By this point in a challenging 2022 season, every roster has faced adversity. This week’s brutal byes also won’t help. With our Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 7, we can help you recognize hidden values that may need to be plugged into your starting lineup.
Whether it is as a bye-week replacement or longer, here are some Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 7 to consider.
Quarterbacks
Matt Ryan (QB) Indianapolis Colts – Ryan is coming off a monster game in which he threw for 389 yards and three TDs on 58 attempts. This week he goes head-to-head with the Titans who are allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. He does not come without risk, however, the upside you’re looking for is there as well.
Jacoby Brissett (QB) Cleveland Browns – Generally, Brissett isn’t going to wow you or blow you away with monster numbers. However, he should be a safe option this week with more upside than usual. He takes on the Ravens who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to QBs this season and seem to completely collapse in the second half week after week.
Running Backs
Kenyan Drake (RB) Baltimore Ravens – Drake turned back the clock last week and looked great rushing for 119 yards and a TD on just 10 carries. We don’t know what’s going on with J.K. Dobbins’s knee and Drake should be able to hit double-digit carries again whether or not Dobbins plays. He’d be a great sleeper regardless of matchup, but this week he takes on a porous Browns’ defense that is allowing the third-most fantasy points to RBs.
Tony Pollard (RB) Dallas Cowboys – If you are playing the Lions you need to start your running backs. They are allowing more fantasy points to position than any team in the league. While Ezekiel Elliott is still the top dog in Dallas, Pollard is close behind and holds more PPR and big play upside. You should find a way to fit him in your lineup this week if at all possible.
Kareem Hunt (RB) Cleveland Browns – Coming off a horrific week, it sounds like a lot of fantasy owners are throwing in the towel on Hunt. That would be a mistake, especially this week against the Ravens. While they are a tough matchup on the ground, they are susceptible to pass-catching backs. When it comes to yards on the ground to RBs, they are the 11th best in the league. However, they are allowing the fourth-most receiving yards and the third-most receptions to backs this season. The bottom line is this matchup favors Hunt much more than it favors Nick Chubb.
Jamaal Williams (RB) Detroit Lions – Just because D’Andre Swift is expected to play this week doesn’t mean you need to cast Williams aside. He still has a major role in this offense and gets plenty of work on the goal line. For as good as the Cowboys’ defense has been this season they are below average against the run. Banking on Swift having a reduced role is probably a mistake. Even so, Williams gets enough work to have a fantasy impact.
Wide Receivers
Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR) Cleveland Browns – The Ravens are horrible against the pass and you should be considering pass-catchers who play against them. You don’t need us to tell you that for the 235th time this month. Nonetheless, the numbers you need to know are DPJs. He has topped 50 yards in three straight games and four on the season, and he’s outgained Amari Cooper in three of four games this season. He’s averaged seven targets a game in October and should thrive in a great matchup this week.
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR) New York Giants – The highly-touted rookie played for the first time since Week 1 last week and immediately led all Giants’ wideouts in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He is far and away the most talented wideout on an offense desperate for a playmaker at the position. His role should only expand from here.
Tyquan Thornton (WR) New England Patriots – Thornton is another rookie who was hyped up through training camp before succumbing to injury and made his return two weeks ago and had his coming out party last week. All he did was score two TDs and lead all Patriots’ pass-catchers in fantasy points. Perhaps even more interestingly he also saw three carries he took for 16 yards and a TD. He’s a sleeper start and a must-add this week if he’s on waivers.
Marquez Callaway (WR) New Orleans Saints – Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, and Adam Trautman have all been ruled out again this week leaving Chris Olave needing someone else to emerge opposite him. Last week, Callaway led the Saints’ receivers with seven targets with Olave sidelined. He should serve as the WR2 this week. He should see WR2 targets but is also far from a lock. So be aware of the risk here.
Tight Ends
Greg Dulcich (TE) Denver Broncos – If you are looking to add a tight end off of waivers it’s hard to find one with more rest-of-seaon upside than Dulcich. The rookie made his NFL debut last week and looked great. He went for 44 yards and a TD and his 71 percent snap count was the most for any Broncos’ tight end this season. He immediately put a stranglehold on the TE1 job in Denver that had been productive but was split by three guys. It’s all his now.
Cade Otton (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – This is a simple explanation. Cameron Brate suffered another injury last week and will not play for a while most likely. Otton is a talented rookie and the last man standing in a Tom Brady-led offense. Therefore, he has potential upside every week and is worth taking a look at as a sleeper option.
