Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and other Week 7 fantasy football bad beats to be concerned about appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Week 7 of the NFL season had a lot of standout fantasy football performances from unlikely players. However, some stars severely underperformed this week for their fantasy managers. Let’s look at which of the underperformers should be assessed with more scrutiny if they’re able to play up to their potential.
Projections from Sleeper app. Points are calculated under PPR rules.
Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Projected: 16.7 | Week 7: 5.9
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
Is the King finally losing control of his kingdom? That’s the worry that fantasy football managers have about Derrick Henry after the past two weeks. After a down performance in Week 6 against Cleveland, Henry was expected to bounce back against a Bengals defense that was prone to giving up big plays in the open field. However, Henry was completely shut down by Cincinnati, being held to just 45 yards on 17 carries, along with one catch for four yards.
This now marks the second week in a row that Henry’s performance has taken a tumble. The game flow in the second half certainly didn’t help the star running back: Cincinnati took control of the game in the second half, forcing Baltimore to go to the air. Henry has been consistent before this two-week slump, but his reliance on touchdowns due to his limited participation in the passing game should give fantasy football managers some concern.
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Projected: 16.9 | Week 7: 8.4
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Justin Jefferson over the last few years, it’s that he’s not exactly a QB-proof wide receiver in fantasy football. Jefferson’s play has been dragged down severely by the quality of the players throwing him the football. This year, he’s inherited Kyler Murray’s maddening inconsistency. Jefferson caught four passes for 44 yards against what should have been a porous Indianapolis Colts defense.
Jefferson’s skill still puts him in the upper echelon of wide receivers in the league. However, in fantasy football, it’s getting harder and harder to trust the Minnesota Vikings quarterback on a week-by-week basis.
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Projected: 15.1 | Week 7: 9.8
One of the highest-picked running backs in fantasy football this year, Brown has underperformed more often than not this season. The allure of Brown’s value came from Cincinnati’s apparent dedication to running the ball this season and his continued usage in the passing attack. That second part, in particular, has been what propelled Brown to incredible heights last season.
However, his severe inefficiency as a rusher this season hasn’t been enough to justify his high target rate for a running back. Brown caught four passes in Week 7, but he was only able to muster up 58 total yards. That, combined with the lack of red-zone opportunities for Brown, makes him a tougher sell for fantasy football managers this season.
AJ Brown, New England Patriots
Projected: 14.9 | Week 7: 7.8
Yes, AJ Brown does get some leeway after being out for more than a month with an injury. However, what’s concerning about Brown isn’t the lack of targets… It’s what he’s doing with those targets. He dropped three passes in Week 6, and he dropped another one in Week 7. Additionally, Brown hasn’t quite been utilized as the big-bodied outside receiver that he’s supposed to be, instead being relegated to shallow routes underneath the defense.
The hope is that as Brown gets more in-game reps with Drake Maye, he gains more confidence and starts acclimating to his new quarterback. Still, his first two weeks back from injury aren’t exactly encouraging for fantasy football managers.
Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns
Projected: 10.9 | Week 7: 5.7
After a string of elite performances, it seems like Boston has come crashing back down to Earth over the last two weeks. The volatility of the Browns’ wide receiver room always meant that any wide receiver from Cleveland carries inherently high bust potential. Boston fared much better in Week 7, but he still just recorded three catches and 27 yards without a touchdown.
With KC Concepcion breaking out of his shell, Boston’s position among fantasy football managers is in serious jeopardy.
Related: Fantasy football managers should take note of Broncos coach Sean Payton’s Jonah Coleman endorsement
Related: Week 7 update shows why Giants’ Cam Skattebo fantasy managers shouldn’t give up on him just yet