Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are somehow 3-4 this season. They have plenty of injuries, and they are certainly a factor, but I think everyone expected more from them. Brandon Ayiuk may be out for the season, and Deebo Samuel left the week 7 loss early on. Cowing had some big plays and will garner some attention this week, but for me, it’s Pearsall who people should be running to add. There was plenty of buzz around him during fantasy draft season, especially because people felt Ayiuk would be traded. Now, with Ayiuk injured, it’s as if he has been traded, at least for the remainder of this season. So go get Pearsall everywhere because the 49ers have plenty of time to turn their season around.
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
With Amari Cooper traded to the Bills last week, one of the Browns WRs (Tillman or Moore) was going to see more targets and involvement in the passing game. Moore saw 7 targets and caught 6 for 41 yards, which is a decent PPR day, but Tillman saw 12 targets and caught 8 for 81 yards. They both were much more involved than Jerry Jeudy, who caught 1 of 5 targets for 18 yards. That is definitely something to keep an eye on. I am looking to take a shot on Tillman and pick Moore as a backup.
INGLEWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 23: Joshua Palmer #5 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs the ball after a catch during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium on December 23, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are thought to be considered a run-first team, but in week 7, they threw the ball a season-high 39 times and for a season-high 349 yards. That 349 yards is over 100 more than they have thrown for in any other game this season. Palmer led the Chargers WR group in yards in week 7, finishing with 63 yards on 4 catches. He is the longest-tenured WR the Chargers have; he and QB Justin Herbert have been together for a few years now, so the success Palmer had could continue in the coming weeks, especially this week against the Saints, who rank 28th in the NFL against the pass.
Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Heading into MNF week 7, he was the WR3 in the offense. He looked good early in the season but got hurt, but now he is back and needs to be looked at in deeper leagues. With Mike Evans hobbling around the field early in week 7 with a hamstring injury and eventually leaving the game, McMillan suddenly could have a lot more value. If Evans misses any extended time, and it looks like he will, McMillan is an option in shallower leagues, too. Chris Godwin got injured in the final minute of the game as well, so in one night, McMillan might have become the WR1. Although the Bucs offense looked bad without Evans and could look even worse without Godwin, too, with a full week of practice for McMillan with Baker as the WR1, things should come together.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 21: Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates his touchdown catch with Jalen McMillan #15 during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Raymond James Stadium on October 21, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos
It’s mostly been Courtland Sutton or Devaughn Vele this season for the Broncos when it comes to pass catchers making plays for rookie Bo Nix. In week 7 though, it was Franklin who led the way in the Broncos passing game, and we could begin to see it happen more frequently. Let’s not forget that NIx and Franklin played together at Oregon, so there is a trust factor there and built-in chemistry. Franklin could become the number 1 WR in Denver, especially after such a poor showing from the Nix to Sutton connection last week.