Fantasy Football Week 7: Risers, Fallers and Top Trade Candidates

Not to sound cliche, but can you believe it is already Week 7? Football makes time go by so darn fast, man.

Week 7 was a seemingly good fantasy week, as 17 players went over 25 points in points-per-reception leagues, per Pro Football Focus.

As always, I'll go over some guys who are rising in Fantasy Land, some who are falling and guys you should sell high on, buy low and go out and get.

It's not too late to turn your fantasy season around—even though we're six games in. However, if you're in a 16-team PPR league and your first two draft picks were Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson, you're probably starting to get nervous (I'm 1-5 in that league).

Last week, one of the risers was Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, and he had a heck of a day.

I'm betting I wasn't the only Bortles owner who was watching as he went down the field hoping for his fourth touchdown. But of course, he threw an interception—his third of the game.

Hopefully, these guys can help you out in the coming weeks as we get closer to league trade deadlines.

Riser: Brian Hoyer, QB, Houston Texans

Associated Press

Since Week 4, Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer has thrown for 837 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception.

Hoyer is also the No. 5 quarterback in that span, besting guys such as Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Another refreshing stat is Hoyer's aDOT (average depth of target), which is 11.8—second in the league since Week 4, only behind Carolina Panther quarterback Cam Newton.

Up to this point, the quarterback carousel in Houston has been troublesome, but according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Texans head coach Bill O'Brien is sticking with Hoyer.

As long as Hoyer has wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to throw to, he's a legitimate starting option in most 12-team leagues.

Faller: Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

The San Diego Chargers are very generous to opposing running backs, giving up an average of 24.3 fantasy points per game, per ESPN.com.

In Week 6, Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy has a chance to beat up on the Chargers, but instead it was fellow running back James Starks who went for something like 1,000 yards in that game alone.

However, Lacy isn't a "faller" due to his performance against the Chargers—he's hurt.

According to Packers head coach Mike McCarthy via Packer Report on Twitter, Lacy saw so few opportunities in Week 6, because "Eddie's...beat up. This week will help him."

We saw a similar slow start last season, but who knows how bad this injury really is?

Riser: Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Associated Press

Former Maryland Terrapin and now Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs is flat-out tearing up the National Football League over his last two games.

In the games in which he's played—Week 4 and Week 6—Diggs is tied for the No. 9 wide receiver in PPR formats.

In those two games, he's averaged more than nine targets per contest. Additionally, he's played in almost 69 percent of the snaps in these two games and could take over the starting job from fellow wide receiver Charles Johnson, who took over in 2014 for another teammate—Cordarrelle Patterson.

On Twitter, I recently saw a tweet that was funny yet seemingly true (and I apologize I can't find the tweet to give the Good Samaritan credit). The tweet was that Diggs is the new Johnson, and Johnson is the new Patterson. What does that make Patterson? Well, you can get creative on that one.

What makes Diggs' No. 9 ranking more insane is that he has yet to find the end zone. Which, don't worry, I'm sure he will find pretty soon.

If you can get the No. 9 wide receiver in the two games he's played without scoring a single touchdown, you know what you have? A PPR monster.

Faller: Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Perez/Associated Press

If you're a Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews owner, say it with me—"What the heck, Sam Bradford!"

Of course, Bradford is the Eagles quarterback.

So far this season, Matthews has only put up two 20 or more fantasy point totals, and those came in Weeks 1 and 2.

Since then, Matthews is tied for the WR40 position with Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Leonard Hankerson and has not found the end zone.

In Week 6 on Monday Night Football, Matthews had a real opportunity to go off and make fantasy owners love him again, but he didn't thanks large in part to Bradford and a fumble he had.

We all know Matthews is talented and has a great pedigree, but when your quarterback throws three interceptions and the game plan goes poorly, there's nothing he can do.

What is also frustrating is that he's averaging nearly nine targets per game.

It's just getting frustrating at this point, man.

Riser: Brandon LaFell, WR, New England Patriots

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

You didn't forget about New England Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell now, did you?

As we've seen so far this season, nearly every Patriots player who can run and catch has had value, and LaFell was a top-25 option in fantasy in a much less potent offense last season.

LaFell has been on the physically unable to perform list, but is eligible to come back this week.

According to head coach Bill Belichick on a press conference call, LaFell should practice.

You'd have to think he's a decent bet to return in Week 7, when the Patriots take on divisional foe, the New York Jets.

LaFell should pick up where he left off last season.

Faller: Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

See what Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is doing in the picture above?

Yeah, that's what his fantasy owners want to do every Sunday.

Now, don't get me wrong, Kelce is far from a train wreck, but let's be honest—we expected him to be much, much better.

However, Andy Reid is still the Chiefs head coach and isn't giving up his play-calling ability any time soon.

Week 1 was a monster week for Kelce as he scored twice, but since then he has yet to find the end zone and is the No. 9 tight end in PPR leagues. Compared to where you drafted him, there have been much more consistent options. Kelce has scored 10 or fewer points three times since Week 1.

With the injury to running back Jamaal Charles, owners expected Reid to wake up and use Kelce more.

And let's be honest—Kelce doesn't exactly have an elite quarterback throwing him the ball. 

Trade Candidates

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Buy Low: T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Although he missed Week 6, Yeldon definitely makes the list as a buy-low candidate.

So far this season, he has just one touchdown that came on a pass from quarterback Blake Bortles. Also, he's just the RB29 in PPR leagues.

So why should you trade for him? I'll tell you why—volume. So far this season, Yeldon averages just over 19 touches per game—that's hard to find.

It's only a matter of time before the rookie picks it up on the ground and finds the end zone. An owner in your league may be growing frustrated waiting for that, and that's why this is the perfect time to pounce.

Sell High: Gary Barnidge, TE, Cleveland Browns

Let me make this clear—I absolutely love The Barnyard.

However, let's be real here for a second.

The tight end position is notorious for spitting out these random players, and Barnidge is one of them. It seems to be fairly easy to find solid tight end production, and you can likely deal Barnidge for a ton right now, as he is tied for the TE1 spot with Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert.

So far this season Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme has made splashes, and, more recently, New Orleans Saints tight end Ben Watson has done well.

I'm not saying you should trade Barnidge, but depending on the package, don't say no just because he's the TE1 at this point in time.

Go Get: Theo Riddick, RB, Detroit Lions

Disclaimer: This only applies if you're in a PPR league.

Right now Riddick is probably the quietest RB15 we can recall.

He hardly ever runs the ball but averages nearly seven targets per game. Also, he's been by far the most productive running back option the Detroit Lions have, outplaying Joique Bell and Ameer Abdullah.

You may not necessarily have to pay a ton for him because of the name factor, but he has that San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead appeal.

Riddick is a super-sneaky option who will help you win week to week in PPR leagues.

Advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus.