You might not like it, but this is the time of year when fantasy football championships are won. It's not over the summer, when almost everyone is healthy and in the best shape of their lives. It's not during the draft, when you can use a podcast and clips from training camp to talk yourself into almost anything.
No, the time that championships are actually won is right around Week 7, when you're schlepping through a mud pit of injuries, waiver replacements and guys like Jaylin Noel unexpectedly becoming a week winner. A lot of managers watch their fourth RB go down and mentally decide, well, maybe I'll have better luck next year. But not you. You're here to win in December, which means making the right trades in October – no matter how big or
small.
Reminder that the Bills, Jaguars, Chargers and Commanders are on bye this week. Here are 10 fantasy football trade targets for Week 7:
Week 7 fantasy football players to buy
RB Woody Marks, Texans
Marks led the buy list in Week 6 and he's back here again after a solid, but unspectacular, performance in a win over the Jaguars (12 carries for 56 yards, two catches for 25). Those stats aren't going to blow any Marks owner away, especially after Jawhar Jordan got the team's only rushing touchdown, but that makes the second-year RB a good buy candidate. Even when David Montgomery returns from a calf injury, Marks has proven to be the best RB in an offense that could explode in the second half of the season.
WR Garrett Wilson, Jets
Fresh of IR, rookie Omar Cooper Jr. led all Jets pass catchers in a loss to the Patriots with six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Cooper looked great, but he also mostly got to avoid All-Pro corner Christian Gonzalez. Wilson remains the top dog in this offense and the Jets have an extremely appealing schedule with much easier matchups on deck before the fantasy playoffs.
QB Kyler Murray, Vikings
Maybe you've forgotten how bad the Lions defense is after they were off in Week 6, but even if they get safety Brian Branch back for this one, the Vikings should be able to punish Detroit through the air. Murray is a great option for those who need a streamer for Josh Allen on bye or a buy-low QB.
RB Kendre Miller, Saints
Future Hall of Famer Alvin Kamara got all the pub on Sunday with a beautiful 31-yard touchdown catch, but he's 31 years old and has just 26 touches in the three games starter Travis Etienne Jr. has missed with a hamstring injury. It was Miller who dominated rushing attempts in the win over the Giants (20, with the rest of the team combining for 18). Miller has not been reliable throughout his four years in the NFL, but he's a strong option to start in Week 7. A big performance heading into the Week 8 bye and Miller could carve out a role that sticks even when Etienne returns.
TE Brenton Strange, Jaguars
He's flying under the radar, but Strange should end the season as Jacksonville's second-leading receiver and is not being valued like the second pass catcher in a great offense. Only one touchdown scored so far can do that, so buy low on Strange and bet that the scoring follows.
QB J.J. McCarthy, Giants
I don't know much about much, but I do know that NFL teams LOVE former first round picks. If the Giants bench Jameis Winston and turn to McCarthy, the athletic No. 10 overall pick who has started just 10 games in three NFL seasons due to injuries and overall incompetence, they're going to give him a leash to show what he can do. That could be nothing, of course, but the price tag on a potential running QB is small enough to make the bet.
Week 7 fantasy football players to sell
WR A.J. Brown, Patriots
This could look really stupid in a few weeks, but after Brown dropped a career-high three passes in his return from a high-ankle sprain, the vibes around the first-year Patriot are not good. Brown is, from outside accounts, more of a vibes-based player than most. If the 29-year-old isn't feeling like himself, we've seen the wheels come off physical receivers quickly in the past and you don't want to be stuck holding a star you can't cut who is playing like a 3rd WR.
QB Matt Stafford, Rams
Taking another big swing here with the NFL's current leader in passing yards, but the 38-year-old is looking a little...static in the pocket. He also might be missing Davante Adams, who left Sunday's shocking loss to the Cardinals with an apparent knee injury. The real bet here is that Los Angeles is 2-4 and just drafted QB Ty Simpson in the first round. Are the Rams going to turn it around and contend this year? Most likely. But if they don't, it could be Simpson starting in December to see what they have.
WR Germie Bernard, Steelers
It's never fun to sell a rookie right after their first huge game, but it's hard to see Bernard consistently replicating his 11-87-1 against the Bucs in Week 6. Pittsburgh's stars on offense, DK Metcalf and Jaylen Warren, have both been volatile week to week this season, and the Steelers have to play in Paris against the Saints in Week 7 and the Browns' solid defense before a Week 9 bye. Bernard's value could be a lot lower in two weeks than it is now, making him a sell-high candidate.
RB Roschon Johnson, Bears
Kyle Monangai is the best RB in Chicago (yes, including starter D'Andre Swift) while Johnson still looks like a pretty average backup. If you can get anything for Johnson during his time as the Bears RB2 before Monangai returns from his thumb/toe injuries, it's probably a good trade.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football buy, sell: 10 trade candidates for Week 7
