Fantasy Football Week 7 Rankings: Top 60 Wide Receivers

Week 6 offered some good news for fantasy owners waiting on receivers who were highly touted in the preseason, most notably Greg Jennings and Dwayne Bowe? 

Will these two continue to flourish?  There are also some notable injuries, including DeSean Jackson and Malcolm Floyd.

Let’s take a look at how it all comes together for this week’s rankings (we’ll update these rankings later in the week if necessary):

1. Randy Moss – Minnesota Vikings – at Green Bay
2. Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – vs. Pittsburgh
3. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers – vs. Minnesota
4. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – at Dallas
5. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – vs. New York Giants
6. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Cincinnati
7. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Buffalo
8. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – at Seattle
9. Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals – at Atlanta
10. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at Tennessee
11. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – at San Diego
12. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Jacksonville
13. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – vs. Cleveland
14. Brandon Lloyd – Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
15. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – vs. San Francisco
16. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Miami
17. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – at Green Bay
18. Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals – at Atlanta
19. Steve Smith – New York Giants – at Dallas
20. Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – vs. Washington
21. Deion Branch – New England Patriots – at San Diego
22. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – at Chicago
23. Roy Williams – Dallas Cowboys – vs. New York Giants
24. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. St. Louis
25. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – at Carolina
26. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans – vs. Philadelphia
27. Patrick Crayton – San Diego Chargers – vs. New England
28. Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – vs. Pittsburgh
29. Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – vs. Cleveland
30. Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Miami
31. Donald Driver – Green Bay Packers – vs. Minnesota
32. Devin Hester – Chicago Bears – vs. Washington
33. Louis Murphy – Oakland Raiders – at Denver
34. Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals – at Seattle
35. Michael Jenkins – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Cincinnati
36. Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Kansas City
37. Jabar Gaffney – Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
38. Danario Alexander – St. Louis Rams – at Tampa Bay
39. Mike Williams – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Arizona
40. Jason Avant – Philadelphia Eagles – at Tennessee
41. Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills – at Baltimore
42. Joshua Cribbs – Cleveland Browns – at New Orleans
43. Mario Manningham – New York Giants – at Dallas
44. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – vs. New York Giants
45. Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
46. Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – vs. Philadelphia
47. Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints – vs. Cleveland
48. Chris Chambers – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Jacksonville
49. Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Buffalo
50. Buster Davis – San Diego Chargers – vs. New England
51. Danny Amendola – St. Louis Rams – at Tampa Bay
52. Chansi Stuckey – Cleveland Browns – at New Orleans
53. Anthony Armstrong – Washington Redskins – at Chicago
54. Deon Butler – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Arizona
55. Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – at Baltimore
56. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Buffalo
57. Demaryious Thomas – Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
58. Mike Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Kansas City
59. Earl Bennett – Chicago Bears – vs. Washington
60. Justin Gage – Tennessee Titans – vs. Philadelphia

Thoughts:

• After the concussion DeSean Jackson suffered in Week 6, it’s hard to imagine him playing in Week 7.  With the way Kevin Kolb has been playing of late (assuming he’s once again under center), Jeremy Maclin gets a slight bump up.  In fact, with 6 TD already this season, he’s a WR1 against a Titans team that is prone to bigger passing plays.
• For as disappointing as Larry Fitzgerald has been this season, he gets to go against a Seattle Seahawks defense allowing 290.8 passing yards per game.  Of course, having Max Hall as his QB hurts his value a little bit, but if there was a week for him to get going, this would be it.  He’s still a WR1 in all formats.
• Will the Giants-Cowboys game break down into a shootout?  No matter what the defenses have done, you have to think that Miles Austin and Hakeem Nicks are in store for big days.  Considering that the Giants and Cowboys have two of the best four passing defenses in the league, it’s tough to consider them in the Top 3 or 4, but after that it’s hard to find better options.
• Greg Jennings showed in Week 6 why it’s impossible to sit him (6 receptions for 133 yards and 1 TD).  I’d look for him to continue his strong play, especially with JerMichael Finley placed on the IR this week.
• Brett Favre may be hurting, but you have to think that he is going to want to make a statement against his former team.  Look for him and Moss to put up some solid numbers, assuming Favre is healthy.  After just 19 attempts, you have to wonder.
• No matter what the matchup, it’s hard to consider Marques Colston a WR1 at this point.  He has only one game with more then 67 receiving yards and still has not yet scored a touchdown.
• The resurgence of Dwayne Bowe (6 catches for 108 yards and 2 TD) and another positive matchup (the Jaguars have allowed 282.2 passing yards per game and 12 TDs) make Bowe a great play for a second straight week.  Hopefully you hadn’t given up on him too early and you can now reap the rewards for your patience.
• The Steelers had three passing touchdowns in their first four games.  In his first game back, Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdowns.  The biggest benefactor is Mike Wallace, who is the team’s big-play receiver and figures to get ample opportunities to produce from here on out.  He had three catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in Week 6.
• With Matt Moore returning to the QB spot for Carolina, you have to think the production of Steve Smith is going to go up a tick.  He’s got a tough matchup, but it’s hard to consider him anything but a WR2.  His place on these rankings is obviously contingent on his ability to play on Sunday.  We’ll have to keep a close eye on the news at this point.
• Will Steve Breaston return this week?  He has a positive matchup if he does, but with his lengthy absence, it’s hard to consider him more then a WR3.
• It didn’t look like Tom Brady and Deion Branch missed a beat, despite not playing together for four years.  Consider Branch a WR2 in all formats at this point.
• Despite just 24 receptions, Malcolm Floyd is actually fourth in the league in receiving yards with 513.  He has 10 plays of at least 20 yards and has a positive matchup against the Patriots, who are allowing 273.4 passing yards per game.  He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 7, but if he plays, he’s going to be a solid WR2 option.  Unfortunately, the news at this point is that he will miss the game, so we are leaving him off.  Legedu Naanee is also banged up, so Patrick Crayton is likely the top receiving option, with Buster Davis a low-end option.
• Roy Williams has five touchdowns in his last three games.  While it’s hard to depend on him, at this point it’s impossible not to consider him a low-end WR2.
• Michael Crabtree has touchdowns in back-to-back games, but have we become a believer in Alex Smith yet?  Carolina has been worse against the run than the pass, so look for Frank Gore to be the featured option.  Crabtree is a solid WR3, but that’s about it.
• Can we count on Michael Sims-Walker or not?  Even with the Chiefs on the schedule, who have allowed 249.4 passing yards per game, it’s tough to depend on him.  Outside of his 10 catch, 105 yard, 1 TD performance, he has a grand total of six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown in four games.  The matchup dictates him being a WR3, but that’s about it.
• While the Ravens are one of the better pass defenses in the league this season (175.0 passing yards per game), they have allowed 17 plays of at least 20 yards, tied for 12th.  That makes Lee Evans a better bet among Bills receivers, though none of them are top options.
• Both Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi suffered concussions in their Week 6 matchup, but both could play this week against New Orleans.  Neither is a great option, however.
• Will Justin Gage play?  Until we know, he’s a low-end option.
• Danny Woodhead is listed on the running back rankings, which is his primary position.  He’s not a viable wide receiver, however.

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:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 15 Tight Ends (coming soon)
• Top 15 Kickers (coming soon)
• Top 15 Defenses (coming soon)
• Waiver Worthy
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em
• Sunday Sleepers (coming soon)

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