Week 7 Fantasy Football Player Matchups and Notes: Who to Start and Sit 

Your one-stop source for player notes and ratings for every single week seven NFL matchup has arrived. We’ve scoured the matchups, roles, injuries and player value across the league, and offer our stance on each game and player for week seven.

There are only 13 games this week with six teams on bye, but there are still plenty of favorable matchups that should yield quality fantasy numbers. Read on to see who should be regarded as the top flight fantasy options this week:

Note: We rate players on a star rating from 1 to 5, 5 being the best for the week (★★★★★).

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 Saints Fantasy Options

QB Drew Brees – Brees is a machine and Bucs pass D leaves a lot to be desired. ★★★★★

RB Mark Ingram – He hasn’t done jack and Bucs tough against run. ★★

RB Darren Sproles – He’ll get plenty of targets and could get some carries, too. ★★★★

RB Pierre Thomas – Saints ground attack struggling and matchup not good. ★★

WR Marques Colston – Could be in for a monster game if Graham is out or slowed by ankle. ★★★★★

WR Lance Moore – Is 100% for this one and should see plenty of opportunities against weak pass defense. ★★★★

WR Devery Henderson – Role should take a hit with Moore back, but matchup makes him worth a shot. ★★★

TE Jimmy Graham – Stud option as always, but ankle is a question mark. ★★★★

K Garrett Hartley – He’s missed some kicks but he should make up for it this week. ★★★★★

Saints DEF/ST – They can’t stop anyone with consistency so it’s tough to use them. ★★

VS.

 Buccaneers Fantasy Options

QB Josh Freeman – Freeman looked great last week and this matchup is tasy as it gets. ★★★★

RB Doug Martin – Not blowing up but the role is there and Saints D is shaky. ★★★★

RB LeGarrette Blount – Is getting more touches and is a red-zone threat. ★★★

WR Vincent Jackson – Has been a monster and matchup says his roll continues. ★★★★★

WR Mike Williams – Is converting deep balls consistently and Saints struggle against pass. ★★★★

WR Preston Parker – 3rd receiver with little upside, but matchup could help. ★★

TE Dallas Clark – Not happy with his role, but that’s unlikely to change. ★★

TE Luke Stocker – Used mostly for blocking, so look elsewhere for TE help. ★★

K Connor Barth – Pretty reliable and could be very active in this one. ★★★★

Buccaneers DEF/ST – Underrated D but hard to see them stopping Saints. ★★★

Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers

 Cowboys Fantasy Options

QB Tony Romo – Romo can be a beast and Panthers D hasn’t been very good at all. ★★★★

RB DeMarco Murray – Murray is out this week with an injured foot.

RB Felix Jones – Jones looked good last week and should have a nice role against a bad Panthers run D. ★★★★

RB Phillip Tanner – Tanner also looked solid last week and could be in line for 8-10 touches. ★★★

WR Dez Bryant – Bryant is really coming on, but should draw Gamble in this one. ★★★★

WR Miles Austin – Has just 11 targets the past two weeks, so role is lessening. ★★★

WR Kevin Ogletree – Ogletree hasn’t done jack since week one, as we expected. ★★

TE Jason Witten -He’s turned it on lately so he’s worth a shot in this one for sure. ★★★★

K Dan Bailey – Dallas hasn’t put up a ton of points, but that might work in his favor. ★★★

Cowboys DEF/ST – They’re underrated and it’s not like Panthers haven’t been stopped in 2012. ★★★

VS.

 Panthers Fantasy Options

QB Cam Newton – Newton is too good to be so average in fantasy. He should shine this week. ★★★★

RB Jonathan Stewart – Hasn’t done a whole lot this year but is probably the Panthers back to use. ★★★

RB DeAngelo Williams – Still very explosive, so you never know. ★★★

WR Steve Smith – Hasn’t been up to snuff and should draw ‘Boys top corner, so could be a tough week. ★★★

WR Brandon LaFell – With Dallas focusing on Cam and Smith, he could find a decent day. ★★★

TE Greg Olsen – Olsen has established himself as a borderline TE1 and should be solid this week. ★★★★

K Justin Medlock – Panthers move the ball very well, so Medlock could be very busy. ★★★★

Panthers DEF/ST – Their D is still super shaky, so hard to trust. ★★

Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings

 Cardinals Fantasy Options

QB John Skelton – Tough matchup but he’s the guy with Kolb out. ★★

RB William Powell – Should definitely see some carries but this isn’t the weak to hope he blows up. ★★★

RB LaRod Stephens-Howling – Might start and get some touches, but Powell is the guy to use. ★★

WR Larry Fitzgerald – He gets his one way or another, so keep him in your lineup. ★★★★

WR Andre Roberts – Might benefit from Fitz being double covered all day. ★★★

WR Early Doucet – Decent enough slot guy, but Skelton hurts his potential. ★★

WR Michael Floyd – Major upside and is coming on a bit, but Skelton limits his ceiling. ★★

TE Todd Heap – Has slowed down and can’t be trusted anymore. ★

TE Rob Housler – Speedy big body who needs Heap to crumble to have value. ★

K Jay Feely – Feely is still a very solid option, but his offense has major red flags. ★★★

Cardinals DEF/ST – Aggressive unit that could easily shut Min down. ★★★★

VS.

 Vikings Fantasy Options

QB Christian Ponder – I like his moxie but Cards are a tough draw. ★★

RB Adrian Peterson – Cards got run on all day last week and he’s DUE for a big TD game. ★★★★★

RB Toby Gerhart – He doesn’t have much of a role, so he’s hardly even a Flex play right now. ★★

WR Percy Harvin – Very explosive and heavily involved. Gotta play him every week. ★★★★★

WR Jerome Simpson – He’s hurting and might not even play. ★

WR Michael Jenkins – One-tricky pony with diminishing skills but could be needed. ★★

TE Kyle Rudolph – Rudolph is a major red-zone threat but the matchup isn’t good. ★★★

K Blair Walsh – Rook has been very strong all year and could be called upon a bit in this one. ★★★★

Vikings DEF/ST – Never hurts to face John Skelton, right? ★★★★★

Tennessee Titans @ Buffalo Bills

 Titans Fantasy Options

QB Jake Locker – Ruled out, but will return in week 8.

QB Matt Hasselbeck – Not terrible and Bills D is lacking, so he certainly has a chance to help you. ★★★

RB Chris Johnson – Is very hit or miss right now but Buffalo is pretty awful against the run usually. ★★★★

WR Kenny Britt – Britt got it going last week and could blow up vs Bills. ★★★★

WR Nate Washington – Washington is an underrated starter and could post quality numbers here. ★★★

WR Kendall Wright – Matchup and situation bodes very well for the talented rook. ★★★

TE Jared Cook – Big play-maker who is just inconsistent. Matchup is nice, however. ★★★★

K Rob Bironas – I expect a lot of points here, so Bironas should be busy. ★★★★★

 Titans DEF/ST – Titans D is getting a little better, and Fitzpatrick can turn the ball over in bunches. ★★★

VS.

 Bills Fantasy Options

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick – Titans can def be scored on so he has a shot this week. ★★★★

RB Fred Jackson – Titans not that scary and he’s still getting a good amount of touches. ★★★

RB C.J. Spiller – Sharing the ball, but he does more with his touches than F-Jax does. ★★★★

WR Stevie Johnson – Not bad and matchup really bodes well. ★★★★

WR Donald Jones – Hit or miss but this isn’t a bad week to take a shot with him. ★★

WR T.J. Graham – Big play guy with some upside, but hasn’t done a whole lot yet. ★

WR Brad Smith – Gimmick guy. Role can’t be trusted on a weekly basis. ★

TE Scott Chandler – Is a great red-zone guy and has a great matchup, so go with him if you need him. ★★★★

K Rian Lindell – Usually reliable, and matchup could ask him to hit the field a bit. ★★★★

Bills DEF/ST – Their money isn’t showing up on the field yet, but Titans aren’t elite or anything. ★★★

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

 Redskins Fantasy Options

QB Robert Griffin III – He’s a machine so look past the fact that he’s facing the Giants. ★★★★★

RB Alfred Morris – He’s getting it done every week and Giants can be run on at times. ★★★★

WR Pierre Garcon – Can take a two-yarder and turn it into 80 yards but will he even play? ★★★

WR Santana Moss – Still a reliable receiver but not used consistently. ★★

WR Josh Morgan – He can run down the field well, but targets will be spotty. ★★

WR Leonard Hankerson – Talented with considerable upside, but role isn’t reliable still. ★★

TE Fred Davis – Can get it done with this matchup, so feel free to use him. ★★★

K Kai Forbath– Pretty solid overall, and points are expected in this one. ★★★★

Redskins DEF/ST – They aren’t that scary, but do tend to show up vs Eli and Giants. ★★

VS.

 Giants Fantasy Options

QB Eli Manning – Eli could go off in this one but Redskins do have his number. ★★★★

RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Bradshaw has been on fire but recent foot woes are troubling, for sure. ★★★

RB Andre Brown – Brown should get some touches this week with Bradshaw’s foot not being 100%. ★★★

RB David Wilson – Wilson is explosive but touches are spotty. ★★

WR Hakeem Nicks – Nicks isn’t 100% so he’s hard to trust right now, despite a great matchup. ★★★

WR Victor Cruz – With Nicks hampered, Cruz is the man right now. ★★★★★

WR Rueben Randle – Randle is raw, but he can get it done if called upon. ★★

WR Domenik Hixon – Dixon is the team’s #3 receiver, so he can do some damage here. ★★★

WR Ramses Barden – Role is spotty unless someone is out. ★★

TE Martellus Bennett – Looks to be healthy this week and matchup works. ★★★

K Lawrence Tynes – Tynes is pretty underrated, and this could be a high-scoring affair. ★★★★

Giants DEF/ST – Giants aren coming off huge game and they can dominate anyone. ★★★★

Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts

 Browns Fantasy Options

QB Brandon Weeden – He’s actually been solid and Colts D is pretty weak. ★★★

RB Trent Richardson – He’s a machine but rib injury could affect his role this week. ★★★★

RB Montario Hardesty – Should see more carries this week and matchup works in his favor. ★★★

WR Greg Little – Is beyond unreliable and has been passed up by Gordon. ★★

WR Josh Gordon – Very raw but continues to make huge plays. Matchup is saliva enducing. ★★★★

WR Josh Cribbs – Slot guy at best, but could add return value. ★★ 

WR Travis Benjamin – Lots of upside here, but no reliable role. ★

TE Ben Watson – Still is a physical presence, but looks to be regressing. Matchup isn’t bad, however. ★★

TE Jordan Cameron – Very athletic tight end and matchup could benefit him. ★★

K Phil Dawson – He could be active in this one and he’s normally reliable. ★★★

Browns DEF/ST – They’re not that bad and they could give Luck fits if all goes well. ★★★

VS.

 Colts Fantasy Options

QB Andrew Luck – He’s been really good overall but Joe Haden could make things difficult. ★★★

RB Vick Ballard – Getting the start again and could do better than last week. ★★★

RB Delone Carter – Could see more work this week if Ballard struggles again. ★★

WR Reggie Wayne – Major target champ but Joe Haden will likely be on him all day. ★★★★

WR T.Y. Hilton – Could benefit from Haden covering Wayne. ★★★

WR Donnie Avery – Ditto. ★★★

TE Coby Fleener – Size and speed are nice but he doesn’t block well so role is spotty. ★★★

TE Dwayne Allen – Sees the field a lot and gets better each week. ★★

K Adam Vinatierie – Reliable kicker who should get plenty of opportunities in this one. ★★★

Colts DEF/ST – This is a pretty bad D, overall. ★

Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans

 Ravens Fantasy Options

QB Joe Flacco – Flacco only has one elite outing on the year and Texans aren’t a cakewalk normally. ★★★

RB Ray Rice – Never sit the guy, while no Cushing could mean more room to run. ★★★★★

WR Torrey Smith – Awesome big-play threat who can get it done in any game. ★★★★

WR Anquan Boldin – Will be open underneath and could be solid WR2 this week. ★★★

WR Jacoby Jones – Always has a chance with his speed, but hard to trust. ★★

TE Ed Dickson – Athleticism gives him a chance any week, but role is shaky. ★★

TE Dennis Pitta – Hasn’t done much lately, but always has a chance. ★★★

K Justin Tucker – Has been very solid and should be used plenty in this one. ★★★★

Ravens DEF/ST – Major losses on defense make them vulnerable all of a sudden. ★★★

VS.

 Texans Fantasy Options

QB Matt Schaub – Schaub doesn’t pass as much as he used to, but Ravens D isn’t the same, either. ★★★★

RB Arian Foster – Foster is a flat-out beast and you always start him. ★★★★★

RB Ben Tate – Is always a risk to get 10+ touches with how Texans pound the rock. ★★

WR Andre Johnson – AJ has to get going and Ravens did lose top corner last week. ★★★★

WR Kevin Walter – The #2 on paper but he’s very hit or miss. ★★

WR Lestar Jean – Is back, but super hit or miss in this offense. ★★

WR Keshawn Martin – Young guy on the rise, but no clear role. ★★

TE Owen Daniels – Solid ppr guy and could be active in this one. ★★★★

K Shayne Graham – Graham benefits from his very solid offense, so always worth using. ★★★★

Texans DEF/ST – Missing Brian Cushing, but they’re not automatically push-overs. ★★★

Green Bay Packers @ St. Louis Rams

 Packers Fantasy Options

QB Aaron Rodgers – Rams aren’t an easy matchup but he’s been killing it. ★★★★★

RB Alex Green – Lead back right now, and Rams can be run on at times. ★★★

RB James Starks – Role is weak and he’s a weak talent, too. ★★

WR Greg Jennings – Likely out for the third straight week. ★★

WR Jordy Nelson – He’s turning into an elite receiver, but this is a tough matchup. ★★★

WR James Jones – Killing it with Jennings out, so his hot roll could go on. ★★★★

WR Randall Cobb – Versatile and explosive and could be open underneath a lot. ★★★★

WR Donald Driver – Role can’t be trusted, but Jennings is out, so you never know. ★

TE Jermichael Finley – He drops a ton of balls and isn’t 100%, but Rodgers does throw to him. ★★★

K Mason Crosby – Crosby is solid and should be active in this one. ★★★★

Packers DEF/ST – Rams aren’t bad but Pack can really put the pressure on at times. ★★★★

VS.

 Rams Fantasy Options

QB Sam Bradford – Bradford could be OK here, but Packers still aren’t an easy matchup. ★★★

RB Steven Jackson – Losing carris to Richardson so increasingly harder to trust. ★★★

RB Daryl Richardson – Cutting into S-Jax’s load and Pack can be run on. ★★★

WR Brandon Gibson – Gibson is the man right now so look for solid target numbers. ★★★

WR Chris Givens – Givens is a big play guy, so you never know. ★★★

WR Austin Pettis – Pettis is a decent slot guy, but role is shaky. ★★

TE Lance Kendricks – Kendrick’s has not been great this year, so hard to expect much. ★★

K Greg Zuerlein – Legatron is a beast and gets tons of chances seemingly every week. ★★★★★

Rams DEF/ST – St. Louis is a very tough D but hard to stop Packers, even at home. ★★★

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Oakland Raiders

 Jaguars Fantasy Options

QB Blaine Gabbert – Gabbert has been very shaky but Raiders are a good matchup actually. ★★★

RB Maurice Jones-Drew – MJD will get the rock a ton in this one so you have to use him. ★★★★★

WR Justin Blackmon – Blackmon has been weak so far but not a bad matchup. ★★★

WR Laurent Robinson – Jags struggle with deep ball but this could be the week. ★★★

WR Cecil Shorts – Doesn’t see the ball a ton but has made some huge plays. ★★

TE Marcedes Lewis – Red-zone target but he’s been blocking more than usual. ★★★

K Josh Scobee – Reliable option but offense hinders his value. ★★★

Jaguars DEF/ST – They’re not the worst and Palmer could hand them a pick six or three. ★★★

VS.

 Raiders Fantasy Options

QB Carson Palmer – Palmer throws picks like they make him money, but he’ll rack up yardage, too. ★★★★

RB Darren McFadden – Time for him to have his true bust out game of 2012. ★★★★★

RB Mike Goodson – Seems to always turn it on when he’s in the game, but hard to trust. ★★

WR Denarius Moore – Explosive deep threat just getting his health back, so major potential here. ★★★★

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey – Just getting back into it, but matchup looks great. ★★★

WR Rod Streater – Hit or miss, but matchup should be good for him. ★★

TE Brandon Meyers – Excellent PPR who could finally score in this one. ★★★★

K Sebastian Janikowski – Rock solid and Jags are a good matchup to use him against. ★★★★★

Raiders DEF/ST – Oakland D isn’t great but always a chance against Gabbert and Jags. ★★★

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

 Jets Fantasy Options

QB Mark Sanchez – Pats can certainly be passed on and Sanchez tends to show up in bigger games. ★★★

QB Tim Tebow – Talk of using him at RB is very interesting, but role is very small still. ★

RB Shonn Greene – Greene blew up last week, but Pats tough against run. ★★★

RB Bilal Powell – Powell is out this week, along with Joe McKnight.

WR Stephen Hill – Raw as heck, but could do damage against Pats weak pass D. ★★★

WR Jeremy Kerley – Slot guy who can be solid at times. Matchup works for him. ★★★

WR Chaz Schilens – Pretty mediocre talent but role isn’t the worst and matchup is beatable. ★★

TE Dustin Keller – Just getting healthy and matchup is good for him. ★★★

K Nick Folk – Folk is inconsistent and there’s that chance Pats shut Jets down. ★★★

Jets DEF/ST – Their D isn’t totally dead just yet, but stopping Pats is tall order. ★★★

VS.

 Patriots Fantasy Options

QB Tom Brady – Brady is always a beast and and Jets D has been ravaged. ★★★★★

RB Stevan Ridley – Ridley is a machine most weeks and Jets can be run on all day. ★★★★★

RB Brandon Bolden – He’s been solid but healthy is a question mark. ★★

RB Shane Vereen – Vereen is versatile but role is shaky. ★★

RB Danny Woodhead – Woodhead may see some snaps this week, but he doesn’t have much value. ★★

WR Wes Welker – Always a treat, and doubtful Cromartie is on him all day. ★★★★★

WR Brandon Lloyd – Probably draws Cromartie, which hurts his ceiling this week. ★★★

WR Julian Edelman – He’ll see some time on the field, but role isn’t clear. ★

TE Rob Gronkowski – The Gronk isn’t 100% and could give way to Hernandez in this one. ★★★★

TE Aaron Hernandez – Hernandez is so versatile and always active, so he’s worth a go. ★★★★

K Stephen Gostkowski – There’s little doubt the Pats will score in this one, so he’s an elite play. ★★★★★

Patriots DEF/ST – Defense is hit or miss but Jets offense is a safe play most weeks. ★★★★

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

 Steelers Fantasy Options

QB Ben Roethlisberger – Big Ben should be fine in this one, as Bengals can be very shaky on D. ★★★★

RB Isaac Redman – Could be the main man this week if he’s OK and Mendy is out. ★★★

RB Jonathan Dwyer – Ditto, if Red and Mendy are out. ★★★

RB Rashard Mendenhall – Achilles issues and bad week six make him a risk this week. ★★

WR Mike Wallace – He hasn’t been elite this year but he always has a chance. ★★★★

WR Antonio Brown – Brown can make something out of nothing. He’ll have a big game. ★★★★

WR Emmanuel Sanders – If Wallace gets wrapped up, Sanders could benefit. ★★

TE Heath Miller – Miller has been used more this year, so he’s worth a shot most weeks. ★★★

K Shaun Suisham – Solid matchup and he seems to always get points. ★★★★

Steelers DEF/ST – They’re still a solid unit but injuries and age are catching up with them. ★★★★

VS.

 Bengals Fantasy Options

QB Andy Dalton – Dalton tends to struggle against better defenses, so we’ll see this week. ★★★

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis – Steelers not really elite against run right now so he has a chance. ★★★

WR A.J. Green – Only viable Bengals receiver and he can’t be stopped. ★★★★★

WR Brandon Tate – He’s not starting material, so don’t expect much. ★

WR Andrew Hawkins – Great with the ball in his hands and could be used with Steelers draping Green. ★★★

TE Jermaine Gresham – Has been solid and could be needed in this one. ★★★★

K Mike Nugent – Solid kicker, but matchup could be better. ★★★

Bengals DEF/ST – Cincy is a balanced defense, but Steelers know them pretty well and need a win badly. ★★★

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears

 Lions Fantasy Options

QB Matthew Stafford – Horrible matchup for Stafford on paper, but he always has a chance. ★★★

RB Mikel Leshoure – This has turned into a one man backfield while Bears can be run on at times. ★★★★

WR Calvin Johnson – Megatron needs to be started every week. Touchdowns will come. ★★★★★

WR Titus Young – Has been a disapointment but you never know. ★★

WR Nate Burleson – Young is stinking it up so he hasn’t been a bad PPR guy. ★★★

TE Brandon Pettigrew – Pett is a PPR guy first, and Lions may need him often against Bears. ★★★★

TE Tony Scheffler – Scheffler is a quality red-zone guy, but he is still a backup. ★★

K Jason Hanson – Even at 100, Hanson is still a top-five option most weeks. ★★★★

Lions DEF/ST – Detroit is leaky, but they can get sacks and force turnovers. Plus they’re facing Cutler. ★★★

VS.

 Bears Fantasy Options

QB Jay Cutler – Should have a field day but he could also implode. ★★★★

RB Matt Forte – Lions can be run on and he’s due for a huge game. ★★★★

RB Michael Bush – Could vulture a touchdown, but otherwise should give way to Forte. ★★★

WR Brandon Marshall – Could have a huge week. Lions not great against pass. ★★★★★

WR Earl Bennett – Cutler’s slot man isn’t the worst ppr option out there. ★★

WR Devin Hester – Role could expand with Jeffery out and he plays well under the lights. ★★★ 

TE Kellen Davis – Davis has the size and role to surprise some people. Matchup certainly is there. ★★★

K Robbie Gould – Gould is an excellent option this week with a great matchup. ★★★★★

Bears DEF/ST – They won’t crush the Lions, but they should do enough to get you solid points. ★★★★★