Fantasy Football Week 7 Projections: RBs
October 18, 2011 by Uzo Ometu
Taking a look around the league, the dearth of running back as we approach Fantasy Football Week 7 is getting pretty small. The talent and consistency just isn’t there. So far this season, you have not been able to depend on Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson or Arian Foster on a week-to-week basis. Even Maurice Jones-Drew is slipping from time to time. So what does that mean for Week 7 of the NFL season?
Here are our Fantasy Football Week 7 Projections at the running back position.
Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have made some plays on defense this year, but not enough to scare me away from promoting Hillis in Week 7. Even if Hillis himself has been very shaky in 2011, his ability to run-down hill and break tackles should fair well against the poor tackling exploits that the Seahawks have displayed to this point in the season. Don’t get me wrong, this will not be anything near a 150-yard game for Hillis unless he breaks some very uncharacteristic, long run for a touchdown. However, on a carry for carry basis, expect Hillis to get his usual 4.5 yards a pop, which should be enough to produce an above average day for the bruising running back.
Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs
McFadden has been a God-send all season long, but with quarterback Jason Campbell now out for the rest of the 2011 fantasy football season, McFadden’s value definitely takes a hit. But not in Week 7! In Week 7, the Raiders are up against the Chiefs, a team that is about as solid on defense as Jell-O-before it’s frozen. Yes, the Chiefs will do everything in their power to make Kyle Boller have to throw football around, but even that won’t be enough to stop McFadden. He’ll catch it out of the backfield, run screen plays, get the ball on the draw—hell, he will even throw the damn football out of the wildcat if they ask him too. In the long run, McFadden might see his fantasy production drop off as a result of having a poor QB at the helm. But in Fantasy Football Week 7, the Chief don’t stand a chance at stopping him, not even if Campbell and his broken collarbone lined up under center.
Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins
McGahee has been having a season that reminds us all of his earlier days in Buffalo and in Baltimore. Unfortunately, just as in those days, he again will be without a quarterback, and in Tim Tebow’s debut this year, I sure as hell don’t expect it to be smooth sailing for McGahee and the Denver rushing game. The Dolphins may not be a great defensive team, but they can stop the run if there are no other threats. I would venture to say that having Tebow at the quarterback position means there are no other threats, so expect Miami to come after McGahee with the wrath of a vengeful god. Don’t worry, McGahee will bounce back in weeks to come as Tebow gets better and the opponents aren’t as good defensively. However, in Fantasy Football Week 7, I’m putting my hard-earned money on the thinly-veiled defense of the Dolphins and Tebow’s inability to throw the ball down the field.
