Each week, I pull up the rankings from Yahoo, ESPN, and CBS to find the consensus. This helps me find the outlier – either someone who might be poised for a breakout or a goose egg. Below is what results from hours upon hours of research.
Good luck out there… and when in doubt, always bet against the Jaguars.
Brian Reddoch is a CraveOnline reporter and rabid fan of all teams Seattle. You can follow him on Twitter @ReddReddoch or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook
Week 7 Fantasy Football Rankings
Quarterback
Don’t Ever Trade: Matt Ryan, Falcons (and Tony Romo, Cowboys)
Perplexingly enough some folks have written off Ryan. He has scored between 15 and 22 each week in a standard ESPN league. That is the kind of consistent play you want from your QB. The majority of his critics are in the real world with real consequences. We don’t care he led his team to four losses… he isn’t a baseball pitcher. The same goes for Romo. Who cares in fantasy that he sucks in the 4th quarter? Not me. He’s ranked seventh overall so far this season which is better than than most QB’s taken higher.
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Quarterback
Worth a Second Look: Nick Foles, Eagles
Much like a screen door in a hurricane, Dallas’ D lets almost everything go through. With Michael Vick out with a hammy injury, Foles will get the start this week. He is ESPN’s #4 projected QB for week 7; CBS has him #9 and Yahoo projects him #5. He is only owned in 17% of Yahoo leagues.
(Photo by Drew Hallowell/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Images)
Quarterback
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: Alex Smith, Chiefs
The next three weeks are going to be a long hard battle for points for Mr. Smith. He plays Houston, Cleveland, and at Buffallo.
(Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
Quarterback
Sleeper Pick of the Week: Brandon Weeden, Browns
Weeden has his back against the wall with talk of being replaced after throwing an interception instead of leading the Browns to a 4th quarter comeback. Remember what I said about not caring about real results? Pay attention to the 292 yards and two touchdown performance. This week he faces the 31st ranked Packer D. Do with that info what you will.
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Quarterback
Top Tier: Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers
2nd Tier: Andrew Luck, Jay Cutler, Phillip Rivers, Matthew Stafford, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson, Eli Manning
Shaky starts: Nick Foles, Cam Newton, Tom Brady, Brandon Wheeden, Ryan Tannehill, Andy Dalton
Bye Week Only: Colin Kaepernick, Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Freeman
Don’t Bother: Sam Bradford, Joe Flacco, Alex Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Running Back
Don’t Ever Trade: Adrian Peterson, Vikings
There is no lock more secure than Peterson against the 27th ranked Giants. Yahoo, CBS and ESPN all have him projected top three.
(Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
Running Back
Worth a Second Look: Knowshon Moreno, Broncos
Somebody had to become the lead runner out of the Bronco committee, right? That man appears to be Moreno. He is not so much as better than before as those around him are worse. He wins by default.
(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Running Back
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: Steven Ridley, Patriots
Sure, he gained his job back after coming back from injury but let’s be real here, he’s under-performed every week beforehand. My guess is that he’ll start losing touches.
(Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Running Back
Sleeper Pick of the Week: Danny Woodhead, Chargers
How bad is the Jaguars running defense? The 31st ranked team (Colts) against the run would need to be 20% worse to come close to Jaguars turnstile D-Line.
(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
Running Back
Top Tier: Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Jamaal Charles
2nd Tier: Matt Forte, Ray Rice, Reggie Bush, LeSean McCoy, Arian Foster, Doug Martin, Frank Gore, Giovanni Bernard,
Shaky starts: Knowshon Moreno, Jacquizz Rodgers, Trent Richardson, Fred Jackson, Chris Johnson, Alfred Morris, Brandon Jacobs, Joseph Randle, Maurice Jones-Drew, Lama Miller, Zac Stacy
Bye Week Only: Bilal Powel, CJ Spiller, Eddie Lacy, Ryan Matthews, Le’Veon Bell, Andre Ellington,
Don’t Bother: Jason Snelling, Rashard Mendenhall, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Steven Ridley
(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Wide Receiver
Don’t Ever Trade: Brandon Marshall, Bears
The Sheriff has been nicely consistent. I love consistent. Wide Receivers have an annoying way of tossing up goose eggs, but not Marshall. His only bad week came against the stellar Steelers.
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Wide Receiver
Worth a Second Look: Justin Blackmon, Jaguars
I’m repeating last week’s pick because it was so good. In PPR leagues,
his 14 catches earned big bonus points. With Cecil “Salute Your” Shorts
expected to be out, Blackmon deserves to be played every week (unless
he’s hurt). 80% unowned in Yahoo says some folks are still sleeping on
Blackmon.
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Wide Receiver
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
Only 3 catches against the Raiders! Seriously. His high this season is 58 yards. Alex Smith is playing the short game (kind of his strength) and Bowe owners are suffering.
(Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
Wide Receiver
Sleeper Pick of the Week: Jacoby Jones, Packers
So many injuries, so many opportunities for Jones to pick up major major major points. He’s only owned in 13% of Yahoo leagues yet projcted #17. Pick him up now.
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Wide Receiver
Top Tier: Dez Bryant, DeSean Jackson, Justin Blackmon, Victor Cruz, AJ Green, Calvin Johnson
2nd Tier: Vincent Jackson, Reggie Wayne, Demaryius Thomas, Josh Gordon, Pierre Garcon, Jordy Nelson, Wes Welker, Eric Decker
Shaky starts: Larry Fitzgerald, Keenan Allen, T.Y. Hilton, Steve Smith (CAR), Mike Wallace, Torrey Smith, Rueben Randle, Andre Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Alshon Jeffery
Bye Week Only: Kenbrell Thompkins, Antonio Brown, Marlon Brown, Mike Williams (TB), Emmanuel Sanders, Terrence Williams, Harry Douglas, Jerome Simpson
Don’t Bother: Riley Cooper, Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright, Robert Woods
(Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Tight End
Top Tier: Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Jordan Cameron
2nd Tier: Jason Witten, Vernon Davis,
Shaky starts: Vernon Davis, Rob Gronkowski, Greg Olsen, Martellus Bennett, Heath Miller, Garrett Graham
Bye Week Only: Coby Fleener, Jordan Reed, Jermichael Finley, Scott Chandler
Don’t Bother: Any one else
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)