You blinked and are either in desperation mode or looking at the peasants below you in your fantasy football league standings who don’t read Roto Street Journal.
CJay helped identify some key sleepers while I was on injured reserve, including players such as Rico Dowdle, Michael Carter, Josh Downs, and Stefon Diggs.
But now, managers are juggling more players on injured reserve and top teams on their bye week. Does anyone possibly stand out in Week 7 that you haven’t heard of? Maybe they’re still easing into their rookie campaign or off to a slow start? Maybe they’re filling in for an injury? Regardless, more times than not last season, these picks ended up on the right side of the ball.
What you may need is that extra oomph to start someone you’re on the fence with.
Last week, Panthers’ QB Bryce Young, Chargers’ RB Hassan Haskins, Patriots’ RB TreVeyon Henderson, Packers’ WR Matthew Golden, Colts’ WR Josh Downs and 49ers tight end Jake Tonges made the list.
Jake Tonges’ “who?!” was definitely accurate.
But Downs and Young’s second-best showing of the season helped those who trusted the faith.
To help you make these decisions, this article contains my top five sleepers of the week, and why.
Editor’s Note: These Fantasy Football Week 7 sleepers rank Tier 4 or lower on The Wolf’s Week 7 Rankings.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 SLEEPERS
Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Vs Houston Texans
Sam Darnold has been on a tear to begin his tenure in Seattle. Aside from eight points in his first game as a Seahawk, Darnold has at least 22 points in all five other games, including a whopping 39 in a Week 5 shootout.
A lot of sites are listing Darnold as a bust alert this week, but I’m wary of that being the truth. Just like other outlets should be wary of saying Houston is ranked first against fantasy quarterbacks this season without mentioning the lack of competition the Texans have faced this season.
Trevor Lawrence, Cam Ward and Cooper Rush scare no one, and aside from Baker Mayfield 26 fantasy points (215 yards, two touchdowns), they’ve faced a rollercoaster Los Angeles Rams team and Matthew Stafford in Week 1.
However, I do believe the Texans are tops in the league at stopping the run.
Because of that, I think Seattle either wins or loses because of Darnold.
Darnold has 636 passing yards in his last two games and has connected with receivers for six passing scores in those games, too.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton and A.J. Barner are all healthy coming into this game. These options – plus Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet – will be the biggest test for Houston so far this season.
Darnold ranks in Tier 4 (QB 19) on The Wolf’s Week 7 Rankings.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Vs New England Patriots
Sunday is a homecoming for Patriots’ head coach Mike Vrabel after being fired from the Titans following the 2023 season.
Tennessee is arguably the worst team in the league and should be chasing points again this weekend.
New England has done well overall against the run this season, but I’m expecting Tyjae Spears, who will be playing in his third game of the season, to continue building on his overall output despite Tennessee’s team struggles.
Spears turned nine total touches into 50 yards, but most importantly, he played more snaps than starting running back Tony Pollard. Pollard has seen his rushing attempts decrease in four of five games following Week 2, too.
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley has already been ruled out for Week 7, so Spears provides another much-needed offensive option.
An uptick in usage and the firing of Tennessee’s head coach could be a formula to see Spears – and the Titans – have their best offensive output of the season.
Spears ranks in Tier 6 (RB 46) on The Wolf’s Week 7 Rankings.
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
@ Chicago Bears
I’m the first person who will absolutely hate on quarterback Spencer Rattler. But I can’t ignore Chris Olave’s recent usage and the good matchup the Saints have this week with the Bears.
Olave has 21 targets in New Orleans’ last two games and I like his value the most in PPR formats this week. Five receivers have scored at least 13 PPR points this season against Chicago, and aside from Week 4, Olave has double-digit targets.
The Bears don’t have a big-name corner or safety threat, and I’m hoping Chicago emphasizes deep-threat Rashid Shaheed instead of Olave.
That, paired with Chicago ranking in the bottom third of the NFL in both sacks and quarterback pressure, should provide Rattler more time to connect with Olave and the offense.
Olave ranks in Tier 4 (WR 21) on The Wolf’s Week 7 Rankings.
Sterling Shepard, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
@ Detroit Lions
A player’s best ability is availability.
It’s nerve-racking to think of waiting until Monday night to decide whether you’re going to play a receiver. However, I’m fairly confident Tampa Bay should be without Chris Godwin (leg) and Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) and could still be missing Mike Evans (hamstring).
The Buccaneers’ depth chart of receivers has been spewed by the talking heads this week, but Sterling Shepard is really the only guy to own here. Shepard has proven he can play the most out of the trio of him, Tez and Kameron Johnson.
Ignoring that, paired with the fact that Detroit allows the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers, would be silly. I for one did not pack my clown nose.
I’m more confident if you’re searching for double digits in PPR, but if Evans does play, he should draw corner Amik Robertson, allowing Shepard even more range.
Shepard ranks in Tier 6 (WR 41) on The Wolf’s Week 7 Rankings.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns
Vs Miami Dolphins
Although he’s ranked as tight end No. 9 this week, I’m not convinced many people are aware of his opportunity this week.
Harold Fannin Jr. will be the starting tight end in a favorable matchup at home against Miami.
David Njoku (knee) has already been ruled out and the Dolphins have not been able to limit tight ends for years at this point. The Dolphins have already given up more than 400 yards this season to the position and Miami’s defensive injuries give them a Swiss cheese approach again this week.
Mason Taylor and Oronde Gadsden are names becoming recognizable because of their usage against Miami, and Fannin Jr. fits the mold of lesser-named players who could be in highlight reels.
Fannin Jr. ranks in Tier 3 (TE 9) on The Wolf’s Week 7 Rankings.
