Bold Predictions For Week 7: Aaron Rodgers To Finish As A QB1

The bye weeks aren’t slowing down and in Week 7, there are a ton of elite fantasy options out of action. Our bold predictions article tends to highlight some more under the radar names to consider for instances just like this.

Fantasy Football Bold Predictions For Week 7

Aaron Rodgers Is A Top-10 QB

It’s impossible to project how he’s going to get there each week.

But Aaron Rodgers, even at age 42, keeps getting it done.

Following a QB12 performance against Tampa Bay, Rodgers has now finished as a QB1 in four consecutive games. Some weeks he's attacking down the field, others he’s throwing the ball short. Like last week when he posted a 4.1-yard aDOT and attempted a whopping 16 screen passes. Rodgers ranks just 23rd in fantasy points per dropback (0.43), but is making up for it with plenty of volume. Rodgers is averaging 37 pass attempts per game, while the Steelers rank second in dropback rate (70%), fourth in dropback rate over expected (5%) and first in dropback rate inside the 10-yard line (82%).

He draws a great matchup this week, facing a Saints defense surrendering 2.54 points per drive (6th-most), while also allowing touchdowns on 30% of drives, the fifth-highest rate in the league. The Saints rank 29th in pressure rate (29%), which bodes well for Rodgers, who is completing 67.7% of his passes with nine touchdowns when not under duress. Pittsburgh’s pass-heavy red zone scheme could shine here, as New Orleans has allowed the most passing touchdowns from the low red zone this season to go along with the seventh-most passing yards per game to opposing signal callers.

Malik Washington Finishes As A Top-30 Fantasy WR

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, DeVonta Smith, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Zay Flowers. Those are the only wideouts in the NFL with a higher target share than Malik Washington.

No, really.

Washington’s 30% target share is a top-seven mark in the league while averaging just over seven targets per game. He also sees a few carries per game for an added bonus. I’d like Washington even more if the Dolphins would start to abandon the run when trailing in the second half of games, but they’re content on accepting defeat more often than not. Still, Washington draws a Jets defense playing a ton of Cover-2, which Washington is sporting a strong 29% TPRR against so far this season. Washington is also averaging more fantasy points per route against zone coverage than man coverage this season, making this a solid spot. The Jets do rank pretty strong against fantasy wide receivers, but they honestly haven't faced a ton of great options. And if we’re being honest, A.J. Brown should have had a monster day against the Jets last week but dropped four passes.

Blake Corum Finishes As A Top-30 RB

Between injuries and bye weeks, many fantasy teams are going to be looking for help at the running back position this week. And even though Kyren Williams is still the 1A and logging 70% of the snaps, I think Corum is a really strong option. For starters, we know Corum is going to see 8-12 touches most weeks anyway. But I think we could see more of an emphasis on the Rams backfield in this matchup and the foreseeable future.

The Rams will be without Davante Adams for the next 6-10 weeks. And once he left last week’s game, Sean McVay heavily leaned on 12 and 13 personnel. Los Angeles deployed 13 personnel on 18-of-56 plays (32%), but that rate was much higher after Adams left the game. With no wideouts that warrant targets after Puka Nacua, I fully expect the Rams to mainly operate out of 12 and 13 personnel going forward, with an emphasis on the run game. Las Vegas is already a vulnerable run defense, surrendering the second-most rushing yards (113.7) and eighth-most fantasy points (21.6) per game to opposing backfields. But against 13 personnel in particular, they are allowing a league-high 5.3 yards per carry and 3.64 yards before contact per attempt.

Don’t expect Corum to suddenly play 45-50% of the snaps or anything. But I do think he’ll get the ball a lot when he is on the field, with a potential slight bump in pass game usage with Adams sidelined. If you are forced to start Corum at RB or FLEX this weekend, I think you could be in for a surprise.