Returner Recap and Latest News: Week 7

Photo: USA Today Sports

Individual returner projections for each week are included in your MyFBG projections and rankings automatically. My returner projections are included in the default projection set with David Dodds' offensive predictions. Choose David as the source, and then choose a scoring system in which you have included points for return yards.

The base return projections for a week can be seen on this page. You can also go to the content for the week and use the Returner Projections link to get there.

UPDATES

Corey Grant has been placed on Injured Reserve by the Jaguars. Bryan Walters handled kickoffs last week when Grant was injured, though Jacksonville could use Denard Robinson or Nick Williams on returns as well.

Chris Owusu has begun practicing on a limited basis for the Jets.

Rams punt returner Tavon Austin is dealing with a hamstring that has caused him to miss practice.

Week 6 Recap

Top Performers

While Pittsburgh finally found in Chris Boswell a healthy kicker who could make field goals, he did not fare as well on kickoffs. Arizona kick returner David Johnson made the most of it, returning 6 out of 7 kickoffs and picking up 136 return yards on his way to leading all returners for the week. Adam Jones was second best with 101 yards gained on a mix of punt and kickoff returns for the Bengals. Omar Bolden saw his first action for Denver after missing a few weeks and picked up 95 kickoff return yards, just shy of Washington's Rashad Ross who had 96 yards. It was a quiet week for punt returners with no one picking up more than 34 punt return yards, and poor Jacoby Jones ended up with 2 returns for -7 yards for San Diego. After scoring touchdowns at a furious pace early in the season, no returner has found the end zone the last two weeks.

Going back to kickers, Boswell gaining touchbacks on only 36% of his kickoffs through two games makes the Steelers an attractive opponent for fantasy returners, particularly when Ben Roethlisberger returns and gets the offense firing on all cylinders again. Other teams that are struggling to gain touchbacks are the Jets (36%), Browns (39%), Eagles (41%), and Giants (42%). The last two years, Nick Novak in San Diego had been one of the better opponents for a kickoff returner to face. Since he's joined Houston this season, however, Novak has managed a 50% touchback rate. Still in the bottom ten, but far better than his 16% touchback rate over the previous two years combined.

All Week 6 Returners

Below are all returners for Week 6.

Returners Year to Date

Here are the top 40 returners for the year by total return yards.

Week 7 Outlook

Job Changes

The Dolphins have made a switch at kick returner with Damien Williams handling all of the kickoff returns last week, a change that can heavily impact the fantasy value of Jarvis Landry in leagues that give points for returns. This could continue to be a fluid situation that changes week by week, however, so Landry owners can still hold out hope he may see more of the kick returns that tend to be more lucrative in the number of yards gained.

Knile Davis did not serve as primary running back for the Chiefs, and he and De'Anthony Thomas split the kickoff returns this week. Davis continuing to be involved on kick returns will keep Thomas's value as a returner suppressed. I mentioned last week that if Thomas took over the bulk of the kick returns that would move him up to #3 in my projections for the rest of the season. But for now that does not appear to be happening.

With the return of Robert Turbin at backup running back, the Browns have waived kick returner Shaun Draughn. Justin Gilbert handled returns while Draughn was injured recently, and with a 30.2 yard average on his 6 returns appears to have the confidence of the coaching staff to continue on with the job.

Dwayne Harris and Shane Vereen both handled kickoffs in Week 6 for the Giants.

Marcus Thigpen was released by the Colts. Griff Whalen handled both kickoffs and punts when he was not busy playing center on trick plays.

T.J. Jones saw some kick returns for the Lions with Ameer Abdullah suffering a stinger. Golden Tate also split time with Jones on punt returns.

INJURIES OF NOTE

Percy Harvin suffered a hip injury and is not expected to play Week 7 for Buffalo. The Bills used both Denarius Moore and Marquise Goodwin on kickoff returns with Harvin out. Goodwin was himself injured on one of his returns in the game and has now been placed on Injured Reserve.

Emmanuel Sanders had to leave Denver's Week 6 game with an injury to his shoulder. Denver is off this week so Sanders will have extra time to mend before the Broncos play again.

Corey Grant suffered a hip flexor sprain during the Jaguars' game against the Texans. Punt returner Bryan Walters handled the kickoffs after the injury even though Denard Robinson was active in the game. Walters suffered a back strain himself but X-rays were negative. The status of the Jaguars returners will need to be watched as we get closer to the weekend.

Chris Owusu continued to miss time for the Jets with Zac Stacy again handling the bulk of the kickoff returns in his place.

Travis Carrie and Taiwan Jones had extra time to heal over their bye week after missing time Week 5 for the Raiders. Both primary returners for Oakland will need to have their status checked as we get closer to the weekend.