Fantasy Football is a cruel game. You can read as many fantasy articles as you want. You can do as much research as you want. You can make all the moves you want. In the end, a lot of it is up to chance. One coaching decision, trade, or injury can't drastically change your fantasy fortunes. I (along with other, more qualified people) can give you as much advice as possible, but in the end, it might not matter. Fantasy football is easy to learn and understand, but incredibly difficult to master. As someone who is very interested in fantasy football and writes weekly articles about it, you would probably think I am pretty good at it. Well, that's not the quite the case. After missing the playoffs in two of the three leagues I was in last year, I'm once again struggling a bit. I am in four season-long leagues this year. My records in those leagues? 5-1, 4-2, 3-3, and 0-6. And the league I am 5-1 in is the league I care the least about. Last weekend may have been the roughest of my fantasy career. I got trounced in three of my four leagues, and I was one for five in daily fantasy contests. That's the nature of fantasy. You can't ever really be certain who is going to go off in a particular week and who is going to deliver a dud. With that in mind, here are my rankings.
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| I gotta Thielen... that this week's gonna be a good week |
Week 7 Fantasy Rankings (PPR)
Quarterback
1. Patrick Mahomes II, Chiefs (vs. CIN) - No surprise here. Patty has thrown for over 300 yards in five of Kansas City's six games and has thrown at least three touchdowns in four. The Bengals are giving up 292 passing yards per game (28th in the NFL).
2. Matt Ryan, Falcons (vs. NYG)
3. Andy Dalton, Bengals (@ KC) - The Red Rifle gets an extremely friendly matchup this week. Kansas City ranks 31st in the NFL in pass defense (340 yards allowed per game). Both quarterbacks are elite fantasy options in what should be a high-scoring contest.
4. Jared Goff, Rams (@ SF)
5. Cam Newton, Panthers (@ PHI)
6. Tom Brady, Patriots (@ CHI) - The Bears did just make Brock Osweiler look like a competent quarterback, but they had held every quarterback prior to him to less than 300 yards and less than three touchdowns. Brady is still Brady, but he's not in my top five due to the tough matchup.
7. Kirk Cousins (@ NYJ)
8. Drew Brees, Saints (@ BAL)
9. Andrew Luck, Colts (vs. BUF) - Despite being one of the worst teams in the league, Buffalo actually has the sixth-best pass defense (in terms of yards allowed per game). Luck has gone back to looking like an elite quarterback, but he needs more help around him. In his last three games (all Colts losses), Luck has 11 total touchdowns.
10. Matthew Stafford, Lions (@ MIA)
11. Phillip Rivers, Chargers (vs. TEN)
12. Carson Wentz, Eagles (vs. CAR)
13. Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (vs. CLE) - Jameis looked excellent in his return (albeit against a weak Atlanta defense), and he should be a starting quarterback in most leagues. Which Cleveland defense will we get against Winston? The one that limited Big Ben, Drew Brees, Sam Darnold, and Joe Flacco, or the one that couldn't stop Derek Carr and Phillip Rivers?
14. Baker Mayfield, Browns (@ TB) - Baker had a rough outing against L.A. last week, but now he gets to face the worst pass defense in the league (356 yards allowed per game). This game has the feel of a high-scoring affair like the Browns-Raiders game, which is good news for the quarterbacks.
15. Joe Flacco, Ravens (vs. NO)
16. Mitchell Trubisky, Bears (vs. NE)
17. Deshaun Watson, Texans (@ JAX) - As with the Bears, I'll chalk up last week's 37-point loss to Dallas as an anomaly for the league's best pass defense. With a struggling offensive line and a banged-up quarterback, Houston's offense may struggle against Jacksonville.
18. Eli Manning, Giants (@ ATL)
19. Blake Bortles (vs. HOU)
20. C.J. Beathard, 49ers (vs. LAR)
Running Back
1. Todd Gurley II, Rams (@ SF) - Like the quarterback position, there's no surprise at number one this week. Gurley has 208 yards rushing (on 28 carries) last week. The man's a beast.
2. Saquon Barkley, Giants (@ ATL)
3. Melvin Gordon III, Chargers (vs. TEN)
4. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (@ WSH)
5. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs (vs. CIN)
6. David Johnson, Cardinals (vs. DEN) - DJ has gotten off to a slow start to the 2018 season, but he has four total touchdowns the last three weeks and faces the league's worst rush defense (a defense that just gave up the aforementioned 208 yards on 28 carries to the aforementioned Todd Gurley).
7. Joe Mixon, Bengals (@ KC)
8. Alvin Kamara, Saints (@ BAL) - When Mark Ingram came back from suspension two weeks ago, New Orleans seemingly forgot about Kamara, only giving him six carries. I expect him to be more involved than that going forward, but it's evident that Ingram will cut into his workload.
9. Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (@ PHI)
10. James White, Patriots (@ CHI) - The Bears rank 4th in the NFL in rush defense. They rank 16th against the pass. White is New England's receiving back, so I'm putting him ahead of early-down back Sony Michel (though neither is a bad option).
11. Sony Michel, Patriots (@ CHI)
12. Tevin Coleman, Falcons (vs. NYG) - With Devonta Freeman out, Coleman now takes over as Atlanta's lead back. He rushed 16 times for 107 yards last week (and caught four passes for 18 yards), and this week he faces the Giants' 25th-ranked run defense.
13. T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars (vs. HOU)
14. Phillip Lindsay, Broncos (@ ARI) - This may be partly (or mainly) because I picked him in daily fantasy for Thursday night, but I think Lindsay could have a big game. Yes, he shares carries with Royce Freeman, but he was better last week, and he's facing the NFL's second-worst rush defense.
15. Carlos Hyde, Browns (@ TB)
16. Dalvin Cook, Vikings (@ NYJ)
17. Mark Ingram II, Saints (@ BAL) - Ingram scored two touchdowns on 16 carries in his first game back, but don't expect games like that most weeks. He is still second fiddle to Alvin Kamara, who should be more involved this week.
18. Chris Thompson, Redskins (vs. DAL)
18. LeSean McCoy, Bills (@ IND)
19. Adrian Peterson, Redskins (vs. DAL)
20. Tarik Cohen, Bears (vs. NE)
21. Jordan Howard, Bears (vs. NE) - I think Howard is still the better overall fantasy option, but Cohen played almost as many snaps last week and has a better matchup against New England.
22. Kerryon Johnson, Lions (@ MIA)
23. Marlon Mack, Colts (vs. BUF)
24. Royce Freeman, Broncos (@ ARI) - I believe that at least one of Denver's top running backs will have a good night against the Cardinals. I'm leaning towards Lindsay, but it could be Freeman.
25. Alex Collins, Ravens (vs. NO) - Did you know that the Saints lead the NFL in rush defense? I didn't, and I was surprised when I found out. Baltimore will probably be throwing a lot more than it will be running (the Saints rank 30th in pass defense).
26. Bilal Powell, Jets (vs. MIN)
27. Frank Gore, Dolphins (vs. DET) - This is a risk considering that he's an old running back splitting carries, but he has outpaced Kenyan Drake in carries and yards the last four weeks (including 101 yards last week). Detroit's rush defense is not good (145.8 yards allowed per game).
28. Corey Clement, Eagles (vs. CAR)
29. Kenyan Drake, Dolphins (vs. DET)
30. Lamar Miller, Texans (@ JAX)
Wide Receiver
1. Adam Thielen, Vikings (@ NYJ) - Nobody can stop the Thielen right now. Adam has surpassed 100 yards receiving in all six games, and he has four touchdowns to boot.
2. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants (@ ATL)
3. A.J. Green, Bengals (@ KC)
4. Julio Jones, Falcons (vs. NYG)
5. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs (vs. CIN) - Sunday's game between Cincinnati and Kansas City should be a high-scoring affair, as both teams have strong offenses and porous defenses. This game (and the New York-Atlanta game) will produce a lot of points (both in real life and in fantasy).
6. Michael Thomas, Saints (@ BAL)
7. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (@ JAX)
8. Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. TEN)
9. Mike Evans, Buccaneers (vs. CLE)
10. Jarvis Landry, Browns (@ TB) - Landry has been frustratingly quiet, but he is still the clear-cut top receiver in an offense that doesn't have many receiving options right now, and he faces the worst pass defense in the NFL on Sunday.
11. Stefon Diggs, Vikings (@ NYJ)
12. Robert Woods, Rams (@ SF)
13. Brandin Cooks, Rams (@ SF) - Woods and Cooks continue to both be strong receiving options, especially with Cooper Kupp out.
14. Tyler Boyd, Bengals (@ KC)
15. Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos (@ ARI)
16. Golden Tate, Lions (@ MIA) - Tate eclipsed 100 yards receiving in his second game and his fourth game. This week is his sixth game, which means he will probably eclipse 100 yards to keep the trend going. Science.
16. Alshon Jeffery, Eagles (vs. CAR)
17. T.Y. Hilton, Colts (vs. BUF)
18. Julian Edelman, Patriots (@ CHI)
19. Kenny Golladay, Lions (@ MIA)
20. Allen Robinson, Bears (vs. NE)
21. Michael Crabtree, Ravens (vs. NO) - Crabtree has been Baltimore's most heavily-targeted receiver, and that bodes well for him against a porous New Orleans pass defense.
22. Marvin Jones Jr., Lions (@ MIA)
23. John Brown, Ravens (vs. NO) - Brown has been Baltimore's leading receiver (in terms of yards and touchdowns), which bodes well for him against a porous New Orleans pass defense.
24. Devin Funchess, Panthers (@ PHI)
25. Sterling Shepherd, Giants (@ ATL)
26. Taylor Gabriel, Bears (vs. NE) - Gabriel has gone over 100 yards each of the last two weeks, and a battle with New England might result in a high-scoring game.
27. Josh Gordon, Patriots (@ CHI)
28. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (@ ARI)
29. Sammy Watkins, Chiefs (vs. CIN)
30. Calvin Ridley, Falcons (vs. NYG) - Mohamed Sanu was also considered in this spot. Regardless, you should target receivers in this game and the Kansas City-Cincinnati game.
Tight End
1. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. CIN) - Kelce reclaims the top spot at tight end with a favorable matchup against the Bengals. I'm expecting a shootout between these two teams.
2. Zach Ertz, Eagles (vs. CAR)
3. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (@ CHI)
4. Eric Ebron, Colts (vs. BUF) - After years of unrealizing his potential in Detroit, EE seems to have finally broken out. He is currently tied for the league lead in touchdown catches (six).
5. David Njoku, Browns (@ TB) - With Cleveland losing receivers left and right, the second-year man from Miami has stepped in and become Baker Mayfield's favorite target. According to ESPN, Tampa Bay has given up the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
6. George Kittle, 49ers (vs. LAR)
7. Austin Hooper, Falcons (vs. NYG)
8. Evan Engram, Giants (@ ATL) - The oft-injured tight end (who was held out last week), looks to be on his way to coming back Monday. He'll be welcomed back with a favorable matchup.
9. Jordan Reed, Redskins (vs. DAL)
10. O.J. Howard, Buccaneers (vs. CLE)
11. Trey Burton, Bears (vs. NE)
12. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (@ NYJ)
13. Greg Olsen, Panthers (@ PHI) - The talented tight end came back last week, but he's still not 100 percent. I'll wait another week before I put him in the top ten.
14. C.J. Uzomah, Bengals (@ KC)
15. Ricky Seals-Jones, Cardinals (vs. DEN) - This is another player I have in daily fantasy for Thursday night, RSJ had 69 yards (nice) last week, and he could have at least that much this week.
16. Cameron Brate, Buccaneers (vs. CLE)
17. Benjamin Watson, Saints (@ BAL) - REVENGE GAME! Okay, probably not, considering Watson played in Baltimore for one season (2017) and has no hard feelings towards the Ravens.
18. Geoff Swaim, Cowboys (@ WSH)
19. Charles Clay, Bills (@ IND)
20. Jeff Heuerman, Broncos (@ ARI) - For those who don't know, it's pronounced "HIGHERMAN".
Defense
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. HOU) - Despite the bizarre 37-point loss to Dallas last week, this is still the best defense in the NFL. They face a struggling Houston offense this week.
2. Los Angeles Rams (@ SF)
3. Houston Texans (@ JAX) - While Jacksonville has the best defense, Blake Bortles and company don't exactly light up the scoreboard.
4. Indianapolis Colts (vs. BUF)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. TEN)
6. Denver Broncos (@ ARI) - They might have a hard time stopping David Johnson, but they get a rookie quarterback in primetime.
7. Minnesota Vikings (@ NYJ)
8. Washington Redskins (vs. DAL) - I don't care that
9. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. CAR)
10. Detroit Lions (@ MIA)
Kicker
1. Harrison Butker, Chiefs (vs. CIN) - Butker the butt kicker (and ball kicker) has been an elite fantasy kicker so far this season, and this could be a high-scoring matchup.
2. Justin Tucker, Ravens (vs. NO)
3. Greg Zuerlein, Rams (@ SF)
4. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots (@ CHI)
5. Will Lutz, Saints (@ BAL)
6. Adam Vinatieri, Colts (vs. BUF)
7. Matt Prater, Lions (@ MIA)
8. Jake Elliott, Eagles (vs. CAR)
9. Jason Myers, Jets (vs. MIN)
10. Dan Bailey, Vikings (@ NYJ)
Week 7 Picks
Record
Last Week: 8-7 vs. Spread: 6-8-1 Over/Under: 5-9-1
Season: 57-37 vs. Spread: 43-47-3 Over/Under: 40-51-1
(Home Team Listed Last)
Thursday
Broncos 27, Cardinals 20 (8:20 PM, FOX/NFL Network)
Spread: DEN -1 Over/Under: 42.5
Sunday
Titans 13, Chargers 38 (London, 9:30 AM, CBS)
Spread: LAC -6.5 O/U: 45
Patriots 24, Bears 27 (1:00 PM, CBS)
Spread: NE -3 O/U: 49
Bills 17, Colts 30 (1:00 PM, CBS)
Spread: IND -7.5 O/U: 43.5
Lions 28, Dolphins 17 (1:00 PM, FOX)
Spread: DET -3 O/U: 46.5
Vikings 31, Jets 24 (1:00 PM, FOX)
Spread: MIN -3.5 O/U: 46
Panthers 27, Eagles 32 (1:00 PM, FOX)
Spread: PHI -4.5 O/U: 45
Browns 35, Buccaneers 32 (1:00 PM, FOX)
Spread: TB -3.5 O/U: 50.5
Texans 17, Jaguars 24 (1:00 PM, CBS)
Spread: JAX -5 O/U: 42
Saints 30, Ravens 27 (4:05 PM, FOX)
Spread: BAL -2.5 O/U: 50
Rams 32, 49ers 21 (4:25 PM, CBS)
Spread: LAR -9.5 O/U: 52
Cowboys 14, Redskins 24 (4:25 PM, CBS)
Spread: WAS -1.5 O/U: 41.5
Bengals 28, Chiefs 35 (8:20 PM, NBC)
Spread: KC -6 O/U: 58
Monday
Giants 24, Falcons 35 (8:15 PM, ESPN)
Spread: ATL -4.5 O/U: 54.5
Stats and Info via ESPN.com, BleacherReport.com and NFL.com
Lines via OddsShark.com
Lines as of Thursday Afternoon
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