Week 7 Fantasy Takeaways: KC conundrum solved, Ware is the man
1. Wave the white flag, Jamaal Charles zealots. Your dream the former rush king would suddenly supplant Spencer Ware as the primary ball carrier in Kansas City is six feet under.
After news JC underwent two MRIs on his surgically repaired knee and experienced swelling this past week, Ware was heavily deployed, once again, versus the Saints. And boy did he deliver. Doing what he’s done all season, the tank flattened the competition displaying a versatile skill set reminiscent of Priest Holmes. On 19 touches, he totaled 132 yards and a touchdown. Charles, meanwhile, finished with an ‘earth-tilting’ zero yards on one carry. Glorious.
A yards-after-contact machine, Ware has averaged an obscene 7.2 yards per touch, a near historic mark. If he maintains his current 2,075 total yard pace, his 2016 will rank No. 28 this century in running back yards from scrimmage. That’s how special he’s been. And that’s why Andy Reid isn’t going to budge on his commitment to No. 32.
With a pair of matchups against Denver (Weeks 12 and 16) and Tennessee his only major obstacles remaining, he’s destined to be an RB1 fixture rest of season. At a minimum, he’ll shoulder at least 65-70 percent of the workload weekly, even if Charles returns to full strength. Scheduled to face the run-friendly Colts in Week 8, Ware is an indisputable elite option.
As for Charles loyalists, it’s time to be realistic about the situation. Sure he’s a brand name, but the rusher’s days of being a premier producer in this league are likely over. Ware has an iron grip on the starting gig. JC is still rosterable in 12-team and deeper leagues, but for those in shallower formats, he’s expendable. Unless something disastrous impacts Ware, it’s doubtful the veteran exceeds 12-13 touches in a game down the homestretch.
2. Enough is enough. Rodney Dangerfield All-Star, Marcus Mariota, demands your respect.
Despite a superb matchup against a Colts secondary which had surrendered 8.0 yards per attempt entering the week and coming off consecutive top-five performances, Mariota was employed in a mere 47 percent of Yahoo leagues. Though he finished shy of 20 fantasy points against the Colts, the former Heisman winner has mostly flourished since Mike Mularkey announced the Titans passing offense would get fixed after Week 4. Since those remarks were made, Mariota has accounted for nine total touchdowns. For the most part, he’s delivered passes crisply and accurately, excelled in the red zone and thrived as a rusher, a Cam Newton doppelgänger.
At this juncture, the sophomore passer is a near must-start in 12-team leagues, at least over the next few weeks. QB1 lines will be aplenty through November. Mariota is blessed with matchups against softies San Diego, Green Bay, Indianapolis and Chicago during Weeks 9-12, and next Sunday versus Jacksonville. His untimely Week 13 bye and unfavorable fantasy playoff schedule (Den, at KC, at Jax) are unappealing, but he’ll certainly be a key cog for owners racing toward the postseason.
3. Hanging out in a meat locker the past few weeks, Jeremy Hill shook off the statistical chill and clocked Cleveland. His 192 total yard, one-TD effort was only the second time this season he crossed the 10-point threshold in standard leagues. Unfortunately, though, he exited the game in the second half with what appeared to be a chest or shoulder injury.
Hill is undoubtedly one of the most maddening players to own. One week he goes bananas (e.g. Week 7), the next he completely busts. Reasons for his inconsistency stem from TD reliance, limited workloads, Cincinnati’s run-blocking issues, game flow and Gio Benard’s presence.
His monstrous performance against the Chihuahuas doesn’t validate Hill as weekly, reliable RB2 in 12-teamers. He’s still matchup dependent. However, next Sunday the Bengal needs to be trusted, provided his dinged wing doesn’t keep him shelved. Cincinnati clashes with Washington in London. The Redskins, who rank inside the top-10 in fantasy points allowed to RBs, are an opponent Hill should pound for 60-80 yards and a TD. After that, the rusher’s best efforts will likely come against Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Houston, opponents he’s scheduled to face during the fantasy playoffs.
