RADIO
The fantasy football season is in full swing and fantasy managers can start to shape up for a potential playoff run or retool after a rough start. The fantasy outlook of many NFL players is starting to be written in stone as trends will start to solidify over the next couple of weeks.
Some players are beginning to break out while injuries have opened the door for other players to thrive yet again. All of this is a part of the fun and allure of fantasy football. The unpredictable nature of the NFL is addicting for fantasy managers.
As trends for players solidify, trends for defenses are also taking shape. This makes it much easier to predict how well players will perform every week now that we have an idea of which defenses are legitimate. As such, let's check out the best matchups in Week 7.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchups We Love
Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles
Opponent: at NYG
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 20th
Hurts is entering Week 7 coming off his second-best fantasy outing of the season and arguably his best overall game of the season. With a healthy complement of wide receivers, Hurts thrived en route to 264 passing yards and two touchdowns.
The Giants are the No. 20 defense against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy football. They are marred with injuries on offense that should allow the Eagles defense to get off the field and put the offense in a positive game script. Hurts should have another nice outing in this one.
Lamar Jackson - Baltimore Ravens
Opponent: at TB
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 30th
Jackson is in MVP form at this point in the season. The Ravens are rolling with a four-game winning streak and are heading into Week 7 against the No. 30 defense against quarterbacks in fantasy. Yes, it's go time.
Jackson is getting it done with his arm and his legs in 2024. With Derrick Henry behind him in the backfield, things seem to have opened up for Jackson in all facets of the game. Jackson has a chance for a week-winning performance in Week 7.
Lamar Jackson was the MVP last year and has been even better this year. One reason why: he’s been terrific vs the blitz.
2023: 62 QBR, .04 EPA/play (16th)
2024: 88 QBR, .27 EPA/play (3rd) pic.twitter.com/2gTbQ3aKy4
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) October 14, 2024
Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchup to Temper Expectations
C.J. Stroud - Houston Texans
Opponent: at GB
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 8th
Stroud has not been the fantasy quarterback many wanted this season and he has found himself on this list a couple of times. The Packers have been pretty good against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy, which limits the allure of Stroud.
Stroud enters this contest without his top target, Nico Collins, who is currently on injured reserve. He still has excellent options in Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs, but his week-winning upside is pretty low. You may want to find a streaming option other than Stroud in this one.
Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups We Love
Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers
Opponent: at WAS
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 23rd
Hubbard enters this matchup against the Washington Commanders as the RB5 in fantasy football. The Commanders just got gashed on the ground by Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens and have had trouble containing opposing running backs all season.
With Hubbard receiving so much volume, he should continue to feast. Even if the Panthers fall behind to a prolific Commanders offense in this game, Hubbard has seen at least four targets in every game but one, suggesting that he will be fully involved even in a negative game script. He is a high-end RB2 with upside this week.
Chuba Hubbard has 92+ rush yards and 4+ receptions in four consecutive games.
Le’Veon Bell is the only player to hit those marks in five straight.
— Jeff Bell (@4WhomJBellTolls) October 15, 2024
Derrick Henry - Baltimore Ravens
Opponent: at TB
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 18th
Speaking of Derrick Henry, this guy cannot be stopped in 2024. Henry is a freight train who is running his way through the league. He has scored in every game this season and shows no signs of halting that trend in Week 7 when the Ravens visit the Buccaneers.
This game should feature an offensive explosion from both Tampa Bay and Baltimore. Neither defense is particularly prolific, and Henry should see his weekly goal-line touchdown. Henry is the RB2 in fantasy with only eight targets on the season, so you should start him this week.
Fantasy Football Running Back Matchups to Temper Expectations
David Montgomery - Detroit Lions
Opponent: at MIN
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 2nd
Montgomery finds himself on this list without his running mate Jahmyr Gibbs because this game projects to be a potential track meet between two excellent passing offenses going up against excellent rushing defenses. As such, while Montgomery may find running lanes difficult to come by, Gibbs should be able to make a living in the passing game.
Montgomery has scored in every game this season and he surely will continue that trend if the Lions find themselves inside the 5-yard line. However, his yardage total and carry total may be relatively low and his lack of involvement in the passing game limits his overall upside.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups We Love
Amon-Ra St. Brown - Detroit Lions
Opponent: at MIN
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 32nd
The Minnesota Vikings defense may be able to shut down running backs, but it is far from good against opposing passing offenses. The Vikings are allowing the third-most passing yards per game in the league. This is in part because they build leads and teams have to throw but they have also been legitimately susceptible in that department.
St. Brown has not had any massive outings yet in 2024, but that could change in Week 7. The target volume is where it needs to be and St. Brown has scored in three straight games. This is a matchup to watch out for in Week 7.
Tank Dell - Houston Texans
Opponent: at GB
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 17th
Although C.J. Stroud finds himself on the temper expectations list, Dell has a chance to thrive in this game. Without Nico Collins in the lineup in Week 6, Dell led the Texans in targets. Dell and Stroud picked up right where they left off in 2023.
The Packers offense should keep the Texans in a throwing mode in Week 7, which is something the Patriots offense was unable to do in Week 6. The Packers defense allows the eighth-most passing yards per game and Dell is primed to lead the team in targets once again. He is a WR2 with upside this week.
Tank Dell tormenting DBs pic.twitter.com/Tm1wpojTXe
— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) October 15, 2024
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Matchups to Temper Expectations
George Pickens - Pittsburgh Steelers
Opponent: NYJ
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 4th
Pickens has been a bit inconsistent in 2024 despite solid target volume. He enters Week 7 as the WR42. The New York Jets present one of the toughest matchups for opposing passing games. You just do not throw on this team.
The Steelers continue to win games with strong defensive play and limited mistakes on offense. If it isn't broken, then don't fix it. Pickens should remain on the bench until the Steelers start to draw some more favorable matchups.
Fantasy Football Tight End Matchups We Love
George Kittle - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: KC
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 32nd
With as good as the Chiefs defense has been, it has been awful against tight ends in fantasy football. Some of those numbers are skewed by Isaiah Likely's Week 1 outburst, but it is still surrendering the most points per game to opposing tight ends.
Kittle is the TE1 and shows no signs of easing up. He has three 20-point fantasy games this season. He has also scored in four straight games. Expect that trend to continue as long as Christian McCaffrey remains out.
Fantasy Football Tight End Matchups to Temper Expectations
Dalton Kincaid - Buffalo Bills
Opponent: TEN
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 1st
Say what you will about Will Levis and the Titans offense, but their defense has been quietly excellent in 2024. Kincaid finds himself on this list again as the Titans boast the No. 1 defense against tight ends in fantasy.
With Amari Cooper coming to town, Kincaid's value is likely to take a hit. He has not been the player many expected him to be in 2024 and now he is unlikely to remain in contention as the No. 1 target on a week-to-week basis. Kincaid is certainly trending down relative to expectations.
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