Week 7 of the 2023 NFL season is here, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are breaking down the biggest questions, latest news and notable buzz of the week. Plus, they picked out which teams are on upset watch and which players should — or shouldn’t — be in your fantasy football lineups.
As the Oct. 31 trade deadline approaches, what are some trades that make sense and could improve a team’s weakness through seven weeks? Which offensive and defensive coordinators have helped their head-coach cases in the early-going? Who will win the intriguing NFC South race? And how worried should we be about Russell Wilson’s contract in Denver? It’s all here, as Dan and Jeremy answer big questions and empty their notebooks with everything they’ve heard heading into Week 7.
Let’s fix a team’s weakness with a trade deadline acquisition.
Graziano: The Chiefs trade a third-round pick to the Broncos for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. The Broncos need picks, and Jeudy might need a change of scenery. He has a more complete skill set than Marquez Valdes-Scantling and more experience than the Chiefs’ other wideouts. Kansas City seems to need someone who can threaten a defense down the field while Rashee Rice, Skyy Moore and Justyn Ross work their way into their roles.
How realistic is it? The Broncos might not want to deal him in the division, and his nearly $13 million guaranteed salary for 2024 might be an issue for the Chiefs. But it’s more likely than Davante Adams, I would think, and at some point the Broncos are going to start moving some veterans for picks.
Fowler: The Raiders acquire Vikings pass-rusher Danielle Hunter for a Day 2 draft pick. Hunter is on a tear with eight sacks through six games and would have a strong market. With Minnesota in a competitive rebuild at 2-4, it’s worth wondering whether it would be willing to deal — though Hunter might be the team’s best healthy player right now. But the Vikings explored trade options with Hunter before he signed a one-year, $17 million bridge deal that includes $10 million in base salary, a tradeable bottom line for a player of his caliber.
The Raiders are hanging tight on defense, ranking 11th in total defense (315.5 yards allowed per game), and could use another rusher opposite Maxx Crosby to stabilize things. Las Vegas has 13 sacks through six games, and 5.5 of them belong to Crosby.
Graziano: Yeah, the Chandler Jones situation was obviously a tough one for a number of reasons, including some non-football ones. But in the end, the Raiders could use someone to make a impact in the role they had in mind for Jones. Is that Frank Clark? Probably not, or they would have signed him by now. The Vikings definitely had trade talks involving Hunter in the offseason before the contract adjustment that kept him in Minnesota, so maybe someone makes the Vikings an offer this time that gets it done.
I wonder if the winless Panthers make Brian Burns available at some point. I would think there’d be a lot of teams in on him, as Burns didn’t get the contract extension he wanted this offseason.
Fowler: As far as teams potentially trading away players, people around the league are intrigued by Carolina. Burns would undoubtedly have a robust market. But the Rams offered two first-rounders and more last year, and Carolina didn’t bite. Safety Jeremy Chinn could be a name to watch. He has played a combined 28 snaps the past two weeks and enters a contract year. Philadelphia has been beat up in the secondary, and we know GM Howie Roseman never shies away from a deal.
Which coordinator has boosted his head-coaching stock the most through six weeks?
Fowler: Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has helped himself considerably. Already a fixture on the head-coaching interview circuit the past two years, Glenn needed proof of concept on Detroit’s defense to bolster his candidacy. He has now done that with this year’s unit, which is tied for fifth in yards allowed per play (4.7) and just held the Buccaneers to six points on Sunday. A rebuilt secondary has helped guide the Lions to six interceptions, and having a top-10 defense is a résumé-booster for Glenn.
Graziano: Strong call on Glenn, who was a hot candidate a couple of years ago but wasn’t a big target for interviews last year. I think that does turn around for him.
Pat McAfee explains why he is so impressed with the Lions through the first 6 weeks of the season.
The Coordinator of the Year so far would be Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who has transformed the Browns into the best defense in the league. Schwartz, of course, has head-coaching experience from a decade ago with the Lions, but if this keeps up, I’m thinking he gets interviews again this offseason.
Fowler: Schwartz deserves a lot of praise for what’s going on in Cleveland. I certainly didn’t enter the season thinking he was a hot head-coaching candidate. He wasn’t terrible in Detroit, considering the job, and he’s the owner of a 10-win season. Perhaps he gets a few looks.
Graziano: Deep cut here: It’s probably too early for first-year Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik to get serious looks, but teams don’t mind talking to young offensive minds, and it’s impossible to look at what Houston has done and not be impressed.
Fowler: Slowik has impressed in short order. He might be a year away but definitely looks poised to become a strong candidate eventually. It’s also hard to ignore what Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is doing with the Ravens’ second-ranked defense (4.0 yards allowed per play). I’d be surprised if he’s not an influence on the circuit.
And I know Miami’s offense is Mike McDaniel’s baby, but offensive coordinator Frank Smith’s unit is the league leader by more than 100 yards per game (498.7). He’s holding a spoon to help McDaniel stir the secret sauce. Lastly, Jacksonville’s offense is starting to come alive, which will help offensive coordinator Press Taylor.
Who’s your pick to win the NFC South?
Graziano: Jeez, tough call. I like the Buccaneers a lot more than I expected. Their defense looks really good, and quarterback Baker Mayfield is operating the offense confidently. They beat the Saints head-to-head pretty easily in New Orleans. But I’m still going to pick the Saints here, mainly because I think we haven’t seen them play their best yet. Derek Carr wasn’t healthy in the Bucs game, and as his shoulder improves and the passing game comes together, I think we’ll see New Orleans get humming at some point. It’s not a comfortable prediction by any stretch, but I’ll take the Saints by a whisker.
Fowler: The inconsistency throughout the division makes this an arduous task. The Buccaneers, Falcons and Saints have looked flat at times, but their highs are high. Give me Bucs. They get a slight edge on overall talent (though it’s close), and the running game still hasn’t come around, which tells me Tampa Bay’s offensive line is still adjusting to the new scheme under offensive coordinator Dave Canales. There’s room for improvement there over the next few months.
New Orleans is a proven commodity, and Atlanta’s passing game is starting to get tight end Kyle Pitts and wideout Drake London more involved, which could help put the Falcons over the top.
Graziano: I didn’t go with Atlanta because Desmond Ridder has been such a disaster at quarterback. If he could establish any kind of consistency at all, I think the Falcons would be a solid team. First-year defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen has done a good job with that group, and Atlanta’s biggest problem right now seems to be under center. But that’s too big of a problem for me to overlook.
Fowler: Yeah, there are some people in the league who believe the talented Falcons are a quarterback away. If Ridder can grow into that QB, then Atlanta has players to contend. But questions about QB play permeate that entire division. Carr is still getting his footing in New Orleans, and Bryce Young is just trying to get a win. It feels like anything is possible over the next two months.
At this time last year, we asked how worried Broncos fans should be about Russell Wilson’s contract, on a scale of 1-10. What would your answer be now?
Fowler: Eight. When a team commits $48.5 million per year to a quarterback, it’s doing so with the belief that he’s good enough to elevate the team and contend. And since Wilson signed that deal, the Broncos are 6-18. Is that all his fault? Definitely not. And he has played better in spurts this season. But the production clearly hasn’t justified the money, and any escape route comes with pain.
His $17 million salary and $8.4 million option bonus in 2024 are guaranteed, and his $37 million salary in 2025 becomes guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2024 league year. Even if the Broncos cut him before then, they have to pay handsomely. And the only way to massage the salary cap and avoid a large cap hit is with a post-June 1 trade, which would be really tough to pull off. Look, this was one of the best quarterbacks on the planet just three years ago. Maybe that player is still inside him somewhere. But it’s hard to look at this contract and feel secure about its long-term ramifications.
Graziano: 10, and I wish I could go higher. I think the Broncos have to bite the bullet and cut him before the 2025 guarantees kick in next March. Designate him a post-June 1 cut, take the $35.4 million dead money hit in 2024, another $49 million or so in 2025 and draft a QB to rebuild around. This is a bigger project than I think coach Sean Payton expected, and a reset is probably the best way to go. If you’re going to have a quarterback on a rookie deal for the next couple of seasons, you can afford to absorb those dead money hits.
Fowler: Good point. Plus, that 2025 salary is guaranteed for injury, which deepens the intrigue if the Broncos continue to slide this season. Would Payton pull him for Jarrett Stidham? The Denver coach seemed smitten when discussing Stidham’s ceiling at the NFL owners meetings in March. That would be a drastic move, but one that could make sense on a financial level if the losses pile up into mid-to-late November.
Graziano: Yes, I believe there is a non-zero chance it gets to the point where Wilson gets benched for Stidham. The Broncos gave Stidham real money in the offseason, more than you’d have thought would be necessary to secure his services as a backup.
If it gets to the point where they’re totally cooked (which they might be already), and they’re confronting the possibility that Wilson gets injured and those 2025 guarantees become an issue, Payton would consider such a move — similar to what Josh McDaniels did with Stidham and Carr last season in Las Vegas. Stidham could potentially be an option for the Broncos in the long term, so it might make sense to get a look at him before making draft plans. I think it’s on the table, yes.
What’s your top upset pick for Week 7?
Fowler: Chargers (+5.5) over Chiefs. This line is a bit curious given the Chargers’ recent success at Arrowhead, winning two of the past three there, along with the Chiefs’ slow offensive start by their standards. Los Angeles clearly isn’t intimidated by playing in Kansas City. The Chiefs’ defense is among the league’s most stout, but the Chargers are getting healthy at the right time. And quarterback Justin Herbert has been efficient under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, completing 71% of his passes and throwing just one interception.
Graziano: Lions (+3) over Ravens. That Baltimore offense is still not in gear, and while the Ravens are getting healthier and playing at home, I don’t think anything scares the Lions right now. They’re 3-0 on the road, with wins in Kansas City, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, and their style seems to travel. They’ve won each of their past four games by at least 14 points, beating teams up with both lines, being aggressive early in games with their passing offense and salting games away late with their running game. It’s an effective formula, and they can keep it rolling.
What’s your fantasy football call of the week?
Graziano: If Daniel Jones’ neck injury clears up in time for him to play this week — and that’s still an “if” at this point — he can be a decent fill-in if you need a QB because of bye weeks or injuries. The Giants’ offense has been a fantasy wasteland this season, but Washington allows the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. What’s more, Jones has started seven games against Washington in his career, and the Giants are 5-1-1 in those games. He has thrown 10 career touchdown passes and three interceptions against the Commanders, and tacked on an additional 324 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground for good measure. If he’s back this week, it could be a get-right game for Jones on Sunday.
Fowler: New Orleans receiver Rashid Shaheed continues to build off growing chemistry with Carr and can become an upside play in fantasy leagues. He has big-play ability, with receptions of 40-plus yards in three of the first six games. On Sunday against Houston, Shaheed caught two passes for 85 yards and also rushed for 18 yards on two carries, reminding that New Orleans is looking to scheme ways to get him the ball. WIth Jacksonville corner Tyson Campbell likely out Thursday night, Shaheed could see favorable matchups.
What else are you hearing this week?
Fowler’s notebook:
• One thing is clear with the Colts’ approach to quarterback Anthony Richardson: They learned from Andrew Luck. Indy’s brass wants to handle his future delicately and take zero chances with his right shoulder injury, as owner Jim Irsay told ESPN’s Stephen Holder that Richardson will likely undergo season-ending surgery. That hasn’t been decided yet but appears to be the logical step.
Luck’s struggle to stay on the field that led to his eventual retirement has weighed heavily on the franchise, which has sifted through quarterbacks since 2019. As one person involved in the talks about Richardson’s injury told me, the Colts are adamant that they avoid a repeat. They are very sold on Richardson’s trajectory so far and don’t want to jeopardize it. Through his first three games, Richardson suffered a bruised knee, concussion and a Grade 3 sprained AC joint — all on running plays. So the Colts’ comfort with shelving Richardson is a nod to the future outlook of the position, and one that Richardson understands, even if he wants to play.
• The Titans are bracing to be without quarterback Ryan Tannehill because of his high right ankle sprain, possibly for a few weeks depending on how quickly he heals. This is the same ankle on which Tannehill suffered multiple ankle injuries last season, ultimately resulting in surgery and an IR stint late in the year. One source told me the current ankle issue is not believed to be as serious as the last but significant enough that he could miss time.
The Titans are prepping Malik Willis and Will Levis during the bye week, having them throw with receivers in Nashville. Tannehill won’t be part of that process as he heals up. Tannehill is as tough as they come, but that ankle has been through a lot. Willis vs. Levis could be a battle. Willis won in the preseason but struggled in relief Sunday against Baltimore.
• Rashee Rice’s profile could continue to grow in the Chiefs’ offense coming out of Thursday’s night’s win over Denver, which featured Rice’s 72 yards on four catches. He’s building chemistry with Patrick Mahomes and earning trust. And he’s good after the catch, helping tight end Travis Kelce with much-needed yards over the middle. Justin Watson potentially missing time to a dislocated elbow opens up more reps for Rice and others to stake claim as Kansas City’s No. 1 receiver.
Mahomes believes the Chiefs’ offense is close to breaking out. “You see it in spurts,” he said. And the offense was also encouraged by a big third-down catch by Skyy Moore, who hasn’t quite broken out yet.
• It seems Shepherd’s own Tyson Bagent is in line to start for the Bears with Justin Fields (dislocated right thumb) likely out this week. Chicago will get both Bagent and Nathan Peterman ready early in the week, but Bagent has been the No. 2 throughout the season, and Chicago thought he battled well in relief Sunday vs. Minnesota. The Bears are hoping Fields has a chance to play soon after this week, but it all depends on grip strength. I don’t get the sense Chicago will invest heavily in a free agent quarterback at this stage.
• I’m hearing the Browns are cautiously optimistic that quarterback Deshaun Watson will play this week against the Colts.
Graziano’s notebook:
• The Patriots signed practice-squad rookie QB/WR Malik Cunningham to their active roster over the weekend, and it wasn’t a throwaway transaction. I am told the coaches are discussing ways to work Cunningham into the game plan in a somewhat significant way, possibly as early as this week against Buffalo. The Patriots thought they put forth a better effort Sunday against the Raiders, but they still lost the game and are looking for a lot more from the quarterback position than what Mac Jones is giving them.
Could Cunningham supplant Jones as the starter? Anything’s possible, but we’re a ways away from that being a consideration. What Cunningham could give the Pats is a little bit of a different look at the position, mixing in some quarterback runs and moving the pocket to help diversify and expand the passing game.
Again, this is all still hypothetical at this point, because the Patriots are still not entirely sure what the rookie is capable of doing at the NFL level at this point. Cunningham was active for Sunday’s game but played just six snaps. I wouldn’t be surprised to see that number go up as New England continues to search for something to spark its dormant offense. Honestly, what do the Pats have to lose at this point?
• From what I’ve been able to gather from my sources around the Jets, they really believe having Aaron Rodgers back and around the team has had an impact. A lot of it has been overblown — I don’t get the sense he has been in the building as much as has been portrayed — but his presence on the sideline on game day and any time he spends around the team is appreciated by players and coaches there. One source told me, “He brings a calm and confident vibe. And when he’s there, any selfish vibes from other guys disappear. Great leader and awesome guy to have around.”
So what you’re hearing publicly from coach Robert Saleh on this isn’t just news conference speak. This is honestly how the team feels, and that obviously coincides with his return. Even if he can’t make it back from his Achilles injury this season (which is still by far the likely outcome, no matter how optimistic Rodgers himself is sounding about a potential 2023 return), the Jets believe he can still help them win from the sideline.
