Thursday Night Football Matchups Analysis - Week 7

After the NFL started with a scorching hot offensive showcase, last week was somewhat of a letdown. Many players came back down to earth for the first time this year. From the Tampa Bay defense smothering Aaron Rodgers to the Cardinals overpowering the dwindling Cowboys, something just didn’t feel the same last week. Thankfully, we have some great matchups in week 7 to fix that.

What is usually a tight division rivalry will have a new look this Thursday as both the Giants and the Eagles have multiple offensive injuries. Given the list of notable players above, it is clear that lots of players who are usually buried on the depth chart will have their time to shine this Thursday. Who will be up to the challenge?

It all starts on Thursday night with a division rivalry. Unfortunately, lots of players are injured, but the one thing you can’t take away is how much this game means for both teams. The winner of this game should be first in the division heading into this weekend. With so much on the line, it has to be a good game. Here is your Thursday night preview for Week 7.

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NYG @ PHI 8:20 pm EST

Notable Injuries

• Miles Sanders (RB, PHI) - Knee - Out
• Zach Ertz (TE, PHI) - Ankle - Out
• Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI) - Ankle - Questionable
• Jalen Reagor (WR, PHI) - Thumb - Questionable
• Alshon Jeffery (WR, PHI) - Foot - Out
• DeSean Jackson (WR, PHI) - Hamstring - Doubtful
• Jabrill Peppers (S, NYG) - Ankle - Probable
• Darius Slayton (WR, NYG) - Foot - Questionable
• Sterling Shepard (WR, NYG) - Toe - Questionable
• Saquon Barkley (RB, NYG) - Knee - Out

Must-Starts

Carson Wentz (QB, PHI): After looking like he should be benched for Jalen Hurts in the first half, Wentz led his team to a 22 point fourth quarter against Baltimore’s stout defense last week. Though the comeback fell short, it was very impressive to see, especially given that prior to this performance, Wentz was commonly seen to be having a “down” year. What many people don’t realize is that he is the QB10 on the year and remains one of the most steady quarterbacks in the NFL.

For the second straight year, the Eagles pass catchers all seem to be getting injured. Thankfully, there is a possibility that Goedert, Jeffery, Jackson, and Reagor all back for this game. If even one of those weapons comes back this week, Wentz is a must-start.

Graham Gano (K, NYG): Yes, Gano makes this section. Currently, he is tied for fourth in field goal attempts, hitting 15 of 16, and has yet to miss an extra point. Rivalries usually bode well for the kickers, and I don’t think this game will be any different. Besides, don’t you remember when Jake Elliott hit that 61 yarder to win the game? It might be time for the Giants to return the favor.

Solid Options

Darius Slayton (WR, NYG): It might come as a surprise, but Slayton is currently the WR-20 in Half PPR formats. In the last two games, he has racked up 170 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions. He is proving himself to be the WR-one on this team and is the only real deep threat on the roster. If Shephard comes back, he might see less volume, but I think it is time to give Slayton the respect he deserves and put him in your lineup. Darius Slay returning for the Eagles is the only reason I am placing him outside of the “Must-Start” tier.

Travis Fulgham (WR, PHI): Wow, if Slayton surprised you, just wait for this guy. Travis “Full-Yard” Fulgham was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the 184th pick in 2019. Since then, he has had a nine-day stint with the Packers and joined the Eagles right before this season. With the current state of the Packers’ receivers, maybe they should have looked closer at this guy. Anyways, in Fulgham’s three games played, he is averaging six receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown.

To put this in perspective, he is currently averaging THE MOST fantasy points per game of all Wide Receivers (18.5). If Jeffery or Jackson come back soon, he may lose some volume, and like Slayton, he’ll have a great corner covering him in James Bradberry. This combination pushes him outside of the “Must Start” options. Even though it’ll seem risky, it’s time we stand in the flames and start him this week as a solid option.

Devonta Freeman (RB, NYG): Full disclosure, I do not think Devonta Freeman looks like a back talented enough to turn down a $4 million contract from Seattle. Having said that, last week Freeman was the only running back on the roster to have a rush attempt. There is no question he is the guy in New York. It is hard to find any back with that kind of workload, and he is going against a defense that is allowing the 12th-most rushing yards per game. I’m giving you the confidence to make him a relative must-start, RB-two/flex play this week. 

Daniel Jones (QB, NYG): I can’t believe I am doing this. Trust me, I don’t want to do this, but Daniel Jones should be in consideration in many 2QB leagues and 12+ team, single QB leagues. Hear me out.

Yes, Jones has yet to crack 18 fantasy points this year. And yes, four of his weeks are under ten points, but I like this matchup. Division game, against a defense that is allowing an average of 355.2 passing yards per game, plus he might get Sterling Shephard back. It might be gross, but the stars are aligning. The hidden gem for me is that Jones currently has the fourth-most rushing yards at the position. That’s only behind Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, and Cam Newton!

With the rushing floor, the passing volume, and if he can hang onto the ball (big IF) he should have a good week. I would start him over Sam Darnold vs. Buffalo, Drew Lock @Kansas, and Gardner Minshew @LA Chargers.

Potential Sleepers

Sterling Shepard (WR, NYG): Shepard looks to return to the field after his three-game absence on the IR. In the one full game we have seen, Shepard brought in 6 receptions for 47 yards. The next week, while only playing 23% of snaps due to injury, he was targeted four times. We’ve seen Jones hyper-target Shepard before, and with Tate disappointing lately, I’d keep my eye on Shepard. 

Evan Engram (TE, NYG): Fun fact: in Engram’s matchups against the Eagles he is averaging 10 targets, 6.5 receptions, and 66 yards. Fantastic. However, it is important to note that he has only played the Eagles twice in his career… and both times were in his rookie season. Ouch. This is the perfect section for Engram because all he has done is sleep. One of my favorite tight ends to draft this season, has shockingly underperformed. I blame a lot of this on the entire team looking horrific, however, you still expect more from the fourth-year tight end.

Given the tight end landscape, if you are looking to move away from Engram and stream the position, I’m going to encourage you not to. I would rather play Engram with his talent and his 17.4% target share over players like Eric Ebron, Trey Burton, and Logan Thomas this week. 

Since I’m already in the flames, I might as well start playing with fire. I’d like to make Engram my Pie Shop call for this week. The Eagles have allowed six touchdowns in six weeks to the tight end position, making this Engram’s best chance to get his first receiving touchdown of the season.

*Pie Shop: An Australian term (usually used in Rugby League) to describe who will score a Try (or in this case touchdown) this week.

Consider Sitting

Boston Scott (RB, PHI): This might surprise some people, especially with Miles Sanders out, all the FAAB that was spent, and the fact that we know Scott is the next man up. Although he hasn’t shown much this year, he did end last year on a 33.8 fantasy game without Sanders. I’m not saying this can’t happen again, as he should get the majority of the work for a team that is 12th in rushing yards per game. However, if there is one bright spot on the Giants’ defense, it’s their defensive line. Despite trailing in almost every game they’ve played, they are currently allowing the eighth fewest rushing yards against.

I suspect this to be a tight game and for Corey Clement to get some work as well. Thankfully Scott should receive all the passing work making him game-script proof. I believe he will be a fine volume flex-play in any PPR format, but I am placing him in the “sit” section to warn people he might not have been worth the FAAB this week.

Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI): Before you read any further, as of this writing Goedert is still questionable to play. If he does, most people will think he is a smash-play. However, I think there’s something else going on with the Eagles.

Yes, Ertz looks like his age has caught up to him over the last few weeks. Plus, there is a world where Goedert explodes and takes the job in his absence, but I just don’t think it will be this week. I say that for two reasons. One, if he still hasn’t been cleared for the game and it’s Wednesday, we can almost guarantee he won’t be 100% healthy. Secondly, say what you will about Ertz being washed, but you can’t take away the fact he is the TE22 on the season. To me, that says more about the system than just Ertz’s ability. I’m thinking there is something else going on in Philly and that “role” isn’t the same this year.

The last deal-breaker for me is that the Giants have only allowed one touchdown to the tight end position all season. Pair that with him not being fully healthy, and I just don’t trust it. This goes for any other Eagles tight ends that are playing this week.  If you are a Goedert manager, there is reason to be excited if he heals up for next week against the dejected Cowboys Defense.

Corey Clement (RB, PHI): If I am not recommending Scott, there is no way I am putting faith in Clement. Corey Clement has proven himself to be a serviceable backup over the last few years. However, we don’t know what this backfield will look like, nor have we really seen Clement play this year. You can’t start this man. 

Golden Tate (WR, NYG): 3.8 receptions, 31.2 yards, and zero touchdowns is what Golden Tate is averaging a game this season. I’ll let you make the call here. 

Any Other Philadelphia Wide Receivers: Whether it’s Jeffery, Jackson, or Reagor, you need to be cautious with all of them - I would need to be blown away by a practice report in order to consider playing them. But I’ll warn you, you can’t win your matchup on Thursday, but you can definitely lose it.

There are some rivalries that always manage to end up in tight games and this is one of them. I think the Giants hang around in this game, and I expect both offenses to produce.

Here are my picks: Giants +4.5 (2-4), Over 43.5 (2-4)

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