Fantasy Football Week 7: Matt Camp's Fantasy Big Board
For many of you, Week 7 brings the halfway point of the fantasy regular season.
On the latest edition of Your Fantasy Fire Drill, I discussed believing in narratives: By this point, you can adjust your assessment of players based on matchup.
The Arizona Cardinals remain the easiest opponent for fantasy tight ends, so hopefully Evan Engram (knee) is cleared to play against them this weekend. The Philadelphia Eagles have an atrocious secondary. With Amari Cooper's status uncertain because of a quad injury, you should be all over Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup. The New England Patriots have a great defense. That's bad news for the New York Jets.
You want another narrative to believe in? The San Francisco 49ers are for real. But they lack standouts at running back and wide receiver, so other than George Kittle, it's hard to get excited about the fantasy options there. Plus, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has had below-average fantasy production.
Here's my first look at points-per-reception (PPR) rankings for Week 7. These will change throughout the week and up to Sunday's action as we get more information about injuries and limitations, so make sure to bookmark this page for my full rankings for all scoring formats.
Matt Camp answers your fantasy football questions live on B/R Gridiron's new show, Your Fantasy Fire Drill. Ask away and tune in every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Top 100
1 of 7
I present my top 100 players (minus quarterbacks) for the week as a way to help determine your flex spots. You may favor a certain position or player over another based on his role and/or your scoring rules.
As an additional tiebreaker, here are the teams I like this week based on their matchups:
- Los Angeles Rams (at Atlanta Falcons)
- Buffalo Bills (vs. Miami Dolphins)
- San Francisco 49ers (at Washington Redskins)
- Indianapolis Colts (vs. Houston Texans)
- New England Patriots (at New York Jets)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (at Cincinnati Bengals)
Week 7 Top 100 PPR Rankings
Quarterbacks
2 of 7
Better than Usual
Jared Goff, LAR (at ATL)
This won't be easy, but forget about what Goff did in an ugly loss to the 49ers. This week, he shifts from facing one of the league's better defenses to one of the worst. We know Goff can put up good fantasy production when the matchup favors him.
In the last four weeks, no team has provided an easier matchup for quarterbacks than the Atlanta Falcons. That includes an average of nearly 326 yards and more than three passing touchdowns per game. Before Week 6, Goff had back-to-back outings with at least 395 yards and at least 268 yards in four straight games. He can get back to those numbers in Atlanta, so play him with confidence.
Josh Allen, BUF (vs. MIA)
Allen and the Buffalo Bills come off the bye with a beatable home matchup, so if he's sitting on the waiver wire, grab him. The Miami Dolphins have been the eighth-easiest matchup for quarterbacks in the last month. In addition, Allen has provided a running boost with 158 yards and three scores on 41 attempts.
He also settles into a favorable schedule in the next few weeks with three straight home games against the Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins before road matchups with the Cleveland Browns and Dolphins. Starting this week, Allen could remain a top-10 option until further notice.
Concern
Philip Rivers, LAC (at TEN)
Rivers' up-and-down season has made him a frustrating fantasy option. While he's thrown 300-plus yards on four occasions, he has just nine touchdowns and six interceptions in six games. That includes two contests without any touchdown passes. Through six weeks, he's QB11, which is fine but hardly confidence-boosting.
Traveling across the country to Nashville for an afternoon game isn't the best recipe for success against a good defense. The Tennessee Titans have been the ninth-hardest matchup for fantasy quarterbacks over the last four weeks. That includes giving up just four touchdowns in that span. Unless you're stuck, look elsewhere for your QB this week.
Week 7 Quarterback Rankings
| 1 | Deshaun Watson (HOU) |
| 2 | Patrick Mahomes (KC) |
| 3 | Lamar Jackson (BAL) |
| 4 | Russell Wilson (SEA) |
| 5 | Kyler Murray (ARI) |
| 6 | Matt Ryan (ATL) |
| 7 | Dak Prescott (DAL) |
| 8 | Jared Goff (LAR) |
| 9 | Josh Allen (BUF) |
| 10 | Aaron Rodgers (GB) |
| 11 | Tom Brady (NE) |
| 12 | Carson Wentz (PHI) |
| 13 | Jacoby Brissett (IND) |
| 14 | Daniel Jones (NYG) |
| 15 | Gardner Minshew II (JAC) |
| 16 | Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) |
| 17 | Kirk Cousins (MIN) |
| 18 | Philip Rivers (LAC) |
| 19 | Matthew Stafford (DET) |
| 20 | Andy Dalton (CIN) |
| 21 | Sam Darnold (NYJ) |
| 22 | Joe Flacco (DEN) |
| 23 | Derek Carr (OAK) |
| 24 | Mitch Trubisky (CHI) |
| 25 | Case Keenum (WAS) |
| 26 | Ryan Tannehill (TEN) |
| 27 | Teddy Bridgewater (NO) |
| 28 | Josh Rosen (MIA) |
Running Backs
3 of 7
Better Than Usual
Phillip Lindsay, DEN (vs. KC)
Through six weeks, Lindsay sits at RB13 for the season, which is a strong achievement on an inconsistent squad. However, it's fair to wonder if his ceiling is even higher.
He has 84 carries for 397 yards and four scores with 19 receptions for 147 yards on 26 targets. Royce Freeman racked up 284 yards on 66 carries and 21 receptions for 145 yards on 26 targets but has yet to find the end zone. In six games, Lindsay has topped a 50 percent carry share just twice. Freeman has a 50 percent carry share in all but two contests and went over 60 percent twice.
The split in carries may seem odd since Lindsay has been the better player, so the hope for this week is that a great matchup will take him to even greater heights, even if Freeman keeps a significant role. The Kansas City Chiefs are the third-easiest matchup for running backs over the last four weeks and have allowed a league-high 634 rushing yards in that span. If the Broncos are smart, Lindsay should play a huge role.
Josh Jacobs, OAK (at GB)
The Oakland Raiders may be turning a corner with Jacobs' usage. In the two games before the team's Week 6 bye, he had five receptions for 49 yards on five targets. In three previous games, he had just a single catch for 28 yards on three targets. It's not much, but for a team that lacks high-end talent, it makes sense to get Jacobs the ball as much as possible.
That shouldn't be an issue in Sunday's game when Jacobs faces a vulnerable Packers run defense. Green Bay has been a bottom-10 unit against fantasy running backs in the last four weeks, which includes allowing six rushing touchdowns. Featuring Jacobs makes plenty of sense, and hopefully the Raiders continue to get him involved in the passing game. He has RB1 upside for Week 7.
Concern
Alvin Kamara, NO (at CHI)
Yet another fantasy superstar who's dealing with a bothersome injury, Kamara has "high ankle-type issue" that could limit him in practice, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. While Kamara thinks he might play, that news is a major buzz kill.
Kamara played through the ankle issue last week and was limited to 31 yards on 11 carries and seven receptions for 35 yards. He logged a season-low 59.1 percent of his team's offensive snaps, so the injury's effects were noticeable. Keep a close eye on his status before the New Orleans Saints play a late-afternoon game against a tough Chicago Bears defense.
Week 7 Running Back PPR Rankings
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Wide Receivers
4 of 7
Better Than Usual
Michael Gallup, DAL (vs. PHI)
Gallup's fantasy stock is rising, and while it comes as a result of Amari Cooper's quad injury, it also comes at an opportune time. Cooper left his team's Week 6 game on the second drive and never returned. According to Todd Archer of ESPN.com, his status for Week 7 is in "serious question" because of the quad bruise he's been dealing with the last two weeks.
In two games since he returned from a knee procedure, Gallup had 11 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown on 21 targets. With or without Cooper, Gallup is in line for a potentially huge game against a weak Philadelphia Eagles pass defense. In the last four weeks, the Eagles have given up the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including the most in Week 6, to the Minnesota Vikings. If Cooper is out, Gallup's target share will push him into WR1 territory.
Will Fuller V, HOU (at IND)
No one wants to hear about potential fantasy points, but a week after Fuller had 217 yards and three touchdowns on 14 receptions, he should have had another huge performance against the Chiefs. "Should" is the key word, since Fuller dropped three touchdowns last week. Yes, you read that correctly. As someone who had Fuller in my lineup, I share in your pain.
We must move forward and focus on his potential to bounce back against the Colts. Over the last four weeks, Indianapolis has been the seventh-easiest matchup for wide receivers. Even with the drops, Fuller leads the Texans with 444 receiving yards and is averaging 13.5 yards per catch. His big-play ability can swing a fantasy matchup, so put your faith back in him this week.
Concern
Terry McLaurin, WAS (vs. SF)
McLaurin is the only Washington Redskin you can confidently start each week, which he proved again last week in a win over the Miami Dolphins. He turned seven targets into four receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Even though he has just 23 receptions on the season, that's been good for 408 yards (17.7 average) and five touchdowns.
Expecting McLaurin to stay hot might be a tall task when he faces a stout 49ers defense. Only the Chargers and Bills have been tougher against fantasy wide receivers in the last month, so with McLaurin as the only real weapon for the Redskins, he could draw extra attention. While you can't bench him, you should lower expectations in this difficult matchup.
Week 7 Wide Receiver PPR Rankings
Tight Ends
5 of 7
Better Than Usual
T.J. Hockenson, DET (vs. MIN)
Hockenson has yet to re-create the magic of his Week 1 NFL debut when he turned nine targets into 131 yards and a touchdown. Since then, he has 16 targets with nine receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. No one is asking Hockenson to dominate like he did in the opener, but becoming a reliable fantasy option would be nice.
His chance to get back in fantasy owners' good graces starts this week with a plus matchup. The Minnesota Vikings have yielded the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends in the last four weeks. Part of that is a league-high 35 receptions allowed during that time frame. If Matthew Stafford needs a security blanket this weekend, he should be looking for Hockenson.
Concerns
Evan Engram, NYG (vs. ARI)
The New York Giants' Evan Engram sat out last week's one-sided loss to the New England Patriots with a knee injury—although it did give him extra time to rest.
If Engram can go, he'll come back for the ideal fantasy matchup a tight end could have: the Arizona Cardinals. The gap between them and the Indianapolis Colts is small, but Arizona still yields the most fantasy points to the position, including four scores in the last four games. Monitor Engram's status throughout the week, as he'll be a must-start if healthy enough to play.
Chris Herndon, NYJ (vs. NE)
Herndon's attempt to come back from suspension last week hit a snag. A hamstring injury suffered while he was working out on his own cost him Week 6 and allowed the New York Jets to keep him on the suspension list. However, the team activated him Monday, so he could return to action in Week 7.
If you've been waiting for Herndon's return, the bad news is he could come back against the New England Patriots. Only the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills have been tougher against fantasy tight ends in the last month. Until we know more about Herndon's situation, you should find another tight end this week.
Week 7 Tight End PPR Rankings
| 1 | Travis Kelce (KC) |
| 2 | George Kittle (SF) |
| 3 | Zach Ertz (PHI) |
| 4 | Austin Hooper (ATL) |
| 5 | Mark Andrews (BAL) |
| 6 | Evan Engram (NYG) |
| 7 | Delanie Walker (TEN) |
| 8 | Darren Waller (OAK) |
| 9 | T.J. Hockenson (DET) |
| 10 | Hunter Henry (LAC) |
| 11 | Jimmy Graham (GB) |
| 12 | Gerald Everett (LAR) |
| 13 | Jared Cook (NO) |
| 14 | Noah Fant (DEN) |
| 15 | Jason Witten (DAL) |
| 16 | Eric Ebron (IND) |
| 17 | Jordan Akins (HOU) |
| 18 | Tyler Eifert (CIN) |
| 19 | Dawson Knox (BUF) |
| 20 | Tyler Higbee (LAR) |
| 21 | Dallas Goedert (PHI) |
| 22 | Jack Doyle (IND) |
| 23 | Darren Fells (HOU) |
| 24 | Geoff Swaim (JAC) |
| 25 | Kyle Rudolph (MIN) |
| 26 | Hayden Hurst (BAL) |
| 27 | Trey Burton (CHI) |
Defense
6 of 7
Best Streaming Option
Green Bay Packers (vs. OAK)
Even though the Packers may struggle against running back Josh Jacobs, this is still a good week to stream their defense. The Oakland Raiders are 21st in yards per game and 19th in points per game. Under QB Derek Carr, the passing attack ranks as a bottom-10 unit at just 213.8 yards per game. It's not a loaded streamer group for Week 7, so Green Bay must be considered.
Ownership percentage: ESPN, 37.6; Yahoo, 52.0
Week 7 Defense Rankings
| 1 | New England Patriots (at NYJ) |
| 2 | San Francisco 49ers (at WAS) |
| 3 | New Orleans Saints (at CHI) |
| 4 | Buffalo Bills (vs. MIA) |
| 5 | Tennessee Titans (vs. LAC) |
| 6 | Green Bay Packers (vs. OAK) |
| 7 | Los Angeles Chargers (at TEN) |
| 8 | Dallas Cowboys (vs. PHI) |
| 9 | Chicago Bears (vs. NO) |
| 10 | Los Angeles Rams (at ATL) |
| 11 | Seattle Seahawks (vs. BAL) |
| 12 | Philadelphia Eagles (at DAL) |
| 13 | Jacksonville Jaguars (at CIN) |
| 14 | Minnesota Vikings (at DET) |
| 15 | Kansas City Chiefs (at DEN) |
| 16 | Detroit Lions (vs. MIN) |
| 17 | Baltimore Ravens (at SEA) |
| 18 | Denver Broncos (vs. KC) |
| 19 | Washington Redskins (vs. SF) |
| 20 | Houston Texans (at IND) |
Kickers
7 of 7
Best Streaming Option
Josh Lambo, JAC (at CIN)
If you consider teams that give up the most points to kickers, Lambo is on your radar. The Cincinnati Bengals have been the worst in that category over the last four weeks, which is an indictment of just how bad their defense is. Lambo has been the ninth-best for the year and averages 10.2 fantasy points per game. He's worth a look in a game that should give him lots of chances.
Ownership percentages: ESPN, 30.9; Yahoo, 39.0
Week 7 Kicker Rankings
| 1 | Greg Zuerlein (LAR) |
| 2 | Harrison Butker (KC) |
| 3 | Justin Tucker (BAL) |
| 4 | Zane Gonzalez (ARI) |
| 5 | Robbie Gould (SF) |
| 6 | Josh Lambo (JAC) |
| 7 | Mike Nugent (NE) |
| 8 | Mason Crosby (GB) |
| 9 | Jason Myers (SEA) |
| 10 | Steven Hauschka (BUF) |
| 11 | Brett Maher (DAL) |
| 12 | Dan Bailey (MIN) |
| 13 | Aldrick Rosas (NYG) |
| 14 | Brandon McManus (DEN) |
| 15 | Ka'imi Fairbairn (HOU) |
| 16 | Wil Lutz (NO) |
| 17 | Jake Elliott (PHI) |
| 18 | Matt Bryant (ATL) |
| 19 | Matt Prater (DET) |
| 20 | Eddy Pineiro (CHI) |
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