Justin Fields has one move.
It happens when defenses play man coverage and they either blitz the spy or fail to integrate one into the play. Fields will scramble in the backfield for five or so seconds, make this great arching loop that would yield a thirty-yard sack at its nadir, and slings himself into the open space. Within a blink of an eye, he’s already downfield weaving through defenders gassed from the elongated play. It’s a sight to behold. He’s a wonder in the open field.
But that’s it.
That’s his one move.
Not like he can do that every down.
To be sure, he’s capable of much more, but he is limited by both his coaching and the talent around him. The offensive line may be the worst in the league. He has to rely on Dante Pettis for big plays. Remember he had to survive Matt Nagy who, after dealing two first- and fourth-round picks to New York, gave the starting job to Andy Dalton. He now has a defensive-minded head coach who loves nothing more than to run the ball, and the offensive play caller recently worked closely with (gulp) Nathaniel Hackett.
All of this is to say that he deserves better. Is he slow at making his reads? Sure. Should be more confident with his throws? Of course. But just imagine how great he’d be with a coaching staff that A) surrounded him with competence and B) was invested in his future. Think of how great of a fantasy quarterback he’d be!
Listen, I am not a Bears fan. I’d care less if they go 13-4 or 4-13. I just know how fun it’d be to have Justin Fields on my roster if he’s set up the same way Jalen Hurts or Josh Allen is. You know, like teams who actually put talent around their young play caller. He may not be as good as them, but in the right situation he could put up their fantasy numbers.
And that’s all I really care about:
The points.
So, let’s have some fun. Let’s construct a roster in which we save poor talented souls from wastelands of teams and put them together for a team made strictly for fantasy football. Justin Fields will lead the way at quarterback and have him behind a competent offensive line. Not asking for the 2016 Cowboys here. Just a crew that can pass protect and create running lanes when needed.
We’ll hand the play-calling duties to the great Dan Campbell, current coach of the 1-4 Detroit Lions. It was midway through last year when the Lions just weren’t generating enough fantasy points for Campbell, and he took over calling plays. Less time bleeding the clock, and more time spreading everyone out and demanding that Jared Goff throw it like he did at Cal. The team has not looked back since. You can thank him for the breakout of Amon Ra-St. Brown, the Goff rejuvenation, the late-round payoff of Jamaal Williams, and the intriguing fantasy playoff prospect of Jameson Williams.
We don’t care if we go 2-15. We don’t care if Campbell himself is doing wind sprints down the sideline during TV breaks. We also don’t care if the defense gives up 30+ points/game. If anything, we’ll facilitate it. The DC would be an inside hire. We’ll grab a random person from the stadium’s janitorial staff and give them a headset.
We don’t care if we lose.
We’re only here to score points for fantasy leagues.
All Lost Souls Team
WR – D.J. Moore (CAR): He’s 6’0”, 215 lbs., and can run a 4.42 40-yard dash. Oh, and his burst score is in the 94th percentile and he’s above all an excellent wide receiver.
Currently languishing on the Carolina Panthers, and the only hope for him currently is that the Panthers hit rock bottom, get the top draft pick, and spend it on a promising quarterback, and Moore would be gifted a competent play caller once he develops.
Let’s not wait until 2025 here.
We’re just going to put him on the outside and constantly beat man coverage. I am thinking of a minimum of 12 targets/game.
WR – Terry McLaurin (WAS): First, it was Case Keenum, then it was Alex Smith, then it was Taylor Heinicke, followed by Carson Wentz, and now…..Sam Howell? Back to Heinicke? Sorry, man. Truly.
Remember when Ryan Fitzpatrick was a thing for 24 seconds before he broke his hip? Is it sad this is not even close to the worst thing about the franchise? Let’s get our guy out of here and onto our team.
His nickname is Scary Terry, but the only ones scared are us putting him into our current lineups.
We’re lining him up in the slot, but really we’d just be sending him cover-2 seams and using Fields’s arm to connect on a handful of deep passes every game. I am looking for 3-160-2 lines here.
WR – Michael Pittman Jr. (IND): Sure, he had a great fantasy output last week, but have you seen Matt Ryan? I know I piled upon Matty Ice last week, but Pittman’s talents are languishing on the Colts. His quarterback cannot get the ball 20 yards downfield. You know, the part of his play where he excels.
We’re rescuing him from Indianapolis, a city that only exists, by the way, because it’s in the geographical center of the state (really, Hoosiers?), and putting him on our squad.
We’re sending you deep too, 11. We’ll make safeties decide to cover you or McLaurin.
TE – Kyle Pitts (ATL): Who else would it be?!?!
98TH percentile 40-time. 99TH percentile speed score.
A man among boys.
He’s 6’6” and ran a sub-4.50 40-yard dash! Let me ask you this: what would it look like if he was used more than just a decoy? What if he was actually a part of getting the ball downfield. Was this what Arthur Smith, a former TE coach (!), was thinking when he drafted him fourth overall?
We’re saving him from the Falcons and dropping him onto a team that will place him opposite Moore and bomb it out to him again and again. Week 1 we’re making sure Pitts finds the end zone twice, which would double what he has in his career.
RB – Christian McCaffrey (CAR): The man is getting the rock on our team. Most importantly he is getting 10-yard-chunk receptions underneath the space cleared out by Moore, Pittman, McLaurin, and Pitts. A high-end running back gets 20 carries a game. CMC is getting 20 targets.
There’s no backfield committee here. Don’t even think about it. We don’t care if CMC is too gassed from a 60-yard gain that left him two yards short of paydirt. We’ll take a timeout so he can catch his breath.
That’s his touchdown. He earned it.
* * *
So, there you have it.
The plan, in summary, is that we’re going to have Justin Fields throw 60-yard go-routes to Terry McLaurin and Michael Pittman, tear up man-coverage with Kyle Pitts and DJ Moore, and let Fields and Christian McCaffrey eat up first downs when there are no options. The defense will scream obscenities and point fingers. Dan Campbell will be on the sidelines doing up-downs with the rest of the coaching staff.
Last in the final standings, but first your hearts.
Fantasy football Week 7 start ’em
Quarterback to start in Week 7
Kyler Murray (ARI) vs. Saints
New Orleans is currently 15th against opposing quarterbacks, but, I promise, they’re much worse than this. When you play Baker Mayfield early in the season it tends to skew the numbers. Just know that this once-touted defense has given up an average of 30 points in the past three games. They’re bleeding points. Don’t be turned off by the Cardinals’ 9-point output last week. Those division games can turn out to be ugly, and that one certainly did. The Arizona offense will look much better on Thursday and will put up points. That’s a Kirk Herbstreit promise.
Running backs to start in Week 7
Aaron Jones (GB) vs Commanders
What has happened to the Green Bay offense? They need life ASAP, and let’s hope they use Aaron Jones as the defibrillator. This is a must-win for the offense if they’re going to gain any head of steam this season, and Washington has the 18th rushing defense. This pick is more so to give you the confidence to start Jones and not bench him, which is what you may be thinking after the last two games. He’s too good to continually post those low numbers, and this week he should light up your starting line-up.
Brian Robinson (WAS) vs. Packers
He got 17 carries last week and is going up against a Green Bay team begging you to run the ball on them. He looks to firmly have a grasp of the top of the depth chart, and with a new play caller, they know the only way to win is to run the ball. The lead back against the Packers has run for at least 70 yards in all but one game this season, and they have scored in the past three. Look for them to feed Robinson this week.
Wide receivers to start in Week 7
DeAndre Hopkins (ARI) vs. Saints
Guess who’s back?
Back and dearly missed.
Not only did this team lose Hollywood Brown, but they’re also losing games. The NFC West is a horrible division, and they’re at the bottom.
You don’t think the coaching staff isn’t putting all their hopes and prayers into Hopkins? Generally, you want to wait a week before putting a player like this into your starting line-up, but you have to toss this rule out. They’re going to get Hopkins involved early, and, as of this writing, Marshon Lattimore is going to be out. The Cards are desperate, and they’ve been waiting six weeks to get him back onto the field.
Brandin Cooks (HOU) vs. Raiders
This is a gut call. Cooks has been quiet this year, but the team is coming off a bye, has a 1-3-1 record, and playing against the Raiders, who love to give up points in the air. They currently rank 27TH in yards/attempt, and Cooks give the Texans their best bet to stretch the field. He’s still their best receiving option, and you know one of these weeks, Cooks is going to have himself a game. Why not this week? The Raiders rank 27TH in touchdowns to the wide receiver and Cooks is Davis Mills’s primary look in the red zone. Oh, consider that Raiders’ stat includes the current week when they were on bye.
D/ST to start in Week 7
Jets (NYJ) D/ST
I never thought I’d write those words, but here we are. The J-E-T-S are looking good, they’re blocking punts, and now they’re playing an unliiiiiiiiimited quarterback who has a torn lat and a home crowd there just to boo him. This is going to be an ugly game that you want the defenses and not watch one second of.
Fantasy football Week 7 sit ’em
Trevor Lawrence (JAX) vs. Giants
The G-men are for real, and the Jags are reeling. Ha! See what I did there? (OK, I will shut up.)
The Giants held Lamar to 15 points, so think of how much they’ll give up to Lawrence. New York likes to fight short, ugly games, the Jags’ defense is up to the cause. This will be another ugly game that yields very few fantasy points. Either of the quarterbacks in the Indy-Tennessee matchup may be favorable.
David Montgomery (CHI) vs. Patriots
The Pats’ rush defense is back. Just asking anyone who started Nick Chubb last week. They bottled up holes in the Cleveland O-line—just imagine what they’ll do to the Bears’! Justin Fields is going to be on his back all game long, and he’s going to be begging Monty to only pass block midway through the second quarter. Sit him and play Eno Benjamin vs. the Saints. Play James Robinson against the Giants. Play your next door neighbor. Anyone but Montgomery this week.
Terry McLaurin (WAS) vs Packers
Currently the WR25, and that is much better than I would’ve guessed. He hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1 and now he draws Jaire Alexander and will have a backup under center. Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse for Terry here you go.
49ers (SF) D/ST vs Chiefs
Man, they did not look good without Bosa. Even if Bosa plays this game, there’s no way to justify playing them against Kansas City. They’re going to be mad after the loss to Buffalo and look to put up points. This one could truly turn out bad. I would not cut this defense, but pickup the Jets and hold onto San Fran on your bench. Better days are ahead.
