Just how many questions can we have heading into Week 7… How far does Larry Fitzgerald fall thanks to John Skelton being at QB? Is Andre Johnson even a usable option? How do tough matchups impact the top of the rankings?

Let’s take a look:

  1. A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Pittsburgh
  2. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – at Chicago
  3. Victor Cruz – New York Giants – vs. Washington
  4. Brandon Marshall – Chicago Bears – vs. Detroit
  5. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Arizona
  6. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – vs. New York Jets
  7. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Cleveland
  8. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – at Tampa Bay
  9. Vincent Jackson – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. New Orleans
  10. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Cincinnati
  11. Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers – at St. Louis
  12. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – vs. Washington
  13. Torrey Smith – Baltimore Ravens – at Houston
  14. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – at Carolina
  15. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans – at Buffalo
  16. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – at Minnesota
  17. Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Tennessee
  18. James Jones – Green Bay Packers – at St. Louis
  19. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – at Carolina
  20. Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Cincinnati
  21. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – vs. Baltimore
  22. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. New Orleans
  23. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – vs. Dallas
  24. Denarius Moore – Oakland Raiders – vs. Jacksonville
  25. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – at Houston
  26. Brandon Lloyd – New England Patriots – vs. New York Jets
  27. Brandon Gibson – St. Louis Rams – vs. Green Bay
  28. Stephen Hill – New York Jets – at New England
  29. Randall Cobb – Green Bay Packers – at St. Louis
  30. Josh Gordon – Cleveland Browns – at Indianapolis
  31. Domenik Hixon – New York Giants – vs. Washington
  32. Kendall Wright – Tennessee Titans – at Buffalo
  33. Andre Roberts – Arizona Cardinals – at Minnesota
  34. Devery Henderson – New Orleans Saints – at Tampa Bay
  35. Donnie Avery – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Cleveland
  36. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Seattle
  37. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – at New York Giants
  38. Andrew Hawkins – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Pittsburgh
  39. Sidney Rice – Seattle Seahawks – at San Francisco
  40. Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – at Buffalo
  41. T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Cleveland
  42. Justin Blackmon – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Oakland
  43. Mario Manningham – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Seattle
  44. Chris Givens – St. Louis Rams – vs. Green Bay
  45. Jeremy Kerley – New York Jets – at New England
  46. Darrius Heyward-Bey – Oakland Raiders – vs. Jacksonville
  47. Greg Little – Cleveland Browns – at Indianapolis
  48. Golden Tate – Seattle Seahawks – at San Francisco
  49. Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – at Chicago
  50. Leonard Hankerson – Washington Redskins – at New York Giants

Thoughts:

  • It looks slightly odd having Victor Cruz sitting near the top these rankings, especially when Hakeem Nicks could easily eat into his catches (and out produce him). That said, against a defense allowing a league-high 328.3 passing yards per games and 15 TD, there should be more than enough touches to go around. With a lot of the other top options drawing tough matchups, Cruz needs to be right there with the elite.
  • Speaking of tough matchups, A.J. Green gets a Steelers team that is allowing just 200.8 passing yards per game. However, they have allowed 9 TD and Green scored a TD in each of his two meetings with them. There’s no reason to think he won’t produce once again.
  • Vincent Jackson has scored 3 TD in his past two games and 4 TD in his past four. Included in that stretch is a pair of 100+ yard performances. Would it surprise anyone if the Tampa Bay-New Orleans game turns into a shootout? Consider Jackson a potential WR1 this week.
  • If it weren’t for John Skelton running the offense, Larry Fitzgerald probably would be ranked a bit higher. While I still think he will produce, there is a lot of risk.
  • Houston is a tough defense, but it has allowed 12 passing TD on the season. That makes Torrey Smith a pretty good risk to take as a high-end WR2.
  • Do we really expect James Jones to score 2 TD every single week? He’s done it three straight games and, while that is going to end sooner or later, it certainly has made him a very good play as a WR2 no matter what the matchup. The Packers offense is finding its footing and, when on, can put up points regardless of the defense.
  • While Kenny Britt had his struggles in Week 6, he showed that he was on his way to full health and big production. It’s only a matter of time and with a favorable matchup against the Bills (256.3 passing yards per game, 13 TD), this could be the week that he fully explodes. As a WR2 he is a must-use option in all formats.
  • Baltimore’s defense is banged up, but how much can we really count on Andre Johnson at this point? The Texans defense is a running based attack, as can be evidenced by his 25 receptions for 358 yards and 2 TD for their star receiver to date. Could he break out at any time? Of course, but he is more of a WR2 at this point.
  • Brandon Gibson is coming off a big game against the Dolphins and could assume a large role in the passing game with Danny Amendola out of action. As a WR3, you certainly could do worse.
  • Consider Josh Gordon a high-risk, high-reward option since his value rests solely on an ability to make big plays. Over the past two weeks he had 5 catches for 181 yards and 3 TD, just to give you an idea. The Browns need him, given their injuries, so don’t be surprised if it continues.
  • Stephen Hill is the best of a bad Jets’ receiving corps. Still, that’s enough to make him a WR3 at this point.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 7 rankings: