Packers fantasy football outlook: Davante Adams to feast vs. Texans

The Green Bay Packers will be licking their wounds a bit as they head into Houston on Sunday.

Last week, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were humbled on the field (and in regards to fantasy football points, as well) in a 38-10 loss to Tampa Bay.

Will the Packers bounce back against the Texans? And who should you start? Who should you bench? We are here to help.

Players are graded on a 1-5 scale of football emojis, from “don’t even think about starting him” (?) to “you’re a fool if you bench this guy”(?????).

Here’s how Week 7 shakes out:

GREEN BAY PACKERS

QB Aaron Rodgers: ????

Coming off perhaps one of the worst performances of his career, Rodgers will try to rebound against Houston. And the numbers say he will. The Texans have allowed the fourth-most touchdown passes this year, as four of six quarterbacks to line up against Houston have thrown for multiple scores. And with a healthy Davante Adams back on the field, Rodgers should be primed for a big box score.

RB Aaron Jones: ?????

We like to use the word “juicy” in our fantasy previews. This, indeed, is a juicy matchup for Jones, as the Texans have yielded the third-most fantasy points to running backs. Last week, Derrick Henry rushed 22 times for 212 yards and two scores against Houston. Granted, Henry is a much different running back than Jones. But Kansas City’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire (138 yards), Pittsburgh’s James Conner (109) and Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook (130) all tallied 100+ rushing yards vs. the Texans. And it doesn’t hurt that Jones has scored in seven straight games.

WR Davante Adams: ?????

We didn’t get the vintage Adams game we were hoping for in when Adams returned in Week 6. We shouldn’t have to wait much longer. Houston has surrendered seven scores to receivers over its last five games, including a pair of touchdowns to Tennessee’s A.J. Brown last week.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: ??

With a healthy Adams back on the field, Valdes-Scantling’s role will continue to decline, even with Allen Lazard on injured reserve. Valdes-Scantling hasn’t logged more than 45 receiving yards since Week 2, and he’s caught just 50% of the targets this year, anyway. Valdes-Scantling is a boom-or-bust player. If you have a safer option, stay away from MVS.

TE Robert Tonyan: ??

All five of Tonyan’s touchdowns in 2020 (so far) came with Adams on the sidelines. Still, it’s a positive matchup for Tonyan against Houston, which has coughed up the sixth-most receiving yards to tight ends. You can start him, but do so with caution.

Packers D/ST: ?

Since Houston fired general manager and head coach Bill O’Brien on Oct. 4, the Texans have scored 30 and 36 points in their last two outings. Green Bay has surrendered 30+ points in two of its last three games. Let’s keep the Packers on the bench for now.

HOUSTON TEXANS

QB Deshaun Watson: ???

Did the firing of O’Brien unleash Watson? After never throwing for more than two scores over the first four weeks, Watson is averaging 347 yards and 3.5 touchdowns over his last two games. When it comes to facing fantasy football quarterbacks, the Packers rank in the middle of the road, as they yield 248.4 yards and 1.8 touchdowns per contest. Green Bay coughed up 34 rushing yards to the slow Kirk Cousins in Week 1, so the running lanes could be open for Watson.

RB David Johnson: ????

No team allows more fantasy points to running backs than the Packers. Three halfbacks – Cook, Atlanta’s Todd Gurley and Tampa Bay’s Ronald Jones III – all scored two touchdowns apiece against the Packers. Although Johnson isn’t too involved in the Texans’ passing game — as he’s caught more than two passes in just one of six contests – he’s averaging 14.5 carries per game, which should be more than enough chances to get into the end zone against Green Bay.

WR Will Fuller: ????

Fuller is red-hot. He’s scored in four straight games and has posted 108+ yards in three of six contests. However, the Packers have been stellar against receivers this year, yielding the seventh-fewest fantasy points. Fuller will likely be covered by cornerback Jaire Alexander for much of the game, who has been a tough matchup for top wideouts. Adam Thielen (six catches for 110 yards) is the only No. 1 receiver to top 56 yards against Green Bay.

TE Jordan Akins: ???

In the dry, barren world of 2020 fantasy football tight ends, Akins might be a glimmer of hope against Green Bay. Akins, who missed the past two contests with an ankle injury and concussion, has hauled in 14 of 15 targets from Watson and is averaging 11.2 yards per target. Former WWE star Rob Gronkowski tagged the Packers for five catches and 78 receiving yards last week.