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Week 7 Flex Rankings for Fantasy Football

Week 7 figures to be a bit more difficult to navigate for fantasy managers due to the bye weeks. Two of the top ten scoring running backs are off this week, as is another top-24 back. The top three fantasy wide receivers are also off, as well as three more among the top 16. Dallas Goedert is the only top-16 fantasy tight end who has the week off. But tight end scoring is such a crapshoot that there is not a ton of difference between Goedert’s weekly output (9.12 points per game in half-PPR scoring) and 16th-ranked Tyler Conklin’s (6.32 points per game). Regardless of how this week’s byes impact you, my Week 7 Flex rankings should help prepare you for the week ahead. So enough talk – let’s get to it!

Running Back Notes

While we never root for injury, those with Melvin Gordon had to at least feel good about his prospects once Javonte Williams went down for the year. Including the Week 4 game in which Williams suffered the injury, here are Gordon’s last three rushing lines:

3-8-0
15-54-0
3-8-0

While Gordon was decent enough in Denver’s Week 5 loss, Mike Boone garnered plenty of attention as he turned 10 touches into 85 total yards. But that was nothing compared to what Gordon’s managers had to endure last week. The Broncos, having signed Latavius Murray just days prior, saw enough to entrust him to lead Denver’s rushing attack with 15 rushes for 66 yards while Gordon stewed on the sidelines. It seems for now that cooler heads have prevailed in recent days. Gordon and head coach Nathaniel Hackett have reportedly met and cleared the air. Following that conversation, Hackett claimed that Gordon is in line to start in Week 7. But I do not think he can be trusted as a full-time player given the situation.

We already know that Hackett cannot be trusted with clock management, and Russell Wilson appears to be regressing in Denver’s offense. So I am not trusting that Gordon is going to suddenly dominate touches when Hackett has shown no indication of giving Gordon the lion’s share of the work, even with Williams out of the picture. The New York Jets have been very hit-or-miss in terms of defending the run game. They limited Green Bay’s dynamic duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon to 60 scoreless yards last week. But they also allowed three rushing scores to Nick Chubb, as well as 113 yards and a touchdown to Raheem Mostert. If we knew that Gordon was getting 15-plus touches, I would be fine starting him. But I think this is a backfield I would prefer to avoid this week. Hopefully, this game offers some clarity in the pecking order.

After an overall RB2 finish in Week 1, Jonathan Taylor was just the RB36 from Weeks 2 through 4. Deon Jackson and Phillip Lindsay took over duties in Week 5, as both Taylor and Nyheim Hines were sidelined. Neither posted a top-24 finish, but both were serviceable. In Week 6, however, Jackson did more than his fair share. He had 121 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown, finishing the week as the overall RB1. It was a bummer for those with Taylor, but fantasy managers who missed out shouldn’t feel too bad. Taylor is practicing in full this week, and he should play on Sunday when the Colts face the Tennessee Titans. For now, I have Taylor ranked as an RB2 in 12-team leagues, but that will change barring any setbacks between now and Sunday.

As for the rest of the Colts’ backfield, I would imagine the hierarchy reverts to what it was before Taylor and Hines went down. That is, Taylor is the main man, with Hines getting some ancillary work, mostly in the passing game. In those three weeks where Taylor was the RB36, Hines was the RB54, while Jackson checked in at RB122. Jackson essentially goes from RB1 to likely drop candidate in a week. Such is the nature of fantasy football, especially at the running back position. I suppose you can hold him in the event he usurps some of Hines’ touches. But as long as Taylor is back in the fold, no other Colts’ running back will be a recommended Flex play.

Travis Etienne has now outrushed James Robinson in three consecutive games, and by a considerable margin. Over those three weeks, Etienne has carried the ball 28 times for 189 yards. By contrast, Robinson has just 110 rushing yards on 30 carries over that span. Etienne also has 65 receiving yards during this stretch, compared to just 13 for Robinson. At the very least, this is a split backfield, with the arrow pointing upward on Etienne. I currently have both Jaguars backs ranked right at the cusp of Flex consideration. Etienne is my RB26 and Robinson my RB27. The Giants have been shredded to the tune of 5.48 yards per carry by opposing running backs this season, including last week’s 10-119-1 line by the previously left-for-dead Kenyan Drake. I have no issue starting either Jacksonville running back as a Week 7 Flex play.

Speaking of Drake, he could be relevant once again this week if J.K. Dobbins is unable to go. Dobbins’ knee locked up early in Baltimore’s loss to the Giants last week. That opened up the door for Drake. And to his credit, he responded with a big game. Dobbins did not practice on Wednesday, so pay attention to the latest news before blindly starting him. I do think he will be ready to go Sunday, and I will likely bump him inside my top 20 for the week in the event he plays. Fantasy managers with Dobbins should hope that he can suit up. Dobbins would stand to fare well against a Cleveland Browns defense that has surrendered a league-high 10 total touchdowns to opposing backs, as well as 5.43 yards per rush. Drake would be a desperation Flex play based on the matchup if Dobbins cannot go.

Brian Robinson led Washington’s backfield last week, leaving Antonio Gibson fending for scraps. Robinson did score a touchdown but did not look all that impressive doing so. In his defense, he was shot multiple times less than two months ago. But we do not grade on a curve in fantasy football. Gibson only mustered a handful of carries but busted one for 18 yards en route to 35 rushing yards. Robinson managed just 60 on 17 carries. I am expecting a bit more even of a split this week. The good news for both backs is that they have a favorable matchup against a Green Bay run defense that has sprung some leaks of late. Over the last two weeks, Green Bay has allowed opposing running backs to average 5.47 yards per rush with three total touchdowns.

The Commanders are a slight underdog, but the Packers haven’t exactly been able to light up the scoreboard this season. They have averaged just under 18 points per game this year, and have scored a total of just 21 points in their two previous road games. The Washington offense will be led this week by Taylor Heinicke, as Carson Wentz suffered a broken finger in last week’s victory. I expect Washington to keep the ball on the ground in an attempt to limit exposure to Heinicke against a Packers’ pass rush that generates pressure on 36 percent of dropbacks, second in the NFL. I have Robinson ranked slightly ahead of Gibson, and both are just beyond the normal Flex range. However, either or both could be viable depending on your other options. J.D. McKissic could factor in as well, particularly in PPR formats.

Wide Receiver Notes

The Arizona Cardinals will have a much different look to their receiving corps when they take on the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night. Marquise Brown, who enters Week 7 as the overall WR6 in half-PPR scoring, is sidelined with a fracture in his foot. He is expected to miss the next four-to-six weeks. On the bright side, DeAndre Hopkins has finished serving his six-game suspension. Given the chemistry forged between Brown and Kyler Murray, there may have been some questions as to whether Hopkins would regain his status as the team’s alpha receiver. Those questions are null and void with Brown out. While there may be some rust, Hopkins should easily reclaim his spot atop the target tree. I have Hopkins ranked 14th among wide receivers this week.

The Cardinals also traded for former Panthers wideout Robbie Anderson. After producing 102 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, Anderson accounted for just 104 yards without a touchdown over his final five games as a Panther. Anderson certainly gets an upgrade going from Carolina to Arizona, especially with Brown out for the foreseeable future. However, I am not expecting anything from Anderson this week. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury has already stated that if Anderson plays at all, he will be very limited. I think Rondale Moore is a fine Week 7 Flex play. I have him ranked 37th among wideouts this week. Moore will matchup most often with Saints’ slot corner Justin Evans, who has been solid in coverage. But I think the volume (13 catches over the last two weeks) will be enough to get him over the hump as a fantasy starter.

On the other side of the ball, the Saints have once again ruled out both Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry. The good news is that rookie standout Chris Olave is in line to return on Thursday. Head coach Dennis Allen has yet to name a starting quarterback, but both Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton are without injury designations heading into the week. Fantasy managers need to start Olave regardless of who is calling the signals on Thursday night, though Winston’s aggressive nature would provide Olave with a higher ceiling. Marquez Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith should round out the receiving corps, but neither is a recommended Week 7 option unless you are in a bind due to injuries and bye weeks. The Bills, Eagles, Vikings, and Rams are off this week, so several high-quality wideouts will be forced onto fantasy benches.

I currently have Rashod Bateman as my WR60, which is well outside the range for Flex consideration. But Bateman did return to practice on Wednesday. That could indicate that this is the week Bateman returns after missing the past two weeks due to a foot injury. Bateman has accounted for at least 59 receiving yards in all three games he was able to complete. However, I would not necessarily say that type of performance is his floor. He only had 16 targets over those three weeks where he totaled 226 yards. That hyper-efficiency is not sustainable in the long term, but it is that ability to make the big play that has fantasy managers anxiously awaiting Bateman’s return to action. If he is cleared to play, I would likely start him against a struggling Denzel Ward.

Tight End Notes

Albert Okwuegbunam was a popular sleeper at the tight end position. That has not worked out very well for Albert O or his fantasy managers. Okwuegbunam has just 50 receiving yards through five weeks. But a new potential fantasy-relevant tight end has emerged among the rubble that is the Broncos’ offense. Greg Dulcich, the team’s third-round draft pick, made his much anticipated NFL debut last week after missing all of training camp and Denver’s first five games with a hamstring injury. And Dulcich did not disappoint. He caught two passes for 44 yards and a touchdown last week. As is the case with most tight ends, he could be touchdown-dependent. However, given the state of the position (only five tight ends including Taysom Hill average north of 10 fantasy points per game), Dulcich could be an interesting option moving forward.

Another intriguing tight end could be Cade Otton of Tampa Bay, though the circumstances are a bit more ominous. Cameron Brate suffered what appeared to be a serious neck injury in Tampa Bay’s upset loss in Pittsburgh on Sunday. I was there, and it was a scary scene to see unfold live. X-rays were negative, but I would not expect to see Brate back on the field anytime soon. That means Otton should get most of the reps at tight end. Otton dropped a would-be touchdown earlier in the game, so that does not figure to endear him to Tom Brady and the coaching staff. But sometimes availability is the best ability, so Otton should get some run over the next few weeks. I have him outside my top 20 this week, but he is someone to monitor.

Week 7 Flex Rankings

More Week 7 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex Rankings

RANKPLAYERTEAMPOSOPP
1Austin EkelerLACRB1SEA
2Josh JacobsLVRB2HOU
3Derrick HenryTENRB3IND
4Christian McCaffreyCARRB4TB
5Saquon BarkleyNYGRB5@JAC
6Leonard FournetteTBRB6@CAR
7Rhamondre StevensonNERB7CHI
8Ja’Marr ChaseCINWR1ATL
9Tyreek HillMIAWR2PIT
10Alvin KamaraNORB8@ARI
11Davante AdamsLVWR3HOU
12Joe MixonCINRB9ATL
13CeeDee LambDALWR4DET
14Deebo SamuelSFWR5KC
15Mark AndrewsBALTE1CLE
16Travis KelceKCTE2@SF
17Breece HallNYJRB10@DEN
18Dameon PierceHOURB11@LV
19Nick ChubbCLERB12@BAL
20Kenneth Walker IIISEARB13@LAC
21Aaron JonesGBRB14@WAS
22Tee HigginsCINWR6ATL
23Mike EvansTBWR7@CAR
24Raheem MostertMIARB15PIT
25Jaylen WaddleMIAWR8PIT
26DK MetcalfSEAWR9@LAC
27Ezekiel ElliottDALRB16DET
28Mike WilliamsLACWR10SEA
29Chris GodwinTBWR11@CAR
30Tyler LockettSEAWR12@LAC
31Michael PittmanINDWR13@TEN
32DeAndre HopkinsARIWR14NO
33Chris OlaveNOWR15@ARI
34David MontgomeryCHIRB17@NE
35Amari CooperCLEWR16@BAL
36Brandin CooksHOUWR17@LV
37Eno BenjaminARIRB18NO
38Allen LazardGBWR18@WAS
39Courtland SuttonDENWR19NYJ
40Diontae JohnsonPITWR20@MIA
41Najee HarrisPITRB19@MIA
42Amon-Ra St. BrownDETWR21@DAL
43Jeffery Wilson Jr.SFRB20KC
44Christian KirkJACWR22NYG
45Jonathan TaylorINDRB21@TEN
46Drake LondonATLWR23@CIN
47Brandon AiyukSFWR24KC
48Jakobi MeyersNEWR25CHI
49George KittleSFTE3KC
50Clyde Edwards-HelaireKCRB22@SF
51Tony PollardDALRB23DET
52Robert WoodsTENWR26IND
53A.J. DillonGBRB24@WAS
54Jamaal WilliamsDETRB25@DAL
55JuJu Smith-SchusterKCWR27@SF
56Travis EtienneJACRB26NYG
57D.J. MooreCARWR28TB
58Romeo DoubsGBWR29@WAS
59Michael GallupDALWR30DET
60Jerry JeudyDENWR31NYJ
61James RobinsonJACRB27NYG
62Terry McLaurinWASWR32GB
63Darnell MooneyCHIWR33@NE
64Zach ErtzARITE4NO
65Kareem HuntCLERB28@BAL
66Curtis SamuelWASWR34GB
67J.K. DobbinsBALRB29CLE
68Chase ClaypoolPITWR35@MIA
69Alec PierceINDWR36@TEN
70Rondale MooreARIWR37NO
71George PickensPITWR38@MIA
72Tyler BoydCINWR39ATL
73Nico CollinsHOUWR40@LV
74Hunter RenfrowLVWR41HOU
75Kyle PittsATLTE5@CIN
76Marquez Valdes-ScantlingKCWR42@SF
77Melvin Gordon IIIDENRB30NYJ
78Zay JonesJACWR43NYG
79Tyler AllgeierATLRB31@CIN
80Josh PalmerLACWR44SEA
81Devin DuvernayBALWR45CLE
82Brian RobinsonWASRB32GB
83Josh ReynoldsDETWR46@DAL
84T.J. HockensonDETTE6@DAL
85David NjokuCLETE7@BAL
86Gerald EverettLACTE8SEA
87Darren WallerLVTE9HOU
88Noah BrownDALWR47DET
89Robert Tonyan Jr.GBTE10@WAS
90Keenan AllenLACWR48SEA
91Corey DavisNYJWR49@DEN
92Donovan Peoples-JonesCLEWR50@BAL
93Garrett WilsonNYJWR51@DEN
94D'Andre SwiftDETRB33@DAL
95Russell GageTBWR52@CAR
96Hayden HurstCINTE11ATL
97Marquez CallawayNOWR53@ARI
98DeVante ParkerNEWR54CHI
99D.J. CharkDETWR55@DAL
100Mack HollinsLVWR56HOU
101Caleb HuntleyATLRB34@CIN
102Michael CarterNYJRB35@DEN
103Olamide ZaccheausATLWR57@CIN
104Antonio GibsonWASRB36GB
105Marvin JonesJACWR58NYG
106Elijah MooreNYJWR59@DEN
107Rashod BatemanBALWR60CLE
108Evan EngramJACTE12NYG
109Tre’Quan SmithNOWR61@ARI
110Rachaad WhiteTBRB37@CAR
111Dalton SchultzDALTE13DET
112Mecole HardmanKCWR62@SF
113Noah FantSEATE14@LAC
114Pat FreiermuthPITTE15@MIA
115Greg DulcichDENTE16NYJ
116James ConnerARIRB38NO
117Hunter HenryNETE17CHI
118Nick WestbrookTENWR63IND
119Daniel BellingerNYGTE18@JAC
120Rex BurkheadHOURB39@LV
121Parris CampbellINDWR64@TEN
122Latavius MurrayDENRB40NYJ
123J.D. McKissicWASRB41GB
124Chase EdmondsMIARB42PIT
125Damien HarrisNERB43CHI
126Dontrell HilliardTENRB44IND
127Mike GesickiMIATE19PIT
128Tyquan ThorntonNEWR65CHI
129Nyheim HinesINDRB45@TEN
130Mike BooneDENRB46NYJ
131Sony MichelLACRB47SEA
132Juwan JohnsonNOTE20@ARI
133Khalil HerbertCHIRB48@NE
134Shi SmithCARWR66TB
135Jerick McKinnonKCRB49@SF
136Cole KmetCHITE21@NE
137Darius SlaytonNYGWR67@JAC
138Wan’Dale RobinsonNYGWR68@JAC
139Cade OttonTBTE22@CAR
140Richie JamesNYGWR69@JAC
141Mark IngramNORB50@ARI
142DeAndre CarterLACWR70SEA
143Kenyan DrakeBALRB51CLE
144Logan ThomasWASTE23GB
145Tyler ConklinNYJTE24@DEN
146Samaje PerineCINRB52ATL
147Kyle PhilipsTENWR71IND
148Will DisslySEATE25@LAC
149Nelson AgholorNEWR72CHI
150Deon JacksonINDRB53@TEN
151O.J. HowardHOUTE26@LV
152Dante PettisCHIWR73@NE
153Demarcus RobinsonBALWR74CLE
154Equanimeous St. BrownCHIWR75@NE
155Jauan JenningsSFWR76KC
156Terrace Marshall Jr.CARWR77TB
157Connor HeywardPITTE27@MIA
158Tevin ColemanSFRB54KC
159A.J. GreenARIWR78NO
160Jahan DotsonWASWR79GB
161Brevin JordanHOUTE28@LV
162K.J. HamlerDENWR80NYJ
163Austin HooperTENTE29IND
164Christian WatsonGBWR81@WAS
165Mo Alie-CoxINDTE30@TEN
166Kylen GransonINDTE31@TEN
167Robby AndersonARIWR82NO
168Jaylen WarrenPITRB55@MIA
169Julio JonesTBWR83@CAR
170Foster MoreauLVTE32HOU
171Marcus JohnsonNYGWR84@JAC
172Trent SherfieldMIAWR85PIT
173DeeJay DallasSEARB56@LAC
174Isaiah LikelyBALTE33CLE
175David Sills VNYGWR86@JAC
176Brandon BoldenLVRB57HOU
177Harrison BryantCLETE34@BAL
178Cameron BrateTBTE35@CAR
179Craig ReynoldsDETRB58@DAL
180Kadarius ToneyNYGWR87@JAC
181Jake FergusonDALTE36DET
182Skyy MooreKCWR88@SF
183Geoff SwaimTENTE37IND
184Jarvis LandryNOWR89@ARI
185Michael ThomasNOWR90@ARI
186Isiah PachecoKCRB59@SF
187Kyle JuszczykSFRB60KC
188Marquise GoodwinSEAWR91@LAC
189Peyton HendershotDALTE38DET
190C.J. UzomahNYJTE39@DEN
191Kendrick BourneNEWR92CHI
192Darrel WilliamsARIRB61NO
193Chris MooreHOUWR93@LV
194Jonnu SmithNETE40CHI
195Dyami BrownWASWR94GB
196Jordan AkinsHOUTE41@LV
197Braxton BerriosNYJWR95@DEN
198Jamal AgnewJACWR96NYG
199Phillip LindsayINDRB62@TEN
200Matt BreidaNYGRB63@JAC
201Joshua KelleyLACRB64SEA
202Ian ThomasCARTE42TB
203David BellCLEWR97@BAL
204Chigoziem OkonkwoTENTE43IND
205Cam SimsWASWR98GB
206Tommy TrembleCARTE44TB
207Colby ParkinsonSEATE45@LAC
208Cole TurnerWASTE46GB
209Jelani WoodsINDTE47@TEN
210Laviska Shenault Jr.CARWR99TB
211Adam TrautmanNOTE48@ARI
212Avery WilliamsATLRB65@CIN
213Donald ParhamLACTE49SEA
214Kalif RaymondDETWR100@DAL
215Keaontay IngramATLRB66@CIN
216Cedrick WilsonMIAWR101PIT
217Zach GentryPITTE50@MIA
218John BatesWASTE51GB
219Tim JonesJACWR102NYG
220Parker HesseATLTE52@CIN
221Noah GrayKCTE53@SF
222Justice HillBALRB67CLE
223Sammy WatkinsGBWR103@WAS
224Ray-Ray McCloudSFWR104KC
225Amari RodgersGBWR105@WAS
226D’Onta ForemanCARRB68TB
227Tyler JohnsonHOUWR106@LV
228Bryan EdwardsATLWR107@CIN
229KhaDarel HodgeATLWR108@CIN
230Deonte HartyNOWR109@ARI
231Phillip DorsettHOUWR110@LV
232Cody HollisterTENWR111IND
233Kendall HintonDENWR112NYJ
234Durham SmytheMIATE54PIT
235Jalen TolbertDALWR113DET
236Mike ThomasCINWR114ATL
237Patrick RicardBALRB69CLE
238Gus EdwardsBALRB70CLE
239Myles GaskinMIARB71PIT
240Pierre StrongNERB72CHI
241D’Wayne EskridgeSEAWR115@LAC
242Justin WatsonKCWR116@SF
243Juwann WinfreeGBWR117@WAS
244Tre’ McKittyLACTE55SEA
245Tyler KroftSFTE56KC
246Ty MontgomeryNERB73CHI
247Eric SaubertDENTE57NYJ
248Anthony SchwartzCLEWR118@BAL
249Kenny GolladayNYGWR119@JAC
250Chuba HubbardCARRB74TB
251JaMycal HastyJACRB75NYG
252Keith KirkwoodNOWR120@ARI
253Kevin HarrisNERB76CHI
254Brock WrightDETTE58@DAL
255Justin JacksonDETRB77@DAL
256Taysom HillNOTE59@ARI
257Marcedes LewisGBTE60@WAS
258Tom KennedyDETWR121@DAL
259Damiere ByrdATLWR122@CIN
260Mitchell WilcoxCINTE61ATL
261Velus Jones Jr.CHIWR123@NE
262Jody FortsonKCTE62@SF
263Scotty MillerTBWR124@CAR
264Mike StrachanINDWR125@TEN
265Tyrion Davis-PriceSFRB78KC
266Alec IngoldMIARB79PIT
267Damien WilliamsATLRB80@CIN
268Jameson WilliamsDETWR126@DAL
269Josh OliverBALTE63CLE
270Zander HorvathLACRB81SEA
271Breshad PerrimanTBWR127@CAR
272Jonathan WilliamsWASRB82GB
273Tylan WallaceBALWR128CLE
274Isaiah SpillerLACRB83SEA
275Chris MyarickNYGTE64@JAC
276D'Ernest JohnsonCLERB84@BAL
277Andrew BeckDENTE65NYJ
278Pharaoh BrownCLETE66@BAL
279Eric TomlinsonDENTE67NYJ
280Brittain BrownLVRB85HOU
281Josiah DeguaraGBTE68@WAS
282Ross DwelleySFTE69KC
283Willie SneadSFWR129KC
284Nick VannettNOTE70@ARI
285Giovanni RicciCARRB86TB
286Randall CobbGBWR130@WAS
287Jesper HorstedLVTE71HOU
288Snoop ConnerJACRB87NYG
289Ryan GriffinCHITE72@NE
290James ProcheBALWR131CLE
291Ameer AbdullahLVRB88HOU
292Armani RogersWASTE73GB
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