Fantasy Football Week 7 Rankings: Updated Overview for All Positions
Sanity appears to be returning to fantasy football. Well, as much as sanity can exist within fantasy.
Maybe it's because we're starting to see players separate themselves in positional battles. Maybe after six weeks, the season's trends are simply more apparent. Maybe the players we thought were good are finally starting to play like it, and maybe the players we didn't think were terribly good are living up to those reputations, too.
Whatever the case may be, going into Week 7 the foggy madness from the early portion of the year seems to be lifting. While fantasy is always a bit of a guessing game, we now have six weeks behind us to educate those guesses. Below, I took a stab at ranking the smartest players to start for your lineup this week.
TOP NEWS
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Colts Release Kenny Moore
Projecting Every NFL Team's Starting Lineup 🔮
Rookie WRs Who Will Outplay Their Draft Value 📈
Let's see if the fog truly has lifted, or if another cloud of confusion is about to descend.
Notes: For a full explanation of the rankings, see here. Abridged version: Startability measures how smart it is to start a given player in a week rather than attempting to project how many points he will score. "Ability" measures a player's overall talent, proficiency at his position and ability to produce fantasy numbers. "Offense" measures how much that team's offense improves his fantasy stock.
The overall "startability" grade is weighted. All point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN standard scoring leagues.
Schedule
| NY Jets at New England | 8:25 PM |
| Atlanta at Baltimore | 1:00 PM |
| Tennessee at Washington | 1:00 PM |
| Seattle at St. Louis | 1:00 PM |
| Cleveland at Jacksonville | 1:00 PM |
| Cincinnati at Indianapolis | 1:00 PM |
| Minnesota at Buffalo | 1:00 PM |
| Miami at Chicago | 1:00 PM |
| New Orleans at Detroit | 1:00 PM |
| Carolina at Green Bay | 1:00 PM |
| Kansas City at San Diego | 4:05 PM |
| Arizona at Oakland | 4:25 PM |
| NY Giants at Dallas | 4:25 PM |
| San Francisco at Denver | 8:30 PM |
| Houston at Pittsburgh | 8:30 PM |
Quarterbacks
| 1 | Aaron Rodgers | 49 | 16 | 14 | 9 | A+ (88) |
| 2 | Andrew Luck | 48 | 15 | 13 | 10 | A (86) |
| 3 | Peyton Manning | 50 | 6 | 15 | 10 | A- (81) |
| 4 | Tom Brady | 44 | 22 | 9 | 6 | A- (81) |
| 5 | Philip Rivers | 45 | 10 | 13 | 9 | B (77) |
| 6 | Jay Cutler | 42 | 14 | 13 | 8 | B (77) |
| 7 | Russell Wilson | 44 | 14 | 11 | 8 | B (77) |
| 8 | Matt Ryan | 45 | 11 | 13 | 8 | B (77) |
| 9 | Matt Stafford | 45 | 19 | 7 | 6 | B (77) |
| 10 | Colin Kaepernick | 43 | 15 | 10 | 7 | B- (75) |
| 11 | Drew Brees | 49 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 72 |
| 12 | Cam Newton | 47 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 72 |
| 13 | Kirk Cousins | 38 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 71 |
| 14 | Tony Romo | 42 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 68 |
| 15 | Carson Palmer | 36 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 68 |
| 16 | Andy Dalton | 40 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 67 |
| 17 | Joe Flacco | 40 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 66 |
| 18 | Eli Manning | 40 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 62 |
| 19 | Ben Roethlisberger | 41 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 62 |
| 20 | Ryan Tannehill | 36 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 59 |
Quarterback is a fascinating position this week.
How much can you trust Drew Brees if Jimmy Graham doesn't play (and against a Detroit defense giving up just 9.7 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week, tops in the NFL)? How much can you trust Matt Stafford without Calvin Johnson or with a hobbled, decoy Megatron? How about Andy Dalton if he doesn't have A.J. Green again this week? Should you be worried about Peyton Manning against the tough San Francisco defense? Can we trust Tom Brady and Cam Newton again? Here are some answers:
- Not much. Brees has earned QB1 consideration every time he steps onto the field, but his upside seems pretty low this week.
- It's hard to say. Stafford has now posted back-to-back weeks of 11 fantasy points with Johnson leaving the first game and missing the second. The Lions simply aren't as compelling with Megatron around. The saving grace for Stafford this week is a favorable matchup, keeping him in the QB1 discussion.
- Dalton's upside isn't as high as it was a year ago anyway now that the Bengals are running the ball more efficiently, though Mohamed Sanu certainly looked pretty good last week. In other words, he's a QB2 with or without Green in the lineup.
- No. Manning is the only player in fantasy to score 20 or more points in every game this season. That included a trip to Seattle. He'll produce.
- Brady seems to be back on his game, with 50 total fantasy points in the past two games. With Rob Gronkowski fully healthy and Timothy Wright further implemented in the passing game, Brady's able to rely on his tight ends again. As for Newton, until we see a consistent willingness to allow him to run the ball, he's a risk—a risk with an extremely high upside, of course.
I can't believe I'm about to say this, but Jay Cutler has become one of the safer quarterbacks in fantasy football. It's hard to argue with six straight weeks of 16 fantasy points or better, and given the team's offense and the weapons he's surrounded by it seems sustainable.
Up is down; left is right. Cutler is reliable (at least in fantasy circles). The world has turned and left fantasy owners here.
Running Backs
| 1 | DeMarco Murray | 48 | 20 | 15 | 10 | A+ (93) |
| 2 | Matt Forte | 48 | 13 | 14 | 10 | A (85) |
| 3 | Jamaal Charles | 49 | 10 | 14 | 10 | A (83) |
| 4 | Le'Veon Bell | 47 | 14 | 13 | 9 | A (83) |
| 5 | Giovani Bernard | 44 | 18 | 12 | 8 | A (82) |
| 6 | Marshawn Lynch | 49 | 7 | 15 | 10 | A- (81) |
| 7 | Arian Foster | 47 | 12 | 13 | 9 | A- (81) |
| 8 | Andre Ellington | 43 | 21 | 10 | 7 | A- (81) |
| 9 | Eddie Lacy | 42 | 23 | 10 | 5 | A- (80) |
| 10 | Alfred Morris | 44 | 15 | 13 | 7 | B+ (79) |
| 11 | Justin Forsett | 36 | 24 | 9 | 7 | B (76) |
| 12 | Fred Jackson | 39 | 22 | 8 | 7 | B (75) |
| 13 | Ben Tate | 39 | 18 | 11 | 6 | B (74) |
| 14 | Frank Gore | 40 | 14 | 10 | 7 | B (71) |
| 15 | Ahmad Bradshaw | 40 | 11 | 11 | 8 | B (70) |
| 16 | Lamar Miller | 39 | 11 | 12 | 7 | B- (69) |
| 17 | C.J. Spiller | 39 | 22 | 5 | 3 | B- (69) |
| 18 | Joique Bell | 40 | 16 | 7 | 4 | B- (67) |
| 19 | Reggie Bush | 40 | 16 | 7 | 4 | B- (67) |
| 20 | Chris Ivory | 38 | 13 | 9 | 7 | B- (67) |
| 21 | Branden Oliver | 36 | 9 | 14 | 6 | C+ (65) |
| 22 | Trent Richardson | 38 | 11 | 8 | 4 | C (61) |
| 23 | Andre Williams | 37 | 10 | 11 | 5 | C (61) |
| 24 | Jeremy Hill | 35 | 18 | 4 | 3 | C (60) |
| 25 | Ronnie Hillman | 37 | 5 | 12 | 5 | C (59) |
| 26 | Jerick McKinnon | 36 | 3 | 14 | 6 | C (59) |
| 27 | Zac Stacy | 36 | 7 | 9 | 7 | C (59) |
| 28 | Shane Vereen | 36 | 7 | 9 | 4 | C- (56) |
| 29 | Darren McFadden | 37 | 4 | 7 | 6 | C- (55) |
| 30 | Pierre Thomas | 37 | 8 | 6 | 4 | C- (55) |
| 31 | Mark Ingram | 37 | 8 | 6 | 4 | C- (55) |
| 32 | Khiry Robinson | 37 | 8 | 6 | 4 | C- (55) |
| 33 | Bishop Sankey | 36 | 5 | 5 | 5 | D (51) |
| 34 | Steven Jackson | 34 | 3 | 5 | 3 | D- (45) |
| 35 | Antone Smith | 36 | 3 | 3 | 3 | D- (45) |
Due to a few unforeseen/unfortunate injuries and a few players simply outplaying their competition, the running back position is actually starting to clear up a bit for fantasy owners.
Shane Vereen is the back to own in New England after Stevan Ridley was lost for the year. Ditto for Lamar Miller in Miami, as Knowshon Moreno is also done for the season. Ahmad Bradshaw just keeps outplaying Trent Richardson, even if the latter is good for a flex start on a weekly basis. Justin Forsett is the guy to own in Baltimore. Chris Ivory has left Chris Johnson in the dust. Despite C.J. Spiller's superior talent, Fred Jackson keeps producing more.
There are also certain teams to avoid altogether. The Jacksonville Jaguars couldn't block a fly with a windshield. The Carolina Panthers backfield is a mess. The New Orleans Saints backfield is like playing roulette—you don't know where to place your bet, but you know something is going to hit.
Last week's waiver darlings—Branden Oliver, Andre Williams and Ronnie Hillman—are nothing more than flex considerations this week due to some tough matchups and Williams failing to produce against the Philadelphia Eagles. Of these players, Oliver is the one you want—he's rushed for 215 total yards the last two weeks, accumulating 47 fantasy points along the way. This kid is here to stay, folks.
If speeches had fantasy value, Joique Bell would be the top player in the game this week.
They don't, however, but Bell and Reggie Bush continue to be boom-or-bust RB2s. Bell proved as much with 18 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown in Week 6.
I'm not sure that DeMarco Murray's current pace and usage is sustainable—in fact, I know it isn't—but what he's done thus far is simply absurd. Just consider some of the statistics out there as they pertain to Murray.
These two from ESPN Stats & Information will blow you away:
So will this one from Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus:
Just consider that Murray has more rushing yards than all but four teams! No, this pace and production isn't sustainable. But man alive, you sure should enjoy the ride while you can.
Wide Receivers
| 1 | Julio Jones | 49 | 19 | 13 | 9 | A+ (90) |
| 2 | Jordy Nelson | 48 | 19 | 14 | 8 | A- (89) |
| 3 | Dez Bryant | 49 | 15 | 13 | 9 | A (86) |
| 4 | Antonio Brown | 47 | 16 | 12 | 10 | A (85) |
| 5 | Randall Cobb | 45 | 19 | 13 | 8 | A (85) |
| 6 | Brandon Marshall | 48 | 13 | 12 | 8 | A (81) |
| 7 | Demaryius Thomas | 47 | 10 | 14 | 8 | A (79) |
| 8 | Mike Wallace | 44 | 14 | 12 | 8 | A- (78) |
| 9 | Steve Smith | 41 | 15 | 12 | 8 | A- (76) |
| 10 | Alshon Jeffery | 44 | 13 | 12 | 7 | A- (76) |
| 11 | Golden Tate | 39 | 20 | 11 | 6 | A- (76) |
| 12 | DeSean Jackson | 45 | 13 | 11 | 6 | B+ (75) |
| 13 | Emmanuel Sanders | 43 | 10 | 15 | 7 | B+ (75) |
| 14 | Calvin Johnson* | 40 | 20 | 10 | 5 | B+ (75) |
| 15 | Terrance Williams | 40 | 15 | 10 | 7 | B (72) |
| 16 | Julian Edelman | 37 | 17 | 10 | 7 | B (71) |
| 17 | James Jones | 37 | 20 | 8 | 6 | B (71) |
| 18 | T.Y. Hilton | 41 | 8 | 12 | 7 | B- (68) |
| 19 | Pierre Garcon | 40 | 13 | 10 | 5 | B- (68) |
| 20 | A.J. Green* | 40 | 5 | 13 | 10 | B- (68) |
| 21 | Percy Harvin | 43 | 22 | 3 | 2 | B- (68) |
| 22 | Roddy White | 38 | 19 | 7 | 4 | B- (68) |
| 23 | Kelvin Benjamin | 40 | 10 | 10 | 7 | C+ (67) |
| 24 | Torrey Smith | 38 | 15 | 10 | 4 | C+ (67) |
| 25 | Andre Johnson | 42 | 7 | 10 | 7 | C (66) |
| 26 | Reggie Wayne | 40 | 8 | 11 | 6 | C (65) |
| 27 | Sammy Watkins | 41 | 14 | 5 | 5 | C (65) |
| 28 | DeAndre Hopkins | 40 | 7 | 9 | 7 | C (64) |
| 29 | Brandon LaFell | 32 | 17 | 10 | 5 | C (64) |
| 30 | Mohamed Sanu** | 38 | 5 | 12 | 6 | C- (61) |
| 31 | Michael Floyd | 40 | 12 | 5 | 3 | C- (61) |
| 32 | Larry Fitzgerald | 40 | 12 | 5 | 3 | C- (61) |
| 33 | Malcom Floyd | 35 | 12 | 8 | 6 | C- (61) |
| 34 | Wes Welker | 38 | 10 | 8 | 5 | C- (61) |
| 35 | Michael Crabtree | 40 | 5 | 10 | 5 | D+ (60) |
| 36 | Brian Quick | 36 | 8 | 9 | 6 | D+ (59) |
| 37 | Keenan Allen | 38 | 12 | 5 | 4 | D+ (59) |
| 38 | Kendall Wright | 36 | 15 | 5 | 2 | D+ (58) |
| 39 | Eddie Royal | 30 | 12 | 8 | 5 | D (55) |
| 40 | Marques Colston | 37 | 3 | 10 | 4 | D (54) |
| 41 | Eric Decker | 38 | 5 | 5 | 6 | D (54) |
| 42 | Brandin Cooks | 37 | 3 | 10 | 4 | D (54) |
| 43 | Anquan Boldin | 37 | 5 | 8 | 4 | D (54) |
| 44 | Rueben Randle | 35 | 5 | 9 | 4 | D- (53) |
| 45 | Odell Beckham Jr. | 35 | 5 | 9 | 4 | D- (53) |
Even if Megatron and Green play this week (I very highly doubt we'll see Green, for what that's worth), keep in mind that neither one of them seems likely to be at full strength. While I don't think Johnson would return to be a decoy, I don't think you should assume he'll offer WR1 production upon his return.
I'm not sure Golden Tate's fantasy value really waxes or wanes all that much depending on Megatron's status. He's a nice play for fantasy owners either way. Sanu is absolutely a WR2 if Green can't go and a nice flex play if Green is in the lineup. Very quietly, Sanu has accumulated eight or more fantasy points in fours straight games.
But without Green in the lineup, he went off for 18 fantasy points. If he's somehow still available in your league, well, it's your lucky day. Get him in those starting lineups.
More so than any other position, wide receiver has been pretty predictable this year. While there have been a few surprises—the revitalization of Steve Smith Sr., Kelvin Benjamin becoming a solid WR2 almost every week—the players you would have expected to perform at the position have almost done so across the board.
Take away Johnson and Green's injuries, and most of the players projected to be at or near the top of the rankings—Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas, Jordy Nelson, Brandon Marshall, Randall Cobb, Alshon Jeffery, Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, etc.—have lived up to the hype. Traditionally one of the least predictable positions, wide receiver has provided far less headaches this season, at least near the top.
Two players to keep an eye on, as breakouts seem forthcoming: Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham Jr. in New York. With Victor Cruz done for the season, these two will be the top targets in the passing game. Both are pretty talented, so they could quickly become reliable options for Eli Manning.
Tight Ends
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski | 48 | 21 | 12 | 8 | A+ (89) |
| 2 | Julius Thomas | 49 | 12 | 15 | 10 | A (86) |
| 3 | Jimmy Graham* | 50 | 13 | 13 | 10 | A (86) |
| 4 | Jordan Cameron | 44 | 22 | 10 | 7 | A (83) |
| 5 | Martellus Bennett | 41 | 14 | 13 | 7 | B+ (75) |
| 6 | Antonio Gates | 40 | 13 | 12 | 7 | B (72) |
| 7 | Jordan Reed | 40 | 18 | 9 | 4 | B (71) |
| 8 | Dwayne Allen | 37 | 17 | 10 | 7 | B (71) |
| 9 | Greg Olsen | 45 | 5 | 12 | 8 | B- (70) |
| 10 | Vernon Davis | 40 | 12 | 10 | 8 | B- (70) |
| 11 | Larry Donnell | 37 | 17 | 10 | 6 | B- (70) |
| 12 | Travis Kelce | 42 | 10 | 10 | 7 | C (69) |
| 13 | Delanie Walker | 39 | 15 | 8 | 6 | C (68) |
| 14 | Jason Witten | 40 | 11 | 5 | 6 | C- (62) |
| 15 | Owen Daniels | 36 | 5 | 8 | 5 | D+ (54) |
Julius Thomas has nine receiving touchdowns this season, which is more than 15 teams. Just let that one sink in for a moment.
Is his touchdown pace sustainable? Probably not. Could he potentially get to 20 touchdowns this season? It's very possible. It's concerning that he's been targeted just 29 times on the season, but as long as a large chunk of those targets keep coming in the red zone, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
I'd argue that Thomas' trade value would probably never be higher, and it won't, but if you have him on your team you have such a major advantage at the position that you probably should just enjoy this ride while it lasts. Even when he isn't on pace for 28 touchdowns in a season, he's still an excellent option for fantasy owners.
If Graham plays, I think you have to start him. No, he won't be 100 percent. Yes, it's possible he'll be a decoy. But here's the thing: Given his immense upside, is it worth sitting him for some mediocre player whose upside is about seven fantasy points? Or would you rather take the risk on Graham nabbing two touchdown passes?
I'll take the risk in that case. Graham doesn't appear likely to play, but if he does you'd be wise to stick with him unless you have another top option at the position.
Defense/Special Teams
| 1 | New England Patriots |
| 2 | Buffalo Bills |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 4 | Arizona Cardinals |
| 5 | Seattle Seahawks |
| 6 | Chicago Bears |
| 7 | Houston Texans |
| 8 | Detroit Lions |
| 9 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 10 | Minnesota Vikings |
Kickers
| 1 | Stephen Gostkowski |
| 2 | Dan Bailey |
| 3 | Justin Tucker |
| 4 | Chandler Catanzaro |
| 5 | Phil Dawson |
| 6 | Adam Vinatieri |
| 7 | Nick Novak |
| 8 | Dan Carpenter |
| 9 | Matt Bryant |
| 10 | Josh Brown |
Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes, too. It's more fun than math class with Jason Pierre-Paul.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")