Goal Line Stand: Week 7 Rankings

Updated 10/23 at 6:45 PM. Added T.J. Yeldon and Jeremy Maclin. Moved Antonio Gates down. Moved Jordan Reed up. Removed Chris Thompson. Moved Matt Jones up. Added Stevie Johnson and Eric Ebron. 

Sunday will be Todd Gurley’s third NFL start. He’ll be the No. 3 running back. Since his forgettable Week 3 debut, the No. 10 overall pick has taken the rock 49 times for 305 yards (6.22 YPC). That would be bad news for any opponent. It’s really bad news for a Browns run defense getting pasted for 5.0 yards per carry, and a preposterous 149.8 yards per game.

The complete package as a runner, Gurley has made it abundantly clear why he was the first back to go in the top 10 since 2012. As powerful as he is quick, Gurley is always looking downfield. He has feel, something Trent Richardson lacked, and something that becomes lethal when paired with Gurley’s rare natural skill. It doesn’t matter who he’s running behind or how many times he’s asked to do it. Gurley was born to be an NFL running back, and Sunday he’s going to run all over a defense that doesn’t have the horses to stop him.  

Week 7 Quarterbacks

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QB Notes: Fresh off throwing for the 16th most yards in NFL history, Philip Rivers gets a Raiders defense silver plattering a weekly 299 through the air. With his health near 100 percent and his supporting cast at full strength, Rivers — who is averaging 353 yards per game — isn’t about to slow down. … Two months shy of his 36th birthday, Carson Palmer is on pace to set new career highs in yards (4,632), touchdowns (37) and yards per attempt (9.00). His 64.8 completion percentage would be his best since 2007. He’s going to have a field day against the Ravens, who are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. … Coming off his first INT-less performance of the season, Andrew Luck has a get-right matchup in a Saints pass defense allowing 272 yards per game and 8.6 yards per attempt. Sean Payton’s unit has been stung for an 11:2 TD:INT ratio against. Luck is no longer the odds-on favorite to finish as the QB1, but top-five remains well within his reach.

Let’s not forget — Tom Brady is a bad matchup for the Jets, too. But man, Brady hasn’t seen a defense like this in 2015. Todd Bowles’ squad is virtually eliminating the pass, allowing opponents to complete just 52.4 percent of their throws. The Jets’ 5.4 YPA against is the best in the league by over half a yard. Only the Broncos are allowing fewer fantasy points to quarterbacks. The current QB1, Brady is as good as ever, but he’s not going to carry your team in Week 7. … Cam Newton is the QB4 despite averaging just 216 passing yards. The key remains his legs, with three ground scores supplementing his eight air strikes. At home against an Eagles defense that’s yet to face a dual threat, Newton will be a good bet for his third top-five finish of 2015. … Drew Brees’ arm isn’t in a whole lot better shape than Peyton Manning’s, but unlike his fellow future Hall-of-Famer, Brees continues to get his numbers. Relying on precise timing and feathery ball placement, Brees has kept the chains moving by relentlessly targeting his tight ends, running backs and the slot. His ceiling isn’t quite what it once was, but he remains more than capable of taking advantage of good matchups like the one he has in the Colts.

Eli Manning has been boom or bust, throwing for 212 yards or fewer in 3-of-6 starts. The first team to shut Manning down was the Cowboys, who held their division rival to 193 yards and zero scores in Week 1. That game was in Dallas, however, and Manning has been much better at home. Seven of Manning’s 11 scores have come in New York, where his completion percentage, YPA and QB rating all blow away his road marks. Eli should bounce back from Monday’s embarrassment in Philadelphia. … Merely the QB20 through the season’s first six weeks, Russell Wilson has an appealing Week 7 matchup in a 49ers defense allowing a league-worst 306 weekly yards through the air, but it comes on a short week on the road. … Matt Ryan has topped 300 yards just once in six starts, and has yet to throw for three touchdowns. He has only six scores in five games since Week 1. Ryan has been fairly consistent, but that includes a low ceiling. … It’s often been ugly, but Blake Bortles checks in as the QB6. He’s thrown for multiple touchdowns in four of his past five starts, and has yet to attempt fewer than 33 throws. His rate stats suggest a dud is coming, but it’s unlikely to be against a Bills defense that’s been surprisingly limp against the pass.  

Ryan Tannehill has tossed multiple picks in three straight starts, but like the rest of his team, appeared renewed in Tennessee last Sunday. Back home for Week 7, Tannehill has a nice matchup in a Texans defense allowing the seventh most fantasy points to quarterbacks. … Week 6 was Matthew Stafford’s first four-score performance since Week 6, 2013. … While some are calling for Sam Bradford’s benching, others may have noticed he’s the QB8 over the past three weeks. Bradford was truly dreadful in Monday’s win over the Giants, but continuing to hit big plays, he’s been better in this fantasy world of ours than the “real” one. … Sooner or later, Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to get exposed like he always does, but for Week 7 he gets a Patriots defense allowing the eighth most fantasy points to enemy signal callers. That’s good enough for a quarterback who has managed multiple scores in 4-of-5 starts. … Joe Flacco has been feast or famine, but his numbers would be better had Steve Smith Sr. not missed half of Week 4 and all of Week 5. The Cardinals are an imposing matchup, but Flacco will be throwing plenty in the desert.   

Marcus Mariota claims he’s ready to play through his sprained MCL, but should be considered highly questionable. Mariota undoubtedly wants to suit up, but is going to have an extremely difficult time convincing the Titans to risk their franchise player’s health. … Derek Carr struggled in two starts before the Raiders’ bye, and returns against a Chargers defense that’s been stingy through the air. Carr has taken genuine steps forward, but he’s not a high-end streamer on the road. … Josh McCown came back down to earth against the Broncos’ elite defense in Week 6, and should remain there in St. Louis. He’s earned the top-20 benefit of the doubt, but it’s not a great week to fire him up in DFS. … Brian Hoyer has been white hot since replacing Ryan Mallett, but Dan Campbell’s energized Dolphins have some cold water ready for Sunday. … Colin Kaepernick has been just as hot as Hoyer, but he’s hard to trust as a QB2 on a short week against the Legion of Boom. … Likely missing Jeremy Maclin (concussion), Alex Smith has a below sea level floor. … Zach Mettenberger is the premier punt play of Week 7. … Landry Jones came through for the Steelers in a pinch, but I have a hard time believing he won’t be the worst quarterback to make a start in 2015.

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