Week 7 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings & Projections: Kareem Hunt Ready To Bounce Back

Despite what was looking like an ugly slate this week the points continue to pour in as defenses struggle to stop opposing teams. This week is another one set to be high scoring as seven games have an over/under above 50 set. The Colts, Dolphins, Vikings, and Ravens are on bye this week, so that will take out some key names. However, it does give some names a chance to rest up. Week 6 also hit us with some injuries as Miles Sanders and Zach Ertz are set to miss the next few weeks. There are some eye-popping matchups this week as Aaron Jones takes on one of the worst run defenses in the league and the Falcons-Lions game has shootout potential written all over it. The Bills made it easy for me this week for defensive rankings as they take on the Jets.

Week 7 Quarterback Rankings

With the Falcons and Lions both in the bottom half against the pass this season, both quarterbacks head into this week as top-ten options. Matt Ryan is coming off a fantastic game where Matthew Stafford didn’t have to do much given the ground game was working. This is a good spot for both sides and a huge chance for everyone in this game to produce a monster fantasy score. Stafford has yet to have that breakout game but the Falcons have allowed 28.4 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Staying in the NFC South, Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater will square off. Carolina has been surprisingly good against the pass this season but will have a tough task with Michael Thomas back. The Saints have allowed 15 passing touchdowns in five games as Carolina’s offense will look to bounce back.

Ben Roethlisberger gets a jump for me this week facing the Titans, who have allowed 21 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. He has plenty of weapons and could have had a bigger game but a couple of receivers got taken down inside the five which led to rushing touchdowns. On the flip side of that game, Ryan Tannehill will have a real test going up against the Steelers, who have a strong pass defense and have held quarterbacks to the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game.

Week 7 Running Backs Rankings

We get some of the big boys back at running back this week, like Alvin Kamara. He finds himself in a tremendous matchup against Carolina, who has continued to struggle against the run since last season. This year they are allowing the 6th most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Mike Davis on the other side of this one isn’t in a bad spot given his PPR work has been high. The Saints are middle of the road in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Kamara is RB1 in PPR this season and Mike Davis is RB13 despite not playing much when Christian McCaffrey was healthy. Good spot for both backs this week.

Aaron Jones and Kareem Hunt are both in rebound spots this week. Facing the Steelers and Buccaneers run defenses were not kind to them last week. Both are inside the top-ten in scoring already this season. The Raiders are allowing the third-most PPR points per game to opposing backs this season and the Bengals have allowed a whopping 716 yards on the ground already this season. Derrick Henry remains a top-ten option because of volume but the Steelers have held running backs to just 13.3 fantasy points per game.

Kenyan Drake finally had a strong week after a lot of plus matchups this season but he will run into a Seattle run defense that ranks top-ten and is also allowing just 16.1 fantasy points per game to opposing backs. Chase Edmunds has also been sneaking in and getting more snaps. On the flip side of this game Chris Carson is in a good spot. The Cardinals run defense has not been great and they have also allowed the 9th most fantasy points to running backs this season. James Robinson is still startable this week but the matchup against the Chargers run defense is still one I am not thrilled about. They have allowed 14.9 fantasy points per game this season. Robinson will have to make up work in PPR formats.

Week 7 Wide Receivers Rankings

DeAndre Hopkins was a top-ten wideout even before the Monday night game being played. He gets a fantastic matchup against the Seahawks secondary that is allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this season. The Cardinals secondary is certainly beatable as well and DK Metcalf has the third most fantasy points despite having his bye week already. Metcalf is an alpha WR1 and should be treated as such. The Lions-Falcons game has plenty of upside on both sides and features three top-ten wideouts in the rankings this week. Julio Jones certainly looked healthy last week and both him and Calvin Ridley combined for three touchdowns. Kenny Golladay has quietly been getting it done since returning from his injury and the Falcons are allowing the 5th most fantasy points per game.

The Cincinnati wide receivers get a bump in the rankings this week and while none of them crack the top ten above, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and AJ Green are all coming off a strong week and this Browns secondary is struggling. Opposing teams have averaged 30.1 PPR points per game. Terry McLaurin is another name that jumps into the top ten this week getting a Cowboys secondary that we continue to target. While Washington’s quarterback situation is less than appealing, McLaurin continues to produce. Pittsburgh’s wide receivers this week get a Titans secondary that continues to struggle. They are bottom 12 in pass defense and have allowed the 6th most fantasy points per game. We will need to see if Diontae Johnson is back this week but they have plenty of weapons.

Week 7 Tight Ends Rankings

The tight end position continues to be a wasteland outside of a few names. Mark Andrews is on bye this week but Darren Waller returns after putting up 39.5 PPR points in five games. Travis Kelce continues to produce big numbers as does George Kittle. They are not matchup dependent like some of the other names. A few guys that are in good spots this week are Evan Engram going up against the Eagles, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. TJ Hockenson still is a secondary option in this Lions offense but the matchup against the Falcons is a major plus as they have allowed a league-high seven touchdowns to tight ends this season.

Fresh off a bye week, Hunter Henry is a strong option. The Jaguars have allowed the 6th most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Justin Herbert has opened this offense up and this is not the Chargers offense we were expecting. Another Titan in a tough matchup this week is Jonnu Smith. Hindered a bit by the ankle injury he now has to face a Steelers defense that has allowed 5.6 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. We will need to monitor his status but with the combination of the injury and the matchup, you can’t feel too good about it. However, the position is bad enough that he remains a starter.

Week 7 Kicker Rankings

The shootout games projected this weekend are the ones we want to roster kickers from. The Falcons-Lions are two teams that allow plenty of offense and both Matt Prater and Younghoe Koo are top options this week. Michael Badgley has a chance to put up some big numbers as well. The Jaguars have allowed 9.8 fantasy points per game to opposing kickers this season. With the top three kickers in scoring gon bye this week, that leaves Joey Slye and Wil Lutz to be strong options against each other. The Saints and Panthers square off in a shootout style game, as both offenses should give each kicker a few chances. Randy Bullock and Mason Crosby are in strong spots as well and register as top-ten options.

Week 7 Defense Rankings

While the Buffalo Bills defense has been rather poor this season, a matchup with the Jets is always one to turn things around. They have allowed the 7th most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. Denver has struggled for the most part this season and have turned the ball over ten times in five games and has allowed 15 sacks as well. Opposing defenses have averaged nine points against them on the year and they get the Chiefs this week. Both the Eagles and Giants might just beat each other into the ground this week. Both teams have banged up offensive lines but the Giants have a few more playmakers on offense currently. The Giants might be a sneaky defense that cracks the top ten this week, although both defenses have potential. They are in the bottom ten in points allowed to opposing defenses this season.