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Published: Oct. 21, 2015 at 10:37 a.m.
Updated: Oct. 21, 2015 at 01:07 p.m.

Top 25 ranked fantasy players for Week 7

Alex Gelhar
Fantasy writer/editor

In need of some quick fantasy advice? Look no further! Below are the top 25 ranked fantasy players for Week 7 per our esteemed panel of experts. The higher the player, the safer the start according to our experts. Not many of these names will surprise you, but it's a great way to get a quick sense of how well our experts collectively think each player will perform each week. You can view the full rankings HERE to help get your starting lineup set in stone prior to the kickoff of this weekend's games.

25 Photos Total

  • You know how you get to be the top ranked player by the NFL Fantasy crew? Post three straight games with 148-plus receiving yards and nine catches. That's how. 25

    Greg Trott/Associated Press

    DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

    You know how you get to be the top ranked player by the NFL Fantasy crew? Post three straight games with 148-plus receiving yards and nine catches. That's how.

  • Gronk plays. Gronk scores. Gronk is at the top (or close to it) of our weekly rankings. Rinse, repeat. 24

    Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

    Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots

    Gronk plays. Gronk scores. Gronk is at the top (or close to it) of our weekly rankings. Rinse, repeat.

  • Palmer had a poor-ish fantasy outing in Week 6, but still threw for over 400 passing yards and notched 16.74 fantasy points. A matchup with the porous Ravens secondary should cure him of all ills. 23

    Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

    Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals

    Palmer had a poor-ish fantasy outing in Week 6, but still threw for over 400 passing yards and notched 16.74 fantasy points. A matchup with the porous Ravens secondary should cure him of all ills.

  • Well, it looks like one strong performance from the neck-bearded wunderkind has eased our worries about his erratic early-season performances. Or maybe it's just his matchup against the Saints secondary. 22

    Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

    Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts

    Well, it looks like one strong performance from the neck-bearded wunderkind has eased our worries about his erratic early-season performances. Or maybe it's just his matchup against the Saints secondary.

  • When Bell gets Big Ben back under center, he'll likely be a mainstay in the top 1-3 spots on this list. For now, he'll have to settle for fifth. We're not worried about his 8.8-point outing last week, and you shouldn't be either. 21

    Paul Spinelli/Associated Press

    Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

    When Bell gets Big Ben back under center, he'll likely be a mainstay in the top 1-3 spots on this list. For now, he'll have to settle for fifth. We're not worried about his 8.8-point outing last week, and you shouldn't be either.

  • Man, does Rivers love him some Antonio Gates. But can you blame him when Gates makes ridiculous one-handed catches like he did against the Packers? Oh, and Gates is playing the Raiders, who still bleed points to tight ends (except old men like Owen Daniels). 20

    Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports

    Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers

    Man, does Rivers love him some Antonio Gates. But can you blame him when Gates makes ridiculous one-handed catches like he did against the Packers? Oh, and Gates is playing the Raiders, who still bleed points to tight ends (except old men like Owen Daniels).

  • Julio averaged over 22 fantasy points per game in the first three weeks of the season. He's averaged 8.6 fantasy points in the three games since while battling a hamstring injury. Are you really going to doubt one of the best wide receivers in football? We didn't think so. 19

    Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports

    Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

    Julio averaged over 22 fantasy points per game in the first three weeks of the season. He's averaged 8.6 fantasy points in the three games since while battling a hamstring injury. Are you really going to doubt one of the best wide receivers in football? We didn't think so.

  • The Tom Brady revenge tour continues to roll on. Next victim ... err, stop: The New York Jets. The Jets do boast an impressive defense, but Brady and his full complement of offensive weapons are hard to stop. 18

    Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

    Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

    The Tom Brady revenge tour continues to roll on. Next victim ... err, stop: The New York Jets. The Jets do boast an impressive defense, but Brady and his full complement of offensive weapons are hard to stop.

  • Given the volatility at the tight end position, it's not hard to understand why Olsen cracks the top 10. He's the top playmaker on the Panthers not named Cam Newton. 17

    Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

    Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers

    Given the volatility at the tight end position, it's not hard to understand why Olsen cracks the top 10. He's the top playmaker on the Panthers not named Cam Newton.

  • Despite a heavy workload last week (27 touches!) Peterson only managed 5.7 fantasy points. Something tells us that won't be the case two weeks in a row. 16

    Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

    Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

    Despite a heavy workload last week (27 touches!) Peterson only managed 5.7 fantasy points. Something tells us that won't be the case two weeks in a row.

  • Foster has crossed the century mark in scrimmage yards in each of the last two weeks, and has resumed his role as the motor of the Houston offense. He's a surefire RB1 from here on out as long as he's healthy. 15

    Al Messerschmidt/Associated Press

    Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans

    Foster has crossed the century mark in scrimmage yards in each of the last two weeks, and has resumed his role as the motor of the Houston offense. He's a surefire RB1 from here on out as long as he's healthy.

  • Frankly, I'm a bit surprised Gurley isn't higher on this list. The last time we saw Gurley, the Rams were feeding him carries against a good run defense in a blowout loss. This week, he gets to face a Cleveland defense that has given up 154 more rushing yards than the next closest team. 14

    Greg Trott/Associated Press

    Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis Rams

    Frankly, I'm a bit surprised Gurley isn't higher on this list. The last time we saw Gurley, the Rams were feeding him carries against a good run defense in a blowout loss. This week, he gets to face a Cleveland defense that has given up 154 more rushing yards than the next closest team.

  • Bechkahm did work on Monday Night Football in the first half, but disappeared in the second. Whether that was the result of purely game-planning or Beckham's hamstring acting up remains to be seen. Either way, he's good enough to still crack this list, even if he's not 100 percent. 13

    Matt Rourke/Associated Press

    Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants

    Bechkahm did work on Monday Night Football in the first half, but disappeared in the second. Whether that was the result of purely game-planning or Beckham's hamstring acting up remains to be seen. Either way, he's good enough to still crack this list, even if he's not 100 percent.

  • What a world we live in. Gary Barnidge is ranked in the top 15 overall this week. That's just awesome. Good for him and the Browns. 12

    Eric Lars Bakke/Associated Press

    Gary Barnidge, TE, Cleveland Browns

    What a world we live in. Gary Barnidge is ranked in the top 15 overall this week. That's just awesome. Good for him and the Browns.

  • Kelce was able to do more with his targets this week than in previous weeks, hauling in five of his seven for 88 yards. We still believe in his talent (and his matchup against Pittsburgh), which is why we have him so highly ranked. 11

    Brace Hemmelgarn/USA TODAY Sports

    Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

    Kelce was able to do more with his targets this week than in previous weeks, hauling in five of his seven for 88 yards. We still believe in his talent (and his matchup against Pittsburgh), which is why we have him so highly ranked.

  • Hats off to Rivers for an insane performance last week in Green Bay. Now just imagine what he'll be able to do at home against an Oakland defense not playing nearly as well as the Packers? 10

    Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

    Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers

    Hats off to Rivers for an insane performance last week in Green Bay. Now just imagine what he'll be able to do at home against an Oakland defense not playing nearly as well as the Packers?

  • Fitzgerald <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisWesseling/status/656515118935597056" target="new">leads the league in plays of 20-plus yards</a> this season, as he and Carson Palmer have been in total sync. They could easily add a few more such plays to that total on Sunday against the Ravens. 9

    Don Wright/Associated Press

    Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

    Fitzgerald leads the league in plays of 20-plus yards this season, as he and Carson Palmer have been in total sync. They could easily add a few more such plays to that total on Sunday against the Ravens.

  • Graham and Russell Wilson seemed to be on the same page last week more than they were at any point this season. We're on board with hoping this is a sign of more good things to come. 8

    Tom Hauck/Associated Press

    Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks

    Graham and Russell Wilson seemed to be on the same page last week more than they were at any point this season. We're on board with hoping this is a sign of more good things to come.

  • Edelman has been about as reliable as wide receivers come this year, only posting fewer than 10 fantasy points once on the season (8.50) in Week 3. Injured finger or not, Edelman is one of the more trustworthy options for Week 7 given his role in the New England offense. 7

    Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

    Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

    Edelman has been about as reliable as wide receivers come this year, only posting fewer than 10 fantasy points once on the season (8.50) in Week 3. Injured finger or not, Edelman is one of the more trustworthy options for Week 7 given his role in the New England offense.

  • While Bortles might not boast the best actual NFL record, his record of producing in fantasy in 2015 is stellar. He currently ranks as the QB5, thanks to four 19-plus point outings in his last five games. 6

    Logan Bowles/USA TODAY Sports

    Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

    While Bortles might not boast the best actual NFL record, his record of producing in fantasy in 2015 is stellar. He currently ranks as the QB5, thanks to four 19-plus point outings in his last five games.

  • Cam got it done in Seattle last weekend, posting more fantasy points in that game (19.76) than the previous two signal callers had combined. He's a great start against the Eagles this week, too. 5

    Tom Hauck/Associated Press

    Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

    Cam got it done in Seattle last weekend, posting more fantasy points in that game (19.76) than the previous two signal callers had combined. He's a great start against the Eagles this week, too.

  • Ryan and the Falcons fell into a classic trap game last week, but we like his odds of bouncing back against the Titans in Week 7. Plus, Julio Jones has had more time to recover and get back to his game-dominating ways. 4

    Al Messerschmidt/Associated Press

    Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons

    Ryan and the Falcons fell into a classic trap game last week, but we like his odds of bouncing back against the Titans in Week 7. Plus, Julio Jones has had more time to recover and get back to his game-dominating ways.

  • It was great to see Megatron targeted on some deep passes last week, but can we get that a little more often, Lions? Thanks. 3

    Duane Burleson/Associated Press

    Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

    It was great to see Megatron targeted on some deep passes last week, but can we get that a little more often, Lions? Thanks.

  • Walker makes the cut largely because the tight end position is a mess. He has an OK matchup against Atlanta, but could be without his starting quarterback, as Marcus Mariota suffered an MCL sprain last week. 2

    Jim Brown/USA TODAY Sports

    Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans

    Walker makes the cut largely because the tight end position is a mess. He has an OK matchup against Atlanta, but could be without his starting quarterback, as Marcus Mariota suffered an MCL sprain last week.

  • Marshall has been a revelation for the Jets in 2015, posting over 100 receiving yards in four straight games. The Patriots secondary has been beaten lately, which is why Marshall cracks the top 25 for the first time this season. 1

    Gary Hershorn/Associated Press

    Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets

    Marshall has been a revelation for the Jets in 2015, posting over 100 receiving yards in four straight games. The Patriots secondary has been beaten lately, which is why Marshall cracks the top 25 for the first time this season.

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