Week 7 Bank/Tank

By: Christian Hardy

Week seven kicks off on Sunday, and with the bye weeks in full swing you need your players to show up big, right? Well, that's what this article is for, and frankly, that's what I'm all about. So why don't we go ahead and get started with all of the players that I like and dislike heading into our seventh (wow, time flies) week of the 2011 NFL season. Remember that the numbers after the players name is first, my ranking, then the ESPN consensus ranking. Any other questions can contact me on my Twitter.

Quarterbacks

Bank

Who's laughing now?

Tim Tebow vs Miami (5th, 9th) - After weeks and weeks of chanting his name, Broncos fans' dream finally came true: Tebow has finally been named the starting quarterback. And you know what that means: It's Tebow Time! Last year Tebow had three stellar performances when he started: 24 points, 27 points, and 29 points. In those three game he played the Raiders, the Texans, and then the Chargers, but this week he has an even easier matchup: The Miami Dolphins. Tebow is expected to be welcomed back into his home of Florida for "Tebow Day" at Sun Life Stadium, but that warm welcome will become a bitter rivalry when he pummels the Dolphins' defense. Dolphins allow 20 points on average (31st) to opposing quarterbacks (ironically, the Broncos are 32nd in that category). Tebow should have 20+ points this week, so get him in your lineup (or trade him, either one).

Matt Cassel @ Oakland (9th, 15th) - You thought he Dolphins were bad? Well, the Raiders' pass defense is almost just as bad. They have given up two touchdowns per game and they are 30th in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks at 18.8 points per game. Cassel has been playing better as of late as well: In the last three games (before the bye) he has 13 points, 16 points, and then finally 27 points against the Colts (20th in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks). I expect a 275 and two touchdown game from Cassel in this one despite an ugly performance against Oakland last year.

Extra: Christian Ponder (deep sleeper, 2 QB leagues, 18th, 25th)

Tank

Joe Flacco @ Jacksonville @ Jacksonville (13th, 10th) - Could there be a pattern here? Flacco has scored double digits, single digits, double digits, and then single digits in fantasy points this year. Last week he came up with 14, so is this his week to tank? Well, I wouldn't base it just on a trend like that. The Jags have allowed just 13.8 points to opposing quarterbacks on average this year; 11th in the league according to ESPN.com. Then again, every quarterback has reached double digits against the Jaguars this season too. I don't exactly think Flacco will flat out tank, but I do think he will be right around 10-12 points which is not what you want out of your starting quarterback.

Matt Ryan @ Detroit - I haven't bought into this Detroit pass defense until, well, this week. They continue to keep quarterbacks in check: No opposing quarterback has scored over 20 points in a single game this season. Ryan is going to be missing one of his top targets Julio Jones, and Detroit has the fourth best fantasy pass defense against quarterbacks. Something has got to give, and I think that will be Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday.

Extra: Philip Rivers @ New York Jets

Running Backs

Bank

Jackie Battle @ Oakland (11th, 20th) - That's right; two Chiefs in my Bank/Tank in the same week. I expect a big game from the Chiefs a squad here, and quite frankly, the Raiders haven't played good defense thus far so I think that a big game from the Chiefs can be expected. The Raiders are 29th against opposing running backs, allowing 20.5 points per game. Who was the main back for the Chiefs in their last game (week 6)? That'd be Jackie Battle who touched the ball out of the backfield 19 times. I really like Battle as an emerging running back and he has an awesome matchup this week. Great RB2 start (sounds crazy, I know) and an even better flex.

Ryan Torain @ Carolina (13th, 15th) - I realize that both of these "Bank" running backs are risks, and I'm willing to take the hit if both of these guys fail to pan out. The thing is, this matchup and Battle's matchup are just too good to pass up. Although the Redskins did not run all that much last week, Torain still had 10 of the 12 carries that went to the teams' running backs. So they want to give this guy the rock, and the matchup for this week couldn't be much sweeter. The Panthers have allowed a whopping 26.2 points to apposing running backs, the worst in the league. If Torain gets the carries that he has been getting then he could be in business.

Extra: Mark Ingram vs Indianapolis (16th, 18th), Marshawyn Lynch @ Cleveland (18th, 22nd)

Tank

Maurice Jones-Drew vs Baltimore (24th, 9th) - "MoJo" Drew isn't as bad as people think this year. In fact, he is still high in my mind. But, just like last week, I am very low on the team's offense that is playing the Ravens. The Ravens have shut down opposing running backs this season; they are third with only 10.6 points allowed per week (3rd in the league). Look, MJD won't drop a goose egg in your RB1 spot, but I highly doubt that he goes for over ten points in this one.

Shonn Greene vs San Diego (26th, 18th) - The Chargers' defense is better than people realize. Last year they were second to none and this year they aren't too far behind that. They are seventh in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this year with 14.4 per game, and what makes you think that Shonn Greene is going to change that? He is getting a larger workload (42 carries in the past two games) but he hasn't done much to prove that he needs to keep that job by averaging just 3.5 yards per carry in the last two weeks. I know ESPN keeps moving him up in their rankings, but this is not the week that you want to start Greene.

Extra: Delone Carter @ New Orleans (40th, 26th), Maurice Morris vs Atlanta

Wide Receivers 

Bank

Eric Decker @ Miami (12th, 17th) -  With Brandon Lloyd being shipped to the Rams, this early week pickup could suddenly turn into the pickup of the year for some. Decker played very well with Orton before Orton's final game as a starter, for now (four touchdowns in four games). Now we have to see how Decker and Tebow are going to connect with Decker now filling with number one wide receiver slot. It will be interesting to see, but against a week defense like the Dolphins (23.2 points to opposing wide receivers), I don't see how Deckercan be voided in the Broncos' game plan.

Extra: Preston Parker vs Chicago (28th, NR), Brian Hartline (29th, NR), Demaryius Thomas (36th, NR -- High Risk with high reward)

Tank

Roddy White @ Detroit (15th, 7th) - Just like I said earlier, this Detroit defense is legit, and to be honest, I'm scared to start guys who are going up against it. It's not just the defense though; White has been performing awful this year, and I'm not sure what is going to revive his season at this point. He has been undependable and inconsistent. Through six weeks he has 24 catches for 373 yards and two touchdowns, which is a huge decline from last year (43, 546, 3 touchdowns). Not only that, but the Lions have keyed in on White in the past. In his last game against Detroit White had just two catches for 54 yards, and in his career (3 games) he has only four receptions. A slump plus bad statistics in Detroit's favor is the ideal equation for a failure.

Brandon Lloyd @ Dallas (23rd, 18th) - This is the perfect equation for a big ol' goose egg from Brandon Lloyd. Sam Bradford is battling a high ankle sprain, and no one knows if he is going to be back against the mean Dallas pass rush. To make things worse, the backup is AJ Feeley! And to make the suckish suck even worse, well, Lloyd just got traded to a new team and although he knows McDaniel's system, I'm not sure he is just going to fit right in. I would just play the "Wait and See" game with Brandon Lloyd, at least for now.

Extra: Sidney Rice (30th, 20th)

Tight Ends

Bank

Fred Davis @ Carolina (5th, 5th) - There isn't much to say for Fred Davis. I ranked him the same as the experts at ESPN did, but I think he will have some huge game with Chris Cooley gone from this offense. Not only that, but John Beck, who is starting for the first time since 2007, is going to need someone to lean on. And a quarterback with inexperience tends to lean on his safer options and those options would be your tight end.

Tank

Dustin Keller vs San Diego (14th, 10th) - I don't understand how people put this guy in their top 10 or anywhere near it! He isn't catching passes and until I see something then I'm not going to rank him any differently than what I am right now. Bottom line.

As always, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed. My week seven game previews will be out for your reading pleasure on Saturday afternoon (hopefully). For updates on this blog, answers to your questions, and various other things, check out my Twitter (@TheFFAddict). Those of you who are on Twitter and do follow me I appreciate all of the support and conversations I get going with you guy. You can also email me with your longer questions that aren't quite suitable for Twitter. Until Saturday, peace out!

Editor's Note: All rankings from TheFFAddict and ESPN are subject to change throughout the week, and injuries could change the ranking of these player on Sunday.