Fantasy Football: Week 7 Starts And Sits
By Pat Pitts
Six weeks of NFL action have come and gone, leaving us with some memorable games and unlikely heroes. Guys like Kenyan Drake and D’Andre Swift won fantasy matchups with their performances. Here’s who I say you should start and sit this week that will hopefully lead to winning results.
START
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen @ NYJ
I can have all the opinions I want about Josh Allen, but he is playing a Pee Wee football team on Sunday. He is going to torch the Jets with his cannon arm and his ability to keep plays alive on his feet. The Jets suck, Josh Allen doesn't, so we start him.
Aaron Rodgers @ HOU
Aaron Rodgers paid homage to Hingle McCringleberry with his pre-mature TD celebration on Sunday, but he also played like him too. The Bucs defense picked him off twice, once for a score, along with constant pressure.
Rodgers is pissed off, so much so that he added an extra finger to his Scotch pour after the loss. He is facing a Texans defense that has allowed four scores in every game this year except for one. The Packers offense is high powered and going to steam roll the Texans this Sunday.
Matthew Stafford @ ATL
Speaking of NFC North QBs and bad secondaries, Stafford plays the non-existent Falcons defense this week. Stafford hasn’t had the year he had a season ago, but he's been above average. Averaging around 16 points/week and almost two touchdowns/week, Stafford remains a consistent starter in most leagues. The Falcons have allowed the most passing yards and touchdowns this season, so Stafford is a very safe play this week.
Running Backs
Kareem Hunt @ CIN
Nick Chubb will be out again this week, which means Hunt will continue rolling as the RB1 in the Cleveland run-heavy offense. The Bengals defensive line is banged up with aging Geno Atkins looking like he will not be on the field. Hunt is looking for a bounce back week and is poised for one based on this matchup.
Devonta Freeman @ PHI
I don’t know what it is about Thursday nights, but the most unlikely scenarios happen. Freeman has become the RB1 with his carries increasing weekly, and took all the snaps for the Giants last week against the Washington Football Team. He matches up against a tough Eagles defensive line, but there's volume. And when there's volume, there's opportunity.
Melvin Gordon vs KC
Usually I would not advise anyone to play someone facing the Chiefs, but after some research I changed my mind. Kansas City has allowed the third most rushing yards this season. Drew Lock threw two awful INTs when it mattered most last week, so Denver’s going to run the ball more on Sunday if they can keep the game in reach.
Wide Receivers
Jamison Crowder vs BUF
I feel so bad for Jamison Crowder. He is stuck on one of the worst run NFL teams in history, yet still is producing WR1 type numbers for fantasy managers. Last week was his worst week of the season, finishing with under ten fantasy points in non-full-point PPR leagues.
Buffalo has been great against the pass, but with Tre White missing games recently, the Buffalo secondary has been leaky. Crowder has seen over 10 targets in every game this season. He may be a Jet, but he’s still a starting WR for me.
All Bengals WRs vs CLE
The Browns secondary has not been great, allowing the third most total passing yards this season to opposing QBs. Last time these two played, Burrow threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns. I expect a similar result this week. Fire up Boyd as a WR2, Higgins as a WR3/FLEX, and A.J.Green as a FLEX with upside.
Terry McLaurin vs DAL
Dallas is an absolute dumpster fire. Their defense couldn’t stop a nose bleed allowing the second most passing yards in the NFL. Terry McLaurin has played with three different QBs and still is a WR2 according to ESPN. It doesn’t matter who is throwing him the ball, Terry is making some scary plays with it. Expect big things from McLaurin on Sunday.
Tight Ends
Robert Tonyan @ HOU
The Green Bay Tight End has shocked the fantasy world with his Top-Five ranking through six weeks of the season. The Packers matchup with the Texans this week in a game that should be a big middle finger to the NFL world from Aaron Rodgers. Tonyan should get his and put up point this week as a TE2.
TJ Hockenson @ ATL
TJ Hockenson caught a TD last week in the Lions’ huge win against the Jaguars. Hockenson draws the Falcons this week, who love allowing points to TEs. A dome game against two gunslinging QBs calls for everyone in this one to be started. I expect Hockenson to be used a lot in the red zone, which should result in a big time fantasy day for the young TE.
Jonnu Smith/Anthony Firkser vs PIT
The Steelers defense has been rock solid this season, but so has the Titans offense. Something's got to give and a Titans TE will score in the red zone on Sunday, so be part of the party.
SIT
Quarterbacks
Deshaun Watson vs GB
I do not expect the Texans to be competitive in this game, especially facing a secondary that features Adrian Amos and Jaire Alexander. Stream guys like Justin Herbert, Carson Wentz, or Matthew Stafford this week. If you do start Watson, temper expectations.
Gardner Minshew @ LAC
Minshew has proved to be a streaming option to start this season, but in a matchup against a team coming off a Bye week, the Jaguars having banged up skill position players, and a good Chargers defense, put Minshew on the bench this week.
Drew Brees vs CAR
I can’t believe I am writing this, but Drew Brees should not be started in a fantasy leagues until further notice. Without Michael Thomas, he does not look like the same QB.
Carolina has a surprisingly good secondary. Herbert, Cam Newton, and Matt Ryan would be better starts than Brees.
Running Backs
Boston Scott vs NYG
This looks like an appetizing start, but let me tell you what you aren’t hearing about. The Giants defensive line has been one of the team’s few bright spots this season. They rank in the Top-10 in rushing yards allowed and are one of the top defensive lines when it comes to pressuring the QB. I expect Wentz to have a great game, but Boston Scott and the rest of the RBs will struggle.
Josh Jacobs vs TB
The Raiders and Bucs will be a great Sunday night matchup. I can’t wait to watch old Super Bowl highlights when Jon Gruden had the answer key to stopping the Raiders offense. Ya know, because he created their offense.
Anyway, I am waiting on starting Jacobs this week. Tampa Bay has one of the best defenses in the NFL. If you must start Jacobs, I get it, but look for a better matchup if possible or just know it could be a rough night.
Kenyan Drake vs SEA
Kenyan Drake owners celebrated in the streets last week after he found the end zone against New York’s pop warner football team. Is he fantasy relevant again? Can I start him?
Don't chase points, wait and see if the Cardinals give up on Chase Edmonds before putting Drake back in your lineup. If Dalvin Cook misses another week, I would start Alexander Mattison over Drake.
Wide Receivers
Allen Robinson @ LAR
Allen Robinson is a sit for me this week strictly based off of his matchup. More than likely, he will be lined up against Jalen Ramsey, one of the best shutdown corners in the league. He'll get targets, but I don't know if Nick Foles can deliver the necessary passes for Robinson to have a successful game.
Will Fuller V vs GB
Will Fuller had a monster week against the Titans. Reeling in six passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. As I mentioned above, that Packers secondary is very good. He’ll be covered a lot, Darren Fells has take a big leap into the offensive game plan, and I expect a down week from Fuller.
CeeDee Lamb @ WAS
The Cowboys stink. Andy Dalton is clearly not the answer to this season. He struggled to spread the ball around like Dak Prescott has been doing, leaving some targets out to dry and getting demolished in the backfield.
Lamb was one of the guys who did not have a week like he has been used to. I see this being a theme for the next few weeks, and possibly the rest of the season. I would look for a different option over Lamb for the foreseeable future.
Tight Ends
Chris Herndon vs BUF
Never start Chris Herndon.
Jared Cook vs CAR
Not only has Carolina been great against opposing WRs, but TEs too. Carolina is a better team than we are giving them credit for. If Drew Brees isn’t cooking, Cook will be useless.
Rob Gronkowski @ LV
Gronk finally found the end zone last week, but that’s about all we’ll see for a while. Gronk is the definition of a boom or bust play. The Raiders defense is good enough where he’ll be a non-factor this week. There are better options in my start list to play instead of Gronk.
Tyler Higbee vs CHI
The Rams offense is not the reason for sitting Higbee; it’s the Bears defense. Chicago has been solid in shutting down opposing TEs.
Also, with Gerald Everett as a factor in the offense, I would be hesitant on starting Higbee at all, he's almost borderline droppable. Austin Hooper and Darren Fells are some options I like over Higbee moving forward.
Best of luck in your Week 7 matchups and hopefully this advice pays dividends and nets you a big mid-season win in your leagues.