If you’ve been following the glut of content we’ve got on FantraxHQ, you’ve probably got your eye on the playoffs by now. We’ve had plenty of hits on this weekly article, so hopefully we can come through for you again this week! Check into FantraxHQ every Tuesday for the best RB options on your bench/waiver wire. Now enjoy our Week 7 Running Back Sleepers and Streamers.
Whether it’s to improve your own team or keep one of your league-mates from improving, you’ll want to check in with us weekly. Let’s get into it!
Week 7 Running Back Sleepers and Streamers
Running Back Sleepers
Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions, ~7% owned
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re 100% aware that the Lions have an efficient, deadly, and deep, offense. We’re at the point now where players are coming off the bench to get TD bombs from Jared Goff (I know Williams was a 1st-Round Pick, but you get the point). One reason the offense is having so much success is because their running game has been successful enough to prevent them from being one-dimensional. However, that running game has been bitten by the injury bug. David Montgomery (the surprise workhorse back) left last week’s game with a rib injury. While the severity is unknown, the injury placement ensures that it will need to be managed over the course of the season. Further, Jahmyr Gibbs has been out the past two weeks with a hamstring. Reynolds has struggled with his limited opportunities on the ground this year (17 carries, 37 yards, if you exclude Carolina game), but he did manage to score vs. Carolina two weeks ago (7 carries, 52 yards). He’s not my ideal candidate to start at this point, but if you’re in a bind, he may be your best bet.
Leonard Fournette, Free Agent, ~1% owned
You read that correctly. I know he’s not even on a team yet, but we’re here to give you the advice that nobody else in the industry is giving you. Here’s the deal: Super Bowl Lenny has been one of my favorite stash candidates to start the year. It was between him and Kareem Hunt. Hunt went back to the Browns at the beginning of the season and has had success as recently as last week. Now it’s Lenny’s turn. The Buffalo Bills are bringing him in for a workout, and it’s not because they’re bored. Damien Harris suffered a scary neck injury last week, which leaves a struggling James Cook, and Latavius Murray (who started over James Cook last week) on their roster. The Bills running game hasn’t been able to get things going all season, and that give Fournette the opportunity to be the pickup you need heading into the playoffs. I may be jumping the gun as he hasn’t even been signed yet, but a rested Fournette can win you your league. It’s going to be easier to claim him now, than it will be when he’s signed. Go for it!
2023 Week 6 RB Streamers
Zach Evans, LA Rams, 1% owned
Kyren Williams has been superb this year. I wouldn’t have thought Cam Akers would be a candidate to be traded after the way he finished last year, but life throws us all plenty of curveballs. Speaking of curveballs, Williams suffered a sprained ankle and will miss this week’s game vs. the Steelers at the very least. His backup, and last week’s streaming option, Ronnie Rivers also had a knee injury. Enter Zach Evans…the only healthy running back on the active roster right now. The Ole Miss product runs hard and will be a worthy streaming option after he’s broken his 80th tackle and tired out defensive lines by the 4th quarter of this week’s game. He also runs a 4.45 40-yard dash. I’ve been waiting to see him unleashed, and it looks like he’s about to get his shot.
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns, ~27% owned
You know the deal. 12 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD. 3 targets, 3 catches, 24 yards. He’s as much a weapon as any running back in the league. He knows the offense and runs in it smoothly. Kareem Hunt will always produce, as long as his offense is competent. However, the Browns offense hasn’t really been that until the last few weeks, and who knows what’s going on with Deshaun Watson’s injury/non-injury. If I’m being honest, this offense has been running better without Watson at the helm. We will have to wait and see if he’s back this week, or if PJ Walker will return. I don’t love starting Hunt, but if you’re reading this article right now, it’s not because you have depth at your fantasy running back position. As streamers go, he’s at the top of the pile this week.
Week 7 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty
Got a beef with Bradlee’s Week 7 Running Backs Sleepers and Streamers? Let him hear about it in the comments below!