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Fantasy football analyst Joel Smyth has highlighted eight pivotal statistics from Week 7 of the NFL season, detailing key changes in offensive usage, backfield distributions, and passing volume that could impact fantasy lineups heading into Week 8.
Shift in Minnesota’s Offensive Approach
The Minnesota Vikings recorded a 52.6% pass rate in Week 7 with quarterback Kyler Murray. Between 2022 and 2024, Minnesota dropped back to pass on over 61% of plays, ranking among the top three in the league. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has transitioned toward a run-focused offense built around a strong defense, while Murray has averaged 6.6 yards per dropback. The reduced passing volume has affected receiver Justin Jefferson, who logged back-to-back games with only seven targets and averaged 11.1 half-PPR points per game over that stretch, while Jordan Addison remains difficult to trust when Jefferson is active.
In the Minnesota backfield, Jordan Mason led Aaron Jones Sr. in snaps by a 23-15 margin prior to Jones exiting with an injury. Mason also held an 11-to-6 advantage in routes run during a near even split on carries. Should Jones miss time, Mason is positioned to reclaim a workload similar to his stretch from Weeks 2 through 6, when he averaged 24.3 touches and 13.5 fantasy points per game. The Vikings next face the Detroit Lions, whose defense currently ranks last in total defense.
Backfield Splits in Cincinnati and Denver
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown captured 79% of the backfield touches between himself and Samaje Perine in Week 7. Brown registered 11 carries, five targets, and played 75% of the offensive snaps. Perine converted a one-yard touchdown carry on one of his four total touches, though Brown handled the other two snaps inside the five-yard line. Brown maintains a primary starting role despite entering Week 8 with just one touchdown on the season.
Denver Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman recorded 11 touches in his return from injured reserve, equaling the combined touch total of J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey. Coleman led Denver’s backfield in snaps, carries, route participation, and total yards. After Dobbins took the first three rushing attempts of the contest, Coleman out-carried him 9-to-3 while adding two receptions, establishing himself as a candidate for a sustained fantasy role.
Passing Attack Developments in Green Bay and Las Vegas
The Green Bay Packers registered a 70.8% pass rate in their first game with Josh Jacobs back in the lineup, as quarterback Jordan Love logged 46 dropbacks against the Detroit Lions. Green Bay’s offensive line suffered additional injuries to Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk, joining a unit that ranks in the bottom five in yards before contact. Love has already thrown five touchdown passes inside the five-yard line this season, an area where Jacobs has historically seen heavy usage.
Wide receiver Tre Tucker received 12 targets without a single deep pass attempt of 20 or more air yards. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak utilized Tucker with a season-low 7.4 average depth of target, leading to five receptions for over 100 yards. Tucker’s expanded role alongside quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has surpassed 240 passing yards in six consecutive contests, provides him with an elevated baseline for fantasy lineups.
Notable Wide Receiver Performances
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has averaged 17.3 PPR points per game when playing alongside Joe Burrow since 2024, a mark that would rank sixth among wide receivers. Higgins ranks near the top 10 in both PPR and half-PPR formats this season despite scoring only two touchdowns. His touchdown-per-target rate currently stands at 4.0%, down from 10.1% over the previous two seasons.
Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion produced 129 receiving yards on 10 targets in Week 7, driven by 81 yards after the catch. Concepcion entered the game with a league-high nine designed targets, utilizing his run-after-catch ability to record a top-tier fantasy performance despite dropping a potential touchdown pass.
