NFL Fantasy Football Week 7 Rankings: Top 25 Quarterbacks

Kevin Kolb impressed, but will he remain the Eagles starting quarterback for Week 7?

How did Ben Roethlisberger’s return shake up the rankings?  

Let’s try to answer these questions and all the rest for the upcoming week (remember, these rankings will be updated later in the week as needed):

1. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints – vs. Cleveland
2. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers – vs. Minnesota
3. Philip Rivers – San Diego Chargers – vs. New England
4. Tom Brady – New England Patriots – at San Diego
5. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Miami
6. Eli Manning – New York Giants – at Dallas
7. Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys – vs. New York Giants
8. Kevin Kolb – Philadelphia Eagles – at Tennessee
9. Kyle Orton – Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
10. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Cincinnati
11. Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Buffalo
12. Matt Cassel – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Jacksonville
13. Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears – vs. Washington
14. Carson Palmer – Cincinnati Bengals – at Atlanta
15. Brett Favre – Minnesota Vikings – at Green Bay
16. Matt Hasselbeck – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Arizona
17. Donovan McNabb – Washington Redskins – at Chicago
18. David Garrard – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Kansas City
19. Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams – at Tampa Bay
20. Josh Freeman – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. St. Louis
21. Chad Henne – Miami Dolphins – vs. Pittsburgh
22. Vince Young – Tennessee Titans – vs. Philadelphia
23. Ryan Fitzpatrick – Buffalo Bills – at Baltimore
24. Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers – at Carolina
25. Max Hall – Arizona Cardinals – at Seattle

Thoughts:

• Aaron Rodgers showed no ill effects from his Week 5 concussion, throwing for 313 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Dolphins in Week 6. Of course, those numbers were buoyed by a big play to Greg Jennings. He gets another tough defense in Week 7, this time the Minnesota Vikings (allowed 185.0 passing yards per game in their first four games).  He’s a QB1, but the match-up has to bring at least a little concern.
• While Kevin Kolb was incredibly impressive in Week 6 (23-29 for 326 yards, three TD, one INT), reports are that Andy Reid has said that Michael Vick will be the starter moving forward. At this point it is too early to tell who will get the nod for Week 7, so we are leaving Kolb on the list for now. Depending on the news later this week, we will adjust things.
• With both Antonio Gates and Malcolm Floyd leaving the Chargers Week 6 match-up with injuries, you have to wonder what type of production they team will get from their receivers. That could hurt Philip Rivers' production potential, so depending on if they are able to play in Week 7, we will adjust our rankings. With the match-up against the Patriots (11 passing TD allowed through five games), if they play he’s a top option.
• Jay Cutler continues to get beaten up, getting sacked another six times in Week 6, his first game back after suffering a concussion at the hands of the Giants in Week 4. He still managed to make some plays, getting 290 yards while going just 17-39. You can’t say the numbers were impressive, but I would expect them to improve against the Redskins. That’s no guarantee, however, so I’d consider him a QB2.
• Matt Cassel came to life in Week 6, going 20-29 for 201 yards and three TDs. Of most importance was getting Dwayne Bowe (six catches for 108 yards and two TD) back into the mix. With Jacksonville, another poor team in defending the pass having allowed 12 TD passes and 282.2 passing yards per game in their first five games on the schedule in Week 7, Cassel has become a viable QB1.
• With all the talk of Brett Favre not being 100 percent healthy and his limited use against the Cowboys in Week 6 (14-19, 118 yards, one TD), it’s hard to depend on him as a QB1 right now. The news could change that, of course, but for now consider him an upper-level QB2.
• The Seahawks get an Arizona defense that was allowing over 240 passing yards per game.  Could they have made the necessary adjustments coming out of their bye week?  Who knows, but Matt Hasselbeck is coming off a good Week 6 performance against the Bears (25-40, 242 yards, one TD) and looks to be a good QB2 play this week.
• The Dolphins ability to run the ball against the Steelers defense is going to be an interesting dynamic in their battle this coming week.  The problem is, if they can’t run the ball it is going to be that much tougher for Chad Henne to get anything going. Still, Henne has generated a good rapport with Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess, so the potential is there (especially after Colt McCoy put up some numbers against them in Week 6).

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Who’s too high?  Who’s too low?

Make sure to check out the rest of our Week 7 Rankings:

• Waiver Worthy
• Top 40 Running Backs (coming soon)
• Top 60 Wide Receivers (coming soon)
• Top 15 Tight Ends (coming soon)
• Top 15 Kickers (coming soon)
• Top 15 Defenses (coming soon)
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em (coming soon)
• Sunday Sleepers (coming soon)

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