Week 7 Fantasy Football Rankings: PPR Breakdown and Top Sleepers

One of the most popular scoring formats in fantasy football is points-per-reception leagues, and it’s time to examine the Week 7 rankings and top sleepers.

The key to success in PPR leagues is finding the wide receivers, running backs and tight ends that see the most targets in the passing game each week. While touchdowns and yardage are still immensely important, extra points from receptions can make a great day even better.

Here is the full Week 7 PPR rankings and the top sleepers you can’t miss.

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	Ronnie Hillman, DEN, RB
48	Brian Quick, StL, WR
49	Odell Beckham, NYG, WR
50	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Week 7’s Top Sleepers

It’s getting to the heart of the fantasy football season, and it is imperative to win as many games as possible now to ensure a spot in the postseason. Starting the wrong player in Week 7 could be the death blow to a fantasy playoff dream.

One of the most disappointing fantasy players this season has been Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller. After playing only 12 snaps in Sunday against New England and racking up just 19 yards on six carries, fantasy owners are as low as possible on the elusive runner.

It's finally time to call Spiller a sleeper.

Whether you buy low on Spiller via trade this week or you have him sitting on the bench after scoring one fantasy point last week, it’s time to start him as a flex against Minnesota. The Vikings are ranked 20th in the NFL, allowing 118.2 rushing yards per game. This should be Spiller’s time to shine.

When asked about implementing a different game plan to fit Spiller’s style, Bills head coach Doug Marrone spoke, via BuffaloBills.com, about focusing on getting Spiller involved more:

"

Well, we can fit it in to the scheme. That's not a problem. The problem is everything else that's going on around plays into this. Again, I'm not trying to deflect criticism. Are there things that C.J. can do better? Yes, as well as everyone else. We go in trying to get him the ball on the perimeter at times. Sometimes teams will let you do that. Everyone is aware, when he's on the field, of what's going on trying to get him in space with the ball. It starts with us. I wouldn't sit here and say, 'It's all on him.' We've got to do a better job, as coaches, of finding a way to get him the ball in space.

"

With a favorable matchup against Minnesota and a coaching staff that clearly understands it must get Spiller touches in the open field to be a postseason contender, fantasy owners must believe in the running back one more time. He should get closer to 15 touches on Sunday (including five receptions), and that should result in 100 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.

Another sleeper candidate for this week is New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham. After the season-ending knee injury to No. 1 receiver Victor Cruz, according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com, Beckham is poised to take over the spot as the top receiver on the team.

Quarterback Eli Manning has developed a rapport with Rueben Randle, but Beckham has the speed and playmaking ability to continue earning Manning’s trust. Catching only two passes on four targets was alarming for owners in Week 6, but with Cruz out and Randle likely drawing the top cornerbacks, Beckham should have a big day against Dallas.

The Cowboys have been playing great defensively, but the team could get an early lead on the Giants and New York will be forced to air the ball out. Beckham has the quickness and hands to be a short-yardage receiver or a deep threat, so seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown should be expected.

A player not getting the love he deserves is Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman. The groin injury to starter Montee Ball opened the door for Hillman to show what he can do, and against the stingy run defense of the New York Jets, he ran the ball 24 times for 100 yards.

According to ESPN’s add/dropped list, Hillman is still only owned by 8.8 percent of leagues. The Week 7 meeting against San Francisco won’t be easy, but with 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis possibly missing the game with a toe injury, per ProFootballTalk.com, there should be more lanes for the running back to exploit.

Look for Hillman to get a similar workload Sunday night, and fantasy owners should expect 70 yards rushing and another 30 yards receiving with a touchdown. It should be a big day for owners starting Hillman as their flex.

*Stats via NFL.com.

Follow @Donald_Wood