We almost didn't do a Week 7 fantasy busts list because of how shallow positional depth is across the board this week. The byes take out a ton of must-starts and potential sleepers (Bills, Vikings, Rams, Eagles), and injuries continue to deplete things even more. The last thing you need is a fantasy football analyst telling you not to start one of the few live bodies you have on your roster. Nevertheless, potential landmines, such Tom Brady and Jamaal Williams, are out there, and every start 'em, sit 'em decision takes on added importance.
We all know that even "must-start" stars majorly disappoint from time to time (Mike Evans, anyone?), but you won't find those players among our bust picks unless we legitimately advise benching them. We prefer to focus on players on the start-sit bubble, not "must-starts" or players who will only be considered in 16-team leagues. We understand that with injuries piling up and bye weeks thinning out player pools, you might not have the depth to bench players on this list. You also might just completely disagree with our choices. Either way, do what you have to do.
We had more hits (Russell Wilson, Tyler Allgeier, Michael Carter, Zach Wilson, Matthew Stafford, Garrett Wilson, Jerry Jeudy, Taysom Hill, Cowboys D/ST) than misses (Michael Pittman, David Njoku) last week, but we're always searching for perfection, so we'll work to do better this time around.
WEEK 7 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Start 'em, sit 'em
Let's get to our Week 7 bust picks.
Week 7 Fantasy Busts: Running backs
David Montgomery, Bears @ Patriots (Vinnie Iyer). The Patriots will make sure to take him away as the one thing Chicago tries to do well given how they contained Nick Chubb last week. Montgomery is someone you can sit even as a flex if you have good RB depth.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs at 49ers (Sloan Piva). Even after factoring in the absurd 168 rushing yards San Francisco surrendered to Atlanta last week, the 49ers own the 2022 NFL season's second-best rushing defense in terms of yards per game (87.5). DeMeco Ryans will make it a point to improve the defensive line of attack this week, and it's hard to see Edwards-Helaire — who has just 48 combined ground yards and zero TDs over the past two weeks — serving as a difference-maker here.
Jamaal Williams, Lions @ Cowboys (Matt Lutovsky). Williams struggled in a similar matchup in Week 5 against New England (15 carries, 56 yards), so even if D'Andre Swift (shoulder) is out again, he's a risky start against a Cowboys' defense allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to RBs. Williams is always a threat for a short TD, but he has a low floor and mediocre ceiling.
WEEK 7 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 7 Fantasy Busts: Quarterbacks
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars vs. Giants (Iyer). Don’t go chasing his his-TD outing in Indy. Two of them were on run and he struggled with their coverage otherwise. Seeing Wink Martindale’s red-hot D won’t help.
Jared Goff, Lions at Cowboys (Piva). With multiple skill-position players set to return from injury, Goff might intrigue you if you have Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford, or Kirk Cousins on bye. You'd be wise to consider other options, though. The Cowboys have limited QBs to just 206.6 passing yards and 12.7 fantasy points per game. Even worse is Goff's road QB rating (71.5).
Derek Carr, Raiders vs. Texans (Lutovsky). Houston has allowed a fair amount of passing yards, but with just four QB touchdowns on its ledger, the Texans have held down quarterbacks on a weekly basis. Carr might be without Darren Waller (hamstring), but either way, the veteran signal-caller hasn't given us any reason to expect a big game against a decent defense.
BONUS: Tom Brady @ Panthers (Lutovsky). Brady has disappointed so far this year, and while he has the weapons to produce in any matchup, a road matchup against a Panthers defense allowing the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs certainly won't help his cause.
WEEK 7 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 7 Fantasy Football Busts: Wide receivers
Amari Cooper, Browns at Ravens (Iyer). Cooper faces a secondary that’s fared much better of late since early meltdowns, and this feels like more of a David Njoku game for Jacoby Brissett.
Christian Kirk, Jaguars vs. Giants (Piva). Kirk has been a fun guy to own this season and is one of the many reasons Jaguars fans should be excited about the future. However, Jacksonville is matching up with a Giants defense that has surrendered fewer than 170 passing yards in five of six games. In half-PPR or full-PPR settings, the G-men allow the second-fewest FPPG to wide receivers.
Darnell Mooney, Bears @ Patriots (Lutovsky). Mooney has been trending up the past few weeks, but the Patriots' defense has been on another level against bad QBs in that same span. New England held Detroit and Cleveland to a total of 15 points in Weeks 5 and 6, so we don't expect the Pats to have any trouble limiting Justin Fields and the Bears.
WEEK 7 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Week 7 Fantasy Football Busts: Tight ends
Tyler Conklin, Jets at Broncos (Iyer). It was a fun, short run while it lasted, but Zach Wilson is showing love mostly to his running backs and also has killed his wide receiver values, too.
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins vs. Steelers (Piva). Don't chase points! Everyone will be down with the Gesicki-ness this weekend after he hauled in six-of-seven targets for 69 yards and a TD against the Vikings, but he failed to exceed 41 yards in each of Miami's five games before last weekend and had just one other score all season. Pittsburgh surrenders just 8.6 FPPG to TEs.
Hunter Henry, Patriots vs. Bears (Lutovsky). Henry seems to have developed a rapport with rookie Bailey Zappe, catching eight-of-12 targets for 135 yards and a TD over the past two weeks. If Zappe starts again for Mac Jones (ankle), Henry seemingly has more upside, but either way, we don't like the veteran TE against a Bears defense allowing the eighth-fewest FPPG to tight ends.
WEEK 7 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
Week 7 Fantasy Busts: Defenses
Tennessee Titans vs. Colts (Iyer). The season-long matchup stats say Tennessee is arguably the best sleeper option this week, but keep in mind Indy didn’t allow a sack last week despite 58 drop backs by Matt Ryan. More important, this defense isn’t very good, period.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Chiefs (Piva). The 49ers' injury report is an ugly sight and includes many prominent members of DeMeco Ryans' defensive nucleus. While I expect San Francisco to be much, much better than it was against Atlanta, we also know full well what Patrick Mahomes and company are capable of in big games (especially coming off losses). Seek better options.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seahawks (Lutovsky). L.A.'s defense has been one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy this season, and a matchup against a surprisingly competent Seahawks offense doesn't figure to help. Seattle should be able to expose the Chargers' porous run defense and limit D/ST scoring opportunities.
