As always, fantasy football is a wild ride. It’s been no different in the 2021 edition. Entering Week 7, we are getting to know the identities of most teams around the league, which means barring injury, it gets easier to project usage and tendencies of fantasy football players.
Sure, there are outliers and situations, but we know what we’re going to get for the most part.
However, I wouldn’t get too comfortable and complacent. You must always be on your toes and looking ahead as a fantasy football manager. You might be counting on Jonathan Taylor‘s recent emergence, but what if he gets banged up?
What’s more, there are six teams on a bye in Week 7, two more than last week. There are fewer players in the player pool.
This is another reason why sleepers are so important to your weekly and overall season outcome in fantasy football. You need to know the best plug-n-play options in case you are in a jam.
Week 7 Byes: Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings
Please note that all NFL Week 7 odds and lines below are current as of Tuesday, October 19.
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 7: Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans vs Kansas City Chiefs
- Chiefs-Titans Total: 56.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 56.5 (-110), Under 56.5 (-110)
Maybe I am delirious, but I trust Ryan Tannehill to pop and have his best fantasy outing of the year against the Chiefs on Sunday. While the Chiefs are surrendering the second-most FPPG (28.0) to enemy quarterbacks, Tannehill has also played well against the Chiefs since he’s joined the Titans, passing for 181-plus yards and two touchdowns in their two meetings since 2019.
While Tannehill hasn’t been at his best this season, he has still finished with 19.1 fantasy points in four out of six games. However, he’s dropped off of late, finishing with fewer than 16.1 fantasy points in each of his past two. In a game with one of the highest totals on the slate, look for Tannehill to have his most productive fantasy finish of the year.
This is a get-right game for Tannehill. One that he can pop in and showcase his outstanding supporting cast.
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Deep QB Week 7 Sleeper: Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks
- Saints-Seahawks Total: 44 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 44 (-110), Under 44 (-110)
I am not a big Jameis Winston guy but it is hard to overlook him in Monday night’s matchup with the Seahawks. They are a tough out at home, but the Seahawks’ defense can be exploited.
Entering the Saints’ Week 6 Bye, Winston was coming off one of his best games of the year. He threw for 279 yards with four touchdowns and a pick while adding another 26 rushing yards in Week 5 against Washington, finishing with a season-high 32.6 fantasy points.
Seattle’s defense is allowing the 14th most FPPG (22.6) to quarterbacks. Every quarterback they’ve faced outside of Ben Roethlisberger and an injured Jimmy Garoppolo has dropped 19.1-plus fantasy points on them this season.
I don’t expect Winston to pop for 30-plus points here, but he is a solid plug-n-play fantasy option in a Week 7 slate with six teams on a bye.
More Week 7 QB Sleepers To Consider
- Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 7: Running Back
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals vs Houston Texans
- Texans-Cardinals Total: 48 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 48 (-110), Under 48 (-110)
James Conner has stayed healthy and productive for the Cardinals. While he has to contend with Chase Edmonds for touches, he is still the RB2 in PPR leagues this year while Edmonds is the RB17. Conner got off to a slow start this season, but has now finished with 10.7 PPR points in three of his past four games with five scores during that span.
While Conner did not top double-digit PPR points last week, he still logged 71 total yards on 17 touches. The opportunity was there but he needs a touchdown to really return max value.
Conner could get back on track in Week 7 against the Texans. Houston’s defense is ceding the 11th most FPPG (25.38) to running backs and has allowed a back to score a touchdown in four of six. As long as Conner continues to get the usage — he’s drawn 17-plus touches in two of his past three games — he will return a high floor on Sunday.
Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins
- Falcons-Dolphins Total: 47.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 47.5 (-110), Under 47.5 (-110)
Mike Davis hasn’t been great this season as the Falcons’ presumed RB1, but he has scored 10+ PPR points in all five games played. He brings a high floor while hybrid Cordarrelle Patterson brings the high ceiling. While Davis has only scored twice this season, the touchdowns have come in each of his past two games. He will look to extend that scoring streak to three games in Week 7.
Davis has a terrific matchup with a Dolphins defense allowing 30.8 FPPG to running backs, good for second-most in the NFL. They have surrendered a touchdown to a back in five consecutive games since Week 2. Miami’s defense can also be exploited by pass-catching running backs. Davis has four-plus targets in four of five games this season including three games with five or more.
Davis is a solid floor play who can bring back-end RB2 value if he scores.
Deep RB Week 7 Sleeper: Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
- Panthers-Giants Total: 43 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 43 (-115), Under 43 (-105)
- The Panthers may once again have to get used to playing without Christian McCaffrey. While he is on short-term IR, he could always regress like last season. Look for them to continue to lean on Chuba Hubbard.
Since taking over for CMC, Hubbard has dominated the backfield over Royce Freeman, more than doubling him in snaps in every game. It’s not even close in touches either. Hubbard has 77 since Week 4 while Freeman has logged eight. While he struggled in his first start against Dallas back in Week 4, Hubbard has now finished with 13.4 PPR points in each of his past two games.
Now, Hubbard gets a dream matchup with the Giants, whose defense is allowing the ninth-most FPPG (26.4) to enemy running backs through six games. They’ve been gashed since losing Blake Martinez (knee) for the year back in Week 3 and have surrendered 24.7-plus PPR points to a back in two straight games.
Hubbard is in line for his most productive game as a pro.
More RB Sleepers To Consider
- Darrel Williams, Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennessee Titans
- J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team @ Green Bay Packers
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 7: Wide Receiver
A.J. Green, Arizona Cardinals vs Houston Texans
- Texans-Cardinals Total: 48 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 48 (-110), Under 48 (-110)
A.J. Green has seen a career resurgence since joining the Cardinals. No longer operating as the WR1 on his team, Green now sees lighter coverage with DeAndre Hopkins commanding the Jalen Ramsey‘s of the league.
Despite a crowded and talented wide receiver room, Green has played the second-most snaps to Hopkins. He’s also drawn exactly six targets in five of six games this season while finishing with 13.4-plus PPR points in four of his past five games and a touchdown or 112 yards in those four outings.
Green will look to keep it going in a solid matchup against the Texans. This could be a statement blowout game for the Cardinals. The Texans are a team they should dominate while showcasing to the rest of the league, as well as the media elite, that they are for real.
Look for Allen Robinson to get back on track against a vulnerable Buccaneers secondary in Week 7. (Image: USA Today Sports)
Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Bears-Buccaneers Total: 47.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 47.5 (-110), Under 47.5 (-110)
Normally, Allen Robinson is not a sleeper. He has name value, but that’s about all he has in 2021. Normally quarterback-proof, Robinson has yet to get it going with Justin Fields. Robinson has only managed one game with 10-plus PPR points this season with his lone touchdown scored in that same outing. Robinson has also accumulated fewer than six receptions and 63 yards in all six games played.
Coming off a seven-target outing last week against the Packers, his second highest target total of the year and most since Week 1, Robinson has a legit shot to finally produce in Week 7 against an atrocious Buccaneers secondary.
Suffering from injuries, Tampa Bay’s secondary is a make-shift bunch allowing the third-most FPPG (44.7) to wide receivers. In fact, they were getting lit up even when they were healthier. While Tampa’s secondary has been a tad better in the past three games against the Eagles, Patriots, and Dolphins, Robinson will arguably be the best wideout they’ve lined up against since getting torched by the Rams in Week 3.
If Robinson doesn’t get it done in Week 7, I don’t know what to tell you.
Deep WR Week 7 Sleeper: Marquez Callaway, New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks
- Saints-Seahawks Total: 44 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 44 (-110), Under 44 (-110)
With Michael Thomas‘ return still in question, it remains safe to employ Marquez Callaway in your fantasy lineups despite the Saints’ low-volume passing attack. Entering New Orleans’ Week 6 Bye, Callaway was beginning to get going.
In two of his past three games, Callaway has drawn five-plus targets. In those two games, Callaway managed four-plus receptions, 41-plus yards, and at least one touchdown. Callaway finished both of those games with 14.1-plus PPR points.
Callaway enters a plus matchup at the Seahawks, whose defense isn’t getting the job done at any level. They’re surrendering 40.7 PPR points per game to enemy wideouts, good for eighth-most in the NFL. While the Seahawks’ defense has only given up six touchdowns to wide receivers, they have given up the seventh-most receptions (88) and the fifth-most yards (1,176).
More Week 7 WR Sleepers To Consider
- Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins vs Atlanta Falcons
- Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 7: Tight End
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals vs Houston Texans
- Texans-Cardinals Total: 48 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 48 (-110), Under 48 (-110)
In Zach Ertz’s debut with the Cardinals, look for Kliff Kingsbury to feature his new toy. Following a regressive 2020 campaign, Ertz has come back to life in 2021, scoring 12-plus PPR points in three of his past four games.
Now in an uber-efficient offense in which he will be the TE1 one rather than sharing time with Dallas Goedert, Ertz could be a league-winning tight end for the duration.
With so many weapons at Kyler Murray‘s disposal, you can make the case that Ertz will draw the easiest coverage he has ever had to deal with in his career.
Look for Ertz to pop in Week 7 getting a Texans defense that can’t stop an enemy tight end if they were allowed to have 21 men on the field. Houston’s defense is surrendering a league-high 19 FPPG to the position. They’ve given up four touchdowns in the past three games to tight ends.
Deep TE Week 7 Sleeper: Anthony Firkser, Tennessee Titans vs Kansas City Chiefs
- Chiefs-Titans Total: 56.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 56.5 (-110), Under 56.5 (-110)
Anthony Firkser has been an afterthought in fantasy and on his own team in 2021. Despite offseason hype off of presumed opportunity with the departure of Jonnu Smith, Firkser has face-planted.
While Firkser has been targeted four-plus times in three of four games played this season, he has yet to top three receptions or 33 yards. He also has yet to score a touchdown. That can all change in Week 7 as Firkser gets a Chiefs defense that has been gashed by tight ends at will.
Not only is the Kansas City defense allowing the fifth most FPPG (17.9) to the tight end position, but they have also yielded 10.6 PPR points to six different tight ends, four of those games coming in the last three weeks (Dawson Knox, Ricky Seals-Jones, Dallas Goedert, Zach Ertz).
The Chiefs’ defense has allowed a tight end to score in three consecutive games. For Firkser, he’s played in two career games against Kansas City. He’s scored in both of them.
*Be sure to shop the sportsbooks and find Firkser’s anytime touchdown scorer prop. History and matchup say it will cash.
More Week 7 TE Sleepers To Consider
- Ross Dwelley, San Francisco 49ers vs Indianapolis Colts
- Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs New York Jets
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 7: Kicker
Zane Gonzalez, Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
- Panthers-Giants Total: 43 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 43 (-115), Under 43 (-105)
Zane Gonzalez is a quality fantasy kicker if given the opportunity. As per usual, I target kickers on teams that can move the football into enemy territory, but sometimes have difficulties punching it into the end zone. Cue the Panthers sans Christian McCaffrey (hamstring, IR).
Gonzalez gets an excellent matchup at the Giants, whose defense allows 9.8 FPPG to kickers in fantasy. This lines to be a double-digit point week for Gonzalez, especially if Sam Darnold starts seeing those old Meadowlands ghosts again and can’t sore the football. It is, after all, almost Halloween.
More Week 7 PK Sleepers To Consider
- Nick Folk, New England Patriots vs New York Jets
- Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennessee Titans
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers for Week 7: Defensive Team
New England Patriots vs New York Jets
- Patriots-Jets Total: 42.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook
- Over 42.5 (-110), Under 42.5 (-110)
The Patriots’ defense took a massive step back in 2021. In fact, it is one of the worst Belichick-ian defenses to memory. However, the one time in which they scored 10-plus fantasy points was back in Week 2 against the very same team they play in Week 7, the New York Jets.
In Week 2, New England suffocated New York’s offense, holding them to six points while sacking Zach Wilson four times and picking him off four times. I don’t think Wilson will be that defective again, but the Pats should return north of 10 points with ease.
Anoter Week 7 D/ST To Consider
- Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
- Cleveland Browns vs Denver Broncos
Want more Week 7 fantasy football advice? Check out our Week 7 Fantasy Football Best Waiver Wire Adds.
NFL Week 7 Injuries to Monitor
- RB Alex Collins (glute, hip)
- RB Kareem Hunt (calf)
- RB Latavius Murray (ankle)
- WR Kadarius Toney (ankle)
Anthony’s Accountable: Sleeper Pick Success Rate
This is a recap of my plays from Week 6 (skill position players only). I consider a sleeper a hit if the player scores 10-plus PPR points (15-plus for QBs):
Anthony’s Sleepers are 43-29 this season.
- QB Trevor Lawrence (15.86)
- QB Taylor Heinicke (10.12)
- RB Myles Gaskin (3.4)
- RB Damien Williams (DNP, COVID)
- RB Darrel Williams (23.9)
- WR Jakobi Meyers (11.4)
- WR Emmanuel Sanders (14.1)
- WR Jaylen Waddle (29)
- TE Hunter Henry (10.5)
- TE Mike Gesicki (13.9)
- K Nick Folk (3)
- DST Colts (16)
