Welcome to the Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 7. Please feel free to contact us with any specific line-up questions or general thoughts on the rankings.
Quarterbacks:
1. Kyle Orton
2. Drew Brees
3. Tony Romo
4. Matt Ryan
5. Aaron Rodgers
6. Phillip Rivers
7. Tom Brady
8. Jay Cutler
9. Ben Roethlisberger
10. Joe Flacco
11. Matt Cassel
12. Josh Freeman
13. Sam Bradford
14. Eli Manning
15. Carson Palmer
16. Brett Favre
17. Max Hall
18. Kevin Kolb
19. Alex Smith
20. Matt Moore
Comments:
– I know Orton is going against Asomugha, but Denver has multiple receiving threats. With RB Moreno back in the fold, the offense will be more diverse and harder for Oakland to stop.
– Do not have a legit reason for believing this, but I think Romo could go nuts this week.
– Though I can envision Norv Turner putting together a very much run-based offensive game plan this Sunday, eventually the Pats will put up points and SD will need to match. Rivers is a very underrated QB – one of the best in the NFL – he’ll get his numbers Sunday.
– For some reason, I can see Freeman and Bradford in a shootout – even though neither offense is
that potent. This could be a surprisingly good game – shocking that both teams are 3-2.
– Max Hill may get the green light to throw Sunday. Though he will most definitely throw a pick or
two, I also think we might begin to see why someone as wise as Ken Whisenhunt has staked his
future on the guy.
– Matt Moore will get the start again now that the Jimmy Clausen experiment has
been…postponed. Matt Moore isn’t bad and all the Clausen experiment did was confirm just
how bad the Carolina offense is. Well, this week, they get Steve Smith back. Couple him with
Devin Thomas – and they could be better than they’ve been before.
Running Backs
1. Ray Rice
2. Michael Turner
3. DeAngelo Williams
4. Jamaal Charles
5. Chris Ivory
6. Chris Johnson
7. Ryan Mathews
8. Peyton Hillis
9. Steve Jackson
10. Adrian Peterson
11. Frank Gore
12. Danny Woodhead
13. Beanie Wells
14. Marshawn Lynch
15. Ahmad Bradshaw
16. Felix Jones
17. Ricky Williams
18. Matt Forte
19. Cedric Benson
20. Rashard Mendenhall
21. MJD
22. Knowshon Moreno
23. Ryan Torain
24. Thomas Jones
25. Marion Barber
Comments:
– How can Ray Rice not be ranked #1? I could probably run for 150 against Buff – and I get winded thinking about walking up stairs.
– When will that Michael Turner of 2 years ago show up – the gaudy stats, the unstoppable…ness? Sunday, against the talented Cincy defense.
– When will that DeAngelo Williams of 2 years ago show up – the gaudy stats, the unstoppable…ness? Sunday, against the talented SF defense.
– Chris Ivory? Yes, Chris Ivory. Pierre Thomas’ days could be numbered. Seriously. Ivory can just
plain run and I think Cleve will struggle after preparing all week for Brees when Ivory could be the guy who takes them down.
– Beanie Wells will get it going soon – fantasy owners who have been patient with him will be
rewarded (either this week or next).
Wide Receivers
1. Miles Austin
2. Roddy White
3. Larry Fitzgerald
4. Greg Jennings
5. Dwayne Bowe
6. Anquan Boldin
7. Marques Colston
8. Hakeem Nicks
9. Wes Welker
10. Steve Smith (NYG)
11. Johnny Knox
12. Brandon Marshall
13. Randy Moss
14. Donald Driver
15. Percy Harvin
16. Mike Williams (TB)
17. Michael Crabtree
18. Mike Williams (SEA)
19. Patrick Crayton
20. Terrell Owens
21. Hines Ward
22. Jeremy Maclin
23. Jabar Gaffney
24. Danario Alexander
25. Santana Moss
Comments:
– Roddy White has been as consistent a fantasy WR as anyone this year. Good player on a quality team.
– Greg Jennings has turned a corner. Though he’s likely to draw one of the toughest defensive players in the NFL (and one of the most underrated CBs): Antoine Winfield. Still, Jennings wants it.
– I put Dwayne Bowe high here realizing this is very risky. He could have a huge day or do absolutely nothing.
– I put Percy Harvin at #15 because I’m a Packer fan and I don’t want him to do that well. Truth
is, I think he could be ranked much higher and he’s a player who concerns me this week (as a Packer fan).
– I like both the Mike Williams this week. Talented dudes on the rise.
– Rivers will have to throw to someone this weekend and Crayton will likely be the guy.
– Watch for Danario Alexander on the Rams – folks are speaking highly of him already.
Tight Ends
1. Tony Gonzalez
2. Jason Witten
3. Tony Moeaki
4. Kellen Winslow
5. Aaron Hernandez
6. Benjamin Watson
7. Todd Heap
8. John Carlson
9. Jeremy Shockey
10. Heath Miller
11. Jermaine Gresham
12. Chris Cooley
13. Greg Olsen
14. Visanthe Shiancoe
15. Brent Celek
Comments:
– Gonzalez and Michael Turner should be the stories this Sunday. Cincy’s defense is decent, but I think this game could open up some.
– Tony Moeaki only had 3 target last week in a high scoring affair in Houston, but I see him as a young guy who will have slow weeks here and there before establishing himself as close to an elite TE by the end of the year. Any doubts, just type’ Moeaki highlights’ into youtube – he’s quality.
– Lots of unusual names up toward the top here – but the tide is turning a bit at TE. With Dallas
Clark and Jermichael Finley out for the year, Gates and Vernon Davis nursing an injuries – things
are changing. There are some good young TEs to keep an eye: Moeaki, Hernandez and Gresham
in particular.
– John Carlson might do something one of these days. Hasselbeck hasn’t been good now for a
while- and I think at least part of that may be due to a serious lack of involvement from his TEs.
TEs are a necessary safety outlet for QBs and it seems to me that there is a strong correlation
between the quality of a QB and his inclination to throw to his TE.
Defense/Special Teams
Ravens
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Bears
Packers
Falcons
Seahawks
Chiefs
7. Steelers
8. Saints
9. Broncos
10. Cowboys
Comments:
Ø I like the Packers this week with Clay Matthews returning. But their defense will also have highly
underrated starting LB Brandon Chillar coming back, Ryan Pickett, Al Harris and Atari Bigby.
Ø Falcons’ D has had a couple decent games this year and I expect this to be a decent one at
home. Cincy does have a good RB and some decent pass targets.
Ø Can’t imagine QB Todd Bouman who just signed with Jax last week (and may start Sunday for
Jax), will do much. And if Trent Edwards ends up being healthy enough to start – it’s not much
better. KC will stack the box to stop MJD and the game will be over by half.
Ø Others have the NYG ranked reasonably high – but this may be the night for the Cowboys.
Kickers
1. Matt Bryant
2. Olindo Mare
3. Billy Cundiff
4. Garrett Hartley
5. Robbie Gould
6. Matt Prater
7. Rob Bironas
8. Jeff Reed
9. Mason Crosby
10. Ryan Longwell
Comments:
Ø Not much to say about kickers this week – except that Bryant, Mare and Cundiff all seem to me
to be candidates for big weeks for kickers.