NFL: Aaron Rodgers Among 5 Best Fantasy Football Performers in Week 7
Another week of the season is nearly complete, with just an AFC East showdown between the New England Patriots and New York Jets left to play on Monday night. This week saw many of the league’s top talents put up strong performances in fantasy football. Here are a few of the best individual outings in standard PPR leagues.
5. Darren Waller
ESPN: 31.6 PTS
Through the first six games of the season, one of the brightest spots in the Raiders offense has continued to be Waller. He has emerged as the primary factor in the passing game as he has had seven catches on eight targets for 126 receiving yards and his first two touchdowns of the year.
Waller has had three double-digit scoring performances this season while toppling 100 receiving yards twice. The Raiders offense has had its ups and downs, but the veteran tight end will remain a factor weekly with him tittering around double-digit fantasy point outings.
4. Latavius Murray
ESPN: 32.0 PTS
New Orleans entered Week 7 action without star running back Alvin Kamara due to an ankle injury, which opened up a tremendous opportunity for Murray to step up. The veteran back took advantage of the extended role in a major way by putting up his best outing in a Saints uniform as he had 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns along with five receptions for 31 receiving yards.
Murray paced the offensive attack with his play in the running game as he carved up the Chicago Bears defense for his first 100 rushing yard outing of the year. If Kamara misses another week of action, he will have the chance to add another strong outing against a struggling Arizona Cardinals defense.
3. Chase Edmond Jr.
ESPN: 35.0 PTS
The Cardinals entered Week 7 action against the New York Giants with plenty of question marks around the health status of star running back David Johnson. It opened up an opportunity for Edmond Jr. to grab a significant role in the running game.
The second-year back stepped up, putting together a career-best outing as he piled up 126 rushing yards with three touchdowns along with hauling in two catches for 24 receiving yards. What this performance proves is that Edmond Jr.’s production is no fluke as he has notched a touchdown in three straight weeks that has anchored double-digit performances in each game.
If Johnson continues to be hampered by injuries, the Cardinals will be more than comfortable leaning on the Fordham product.
2. Marvin Jones Jr.
ESPN: 43.3 PTS
The Detroit Lions may have fallen short in a pivotal game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7, but it shouldn’t overshadow the impressive outing that Jones Jr. put together. He was Matthew Stafford‘s favorite target in the red zone on Sunday afternoon as he tallied 10 catches for 93 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
The Vikings defense didn’t have an answer for him as it marked the second time in his career that he has notched at least four touchdown receptions in a single game. It put him alongside Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and former Green Bay Packers great Sterling Sharpe to achieve that feat.
It would be foolish to expect Jones Jr. to be a WR1 weekly, but he has proven to be a reliable option this season.
1. Aaron Rodgers
ESPN: 43.8 PTS
It was nothing short of a masterful performance from Rodgers picking apart the Oakland Raiders defense in Week 7 action. He had his way with their secondary, completing 25-of-31 passes for 429 yards with five touchdowns along with rushing in another one.
Rodgers had just as many touchdowns to interceptions in the contest while he posted the first-ever perfect passer rating in Packers history. What made it even more impressive was that he did all that without the services of star wide receiver Davante Adams.
Beyond that, Rodgers looked like a legitimate MVP candidate with the more comfort he has in the offense under first-year head coach Matt LaFleur.
