Fantasy Stat Pack: Week Seven

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

Quarterbacks

Week Seven QB1s (top 12 scorers)

The banged-up receiving corps for Aaron Rodgers was a story all week heading into Week Seven and fantasy players (myself included) were even chasing wide receiver Allen Lazard. None of that mattered as Rodgers produced one of the best games of his career, throwing for five touchdowns and rushing for another. Kirk Cousins and Jacoby Brissett stayed hot while Jared Goff bounced back from a terrible performance in the previous week. Lamar Jackson rushed for over 100 yards for the second straight week and third time this year, tying a league record that he is sure to break in the coming weeks.

Year to Date QB1s

Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson faced off in Week Seven and by the end of the game, the two flip-flopped at the top of the season-long quarterback ranks. Rodgers was the big riser, moving from QB12 to QB7 after his six-touchdown performance. Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford joined the QB1 ranks, replacing Jameis Winston and Gardner Minshew.

QB1 Games this Season

Most QB1 Games Allowed

The fading Falcons have again suffered multiple injuries on the defensive side of the ball and that has made them a weekly target when setting fantasy lineups. They’ve allowed six QB1 games already and host the red-hot Russell Wilson in the dome. Not that you were considering benching Wilson anyway, but his upside is sky high.

A six pack of teams are next in line with five QB1 games allowed. Among them are the Cardinals, who face the Saints. While there have been reports of veteran Drew Brees practicing this week, it is safe to expect Teddy Bridgewater to get another start in a nice spot. The Bengals travel to southern California where Rams quarterback Jared Goff always performs better at home. He’s in line for another big game. The Lions are falling apart but might be able to pull themselves together against rookie Daniel Jones and the Giants, who are also on this list. If choosing a fantasy signal-caller from this game, I’d easily side with veteran Matthew Stafford. Finally, the Eagles face the Bills and Josh Allen, who is always a threat to post a big fantasy number with his rushing upside.

Three teams have yet to allow a QB1 game, including the Bears, Broncos and Patriots. Denver might have the toughest test this week as they travel to Indianapolis, facing Jacoby Brissett. The Bears host Philip Rivers and the Chargers while New England gets Baker Mayfield and the Browns coming off a bye week.

Running Backs

Week Seven RB1s (top 12 scorers)

With David Johnson active and starting for the Cardinals, most fantasy players pulled second-year back Chase Edmonds from their lineups. That was a mistake as the Cardinals Twitter account has snidely reminded us. DJ saw the opening carry and that was the end of his day as Edmonds carried the load in a career-best day, including three rushing touchdowns. Playing in place of another stud back Alvin Kamara, veteran Latavius Murray rushed for 119 yards and two scores. The Giants had superstar Saquon Barkley back on the field and he looked as good as new, totaling 80 yards and a touchdown, good for the RB9 finish.

Year to Date RB1s

With nearly half of the top-twelve backs missing Week Seven due to injury or bye, the season-long rankings saw some major changes. Understandably, Nick Chubb (RB4 to RB6), Alvin Kamara (RB7 to RB11), David Johnson (RB5 to RB8) and James Conner (RB12 to RB14) all fell after not playing, or only getting one carry, in Johnson’s case. Aaron Jones, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Chris Carson were all risers, while Derrick Henry moved back into the RB1 group.

RB1 Games this Season

Most RB1 Games Allowed

In Week Eight, the Rams running backs have the pleasure of facing the league’s worst run defense, the Bengals. The only problem is deciding which running back to use. Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown have both been banged up, so this will be a situation to monitor throughout the week. If one or both can’t play, rookie Darrell Henderson would be worth using in fantasy lineups instead.

The Lions and Chargers are the next targets, which is good news for Saquon Barkley as he faces Detroit. The Chargers face the struggling Bears offense and even a nice matchup might not be enough to make rookie David Montgomery or Tarik Cohen strong plays, considering the confusing usage trends in recent weeks.

The Patriots, Steelers and 49ers have yet to allow a top-twelve game to an opposing running back. It will be easy to fade Kenyan Drake and Mark Walton against the Steelers but even this difficult on-paper matchup shouldn’t push Christian McCaffrey (vs. 49ers) or Nick Chubb (vs. Patriots) out of dynasty or season-long lineups.

Wide Receivers

Week Seven WR1s (top 12 scorers)

What a wild week around the league and it was never more evident than on the top-scoring receiver list. Lions veteran Marvin Jones scored four times for the second game in his career, while Colts depth receiver Zach Pascal popped with a pair of touchdowns and a WR2 rank. Perhaps the most important name on this list is Titans receiver Corey Davis, who looked more like the player that was a top-five NFL Draft pick after his team made a quarterback change. Veteran Ryan Tannehill won’t be the answer for Tennessee or Davis, but he’ll almost certainly be better than the benched Marcus Mariota.

Year to Date WR1s

Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins finally produced up to expectation, catching nine balls for 106 yards and a touchdown and that helped him move from outside of the top-twelve to WR8. He replaced Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans, whose bye week dropped him out of the WR1 range.

WR1 Games this Season

Most WR1 Games Allowed

In Week Seven, veteran quarterback and new Titans starter Ryan Tannehill reminded us we shouldn’t be giving up on Corey Davis. This week, he gets to face the Buccaneers as an encore. Tampa has allowed five WR1 performances through six games and Davis and rookie AJ Brown suddenly look like interesting options. The Eagles have also surrendered five WR1 games, which should make us confident to fire up John Brown once again.

Seven teams have still allowed just one WR1 performance through seven weeks, including the Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Broncos, Patriots, Steelers and Titans. Some wideouts who could be held below expectation if these trends continue this week include Alshon Jeffery, Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, TY Hilton, Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.

Tight Ends

Week Seven TE1s (top 12 scorers)

Raiders breakout tight end Darren Waller has been among the top fantasy scorers in nearly every week this season, but he has done it without scoring a touchdown…until Week Seven. Waller found the paint twice and had a third called back due to a holding penalty and that helped him finish as the TE1 for the week. Young dynasty risers Hunter Henry, Gerald Everett and Dallas Goedert all stayed hot with TE1 finishes. The Vikings (Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith) and Raiders (Waller, Foster Moreau) placed a pair of players in the top twelve. Finally, it was supposed to be Evan Engram week as the Giants faced the Cardinals. Instead, Engram was shut down and his backup Rhett Ellison produced a TE1 game for the first time this season.

Year to Date TE1s

Waller’s multi-touchdown game gave him a huge boost, moving the Raiders breakout star from TE7 to TE2 for the season. Mark Andrews (TE9 to TE11) and Greg Olsen (TE9 to TE11) fell while Jimmy Graham replaced Delanie Walker in the top twelve.

TE1 Games this Season

Most TE1 Games Allowed

The Cardinals finally broke the “flow chart” narrative in Week Seven, sort of. They shut down Giants Evan Engram but they did allow a touchdown and a TE1 performance to Rhett Ellison. This week, they face the Saints, who could be without veteran Jared Cook once again. If Cook sits, Josh Hill could be worth a start against Arizona. The Buccaneers are also giving it up to the tight end position, though this is another team with multiple options, depending on the health of Walker. If he sits, or even if not, Jonnu Smith is a streaming option this week.

Ricky Seals-Jones has been trending in the right direction for the Browns but faces a difficult task against the Patriots in Week Eight. Leave him on your bench. The Bills (vs. Zach Ertz/Dallas Goedert), Broncos (vs. Eric Ebron/Jack Doyle), Dolphins (vs. Vance McDonald), Saints (vs. Charles Clay), Giants (vs. TJ Hockenson) and the 49ers (vs. Greg Olsen) all could prove tough matchups this week.

Finally, here is the chart summarizing how teams have fared against each position. I’ve also included the schedule for this week for reference.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.

Latest posts by Ryan McDowell (see all)

• Monday Mocks: Final 2024 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft - January 6, 2025
• Dynasty Blueprint: 5 Takeaways From Week 17 - December 31, 2024
• Weekly Matchups: Championship Week - December 25, 2024