Fantasy Football Rankings - Week 7 (2017)

Brown has over 300 yards in the past two weeks. This week, he gets a much easier secondary with potentially two cornerbacks out for the game. He is a must play even in DFS cash games and GPP.

Green was on fire before his bye with 51 points in three weeks. This week, his matchup with the Steelers will be a real challenge, as they are among the best in the league against the pass, but he should still be regarded as a top five receiver.

Bell is officially back to getting insane usage with at least 25 touches in three straight weeks. Expect more of the same this week, so although Cincy's run defense isn't bad, he is the clear top running back this week again.

Jones has had a very poor year so far, as he has received far fewer targets than expected and has yet to score a touchdown. The Patriots present a fantastic matchup on paper, as they allow the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. But you know that Bill Belichick likes to take away the opposing team's top option, so Jones will be the focal point of the defense. Still, given how the Patriots defense has played this year, it's impossible to consider Jones anything other than a strong WR1.

Thomas somehow missed out on all the scoring in Week 6 against the Lions, being held to just three catches and 11 yards. The Saints defense put up plenty of points, and Thomas was matched up with Darius Slay, which likely led to Drew Brees not forcing him targets. This week should be a different story against the Packers, even though they are expected to get Kevin King back from a concussion. Thomas is not the type of receiver who can get completely shut down by a cornerback, and even if he was, King does not have that talent level. Expect Brees to try to make up for last week with Thomas against a beatable secondary, and start Thomas as a top-five option.

Evans has had a bizarre season, in that he hasn't been efficient at all, but is seeing such a high volume of targets (47) and scoring so many touchdowns (three), that he's providing fantasy owners with almost exactly what they expected. The Bills are solid, though not elite, against opposing wide receivers, but lack a true shutdown corner, which should mean positive things for Evans. Regardless of whether it's Ryan Fitzpatrick or Jameis Winston throwing him the ball, Evans should again see plenty of targets and finish as a WR1.

Bryant has succeeded against several tough cornerbacks this season, so he should have no trouble against the 49ers this weekend. Both Dontae Johnson and Rashard Robinson have struggled mightily the season, and the 49ers have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Bryant should be in line for a big day and be a borderline top-five option this weekend.

Kareem Hunt hasn't scored a touchdown in three weeks now and only had 21 rushing yards last week, but he has still gone for over 100 total yards every single game this season. He should have no trouble continuing the trend and getting back in the end zone this week.

Fitzgerald had a monster effort in Week 6 against the Bucs, catching 10 of his 11 targets for 138 yards and a score. This week won't be so easy, as the Rams allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Nickell Robey-Coleman has been particularly effective against slot receivers, so the matchup is especially tough for Fitzgerald. But he has 62 targets already this season, and that type of volume is worth betting on every week, even though Fitzgerald has been inconsistent. Consider him a borderline WR1 in London this weekend.

Cooks has only scored in on game this season, ironically against the Texans, so owners might be discouraged. Don't sell low on him and be sure to start him every week, as he is still a definite WR1.

Elliott's tumultuous season took another turn this week, as he was granted a temporary restraining order that will allow him to play in Week 7 against San Francisco. That's great news for Elliott's fantasy owners, both because they don't need an immediate replacement and because the 49ers allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Elliott hasn't had a great season, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and scoring only two touchdowns. But he should feast in a soft matchup on Sunday, and makes an easy top-five option.

Gurley has slowed down a bit since he hit the tough part of his schedule, but 170 total yards over the last two weeks is hardly crushing fantasy owners. The Cardinals are tough on opposing running backs, allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position and giving up less than 3.3 yards per carry. But Gurley's involvement in the passing game almost guarantees production in any matchup, and he should be considered an RB1 here, as he usually is.

Hogan's rate of production seemed to be unsustainable, but he just kept scoring points so last week's bust was a surprise. Expect a bounce back in Week 7 against the Falcons, where he should again return to being a WR1.

McCoy isn't great anymore and you may want to lump him in the same tier as Demarco Murray because McCoy hasn't gotten in the end zone, but he is getting right around 20 touches every game and should once again this week so he is still an RB1.

Crabtree already has 5 touchdowns on the season and at least 80 yards in 3 of 5 games so far this season. He is a high-end WR2 most weeks and a must-start in every matchup, especially against a weak pass defense like Kansas City.

Freeman has had his usual solid season, and that should continue on Sunday night against the Patriots, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. It's a road game, which, for some reason, usually limits Freeman a bit, but there's little reason to worry. In a likely shootout, Freeman should get plenty of work, and will likely be more heavily involved in the passing game, as the Patriots particularly struggle to contain pass-catching backs. Consider Freeman an RB1 here and start him with confidence.

Thomas has been limited in practice this week with a calf issue, but he should be good to go Sunday against the Chargers. Even if it isn't the prettiest matchup, with Emmanuel Sandrs out, he should see upwards of a dozen targets.

Atlanta gives up a load of passing yards and touchdowns, but believe it or not, they have been quite good against tight ends. That isn't to say Gronk isn't a clear start, but he might not be a top two play this week for once.

Gordon has 15 receptions in the past two games. Oh, and 45 carries. He is an RB1 every single week even in a matchup against a defense like the Broncos. Expect another 20 to 30 touches this week and a touchdown or two.

Were Aaron Rodgers healthy, Nelson would be his typical solid WR1 play, as the Saints allow the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. But with Brett Hundley under center, Nelson has to be downgraded. Working in Nelson's favor is that he was generally targeted on shorter routes this year, which should favor targets from the young quarterback. But he'll also likely draw Marshon Lattimore, which could lead Hundley to avoid that matchup as much as possible. For now, consider Nelson a borderline WR1/2, and hope that he and Hundley show a strong connection.

Tyreek has had three busts this season, but it is nothing less than we expected. This is who he is and while it could happen again this week, his upside is too much to leave him out of your starting lineup.

The Giants announced earlier this week that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie would be re-joining the team for this week's game, which is quite fitting because of the matchup they would have had without him. Doug Baldwin will see him in coverage, so you obviously want to downgrade him a bit. Rodgers-Cromartie is one of the better slot cornerbacks in the game and Baldwin has really struggled to get much going this year. Outside of the one game against the Titans where he totaled 105 yards and a touchdown, Baldwin has averaged just 4.3 receptions for 44.8 yards and no touchdowns. We know what he's capable of, but he needs to be downgraded to low-end WR2 territory in this game.

There aren't enough superlatives to adequately describe Ertz's performance this year, as he's on pace to shatter his career-bests in every statistical category. He's a top-three play in any matchup, and particularly in Monday's game against the Redskins, who allow the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. He's a top-two option.

Jarvis Landry is now up to 57 targets after five games, so it shouldn't surprise you to know that he's seen at least 10 targets in four different games. He's somehow failed to top 78 yards on all those targets, but he's now scored in the last two games while Parker has been sidelined. His matchup with Buster Skrine is the best on the field, making him a solid low-end WR2 in PPR formats and a decent WR3 in standard formats. Skrine is somewhat of an all-or-nothing cornerback who will get punished if he misses a pass-breakup. The 152 yards he has allowed after the catch rank as the third-most in the league.

It was the week Mark Ingram owners were waiting for when the running back totaled a season-high 30 touches for 150 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. He also played a season-high 66 percent of the snaps with Adrian Peterson off to the Cardinals. Your opportunity to buy him at a discount has officially been slam shut. The Packers had been decent against the run this year despite missing DT Mike Daniels for a few weeks and playing against Devonta Freeman, Joe Mixon, Jordan Howard, and Ezekiel Elliott, while allowing just 97.4 fantasy points in the first five games to running backs. Now part of that success came from the fact that their opponents were only averaging 62 plays per game with Aaron Rodgers holding down sustained drives. They won't have that opportunity anymore, so don't be shy about starting Ingram as a strong RB2 in this game.

Adam Thielen is the only wide receiver in the NFL who has at least five catches in every game, though he's yet to find the end zone. He's got a solid matchup this week, as the Ravens have trusted Ladarius Webb to defend slot receivers and it hasn't gone well, as Rashard Higgins posted 7/95/0, Allen Hurns had 3/20/1, and JuJu Smith-Schuster had 3/47/1 against them. Considering we know the catches are going to come regardless, it may be a good game for him to get his first touchdown. Thielen is a solid WR3 play.

It seems likely that the Redskins will be down both Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland this week, which should mean big things for Jeffery and the other Philadelphia wide receivers. Jeffery got 10 targets last week, and it seems that Carson Wentz is going to make it a point to get him more involved in the gameplan. If both Norman and Breeland sit, Jeffery should be in line for a big day, and border on being a WR1 in Week 7. If Breeland plays, or especially if Norman does, downgrade Jeffery, but he still should make a low-end WR2.

Ajayi is one of the true bell cow running backs in the NFL and finally had a big week last week. You may be discouraged because he hasn't gotten into the end zone, but that will come and it could come in bunches when it does.

Garcon continues to be targeted at an astronomical rate, as he has 41 targets over his last four games and 56 on the season, sixth among wide receivers. He continued to see targets from C.J. Beathard last week, so there's no reason to think he'll see much of a drop-off from the quarterback switch. The Dallas secondary is a mess, and the Cowboys have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Garcon has still not found the end zone, which caps his upside somewhat. But in light of the matchup and the nearly guaranteed volume, Garcon still makes a rock solid WR2 on Sunday.

Howard received an astounding 36 carries last week against the Ravens, turning them into 167 yards. He's obviously not going to see that workload again this weekend against Carolina, but he's received no fewer than 18 carries in any game over the last four weeks, and has three touchdowns over that span. The Panthers stop the run well, but Luke Kuechly may not play after sustaining a concussion last week. If he's forced to miss the game, Howard is a mid-tier RB1, but he's no worse than a low-end RB1 even if Kuechly suits up.

Although he was rumored to be on the trading block and on the verge of losing snaps to Matt Breida, Hyde had one of his most productive fantasy games of the season on Sunday against the Redskins, scoring two touchdowns. It wasn't a great effort overall, as he averaged just 2.2 yards per carry, but he was on the field for 78 percent of the snaps, showing that he is still the back to own in San Francisco. The Cowboys allow the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, so Hyde should have a big day here, as the 49ers will likely look to the running game to ease the pressure off C.J. Beathard. Consider him a borderline RB1 on Sunday.

Last week, Allen caught 5 balls for 45 yards, which believe it or not, was his worst performance of the season. He's got the questionable tag so be sure to monitor his status. If he suits up, you have to start him even against the Broncos.

McKinnon has been fantastic over the last two weeks, averaging 21 touches per game and scoring three touchdowns. He'll now get a tough matchup against a Ravens rush defense that should get Brandon Williams back. The Ravens excel against pass-catching backs, allowing the third-fewest receptions to the position, and that's usually where McKinnon gets a ton of added value. His volume leaves him as an RB2 here, but his production may dwindle a bit this week.

Benjamin has found success recently, with 261 yards receiving and a touchdown in his last three games. But he missed practice on Thursday with a knee issue, which is worrisome given his past troubles. If he plays, he'll make a borderline WR2 against a Bears secondary that lacks a standout cornerback, but generally limits No. 1 wide receivers. Monitor Benjamin's practice status for the rest of the week, and be prepared with a backup just in case.

Adams caught a touchdown pass from Brett Hundley last week, but he clearly needs to be downgraded without Aaron Rodgers. Adams has had a fine season, but needs touchdown catches to make him a truly reliable fantasy wide receiver, and it's simply unclear how effective the Green Bay offense will be right now. The Saints allow the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, and will likely put up enough points to force Hundley to need to air it out. Consider Adams a borderline WR2/3, and hope for a touchdown.

I have zero explanation as to what happened with T.Y. Hilton last week against the Titans, as he caught just one pass in one of the best matchups he'll have all year. He also saw just four targets, so maybe it was just the gameplan the Colts employed, though I wouldn't consider that smart. Don't assume that he bounces back this week, either, as he'll play against the best cornerback duo in the NFL. The only wide receivers who've been able to post top-36 numbers against them have been Deandre Hopkins and Antonio Brown, both who saw at least 16 targets in their games. Hilton always has the opportunity to break a long one while on the turf at home, so he's not completely off the radar, but he's just a risky WR3 in this game.

Matthews has been steady all season, but he isn't getting the type of targets to warrant starting every week. With that said, the Browns are an easy enough matchup that he is a solid WR3 and should be started in almost every league.

Funchess has seen a whopping 36 targets over his past four games, and although he has three touchdown catches, he has failed to top 70 yards in any game. The Chicago defense has done a decent job of limiting opposing wide receivers, though they lack a shutdown corner. Kelvin Benjamin's knee injury flared up on Thursday, and if he's forced to miss this game, Funchess should make a fairly reliable WR2. If Benjamin plays, consider Funchess a borderline WR2/3 who will likely need a touchdown to produce significantly.

McCaffrey has done almost nothing on the ground this season, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry, but he's now scored a receiving touchdown in back to back games. His high volume of targets always keeps him in the RB2 range, and that's especially true against a Bears team that gives up an average of five catchers per game to opposing running backs. Consider McCaffrey his usual low-end RB2 here, and hope for another touchdown.

The Chiefs have already allowed seven wide receivers total at least 15.5 PPR points against them on the season and a large part of that reason is due to the play of RCB Terrance Mitchell, who will match-up with Cooper this week on roughly 50 percent of his snaps. It's been a rough season for Cooper as well, but we know that one of them is uber-talented. The Raiders designed some shorter routes and confidence boosting passes to Cooper last week, as he caught five of six targets, though they only went for 28 yards. He's is a slump so we can't get too excited, but he should be in lineups as a WR3 with massive upside in this game.

Fournette missed practice again Friday so be sure to monitor his status. As for now, he is expected to play and would be a must-start obviously, but if he misses, Chris Ivory would become a low-end RB2 so make sure to add him now just in case before someone else does.

Martin remained involved last week despite Arizona getting out to a big lead, as he got 15 touches and scored a touchdown. It's clear that Tampa Bay won't get away from Martin as the workhorse back regardless of the circumstances, which portends good things going forward. The Bills are a tough matchup - they allow the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs - but Martin's volume is always going to make him a play. Consider him a high-end RB2 in the tough matchup, and look for him to get the goal-line work, as usual.

Kamara had a solid, but not huge game last week against the Lions, but he did see 10 carries and gained 75 yards rushing, both season-highs. There's no doubting his talent, so if he sees double-digit touches going forward, as he should, he'll be in the RB2 discussion each week. That's the case this week against the Packers, despite the fact that they've allowed relatively few fantasy points to running backs. Without Aaron Rodgers, the Packers won't be able to sustain drives or be play from way ahead, and both Kamara and Mark Ingram should get in plenty of work. Consider Kamara an RB2 with upside.

After having success while handing the ball off to C.J. Anderson 20 or more times in three different games, they decided to give him just nine carries against the Giants. It was actually the first game of the season where he averaged less than four yards per carry, as well as the first game he didn't catch at least one pass. Consider it a glitch in the matrix, because the Broncos will go back to Anderson when they head to Los Angeles. The Chargers have now allowed 152.5 rushing yards per game to opponents, including a rushing touchdown in each of the last four games. Anderson ran for 81 yards in their first meeting, but the Chargers have seemingly gotten worse since then. Consider Anderson a high-end RB2 for this game that could wind up as a top-five play this week.

Peterson's debut with the Cardinals went better than even the most optimistic fan could have hoped for, as he ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries against the Bucs. While he almost certainly won't have quite that level of success again this week against the Rams, another solid effort looks to be in the cards. The Rams are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing running backs, and the Arizona passing game clearly benefitted from having an established ground game. Look for Peterson to be a solid RB2 here, and potentially score a touchdown or two.

It's a real bummer for DeSean Jackson owners to go from Jameis Winston to Ryan Fitzpatrick, as one throws a pretty deep ball, while the other doesn't. Even if Winston suits up, it's unlikely that they'll take many shots downfield, limiting Jackson's potential, though this isn't a week where you'd expect two fantasy relevant wide receivers on one team anyways. The Bills have allowed just one wide receiver to finish better than WR22 all season and that was A.J. Green before their bye week. Every wide receiver who's posted a solid game against them this year has been the opposing No. 1 wide receiver, which is obviously Mike Evans.

There's no way to trust Pryor at this point, but his owners could hardly ask for a better matchup this weekend against Philadelphia. The Eagles allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, as both Jalen Mills and Rasul Douglas have struggled. The Redskins are likely going to need points this week, and the way to attack the Eagles is through their secondary, which should mean plenty of targets for Pryor. He was heavily involved in the teams' first meeting, catching six of 11 targets for 66 yards. Although it sounds like Ronald Darby will suit up for this game, it's unclear how effective he will be in his first game back. Pryor is far from a safe option, but should be considered a WR3 here.

This is a matchup that favors Thompson, as the Eagles have already allowed three running backs to accumulate 52 or more receiving yards, including Thompson himself in their Week 1 meeting. If the Eagles don't have trouble moving the ball on the Redskins depleted defense (which they shouldn't), the Redskins aren't going to have much of an option to run the ball. Over the last two weeks, the Eagles defense has allowed 18 yards on 26 carries. Yes, you read that right. Thompson is a high-end RB3 who has RB2 appeal in PPR leagues.

For the first time all season, Brown is off the injury report, as he looks to be finally fully recovered from his quad injury. He's scored in two straight games, and has contributed for fantasy owners in three straight. He destroyed the Rams last year, with 10 catches for 144 yards in the teams' first meeting, and should be in line for another big day here when the teams meet in London. Consider him a borderline WR2.

Agholor has had an incredibly impressive season, scoring four touchdowns and racking up the second-most receiving yards out of the slot position behind only Golden Tate. He had a big game in Week 1 against the Redskins, and there's every reason to think there will be a repeat performance this week. Washington is likely to be down its two top cornerbacks in Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland, so Carson Wentz should have a field day with his receivers. Consider Agholor a WR3 in Monday night's matchup.

Amendola is hurt more often than not it seems, but when he is able to play, he is in flex consideration every week. The Patriots' targets don't tend to be consistent but Danny gets targets regardless and should be used against the Falcons this week.

Coleman has been decent this year for fantasy purposes, but the entire Atlanta offense has been somewhat underwhelming. That should change this weekend against the Patriots, particularly for Coleman. The Patriots allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, and particularly struggle against pass-catching backs, allowing the most receiving yards and second-most receptions to the position. Coleman has 14 receptions on the season, and should be able to do some damage in the passing game. He makes a low-end RB2 here, with upside.

Mixon isn't getting enough love this week. He is coming off the bye and going against one of the worst run defenses. Add in a seemingly guarunteed 15 to 20 touches and you've got to play him, no questions asked.

There is some danger in playing Murray, as he has a strained hammy and the Titans likely wouldn't need him against the Browns. He could end up with a huge game if they trust him with 12+ touches, however, so consider him a boom or bust this week.

Kearse had another strong day with 79 yards receiving against the Patriots. If you are looking for depth, he is a solid addition, but don't spend much in the way of FAAB to acquire him, nor should you rely on him every week.

The Texans shut Duke down last week, but prior to that performance, he had four games for 21 receptions and 250 yards, plus all the rushing work, so he should still be regarded as a solid flex every week.

Oakland is quite a bit better against tight ends this season, but Kelce is still a clear-cut top 4 tight end this week. Kansas City should continue to give him the team lead in targets against the Raiders.

Kupp has slowed down a bit after a hot start, but he's still consistently involved in the Rams offense. The Cardinals allow the fifth-most points to opposing wide receivers, and their one strength in the secondary - Patrick Peterson - won't be Kupp's problem. Kupp is rarely going to win you a week, but if you're looking for a handful of catches and decent yardage with a decent floor but without much ceiling, Kupp's your guy this week. Consider him a low-end WR3.

Henry was great in garbage time for the second time this season, but after the game, their coach told us they plan on a split backfield the remainder of the season. With that said, this is a great game script and Murray has a strained hammy so he seems to be a solid start for Week 7.

His upside is limited, but if you need a fifth wide receiver who can fill in on bye weeks and during injuries, Lee is the best bet on the waiver wire to pick up 40 to 70 yards with a touchdown here and there. He is clearly Bortles' top target with Robinson out.

Decker finally started to put it together last week with 7 receptions for 88 yards. He is in line for a big game again this week against the Browns, and if Delanie Walker is out, you could make a case for Decker being a low-end WR2.

It was supposed to be a week that we could trust Javorius Allen. It was the second time that we'd felt that way, with the other being the game against the Jaguars in London. In those two games combined, Allen has combined for 18 carries, eight receptions, and 94 scoreless yards. You will never feel comfortable putting him into your lineup, though it would help if Terrance West is ruled out again. The Vikings have yet to allow an opposing team to run for more than 3.6 yards per carry, so it's not going to make much of a difference how many carries Allen gets this week. The Vikings have allowed just one receiving touchdown to a running back and it came on a fake punt to Benny Cunningham in Week 5. Outside of that, they've allowed just 26 receiving yards to running backs over the last three weeks. Allen is nothing more than a RB3 this week, who gets a slight boost if LB Anthony Barr is forced to miss this game.

LeGarrette Blount has run the ball a lot better the last few weeks, totaling 344 yards on his last 58 carries (5.93 YPC), which has all come after he didn't receive a single carry in Week 2. He's only scored one touchdown in that time, limiting his upside, but Carson Wentz isn't going to throwing over two touchdowns per game. Blount totaled 46 yards on 14 carries in their first meeting and scored, though it was a receiving touchdown. The stars align here, though, as they are a home favorite with an offense that should score points against a banged-up defense. Blount is most definitely on the RB2 radar in standard leagues, though he's not quite as appealing in PPR formats.

Cobb has been quiet for several weeks in a row now, totaling 60 yards or less receiving in each of the past four weeks. The Saints present a good matchup on paper - they allow the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, and struggle against slot receivers. But it's anyone's guess how the Green Bay gameplan will unfold with Brett Hundley under center. Cobb rarely scores touchdowns (just one on the season), so to start him would simply be a gamble that Hundley and Cobb show chemistry. That's a risk not worth taking in Week 7.

It's gotten to the point where Marshawn Lynch just doesn't play on a team good enough to grind him out in wins, leaving him to touch the ball a maximum of 13 times over the last five weeks. He's coming off a matchup against the Chargers who may just be the worst run defense in the league, yet he walked away with just 63 yards. Lynch isn't done, but he's also not getting enough work to trust on a weekly basis. Prior to Le'Veon Bell killing them last week, the Chiefs hadn't allowed a running back to total more than 79 yards on the ground.

This is about as good a situation for Graham as there can be, as the Giants allow the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and have allowed a touchdown to a tight end in every game this year. Graham has been a significant piece of the Seattle offense in recent weeks, seeing 25 targets and catching 17 passes over his last three games. Graham makes one of the top options at tight end this week, and there's little reason to have any doubt in his performance.

 

Ginn had his best game of the season against the Lions, catching all four of his targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. His season has been basically what his owners expected - several dud games with the occasional big day mixed in. It's unclear where things will fall this week against a Packers secondary that has been decimated by injury but which generally limits fantasy production to opposing wide receivers. Ginn is what is he is - a boom or bust borderline WR3 play, that can be started if you need a home run.

Woods has quietly been an effective fantasy option most weeks, and his five-catch, 70-yard performance against a tough Jacksonville defense may open some eyes. Jared Goff simply does not target Sammy Watkins often, and Cooper Kupp is still evolving as a receiver. That leaves Woods as perhaps the most reliable option for Goff, and he should continue to see significant targets going forward.

Sammy Watkins had a talk with Sean McVay about getting more targets and that led to just four targets against the Jaguars last week. He's going to struggle again if Patrick Peterson is out there, as Peterson has shut down every receiver he's played against this year. If Peterson plays, Watkins belongs on fantasy benches. If Peterson is misses this game, Watkins needs to be in lineups as a WR3 with upside.

Darkwa was shockingly effective against the Broncos, gaining 117 yards on 21 carries and adding a reception for 13 yards. He clearly established himself as the running back to own for the Giants, as Wayne Gallman was largely held in check. Darkwa is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, and has a good chance to see 15-20 touches per game if he remains healthy. He's a must-add in what was thought to be a hopeless situation.

Robinson saw 12 targets against the Patriots in Week 6. While adding him isn't sexy, every player seeing this type of target share ought to be owned. Plus, he has the type of speed to break long touchdowns every few weeks.

 

The Packers got Ty Montgomery back in Week 6, but it didn't help matters for fantasy owners. Now staring at a potentially bottom-10 scoring offense without Rodgers, Montgomery has lost a lot of his appeal. The Saints have held three of the last four teams they've played to 3.7 or less yards per carry and haven't allowed a team of running backs more than 97 yards since back in Week 1 when Dalvin Cook tagged them for 127 yards himself. In fact, if you were to go back to 2016, the Saints have surprisingly only allowed two running backs to run for more than 85 yards against them (Cook, Devonta Freeman 2x). The snaps in Week 6 favored Aaron Jones (43 to 20), but that was likely due to Montgomery being eased back in. Still, you cannot trust Montgomery as anything more than an RB3 right now.

Gabriel saw eight targets on Sunday against Miami, his highest total this season, but came down with just four of them for 39 yards. It was a disappointing effort considering the matchup and the fact that Mohamed Sanu was out. Sanu may be forced to miss at least another game, and next week's matchup against New England should provide tons of opportunities for Gabriel to make plays. As a long-term play, Gabriel probably provides minimal value, but as a bye-week filler for Week 7, he should move to the top of the list.

 

It's anyone's guess how the Green Bay backfield will break down, particularly in light of the injury to Aaron Rodgers. The Saints allow the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, but they are much more vulnerable to pass-catching backs, which suggests that Ty Montgomery may have more success than Jones this week. On the other hand, the Packers surely want to establish a ground game to ease the burden on Brett Hundley, so Jones should still see a fairly healthy dose of carries. In the end, Jones is a risky Flex play, unless we get more definitive word as to how Mike McCarthy plans to attack the Saints.

With DeVante Parker banged up, Stills should step into more work. Jay Cutler's presence limits his season-long upside, but from week to week, he has big play potential that could help spurn you to a win.

Oddly enough, Delanie Walker has still yet to score a receiving touchdown this year (he has a rushing touchdown), while his teammates at tight end have three of them. That should get righted this week against the Browns who have already allowed four top-10 performances to tight ends, including a 68-yard, two-touchdown performance to Tyler Kroft a few weeks back. Walker is a must-start elite TE1 play who can be used in tournament and cash-game lineups.

Gore has limited upside even against a Jaguars' run defense who has struggled again the run this season. You can rely on 5 to 8 points, but there are over 30 better options this week so hopefully you can find one.

ASJ has looked excellent and is seeing enough work to support two fantasy tight ends. This week's matchup against the Dolphins is about as good as it gets too so make sure to start him if you've got the opportunity.

Engram has shattered the myth that rookie tight ends can't produce in fantasy, as he's on pace for perhaps the best season by a rookie tight end in NFL history. The matchup against Seattle isn't great, but it isn't quite that daunting, as the Seahawks are middle of the road against opposing tight ends. Either way, Engram should get enough volume to make him a fine option here in light of the Giants' troubles at receiver, and is firmly in the TE1 conversation, as he always is.

Snead saw limited work in his Week 6 debut against the Lions, playing on just 21 snaps and catching one pass for 11 yards on three targets. He should get more heavily involved this week against Green Bay as he continues to move past his hamstring injury. The Packers secondary is in dire straits, and they have been particularly vulnerable to slot receivers all season. He's not a safe start, but Snead makes a WR4 with upside.

It's been a lost season for Crowder, who has just 17 receptions for 121 yards on the season. On the surface, it looks like a great matchup for him this weekend against Philadelphia, as the Eagles give up the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. But they've been surprisingly effective at limiting opposing slot receivers, as Patrick Robinson is having a career year. Josh Doctson and Terrelle Pryor should have one of their better games of the season, but Crowder can't be started in almost any league.

Fournette is expected to play Sunday after injuring his ankle in the Jaguars comeback attempt. There is, of course, a chance that he is scratched and you've all of a sudden got a 20+ touch running back on your hands. Even if not, Ivory had 9 receptions last week and could continue to see that type of work in the desperate Jags' passing game.

Henry has two busts on the year, but those days are over, as he has finally passed the threshold from being a borderline weekly streamer to an every week must play. He is playing near every snap and has a solid matchup this week too.

 

 

If anyone could know what Belichek was going to do or who he would use from week to week, they would be paid millions by an NFL team. We can't know if this was a one week volume share for Lewis (because of Gillislee's fumble) or if it will continue all season. Lewis is worth the speculative add, but don't splurge your FAAB for him.

Reports from practice are good this week for Shepard, and it sounds like he has a chance to suit up this weekend against the Seahawks. That's not exactly great news for his fantasy owners, however, as it's a tough matchup and it would be safer to let Shepard rest through the Giants' bye week in Week 8. If he does suit up, it would be difficult to trust him as anything more than a WR4 in light of his injury and the matchup, and he'd make more of a desperation play for this week.

Smith-Schuster continued his climb toward fantasy relevance, as his modest three-catch, 32-yard performance on Sunday against the Chiefs was actually second on the Steelers in terms of both catches and receiving yardage. There's a great deal of drama around Martavis Bryant, but regardless, Smith-Schuster has cemented himself as the slot receiver at worst, and could have a bigger role if Bryant is traded. Add him as a depth piece who could start in any given week, and hope Bryant moves on.

Brate has now scored in four straight games, and has seen 23 targets over his previous three contests. The Bills allow the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends, but Brate succeeded in a tough matchup against Arizona last week, so it's tough to doubt him. Buffalo has yet to allow a touchdown to an opposing tight end, however, which has to factor into Brate's outlook. He remains a TE1, but perhaps ranks a little lower than he usually would.

You may not have noticed because there wasn't much in the way of production, but the Jets gave Forte a whopping 17 touches this week with Powell out. He isn't a start at this point, but he is worth adding because if we see it again, you can plug him into your flex most weeks.

Cohen saw 15 touches last week after seeing just 17 over the previous two games, but he gained only 46 total yards. With Benny Cunningham eating into Cohen's work, and the speedy back no longer running as effectively, it would be difficult to trust him this week against a tough Carolina run defense, even if Luke Kuechly misses the game. Consider him an RB4, at best.

Fowler came off the bye seeing 8 targets in the Bronco's loss to the Giants. Emmanuel Sanders has already been ruled out for Week 7, so Fowler is a strong streamer, but his rest of season appeal is limited.

Reed has battled injuries all year, but unlike previous seasons, he has not been able to overcome them to be effective. He hasn't had more than 48 yards receiving in any game this season, and has been significantly outpaced by backup tight end Vernon Davis. The Eagles aren't particularly imposing against tight ends, but they have a real weakness with their cornerbacks, and Kirk Cousins is likely to attack them with the Redskins' wide receivers, rather than Reed. Given the state of the position, Reed is still a borderline start here, but don't expect much production.

Kyle Rudolph has now seen nine targets in back-to-back games, which is not coincidental that it's when Diggs has missed time. Similar to last year, when Diggs was either out or not full healthy, Rudolph saw massive target totals. Opposing tight ends haven't seen many targets against the Ravens, but of the ones they have, they've done a lot of damage. On 30 targets to tight ends, the Ravens have allowed 21/262/6, which amounts to a 136.4 QB Rating. Rudolph is back into the must-start TE1 conversation, especially while Diggs is out or limited.

Louis is involved in the Browns' passing attack, but he is a WR5 at the very most for the rest of the season. With that being said, if you need a one week streamer, he has a solid matchup against the Titans this weekend.

It appears that Sanu will play on Sunday, and that's good news for fantasy owners, as the Patriots are one of the worst teams in the league against opposing wide receivers. Sanu had seen 24 targets in his first four games, which includes the game against Buffalo when he left early, so it's obvious he'll be more involved this season than last. Consider him a very low-end WR3 here, but one with potential.

 

 

Robert Turbin is out now, so his 30% snap share and 5 targets from last game should transfer to Mack who has big play potential. Plus, the Jags give up more than their share of big plays.

Doctson has just nine targets and four receptions on the year, but two of his four catches have gone for touchdowns. He has immense talent, but he's far from reliable given his limited involvement in the offense. Absent extremely deep leagues, fantasy owners can't possibly start Doctson right now, but his enormous potential makes him a great bench-piece add, especially for owners who look to be well on their way toward making the playoffs.

 

If you're starting Stewart this week, it's purely in the hope that he scores his first rushing touchdown against a Bears team that has allowed five rushing touchdowns to running backs. The Bears make a decent matchup for opposing rushers, as they've seen an increase in their YPC allowed in each of the first six weeks. But Stewart has totaled 17 yards on 26 carries over the last two weeks (you read that right), so it's impossible to start him with any confidence. He's a borderline RB3 in light of the matchup, but you likely have better options.

The Ravens have been giving the ball to Collins enough so that he has more yards per game over his last 5 than DeMarco Murray, Melvin Gordon, LeSean McCoy and Lamar Miller. The fact is, they haven't even let him loose because of fumble concerns, so there is enough potential her for him to end up a high-end RB2.

Lockett just hasn't been able to get going despite looking healthier in recent weeks, as the Seattle offense is simply sputtering along without much explosiveness. He should see Janoris Jenkins at least some of the time on Sunday against the Giants, and that's a very tough matchup, though he may be able to find some room against Eli Apple. The Giants generally hold wide receivers in check (they allow the ninth-fewest fantasy points to the position), so consider Lockett no more than a WR4.

We knew that when Mohamed Sanu went down that Austin Hooper would see increased targets, but we did not know that he'd see 16 of them in two games. He's turned them into 12 catches for 98 yards, though he's yet to score a touchdown since the Week 1 game against the Bears. That should change against the Patriots who have now allowed a touchdown to the tight end position in five of their six games. Ed Dickson was the only one who failed to find the end zone. Hooper can be in line for a true breakout game with all the attention that will be placed on Julio Jones. Consider Hooper a rock-solid TE1 in this contest.

Kittle was heavily involved in the 49ers offense once again, seeing eight targets against Washington after seeing nine against Indianapolis the previous week. The tight end position is a wasteland after the top few option, so Kittle's sudden uptick in targets makes him a definite add off the waiver wire. There's no reason to spend a top waiver claim or significant FAAB dollars, but Kittle makes a strong add for owners struggling at the position.

It's sad to see Jason Witten fall down the fantasy leaderboards over the last few weeks, because if you recall, he was the No. 1 fantasy tight end after two weeks and it wasn't all that close. But now, over his last three games combined, he's totaled just 10 catches for 73 scoreless yards. The 49ers aren't likely to bust him out of his slump, either, as they have not allowed a single tight end to finish better than the TE20 in any of their six games. Keep in mind that they've played against Jordan Reed, Jimmy Graham, and Greg Olsen. Witten is off the TE1 radar and belongs on fantasy benches.

Richardson, like all he Seattle wide receivers, hasn't shown much this season, as his only fantasy-relevant weeks have come when he's found the end zone. That makes him a tough start on Sunday against the Giants, who allow the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Richardson will see Janoris Jenkins on at least some of his routes, and that's a tough task for any wide receiver. Consider him a WR4/5, and only a desperation play.

It's hard for any receiver to do much when his quarterback throws only 16 times, but Wright at least chipped in with three catches for 36 yards last week against the Ravens. It's clear that the Chicago gameplan is to limit Mitchell Trubisky's throws, which puts a cap on Wright's already limited value. The Panthers are decent against opposing wide receivers, but regardless of the matchup, fantasy owners simply can't rely on Wright right now. Consider him a WR5, and avoid him absent dire circumstances.

 

After catching 18 passes over his previous two games, Ellington gave his fantasy owners a goose egg in Week 6 against the Bucs, as the Cardinals jumped out to a big lead and rode Adrian Peterson. It's clear with Peterson in the fold that Ellington's production is going to be game-script dependent - when the Cardinals are trailing, they'll use Ellington in the passing game, and when they're ahead, they won't. Unfortunately, this week's matchup against the Rams sets up better for Peterson, as the Cardinals are not projected to trail much, if any. The Rams give up the most fantasy points to opposing running backs, but that shouldn't matter much if Ellington doesn't get the work, and since Ellington is battling a knee injury, he may not have a big role regardless. Consider him an RB4 here.

Parker didn't play last week with his ankle injury, and while he should go this weekend, be sure to monitor his status just in case something changes. If he plays, he should be started even though he has been a disappointment this season.

 

 

Murray has averaged 15 touches per game over the last two weeks, but he's obviously taken a back seat to Jerick Mckinnon. The Ravens are tough on opposing running backs, and should get Brandon Williams back for this game. If you start Murray, you're essentially hoping for a touchdown, and that's a tough gamble to take. Consider him an RB4 without a ton of upside.

 

 

Humphries just continues to produce, with at least 51 yards in four straight games. He'll rarely find the end zone, as he has just three career touchdown catches, but he should provide a fairly high weekly floor for a receiver that is widely available. Particularly in PPR formats, Humphries is nearing must-add status, but should be added in deep standard leagues, too.

 

After seeing seven targets against Minnesota in Mitchell Trubisky's first game, Miller saw just three targets on Sunday against Baltimore. One of those targets, however, was a touchdown pass from running back Tarik Cohen. The fact that most of Miller's production came from a pass from a running back isn't encouraging, but this is two consecutive games with a touchdown, and that's more than fantasy owners can say for most tight ends. Miller isn't an exciting add, but for owners struggling at the tight end position, he can provide value as a streamer.

 

Rawls did nothing to run away with the Seattle running back job in Week 5 against the Rams, as he gained just 20 yards on eight carries and 15 yards on two catches. But he out-snapped Eddie Lacy 32 to 19, and Lacy was ineffective. Pete Carroll continues to suggest that Rawls and Lacy will split time, but of the two, Rawls has the better opportunity to take the job in light of his performance last year. Add Rawls, but don't expect to start him for at least a week or two.

 

Some wondered (myself included) how the Chiefs would defend the tight end position once Eric Berry went down, but they've responded well, failing to allow any tight end to finish inside the top-10 in any week. Keep in mind that they played against Zach Ertz and the combination of Hunter Henry/Antonio Gates. Jared Cook has totaled just 39 yards over the last two weeks and should be left on fantasy benches against the Chiefs.

 

 

Kelley looks like he'll return from an ankle injury this week, just in time to take on a very difficult Philadelphia defense that allows just 3.8 yards per carry. Kelley's gotten a bit of a bad rap this season, as he's averaging 4.5 yards per carry on 29 attempts. Chris Thompson is the lead dog in the Redskins backfield right now, but Kelley makes a desperation Flex play, now that it appears likely he'll be out there on Monday night.

 

Jamaal Charles has seen his carries decline every week this season, as he's touched the ball just six times in each of the last two games. The return of Devontae Booker has had more of an effect than most would have thought. Charles can't be played as anything more than a big-play-dependent RB5 in fantasy leagues.

Dickson came down to earth after his huge performance against the Lions in Week 5, but he did get eight targets last week against the Eagles, suggesting that he'll remain an integral part of the offense. The Bears have been solid against opposing tight ends (if you take away Austin Hooper's monstrous performance in Week 1), so it's unlikely that Dickson has a huge game here. But with 17 targets over his past three games, Dickson should give you a fairly decent floor, though he still falls outside of the TE1 range.

 

Smallwood looks to be in line to play on Monday against the Redskins after missing two games with a knee injury, and immediately warrants at least some fantasy attention. In the only game Smallwood played without Darren Sproles, he scored a touchdown and caught four passes for 45 yards. The Redskins generally struggle against pass-catching backs, so Smallwood should likely be able to do enough damage through the air to be in the Flex conversation.

Bennett has had a terrible season, never exceeding 53 yards receiving in any game and failing to find the end zone. He now loses Aaron Rodgers and instead gains Brett Hundley, which is unlikely to help his production. The Saints are tough on tight ends, but absent the juiciest matchup of all time, you can't start Bennett at this point anyway. If you do own him in a deep league, there's probably still a better option on the waiver wire for this week.

 

 

 

 

 

O'Leary looked solid filling in for Charles Clay in Week 5, and may have to be involved in the passing attack while he is out, but there has to be a handful of better streaming tight ends every week, so there is no use in owning him unless we see more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's not much to like about Lacy right now, as he's seeing limited snaps, splitting work with Thomas Rawls, and playing behind a terrible offensive line. The Giants aren't great at stopping the run, but there's no matchup that should make you feel comfortable starting Lacy. He likely needs a touchdown to have any value, and the Giants have allowed only two rushing touchdowns all year. Absent an incredibly deep league, you shouldn't go anywhere near Lacy this week.

 

McFadden has been inactive for every game this season, but instantly became relevant when Ezekiel Elliott's suspension went back into effect. It's unclear whether Alfred Morris or McFadden will get the bulk of the carries while Elliott is out, and it's possible that the Cowboys were simply trying to limit the wear and tear on McFadden's body in the event he was needed for more significant work. The best bet is that it's largely a timeshare between Morris and McFadden, which should make both running backs potential Flex plays. Until fantasy owners know exactly how the situation will play out, they should add McFadden immediately, even if they keep him on the bench for a few weeks while the situation sorts itself out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After totaling 54 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, Coby Fleener has fallen off the face of the earth. Okay, maybe that's a bit much. But seriously, he's totaled just 10 targets over their last four games, turning them into six catches for 75 yards and one touchdown. After looking at the box score this week, you could have missed him, as he had just one target and no production. With Snead's role growing, it's hard to see this changing. On top of that, the Packers have not allowed a single top-12 tight end performance against them this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Williams will more than likely be 4th or 5th fiddle for the Chargers for the rest of the season, but there is a real chance he becomes the next Michael Thomas or Odell Beckham within a handful of weeks. Own him now incase that happens, but expect the more likely scenario.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside of Marcedes Lewis' one game against the Ravens in London where he totaled 62 yards and three touchdowns, he's totaled exactly one catch for 14 yards in the other five games combined. He's not involved in the offense right now which is kind of a letdown because the Colts have allowed a tight end touchdown in three of their last four games. Still, you aren't going to play Lewis in any season-long league.