Dalvin Cook, Miles Sanders, Devin Singletary, and Darrell Henderson Jr. are all on bye. The one plus? All four of their teams have good run defenses, so at least we don’t have to worry about those bad matchups. Injuries continue to be a bigger worry, though, with Jonathan Taylor (ankle), JK Dobbins (knee), James Conner (ribs), and D’Andre Swift (ankle) all up in the air.
Kenyan Drake (vs. Browns in Week 7) would be a top streamer in a favorable matchup if Dobbins can’t go, and despite tough matchups, Eno Benjamin (vs. Saints) and Jamaal Williams (@ Cowboys) would be must-starts if they’re starting, too. You can make a strong case for TD-vulture Williams even if Swift plays. The Colts’ situation is more of a question mark, as Nyheim Hines (concussion) also missed last week and Deon Jackson (quad) exited early in Week 6. Ideally, Taylor (@ Titans) will be ready to go and you can start him with no hesitations.
WEEK 7 PPR RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Damien Harris (ankle) is also banged-up, but Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Bears) is among the new “must-starts” even if Harris is active. Rookies Breece Hall (@ Broncos) and Kenneth Walker III (@ Chargers) are also in that group despite disparate matchups. Hall faces Denver’s top-five fantasy RB defense while Walker gets a date with L.A.’s second-worst unit. Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. Packers) also has to be considered a must-start after last week’s 17-carry, 60-yard, one-TD performance.
WEEK 7 STANDARD RANKINGS:QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Hall has clearly broken out in New York’s backfield, but some of the other committees continue to perplex us. Ezekiel Elliott (vs. Lions) gets most of the work even when running mate Tony Pollard often looks better. Fortunately, both are easy starts this week against the Lions’ last-ranked run defense. Aaron Jones (@ Commanders) appeared to substantially separate himself from AJ Dillon in weeks 4 and 5, but then Dillon out-carried Jones in a brutal home loss to the Jets. Neither back did much (or has done much over the course of the year), but given how shorthanded fantasy owners are this week, both Jones and Dillon have at least flex upside.
WEEK 7 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
The Jaguars duo of James Robinson and Travis Etienne (vs. Giants) is also confusing, but based on snap share, it looks like Etienne has taken over the nominal “1A” role. Robinson still has TD upside, though, so he’s in play against a Giants’ defense that was just ripped up by Kenyan Drake. Similarly, the Falcons backfield with Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley (@ Bengals) is tough to pin down, and we don’t like either back as anything more than a flex in 12-team leagues this week.
WEEK 7 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
David Montgomery (@ Patriots) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (@ 49ers) are the biggest “hold-your-nose” starters this week (yes, even more than Najee Harris, who has a favorable matchup against Miami). While both have low ceilings, we still like them better than secondary backs Melvin Gordon (vs. Jets), Kareem Hunt (@ Ravens), and Michael Carter (@ Broncos).
WEEK 7 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Value can be tough to find the further we get into the season. Let this serve as a reminder that running back depth — especially injury handcuffs — continues to be vitally important.
Note: We’ll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 7 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues
Rank Player 1 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Jaguars 2 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Seahawks 3 Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Colts 4 Nick Chubb, Browns @ Ravens 5 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Titans 6 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Texans 7 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Chargers 8 Dameon Pierce, Texans @ Raiders 9 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Chiefs 10 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Bears 11 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Cardinals 12 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers @ Panthers 13 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Lions 14 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Lions 15 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Steelers 16 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Falcons 17 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Dolphins 18 D’Andre Swift, Lions @ Cowboys 19 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Packers 20 Breece Hall, Jets @ Broncos 21 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Commanders 22 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Giants 23 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Commanders 24 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals vs. Saints 25 David Montgomery, Bears @ Patriots 26 Kenyan Drake, Ravens vs. Browns 27 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs @ 49ers 28 James Robinson, Jaguars vs. Giants 29 Jamaal Williams, Lions @ Cowboys 30 Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Jets 31 Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Ravens 32 Caleb Huntley, Falcons @ Bengals 33 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Bengals 34 Michael Carter, Jets @ Broncos 35 Melvin Gordon III, Broncos vs. Jets 36 D’Onta Foreman, Panthers vs. Buccaneers 37 Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers vs. Chiefs 38 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs. Buccaneers 39 Sony Michel, Chargers vs. Seahawks 40 Nyheim Hines, Colts @ Titans 41 Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Patriots 42 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Panthers 43 DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks @ Chargers 44 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Dolphins 45 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ 49ers 46 Dontrell Hilliard, Titans vs. Colts 47 J.D. McKissic, Commanders vs. Packers 48 Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Browns 49 Mike Boone, Broncos vs. Jets 50 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Browns 51 Mark Ingram, Saints @ Cardinals 52 Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. Packers 53 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins vs. Steelers 54 Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Falcons 55 Rex Burkhead, Texans @ Raiders 56 Matt Breida, Giants @ Jaguars 57 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ 49ers
Week 7 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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