GB) vs. NOR
Green Bay’s offense is in more disarray at the moment than the lineup for the WWE’s “TLC” pro wrestling pay-per-view this weekend. With centerpiece Aaron Rodgers out for the foreseeable future with his broken collarbone, Green Bay will rely heavily on its running game to shield Brett Hundley from throwing more than 30 passes. But before you pencil Jones in for 20 carries for 100 yards, factor in that Ty Montgomery is still too valuable as a pass catcher coming out of the backfield to allow Jones to be the full-time tailback. Also know that while New Orleans’ pass defense is still soft, its run defense is a respectable 11th in the NFL.
Kenny Stills (WR, MIA) vs. NYJ
Stills has had trouble living up to the $32 million contract he signed with Miami in the offseason. He has no five-reception or 55-yard games yet a month-plus into the season. Blame it on Jay Cutler’s haphazard heaves or Jarvis Landry’s target hogging. Coming off his best effort of the season (49 yards and a TD) and with DeVante Parker likely to miss another game, Stills seems primed for another decent game, but I would not assume the Stills-Cutler connection is sound after only one good half of football. Don't be shocked if Stills has a two-catch, 17-yard bust fest against the surprising Jets.
Martavis Bryant (WR, PIT) vs. CIN
Some fantasy owners might believe that Pittsburgh will attempt to get Bryant more involved in the offense this weekend with extra targets because of the brouhaha created by the reports stating that Bryant asked to be traded. The problem is rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster has earned his targets, Antonio Brown has to get his 10-15, Le’Veon Bell needs his six-to-nine looks, and even tight end Jesse James has forced Pittsburgh to draw up plays for him, too. Complicating matters is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is having trouble getting the ball to his pass catchers as consistently as he used to. This is not the week for Bryant’s fortunes to change, especially up against the NFL’s second-best pass defense. Cincinnati has allowed less than 180 passing yards in four of its five games.
