Fantasy Football 2018: 10 RB sleepers to target for Week 7

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 07: Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay (30) runs during the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos on October 7, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: Latavius Murray #25 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball for a 21-yard touchdown in the first quarter of the game agains the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Latavius Murray, Minnesota Vikings at New York Jets

Latavius Murray was once viewed as a future star with the Oakland Raiders organization, shining as an elite athlete and posting a few truly remarkable performances in a Raiders uniform. The breakout year has never happened for Murray, but he did once run for over 1,000 yards in Oakland and has 20 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons with both the Raiders and Minnesota Vikings.

Last week against the atrocious Arizona Cardinals run defense, the Vikings received a breakout performance on the ground from Murray in 2018. Murray blasted the Cardinals defense with 155 rushing yards on 24 carries, scoring a touchdown in the process. That display skyrocketed Murray’s average on the season to 4.8, and it’s worth noting that he’s never averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry in a single season since putting up 5.2 on 82 rushes as a rookie in 2014.

The 28-year-old will face the New York Jets this week, and if Dalvin Cook is unable to play, then he could try to follow up his Week 6 performance. Murray likely has much more confidence as a result of his 155 yards against Arizona. Minnesota may have more incentive to keep taking things slowly with Cook’s tricky, multi-week hamstring injury, because an aggravation to the star running back’s injury would be the worst-case for the Vikings.

So if Murray can keep shining in the meantime, that would be ideal for Minnesota. While Murray is inconsistent, he is talented, and for as solid as the Jets run defense has been overall, they did get owned by Marlon Mack in Week 6. That means Murray does have a chance of replicating his Week 6 performance, even if it’s not a strong likelihood.

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