Fantasy: Week 7 Rankings - Analysis

Over the last two seasons, theScore's Justin Boone has finished in the top 10 in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. This year he's first overall after six weeks. Scroll down to see his rankings for Week 7.

A final rankings update will be available on Sunday morning.

Quarterbacks

• Aaron Rodgers only has two 300-yard games this season, but he's thrown for three or more touchdowns in four of his six outings. The Panthers defense has allowed the seventh most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks… things could get ugly on Sunday. 

• Colin Kaepernick will give the Broncos their first stiff test since the bye, after they've toyed with Drew Stanton/Logan Thomas and Geno Smith in the last two weeks. Good quarterbacks have found success against Denver this season, and Kaepernick should be able to do the same, especially if he can carve out yards with his legs. 

• The Lions defense has been fierce over the first six weeks, holding opposing quarterbacks under 20 fantasy points in every game. Drew Brees hasn't found his rhythm this season and has been especially unproductive on the road. Coming off a bye the Saints should be well prepared, but with Jimmy Graham expected to sit this one out, Brees finds himself much further down the rankings than usual. 

• Joe Flacco isn't going to throw five first-half touchdowns this week, but I wouldn't be afraid to start him as a bye week replacement going up against the Falcons. Atlanta's pass defense looks decent on paper, mostly because teams don't need to throw much in order to beat them. The Falcons run defense is virtually non-existent, which should mean another big game for the Ravens offense. Flacco will spend plenty of time in the red zone on Sunday, giving him a good chance to post multiple touchdowns yet again.

• Speaking of bye-week fill-ins, Brian Hoyer gets to face an extremely generous Jaguars defense in Week 7. Hoyer has a lower ceiling than most quarterbacks since the Browns are a run-first, run-second, and sometimes run-third offense, but 200 yards and two touchdowns should be an easy mark for him to hit this week. 

Running Backs

• DeMarco Murray is the top running back play this week, but do yourself a favor and pick up Joseph Randle. Murray owners should protect themselves in case the workload leads to an injury. Regardless of whether he shoplifts off the field, Randle would be a solid play behind that offensive line. 

• He was on bye last week, but don't forget about Jamaal Charles. In his last game against the division rival Chargers, Charles had 157 total yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs lead back is about to remind everyone that he is an elite fantasy option. 

• With the Browns running game humming along, Ben Tate is an RB1 every week going forward. It's also tough to keep his backup Isaiah Crowell down in the rankings. Crowell made some rookie mistakes in Week 6 but still had 11 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown. He's a low-end RB2 against the Jaguars. 

• Are we sure Ryan Mathews gets his job back when he returns from injury? Branden Oliver has looked the part of a lead back and deserves to at least split touches with Mathews later in the season, if not have the job all to himself. 

• It might still take some getting used to, but Justin Forsett and Lamar Miller will be putting up low-end RB1/high-end RB2 numbers the rest of the way. 

• Andre Williams gets a second chance this week after the Giants were blown off the field in Philadelphia last Sunday. Hopefully the game script against Dallas allows Williams to remain a bigger part of the action. 

• Eddie Lacy is still the back to own in Green Bay, but James Starks will be eating into his touches from here on out. Lacy hasn't suddenly become a worse player, the Packers are simply using him differently this season.

• Shane Vereen gets a bump in the rankings with Stevan Ridley out for the year. If you have the option, I'd prefer to stay away from the New England backfield until we get some sort of idea what Bill Belichick's plan is for Vereen, Brandon Bolden and James White. The best option might be to trade Vereen while his stock is high. 

• Jonathan Stewart and Mark Ingram are likely to return from injuries this week and can be considered RB3/Flex plays in their first game back. Ingram was running extremely well before being sidelined, but the Lions are a tough matchup for any running back. 

Wide Receivers

• Calvin Johnson isn't ranked at the moment as I expect he will sit out another game. Golden Tate is a borderline WR1 with Megatron sidelined. 

• Rookie Kelvin Benjamin is in the league's concussion protocol, but at the moment it seems like he should be able to suit up on the weekend. Depending how he progresses, his ranking may drop before Sunday. 

• With Carson Palmer back under center, Michael Floyd's numbers will be on the rise. He caught his first touchdown of the season last week in Palmer's return. 

• Mohamed Sanu is a poor man's A.J. Green, at least until Green can get back on the field. Sanu is a WR2 with WR1 upside against the Colts. 

• Back from his vacation on Revis Island, Sammy Watkins should have a much better game against the Vikings. Somehow Kyle Orton has thrown for 308 and 299 yards in his two games with Buffalo and that production will find it's way to Watkins hands. 

• Cecil Shorts didn't find the end zone last week, but he saw 16 targets, hauling in 10 for 103 yards. Shorts has always been able to deliver when healthy and for the time being he is on the field, so don't hesitate to start him as a WR3. 

Tight Ends

• The Jaguars give up the third most fantasy points to tight ends, which means good things for Jordan Cameron. Cameron turned three catches into 103 yards and a touchdown last week and may be reestablishing himself as the Browns' best receiving option. It would be surprising if the Jaguars can keep him out of the end zone this week. 

• Jordan Reed returned with eight catches for 92 yards on 11 targets against the Cardinals. Hopefully you were able to acquire him while he was injured, because Reed instantly slots in as a TE1 the rest of the way.

• Larry Donnell has one catch for six yards over the last two weeks, but with Victor Cruz going down with an injury, Donnell could see increased targets. He remains a low-end TE1 this Sunday. 

• Don't forget about how bad the Seahawks are at defending tight ends, allowing the fourth most fantasy points to the position. Jared Cook should benefit this week, in a game where the Rams may be in catch-up mode. 

Defense/Special Teams

Kickers