The Week 7 matchup between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots features a matchup of division rivals with winning records duking it out. We’ve got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
Fantasy football projections, Week 7: Jets-Patriots featuring Brandon Marshall, Tom Brady and LeGarrette Blount
We break down the Week 7 matchup between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots.
New York Jets
The New York Jets arguably possess the best defense in the NFL and yet the team is still a decided underdog going into the matchup against the Patriots. They’ll have to compete offensively, which means wide receiver Brandon Marshall should be a busy man. Having to work for his money should suit the premier receiver just fine as Marshall has gone over 100 receiving yards and grabbed at least seven catches in each of the last four games. Few would have predicted that he would be on pace for a 1,500-yard season going into Week 7, but it appears Marshall is still at the top of his game and providing more than his fair share of value for fantasy owners.
In order to beat the Patriots, however, Marshall will need teammate Eric Decker riding shotgun. With 26 catches on the season to go with just 239 yards, Decker hasn’t been nearly as productive as Marshall. That said, he has managed to find the end zone at least once in each of the five games he’s played this season. Decker is a solid WR2 option given that New York is going to need to score often against New England.
New England Patriots
Everything is business as usual for the Patriots these days. Even though it appeared the Indianapolis Colts might give Tom Brady and the Pats a run for their money in the first half of last week’s game. Brady still led his team to a 34-point output. The quarterback threw for 312 yards and three touchdown passes. The interception that came with it didn’t have much of an impact on fantasy owners. Brady is an obvious must-start. He and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers are the best in the game, especially with the Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning clearly in decline.
One player whose stock is going up on the other hand is that of running back LeGarrette Blount. Blount scorched the Colts with a 38-yard rushing touchdown in the first half and an 11-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter. The receiving score was the first of his career and while coach Bill Belichick is famous for his unpredictable use of rushers, Blount is proving a little more reliable from a fantasy perspective in recent weeks. He’ll be busy against the Jets, even though teammate Dion Lewis will steal some touches in the passing game.
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SB Nation presents: NFL Week 7 start/sit fantasy advice
