Below is our Week 7 Start & Bench Advice for the 2012 fantasy football season.
This start ‘em and sit ‘em advice is not typical, in fact, it’s both bold and unconventional.
If you are looking for plain and simple, or a “play it safe” analysis, you’re in the wrong place.
Let’s get to it!
Smitty’s Week 7 Projections
*These fantasy football projections are by position, and I have ranked the top 20QBs, top 25RBs and top 50WRs/TEs. The scoring format used is a standard PPR format.
Week 7 Quarterback Projections
| Player | Match-Up | Pa Yds | Pa TDs | INTs | Ru Yds | Ru TDs | FF Pts | |
| 1 | Cam Newton | vs. DAL | 290 | 2 | 1 | 65 | 1 | 33 |
| 2 | Aaron Rodgers | at STL | 325 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 28.75 |
| 3 | Robert Griffin III | at NYG | 225 | 1 | 1 | 65 | 1 | 25.75 |
| 4 | Drew Brees | at TB | 300 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 25.5 |
| 5 | Andy Dalton | vs. PIT | 300 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 24.2 |
| 6 | Eli Manning | vs. WAS | 310 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 22 |
| 7 | Tom Brady | vs. NYJ | 295 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 21.25 |
| 8 | Matthew Stafford | at CHI | 285 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 21.25 |
| 9 | Russell Wilson | at SF | 220 | 1 | 2 | 40 | 1 | 21 |
| 10 | Andrew Luck | vs. CLE | 270 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
| 11 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | vs. TEN | 275 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19.75 |
| 12 | Joe Flacco | at HOU | 245 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 19.75 |
| 13 | Ben Roethlisberger | at CIN | 245 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 19.35 |
| 14 | Sam Bradford | vs. GB | 275 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 18.25 |
| 15 | Matt Schaub | vs. BAL | 220 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 15.5 |
| 16 | Jay Cutler | vs. DET | 225 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 14.25 |
| 17 | Tony Romo | at CAR | 275 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13.75 |
| 18 | Josh Freeman | vs. NO | 225 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 13.65 |
| 19 | Carson Palmer | vs. JAC | 220 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 11.4 |
| 20 | Brandon Weeden | at IND | 245 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 11.25 |
Week 7 Running Back Projections
| Player | Match-Up | Ru Yds | Rec | Re Yds | TTL TDs | FF Pts | |
| 1 | Ray Rice | at HOU | 120 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 26.5 |
| 2 | Darren McFadden | vs. JAC | 90 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 23.5 |
| 3 | C.J. Spiller | vs. TEN | 80 | 4 | 55 | 1 | 23.5 |
| 4 | Matt Forte | vs. DET | 90 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 23 |
| 5 | Arian Foster | vs. BAL | 100 | 3 | 22 | 1 | 21.2 |
| 6 | Adrian Peterson | vs. AZ | 100 | 3 | 22 | 1 | 21.2 |
| 7 | Alfred Morris | at NYG | 80 | 3 | 22 | 1 | 19.2 |
| 8 | Doug Martin | vs. NO | 85 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 17.9 |
| 9 | Chris Johnson | at BUF | 85 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 17.9 |
| 10 | Maurice Jones-Drew | at OAK | 85 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 16.5 |
| 11 | Steven Jackson | vs. GB | 80 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 13.5 |
| 12 | Stevan Ridley | vs. NYJ | 70 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 12.5 |
| 13 | Darren Sproles | at TB | 40 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 12.5 |
| 14 | BenJarvis Green-Ellis | vs. PIT | 70 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 12.2 |
| 15 | Alex Green | at STL | 60 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 11.4 |
| 16 | Trent Richardson | at IND | 80 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 11.2 |
| 17 | Ahmad Bradshaw | vs. WAS | 55 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 10.9 |
| 18 | Fred Jackson | vs. TEN | 55 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 10.9 |
| 19 | Marshawn Lynch | at SF | 75 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 10.5 |
| 20 | Frank Gore | vs. SEA | 65 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 9.7 |
| 21 | Vick Ballard | vs. CLE | 60 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 9.1 |
| 22 | DeAngelo Williams | vs. DAL | 55 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 8.7 |
| 23 | Felix Jones | at CAR | 45 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 7.7 |
| 24 | Mikel Leshoure | at CHI | 50 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 6.7 |
| 25 | Michael Bush | vs. DET | 35 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4.9 |
Week 7 Wide Receiver/Tight End Projections
| Player | Match-Up | Ru Yds | Rec | Re Yds | TTL TDs | FF Pts | |
| 1 | A.J. Green | vs. PIT | 0 | 5 | 100 | 1 | 21 |
| 2 | Brandon Marshall | vs. DET | 0 | 6 | 90 | 1 | 21 |
| 3 | Victor Cruz | vs. WAS | 0 | 5 | 95 | 1 | 20.5 |
| 4 | Reggie Wayne | vs. CLE | 0 | 6 | 85 | 1 | 20.5 |
| 5 | Calvin Johnson | at CHI | 0 | 5 | 90 | 1 | 20 |
| 6 | Torrey Smith | at HOU | 0 | 5 | 90 | 1 | 20 |
| 7 | Larry Fitzgerald | at MIN | 0 | 5 | 90 | 1 | 20 |
| 8 | Andre Johnson | vs. BAL | 0 | 5 | 90 | 1 | 20 |
| 9 | Pierre Garcon | at NYG | 0 | 5 | 86 | 1 | 19.6 |
| 10 | Jordy Nelson | at STL | 0 | 5 | 85 | 1 | 19.5 |
| 11 | Percy Harvin | vs. AZ | 30 | 4 | 55 | 1 | 18.5 |
| 12 | Kenny Britt | at BUF | 0 | 5 | 75 | 1 | 18.5 |
| 13 | Jimmy Graham | at TB | inj | inj | inj | inj | inj |
| 14 | Wes Welker | vs. NYJ | 0 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 18 |
| 15 | Mike Wallace | at CIN | 0 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 18 |
| 16 | Dez Bryant | at CAR | 0 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 18 |
| 17 | Lance Moore | at TB | 0 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 18 |
| 18 | James Jones | at STL | 0 | 4 | 70 | 1 | 17 |
| 19 | Vernon Davis | vs. SEA | 0 | 5 | 60 | 1 | 17 |
| 20 | Vincent Jackson | vs. NO | 0 | 4 | 70 | 1 | 17 |
| 21 | Josh Gordon | at IND | 0 | 4 | 65 | 1 | 16.5 |
| 22 | Antonio Brown | at CIN | 0 | 5 | 55 | 1 | 16.5 |
| 23 | Marques Colston | at TB | 0 | 4 | 60 | 1 | 16 |
| 24 | Rob Gronkowski | vs. NYJ | 0 | 4 | 55 | 1 | 15.5 |
| 25 | Dennis Pitta | at HOU | 0 | 4 | 55 | 1 | 15.5 |
| 26 | Steve Smith | vs. DAL | 0 | 4 | 55 | 1 | 15.5 |
| 27 | Donald Jones | vs. TEN | 0 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 28 | Chris Givens | vs. GB | 0 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 29 | Rueben Randle | vs. WAS | 0 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 30 | Scott Chandler | vs. TEN | 0 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 31 | Martellus Bennett | vs. WAS | 0 | 4 | 45 | 1 | 14.5 |
| 32 | Kyle Rudolph | vs. AZ | 0 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 14 |
| 33 | Sidney Rice | at SF | 0 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 14 |
| 34 | Golden Tate | at SF | 20 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 11.5 |
| 35 | Denarius Moore | vs. JAC | 0 | 4 | 70 | 0 | 11 |
| 36 | Hakeem Nicks | vs. WAS | 0 | 4 | 65 | 0 | 10.5 |
| 37 | Anquan Boldin | at HOU | 0 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 9.5 |
| 38 | Stevie Johnson | vs. TEN | 0 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 9.5 |
| 39 | Andre Roberts | at MIN | 0 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 9.5 |
| 40 | Nate Washington | at BUF | 0 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 9.5 |
| 41 | Brandon Lloyd | vs. NYJ | 0 | 4 | 50 | 0 | 9 |
| 42 | Miles Austin | at CAR | 0 | 4 | 50 | 0 | 9 |
| 43 | Fred Davis | at NYG | 0 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 8.5 |
| 44 | Randall Cobb | at STL | 0 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 8.5 |
| 45 | Brandon Myers | vs. JAC | 0 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 8.5 |
| 46 | Aaron Hernandez | vs. NYJ | 0 | 3 | 55 | 0 | 8.5 |
| 47 | Jermaine Gresham | vs. PIT | 0 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 8 |
| 48 | Jared Cook | at BUF | 0 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 8 |
| 49 | Brandon Pettigrew | at CHI | 0 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 8 |
| 50 | Cecil Shorts | at OAK | 0 | 4 | 40 | 0 | 8 |
Byes: Falcons, Broncos, Chiefs, Dolphins, Eagles, Chargers
Trade For Them Before Week 7
Cam Newton – Everyone doubted RG3 prior to Week 6, due to some inconsistent play. This is the same thing, buy-low now while you still can!
C.J. Spiller – He hasn’t quite bounced-back fully from his recent injury. Now would be the time to buy! Don’t overpay, though, because you don’t have to. Is there risk? Sure, he is boom or bust at this point, but the boom could be top five-like.
Julio Jones – Wow. If there was ever a bigger buy-low heading into the second half of a fantasy football season, I have never seen it. Cam Newton is close, but this is the big one! Buy-low while you still can, because this kid has top 2-5 fantasy WR upside moving forward. He has a bye this week, but his inability to help fantasy owners this week, coupled with his recent poor play, will surely have owners listening to offers.
Looking For Week 7-Only Rankings?
View these Weekly Line-Up Rankings here (week 7 only, and we have both PPR and Non-PPR).
Note: These rankings could be updated as early as Tuesday afternoons, but could be ready as late as Wednesday evenings at 6pm EST. These Weekly Rankings are maintained by Mile_High_Man.
Comment Below! Get Some Week 7 Advice!
NOTE: JRMRRT, Whos_Ur_Doggie, bddavidson and Mile_High_Man will be the contributors/moderators answering the comments below, as most all of my (Smitty) Week 7 thoughts can be found above in the projections listed… these fine folks will provide some much-needed and highly-recommended variation to all of your weekly line-up dilemmas.
I own Julio Jones and I don’t think he’s really played poorly, it’s more that he’s been really inconsistent (literally double digit-single digit-double digit every single week so far this season) because he and Roddy keep eating into each other’s production. This past game was a good example, they both got an equal amount of targets from Ryan but it happened to be Roddy who found the end zone this week. I can’t really trade Julio because of his talent but this maddening inconsistency has been killing my team and is beginning to make me question whether I can really start him every week (my other receivers are Green, Harvin, Hartline and Washington). I’ve literally been W-L-W-L-W-L with a 3-3 record so far this season and I’ve found that it’s really been correlating with how Julio does :\
If you’re starting 3 wrs every week would you really consider starting brian hartline or nate washington over julio jones? Thats something that wouldn’t even come close to crossing my mind regardless of matchups.
only during a bye week or injury can you start those guys over JJ. welcome guys bring this over to the forum and lets debate it..
Hey Dev…I feel like Julio is trade-able is a redraft league but a must hold in dynasty leagues. Remember he suffered a hand laceration this season as well.
Julio is my No. 2 overall WR moving forward…. Hartline, who is good, is a strong WR3. Any questions?
Hi guys, i got a few guys to choose from and i need 1 WR, 1 TE and a flex. Heres my options rashard mendenhall is going against a weaker defense but still not sure about being 100%, brandon pettigrew who is playing chicago’s defense but chicago has a bit of trouble with tight ends, wes welker who has been great lately but has the jets next week and is probably gonna have darelle revis all over him, percy harvin who is defenitely the number 1 in minnesota but arizonas defense has looked solid, or jimmy graham who im not sure about as far as being healthy but if hes playing how can you sit him against tampas poor pass defense. I know its kind of a lot but what do yall think?
hey jimmer, i would be starting harvin/welker and graham if he plays. revis tore his acl and is on IR,
Jimmer….my advice if its worth anything to you: Percy Harvin and Wes Welker are must starts. Revis is out for the year so no worries there. You 100% play Graham at TE IF he plays…Saints have been silent about his ankle but light will be shed if he practices or not this week. Easy answer…Percy, Welker, Graham if he plays and if not Pettigrew obviously. I won’t even bother asking if it is a PPR although if it is you ALWAYS start Percy and Welker. Don’t over think matchups when it comes to stud players.
sound adivce JK
I need someone to play at flex this week. Im considering kenny britt because he seems like the definite number 1 and buffalo’s D is terrible. Or possibly rashard mendenhall because he always has the possibility to have a great game if healthy, it sounds like he should be good to go. Who would you guys go with?
Or im possibly considering brandon pettigrew because he has a lot of potential and is due to go off soon and detroit is going to do a lot of passing manday night against the bears
Id go with Britt Blaine…GL
I have Steven Jackson, Benjarvis Green-Ellis, Vick Ballard, Shonne Green. Do I try an pick up Feliz jones off waivers and drop one of these?
Hey Jim…Id drop Ballard for Felix if you need Felix as a starter this week or are a Murray owner.
Mendenhall witten or josh gordon at flex?
I’d go with Witten.
Should I trade Roddy for Spiller? With Murray out for who knows how long…
My other RBs are Shady, Sjax, Ballard, and W. Powell.
Other WR: Harvin, Marshall, Lance Moore
I know I should probably try and get more for Roddy but my league is super outside the box with regard to trade value and making deals – it is nearly impossible to come to a solid agreement. Also the rest of the league (besides the guy who has spiller) has little RB depth and won’t deal a true stud for Roddy. Should I pull the trigger on this?
Dynasty or redraft, I would gladly trade Roddy for Spiller. With Murray nursing an injury, Spiller becomes a great add to your team and you still have Harvin, Marshall and Moore to carry on.
It is the first year for this league and we have not decided on whether it will be dynasty or redraft yet.
Hey John…It should be redraft IMO. You should decide whether or not it will be dynasty in the pre-season well before you draft. Future draft picks should be involved in a dynasty start-up draft. Also, the 2 draft strategies are completely different. In redraft, age doesn’t matter where as dynasty leaguers value youth.
Oh yeah…And dynasty rules…Once you start playing in dynasty leagues, redrafts get boring. GL.
What do you think of stafford? No QB has had more than 12 fantasy points against the bears defence and Stafford isn’t playing that well. I’m expecting a complete bust for him this week and I am considering starting Sam bradford over him… what are your thoughts?
I like Stafford but probably not this week. Bradford might be the better play. I know most of the time you go with your studs but it could be a long day for Stafford.
Posted in forum as well…just lookin for a lil input.
nonppr….
QBs (need 1): Newton (vs Dall), Ben (@Cin)
RBs (need 2): Lynch (@SF), RIdley (vs Jets), Martin (vs NO), ABrown (vs Wash)
WRs (need 2): Harvin (vs Ari) , Calvin (@Chic), NIcks (vs Wash), Britt (@Buff)……….Harvin and Calvin are obviously in @WR
Flex (need 1 RB/WR):…?
Thanks!
Cam
ridley/martin
harvin/calvin
Britt or nicks
Josh gordon or brandon gibson. I like gordom but am having second thoughts
I like Gordon between the two.
Or alex green. Its for a flex
And what about between aaron hernandez and jason witten at TE
Jonne i think maybe Green will be the safest play, gordon is a boom/bust type guy at the moment. and i would roll with hernz
would witten be a good flex play over green or is that not as good of a play
Is schaub a good start with a banged up balimore defense. Ryan is my QB and i was thinking about picking up fitzpatrick or palmer. Are they gonna be better starts schaub?
Hey Steve…I like Schaub this week at home vs a banged up Balt defense. Fitzpatrick should be productive as well. GL.
Thoughts on Stafford vs Fitzpatrick this week? Chicago defense scares me a bit, but that game could be a shootout.
I have the choice of Stafford, Britt and Rudolph vs. Fitzpatrick, AJ Green and Chandler just for this week. Which would you pick?
I’m confused Harley…Why cant you play Stafford with Green? Of those options I go with Fitzpatrick, Green and Chandler though…
Thanks, its a 1 week trade option. Long story, but that was helpful.
How about Santana Moss vs. Justin Blackmon for this week only?
I need to start 2, non-ppr—-
Spiller vs. Ten, Martin vs. N.O., Ridley vs. Jets
Who starts?
Thank You!
Hey TamMan…Id go with Spiller and Ridley.
Good morning lads
With McCoy on a Bye and Lynch facing the Niners I decided to play 3 WRs this week.
I could play 2 WRs and 2 TEs
Right now I have AJG, Cruz, Dez and Gronk in my line-up.
But I have Fitz, Britt, Denarius Moore, DHB available
I have Gronk as my TE because I think that he is due.
But, also have Hernandez and Witten.
Should I stay with AJG, Cruz, Dez and Gronk?
Cutler or luck this week
luck
Stafford or Cutler?
stafford