Welcome back to week 7 of Keeping it Real With Fantasy. There is a big shake up with multiple significant injuries, and key returns to the field. As the deadline approaches, Jets wideout Elijah Moore has requested a trade from the team as a result of a lack of targets. The Giants and Jets keep winning as they both picked up wins in the latest week improving to a combined 9-3.

News/Injuries:

James Conner (RB) –  Conner missed Wednesday’s practice and is a game-time-decision for Thursday night’s game against the Saints. Conner hasn’t participated in a practice since sustaining his rib injury in a Week 5 loss to the Eagles. 

Marquise Brown (WR) – The Cardinals wideout fractured his foot in the loss to the Seahawks last Sunday. The injury was initially thought to be season-ending, but luckily the Cardinals are optimistic Brown can return before the end of the regular season, in time for the fantasy football playoffs.

Starts:

DeAndre Hopkins (WR) – Hopkins is making his season debut in Thursday night football matchup with the Saints. The star wideout was suspended for the first six games of the season due to his violation of NFL rules prohibiting the use of P.E.Ds. When Hopkins is active, he is widely considered a top five receiver in the league and is deserving of a starting spot on anyone’s fantasy team.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) – With Lions wide receivers DJ Chark and Josh Reynolds missing both Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices, the two are potentially out for Sunday’s matchup versus Dallas. This would give St. Brown a large portion of the targets in one of the league’s best offenses. The young receiver is expected to return from an ankle injury suffered in Week 3.

Sits:

T.J. Hockenson (TE) –  With Amon-Ra St. Brown returning this week from injury, giving less opportunities for Hockenson who has struggled to produce with St. Brown in the lineup. Hockenson is also going up against a Cowboys defense that has yet to allow a touchdown to a tight end this season.

Russell Wilson (QB) – Not only has Wilson majorly underperformed with his new team, the Broncos, he was also limited in practice Thursday with a hamstring injury. The Broncos offense as a whole has started off very under the lead of new head coach Nathaniel Hacket and Wilson. This seems like an obvious choice to leave him on the bench this week. 

Waiver Wires:

Wan’Dale Robinson (WR) – The Giants rookie receiver is coming off a good week against the Ravens with 3 receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown. The Giants may be without WRs Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney who missed both days of practice this week, giving Robinson more opportunities. The Giants also play the Jaguars, a team that has struggled defending slot receivers, making Robinson a possible play for this week.

Jelani Woods (TE) – Woods may be a sneaky pick up for your league. He is only rostered in 5% of leagues. The rookie has been a primary red zone target for the Colts; Woods has five career receptions, three of them for Touchdowns.  He’s scored 3 touchdowns this season in as many games and is facing a weak Titans defense against the TE position that has allowed 14.3 PPG to TEs.