Week 7 features a ton of bye weeks that will leave fantasy managers stressing over who to start or sit in their fantasy lineups. This weekly article is meant to make those lineup decisions a little bit easier. You can always listen to The Footballguys Fantasy Football Show, which releases episodes every weekday - also, check out the free Week 7 Player Rankings.
Quarterbacks
Start: Jordan Love, GB (at DEN) - Listen at 36:09
- Avg Fantasy Points: 19.2 (8th)
- Opponent vs QBs: 25.9 PPG (31st)
- Week 7 Rank: QB7
- Projected Points: 21.5
The Broncos have allowed five of six starting quarterbacks to score at least 19 fantasy points this season. Love started the season hot, with at least 19 fantasy points in four of his first five starts. Week 7 looks like it will be the first time that Love will have his full complement of weapons with the return of Aaron Jones.
Start: Brock Purdy, SF (at MIN) - Listen at 39:26
- Avg Fantasy Points: 18.0 (18th)
- Opponent vs QBs: 21.3 PPG (25th)
- Week 7 Rank: QB8
- Projected Points: 20.6
The Vikings have allowed four of six starting quarterbacks to score at least 19 fantasy points this season - the other two were rookie Bryce Young and Justin Fields, who only played the first half in Week 6. Before his Week 6 performance in the rain, Purdy averaged 20 fantasy points per game, 7th among fantasy quarterbacks.
Sit: Kirk Cousins, MIN (vs SF)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 18.8 (8th)
- Opponent vs QBs: 11.6 PPG (3rd)
- Week 7 Rank: QB14
- Projected Points: 17.8
Sleeper: Geno Smith, SEA (vs ARI)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 14.0 (23rd)
- Opponent vs QBs: 23.0 PPG (28th)
- Week 7 Rank: QB10
- Projected Points: 19.8
The Cardinals have allowed four of six starting quarterbacks to score at least 19 fantasy points this season - the other two scored 15 and 16 points, respectively. It hasn't been pretty for Smith, but he's been a Top-17 fantasy quarterback in three of his last four games - throwing for at least 290 passing yards in each of those games.
Tight Ends
Start: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta (@ TB) - Listen at 50:03
- Avg Fantasy Points: 8.8 (13th)
- Opponent vs TEs: 9.7 (13th)
- Week 7 Rank: TE9
- Projected Points: 9.5
The Buccaneers defense has been average against tight ends. Over five games, they've allowed four tight ends to reach 4 receptions and at least 35 yards. It's not much, but it's a good baseline for an athlete like Pitts. Pitts has back-to-back Top-8 performances where he's scored at least 14 PPR points. Desmond Ridder is throwing the ball a lot more - Falcons have the third-most pass attempts over the last three games. Given the heavy amount of players on bye this week (there aren't many starting options left at tight end), Pitts makes for a solid start in Week 7.
Start: Logan Thomas, Washington (@ NYG)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 9.9 (T-8th)
- Opponent vs TEs: 9.7 (13th)
- Week 7 Rank: TE10
- Projected Points: 9.3
The Giants have allowed four tight ends to score at least 8 PPR points over their last four games. In this fantasy football economy, 8 points is a great baseline for a tight end. New York is also allowing the third-highest yards per reception to tight ends. Thomas has been a Top-12 tight end in three games this season despite only playing four complete games.
Sit: Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (vs PIT)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 7.2 (17th)
- Opponent vs TEs: 8.1 (8th)
- Week 7 Rank: TE18
- Projected Points: 6.3
The Steelers defense has allowed just one touchdown to tight ends this season. Since Cooper Kupp returned to the lineup, Higbee has averaged just three targets per game and has failed to surpass two receptions for more than 20 yards.
Running Backs
Start: Brian Robinson Jr, Washington (at NYG)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 13.8 (19th)
- Opponent vs RBs: 21.8 (29th)
- Week 7 Rank: RB12
- Projected Points: 13.8
The Giants allowed six running backs to score at least 13.8 PPR points through the first five weeks. Robinson has been a Top-16 fantasy running back in four out of six games this season - the other two games were losses by 20+ points.
Start: Jerome Ford, Cleveland (at IND) - Listen at 07:18
- Avg Fantasy Points: 13.1 (21st)
- Opponent vs RBs: 24 (24th)
- Week 7 Rank: RB16
- Projected Points: 12.8
The Colts, who just lost one of their best run defenders (Grover Stewart) to a suspension, have allowed four running backs to reach at least 16 PPR points this season. Ford has been a Top-24 fantasy running back in every game since taking over for Nick Chubb. After a strong performance against the 49ers run defense, Ford should have a much easier matchup in a more neutral game script.
Sit: Rachaad White, Tampa Bay (vs ATL)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 11.0 (28th)
- Opponent vs RBs: 12.1 (7th)
- Week 7 Rank: RB25
- Projected Points: 9.7
The Falcons have not allowed a running back to score a rushing touchdown this year. After six weeks, Brian Robinson is the only running back to score double-digit PPR points. White has been a Top-20 running back just once this season, and that was in a game that required 22 touches and a touchdown. Last week, White combined for a season-low 38 total yards against the Lions while also receiving the lowest rush share of the season (53.8%).
Sleeper: Javonte Williams, Denver (vs GB) - Listen at 15:07
- Avg Fantasy Points: 7.4 (44th)
- Opponent vs RBs: 20.9 (27th)
- Week 7 Rank: RB19
- Projected Points: 11.5
This game feels like the perfect spot for Williams to get things going. The Packers have allowed four running backs to score at least 17 PPR points in five games this season. Williams finally looked more like his old self in Week 6 against the Chiefs, gaining 52 yards on 10 carries and ripping off an 18-yard run. Considering how Russell Wilson's play has trended as of late, the Broncos could lean on the run a bit more, and Williams could see his role grow this week, while Samaje Perin's role could decrease.
Wide Receivers
Start: Marquise Brown, Arizona (@ SEA) - Listen at 22:29
- Avg Fantasy Points: 13.9 (17th)
- Opponent vs WRs: 47.4 (32nd)
- Week 7 Rank: WR15
- Projected Points: 14.7
This one is simple. The Seahawks have allowed nine receivers to score at least 13 PPR points in just five games. Brown has had at least 10 targets and 16 PPR points in four of his last five games. The consistent volume and perfect matchup make Brown a Top-16 wide receiver in Week 7.
Start: Tyler Lockett, Seattle (vs ARI) - Listen at 29:45
- Avg Fantasy Points: 12.0 (39th)
- Opponent vs WRs: 40.4 (26th)
- Week 7 Rank: WR16
- Projected Points: 14.5
The Cardinals have allowed nine receivers to score double-digit PPR points through the first six weeks. Lockett has been pretty volatile this year, but he's coming off an 8-target performance in Week 6 and has an easy projected cornerback matchup. Arizona has allowed the most redzone drives (30), while Lockett leads the Seahawks in redzone and end zone targets - we could see a blow-up game from Lockett.
Sit: Jerry Jeudy, Denver (vs GB)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 8.4 (59th)
- Opponent vs WRs: 28.8 (6th)
- Week 7 Rank: WR37
- Projected Points: 10.9
The Packers secondary has only allowed one receiver to gain more than 75 receiving yards - that one instance took place when star cornerback Jaire Alexander was not playing. The Broncos are beginning to run more and throw less as Russell Wilson's struggles are becoming more evident. The Broncos are 31st in pass attempts over the last three games, seeing a nearly even 53%/47% split in passing and rushing attempts in Week 6. Jeudy has not been a Top-28 fantasy receiver in a single game this season, and I don't expect a start-worthy performance this week
Sleeper: Christian Watson, Green Bay (@ DEN) - Listen at 19:38
- Avg Fantasy Points: 11.0 (45th)
- Opponent vs WRs: 35.3 (18th)
- Week 7 Rank: WR25
- Projected Points: 13.0
After missing the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury, Watson has been slowly but surely returning to full speed. In Week 5, he had an 84% snap share and 23% target share while nearly scoring his second touchdown on a long 77-yard catch and run. Watson is always a big-play threat. In his limited play, he's turned 5 receptions into 116 yards and 22 PPR points. This week, he'll face a Broncos secondary that has allowed 7 touchdown receptions to wide receivers - including two massive games from DJ Moore and Tyreek Hill, who each went for at least 130 yards and a touchdown.