For the first time all year there are four teams on bye and there are some good teams not taking part in Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders. I said some good teams. Lineup construction can get tricky with this many teams on bye as well as all the injuries. As usual my Week 7 rankings are below and I’ve also highlighted the injuries we need to be watching for the coming week of football.
Leonard Fournette remains questionable to return this week, which would leave T.J. Yeldon in the RB2 conversation should Fournette miss another game. It’s not the best matchup, but he’s guaranteed volume. Keep an eye on Dalvin Cook’s status this week, but he’s been practicing in full. He was last week as well and failed to suit up. If for whatever reason he can’t play against the New York Jets, you can roll out Latavius Murray. The news isn’t as positive for Devonta Freeman who the Atlanta Falcons placed on injured reserve due to a groin injury. Rookie Ito Smith out carried Tevin Coleman last week, and his 14 red zone rushing attempts rank 10th. He’s scored a rushing touchdown in each of his past three weeks. It looks like T.Y. Hilton will return in Week 7, which should help Andrew Luck who leads the league in passing attempts.
Week 7 Injuries
Leonard Fournette (hamstring) – RULED OUT
Devonta Freeman (groin) – placed on IR
Dalvin Cook (hamstring) – RULED OUT
Chris Thompson (knee/ribs) – questionable
Isaiah Crowell (foot) – questionable
Darren Sproles (hamstring) – questionable
Cooper Kupp (knee) – RULED OUT; considered week-to-week
T.Y. Hilton (hamstring) – expected to play
Calvin Ridley (ankle) – questionable
Mohamed Sanu (hip) – questionable
Jamison Crowder (ankle) – RULED OUT
Quincy Enunwa (ankle) – RULED OUT
Robby Anderson (foot) – questionable
Dante Pettis (knee) – returned to practice
Josh Doctson (heel) – questionable
Rishard Higgins (knee) – considered week-to-week
Tedd Ginn (knee) – placed on IR
Ryan Grant (ankle) – questionable
Tavon Austin (groin) – likely out WK 7
Cody Latimer (hamstring) – placed on IR
Marcus Johnson (ankle) – placed on IR
George Kittle (knee) – limited Wednesday
Evan Engram (knee) – practicing Tuesday
Jack Doyle (hip) – missed WK 6
Niles Paul (leg) – left WK 6
Ryan Tannehill (shoulder) – RULED OUT
Josh Allen (elbow) – RULED OUT WK 7; reportedly diagnosed with UCL injury
Derek Carr (arm) – not expected to miss any time
Joe Flacco vs. NO
The New Orleans Saints pass DVOA ranks 30th, according to Football Outsiders. They’ve allowed the third most passing yards and fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Joe Flacco’s 44 passing attempts per game are the second-most in the league. The Saints enter having allowed the most fantasy points per game to WR’s.
Peyton Barber vs. CLE
Peyton Barber had 13 carries for 82 yards and he caught all four of his targets for another 24 yards in Week 6. Barber scored his first touchdown of the season and received most of the work over Ronald Jones. The matchup was really nice last week against the Atlanta Falcons, but the Cleveland Browns have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game, the seventh-most fantasy points per game to RB’s and they rank 24th against the run, according to Football Outsiders. The Browns are allowing 4.7 yards per carry which is the third-highest mark on the main slate.
Frank Gore vs. DET
Frank Gore made for a decent waiver wire grab last week and he makes for a decent start in Week 7. Gore has 303 rushing yards on 62 carries compared to just 210 on 52 attempts from Kenyan Drake. KD has been much more efficient in the passing game, but the edge has to go to Gore in standard leagues. Gore racked up 101 rushing yards last week and has over 200 in his last three games. Drake also fumbled the ball on the one-yard line in overtime in Week 6, which only favors Gore in the red zone.
Mike Evans vs. CLE
Mike Evans has the potential to light it up this week and a lot of big name wideouts have against the Browns. With that said, why should I rank him over the likes of Keenan Allen, Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Stefon Diggs, Jarvis Landry or Tyler Boyd? All of the players ranked ahead of Evans for me, have been far more productive of late and have just as good of matchups. Evans is a fine start, but he ranks 22nd in targets, behind all the wideouts listed above. He also had a season-low five targets, four catches and 58 yards last week in a much nicer matchup.
Willie Snead vs. NO
Willie Snead has hit the 7.9 PPR mark in five of his six games this season. He has at least five catches in four of his last five games and at least 49 yards in five contests. Snead has racked up 24 targets and 18 catches in his last three games, showing consistency throughout the season. He’ll be playing in one of the highest scoring games this week which just so happens to come against his former team in the New Orleans Saints.
David Njoku @ TB
David Njoku found the end zone last week for the first time this season. His 12 targets and seven catches were season-highs, and his 46 targets are the fourth-most at the tight end position. Njoku has had at least seven targets, five catches and 52 yards in Baker Mayfield’s three starts. Tampa Bay has allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends, the second-most yards per game and the most passing yards per game.
Week 7 Rankings
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