Fantasy Football: Top 5 Wide Receivers in NFL Week 7

Fantasy football fanatics, welcome to the toughest week of fantasy you will experience so far this year. With six star-laden teams taking the week off, your decisions will be harder than ever.

Scan the waiver wire. Make a good trade. Make sure your roster is completely set prior to game day (that seems obvious, but many a great fantasy footballer has been done in by a slight oversight).

Why is this article important? Because in Week 7, fantasy owners will be without the services of Roddy White, Julio Jones, Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline and DeSean Jackson.

Here are the top five wide receivers for fantasy football in Week 7. Game-plan accordingly if you're facing these guys, or they'll beat your team into the ground.

5. A.J. Green

A.J. Green has a tough matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, but that doesn't mean you should count him out. You should never count A.J. Green out.

Green has been the best wide receiver in fantasy this season, hands down. He has touchdowns in five consecutive games and had 135 yards last week against Cleveland.

The only thing keeping Green low on this list is that Pittsburgh will really be his first legitimate challenge since Week 1 against Baltimore when he had a season-low five catches for 70 yards and no touchdowns.

Green has been on fire in recent weeks, so he should always be in your lineup. 

4. Percy Harvin

As far as all-around players go, Percy Harvin is easily the best the NFL has to offer. He can run, he can catch and he can return kicks better than anyone. The guy is an absolute terror, and his overall abilities make him a matchup nightmare.

He faces a very good Arizona Cardinals defense this week, but it shouldn't slow him down much. The Vikings have done a superb job all season of trying to get the ball in their star's hands, no matter what the cost.

With Christian Ponder playing very well under center, Harvin is primed to have a big week every time he takes the field. Expect 100 yards receiving and 40 yards rushing, along with two touchdowns.

3. Reggie Wayne

The No. 1 player on the short list of future Hall of Famers enjoying career-best seasons is probably Peyton Manning, right?

Think again, folks. Reggie Wayne is having a superb year with rookie quarterback Andrew Luck under center, and he faces a miserable Cleveland Browns secondary this week.

Wayne hasn't had much impact in the touchdown category this year, but expect that to change. The Browns have the third-worst passing defense in the NFL, and Wayne has 299 yards in his past two games. He should go for at least 115 and a score, and could explode for two or three touchdowns if the game's situations dictate that type of play-calling.

2. Marques Colston

Marques Colston has had a few down years in fantasy football since his breakout rookie season, but he's made a huge comeback this year for the struggling but explosive Saints. Following a bye, he will be going up against Tampa Bay's 31st-ranked pass defense.

In his last two outings, Colston has been magnificent with 284 yards and four touchdowns. In this divisional matchup with the Bucs, expect Drew Brees to look his way often. Don't be surprised if Colston goes for 130 yards and two scores. He's finally feeling healthy and could be in for a big week. Colston struggled at the beginning of the year, but is finding his rhythm and could be one of the most dangerous receivers in fantasy football for the rest of the season.

1. Victor Cruz

Victor Cruz has been somewhat inconsistent this year, sandwiching dominant performances between nonexistent ones. This can probably be attributed to the amount of talent that Eli Manning has to throw to, but don't back down from Cruz this week. He'll be lights out.

Cruz will play a divisional game against the 32nd-ranked pass defense of the Washington Redskins. In a game that pits two of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL against one another, expect Cruz to see targets early and often. If the game becomes a shootout, Cruz will benefit greatly.

I fully expect Cruz to go for 145 yards and two touchdowns, at the very least. The Redskins can't cover anyone, and Cruz will be fired up for an NFC East showdown. If you're facing him, watch out.