The Top 10: Week 7

The Top 10: The Cliff's Notes

1. Buccaneers RB Sean Tucker may have made the Bucky Irving vs. Rachaad White debate moot.
2. Chargers RB Kimani Vidal showed why the Jim Harbaugh-Hassan Haskins draw was a narrative.
3. The Ravens defense claimed Jayden Daniels, but they didn't break him. This is a promising thing.
4. Baker Mayfield struggled against the Saints, but where he has improved is his saving grace.
5. Chris Godwin's excellence emerges from the shadow of Mike Evans in fantasy and real life.
6. DK Metcalf is a very good receiver, but he is holding himself back from being a great receiver.
7. Brock Purdy is an example of what national “movie people” still have to learn when it comes to QB evaluation.
8. What sets George Kittle apart from the rest of the fantasy tight end scene is his route running ability.
9. Drake Maye survived his first start. That's good news, but it gets even more difficult.
10. Five fantasy insights: Spencer Rattler, Bub Means, Tyler Goodson, Alec Pierce and Stefon Diggs.

1. Is Sean Tucker the answer to the Irving White debate?

Last week I showed why the talent referendum between Rachaad White and Bucky Irving was a bad argument and the dynamic of their committee would remain. White has power and receiving ability, but his decision-making is nothing special and he is not exceptionally explosive. Irving is slippery, has receiving skills and his decision-making is good, but he lacks top speed and power.

The real question waiting beneath the surface of this debate was one I raised this summer: Is Tucker the underrated candidate for this Tampa Bay program? If we're being precise, it's also one I brought up last summer:

“…Tucker's big-play skills as a cutback runner could earn him significant playing time. I think Tucker is a superior talent to White, but White has a full year of professional experience that could give him a tenuous edge for now. If White hasn't improved the details of his game, Tucker has enough of it to generate yards that White leaves on the field.

If the offensive line isn't performing well, it may be due to which defender has more breakaway ability. Tucker is the answer.

Fast forward to the present and we just saw Tucker deliver 190 yards from field and 2 touchdowns against the Saints while Irving was healthy and contributing. My friend Dwain McFarland called Tucker's touches at the end of the game “garbage time touches,” but I don't think that's true.

Garbage time is when the opponent has the lead and the defense plays soft coverage to bend but not break. This leads to fantasy points.

Tucker earned the equalizer. Coaches give these touches to defensemen when the offense has a lead and the defense knows the team wants to run out time. These close calls began in earnest for Tucker with 11:36 left in the game and a 17-point lead, not 4:19 left and a 24-point lead.

Even though Tucker gained 64 yards on that final drive with 4:19 left, he still had 126 yards from scrimmage and a score going into this final drive. Tucker, Irving and the Buccaneers offensive line wore down the Saints defense all game, and Todd Bowles gave Tucker the spoils, confident he would secure the result.

A coach's award of closing remarks can be a significant milestone and an indication of future opportunities on the horizon. Irving earned it with his acceleration, reduced running, receiving ability and high speed.

Sean Tucker's acceleration is the best on this depth chart. #BuccaneersvsSaints pic.twitter.com/ax1mkggNSJ

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 13, 2024

Sean Tucker makes his way to the first down. pic.twitter.com/pcjbyGW0Jg

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 13, 2024

Sean Tucker?pic.twitter.com/Qn6lqf8FnK https://t.co/lhbd2iQjv1

– wetkittybandit (@wetkittybandit) October 13, 2024

Is Tucker the immediate answer to the Buccaneers' ground game? It should be, but that's not how it normally works. Young professionals do not lose their jobs because of an injury.

However, the starter could spend more time in recovery because the backup is hot, and when the starter returns he could split time with a third back and have a shorter leash. Todd Bowles called his running back rotation a “three-headed monster” on Monday.

Tucker is worth adding to your roster as an RB4-RB5 who commands a top-15 fantasy ceiling on any given week given his breakaway speed and overall skill set. He has the best mix of skills that White and Irving offer individually.

2. Is Kimani Vidal the future of the Chargers backfield?

If JK Dobbins gets injured, Vidal's future would be now. Otherwise, he's skilled enough to at least claim a committee role with Dobbins if the Chargers realize the potential with Gus Edwards' contract.

Dobbins has done well enough that if he stays healthy, he will be the favorite to get a contract extension with Los Angeles or a second deal in 2026. Vidal will still be considered and based on his pre-draft scouting report and what we saw on Sunday, there is reason for optimism.

Kimani Vidal TD pic.twitter.com/b8OjqHeKmq

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 14, 2024

Kimani Vidal on toss pic.twitter.com/AD48CdcNzX

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 14, 2024

https://t.co/zle8nA6c9u pic.twitter.com/iGEAEFrrwC

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 14, 2024

Why some of us liked Kimani Vidal, the view. Passport professional. #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/tIfIeozrjX

— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) October 14, 2024

Vidal showed the acceleration, power, contact, balance and passing skills that made him the rookie scouting portfolio's No. 6 RB in this class. I compared him favorably to D'Andre Swift, “with more acceleration, power and better vision, but an untypical college resume that will impact his draft stock.”

Other players in Vidal's comparison range included Ahmad Bradshaw and Jaylen Warren. If he exceeds all expectations, Maurice Jones-Drew is at the top of the spectrum.

3. Jayden Daniels got hooked — and it was good for him

Four things stood out about Jayden Daniels at the Commanders-Ravens game.

1. The Ravens limited the effectiveness of the Commanders' short passing game and forced Daniels to throw downfield more often.
2. The Ravens used their pass rushers to guard the edges and get pressure inside by restricting Daniels in crucial moments. This forced some inaccurate throws and interceptions.
3. When Daniels was forced to throw downfield, he performed well outside of those pressure-filled moments.
4. Tony Romo exaggerated Daniels' ability to use his eyes as a manipulation tool in this game. Many of the pieces we saw had built-in display windows as window dressing for the first reading. Daniels is promising here, but not as exceptional as Romo describes.

Baltimore has been Daniels' toughest test yet, and he has prevailed. There's a chance the Ravens are just the start of schematic tweaks that could impact Daniels' performances in the coming weeks, but I only see four teams with the personnel to test him:

• Chicago in Week 8
• Pittsburgh in Week 10
• New Orleans in Week 15
• Atlanta in Week 17

Unlike the Steelers and Saints, I'm optimistic that you can use Daniels at will without fear of significant regression in the game. Watch for violations of the offensive line and commanders' skills. Enough hits from the surrounding talent could change this forecast. Otherwise, fire away.