Fantasy Football Week 7: Preview and Predictions

With Week 7 on the horizon, we’re about to cross the halfway point of the fantasy football regular season.

Some more season-long trends have taken shape—such as Philip Rivers' establishment as a top-tier fantasy quarterback—but the jury is still out on other topics.

Have the New England Patriots figured out their running back situation? What do we make of Julius Thomas now that he’s healthy for the Jacksonville Jaguars?

We also have more on rising star Todd Gurley, the Ben Roethlisberger-less Antonio Brown and a D/ST unit you should consider for streaming.

This is just a taste of the previews and predictions to be found inside. This slideshow will check in on every position entering Week 7 and provide several bold predictions.

QBs: Philip Rivers Steps into Top 5

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

Philip Rivers

Rivers has been on fire this season, and it’s time he gets recognized for it. He now has over 350 passing yards and two touchdowns in three straight games and has gone for more than 350 yards in four of six games so far this season.

Rivers is in line for another big game when the San Diego Chargers host the Oakland Raiders in Week 7. Oakland has given up two passing touchdowns in four of five games this year.

Tom Brady tops the list again, and Andrew Luck sits behind him after putting up big numbers for the first time this season in Week 6. Perhaps Luck’s time away from the field was exactly what was needed.

Week 7’s Top 10 QBs

1. Tom Brady (vs. NYJ)
2. Andrew Luck (vs. NO)
3. Cam Newton (vs. PHI)
4. Philip Rivers (vs. OAK)
5. Carson Palmer (vs. BAL)
6. Drew Brees (at IND)
7. Matt Ryan (at TEN)
8. Eli Manning (vs. DAL)
9. Russell Wilson (at SF)
10. Matthew Stafford (vs. MIN)

Breakout QB of the Week: Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings

In Week 7, Teddy Bridgewater will face the Detroit Lions, a team that has given up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks so far this season, per ESPN.com.

The second-year Minnesota Vikings quarterback has been disappointing in 2015—having scored double-digit fantasy points in only two games and failing to throw multiple touchdowns in any game so far—but he’s primed for his first big game of the season against Detroit. Bridgewater is a solid stream option this week.

QB Bust of the Week: Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick’s up-and-down season continued in Week 6 when he had arguably his best game of the year. He threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns en route to 20-plus fantasy points.

Week 6 marked the second straight week that Kaepernick scored over 20 points and was his third such week this season. In the other three games, however, Kaepernick has scored 10, four and nine points, respectively.

Kaepernick is primed for one of those dud games against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7.

Seattle has been average against fantasy quarterbacks so far this season, but it is allowing an average of just one touchdown pass per game against it. Additionally, Kaepernick gets a short week of rest and preparation, as the San Francisco 49ers and the Seahawks are set to play on Thursday Night Football. Avoid Kaepernick this week.

RBs: Todd Gurley Assumes a Spot Among the Elite

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

Todd Gurley

Devonta Freeman has earned the top spot among running backs, but Le'Veon Bell is more of a "1B" to Freeman's "1A." Arian Foster finally found the end zone in Week 6, and rookie sensation Gurley returns from bye to help fantasy players in Week 7.

Additionally, Lamar Miller scoots back into RB1 territory, as it appears the Miami Dolphins' new coaching regime will make better use of Miller than the previous staff did.

Week 7’s Top 10 RBs

1. Devonta Freeman (at TEN)
2. Le'Veon Bell (at KC)
3. Arian Foster (at MIA)
4. Adrian Peterson (at DET)
5. Todd Gurley (vs. CLE)
6. Marshawn Lynch (at SF)
7. Chris Ivory (At NE)
8. Lamar Miller (vs. HOU)
9. Mark Ingram (at IND)
10. Dion Lewis (vs. NYJ)

Breakout RB of the Week: Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders

Latavius Murray has had an up-and-down season so far. He had a slow buildup to start the season, which culminated in a Week 3 breakout, but then he declined over the next two games of the season.

So, which Murray are we going to get in Week 7—the one on the rise or the one in decline? Place a bet on the former.

Murray draws the Chargers this weekend, a team that has given up the most fantasy points to running backs so far this season, per ESPN.com. The Chargers just gave up 112 yards and a touchdown to Green Bay’s James Starks on just 10 carries. Murray’s specialty is the long-distance touchdown run, so his eyes must have lit up when he saw Starks break loose in Week 6.

Fire Murray up with confidence in Week 7.

RB Bust of the Week: LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots

LeGarrette Blount has been rounding into form for the Patriots over the past three weeks. He has more than 12 carries and over 70 yards in each of those three games and has scored five total touchdowns in the process.

But Week 7 against the New York Jets might be much more of a "Dion Lewis game."

The Jets have given up only one rushing touchdown so far this season and are one of the worst teams your fantasy running back can face, per ESPN.com. Look for Blount to take a back seat to Lewis and the passing game in this week.

WRs: Antonio Brown to Have Rebound Game in Week 7

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Antonio Brown

Julio Jones is able to fend off DeAndre Hopkins for the top spot in this week’s rankings, but the Houston Texans breakout star is right on his heels. Calvin Johnson reassumes a spot in the top five, and Allen Robinson slips into the top 10 (assuming he plays).

Week 7’s Top 10 WRs

1. Julio Jones (at TEN)
2. DeAndre Hopkins (at MIA)
3. Odell Beckham Jr. (vs. DAL)
4. Calvin Johnson (vs. MIN)
5. Antonio Brown (at KC)
6. Julian Edelman (vs. NYJ)
7. Keenan Allen (vs. OAK)
8. Brandon Marshall (at NE)
9. Larry Fitzgerald (vs. BAL)
10. Allen Robinson (vs. BUF)

Breakout WR of the Week: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s odd calling Brown a breakout player—he should be in your starting lineups already—but he has just 13 receptions for 111 yards and no touchdowns over the past three weeks combined. That’s more like a regular single week for Brown. (Actually, his Week 3 stat line was 13 receptions for 108 yards and no scores.)

With Landry Jones now in at quarterback for the Steelers (assuming Roethlisberger doesn’t play), things are looking up for Brown. Jones appeared more willing to get the ball to Pittsburgh’s playmakers than Michael Vick did.

Additionally, the Kansas City Chiefs—Brown’s Week 7 opponent—gave up seven catches for 129 yards to Stefon Diggs in Week 6. If Diggs can do it, so can Brown.

WR Bust of the Week: Michael Crabtree, Oakland Raiders

Michael Crabtree has been a solid player for the Oakland Raiders this season—and the team reportedly wants to get him the ball more often, per Jerry Knaak, senior editor of the team’s official website—but a breakout game for Crabtree might need to wait until Week 8 (or Week 9 if he draws Darrelle Revis in Week 8).

In Week 7, the Raiders play against San Diego, a team that has given up only four touchdowns to receivers so far this season and has completely shut down the likes of Randall Cobb (just two catches for 38 yards against the Chargers last week), Brown and Calvin Johnson.

TEs: Julius Thomas Ranks in Top 10

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Julius Thomas

We took this space last week to project a breakout week for Jaguars tight end Thomas, and seven catches, 78 yards and one touchdown later, that projection looks good. (Let’s ignore the fact that Jimmy Graham was predicted to bust in the same article.)

Thomas’ big week lands him a spot in the top 10 in Week 7, although it should be noted that he’s aided by the fact that Tyler Eifert and Martellus Bennett—two regulars in the top 10—are on bye this week.

Week 7’s Top 10 TEs

1. Rob Gronkowski (vs. NYJ)
2. Antonio Gates (vs. OAK)
3. Greg Olsen (vs. PHI)
4. Travis Kelce (vs. PIT)
5. Jimmy Graham (at SF)
6. Delanie Walker (vs. ATL)
7. Charles Clay (at JAC)
8. Gary Barnidge (at STL)
9. Jason Witten (at NYG)
10. Julius Thomas (vs. BUF)

Breakout TE of the Week: Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

Jason Witten is a New York Giants killer. He caught the last-minute desperation touchdown against the Giants in Week 1 (to go along with another score in that game) and caught one touchdown against the Giants in two games last season.

There’s still no Tony Romo to throw him the ball, but be confident in Witten this week—the Giants are a bottom-five team in the league when it comes to stopping tight ends from scoring fantasy points, per ESPN.com.

TE Bust of the Week: Larry Donnell, New York Giants

Sticking to the same game but moving to the other side of the field, fantasy owners shouldn’t expect too much from Larry Donnell in Week 7. The Dallas Cowboys have given up only one touchdown to tight ends so far this season and have held tight ends in general to under 70 yards in every game.

Kickers: San Diego’s Lambo a Top Play This Week

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Josh Lambo

Some new names slip into the top 10 this week to join the familiar faces atop the list of kickers. Josh Lambo, Josh Brown, Blair Walsh and Matt Prater are all worth a look in Week 7.

Week 7’s Top 10 Ks

1. Stephen Gostkowski (vs. NYJ)
2. Justin Tucker (at ARI)
3. Matt Bryant (at TEN)
4. Adam Vinatieri (vs. NO)
5. Steven Hauschka (at SF)
6. Josh Lambo (vs. OAK)
7. Josh Brown (vs. DAL)
8. Blair Walsh (at DET)
9. Dan Bailey (at NYG)
10. Matt Prater (vs. MIN) 

Breakout K of the Week: Josh Lambo, San Diego Chargers 

Lambo has attempted at least two field goals in five of six games so far this season, and in Week 7, he has a favorable matchup against the Raiders, a team that has given up the second-most fantasy points to kickers (on a per-game basis) so far this season, per ESPN.com.

K Bust of the Week: Nick Folk, New York Jets

Kickers simply haven't fared well against New England this season; Adam Vinatieri didn’t even attempt a field goal against the Patriots in Week 6. New England is a top-three defense against kickers, and it’s partially because teams are more willing (or forced) to go for it rather than kick a field goal against the Patriots.

Defense and Special Teams: Pittsburgh a Strong Week 7 D/ST Stream Option

Don Wright/Associated Press

The Seahawks face the turnover-prone 49ers, grabbing the top spot in this week’s rankings as a result. The Arizona Cardinals will host the 1-5 Baltimore Ravens and assume the No. 2 spot.

Week 7’s Top 10 D/STs

1. Seattle Seahawks (at SF)
2. Arizona Cardinals (vs. BAL)
3. Carolina Panthers (vs. PHI)
4. Buffalo Bills (at JAC)
5. Houston Texans (at MIA)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (at KC)
7. Minnesota Vikings (at DET)
8. New York Giants (vs. DAL)
9. New England Patriots (vs. NYJ)
10. Cleveland Browns (at STL)

Breakout D/ST of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers D/ST has been rolling over the past three weeks. The team has forced seven turnovers in that span (three interceptions and two fumble recoveries) and has scored a touchdown as well.

Its points allowed per game have also been trending in the right direction over the past three weeks: 23, 20 and 13. And two of those games game against teams with solid offenses (San Diego and Arizona). With the Jamaal Charles-less Kansas City Chiefs up next, the Steelers D/ST should be a top streaming unit in Week 7.

D/ST Bust of the Week: Indianapolis Colts

Aided by a fluky pick-six in Week 6, the Indianapolis Colts D/ST now has two touchdowns in the past four weeks. But don’t be lured in by this unit; it has a tough matchup against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints in Week 7 and has yet to score double-digit points this season (despite having two games with a touchdown).

Bold Predictions: Gurley, Martin in Line for Big Games in Week 7

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Doug Martin

Below are five bold predictions for Week 7 of the fantasy football season. 

• Cam Newton ends up as the highest-scoring quarterback in Week 7. Cam Newton was better in real football than in fantasy football in Week 6, but he put up borderline QB1 numbers despite throwing just one touchdown and playing against the Seahawks—in Seattle. Look for Newton to explode for a huge game with a favorable matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on tap.

• Todd Gurley racks up over 150 rushing yards. This would mark Gurley’s second straight game with over 150 rushing yards and his third straight game with over 140 yards—but it’s not an unreasonable expectation. Gurley will face the Cleveland Browns in Week 7, a bottom-five unit at defending running backs so far this season (from a fantasy perspective), according to ESPN.com.

• Doug Martin scores two touchdowns. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to establish an identity as a ground-and-pound team. They want to run the football and play stifling defense. The team is not there quite yet (as indicated by its 2-3 record), but that isn’t going to stop it from trying. Martin has four total touchdowns in his past two games and has carried the ball 20-plus times in three of five games so far this season. The Buccaneers are willing to ride Martin, and he’s been putting up big numbers in recent weeks as a result. Look for that trend to continue against the Washington Redskins.

• Calvin Johnson goes for over 150 yards with a score again. Megatron got off to a slow start this season by his standards, but he had a strong rebound game in Week 6 with six catches for 166 yards and a touchdown. In Week 7, Johnson will make quick work of the Vikings, a team he caught 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown against in Week 2.

• Antonio Gates has over 100 yards and scores twice. Antonio Gates has exactly nine receptions in each of his first two games back this season—and has gone for 92 and 95 yards in those two games, respectively—but he failed to find the end zone in Week 6 after scoring twice in Week 5. It wasn’t for lack of effort, however. Rivers was at times locked into Gates in the red zone in Week 6, but they were unable to connect for a score. With the tight end-friendly Raiders up next, Gates should break the 100-yard barrier for the first time this season and add to his touchdown totals.

The rankings provided throughout this article are the author's own preliminary Week 7 rankings. His rankings are updated throughout the week at FantasyPros.com.