Week 7 bold predictions: Christian Kirk stays hot against Seahawks

Just a refresher: I will provide five bold predictions each week. I will grade those five bold picks on the old elementary scale of grades A-D.

Here are my bold fantasy football predictions for NFL Week 7.

1. Teddy Bridgewater is currently slotted as QB23, he finishes as a top 12 QB

Justification: Bridgewater threw for two touchdowns in Weeks 4 and 5 with at least 275 passing yards before his clunker against a very tough Chicago Bears defense. He comes to New Orleans whose defense allowed at least two touchdowns from Tom Brady, Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Justin Herbert. Teddy has a chance to rebound against the Saints.

2. Christian Kirk is listed as the WR47, he finishes within the top 20

Justification: Kirk scored two touchdowns last week vs. Dallas and there is a chance he regresses down to his 50 yards, no touchdown average OR he could build off that against Seattle’s defense who has allowed the most points to opposing wide receivers. Week 1 Seattle allowed Calvin Ridley (#2 option at WR for Falcons) two touchdowns and 130 yards; Week 3 they allowed Cedrick Wilson and Michael Gallup a combined three touchdowns; last week they allowed Adam Thielen to have two touchdowns. DeAndre Hopkins could be the one who thrives but I’m inclined to think it’s Kirk.

3. Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions over/under is at 54.5 points, this game goes over 59.5 points

Justification: The Falcons hit the ‘over’ in five of their last seven games. Here are the totals of Atlanta’s first six games: 63, 79, 56, 46, 39 and 63. Detroit’s totals: 50, 63, 49, 64, 50. The two defenses are among the worst 10 in the NFL in points surrendered and on offense two veteran quarterbacks know how to sling the ball around.

4. Ezekiel Elliott is slotted as the RB2, he finishes outside the top 10

Justification: Washington Football Team’s rush defense is no joke. Here is a list of all of the running backs who have scored a rushing touchdown against them: Nick Chubb and Mark Ingram II. That’s it. Here is a list of the running backs who have rushed for over 90 yards against them: Nick Chubb. There is a chance Elliott thrives in receptions as Kareem Hunt did but I think Zeke is in for a challenge against Chase Young with Alabama’s Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne as the tackles.

5. Mark Sample has his first touchdown of the season this week

Justification: Facing the Browns the Bengals will face a porous tight end coverage. The Browns have allowed four total touchdowns to opposing tight ends including CJ Uzomah from the Bengals in Week 2.

Week 6 Outcome

1. Davante Adams is listed as the 2nd best WR, he will finish outside the top 10. Outcome: Davante had 6 receptions for 61 yards finishing 31st among WR. Grade A.

2. David Johnson sets a year high in fantasy points this week against Tennessee Titans defense. Outcome: David finished with the 2nd most points of this year. His 57 yards and a TD vaulted him about 10 spots above his projected spot among RBs. Grade B.

3. Ian Thomas is slotted as the 24th best TE, he finishes in the top 10 this week vs. Chicago Bears. Outcome: This was my clunker of the week. He finished 39th with 1 reception for 9 yards and no TDs. I knew it was TD dependent and he did not deliver. Grade D.

4. The Pittsburgh Steelers are favored by three points vs. the Cleveland Browns this weekend, they will win by 6.5 points Outcome: They won by just a few more than 6 points. Grade A.

5. Philip Rivers is slotted as the 21st best QB this week, he will finish among the top 12. Outcome: Rivers had his first two TD game of the year, he ended with three touchdowns and 370 yards. Finished 7th among QBs. Grade A

2020 Grades:

Grade A: 11 times
Grade B: 5 times
Grade C: 3 times
Grade D: 11 times