Week 7 is here and plenty of stars are on a bye this week. Aaron Rodgers, Antonio Brown and plenty of other starters are out. Who should you put in your lineup? We answer that and more with our Studs, Duds and Sleepers for the week ahead.
QUARTERBACKS
Stud: Andy Dalton – Dalton has thrown three or more touchdown passes twice this season. He has a good chance to do it again this Sunday against the Chiefs. Kansas City is giving up the second-most passing yards per game. Dalton should have speedy John Ross to throw to, along with A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd. Cincinnati could trail in this game too, so the Bengals may have to throw a lot.
Dud: Deshaun Watson – Watson threw for 177 yards and one touchdown last week. He’s been dealing with multiple injuries, including a rib issue. Now he gets a good Jacksonville defense looking to redeem itself after their performance against Dallas last week. Fantasy owners should be very leery of playing Watson in Week 7. I’m avoiding him in daily leagues.
Sleeper: Mitchell Trubisky – Trubisky has been on fire in his last two games. He’s thrown for 670 yards and nine touchdowns over that span. He’s at home this week against a New England defense that has allowed three or more touchdown passes in three of their six games this season. He hasn’t done enough to be this week’s ‘stud,’ but he’s playing his way into a starting role in deeper leagues. You can do much worse than Trubisky in Week 7.
RUNNING BACKS
Kareem Hunt – Hunt had 185 yards from scrimmage last week and has 80 or more rushing yards in his last three games. The second-year running back is flying under the radar in a Kansas City offense led by Patrick Mahomes. Hunt is a very good player and should put up big numbers on Sunday against Cincinnati. The Bengals are allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season
Dud: Mark Ingram – Ingram returned in Week 5 with 18 touches and two rushing touchdowns. He has a tough test this week against the Ravens, who are allowing less than 13 points per game. He will share the Saints’ backfield with Alvin Kamara and is a RB2 this week. I’m not going near him in daily leagues and I don’t feel good about starting him in season-long leagues.
Sleeper: Marlon Mack – Mack had a successful return last week and should get 15+ touches this week for the Colt as the welcome the Bills. Buffalo has allowed four rushing TD’s vs. them in four road tilts this season.
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WIDE RECEIVER
Stud: Tyreek Hill – Hill exploded for three touchdowns last week against the Patriots. He has at least 51 yards receiving in every game this season and is a big reason why the Chiefs’ offense is so much fun to watch. Hill may have a duplicate performance this week against a beaten up Cincinnati defense. The Bengals are allowing the 10th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.
Dud: Calvin Ridley – Ridley suffered a bone bruise in last week’s game and head coach Dan Quinn is ‘hopeful’ that he can play on Monday night against the Giants. Even if he does play, I wonder how effective he will be? The Falcons have plenty of weapons and could play it safe with Ridley. I’m not waiting to see if he will play or not in season-long leagues. He’s on my bench, especially considering the Giants’ secondary has played well, despite their 1-5 record.
Sleeper: Damion Ratley – Ratley had six receptions for 82 yards last week with Rashard Higgins out. That could continue with Antonio Callaway struggling. The Browns face a weak Tampa Bay secondary that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Ratley is a sneaky play in daily leagues.
TIGHT END
Stud: Rob Gronkowski – Gronk is going to get going at some point and it could be this week against the Bears. Chicago has been susceptible to opposing tight ends so far this season. Austin Hooper, Jared Cook, Eric Ebron and George Kittle have outscored him so far this season. That should change starting on Sunday.
Dud: Greg Olsen – Olsen look healthy last week, but he has a tough matchup against Philadelphia. The Eagles are giving up the fewest fantasy points to tight ends going into this week’s game. Olsen is worth owning, but I’m not starting him this week.
Sleeper: David Njoku – Njoku has 13 receptions over the last two weeks. I expect a shootout against Tampa Bay this week, which means he has streaming value. The Buccaneers are allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
Stud: Jacksonville – I expect the Jaguars to be great this week. Deshaun Watson is dealing with a rib injury. The Jaguars are at home and should rebound with a big game this week.
Dud: Indianapolis – The Colts are tempting this week, considering they’re going up against a quarterback who signed with Buffalo less than two weeks ago. Unfortunately, the Colts’ defense is awful. They’ve allowed at least 24 points in their last three games. I expect Indianapolis to win this game, but their defense isn’t going to prevent the Bills from scoring 20 or more points.
Sleeper: Chicago – The Bears are coming off of a tough week, which means some fantasy owners may drop them since they have New England in Week 7. Chicago will rebound and play better against the Patriots. They’re worth adding because they’ve already had their bye and have a great schedule after Sunday. They should be serviceable against New England – how many defenses can say that?
