ARLINGTON, Texas — Week 7 has a weighty really feel to it. It not feels early within the NFL season. We’re within the thick of it now, with almost two months’ value of proof to help our opinions of those groups and these gamers. What might need felt like an overreaction in Week 2 feels much less like one now.
That is additionally the purpose within the season when coaches get uninterested in underreacting. On Sunday, Jets coach Aaron Glenn appeared to have lastly grown uninterested in watching Justin Fields’ full incapacity to sense or react to stress, as he benched Fields for Tyrod Taylor within the second half of New York’s newest lackluster loss.
Miami coach Mike McDaniel sat Tua Tagovailoa down for Quinn Ewers within the fourth quarter of a recreation that noticed Tagovailoa throw three interceptions and the Dolphins lose 31-6 to a Browns crew that hadn’t scored greater than 17 factors since final December. Trevor Lawrence, Spencer Rattler and Geno Smith did not get pulled from their video games, nevertheless it looks like there are honest questions on them that their coaches must reply this week.
Yeah, Week 7 looks like the purpose when it begins to get actual. With that in thoughts, let’s begin the Overreactions column, the place we type by the weekly overreactions to strive to determine which of them may maintain up and which of them are mirages.
Bounce to:
Vikings ought to have introduced Darnold again?
Chiefs headed again to the Tremendous Bowl?
Bengals can win AFC North?
Three NFC South groups in playoffs?
Chargers have to commerce for OL assist?
4 fantasy-related overreactions
The Vikings ought to have re-signed Sam Darnold
Minnesota let Darnold depart in free company after he threw 35 landing passes and led the crew to 14 wins as a result of it needed to offer the beginning QB job to 2024 first-round decide J.J. McCarthy. Darnold is crushing it in Seattle, rating third in QBR, passer ranking and passing yards coming into Sunday. In the meantime, McCarthy performed two very shaky-looking video games to start out the season, bought damage in the second and hasn’t performed since. His backup, Carson Wentz, threw two first-half interceptions in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles.
The one different quarterback on the Vikings’ roster is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. They’ve informed us they will not resolve on whether or not McCarthy will get the beginning job again till his sprained ankle has healed sufficient for him to have the ability to play. However nothing we have seen from the Vikings’ 2025 quarterback room up to now has given us purpose to really feel assured they’ve the reply. To make issues even worse, Daniel Jones, who completed the 2024 season as Darnold’s backup, is taking part in nice because the starter for the Colts.
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Eagles’ protection take Carson Wentz INT the opposite method for a pick-six
Jalyx Hunt picks off Carson Wentz and goes 42 yards for an Eagles landing.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
This can be a flip-flop, and I am going to personal it. I supported the Vikings’ choice to roll with McCarthy, the tenth decide in final 12 months’s draft, whereas letting each Darnold and Jones stroll and telling Aaron Rodgers no thanks. It was a wager on head coach Kevin O’Connell and his confirmed potential to generate offense with a wide range of completely different quarterbacks. I figured if O’Connell determined this was the way in which to go, he’d earned sufficient belief that we must always consider him. And possibly he’ll be proper finally.
Nevertheless it’s about time to cease predicting and begin realizing. The Vikings made six journeys to the purple zone in Sunday’s recreation towards the Eagles and got here away with one landing and 5 subject targets, serving to them lose a winnable recreation. Darnold is fourth within the NFL this season in purple zone QBR. The Vikings have 11 extra video games this season to show O’Connell’s choice proper. However the first six have proven it to be value questioning.
The Chiefs are going again to the Tremendous Bowl
Keep in mind when the Chiefs have been 0-2, could not rating factors and everybody was questioning if this was the tip of the dynasty? Yeah, me too. Feels prefer it was quite a bit longer than 5 weeks in the past, too.
With high extensive receiver Rashee Rice again from his six-game suspension on Sunday, the Chiefs annihilated the division rival Raiders 31-0 to enhance to 4-3. It was dominance on a stage we’ve not seen from the Chiefs in latest seasons. They outgained Las Vegas 434-95. That they had 30 first downs. The Raiders ran a complete of 30 offensive performs. Since that 0-2 begin, the Chiefs are 4-1 and are averaging 29.6 factors per recreation. It looks like possibly those that have been involved after Week 2 might need been … dare I say … overreacting?
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
Who else do you’re feeling nice about within the AFC? The Payments have misplaced two in a row after a 4-0 begin and do not look nice. The Patriots look nice, nevertheless it additionally feels a little bit early for them. The Colts? Perhaps. The Broncos and Chargers? Not precisely Best Present on Turf-type offenses. Anybody from the AFC North? Not proper now, that is for certain.
All the time keep in mind that if Patrick Mahomes have been to lose this season’s AFC Championship Sport in regulation, that might be the earliest a Chiefs season has ended since he grew to become the starter in 2018. There is a lengthy technique to go, and nobody’s saying a victory over the Raiders makes you a Tremendous Bowl crew. However in a season through which it looks like we do not know who the perfect groups are, the Chiefs have the monitor document we will consider in.
The Bengals can nonetheless win the AFC North
The week kicked off with an enormous AFC North consequence — a victory by Joe Flacco and the Bengals over the first-place Steelers on Thursday night time. It stopped a four-game Bengals shedding streak that adopted the damage to Joe Burrow, and it introduced the Steelers again nearer to a pack of division groups whose seasons have not gone as anticipated.
The 1-5 Ravens, who will doubtless get Lamar Jackson again from damage subsequent week after their bye and have each head-to-head matchups towards the Steelers left to play, have some stage of hope now that Pittsburgh is 4-2 as a substitute of 5-1. As for the Bengals, whose offense has proven life within the two video games since they acquired Flacco to switch the struggling Jake Browning, being 3-4 and solely 1½ video games out of first place feels worlds higher than being 2-5 and 3½ video games behind Pittsburgh.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
I nonetheless assume this Steelers crew has performed method over its head. It ought to have misplaced to the Jets in Week 1 and it barely beat the Patriots in Week 3, when New England dedicated 5 turnovers. Pittsburgh’s protection has been horrible outdoors of 1 recreation towards the Browns. Rodgers is taking part in tremendous, however the offense nonetheless feels prefer it has a ceiling and must be paired with an elite protection to be an actual contender.
That makes the Steelers weak, which supplies the remainder of the division purpose to hope, regardless of how poorly issues have gone up to now. And if the Bengals assume there’s any likelihood of Burrow returning earlier than the tip of the season, then they’ve as a lot purpose for hope as anybody. All Flacco should do is hold them afloat, and if Pittsburgh comes again to earth, this division might have a frantic end.
Three groups from the NFC South will make the playoffs
The four-time defending division champion Buccaneers go into Monday night time’s recreation with a 5-1 document and quarterback Baker Mayfield taking part in just like the league MVP. The Falcons enter Sunday night time’s recreation with a 3-2 document and on a two-game win streak, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. taking part in significantly better and the offense and protection each buzzing.
The Panthers are the story right here, although. After Sunday’s 13-6 victory over the woebegone Jets, Carolina is 4-3 and on a three-game profitable streak. It additionally has a really convincing 30-0 division victory over the Falcons in its pocket. It is exhausting to really understand how the Panthers are doing it, however they’re discovering methods to win video games round third-year quarterback Bryce Younger (who left Sunday’s recreation with an ankle damage, which might dampen issues) and an improved protection, and there is all the time a crew that emerges which nobody noticed coming.
Verdict: OVERREACTION
Do not we have now to see the Falcons really end off one among these seasons earlier than we absolutely purchase in? They beat Tampa Bay twice final season and nonetheless could not win the division. And Carolina nonetheless has highway video games to play in Inexperienced Bay, San Francisco, Atlanta and Tampa in addition to dwelling video games towards the Payments, Rams, Bucs and Seahawks. And even when he is wholesome, Younger nonetheless hasn’t proven sufficient week-to-week consistency over the course of his profession that we’re prepared to purchase in on his possibilities to guide a crew to the playoffs.
The Panthers deserve credit score for astonishing us up to now, nevertheless it’d be a a lot larger shock if they will hold this going as soon as the schedule will get more durable within the second half. Perhaps they sneak in. Perhaps that is the 12 months the Falcons get in. However each? Along with Tampa Bay? Looks like an excessive amount of to ask.
The Chargers actually need to commerce for an offensive lineman
Quarterback Justin Herbert led a valiant comeback towards the Colts within the second half on Sunday after a two-interception first half. The Chargers fell brief towards a Colts offense they could not cease, however Herbert confirmed a robust reference to rookie tight finish Oronde Gadsden II and the offense regarded prefer it found one thing within the second half.
The issue is, Herbert was pressured on 57% of his dropbacks and was hit 15 instances. This is not a brand new drawback. Accidents to beginning tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt have left Herbert a sitting duck method too usually, and it is hurting the offense’s possibilities of working in rhythm.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
Buying a top quality offensive lineman through the season is simpler mentioned than executed, however the Chargers have to strive. Alt might be again quickly, however Slater is out for the season, they usually clearly want depth as they work to enhance Herbert’s safety. The Chargers opened the season with three straight division wins however are actually tied for second within the AFC West.
The Broncos are in first place following a seemingly not possible comeback victory over the Giants on Sunday, and the Chiefs, as we mentioned earlier, are heating up. That 3-0 division document provides the Chargers a bonus, however they should follow Denver and Kansas Metropolis to make that matter ultimately. Los Angeles must be aggressively on the lookout for assist, or else it is not going to get probably the most out of Herbert and this offense. And talking of the Chargers …
The Chargers ought to by no means put on these yellow uniforms once more
I imply … yuck.
Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION
They’ve such nice uniforms! Why put on ones that appear like you bought doused in mustard?
Fast-hitter fantasy overreactions
Xavier Legette is a major waiver pickup this week. OVERREACTION. 9 catches, 92 yards and a landing! The place has this been from the 2024 first-rounder? Drawback is, the focus of the passing offense is 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. And is that this actually a passing offense with a number of receiver choices value rostering? Legette is okay to have on the bench, however no have to overbid.
Rashee Rice is a WR1 the remainder of the way in which. NOT AN OVERREACTION. Chiefs folks I’ve talked to have been giddy for the previous three to 4 weeks about having Rice again and what that might imply to the offense. Though he may not rating two touchdowns each week as a part of a 31-point efficiency by the Chiefs, it is clear that Rice is a significant point of interest of an elite offense whose quarterback is taking part in in addition to any within the league. When you rode out the suspension, benefit from the reward.
Quinshon Judkins goes to be on a ton of fantasy championship rosters. NOT AN OVERREACTION. One other dominant efficiency by the Browns’ rookie working again on Sunday stamps him as a transparent RB1 going ahead and the sort of participant who can win you matchups by himself. He was principally free in drafts, since he wasn’t signed to the roster till the season began due to his off-field authorized points. He might nonetheless find yourself going through a suspension, however generally these get pushed off into the following season. Judkins is likely to be the perfect worth in fantasy this 12 months.
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Quinshon Judkins scores his third TD of the sport
Quinshon Judkins runs in his third landing of the sport for the Browns.
The Cardinals’ fantasy stars want Jacoby Brissett to maintain beginning forward of Kyler Murray. OVERREACTION. I get it. I do. The offense seems to be higher with Brissett. However Murray’s absence additionally coincides with an easing of the fantasy schedule. Let’s let him get again in there and see if he can take benefit earlier than giving up.