Last week in this column, I highlighted some injuries and their impact on the fantasy football landscape. In a shocking development, more fantasy-relevant players were injured this past week as well. Shocking, but true. As if that weren’t enough, Week 7 features six teams on byes. If these circumstances put you in a panic, let me offer a couple of pieces of advice. One is retroactive, although I have mentioned it roughly a million times over the years. Situations like these are exactly why you should never draft a backup kicker or defense. During the draft, your bench should almost exclusively be comprised of running backs and wide receivers. I don’t even like drafting backup quarterbacks and tight ends if I can help it.
“Well thanks, Mick, but that doesn’t help me now. I’m 2-4 and my running backs are Tony Pollard and Kyren Williams.” Not ideal, but all hope should not be lost. In 2019, I was in a very competitive 12-team league. I lost my first four games. After eight weeks, I was 2-6 and in 11th place. I ended up winning the league. Sure, I’m a phenomenal fantasy player, but that’s not the point. The point is that we are still in the marathon phase of the fantasy football season. Do not shoot yourself in the foot and drop a productive player just because he may miss a game or two due to byes or injuries. Be judicious with your roster and everything will fall into place. Now let me make sure I do not hurt myself stepping off this soapbox while I reveal my Week 7 Flex Rankings.
Running Back Notes
The aforementioned Kyren Williams has been one of the young season’s best surprises at the running back position. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury that is likely to sideline him for multiple weeks. Primary backup Ronnie Rivers was also hurt last week and placed on injured reserve by the Rams. Rookie Zach Evans seems like the primary beneficiary here, and he is a potential Flex play this week. But if I can offer a word of caution, many of us thought Emari Demercado would benefit from James Conner’s injury last week. He gained 17 yards on three touches while being outproduced by both Keaontay Ingram and Damien Williams. The Rams have Royce Freeman, Myles Gaskin, and Darrell Henderson in their building. Do not be surprised if one of these uninspiring vets takes some work from the rookie this week.
Believe it or not, there are some running backs on the mend this week. Jamaal Williams and Jeff Wilson are among those who could be back on the field in Week 7. Neither would step into a major role right away, but both are worth keeping an eye on. Raheem Mostert has been a fantasy darling, but is 31 years old and has a lengthy injury history. And Alvin Kamara has looked good but not great since returning from a three-game suspension. He also has 75 touches in three games which is not sustainable. I currently have both Williams and Wilson outside my top 50 running backs for this week. I will move them up once their statuses are clarified. They are not ideal Week 7 Flex options, but you could certainly do worse in a pinch. Keep in mind that Williams and the Saints play on Thursday night.
Wide Receiver Notes
Diontae Johnson is another player who could return to game action this week. He practiced in full on Wednesday which is a good sign for his Week 7 outlook. The Steelers’ star wide receiver has been on injured reserve since Week 1 with a hamstring injury. The fifth-year pro averaged over eight fantasy points per game last year despite not scoring a touchdown. That is no easy task. As of this writing, I have Johnson outside my top 100 overall Flex plays. In all honesty, that is just me being conservative and waiting to see if and when he is cleared. Johnson does not have an ideal matchup, as the Rams allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. However, if he has a clean bill of health, he should be considered a solid Flex option, especially in a week like this with so many unknowns.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran Julio Jones this week. I only mention this in case some may believe Jones can still be a productive fantasy player. Can he catch a random touchdown and finish as a top-50 fantasy wideout in a given week? Sure, I suppose. But he is no longer the Julio Jones of old. In 2019, he scored 224.6 fantasy points. Since then, he has scored 243.9. Jones played 10 games last season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He never finished as a top-24 fantasy wide receiver in a single week and only finished inside the top-40 twice. Now add another year of wear and tear to his body. Jones was added in 8.5 percent of Fantrax leagues this week. That feels like several percentage points too many. Let someone else deal with the headache.
Tight End Notes
Diontae Johnson is not the only Pittsburgh Steeler pass catcher who could return in Week 7 after suffering a hamstring injury. Tight end Pat Freiermuth also practiced fully on Wednesday, which could mean his return is imminent. As is the case with Johnson, my current ranking of Freiermuth is very conservative, so keep that in mind. Like Johnson, Freiermuth would be a borderline Week 7 starter assuming he is cleared in full. Unlike Johnson, Freiermuth should return to a favorable matchup. The Rams have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends so far this year. They also give up 13.47 yards per catch to tight ends, which is the highest number in the NFL. Freiermuth did average 11.6 yards per catch a season ago, so I would not be surprised to see him find a seam and break a big play or two in this game.
Another tight end I may have to move up my rankings in the coming days is Michael Mayer of the Las Vegas Raiders. Mayer has logged a season-high snap rate in three consecutive weeks, culminating with an 82 percent mark last week. A coinciding boost in production has begun as well. Mayer had two catches for 39 yards in Week 5 and five catches for 75 yards in Week 6. He is the overall TE12 over those two weeks, and quickly becoming an important part of the Raiders’ passing game. Three of Mayer’s next four scheduled opponents are among the most generous teams in terms of allowing fantasy production to tight ends. That includes this week’s opponent, the Chicago Bears. Mayer could be a decent streaming option in Week 7 and beyond.
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
Week 7 Flex Rankings
| Rank | Name | Team | Pos | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | RB1 | @MIN |
| 2 | Tyreek Hill | MIA | WR1 | @PHI |
| 3 | Josh Jacobs | LV | RB2 | @CHI |
| 4 | Cooper Kupp | LAR | WR2 | PIT |
| 5 | Kenneth Walker III | SEA | RB3 | ARI |
| 6 | Stefon Diggs | BUF | WR3 | @NE |
| 7 | A.J. Brown | PHI | WR4 | MIA |
| 8 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | RB4 | @KC |
| 9 | Alvin Kamara | NO | RB5 | JAC |
| 10 | Travis Kelce | KC | TE1 | LAC |
| 11 | Travis Etienne Jr. | JAC | RB6 | @NO |
| 12 | Saquon Barkley | NYG | RB7 | WAS |
| 13 | D’Andre Swift | PHI | RB8 | MIA |
| 14 | Keenan Allen | LAC | WR5 | @KC |
| 15 | Raheem Mostert | MIA | RB9 | @PHI |
| 16 | Puka Nacua | LAR | WR6 | PIT |
| 17 | Davante Adams | LV | WR7 | @CHI |
| 18 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | RB10 | @TB |
| 19 | Isiah Pacheco | KC | RB11 | LAC |
| 20 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | WR8 | @BAL |
| 21 | Brandon Aiyuk | SF | WR9 | @MIN |
| 22 | Jaylen Waddle | MIA | WR10 | @PHI |
| 23 | Mike Evans | TB | WR11 | ATL |
| 24 | Chris Olave | NO | WR12 | JAC |
| 25 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | RB12 | CLE |
| 26 | Alexander Mattison | MIN | RB13 | SF |
| 27 | Aaron Jones | GB | RB14 | @DEN |
| 28 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | RB15 | @BAL |
| 29 | DK Metcalf | SEA | WR13 | ARI |
| 30 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | RB16 | BUF |
| 31 | Rachaad White | TB | RB17 | ATL |
| 32 | Deebo Samuel | SF | WR14 | @MIN |
| 33 | DJ Moore | CHI | WR15 | LV |
| 34 | Amari Cooper | CLE | WR16 | @IND |
| 35 | Calvin Ridley | JAC | WR17 | @NO |
| 36 | Jordan Addison | MIN | WR18 | SF |
| 37 | Zay Flowers | BAL | WR19 | DET |
| 38 | DeVonta Smith | PHI | WR20 | MIA |
| 39 | Christian Kirk | JAC | WR21 | @NO |
| 40 | Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS | RB18 | @NYG |
| 41 | James Cook | BUF | RB19 | @NE |
| 42 | George Pickens | PIT | WR22 | @LAR |
| 43 | Tyler Lockett | SEA | WR23 | ARI |
| 44 | Jerome Ford | CLE | RB20 | @IND |
| 45 | Terry McLaurin | WAS | WR24 | @NYG |
| 46 | Marquise Brown | ARI | WR25 | @SEA |
| 47 | Chris Godwin | TB | WR26 | ATL |
| 48 | T.J. Hockenson | MIN | TE2 | SF |
| 49 | Mark Andrews | BAL | TE3 | DET |
| 50 | Christian Watson | GB | WR27 | @DEN |
| 51 | Michael Pittman Jr. | IND | WR28 | CLE |
| 52 | Najee Harris | PIT | RB21 | @LAR |
| 53 | Jakobi Meyers | LV | WR29 | @CHI |
| 54 | Michael Thomas | NO | WR30 | JAC |
| 55 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | RB22 | @LAR |
| 56 | D’Onta Foreman | CHI | RB23 | LV |
| 57 | Sam LaPorta | DET | TE4 | @BAL |
| 58 | K.J. Osborn | MIN | WR31 | SF |
| 59 | Javonte Williams | DEN | RB24 | GB |
| 60 | Darren Waller | NYG | TE5 | WAS |
| 61 | Jerry Jeudy | DEN | WR32 | GB |
| 62 | George Kittle | SF | TE6 | @MIN |
| 63 | Courtland Sutton | DEN | WR33 | GB |
| 64 | Joshua Palmer | LAC | WR34 | @KC |
| 65 | Drake London | ATL | WR35 | @TB |
| 66 | Dallas Goedert | PHI | TE7 | MIA |
| 67 | Gabe Davis | BUF | WR36 | @NE |
| 68 | Evan Engram | JAC | TE8 | @NO |
| 69 | Tutu Atwell | LAR | WR37 | PIT |
| 70 | Zach Evans | LAR | RB25 | PIT |
| 71 | Elijah Moore | CLE | WR38 | @IND |
| 72 | Gus Edwards | BAL | RB26 | DET |
| 73 | Romeo Doubs | GB | WR39 | @DEN |
| 74 | AJ Dillon | GB | RB27 | @DEN |
| 75 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | RB28 | @TB |
| 76 | Rashee Rice | KC | WR40 | LAC |
| 77 | Curtis Samuel | WAS | WR41 | @NYG |
| 78 | Zack Moss | IND | RB29 | CLE |
| 79 | Jayden Reed | GB | WR42 | @DEN |
| 80 | Cole Kmet | CHI | TE9 | LV |
| 81 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA | WR43 | ARI |
| 82 | Kendrick Bourne | NE | WR44 | BUF |
| 83 | Rashid Shaheed | NO | WR45 | JAC |
| 84 | Kareem Hunt | CLE | RB30 | @IND |
| 85 | Jahan Dotson | WAS | WR46 | @NYG |
| 86 | Keaontay Ingram | ARI | RB31 | @SEA |
| 87 | Josh Downs | IND | WR47 | CLE |
| 88 | Kyle Pitts | ATL | TE10 | @TB |
| 89 | Ezekiel Elliott | NE | RB32 | BUF |
| 90 | Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG | WR48 | WAS |
| 91 | Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN | RB33 | GB |
| 92 | Justice Hill | BAL | RB34 | DET |
| 93 | Brandon Powell | MIN | WR49 | SF |
| 94 | Logan Thomas | WAS | TE11 | @NYG |
| 95 | Craig Reynolds | DET | RB35 | @BAL |
| 96 | Kadarius Toney | KC | WR50 | LAC |
| 97 | Latavius Murray | BUF | RB36 | @NE |
| 98 | Luke Musgrave | GB | TE12 | @DEN |
| 99 | Rondale Moore | ARI | WR51 | @SEA |
| 100 | Michael Wilson | ARI | WR52 | @SEA |
| 101 | David Njoku | CLE | TE13 | @IND |
| 102 | Darius Slayton | NYG | WR53 | WAS |
| 103 | Tyler Higbee | LAR | TE14 | PIT |
| 104 | Josh Reynolds | DET | WR54 | @BAL |
| 105 | Roschon Johnson | CHI | RB37 | LV |
| 106 | Gerald Everett | LAC | TE15 | @KC |
| 107 | DeVante Parker | NE | WR55 | BUF |
| 108 | Jonnu Smith | ATL | TE16 | @TB |
| 109 | Antonio Gibson | WAS | RB38 | @NYG |
| 110 | Zach Ertz | ARI | TE17 | @SEA |
| 111 | Hunter Henry | NE | TE18 | BUF |
| 112 | Darnell Mooney | CHI | WR56 | LV |
| 113 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | RB39 | ARI |
| 114 | Taysom Hill | NO | TE19 | JAC |
| 115 | Skyy Moore | KC | WR57 | LAC |
| 116 | Dalton Kincaid | BUF | TE20 | @NE |
| 117 | Jerick McKinnon | KC | RB40 | LAC |
| 118 | Kenneth Gainwell | PHI | RB41 | MIA |
| 119 | Odell Beckham Jr. | BAL | WR58 | DET |
| 120 | Samaje Perine | DEN | RB42 | GB |
| 121 | Quentin Johnston | LAC | WR59 | @KC |
| 122 | Emari Demercado | ARI | RB43 | @SEA |
| 123 | Dawson Knox | BUF | TE21 | @NE |
| 124 | Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN | WR60 | GB |
| 125 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | KC | WR61 | LAC |
| 126 | Cam Akers | MIN | RB44 | SF |
| 127 | Michael Mayer | LV | TE22 | @CHI |
| 128 | Allen Robinson II | PIT | WR62 | @LAR |
| 129 | Trey Palmer | TB | WR63 | ATL |
| 130 | Calvin Austin III | PIT | WR64 | @LAR |
| 131 | Salvon Ahmed | MIA | RB45 | @PHI |
| 132 | Braxton Berrios | MIA | WR65 | @PHI |
| 133 | Alec Pierce | IND | WR66 | CLE |
| 134 | Cade Otton | TB | TE23 | ATL |
| 135 | Donovan Peoples-Jones | CLE | WR67 | @IND |
| 136 | Diontae Johnson | PIT | WR68 | @LAR |
| 137 | Noah Fant | SEA | TE24 | ARI |
| 138 | Kylen Granson | IND | TE25 | CLE |
| 139 | Pat Freiermuth | PIT | TE26 | @LAR |
| 140 | Rashod Bateman | BAL | WR69 | DET |
| 141 | Trey McBride | ARI | TE27 | @SEA |
| 142 | Ke’Shawn Vaughn | TB | RB46 | ATL |
| 143 | Mike Gesicki | NE | TE28 | BUF |
| 144 | Jameson Williams | DET | WR70 | @BAL |
| 145 | Jauan Jennings | SF | WR71 | @MIN |
| 146 | Deonte Harty | BUF | WR72 | @NE |
| 147 | Greg Dulcich | DEN | TE29 | GB |
| 148 | Nelson Agholor | BAL | WR73 | DET |
| 149 | Royce Freeman | LAR | RB47 | PIT |
| 150 | Elijah Mitchell | SF | RB48 | @MIN |
| 151 | Deven Thompkins | TB | WR74 | ATL |
| 152 | Juju Smith-Schuster | NE | WR75 | BUF |
| 153 | Joshua Kelley | LAC | RB49 | @KC |
| 154 | Colby Parkinson | SEA | TE30 | ARI |
| 155 | Durham Smythe | MIA | TE31 | @PHI |
| 156 | Kendre Miller | NO | RB50 | JAC |
| 157 | Tyler Scott | CHI | WR76 | LV |
| 158 | Foster Moreau | NO | TE32 | JAC |
| 159 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC | RB51 | LAC |
| 160 | Jalin Hyatt | NYG | WR77 | WAS |
| 161 | Matt Breida | NYG | RB52 | WAS |
| 162 | Noah Gray | KC | TE33 | LAC |
| 163 | Donald Parham Jr. | LAC | TE34 | @KC |
| 164 | Olamide Zaccheaus | PHI | WR78 | MIA |
| 165 | Adam Trautman | DEN | TE35 | GB |
| 166 | Kalif Raymond | DET | WR79 | @BAL |
| 167 | Jordan Mason | SF | RB53 | @MIN |
| 168 | Jamal Agnew | JAC | WR80 | @NO |
| 169 | Brandon Johnson | DEN | WR81 | GB |
| 170 | Isaiah Hodgins | NYG | WR82 | WAS |
| 171 | Mack Hollins | ATL | WR83 | @TB |
| 172 | Tank Bigsby | JAC | RB54 | @NO |
| 173 | Dyami Brown | WAS | WR84 | @NYG |
| 174 | Will Dissly | SEA | TE36 | ARI |
| 175 | Jeff Wilson | MIA | RB55 | @PHI |
| 176 | Zamir White | LV | RB56 | @CHI |
| 177 | Austin Hooper | LV | TE37 | @CHI |
| 178 | Josh Oliver | MIN | TE38 | SF |
| 179 | Drew Ogletree | IND | TE39 | CLE |
| 180 | Jamaal Williams | NO | RB57 | JAC |
| 181 | Trent Sherfield | BUF | WR85 | @NE |
| 182 | Parris Campbell | NYG | WR86 | WAS |
| 183 | Tre Tucker | LV | WR87 | @CHI |
| 184 | Tim Jones | JAC | WR88 | @NO |
| 185 | Tyquan Thornton | NE | WR89 | BUF |
| 186 | Connor Heyward | PIT | TE40 | @LAR |
| 187 | Dontayvion Wicks | GB | WR90 | @DEN |
| 188 | Mo Alie-Cox | IND | TE41 | CLE |
| 189 | Hunter Renfrow | LV | WR91 | @CHI |
| 190 | Ameer Abdullah | LV | RB58 | @CHI |
| 191 | Justin Watson | KC | WR92 | LAC |
| 192 | Damien Williams | ARI | RB59 | @SEA |
| 193 | Van Jefferson | ATL | WR93 | @TB |
| 194 | Demario Douglas | NE | WR94 | BUF |
| 195 | Sean Tucker | TB | RB60 | ATL |
| 196 | Kyle Juszczyk | SF | RB61 | @MIN |
| 197 | Marvin Jones Jr. | DET | WR95 | @BAL |
| 198 | Cedrick Wilson | MIA | WR96 | @PHI |
| 199 | Josiah Deguara | GB | TE42 | @DEN |
| 200 | Myles Gaskin | LAR | RB62 | PIT |
| 201 | Cordarrelle Patterson | ATL | RB63 | @TB |
| 202 | Justyn Ross | KC | WR97 | LAC |
| 203 | Harrison Bryant | CLE | TE43 | @IND |
| 204 | Brock Wright | DET | TE44 | @BAL |
| 205 | Khalil Shakir | BUF | WR98 | @NE |
| 206 | Zach Pascal | ARI | WR99 | @SEA |
| 207 | Marquise Goodwin | CLE | WR100 | @IND |
| 208 | Darrynton Evans | CHI | RB64 | LV |
| 209 | Demarcus Robinson | LAR | WR101 | PIT |
| 210 | Pierre Strong Jr. | CLE | RB65 | @IND |
| 211 | John Bates | WAS | TE45 | @NYG |
| 212 | Jake Bobo | SEA | WR102 | ARI |
| 213 | Velus Jones Jr. | CHI | WR103 | LV |
| 214 | Derius Davis | LAC | WR104 | @KC |
| 215 | Jordan Akins | CLE | TE46 | @IND |
| 216 | Robert Tonyan | CHI | TE47 | LV |
| 217 | Brenton Strange | JAC | TE48 | @NO |
| 218 | Darrell Henderson | LAR | RB66 | PIT |
| 219 | DeAndre Carter | LV | WR105 | @CHI |
| 220 | Keaton Mitchell | BAL | RB67 | DET |
| 221 | Julio Jones | PHI | WR106 | MIA |
| 222 | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS | RB68 | @NYG |
| 223 | Darnell Washington | PIT | TE49 | @LAR |
| 224 | Devin Duvernay | BAL | WR107 | DET |
| 225 | Boston Scott | PHI | RB69 | MIA |
| 226 | Greg Dortch | ARI | WR108 | @SEA |
| 227 | Isaiah Likely | BAL | TE50 | DET |