Fantasy Football Week 7: Flex and PPR Rankings

Fantasy football owners are forced to constantly look ahead in preparation for the upcoming matchups, and Week 7 will be no different.

With the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on bye and several big-name superstars likely missing action this week with injuries, owners must start formulating alternative game plans.

Here are the overall flex and PPR rankings for Week 7. When in doubt, start the higher-ranked player on each list.

Flex Rankings

Rank	Player
1	DeMarco Murray, Dal, RB
2	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
3	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
4	Julio Jones, ATL, WR
5	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
6	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
7	Matt Forte, CHI, RB
8	Antonio Brown, PIT, WR
9	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
10	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
11	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
12	Giovani Bernard, CIN, RB
13	Andre Ellington, ARI, RB
14	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
15	Julius Thomas, DEN, TE
16	Le'Veon Bell, PIT, RB
17	Steve Smith, BAL, WR
18	Andre Johnson, HOU, WR
19	Alfred Morris, WAS, RB
20	T.Y. Hilton, IND, WR
21	Branden Oliver, SD, RB
22	Ben Tate, CLE, RB
23	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
24	Frank Gore, SF, RB
25	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR, WR
27	Alshon Jeffery, CHI, WR
28	Martellus Bennett, CHI, TE
29	Andre Williams, NYG, RB
30	Fred Jackson, BUF, RB
31	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
32	DeSean Jackson, WSH, WR
33	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB
34	Reggie Wayne, IND, WR
35	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU, WR
36	Ronnie Hillman, DEN, RB
37	Justin Forsett, BAL, RB
38	Greg Olsen, CAR, TE
39	Mike Wallace, MIA, WR
40	Shane Vereen, NE, RB
41	Brandin Cooks, NO, WR
42	Keenan Allen, SD, WR
43	Trent Richardson, IND, RB
44	Torrey Smith, BAL, WR
45	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI, WR
46	Fred Jackson, BUF, RB
47	Mohamed Sanu, CIN, WR
48	Percy Harvin, SEA, WR
49	Ahmad Bradshaw, IND, RB
50	Odell Beckham, NYG, WR

One of the names drawing the most attention coming into Week 7 is New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. With the likely season-ending knee injury for Victor Cruz, according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com, the rookie should expect a hefty increase in his workload moving forward.

Beckham is a better all-around athlete than No. 2 receiver Rueben Randle, and the rookie should be one of the main targets for Eli Manning for the remainder of the season. While he only caught two passes Sunday against Philadelphia, he will be a bigger part of the game plan in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys.

When asked about filling the void left by Cruz, Beckham spoke to Matt Lombardo of NJ.com regarding the responsibility he feels will fall on his shoulders:

"

I told him, I said, 'Big Bro, I've got you.' I have to step up. All of the receivers have to step up. The offense. Everybody on the team has to step up. I just told him, I said, 'I got you' because he's had me since Day One. That's the only thing that I feel like is the right thing to do — play for him. He's been there for me. He's mentored me, showed me what to do and what not to do, and any time you feel something like that, you have to do it for him.

"

Fantasy owners would be happy with five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.

If you are looking for an ideal flex option at running back, the Denver Broncos' Ronnie Hillman had his breakout game with Montee Ball sidelined with a groin injury. Hillman ran the ball 24 times for 100 yards and added three receptions as well.

"

In his first career start, Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman has posted his first career 100-yd rushing game.

— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) October 12, 2014"

With a hefty workload and an offensive line playing well, a start against the stingy San Francisco defense in Week 7 is a viable option for fantasy owners. The 49ers allowed 93 yards on 24 carries to St. Louis on Monday night, and Hillman should find similar success.

Owners should expect 20 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown from Hillman Sunday.

PPR Rankings

Rank	Player
1	DeMarco Murray, Dal, RB
2	Demaryius Thomas, Den, WR
3	Antonio Brown, Pit, WR
4	Dez Bryant, Dal, WR
5	Matt Forte, Chi, RB
6	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
7	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
8	Julio Jones, Atl, WR
9	Le'Veon Bell, Pit, RB
10	Julius Thomas, Den, TE
11	Marshawn Lynch, Sea, RB
12	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
13	Brandon Marshall, Chi, WR
14	Steve Smith, Bal, WR
15	Andre Johnson, Hou, WR
16	Giovani Bernard, Cin, RB
17	Arian Foster, Hou, RB
18	Kelvin Benjamin, Car, WR
19	Percy Harvin, Sea, WR
20	Alshon Jeffery, Chi, WR
21	Keenan Allen, SD, WR
22	DeSean Jackson, Was, WR
23	Andre Ellington, Ari, RB
24	T.Y. Hilton, Ind, WR
25	Martellus Bennett, Chi, TE
26	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
27	Julian Edelman, NE, WR
28	Emmanuel Sanders, Den, WR
29	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
30	Greg Olsen, Car, TE
31	C.J. Spiller, Buf, RB
32	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI, WR
33	Alfred Morris, Wsh, RB
34	Shane Vereen, NE, RB
35	Michael Floyd, Ari, WR
36	Pierre Garcon, Wsh, WR
37	Branden Oliver, SD, RB
38	Sammy Watkins, Buf, WR
39	Reggie Wayne, Ind, WR
40	Cordarrelle Patterson, Min, WR
41	Brandin Cooks, NO, WR
42	Golden Tate, Det, WR
43	Andre Williams, NYG, RB
44	Roddy White, Atl, WR
45	Ben Tate, CLE, RB
46	Mike Wallace, Mia, WR
47	Frank Gore, SF, RB
48	Brian Quick, StL, WR
49	Odell Beckham, NYG, WR
50	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB

Finding the right players in PPR leagues can be difficult, but there are several stars who are reception magnets. With the re-emergence of Tom Brady as an elite quarterback, wide receiver Julian Edelman is once again a viable WR2 or flex in all PPR-formatted leagues.

Against Buffalo in Week 6, Edelman caught nine receptions for 91 yards and ran the ball for another 10 yards. He has been targeted at least seven times in each game this season and already has 40 receptions through six games.

While one touchdown is a bit disappointing, Brady targeting Edelman 12 times last week indicates he is a very large part of the team’s game plan. With a favorable matchup against a New York Jets team that will stifle New England’s rushing attack, Edelman should catch another eight passes for 80 yards and get his second touchdown of the season.

Many experts expected the San Diego Chargers to struggle when running back Ryan Mathews went down with a knee injury, but rookie Branden Oliver has been a stud since taking over the starting job.

In Oliver’s last two games, he has racked up 114 yards and 101 yards rushing, respectively, caught four passes each week and scored at least one touchdown in each game (two in Week 5). San Diego managed to win both matchups, so fantasy owners should expect even more work for Oliver against Kansas City this Sunday.

Running for 100 yards and a touchdown and adding five receptions is a realistic expectation for Oliver in Week 7. If you own the San Diego rookie, start him with confidence.

*Stats via NFL.com.

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