Week 7 Fantasy Football Matchup Winners

Every week, I do the dirty work for you and dig into every Sunday matchup to determine who is the player from each team to spotlight. This involves looking at Fantasy Points Per Game (PPG) and yardage allowed by defenses, along with looking at player usage and performances. I will always have hits and misses, but I will also always have detailed reasoning behind the points I am making. Here are some of the hits in points per reception (PPR) leagues from last week’s article:

• Raheem Mostert – 34.20 Fantasy Points
• Drake London – 21.50 Fantasy Points
• Michael Pittman Jr. – 19.10 Fantasy Points
• Rhamondre Stevenson – 18 Fantasy Points
• D’Andre Swift – 17.80 Fantasy Points
• Alvin Kamara – 17.40 Fantasy Points
• Zay Flowers – 17.10 Fantasy Points
• Garrett Wilson – 17 Fantasy Points
• Amari Cooper – 14.80 Fantasy Points
• Jameson Williams – 13.30 Fantasy Points

Definitely had some misses last week as well, but I feel great through five weeks of football with my hit-to-miss ratio. Heavy BYE week with all of the Panthers, Bengals, Cowboys, Texans, Jets, and Titans off. Below are players I feel will have a solid Fantasy Football performance, and are considerations to add to your DFS lineups for Week 7. Let’s get it!

Matchup Winners for Week 7 Fantasy Football

Falcons vs. Buccaneers

• Drake London: Tampa Bay allows the eighth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and seventh-most passing yards per game this season. In Week 5, London finished the week with season highs in targets (nine) and receiving yards (78) in a 14.68 Fantasy Point outing. The very next week, London had season highs again in targets (12), receptions (9), receiving yards (125), and Fantasy Points (21.50). Desmond Ridder has thrown the ball 37 and 47 times in the last two games, with over 300 passing yards in both games which presents solid volume opportunities for London. An upward trend in production along with a solid matchup should keep London hot for Week 7.

Raiders vs. Bears

• Josh Jacobs: The Bears allow the fourth most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. Jimmy Garoppolo will not play due to a back injury that resulted in a hospital trip following Week 6. Raiders backup quarterback against the Bears backup quarterback just seems to add up to heavy Josh Jacobs usage. Jacobs has finished back-to-back weeks with 25+ total touches playing 81+% of the snaps. In Weeks 4 and 5 Jacobs scored touchdowns in both games and over 19 Fantasy Points. Jacobs’ season high in rushing yards came just last week with 77, but I will be bold and say his new rushing yard total will be against Chicago in Week 7.
• Davante Adams: Reports dropped today that Davante Adams is frustrated with his role lately with the Raiders. Nine targets across the last two games while playing 91%+ of the snaps is not very Adams-like, especially seeing that he had single games of 20 and 13 targets earlier this season. The Bears allow the 15th most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season, and I feel the script will allow a “get right” or at least “make Adams happy” sort of week in this one. Regardless of who the quarterback ends up being for the Raiders. Adams will see 12+ targets in Week 7 against the Bears.

Browns vs. Colts

• Amari Cooper: The Colts allow the 14th most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. We are unsure if Deshaun Watson will play or not at this point with that shoulder injury that kept him out of Week 6, but even without his starting quarterback last week, Amari Cooper was very productive. Four receptions for 108 receiving yards on eight targets for 14.80 Fantasy Points in Week 2 with PJ Walker for Cooper. Cooper has had games of 16 and 24.60 Fantasy Points back in Weeks 2 and 3, has earned eight-plus targets three times, and finished with 90+ receiving yards three times this season. **Update is that Deshaun Watson will practice Thursday**.
• Jonathan Taylor: The Browns are a rough matchup for Fantasy Football and a tough defense in general. Zack Moss has played a higher snap percentage than Jonathan Taylor in the two weeks since Taylor’s return and has continued to be highly productive, especially with scoring touchdowns. Taylor’s snap percentage has increased from 15% to 42% and touches from seven to 13 in the last two weeks. What stands out the most is the five receptions on six targets for 46 receiving yards in Week 6 for Taylor. The Colts may have a better chance competing with their two running backs vs. Gardner Minshew through the air. Look for Taylor to get above 50% of the snaps this week and be a major factor in the Colts trying to dig this one out.

Commanders vs. Giants

• Terry McLaurin: The Giants allow the 12th most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Terry McLaurin has been heavily targeted in two of his three last games by Sam Howell, who has been truly stepping up as a first-year quarterback the last three weeks. McLaurin earned 10 targets in Week 4, catching eight of them for 86 yards and 22.60 Fantasy Points. Then in Week 6 McLaurin caught six of 11 targets for 81 yards for 14.10 Fantasy Points. Look for McLaurin to earn plenty of looks in Week 7.
• Wan’Dale Robinson: The Commanders allow the third most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the sixth most passing yards per game this season. Daniel Jones missed Week 6 but has practiced this week (non-contact). Wan’Dale Robinson has not been practicing this week, listed as questionable due to his knee, but I have a feeling this is more maintenance than anything. Robinson did tear his ACL last season. After missing the first two weeks, Robinson has earned 5-6-6-8 targets which shows consistency in his volume. Week 6 was Robinson’s big week, catching all eight targets for 62 receiving yards and scoring 14.2 Fantasy Points which were all season high metrics. Pending Robinson’s knee issue is just maintenance after heavy usage, I like the sophomore to continue to be heavily involved in this game.

Lions vs. Ravens

• Mark Andrews: The Lions allow the seventh most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Mark Andrews is a player you are starting weekly, but having a plus matchup and hitting some consistency in the yardage department may translate well for DFS. Andrews has now finished three weeks in a row with 65+ receiving yards, with a high of 80 back in Week 4. Twice this season Andrews has finished as a top three Fantasy tight end. 16 targets across the last two weeks shows better volume in comparison to the ten he earned combining weeks three and four. Andrews is set up to have another quality week against a Lions team that has been very competitive this year.

Bills vs. Patriots

• Stefon Diggs: The Patriots allow the 14th most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers. Stefon Diggs has been one of the best wide receivers to roster for Fantasy Football this season, and one of the best players just in general with his upside and consistency. Stefon Diggs is the current Fantasy WR2, averaging 23.2 Fantasy PPG. For wide receivers, Diggs ranks #3 in targets (66), T#3 in receptions (49), #3 in receiving yards (620), and T#2 in receiving touchdowns (five). 27 targets across the last two weeks with all but one game over 100 receiving yards has been great for Fantasy Football. Very trustworthy play vs the Patriots.
• Rhamondre Stevenson: The Bills allow the 12th most Fantasy PPG to running backs and eight most rushing yards per game this season. Rhamondre Stevenson is coming off of his best Fantasy week, scoring 18 points in Week 6 where he ran 10 times for 46 yards, scored a rushing touchdown, and caught five passes for 24 yards. Ezekiel Elliott has created a committee to an extent in New England, but Stevenson has played 64%+ of the snaps in all but one game this season. Monitor his ankle issue which has kept him limited this week.

Cardinals vs. Seahawks

• Marquise Brown: The Seahawks allow the second most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and fifth most passing yards per game this season. Prior to Week 6, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown ranged from 16.1-17.4 Fantasy Points for four straight weeks. Hollywood has been targeted 10+ times for three straight weeks, and four times in total this season. The connection with backup Joshua Dobbs has been very evident on a week-to-week basis. Hollywood has totaled three receiving touchdowns so far this season as well. Consistency in target volume and Fantasy production makes Hollywood a great weekly play, and even more so in this specific matchup against Seattle.
• Kenneth Walker III: The Cardinals allow the third most Fantasy PPG to running backs and ninth most rushing yards per game. Kenneth Walker III aka KWIII, cannot stop scoring touchdowns, as he has scored in four straight games and six times total. KWIII has scored 17+ Fantasy Points three times this season and has ranged from 4.65-5.39 yards per carry in three outings this season. KWIII has had at least 17 touches in all of his last four games and has played 71+% of the snaps in back-to-back games. The Cardinals are a great matchup for KWIII to continue rolling and the streak says he is going to score a touchdown again.

Steelers vs. Rams

• Puka Nacua: The Steelers allow the fourth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and fourth most passing yards per game. The first thought when people see these numbers is going to be Cooper Kupp, who returned right back to form the last two weeks. I wanted to plug Puka Nacua here because there is a concern with Kupp being back that Puka will take this massive hit. With Puka scoring a season-low 6.60 Fantasy Points in Week 6, the fuel could be added to that fire of concern. Puka earned 11 targets in the first game Kupp returned and still ranks second in total targets this season. Puka has also scored 20+ Fantasy Points in four games this season. Do not let a down week, and Kupp’s return, prevent Puka from being at least a FLEX play if you roster him. Matthew Stafford is currently third in passing attempts, so the volume is definitely there for both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, which we saw in Week 5.

Chargers vs. Chiefs

• Joshua Palmer: The Chiefs vs. Chargers game will surely be spent through the air. Keenan Allen is having an amazing season so far so the attention will be on him, with Joshua Palmer potentially being the X factor here. Palmer has been operating as the team’s WR2 since Mike Williams tore his ACL. Across the last three games played, Palmer has both earned seven or eight targets and finished with 60+ receiving yards. Across the last two games, Palmer has played 86% and 97% of the snaps as well. If Palmer is to find the end zone, it could mean a big week for him.
• Rashee Rice: The Chargers allow the most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the most passing yards per game. Second-round rookie Rashee Rice is quietly the second-most targeted player on the Chiefs right now. Rice is coming off of a season-high 78 receiving yards in Week 6, scoring double-digit Fantasy Points for the fourth time this season. Rice has earned five or more Patrick Mahomes targets four times this season, and has scored two touchdowns. Rice has been the most impactful wide receiver in the room so far this year, we just need him to be on the field more. Rice has only played above 50% of the snaps once this year. Week 7 in a favorable matchup could be THE breakout for Rice.

Packers vs. Broncos

• Luke Musgrave: The Broncos allow the most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Prior to the Week 6 BYE, Luke Musgrave led the Packers in receptions with six on his seven targets. Musgrave exited the Week 4 matchup with a concussion but earned eight targets in the game prior. So when playing in full Weeks 4 and 5 Musgrave has been a favorite target of Jordan Love and has earned consistent targets which is huge for the tight end position. Musgrave has also had games of 49 and 50 receiving yards so far this season. Week 7 can be the second-round rookie’s true breakout week.
• Javonte Williams: The Packers allow the fifth most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the fifth most rushing yards per game this season. After missing Week 5, Javonte Williams returned in Week 6 to play just 35% of the snaps but he ran an efficient 5.2 yards per carry rushing 10 times for 52 yards. Williams has yet to have a big game this season, which is to a degree expected after tearing his ACL last year. Williams could have his first bigger week in this positive matchup, and I expect his touches to take a jump in Week 7.

Dolphins vs. Eagles (Sunday Night Football)

• Jaylen Waddle: The Eagles allow the sixth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. The first name you think about when hearing that matchup plus is Tyreek Hill, who has been on absolute fire all season and has 142 more receiving yards than any other receiver in the league so far. I do want to highlight Jaylen Waddle though, as he has trended upwards. Waddle has been targeted 19 times across the last two games, catching a touchdown in each game, which has resulted in 14.5 and 18.10 Fantasy Point weeks. Earlier this season we saw the upside in Waddle with him finishing Weeks 1 and 2 with 19.5 then 21.5 yards per catch. The focus will be on Hill in this matchup, but watch Waddle take off in a huge matchup against two teams that are 5-1.
• AJ Brown: The Dolphins allow the 10th most Fantasy PG to wide receivers this season. AJ Brown has been on absolute fire the last four games in a row, especially in the receiving yard department. 131-175-127-131 receiving yards in the last four games, which has resulted in 22.10-38.50-18.70-20.10 Fantasy Points during this stretch. Jalen Hurts and Brown have a great connection, and that specific connection is going to be key in trying to get the W against the 5-1 Dolphins.

More 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