Empty the Bench

Starting the studs at RB, QB, and WR is easy, but fantasy championships are won with the well-informed decisions we all make on fringe starters every week. We agonize over these players until 7 minutes before kickoff, then kick ourselves about the guys we started 8 minutes after kickoff; we’re talking about the RB2, WR3, WR/TE Flex, and WR/RB Flex plays.

Unless you’re prepared to carefully groom the fringes of your fantasy roster, your team will underwhelm. These things are rarely easy, but fortunately ETB is at your disposal to help you settle on a comfortable decision. If you make the right calls, you’re a genius. If you’re wrong, shame on you.

Every week during the fantasy season, in addition to our overall Player Rankings and all the other weekly fantasy goodness, we’ll also rank the guys likely giving you a headache and help out with quick thoughts on what to expect from each one. Unlike the Position Rankings, these names are not drawn from the entire player pool.

Send for reinforcements in Custer City–Empty the Bench’s Week Seven Cheat Sheet is here.

Week 7 Cheat Sheet Rankings

Week 7 Wide Receiver #3 Ranks

1. Patrick Crayton, Dallas vs. MIN
2. Derrick Mason, Baltimore @ BUF
3. Santana Moss, Washington vs. ARZ
4. Bobby Engram, Seattle vs. STL
5. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets @ CIN
6. Brandon Marshall, Denver vs. PIT
7. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh @ DEN
8. Bernard Berrian, Chicago @ PHI
9. Donte’ Stallworth, New England @ MIA
10. Calvin Johnson, Detroit vs. TB

Fortune Cookies: The Vikings field the NFL’s worst pass defense (288.4 yards/per), so Tony Romo will be throwing all day and night; Patrick Crayton scores again… Hard to believe Derrick Mason is the league leader in receptions at 49, but he’s getting it done and should be good for another 6 or 7 catches against the porous Bills secondary… He hasn’t been doing much lately and has been slowed by a nagging injury, but we like Santana Moss to make a big play this week against the Cards… Looks like D.J. Hackett will sit this one out, which means at least another week of Bobby Engram being Matt Hasselbeck’s top target (and the Rams kind of suck, too, by the way)… We’re starting to sound like a broken record–still no TDs for Jerricho Cotchery, but the Bungles can’t stop the pass and the Jets figure to throw a ton… Brandon Marshall will remain the Broncos’ WR1 for the forseeable future with Javon Walker out indefinitely (pending arthroscopic knee surgery), but has a tough matchup against Deshea Townsend & Co… The return of Hines Ward should take some of the attention away from Santonio Holmes, but it’s tough throwing on the Broncos at Mile High… Bernard Berrian caught a 39-yard TD pass last week, but Brian Griese will be up and down all year… We expect a rush-heavy second half for the Patriots after staking a big lead in the first, so Donte’ Stallworth might need to get his early… With a week to let his sore back further heal, we think Calvin Johnson will (finally) be more involved in the Lions’ pass attack and catch at least five passes.

Week 7 Running Back #2 Ranks

1. Laurence Maroney, New England @ MIA
2. Willis McGahee, Baltimore @ BUF
3. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants vs. SF
4. Clinton Portis, Washington vs. ARZ
5. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo vs. BAL
6. Kevin Jones, Detroit vs. TB
7. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville vs. IND
8. LenDale White, Tennessee @ HOU
9. Edgerrin James, Arizona @ WSH
10. Travis Henry, Denver vs. PIT

Fortune Cookies: We’re getting tired of Bill Belichick’s “will Laurence Maroney play or won’t he” game, but with Sammy Morris out for at least a month I think he’ll be in there and exploit the Dolphins’ extremely disappointing defense. Andrew, on the other hand, sees another DNP… Willis McGahee will be motivated against his former team, and lucky him, they’re not very good, allowing opponents over 133 rushing yards/per… Brandon Jacobs owners got a scare on Monday night when he left the field with an apparent injury, but he seems okay and has a great chance to score at home against the ‘Niners… With every passing week we feel like a serious injury is waiting to fall Clinton Portis, but he’s still in there and has a nice matchup against the Karlos Dansby-less Cardinals… On paper this isn’t a great matchup for stud rookie Marshawn Lynch, but he’s tough to bring down and wants to prove he’s better than McGahee… He says he probably won’t be at 100% all season, but Kevin Jones is healthy enough to start and carry the load for the Lions… If the Jaguars are to upset the favored Colts, Maurice Jones-Drew will have to add to his impressive two-week stretch (207 yards rushing, 89 yards receiving, 3 TDs)… Vince Young is questionable and Chris Brown seems unlikely to play, so expect 25+ carries–including around the goal line–for LenDale White… Edgerrin James keeps chugging away with 129 carries on the season already, most in the league. He’s only cracked 100 yard rushing once so far, though, and won’t do it on Sunday, either… Could this be the week that Mike Shanahan starts incorporating youngsters Selvin Young and Andre Hall into the rotation and de-emphasizing Travis Henry? Either way, not a great situation.

Week 7 Wide Receiver/Tight End Flex Plays

1. Calvin Johnson, Detroit vs. TB
2. Roddy White, Atlanta @ NO
3. Nate Burleson, Seattle vs. STL
4. Shaun McDonald, Detroit vs. TB
5. Ike Hilliard, Tampa Bay @ DET
6. Mercedes Lewis, Jacksonville vs. IND
7. Marty Booker, Miami vs. NE
8. Chris Baker, New York Jets @ CIN
9. Vernon Davis, San Franciso @ NYG
10. Michael Jenkins, Atlanta @ NO

Fortune Cookies: After being limited by injury the past few games, Calvin Johnson has fallen off many’s fantasy radar. Don’t make that mistake–he’s at 100% and we think he’ll surprise this week… The Saints pass defense just isn’t very good, but it remains to see who, if anyone, new starting QB Byron Leftwich jives with. Roddy White seems first in line, but Michael Jenkins will get looks too… After 6 catches for 63 yards and a TD last week against the Saints, Nate Burleson draws another favorable matchup against the winless Rams… After a very strong start, Shaun McDonald faded some in the past two games (7 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD combined), but expect better play-calling from Mike Martz and McDonald to be involved… We’re no Ike Hilliard fans, but we’d feel comfortable trotting out high-school All-American WRs against the Lions… The Jaguars will be throwing, and Mercedes Lewis could be big over the middle… I’m predicting a garbage TD for Marty Booker in tomorrow’s Week Seven Crystal Ball… Chad Pennington excels at throwing passes under 10 yards and letting his receivers do the rest, and he likes Chris Baker in the redzone… Don’t expect much from Vernon Davis in his first game back after missing the last two, but he’ll get looks.

Week 7 Wide Receiver/Running Back Flex Plays

1. Thomas Jones, New York Jets @ CIN
2. Marion Barber III, Dallas vs. MIN
3. Marques Colston, New Orleans vs. ATL
4. Kenny Watson, Cincinnati vs. NYJ
5. Antwaan Randle El, Washington vs. ARZ
6. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City @ OAK
7. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh @ DEN
8. Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay @ DET
9. Lee Evans, Buffalo vs. BAL
10. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta @ NO

Fortune Cookies: You know how we feel about Thomas Jones and the Jets, but they’re facing a team giving up over 145 yards/per on the ground… Strong matchup at home for Antwaan Randle El, who might have a big play or two in him; if he doesn’t, he’ll likely underwhelm… If you own him you probably have to start him, but don’t expect much from Marion Barber III with Vikes only allowing 66.2 rushing yards to opponents thus far… Is there a nagging injury bothering Marques Colston that the Saints are letting on about? He hasn’t done much of anything lately… Kenny Watson should carry most of the load, but this Cincinnati backfield situation is too muddled to bank on anyone… Dwayne Bowe shouldn’t let the midseason rookie wideout blues get to him if Nnamdi Asomugha shuts him down–he’s pretty good… Give Hines Ward another week before counting on production; this is a tough matchup and he’s still not 100%… Another poor performance from Earnest Graham and we might see newly acquired Michael Bennett take over very soon… You’re letting a lot of fantasy owners down, Lee Evans… As soon as Falcons’ HC Bobby Petrino realized what everyone else already does–that Jerious Norwood is better than Warrick Dunn–he’ll be a strong weekly flex play.

More Week 7 Fantasy Goodness:

Week Seven Position Rankings

Week Seven Matchups

Week Seven Stock Report

Week Seven Quick Hits