Mind games: Support Bucky Irving, crafting with Jakobi Meyers and other advice for Week 7

“Take the cookies when they’re over.”

This is an old family saying that my sister likes to remind us of. Even though we work hard and deserve much of our happiness, this quote reminds us to be grateful for blessings that we may not have sought or earned. We too – all of us – love our cookies.

As I write this, I, an avid pickleball player, remember the unwritten rule to apologize if your shot unintentionally bounces off the net into your opponent's body or meekly dribbles across the body to score a point. These weren't the intended results, nor exactly how I could have set up the piece, but the result works to my advantage. The purpose of the game is to collect points. So why am I apologizing? Take the cookies…

I had a similar moment with my Week 6 fantasy lineup. My dynasty roster was a series of small Red-O's and Byes. I was staring at a starting lineup consisting of Jalen Hurts, Kirk Cousins, Tyler Allgeier and (TG!) Joe Mixon, Gabe Davis, Jalen McMillan, Keon Coleman, Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson and Hunter Henry. Pretty dark. If you're curious about my three tight ends, it's a SuperFlex, TE premium league with flexible roster construction. I literally had no RBs or WRs – from a 30-man roster – as starters. Still, somehow I got the win, even if McMillan missed the Bucs' 51 points by an inch.

To be honest, I felt bad about it. My opponent had really good NFL players in their lineup like Mike Evans, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs. I didn't feel like I deserved the win, but it was in my lap. So I thank the football gods, as fickle as they are. A lot of things about our game contradict expectations. We mostly focus on the negative, so I hope I can remind you that even good things sometimes come out of nowhere and it's nice to acknowledge them with gratitude. I hope each of you gets a fantasy bonanza from an unexpected source this week. With that in mind, let's move on to the players you shouldn't think too much about, as well as a few that are good to get involved with if the need or desire to tinker is there.

Don't think too much…

Bucky Irving, RB, TB (vs. BAL)

Even though Sean Tucker made a splash and is a hot name, don't bench Irving right now. He still played more snaps than Tucker and scored one more goal than Tucker. The talented rookie has outplayed Rachaad White all season and is the safest player on a potential three-man committee. The Bucs face the Ravens on Monday night, which is unfortunately a subpar matchup for the running backs. Nevertheless, the game should be high-scoring and competitive – in other words, fantasy-friendly (on both sides).

Tank Bigsby, RB, JAC (vs. NE)

Admittedly, the Jaguars are a mess at the moment, languishing in London while the world points fingers and tries to shift blame for this disastrous 1-5 start. The only place it definitely doesn't belong is on Bigsby's shoulders. He is the team's leading rusher with nearly 300 yards and has been extremely efficient with less workload than Travis Etienne Jr. (Bigsby has an average YPC of 7.2). He was not involved in the passing game, but was outpacing Etienne in both snap share and rushing attempts, even before Etienne suffered a hamstring injury in Week 6. Even if Etienne plays in the game against New England this weekend, I think Bigsby is a fantasy must-have. Start. The Patriots are one of the league's most generous fantasy run defenses, and the Jags are somehow the favorite in this matchup of two of the AFC's worst teams.

Josh Allen, QB, BUF (vs. TEN)

The Titans have one of the best pass defenses in the league and are the sixth-worst matchup for fantasy QBs, giving up an average of eight fewer fantasy points to the position this season. The QBs Tennessee has faced? Joe Flacco, Tyler Huntley, Malik Willis, Aaron Rodgers and Caleb Williams (in his first NFL game). I like to consider DvP when making difficult fantasy decisions, but it can't be considered in a vacuum. With so many emerging young QBs and Allen struggling in Weeks 4-5, I didn't have him as a must-see starter against the Jets. So he basically threw a perfect game, with two passing TDs and his first rushing score since Week 1. It remains to be seen how adding Amari Cooper to the mix will play out, and I'm still not sold on it Bills' receiver, but Allen is back in full confidence mode against a defense that is more vulnerable than it first appears.

Craft with…

Bub Means, WR, NO (vs. DEN)

With the Saints playing Denver on Thursday night, Chris Olave will not be on the field. Even though things were a little rocky with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler replacing the injured Derek Carr, it was Means who he continued to rely on after Olave left. With five catches for 45 yards and a score on eight targets, Means is another hot waiver name this week. While it's definitely not as fantasy-friendly a matchup as the Bucs faced last week, adding a player with the Means usage metrics to a depleted roster isn't a problem for me.

DeMario Douglas, WR, NE (at JAC)

I alluded to this game earlier, which kind of scares me since I don't typically draw my fantasy inspiration from the worst teams in the league. However, Drake Maye took over the Pats in Week 6, and while he failed to beat the much better Houston Texans, he gives the team something exciting to build on in Week 7. The Jaguars' biggest problem this season is their defense, or lack thereof. Maye appeared to have an immediate connection with Douglas on the field, targeting him nine times to produce a 6/92/1 line for the second-year receiver. I expect New England to win this game outright, but at least there should be some fantasy value in getting Douglas into the starting lineup.

Jakobi Meyers, WR, LV (at LAR)

It's easier to tinker with WR this week than other positions, so hopefully your roster allows for that flexibility. Meyers should be back from an ankle injury this week and would immediately help Aidan O'Connell find his footing in a good game against the Rams. Los Angeles gives its opponents the fourth-most points, but is in the middle of the pack against the pass. Meyers is and always has been more of a PPR player, but he and O'Connell combined for four touchdowns at the end of last season, so there is hope.

(Top photo of Bucky Irving: Matthew Hinton / Imagn Images)