Week 7 IDP Fantasy Football Rankings

Chris Gregory gives his IDP rankings and the top streamers to start along with defensive players to sit for Week 7 of the 2021 fantasy football season.

You’ve all heard about how bad Week 7 is shaping up to be, with six teams on bye and five of those squads loaded to the brim with fantasy assets. Things are so bad that some are naming this week the “Bye-Nado,” while others refer to it as the “Bye-Pocalypse," and if you get creative you might even call it "the week with lots of byes in it.” No matter how you refer to it, this week shapes up as the most inconvenient bye week in fantasy football history. Amongst the 20+ fantasy-relevant players caught in this Bye-Nado are five RB1s, four WR1s, three WR2s, three QB1s, and a TE1. It's a fantasy catastrophe and possible negligence on the part of the NFL's scheduling crew.

Of course, IDP managers are not immune to the Bye-Centennial. This week we are without the top-overall DB (Derwin James Jr.), the top-overall DL (T.J. Watt), and other IDP stars like Danielle Hunter, Jordan Poyer, and Joey Bosa. It is a cavalcade of losses, forcing many of us to get creative. Some of you will have to leave your DL or LB slot open because you cannot drop anyone to fill them. Others will have to take major risks by conducting two-for-one trades just to make room and get a win this week. The saddest of us may even be forced to drop a star like James or Bosa just to stay competitive, giving a huge edge to anyone who has the room to snatch them up.

While Week 7 may force some fantasy managers to tear the satellite dish off of their roof this weekend, there are a few things that IDP managers can do to stem the bleeding. First, they should chase upside at the DL position. With multiple DL1s out and some concerning matchups for others, don't be afraid to start a guy like Javon Hargrave or Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, even if you wouldn't usually. Second, you should chase stability at an LB position that is still deep with dependable tacklers and solid options. Finally, you should play the matchups with your DBs this week. With no James Jr., Harrison Smith, or Poyer available, look for a mid-tier DB who is set up for maximum targets this week… and with that said, let’s get to this week’s rankings.

Top-30 Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week

DL Streamer(s) of the Week: Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles & Deforest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts

It may seem like Hargrave would be considered a weekly must-start in most IDP formats, considering he's sixth in the NFL in sacks, but the truth is less than 25% of IDP managers started him last week. Those not playing Hargrave should do so this week, as he is facing a Raiders interior offensive line that has given up 30 pressures over their first six games, and no one on their inside has a positive pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus this year. Hargraves has a DL1 matchup this week, in a bad bye week.

Meanwhile, Deforest Buckner is lined up for a big day against his former team. Not only does the former Pro Bowler have a "revenge game" motive coming up against San Francisco, but the 49ers' interior line can be easily overwhelmed by effective pass rushers. To make matters worse, rumors are the 49ers will start rookie Aaron Banks at right guard for the first time this week, and Banks looked horrific in the pre-season. This is arguably Buckner’s best matchup of the year, given the opponent and motivation.

DL Fade of the Week: Charles Harris, Detroit Lions

This formerly disappointing first-round draft pick has bounced back in 2021, notching a sack in four straight games before putting up a solid five tackles in his last outing. He's become a high-end DL3 option for many this season and has proven reliable so far this year. That said, he has an awful matchup this week.

We've mentioned in past columns how the Rams’ pass-blocking unit and Matthew Stafford's quick release give opposing pass rushers fits. To date, they have allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL, they stand second-best in Adjusted Sack Rate, and they are allowing a modest 8.5 pressures per contest. In short, Stafford is a nightmare for anyone to bring down, let alone a guy like Harris who doesn’t have a whole lot of help.

Top-30 Fantasy Linebackers of the Week

LB Streamer(s) of the Week: Azeez Al-Shaair, San Francisco 49ers & Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs

With Dre Greenlaw looking unlikely to play again this week, expect Al-Shaair to take a majority of his reps like he has been the past few weeks. So far, Al-Shaair has been effective in that role, notching double-digit tackles in half of his starts as Greenlaw’s replacement. This week, the FAU alum has a particularly solid matchup against a Colts offense that ranks fifth in rushing attempts over the past three weeks. 74.2% of Indianapolis' runs have been in the area where Al-Shaair patrols, making him a high-floor fantasy option for those looking for a safe bye week fill-in.

As for our second streamer of the week, we are predictably pitching an opponent of the Titans. Derrick Henry and his rushing prowess regularly provide terrific fantasy opportunities for opposing linebackers, and Bolton appears to be next in line. The primary risk with Bolton is the return of Willie Gay Jr., which could cause the rookie's snaps to continue declining. We are betting that in this crazy bye week, the matchup is enough to compensate for any loss in touches that Bolton may see.

LB Fade(s) of the Week: Kyle Van Noy & Dont’a Hightower, New England Patriots

You would think that the Jets would provide an ideal fantasy matchup for all defenders, but they do the opposite for opposing linebackers. The Jets currently average the sixth-fewest rush attempts per game, the fourth-fewest offensive snaps per game, and over a quarter of their pass attempts are of the deep-out variety. That kind of offense sets up several Patriots defenders with big-play opportunities, but it prescribes a pretty low floor for linebackers.

Linebackers need a safe six tackles each week to stay competitive at a deep fantasy position, and the game script the Jets provide just won't give that to you. Consider Van Noy and Hightower to be big-play-dependent options this week.

Top-30 Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week

DB Streamer of the Week: J.C. Jackson, New England Patriots

We are fading the Patriots' linebackers this week, but Jackson’s stock is headed in the opposite direction. New England's star corner should shadow New York’s top receiver (Corey Davis) this week, much like he has done against the Jets in the past. That is a good thing when you consider the Jets are the sixth most pass-heavy team in the NFL, that Zach Wilson has the second-highest Bad Decision rate amongst starting QBs, and that Wilson favors Davis with 21% of his pass attempts. The Jets don't have a lot of options outside of Davis, and they should be down to the Patriots early, giving Jackson a shot at an interception and an opportunity to match his four PDs from last week.

DB Fade of the Week: Justin Reid, Houston Texans

Reid is in a real slump after starting the year with an interception in two straight games. Our biggest concern is that his tackle floor is troublingly low, with the Stanford product never registering more than six tackles in a game and averaging just 4.2 total tackles per contest this year.

Reid's low tackle floor this season is particularly troubling against an Arizona offense that rarely turns the ball over. Specifically, this year Kyler Murray has a stellar .02% interception rate and he’s registering a bad throw on just 10.9% of his passes, which is the second-lowest rate in the NFL amongst passers with at least four starts. The odds of Murray giving Reid a shot at a big play are low, and Reid appears unlikely to compensate for that with a high-tackle output. That should trouble his fantasy managers.

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