Week seven of the 2011 NFL season gets going in six hours, which means fantasy football owners are likely scrambling for some last minute lineup suggestions. As the halfway point of the fantasy football season comes and goes for most leagues, we are reaching the point where every win will send people climbing and every loss sends teams plummeting in the standings.
Week seven is the third bye week with Buffalo, Cincinnati, New England, NY Giants, Philadelphia and San Francisco all on the sidelines. This is a tough week for running back absences with guys like Fred Jackson, Cedric Benson, Ahmad Bradshaw, Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy and BenJarvus Green-Ellis all sitting out. This will impact as many as half the teams in a given league.
Sleepers
It is a given that guys like Darren McFadden, Ray Rice and Matt Forte are going to be in starting lineups every Sunday, regardless of the matchup. The question is which sleepers will help you get through the tough running back bye week.
Marshawn Lynch is not exactly a sleeper in the bigger picture given his starting status with the Seattle Seahawks, but he could be in line for a solid performance against Cleveland. The Browns are at home but Seattle has a good shot at springing the modest road upset. If they can take an early lead, we could see a whole lot of Marshawn Lynch.
Maurice Morris is the guy to start in Detroit with Jahvid Best on the shelf with a concussion. He was one of the bigger pickups this week due to the injury and with the Lions unsure when Best will return, he could be a decent option over the next few weeks.
In Dallas, DeMarco Murray is getting the start for the Cowboys, but it sounds like Tashard Choice could get enough carries to be a worthwhile flex option if you are short a man. He is not fantastic, but if you need a body, consider Choice.
Here are the top 15 running back projections for today. You can view all the projections at numberFire.com. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow us on twitter @sbnationfantasy.