Fantasy Football WR Ranks and Picks feat. Justin Jefferson, Diontae Johnson and more
We're six weeks into the fantasy football season, and we've experienced plenty of shakeups in the wide receiver landscape. Cooper Kupp, A.J. Brown, Rashee Rice, Malik Nabers, and Nico Collins have missed or will miss significant time and we got two trades of dynamic fantasy assets, Davante Adams and Amari Cooper.
Even the most experienced fantasy managers have been tested with tough weekly decisions and Week 7 is no different. Let's highlight the best pass defenses to target and provide an overview of the wide receiver landscape in Week 7.
Week 7 Fantasy Football WR Rankings
Fantasy Football Week 7 WR Picks
Justin Jefferson vs. Detroit Lions
It doesn't take a genius to say Justin Jefferson is a great play this week. The column is more intended to highlight who has the best matchups rather than a start/sit piece, and no player owns a better matchup in Week 7 than the worldly wide receiver against the Lions.
It was the main reason we highlighted CeeDee Lamb as our best matchup last week against this Detroit secondary, but that didn't turn out so well due to the nature of the non-competitive game script.
The Lions blew the doors off the Cowboys, and we didn't see Lamb compete for all four quarters. Still, the Pro Bowl receiver finished as the WR24 in Half-PPR settings, but you wish you had seen more production facing a secondary that allowed either a touchdown or 100-yard performance in every game until last week.
Cooper Kupp, Chris Godwin, and DK Metcalf have combined for 28 receptions and 331 receptions yards against the Lions this season. Detriot has allowed the sixth-most yards per game to receivers (265.6), the third-most receptions per game (26), and the third-most targets per game (43.4).
Jefferson owns the third-highest target share percentage in the league (27.6%) and the second-highest yards per route run (2.85). The Lions have been rolling on offense for the last two weeks, with a combined 89 points scored against Seattle and Dallas. We can't wait for this defense to face a formidable offensive like the Minnesota unit this weekend.
Diontae Johnson vs. Washington Commanders
Let's get into the less-than-obvious best matchups of the week. We all love what Jayden Daniels has done this season. The rookie sensation may be the best fantasy quarterback option heading into Week 7 against a poor Carolina pass defense. Still, it doesn't change that Washington is equally poor in the secondary.
The Commanders have been a defense we've attacked all season, and we're not stopping now. Washington has allowed 10 receiving touchdowns to wideouts Chris Godwin, Mike Evans (2), Jalen McMillian, Malik Nabers, Wan'Dale Robinson, Andrei Iosivas, Ja'Marr Chase (2), and Marvin Harrison Jr. this season.
As mentioned below, Zay Flowers found some success last week with nine catches for 132 receiving yards in Week 6. Washington's Expected Points Added to receivers this season is the second highest in the league (50.19), and it owns the sixth-highest yards per target (7.4) through six games.
Johnson has had at least six receptions and a touchdown in three of the last four games since veteran Andy Dalton was inserted in the lineup. Johnson also owns the fifth-highest team target percentage (27.6%). We're hoping for a shootout with two struggling defenses and possibly a WR1 finish for Johnson in a trailing game script situation.
Zay Flowers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zay Flowers has been one of the best receivers in fantasy football the previous two weeks, with 16 catches and 243 receiving yards against Cincinnati and Washington. We believe he will keep it going on Monday Night Football in Week 7 against a Tampa Bay pass defense that has struggled in the previous four games.
The Buccaneers have allowed touchdown receptions to Parris Campbell, Darnell Mooney (2), Drake London, Khadarel Hodge, and Bub Means since Week 4. They are not precisely fantasy stars, but this set of receivers has succeeded against this Tampa Bay secondary.
Kirk Cousins obliterated the Buccaneers with 42 completions for 509 yards and four touchdowns in Week 5. Tampa Bay was fortunate to face a New Orleans offense led by Spencer Rattler, and they lost Chris Olive early in the game in Week 6. Let's get something straight: perennial MVP candidate Lamar Jackson will expose this defensive unit, and Flowers should be the primary benefactor in this matchup.
Flowers has evolved into a solid WR2 option after the season's first quarter, with 13.6 fantasy points per game in half-PPR leagues. The second-year receiver is 17th in yards per route run (2.13) and 20th in team target share (23.4%). Get Flowers into your lineups as the hammer in your fantasy matchups on Monday Night.