Houston Texans vs. New York Giants Fantasy Football Matchup Breakdown For Week 7
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Houston Texans vs. New York Giants Fantasy Football Matchup Breakdown For Week 7

John Laghezza breaks down the Giants matchup against the Texans in Week 7 for the fantasy football slate.

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Not often does a team with a record worse than their opponent post as 8.5-point favorites, but I totally get it. Houston’s fresh off a big divisional win to keep their season afloat, while the Giants turn to J.J. McCarthy under center, the newest member of their squad.

Texans vs. Giants Matchup Breakdown For Fantasy Football Week 7

NYG_giants-logo.svgNew York Giants Fantasy Preview For Week 7

Well, Jameis Winston did promise us the full experience, and we got it. Unfortunately, it sadly comes packed with a valley for every peak, leading to Big Blue’s first real taste of J.J. McCarthy. The former 10th overall pick and Minnesota send-off stepped in admirably Sunday, nearly leading the Giants to a tremendous comeback victory. After watching back the tape, it honestly looked a lot like Jameis stylistically, featuring inaccuracy (52.4% completion), with lots of excitement (11.6 yards/attempt, 26.3% deep shot rate), plus the standard turnover (1 INT, 4.8% INT/attempt). McCarthy almost had another throw picked off, deemed incomplete upon review. He only took one sack while managing (2-26) on the ground. Bottom line, for all the times a QB change ruins fantasy projections for teammates, this isn’t one.

McCarthy knew in order to have a chance to win the job, he’d need to target Malik Nabers early and often (25.0% target/route, 4.75 yards/route). Mission accomplished. However, much to my chagrin as an Isaiah Likely manager, the Giants spread the ball out more with J.J. than at any other point this season. Malachi Fields earned 5 targets to Likely’s 3, tied with former Bengal Charlie Jones (23.1% target/route, 5.08 yards/route). If you said who’s that, you’re not the only one — those were his first snaps of the season. So as much as it pains me, Likely’s probably taking a step back with McCarthy. Heads on a swivel.

Quickly progressing toward worst healthy pick on the board this season, Cam Skattebo played all six touchless snaps … oof. Before you rage-drop him, though, be warned: New York also just waived his presumed baseline backup, Najee Harris. Guess there’s no complaining about Harbaugh’s backfield rotation allowed. Best guess for next man up has to be Tyrone Tracy, who, despite limited touches, was responsible for NYG’s first top-17 RB finish this year (6-18-1; 2-27-1). He looked the best of the bunch but still played just 40% of snaps, so I’d be careful expecting some sort of renaissance here — especially against a stingy Texans’ run D allowing just 3.4 yards/carry.

  • Start: Malik Nabers (WR15), Isaiah Likely (TE4)
  • Sit: J.J. McCarthy (QB23), Cam Skattebo (RB35)
  • Sleeper: Tyrone Tracey (RB46), Malachi Fields (WR64)

HOU_texans-logo.svgHouston Texans Fantasy Preview For Week 7

Stuck to a nearly irredeemable 0-4 start out of the gate, Houston needed to turn on the offense, and QB C.J. Stroud answered the bell. Coming off a second top-3 finish in just three weeks, thankfully Stroud’s third-year play’s extremely reminiscent of his first. The overall QB5’s second in passing behind only Matthew Stafford, doing it with strong metrics across the board (0.15 EPA/dropback, 100.9 passer rating, 7.8 yards/attempt, 0.5% INT). As long as Nico’s suiting up out wide, the defense-only Texans of yesteryear are no more.

Speaking of Nico Collins, he’s just ridiculous on a per-route basis, T-8th among WRs with some guy named Puka Nacua scoring 0.57 fantasy points/route. Beyond that, suddenly it’s become an embarrassment of riches. Personally, I’d be banging the drum for more Jaylin Noel, who’s been beasting the last three weeks (15.8 fantasy points/game, 18.2% target/route, 3.53 yards/route), but between the trade for Marvin Harrison Jr., plus the return of Tank Dell, there’s no way to rely on anyone to produce that day. And let’s not forget Kayshon Boutte or Xavier Hutchinson, who each ran at least a dozen routes on Sunday. Great for real life, terrible for fantasy.

Did someone mention terrible for fantasy? Woody Marks’ window for glory seemed to slam shut before it could open.  Finally set up for a monster workload in the absence of David Montgomery, Marks performed admirably (15-56-0; 2-25-0) but still got outscored by Jawhar Jordan. The third-year UDFA out of Louisville earned just 7 touches but made the absolute most of them (7.2 yards/carry, 4.50 yards after contact/rush, 0.32 EPA/attempt, 16.7% explosive rush rate). However, Woody managers can breathe a little sigh of relief — news just hit the wire: Jordan’s off to the IR. That should buy Marks one more week as a starter until Montgomery returns after Houston’s Week 8 bye.  

  • Start: C.J. Stroud (QB9), Woody Marks (RB18), Nico Collins (WR8)
  • Sit: Marvin Harrison (WR51), Daulton Schultz (TE24)
  • Sleeper: Jaylin Noel (WR38)

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