Given Richardson’s performance, it’s no surprise NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting the team will start quarterback Joe Flacco against the Vikings on Sunday night. Downs had a pair of scores and averaged 19.2 fantasy points per game from Weeks 4-6 with Flacco as the team’s starting quarterback.
With Richardson on the sidelines, Downs should have no problem putting up big numbers against a Vikings defense allowing the most fantasy points per game (46.15) to opposing wide receivers this year.
Darnell Mooney | Atlanta Falcons
Tight end Kyle Pitts led the Falcons with 91 yards and two touchdowns against the Buccaneers last week, but Mooney had 86 yards and a score on a team-high seven targets.
Although the former Bear hasn’t been fantasy relevant since 2021 when he led Chicago pass-catchers with 1,055 yards, he currently trails only Drake London (525) for the team lead with 500 yards.
With three touchdowns in his last four games, Mooney has the seventh-most fantasy points (123.8) among NFL receivers and is starting to look like his old self with Kirk Cousins, the league’s third-leading passer throwing him the ball.
This week, they’ll face the 3-4 Dallas Cowboys who just gave up a combined 199 receiving yards to San Francisco’s George Kittle and Deebo Samuel in a 34-24 loss to the 49ers on Sunday night.
Brian Thomas Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars
Thomas leads all rookie receivers with 573 yards and five touchdowns but is considered “day-to-day” after suffering an apparent chest/rib injury on this play. Fortunately for the team, Thomas told ESPN’s Michael DiRocco that the MRI showed “nothing, everything was good.”
With 20 or more fantasy points in three of his last five games, a healthy Thomas could have another big day against an Eagles team that could be without Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, who left last week’s game against the Bengals with a groin injury.
More importantly, Jags receiver Christian Kirk suffered a fractured collarbone against Green Bay last week and will miss the rest of the regular season. With a disappointing 2-6 record and jobs likely on the line, expect Jacksonville to do whatever it takes to get Thomas on the field this week.
