Empty the Bench

There are thousands of fantasy owners out there beating themselves over the head for passing on Reggie Bush this year.

Last season the Saints’ head honcho out of the backfield barely finished in the top 20 amongst fantasy backs in ETB’s scoring format, coming in behind guys like Kenny Watson, Willis McGahee, and Jamal Lewis. He racked up just 133 fantasy points on the season in totaling under 1,000 combined rushing and receiving yards and 6 TDs. That effort didn’t do much for his fantasy stock in ‘08, and it showed on draft day.

In Yahoo! leagues this season, Bush was drafted on average with the 60th overall pick with more “sure bets” at RB like Ryan Grant, Laurence Maroney, McGahee, and even rookie Darren McFadden coming off the board before Bush. Heading into Week 7, however, Bush is Yahoo!’s top-rated fantasy RB and is the first to eclipse 100 points in our format. Those four guys mentioned above? Thus far they’ve combined for about 81 points. Ouch.

Bush still has trouble running between the tackles (and maybe always will), but galdarnit if he isn’t a boon for fantasy owners in PPR leagues. He already has 41 catches for 361 yards and 3 TDs, and is second in receptions to only Brandon Marshall (43). It’s not out of the question to think that Bush could finish the regular season as the league-leader in that category. Crazy.

Let’s get to ETB’s revered fantasy ranks for Week 7 now, shall we?

Fantasy Week 7 – Top 20 Quarterbacks

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints @ CAR
2. Brett Favre, New York Jets @ OAK
3. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers @ BUF
4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers vs. IND
5. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts @ GB
6. Eli Manning, New York Giants vs. SF
7. Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos @ NE
8. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers @ CIN
9. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys @ STL (Check Status)
10. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans vs. DET
11. Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears vs. MIN
12. Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers vs. NO
13. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins vs. CLE
14. Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns @ WSH
15. Gus Frerotte, Minnesota Vikings @ CHI
16. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. SEA
17. JT O’Sullivan, San Francisco 49ers @ NYG
18. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills vs. SD
19. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders vs. NYJ
20. Dan Orlovsky, Detroit Lions @ HOU

Rest of the Week 7 fantasy football ranks after the break…

Fantasy Week 7 – Top 30 Running Backs

1. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints @ CAR (Check Status)
2. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys @ STL
3. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins vs. CLE
4. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers @ NYG
5. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers @ BUF
6. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings @ CHI
7. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills vs. SD
8. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans vs. DET
9. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants vs. SF
10. Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. SEA
11. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans @ KC
12. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams vs. DAL
13. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears vs. MIN
14. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins vs. BAL
15. Thomas Jones, New York Jets @ OAK
16. LenDale White, Tennessee Titans @ KC
17. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers vs. NO
18. Le’Ron McClain, Baltimore Ravens @ MIA
19. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns @ WSH
20. Michael Pittman, Denver Broncos @ NE
21. Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts @ GB
22. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions @ HOU
23. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers vs. NO
24. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers vs. IND
25. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks @ TB
26. Warrick Dunn, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. SEA
27. Rudi Johnson, Detroit Lions @ HOU
28. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders vs. NYJ
29. Sammy Morris, New England Patriots vs. DEN
30. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs vs. TEN

Fantasy Week 7 – Top 36 Wide Receivers

1. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans vs. DET
2. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers vs. IND
3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts @ GB
4. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos @ NE
5. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys @ STL
6. Laveranues Coles, New York Jets @ OAK
7. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers @ CIN
8. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions @ HOU
9. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets @ OAK
10. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns @ WSH
11. Plaxico Burress, New York Giants vs. SF
12. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers vs. NO
13. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals vs. PIT (Check Status)
14. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts @ GB
15. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins vs. CLE
16. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers vs. IND
17. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints @ CAR (Check Status)
18. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills vs. SD
19. Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina Panthers vs. NO
20. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ BUF
21. Bernard Berrian, Minnesota Vikings @ CHI
22. Randy Moss, New England Patriots vs. DEN
23. Kevin Walter, Houston Texans vs. DET
24. Chris Chambers, San Diego Chargers @ NE (Check Status)
25. Wes Welker, New England Patriots vs. DEN
26. Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys @ STL
27. Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams vs. DAL
28. Isaac Bruce, San Francisco 49ers @ NYG
29. Antwaan Randle El, Washington Redskins vs. CLE
30. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers @ CIN
31. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints @ CAR
32. Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints @ CAR
33. Chad Ocho Cinco, Cincinnati Bengals vs. PIT
34. Ike Hilliard, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. SEA
35. Brandon Lloyd, Chicago Bears vs. MIN
36. Mike Furrey, Detroit Lions @ HOU

Fantasy Week 7 – Top 15 Tight Ends

1. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys @ STL
2. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers @ BUF
3. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins vs. CLE
4. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans vs. DET
5. Tony Gonzalez, KC Chiefs vs. TEN
6. Kellen Winslow, Browns @ WSH (Check Status)
7. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders vs. NYJ
8. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears vs. MIN
9. Alex Smith, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. SEA
10. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings @ CHI
11. Bo Scaife, Tennessee Titans @ KC
12. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts @ GB
13. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers @ NYG
14. Donald Lee, Green Bay Packers vs. IND
15. Billy Miller, New Orleans Saints @ CAR

Fantasy Week 7 – Top 15 Team Defenses

1. Tampa Bay Bucs vs. SEA
2. Tennessee Titans @ KC
3. Chicago Bears vs. MIN
4. Baltimore Ravens @ MIA
5. Pittsburgh Steelers @ CIN
6. New York Giants vs. SF
7. Minnesota Vikings @ CHI
8. San Diego Chargers @ BUF
9. New York Jets @ OAK
10. Dallas Cowboys @ STL
11. Green Bay Packers vs. IND
12. Washington Redskins vs. CLE
13. New England Patriots vs. DEN
14. Indianapolis Colts @ GB
15. Houston Texans vs. DET