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Not So Obvious Locks | NFL Week 7

23 October 2023 • by Neal Maligno

‘Not so obvious locks’ are players who are not ranked in the top 10 this week, but who in my opinion, have the upside to finish there. If you want longer or interactive content, then subscribe to us on YouTube and catch our weekly episodes, including our start/sit advice live stream every Sunday at 11:30AM EST!

I like to hold my self accountable and stay transparent at all times, so here are last weeks NSOL’s and how they performed.

— 49ers QB Brock Purdy finished as QB25 with 7.7 points scored

— Bills RB James Cook finished as RB33 with 7.1 points scored

— Bucs WR Chris Godwin finished as WR28 with 13.7 points scored

— Cardinals TE Zach Ertz finished as TE24 with 4.2 points scored

Now let’s get into Week 7!

QB: Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson was full go at practice on Friday and according to all reports he looked good, so I think it’s safe to assume the Browns will get him back in action on Sunday. It’s also important to note that the Browns are still in a good place within their division, so they need Watson playing as much as possible to not fall behind.

Watson has scored 20+ fantasy points in 2 out of 3 games this season and a match up against the Colts in week 7 is an enticing one. A running game that’s still rolling without Chubb, an elite WR in Cooper, Watson is primed for a good week 7.

RB: Brian Robinson Jr.

Brian Robinson Jr. has had some weeks that felt underwhelming, but in reality on average he’s playing like a top 15 RB. A matchup in week 7 vs the Giants should produce strong numbers, as the Giants will likely fall behind and the Commanders will allow Robinson to run the ball early and often.

Robinson doesn’t get a ton of passing game targets, but he already has two receiving TDs, so that passing game upside is a welcomed surprise, as I thought it would all go to Antonio Gibson originally. Facing the Giants in week 7, Brian Robinson is a safe bet to produce, with the upside to get in the top 10 at RB.

WR: Christian Watson

Christian Watson started the season in week 4 after missing the first 3 weeks due to injury and since returning he’s put up to double digit fantasy points each week. In week 4 he scored a TD and in week 5 he went for over 90 yards, so in week 7 I expect to see him put it all together vs the Broncos.

This will be the get right game for the Packers offense, where Watson can help Jordan Love get his groove back after losing it vs the Raiders in week 5. Coming fresh off the Packers bye week, Christian Watson is my not so obvious lock of week 7 at WR.

TE: Michael Mayer

I talked about him on the waiver episode this week, and I couldn’t find a way to leave him off my not so obvious lock of the week list as well. Michael Mayer is the TE that is about to take off and the week 7 matchup vs the Bears is a perfect one.

With Jimmy G out, the Raiders are handing the keys to Brian Hoyer, which I know…Hoyer at QB isn’t the most exciting thing in the world to hear. But trust me on this one, Mayer’s workload is only going to continue to go up and the Bears defense is this week’s victim of his rise within the Raiders offense.


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