* Updated Wide Receiver rankings WITH COMMENTS will be posted on Friday. Any additional updates that are necessary will be posted no later than Saturday in the final week 7 rankings.
1. Randy Moss (NE) – He not only met our lofty expectations in week 6, but Moss far exceeded them by finding the end zone 3 times to go along with 8 catches and 129 receiving yards. The amazing part is that he did the vast majority of that damage in one half in a snowy driving wind. Granted, he was facing the Titans, but impressive none the less. Fortunately, the opposition in week 7 is not significantly better. Moss will face a Tampa Bay pass defense that has allowed 13 passing TD’s in 6 games. The Bucs have also allowed more pass plays of over 40 yards than any other team in the NFL which bodes well for the big play receiver. Moss can be safely inserted into week 7 fantasy line ups with the utmost confidence once again as he heads across the pond to play in London. Check injury report: shoulder (probable)
2. Andre Johnson (HOU) – As expected, Johnson ranks near the top in every statistical category that is relevant in fantasy football. We look for continued success in a promising week 7 match up against San Francisco. The 49ers secondary was absolutely torched by Roddy White in their last game and while White is a special receiver, he is no Andre Johnson. That said, we doubt Johnson will match White’s output against the Niners (210 receiving yards and 2 TD’s), but he should have a big day against this defense none the less.
3. Reggie Wayne (IND) – He is averaging 92 receiving yards per game and Wayne has managed to find pay dirt in 4 out of 5 games so far this season. He should continue the trend with a favorable match up against St. Louis’ 27th ranked pass defense in week 7. Wayne is a must start fantasy option each and every week.
4. Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) – He has been on fire the last 2 weeks and he now leads all NFL receivers with 5 TD catches in 5 games. In fact, Fitzgerald has scored at least 1 TD in 4 of his 5 games this season. While a week 7 match up against the Giants does not appear all that promising on paper, Fitzgerald should be able to find success in this match up. After all, the Saints Marques Colston humiliated the Giants secondary just last week. Fitzgerald is more than capable of doing the same.
5. Vincent Jackson (SD) – A week 7 match up against Kansas City is easily his best to date. The Chiefs secondary has been more than generous to big play receivers so far this season and we certainly think Jackson falls under the category of big play receiver. Jackson also has an excellent track record against the Chiefs. He had 11 catches for 172 yards and a TD against them in 2 games last season. He could be in for a monster day.
6. Wes Welker (NE) – In his last 2 games, Welker has accumulated 18 catches for 236 yards and 3 TD’s. Even better, conditions are favorable for yet another big performance in week 7 against Tampa Bay. The Bucs have allowed 13 passing TD’s in 6 games in addition to giving up 8 pass plays of 40 yards or more this season (the most in the NFL). Welker is no longer just a solid PPR option, he has transcended into a legitimate WR1 in all fantasy formats. Check injury report: knee (probable)
7. Steve Smith (NYG) – The NFL’s leader in receptions has slowed down a bit in the last 2 weeks due to the emergence of Hakeem Nicks and other circumstances beyond his control, but we look for him to get back on track with a solid week 7 performance against Arizona. The Cardinals rank 31st in the NFL in pass defense and Smith should see more than enough targets in this promising match up to get the job done.
8. Roddy White (ATL) – He has been one of the best fantasy receivers in the league in each of the last 2 weeks. We see no reason why he shouldn’t keep that streak going in week 7 against a very shaky Dallas secondary. The Cowboys have had a lot of difficulty reeling in top flight receivers so far this season and White is among the best they will face all year. He is a definite must start.
9. Marques Colston (NO) – Following sub par fantasy efforts in week’s 3 and 4, no one expected him to re emerge with a huge performance in week 6 against a top flight Giants secondary, but that is exactly what he did and we expect more of the same from him in week 7 against the Dolphins. Miami has been fairly mediocre against the pass all season and they are very susceptible to giving up big plays through the air which is Colston’s strong suit.
10. Hines Ward (PIT) – Surprise, surprise! Following Ward’s monster performance in week 6, the old timer now leads the NFL in both receptions and receiving yards. Look for another big performance from him in week 7 against a suspect Minnesota secondary that will likely be without their best cover corner back in Antoine Winfield.
11. Chad Ochocinco (CIN) – One way or another, #85 continues to find a way to provide quality numbers each and every week. We see no reason why that should change in week 7 against a middle of the road Bears secondary. He should continue to see plenty of targets, especially in the red zone. Keep Ochocinco penciled in. Check injury report: hip (probable)
12. Donald Driver (GB) – While Driver had flirted with 100 receiving yards already a couple of times this season, he finally reached the magic number in week 6 against Detroit. He has been Aaron Rodgers target of choice throughout much of the season and that should continue into a very favorable week 7 match up against a beat up Cleveland pass defense.
13. Dwayne Bowe (KC) – He was unable to find the end zone in week 6, but Bowe was able to supplement his lack of a TD with his first 100 yard receiving effort of the season. It is obvious that he is building a solid rapport with QB Matt Cassel and it is already paying off in terms of fantasy production. Expect Bowe to continue the trend in week 7 at home against San Diego. Bowe had 6 catches for 44 yards and a TD the last time he faced the Chargers.
14. Greg Jennings (GB) – He showed improvement in week 6 against Detroit, but Jennings is still not playing at the level we are accustomed to seeing him at. That said, you have to like his chances against a beat up Browns pass defense that got lit up last week by the Steelers receiving corps. Jennings is battling some kind of hip injury that came out of nowhere on Thursday, so you will need to monitor his status, although indications are that he will play. Check injury report: hip (probable)
15. Steve Breaston (ARI) – The always consistent slot receiver is coming off of his best fantasy performance of the season and he could be in for an even better week 7 with Anquan Boldin either limited or out with a sprained ankle. Breaston has had no less than 66 receiving yards in a game all season and we like his chances against a Giants secondary that looked quite vulnerable in week 6. As a side note, Breaston had 6 catches for 86 yards against New York’s Giants in week 12 of last season. Check injury report: knee (questionable)
16. Miles Austin (DAL) – Following a ridiculous 250 yard 2 TD performance in week 5 against the Chiefs, Austin now finds himself in the Cowboys starting line up and we are of the opinion that he is much more than just a one game wonder. Austin should be able to work his magic once again in week 7 against a mediocre Falcons secondary. That said, by no means can you expect a repeat of week 5.
17. Santonio Holmes (PIT) – He had been fairly quiet for a few weeks, but the big play receiver finally re emerged in week 6 with 104 yard receiving performance against the Browns. He has a good chance to stay hot in week 7 against a very shaky Minnesota pass defense that will likely be without their best cover corner Antione Winfield for this match up. Holmes is worthy of WR2 status for week 7.
18. Sidney Rice (MIN) – H e is coming off of the best fantasy effort of his career with 176 receiving yards in week 6 and the chemistry between himself and Brett Favre seems to grow stronger each week. That said, Rice will be in for a tough match up in week 7 on the road against the Steelers, but Favre should continue to look his way early and often and Rice should be targeted enough to produce solid numbers once again. That is, as long as Pittsburgh focuses on stopping Adrian Peterson and Bernard Berrian which has become standard practice for opposing defenses when facing the Vikings, but that is no longer a given now that Rice is on the radar.
19. Austin Collie (IND) –The talented slot receiver was the Colts leading receiver in week 5 and he strongly challenged Reggie Wayne for that honor in week 4 as well. Collie should continue his strong run of fantasy success with a promising week 7 match up against the Rams 27th ranked pass defense.
20. Anquan Boldin (ARI) – He is pretty iffy for Sunday night with an ankle sprain, but if he is able to play, we are fairly confident that he will produce, even if it is in a limited role. He has a history of playing through injuries and playing well. Boldin had 11 catches for 87 yards and a TD against the Giants in week 12 last season, so this is a match up that bodes well for him if he is healthy enough to play. Check injury report: ankle (very questionable)
21. Mario Manningham (NYG) – Despite having to split time at receiver with Hakeem Nicks, Manningham’s numbers have continued to be impressive. He has been able to find pay dirt in each of his last 2 games and now has 4 receiving TD’s in 6 games played this season. He has a good chance to continue that trend with a favorable week 7 match up against Arizona’s 31st ranked pass defense. Check injury report: back (probable)
22. Hakeem Nicks (NYG) – Since returning from injury in week 4, Nicks has done nothing but produce. He was the Giants leading receiver in week 6 and has now scored a TD in each of the last 3 weeks. He is limited a bit by having to share reps with Mario Manningham, but Nicks should be on the field more than enough to take advantage of a very soft Cardinals secondary in week 7. Nicks matches up very well against Arizona and it would not be surprising to see him lead the Giants in receiving once again.
23. Pierre Garcon (IND) – He dropped off the radar in week 5 against the Titans, but Garcon should have ample opportunity to re-emerge against a soft Rams secondary in week 7. His speed and big play ability match up great against the generous St. Louis pass defense. He should be used as a low end WR2 for week 7.
24. DeSean Jackson (PHI) – While Jackson was able to bounce back from his week 5 shut out with a solid 94 yard receiving effort in week 6, we do have some doubt as to whether or not he can have much success in week 7. He is certainly capable of a big game against anyone, but his track record against Washington so far suggests otherwise. In 2 career games against the Skins, Jackson has just 3 catches for 22 yards and the Redskins 3rd ranked pass defense appears to be much improved over last season. Jackson is far too valuable to bench against anyone, so you just have to hope for the best and brace for the worst. He qualifies as a low end WR2 or high end WR3 with the difficult match up depending on your other options.
25. Braylon Edwards (NYJ) – He was targeted often last week, but with Jerricho Cotchery out, the Bills were able to smother him holding Edwards to just 40 yards receiving on 3 catches. While Edwards should continue to see plenty of targets in week 7, he has 3 things working against him against the Raiders. 1) Cotchery may not be back this week to help alleviate the pressure 2) Edwards is nursing a quad injury himself and 3) he is likely to face coverage from Oakland’s shut down CB Nnamdi Asomugha. He is capable of bouncing back despite the obstacles, but it will be a tough row to hoe. Consider Edwards a low end WR2 at best under the circumstances. Check injury report: quad (questionable)
26. Steve Smith (CAR)
27. Bernard Berrian (MIN)
28. Johnny Knox (CHI)
29. Roy Williams (DAL) – Check injury report: rib (very questionable)
30. Devin Hester (CHI)
31. Santana Moss (WAS)
32. Kevin Walter (HOU)
33. Antonio Bryant (TB)
34. Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE)
35. Lance Moore (NO)
36. Lee Evans (BUF)
37. Jeremy Maclin (PHI)
38. Percy Harvin (MIN) – Check injury report: shoulder (questionable)
39. Andre Caldwell (CIN)
40. Earl Bennett (CHI)
41. Donnie Avery (STL) – Check injury report: hip (questionable)
42. Ted Ginn (MIA)
43. Michael Crabtree (SF)
44. Mike Wallace (PIT)
45. Terrell Owens (BUF)
46. Malcolm Floyd (SD)
47. Jacoby Jones (HOU)
48. James Jones (GB)
49. Greg Camarillo (MIA)
50. Michael Jenkins (ATL)
* Additional noteworthy WR’s for week 7:
Jerheme Urban (ARI)
Laveranues Coles (CIN)
Robert Meachem (NO)
Josh Morgan (SF)
Devery Henderson (NO)
Davone Bess (MIA)
Bobby Wade (KC)
Chris Chambers (SD)
Patrick Crayton (DAL)
Muhsin Muhammad (CAR)
Chaz Schilens (OAK) – Check injury report: foot (probable)
Chris Henry (CIN) - Check injury report: flu (questionable)
Isaac Bruce (SF)
Josh Cribbs (CLE) – Check injury report: knee, flu (questionable)
Sammy Stroughter (TB)
Keenan Burton (STL)
