Fantasy Football 2018: 10 RB sleepers to target for Week 7
Raheem Mostert, Latavius Murray, and Peyton Barber were among the running backs who bagged huge fantasy football Week 6 performances, but which sleepers can you trust to dominate the competition in Week 7?
The heavy-hitters at the running back position this year are likely Saquon Barkley, Todd Gurley, and Melvin Gordon going forward, but fantasy football owners can still find value deeper on the depth chart. New starters and role players are emerging every week, and with the threat of injuries on the horizon, backups waiting for their opportunity are still there for the taking.
Heading into Week 7, it’s becoming clear who the weak defenses are on a matchup-per-matchup basis. The Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals are all sieves at defending the run, so a good rule of thumb is to start running backs who are facing those opponents, if there isn’t a clear-cut option on your bench.
With all of that said, let’s take a look at this week’s biggest fantasy football sleepers at the running back position for Week 7. Can Alex Collins stay hot? Will Raheem Mostert find opportunities behind breakout star Matt Breida? And is Peyton Barber “for real” as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers new feature back?
Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals
No defense in the NFL has allowed more rushing touchdowns than the Arizona Cardinals, with 10 total scores surrendered. They were torched again in Week 6 by Minnesota Vikings backup rusher Latavius Murray, who had one of the best performances of his career against one of the NFL’s lousiest run defenses and coaching staffs.
The Denver Broncos coaching staff isn’t much better, seeing as how they haven’t given Phillip Lindsday the carries he’s earned with his efficient displays on the ground this season. Lindsay shouldn’t be denied an opportunity to carve up Arizona’s defense on Thursday Night Football this week. If Murray can do it in Week 6, then Lindsay stands a great chance of replicating Murray’s success in Week 7.
Lindsay is averaging 57.7 rushing yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry on the season, despite being 28th in the league in rushing attempts. That means Alfred Morris actually has more rushing attempts than a guy who is averaging nearly 6.0 yards per rush.
After hauling in a season-high 6 receptions on 7 targets for 48 yards in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, Lindsay has shown that he’s also superior to Devontae Booker in the passing game. If the Broncos coaching staff trusts him, he could carry Denver’s offensive output against Arizona this week.