Smash Starts: Jordan Mason, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and More Week 7 Fantasy Studs
Call them must-starts, call them smashes — but one rule still applies: When you see the star - you smash. Jump in for this week's best fantasy plays.
We are onto Week 7. Injuries sabotaged our Week 6 smashes with Marvin Harrison Jr., David Njoku, and Matthew Stafford (indirectly via Puka Nacua) all being impacted.
It’s a new week with a new chance to smash. Let’s fly out of the tunnel locked in with a singular focus.
Our goal is to dominate. Every single week until we parade our championship in the group chat.
For anyone popping in for the first time..
“Smashes” are players that I expect to out-perform their season projections in Week 7. We want these guys in our lineups, even as flexes. It’s not about giving out lay-ups, we are making the hard decisions on players that have you crashing out.
You know the rules. We don’t blink, we don’t flinch, and we certainly don’t panic. We push these players into every possible lineup.
Week 7 Fantasy Football Smashes
Jordan Mason RB, Minnesota Vikings
I know one person who's happy the Eagles' issues on offense continue to dominate the headlines. Since you can’t see me, I will tell you I’m looking directly at Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Behind all the A.J. Brown rumors and head-scratching play-calling, lies a defense that just got gashed by Cam Skattebo for 98 yards and 3 TDs.
Anytime a running back has a 30-point pull in PPR leagues, they deserves credit. However, I am here to tell you that Skattebo’s performance wasn’t a shock. That’s because the Eagles have been getting run on all season.
FantasyLife+ subscribers know (via the defense vs. position tool) the Eagles give up just as many fantasy points to running backs (23.4) as..wait for it..the Miami Dolphins. Ouch!
Here’s a sample of the success running backs have found so far this season.
- Week 1: Javonte Williams | 19.4 FP
- Week 3: Kyren Williams | 18.2 FP
- Week 4: Bucky Irving | 23 FP
- Week 6: Cam Skattebo | 30 FP
*Scoring referenced for 0.5 ppr leagues
Jalen Carter’s return will surely help, but this has been a season-long issue for Philly. KOC should feature Mason heavily whether it’s Carson Wentz or J.J. McCarthy under center.
Per Dwain McFarland’s Utilization Report, Mason’s usage surged to a season-high in Week 5 (UR 81). With Aaron Jones Sr. moving to IR, along with the state of the Eagles’ rush defense, the stars are aligning for a breakout performance from Minnesota’s feature back.
I can see a 100 yards with the upside to reach the endzone more than once. Only Buffalo, Baltimore, and Tennessee have allowed more rushing touchdowns per game than the Eagles.
(NOTE: You can get a 12-month sub to FL+ for free by downloading Comet. Smash away at this link if you dare)
Jacory Croskey-Merritt RB, Washington Commanders
Well, it took Kliff Kingsbury long enough to figure out the ball should be in Croskey-Merritt’s hands a lot more. I said hands, not haphazardly tossed into in his chest, Mr. Daniels.
Game-costing turnover aside, the Bill bandwagon is once again leaving the station. And this time, it’s for real.
I want as much Croskey-Merritt as I can get against the Cowboys defense.
We know the story by now. In fact, we saw it last year in Cincinnati (Hat-tip to Ian Hartitiz for dubbing the Cowboys as this year’s Bengals over the dog days of summer).
Dallas is the league’s most efficient offense (without CeeDee Lamb lol) and the second-worst defense (31st; EPA/play). The potency of the offense puts pressure on the dysfunctional defense, and vice-versa. They fuel each other for 60 minutes. Nothing will change. Nor should it, it’s a beautiful cycle of fantasy fruitfulness. Everybody wins.
We all saw the highlights of Rico Dowdle’s monster 239-yard game. The previous week, it was Breece Hall averaging 8-yards a pop while coasting to 113 rushing yards. This week, it’s going to be Croskey-Merritt.
When you see the star - you smash. That’s the rule.
Quinshon Judkins RB, Cleveland Browns
This week’s Cleveland-Miami clash is the unstoppable force vs. the immovable object - but not in the way you’re thinking. When it comes to Cleveland, the immovable object is in fact the football.
The Browns are dead last in scoring (17.3 PPG) and 31st in first downs per play (0.263). Forget explosives, they don’t even move the chains. Kevin Stefanski’s offense is already on QB #2 with Dillon Gabriel and the carousel could continue if we don’t see improvement on Sunday.
The Dolphins defense has made every opponent look like an unstoppable force. The fish are floundering equally against both the run (30th rush/epa allowed) and the pass (31st pass/epa allowed).
Here’s where it gets good for Judkins - the Browns can’t pass. Dillon Gabriel’s 35.6% success rate over the last two weeks is the lowest among all 34 qualifying QBs.
Judkins is the only player on this offense capable of exploiting Miami’s vulnerabilities, and Kevin Stefanski knows it. Since Week 3, the Dolphins have the league’s worst run defense (32nd/rush epa), and are coming off back to back games where they allowed 206 yards to Rico Dowdle and 124 to Kimani Vidal.
Everybody eats against Miami, and Judkins will get fed early and often. Let’s load up on the Browns rookie running back.
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Michael Penix Jr. QB, Atlanta Falcons
If you’re without a top 10 option this week due to injury, byes, or both - this one is for you.
It’s time to open our eyes to what’s happening in Atlanta. When fantasy managers drafted Bijan Robinson this August, they envisioned the Falcons’ offense that they saw Monday night: Explosive, balanced, and diverse. As hard as Robinson balled (and balling for 238 total yards is indeed hard), it’s the level of comfort from the QB that caught my eye.
Penix Jr. passed for 250 yards and a touchdown while also facilitating a season-best performance out of Drake London. Penix Jr. sent sixteen targets to London, resulting in 10 receptions, 158 yards and a TD. It was the second consecutive 100-yard game for his star wideout.
The Atlanta offense is much better than you think, and it’s only going to improve as Penix Jr. gains experience. The Falcons currently sit second in the NFL in yards per game behind the Cowboys (378.8). Over the last three weeks, it's been even better. Atlanta has averaged 403.3 total yards (2nd), and the seventh-most passing yards per game.
As we put the finishing touches on this smash-scenario, the 49ers defense makes it all come together perfectly. The matchup provides us with an ascending young QB against a struggling defense, unable to bring consistent pressure to rattle to the second-year pro.
San Francisco has quickly become the league’s second-worst pass defense (31st/epa dropback) since Nick Bosa suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 3. They have allowed 250+ yards and multiple touchdowns in consecutive games, carving out the perfect opportunity for Penix Jr. to smash his projections for this week (14.86 FP).
