Week Seven Positional Rankings

Michael Zingone

This week marks the halfway point of the fantasy football regular season. Can you believe it? What a crazy ride it has been thus far. We’ve had massive rookie breakouts, long time contributors fade away from fantasy viability, so (SO) many injuries, and – of course – COVID news each and every week. It’s been a pleasure taking you through your weekly lineup decisions each and every week thus far, and let’s continue our success thus far through your dynasty championship game!

One of the most challenging aspects of providing this article each week is the possibilities of COVID delays. Hence, I will assume that – as of this writing – all games will be played. That way, I can provide the most information possible for you.

In this series, I’ll give you my top 30 quarterbacks, 60 running backs, 60 wide receivers, and 30 tight ends each week to help you with your start/sit decisions in your leagues. To generate this list each and every week, I examine team trends, Vegas over/unders, implied points, pace of play, among various other factors to build a projection for each player and subsequently adjust rankings for upside and more detailed matchup specifics.

Among the rankings, there will surely be some that surprise you or that you may disagree with. At the end of each position section, I’ll give you my thoughts on some players that perhaps are ranked higher/lower than you might expect and insights as to why they are a good/bad play this week. Ultimately, these rankings should help your start/sit dilemmas and ensure you have the requisite resources to make an informed decision.

Without further ado, let’s dive into week seven’s positional rankings!

Quarterback

Pos Player Matchup Rank
QB Josh Allen @NYJ 1
QB Patrick Mahomes II @DEN 2
QB Kyler Murray SEA 3
QB Russell Wilson @ARI 4
QB Deshaun Watson GB 5
QB Aaron Rodgers @HOU 6
QB Matt Ryan DET 7
QB Justin Herbert JAC 8
QB Cam Newton SF 9
QB Tom Brady @LV 10
QB Joe Burrow CLE 11
QB Matthew Stafford @ATL 12
QB Carson Wentz NYG 13
QB Ben Roethlisberger @TEN 14
QB Drew Brees CAR 15
QB Ryan Tannehill PIT 16
QB Gardner Minshew II @LAC 17
QB Teddy Bridgewater @NO 18
QB Andy Dalton @WAS 19
QB Jared Goff CHI 20
QB Jimmy Garoppolo @NE 21
QB Derek Carr TB 22
QB Baker Mayfield @CIN 23
QB Kyle Allen DAL 24
QB Nick Foles @LAR 25
QB Daniel Jones @PHI 26
QB Drew Lock KC 27
QB Joe Flacco BUF 28

Start ‘em: Aaron Rodgers, QB GB

Rodgers did your fantasy teams absolutely no favors in week six. In fact, in the Scott Fish Bowl scoring system, Rodgers put up negative fantasy points. In what was an overall forgettable performance, Rodgers looked far from the MVP-caliber quarterback he’s been throughout the season. However, fantasy football is played on a week to week basis, and it’s time to go right back to Rodgers in week seven without any hesitation at all.

The Packers have the highest implied team total of the week at 30.5 points, and the Packers-Texans game has an overall 57.5 total over/under. Vegas expects this game to be an absolute shootout, strongly favoring a Rodgers bounce-back game. The Texans defense has just one interception on the season and has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete nearly 70% of their passes. All signs point to Rodgers posting big fantasy numbers once again in week seven.

Sit ‘em: Ryan Tannehill, QB TEN

This week begins a very difficult stretch for Tannehill and the Titans. As last week’s “Start ‘Em” choice, it’s easy to see how a difficult matchup can sway even top quarterbacks into challenging weekly starts. Tannehill has been outstanding this season, posting QB6 fantasy stats in points per game thus far.

In week seven, though he faces a Steelers defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and have allowed opposing offenses as a whole to go over 21 points just once so far this season. The Titans have a middle-of-the-pack 25.75 implied team total, and the game has just a 50.5 over/under: one of the lowest of the week. Tannehill is a fine QB2 option in superflex leagues, but his low overall ceiling in week seven prevents him from being a top 12 option.

If you’re desperate: Matthew Stafford, QB DET

That’s right, another quarterback playing the Atlanta Falcons. Do you remember last season how even middling tight end options were top options versus the Arizona Cardinals? That is the equivalent to this year’s Falcons vs the quarterback fantasy matchup. The Falcons continue to be a fantasy dream for opposing quarterbacks, allowing nearly five more points per game than any other team.

Stafford has not been the fantasy quarterback we saw in 2019, as he ranks just as the QB21 on the season. However, in this matchup, his offensive weapons of Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, TJ Hockenson, and week six breakout star D’Andre Swift should propel Stafford and the Lions to many touchdowns. Vegas agrees, as the Lions have a solid 26.75 implied team total. Stafford is as good of a desperation play as you can find in week seven.

Running Back

Pos Player Matchup Rank
RB Alvin Kamara CAR 1
RB Aaron Jones @HOU 2
RB Kareem Hunt @CIN 3
RB Derrick Henry PIT 4
RB Ezekiel Elliott @WAS 5
RB Ronald Jones II @LV 6
RB Joe Mixon CLE 7
RB Mike Davis @NO 8
RB James Conner @TEN 9
RB Chris Carson @ARI 10
RB David Johnson GB 11
RB James Robinson @LAC 12
RB Todd Gurley II DET 13
RB Josh Jacobs TB 14
RB David Montgomery @LAR 15
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire @DEN 16
RB Kenyan Drake SEA 17
RB D’Andre Swift @ATL 18
RB Justin Jackson JAC 19
RB Antonio Gibson DAL 20
RB Darrell Henderson CHI 21
RB Devin Singletary @NYJ 22
RB Boston Scott NYG 23
RB Devonta Freeman @PHI 24
RB Adrian Peterson @ATL 25
RB Jerick McKinnon @NE 26
RB Melvin Gordon III KC 27
RB Phillip Lindsay KC 28
RB James White SF 29
RB Zack Moss @NYJ 30
RB Chase Edmonds SEA 31
RB J.D. McKissic DAL 32
RB Latavius Murray CAR 33
RB Rex Burkhead SF 34
RB Malcolm Brown CHI 35
RB Joshua Kelley JAC 36
RB Frank Gore BUF 37
RB Damien Harris SF 38
RB Le’Veon Bell @DEN 39
RB Leonard Fournette @LV 40
RB Jamaal Williams @HOU 41
RB Lamical Perine BUF 42
RB JaMycal Hasty @NE 43
RB Brian Hill DET 44
RB Duke Johnson Jr. GB 45
RB Tony Pollard @WAS 46
RB Chris Thompson @LAC 47
RB Corey Clement NYG 48
RB Giovani Bernard CLE 49
RB Darrel Williams @DEN 50
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn @LV 51
RB Dion Lewis @PHI 52
RB Jalen Richard TB 53
RB D’Ernest Johnson @CIN 54
RB Cam Akers CHI 55
RB Kerryon Johnson @ATL 56
RB AJ Dillon @HOU 57
RB Jeremy McNichols PIT 58
RB Benny Snell Jr. @TEN 59
RB Wayne Gallman @PHI 60

Start ‘em: David Johnson, RB HOU

On the other side of the predicted shootout between Green Bay and Houston, running back Johnson is in a position to have a great game in week seven. As previously mentioned, this game has an incredibly high 57.5 point over under, with Houston coming in at a solid 27 implied team points. What fantasy managers should care about even more, however, is that Green Bay has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs on the season. What’s particularly interesting about Green Bay’s ranking in points allowed is that the team overall is 4-1 on the season.

When looking at the bottom ten defenses in fantasy points per game allowed to running backs, only two of them have a winning record. To see Green Bay top the list indicates that they are extremely vulnerable to running back production not just from game script. With Johnson consistently commanding the bulk of touches out of the backfield for Houston, expect the veteran to have a solid floor and a high ceiling in week seven. He’s a back-end RB1 for the week.

Sit ‘em: Denver Broncos running backs

Trust me, it’s difficult to really say to sit any starting running back in week seven. Chances are – if you’re like me and my teams – you need all the running back touches you can find. Realistically, you’re playing Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay out of desperation if needed, but if you have two or three higher-ranked options, it’s smart to leave the Broncos on the bench this week.

The Broncos have an implied total of just 18 points, the second-lowest of the week in front of only the Jets. With Lindsay rushing well last week for over 100 yards, it’s reasonable the believe that Gordon and Lindsay will split touches on Sunday. In a game where the Broncos project to struggle to score with the addition of a split backfield, it’s unlikely that either back has a particularly high ceiling. Both can be played as FLEX/RB3 options if absolutely necessary.

If you’re desperate: Justin Jackson, RB LAC

With Austin Ekeler sidelined for the foreseeable future, Jackson is lined up to have a significant workload in the Chargers offense. We saw just that in week five, as Jackson out-touched rookie Joshua Kelley 20-12 and significantly outperformed him as well. There’s no reason to believe week seven will be any different, if nothing else featuring Jackson more as the more efficient of the two running backs.

The Chargers have an implied team total of 28.25 – the sixth highest on the week – against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Jaguars have been woeful defending opposing running backs on the season (allowing the fifth-most points per game to the position). Coming off a week six bye, Jackson should be started as a clear RB2 in fantasy.

Wide Receiver

Pos Player Matchup Rank
WR DeAndre Hopkins SEA 1
WR Davante Adams @HOU 2
WR Calvin Ridley DET 3
WR Julio Jones DET 4
WR Tyreek Hill @DEN 5
WR Kenny Golladay @ATL 6
WR Stefon Diggs @NYJ 7
WR D.K. Metcalf @ARI 8
WR A.J. Brown PIT 9
WR Jamison Crowder BUF 10
WR Will Fuller V GB 11
WR Allen Robinson II @LAR 12
WR Amari Cooper @WAS 13
WR Terry McLaurin DAL 14
WR Chris Godwin @LV 15
WR Travis Fulgham NYG 16
WR Mike Evans @LV 17
WR Chase Claypool @TEN 18
WR Michael Thomas CAR 19
WR Tyler Lockett @ARI 20
WR Robby Anderson @NO 21
WR Keenan Allen JAC 22
WR Robert Woods CHI 23
WR Cooper Kupp CHI 24
WR Odell Beckham Jr. @CIN 25
WR CeeDee Lamb @WAS 26
WR D.J. Moore @NO 27
WR Tee Higgins CLE 28
WR Darius Slayton @PHI 29
WR Tyler Boyd CLE 30
WR D.J. Chark Jr. @LAC 31
WR Christian Kirk SEA 32
WR Mike Williams JAC 33
WR Brandin Cooks GB 34
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster @TEN 35
WR Deebo Samuel @NE 36
WR Laviska Shenault Jr. @LAC 37
WR Tim Patrick KC 38
WR Keelan Cole @LAC 39
WR A.J. Green CLE 40
WR Henry Ruggs III TB 41
WR Julian Edelman SF 42
WR Jarvis Landry @CIN 43
WR James Washington @TEN 44
WR Cole Beasley @NYJ 45
WR Brandon Aiyuk @NE 46
WR Michael Gallup @WAS 47
WR Jerry Jeudy KC 48
WR Marvin Jones Jr. @ATL 49
WR Mecole Hardman @DEN 50
WR Randall Cobb GB 51
WR Russell Gage DET 52
WR Golden Tate @PHI 53
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling @HOU 54
WR John Brown @NYJ 55
WR N’Keal Harry SF 56
WR Emmanuel Sanders CAR 57
WR Greg Ward NYG 58
WR Danny Amendola @ATL 59
WR Demarcus Robinson @DEN 60

Start ‘em: Chase Claypool, WR PIT

Over the last two weeks, Claypool has emerged as the top threat on Pittsburgh’s passing offense. The rookie has commanded a 25% target share, and perhaps more impressively a staggering 51% air yard share over these two weeks. He is not only getting consistent volume, but he’s getting high impact volume through deep targets.

In week seven, though the Steelers play a tough Titans team, Claypool actually has a good matchup. The Titans have allowed the fourth-most points per game to opposing wide receivers, and the Steelers, while slight underdogs, have a decent implied team total of 24.75. Overall, Claypool should be viewed as a solid mid-range WR2 in a good matchup.

Sit ‘em: Michael Gallup, WR DAL

It’s been an incredibly disappointing season from Gallup so far in 2020 after a true breakout sophomore season, but the talented third-year player has yet to make an impact on the fantasy scoreboard yet this year. Gallup ranks as just the WR53 in PPR points per game despite league-leading passing volume from Dak Prescott early in the season.

While he’s still an every-down player – playing over 80% of snaps in each of Dallas’s six games – the volume just hasn’t been up to par from what many had hoped for Gallup heading into the season. With Andy Dalton’s atrocious first start in the past, we should expect the Cowboys to start playing a bit better, but against a Washington defense that has allowed the fewest points per game to opposing wide receivers in 2020, Dallas’s WR3 can stay on your bench.

If you’re desperate: Tee Higgins, WR CIN

There’s been quite the theme in this article, which has been to have some faith in rookie wide receivers. From CeeDee Lamb to Justin Jefferson to Chase Claypool and others, this 2020 rookie wide receiver class has so far rivaled 2014 as the best in recent times. Higgins, the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 draft, has shined in his own right through six weeks.

To date, the Bengals rookie ranks as the WR43 in PPR points per game, but since week three, Higgins ranks as the WR23 in points per game. He has seen his snaps and production increase throughout the season, and over the last four weeks he has seen a 21% target share to go along with a team-leading 31% air yard share. Against a Cleveland defense that has allowed the sixth-most points per game to opposing wide receivers in 2020, Higgins is a great desperation play with high upside.

Tight End

Pos Player Matchup Rank
TE Travis Kelce @DEN 1
TE George Kittle @NE 2
TE Darren Waller TB 3
TE Robert Tonyan @HOU 4
TE Hunter Henry JAC 5
TE T.J. Hockenson @ATL 6
TE Rob Gronkowski @LV 7
TE Jared Cook CAR 8
TE Austin Hooper @CIN 9
TE Dalton Schultz @WAS 10
TE Hayden Hurst DET 11
TE Evan Engram @PHI 12
TE Jimmy Graham @LAR 13
TE Eric Ebron @TEN 14
TE Noah Fant KC 15
TE Tyler Higbee CHI 16
TE Logan Thomas DAL 17
TE Jonnu Smith PIT 18
TE Darren Fells GB 19
TE Richard Rodgers NYG 20
TE Ian Thomas @NO 21
TE Drew Sample CLE 22
TE Greg Olsen @ARI 23
TE Tyler Eifert @LAC 24
TE Gerald Everett CHI 25
TE Cameron Brate @LV 26
TE Tyler Kroft @NYJ 27
TE Cole Kmet @LAR 28
TE Chris Herndon IV BUF 29
TE Anthony Firkser PIT 30

Start ‘em: Austin Hooper, TE CLE

Hooper’s role in Cleveland’s passing attack has consistently grown throughout the season. Over the past three weeks, the veteran tight end has yet to see fewer than six targets and has converted that volume into a solid 11.8 PPR points per game.

Going up against Cincinnati – who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends – this weekend, Hooper is in a prime spot to continue his success as a fantasy starter. The Browns are expected to score early and often, as they have an implied team total of 27 points, and Hooper should benefit from a high scoring game and a good matchup. Start him as a mid-range TE1 on the week with confidence.

Sit ‘em: Jonnu Smith, TE TEN

This sit ‘em could be null and void if later this week Smith is ruled officially out. However, as of this writing, 2020’s breakout tight end is listed as questionable. With the combination of injury, teammate Anthony Firkser having a big game last week, and the Steelers solid defense against tight ends (ranking eighth-best in points per game allowed), Smith carries a lot of risk heading into Sunday.

The Titans are projected to struggle moreso than they previously have against a tough Steelers defense, and additionally, with the return of AJ Brown, the Titans may not need to rely as heavily on their breakout tight end Smith. While dynasty managers should be excited that Smith is potentially returning from injury, don’t feel obligated to start him in week seven.

If you’re desperate: Evan Engram, TE NYG

Playing on Thursday Night Football this week, Engram and the Giants take on the Philadelphia Eagles in what projects to be a relatively low-scoring game. The Giants have a low 20.25 implied team total but are just 4.5 point underdogs. This usually isn’t good process, but neither the Eagles nor the Giants defense is particularly good. This low implied total is mostly a product of injuries and lackluster performance by both teams thus far.

As we saw on Thursday Night Football just a few weeks ago in a 37-28 score game featuring the Broncos and Jets, two bad teams can outperform scoring expectations when playing against each other. Engram has a good matchup this week against an Eagles team that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. While he has a low floor, as do many tight ends past the top options, Engram is a good bet to have a bounce-back game.

That concludes this week’s rankings article! If you’re wondering about a player I didn’t dive into detail about, feel free to reach out to me @FFzinger on Twitter. Best of luck this week, and I’ll be back next week to give week eight’s positional rankings.

michael zingone
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