Week 7 of the 2020 NFL season is in the books. For the majority of the league, Tuesday morning brings a whole new week of football and preparing for their next game. However, a handful of players might not want to leave Week 7 so soon. Here’s a look at who impressed and who underachieved this week.
Quarterback
Winner: Justin Herbert (38.48 FPTS)
Justin Herbert is a baller. He completed 27 of 43 passes on Sunday, adding 347 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The rookie also showed off his mobility, running for an extra 66 yards and score in the Los Angeles Chargers’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Herbert and the Bolts hit the road for a game in Denver on Sunday.
Loser: Cam Newton (-0.18 FPTS)
The New England Patriots and their signal-caller looked horrendous on Sunday. While growing pains are to be expected, the veteran and former MVP boasted inexcusable woes against the San Francisco 49ers. Newton completed just nine passes for 98 yards while throwing three interceptions and was eventually benched in favor of Jarrett Stidham. Newton will look to bounce back in a Week 8 game vs. the Buffalo Bills that could have major implications on his future in Foxborough.
Running Back
Winner: James Robinson (31.7 FPTS)
After a few weeks of talk that Robinson might not be the Jaguars’ long-term backfield solution, the rookie popped off 138 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Los Angeles on Sunday. One of the league’s top red-zone threats, Robinson continues to look like an RB1. He’ll hope to build on an incredible Week 7 performance after a well-deserved bye week.
Loser: Ezekiel Elliott (6.1 FPTS)
Elliott continues to look quite shaky without Dak Prescott at the helm. The Dallas running back posted a season-low 51 scrimmage yards on Sunday, failing to find the end zone for the second consecutive week. He drops to a low-end RB1 option against a respectable Philadelphia Eagles defensive line in Week 8.
Wide Receiver
Winner: Tyler Lockett (53.0 FPTS)
Davante Adams seemed like a lock for this spot in the article. Then, Sunday Night Football happened. Lockett broke out for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 15 catches (20 targets) in Week 7, stealing the show and making his name the talk of the town on Monday morning. While history shows that Lockett regresses after games in which he posts 100-plus yards, his incredible success and involvement against a decent Arizona Cardinals defense is promising.
Loser: CeeDee Lamb (0.1 FPTS)
Lamb, who had solidified himself as a solid WR2 despite the quarterback turmoil in Dallas, struggled in Week 7. He caught zero of five targets and carried the ball once for five yards. There’s nowhere to go but up, though Lamb does not have a very promising matchup against a lockdown Eagles secondary with Andy Dalton (or Ben DiNucci) throwing him the ball in Week 8.
Tight End
Winner: Harrison Bryant (21.6 FPTS)
Cleveland’s rookie tight end was clutch on Sunday, posting career-highs in targets (five), catches (four), yards (56), and touchdowns (two). Bryant was already expected to have an expanded role with Austin Hooper out, but he ended up receiving even more action thanks to a late promotion to TE1 over David Njoku coupled with Odell Beckham Jr.’s (ACL) early exit. Bryant likely won’t replicate his performance next week, but he’ll surely have another impressive day against a porous Las Vegas Raiders defense.
Loser: Jonnu Smith (1.9 FPTS)
Smith wasn’t expected to have a massive role in the Tennessee Titans’ offense due to a lingering injury, but he was still surely started in many leagues. He underachieved, catching just one of four targets for nine yards. This quiet day came on the heels of a similarly disappointing line in Week 6 when he caught one pass for 13 yards against the Houston Texans. Temper your expectations surrounding Smith despite an enticing matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.
Defense
Winner: Chiefs D/ST (21.0 FPTS)
The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense stepped up big against the Denver Broncos in the first snowy game of the season. The Chiefs allowed 411 yards and 16 points but were able to tally season-highs in touchdowns (one), tackles for loss (four), and fumbles recovered (two). One of the best defense so far this season, the Chiefs will return in Week 8 for another enticing matchup as they host the New York Jets.
Loser: Patriots D/ST (-1.0 FPTS)
Oh, yikes. New England’s normally-stellar defense was lit up for 467 yards and 33 points in an abysmal showing on Sunday. While they did log two interceptions, the Patriots’ defense added just one sack in the loss. They play the Bills, Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Texans, and Cardinals over the next five weeks.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
