Week 7 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Jackie Battle and Raiders Options

Picking a fantasy football sleeper in this game for this Raiders is a bit problematic. That is due to Kyle Boller being at the helm of the offense. Who knows what that is going to look like? And for that matter, who knows if he will actually start?

For what it's worth, I no longer consider Darrius Heyward-Bey a sleeper anymore. Unless you have two wide receivers you are really happy with, DHB is a solid start every week.

With the uncertainty in the pass game, that means we are looking to the running game and Michael Bush. The Raiders are going to try and get their bully on this game. That means they will carry it as much as they can get away with it. Bush should get his share of touches, and I don't think a two TD for Bush is out of the question. 

As for the Chiefs, Jackie Battle is suddenly one of the hottest waiver wire pickups around. This is mostly due to Thomas Jones being ready to be put out to pasture than it is Battle being good. The Chiefs' still have a good system in place and lineman to run the ball.

Battle is a bruising running back, and I don't think he is in for a big day. The last two weeks the Raiders have cleaned up the massive let downs in run defense. They will likely still leave themselves vulnerable on a few plays, but Battle is not a home run threat, and I don't see him putting up enough here. I would consider at the flex spot if you aren't happy with what you got.

To be honest, Dexter McCluster scares me more in this game than Battle. McCluster isn't getting a lot of touches, but he has the explosiveness to pop for a big play in the run game or in a favorable matchup against the LBs.

If you are in a gambling mood, slide McCluster into your flex spot.