Early Week 7 fantasy football rankings: 30 risers and fallers

Posted by Admin October 14, 2024 Football

The 2024 NFL season continues to be a whirlwind for fantasy managers.

In Week 6, Sean Tucker was the RB1. Gabe Davis, Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas were top eight receivers. Cole Kmet was the TE1, and yet, the biggest surprise at tight end might have been Mark Andrews posting a top-three finish.

Week 7 is upon us now.

Here’s a look at my early Week 7 fantasy football rankings. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception), and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.

Our team at USA TODAY Sports has you covered with plenty of content to help with your Week 7 lineup and roster decisions. Wondering who the best waiver-wire claims are? We have that covered so you can make your pickups. Need to know what players you can drop? We have that as well. We also have a list of the 10 best buy low/sell high candidates.

Please note: These rankings will change significantly as the week goes on. Check back on Sunday morning for final updates.

Week 7 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Risers and fallers

UP: Baker Mayfield – Through six weeks, Baker is fantasy’s QB2, and that includes five top-seven performances in six games. He’ll go up against a Ravens defense that’s ceding the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
UP: Drake Maye – The rookie finished as the QB9 against the Texans in his first NFL start. This week, he’ll face a Jaguars team that’s giving up 3.4 more fantasy points per game to quarterbacks than any other team in the league.
UP: Bo Nix – Led by an intriguing rushing floor, Nix has quietly finished as a top-13 quarterback in three of his last four games.
DOWN: C.J. Stroud – With his top weapon, Stroud managed to throw for three touchdowns against New England in Week 6, but he still only ranked as the QB13. He has finished higher than QB13 just once in his last five games. The Packers have surrendered the eighth-fewest points to signal-callers since Week 1.
DOWN: Patrick Mahomes – Dating back to last year, the two-time MVP has finished as the QB14 or worse in 10 straight games. As long as the Chiefs keep winning, there will be no need for Mahomes to air it out like he’s had to in past seasons.
DOWN: Deshaun Watson – Let’s face it, Watson looks like doo-doo on a stick on the football field. From a fantasy perspective, after finishing as a top-18 passer the first four weeks, Watson has dropped back-to-back QB24 outings despite having mouthwatering matchups. He’s matchup-proof in the very worst way.

Week 7 fantasy football running back rankings: Risers and fallers

UP: J.K. Dobbins and Kimani Vidal – Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman really like running the ball, which puts their backs in play every single week. In Week 6, Dobbins finished as the RB11 on a whopping 27 touches, and Vidal ranked as the RB19 on just six touches in what was his NFL debut. Both should have success against a Cardinals front that’s ceding the second-most rushing yards to opposing backfields.
UP: Chase Brown – Over his last three games, Brown has posted RB5, RB12, and RB17 finishes while averaging 14.7 touches per game. Fellow back Zack Moss garnered just seven touches against the Giants and didn’t sniff the ball after a third-quarter fumble.
UP: Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols – In 2024, the Panthers are giving up 3.6 more half-PPR points per game to opposing running backs than any other team in the league. Ten backs have already totaled at least 11.5 fantasy points against them, including six in their last three games. If Brian Robinson Jr. is out, both Ekeler are McNichols are worthwhile starts.
UP: Raheem Mostert – Whether or not De’Von Achane plays, Raheem Mostert is worth a flyer in Week 7. Against the Pats in Week 5, the veteran racked up 98 yards on 21 touches. Considering the current state of Miami’s offense, that performance deserves awards. He’ll go up against a Colts team that’s giving up the fifth-most rushing yards to opposing backs in 2024.
DOWN: Najee Harris – Harris finally broke his scoreless streak in Week 6, but that came against the Raiders. A daunting matchup with the Jets awaits in Week 7.
DOWN: Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker – With Rachaad White out in Week 6, both Tampa running backs enjoyed the best games of their young careers. However, a matchup with the Ravens is waiting for them in Week 7. Baltimore is ceding the fewest yards per carry and third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season.
DOWN: Ty Chandler – Assuming Aaron Jones is out (he might not be), Chandler will be a popular streaming option, but expectations need to be kept in check. Since the start of 2023, no team has given up fewer fantasy points to running backs than the Lions.
DOWN: Zack Moss – As mentioned in the Chase Brown blurb, the Cincinnati backfield seems to be slipping away from Moss. Week 6 saw him total a season-low seven touches. He belongs on fantasy benches until further notice.

Week 7 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Risers and fallers

UP: Drake London – Since Week 1, London’s 51 targets ranks first in the NFL. He’s fantasy’s WR3 during that stretch.
UP: Tank Dell – In Houston’s first game without Nico Collins, Dell led the with a 30% target share. The result was a 7/57/1 line, good for a WR15 finish. The Texans will need him to step up in order to keep pace with the Packers in Week 7.
UP: DeMario Douglas – In Drake Maye’s debut, Douglas led the Patriots with a 27% target share. He finished as fantasy’s WR8 while posting a career-high 92 receiving yards. He’s a top-30 play against a Jaguars secondary that’s surrendering the second-most fantasy points to wideouts.
UP: Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson – Dontayvious Wicks suffered a shoulder injury in Week 6, which resulted in a boost in snaps and targets for Doubs and Watson. Both finished as top-20 wide receivers and are in the flex conversation for Week 7.
DOWN: Brandon Aiyuk – Through six games, Aiyuk has had zero top-10 performances and five finishes of WR40 or lower. Yikes. A tough matchup with Kansas City in Week 7 doesn’t help his outlook.
DOWN: Michael Pittman Jr. – The news that Anthony Richardson will start in Week 7 is a real downer for Pittman managers. In three full games with Richardson this season, Pittman has finished as the WR61, WR71, and WR64. Not great, Bob.
DOWN: Rashid Shaheed – The first game without Derek Carr was not ideal for Shaheed, who managed just one reception for 11 yards on seven targets. To make matters worse, he gets a matchup with the Broncos in Week 7.
DOWN: Christian Kirk – In Evan Engram’s first game back from injury, Kirk totaled his fewest receptions (three) since Week 2. The 27-year-old was tied for fourth on the team in targets.

Week 7 fantasy football tight end rankings: Risers and fallers

UP: Evan Engram – Engram tied Brock Bowers for the most targets at the position in Week 6, catching all 10 looks for 102 yards. In a year where productive tight ends are tough to find, that kind of volume is impossible to ignore.
UP: David Njoku – Speaking of volume, Njoku’s 30.4% target share last week ranked first at the position. While Cleveland’s offense is a hot mess, Cincinnati has ceded 162 yards and three scores to tight ends in their last two games.
DOWN: Pat Freiermuth – The 25-year-old has received just six targets over his last two games and has finished as the TE13 or worse in all but one contest. It appears that seven-target outing versus the Colts was an outlier.
DOWN: Mike Gesicki – Gesicki didn’t garner a single target in Week 6 and has just three looks in his last three games. He is safely off the streaming radar barring an injury to Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins.