Week 7 is here, and again we have 4 teams on their bye weeks, so your start/sit decisions are going to be tough and also vital to get you through your matchups this week. @FFShaneB gives you his top starts for this week and @MattFFDynasty gives you his sits and the guys you should maybe be tempering expectations on.
Teams on their bye week:
Baltimore Ravens
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Starts
Start Of The Week
Matthew Stafford (DET) @ ATL
Atlanta’s defense is still bad. They had Minnesota beat last week and allowed Kirk cousins to come back from the fantasy doldrums to have a solid day. I expect a shoot out in this game and Stafford to have a good day.
Justin Herbert (LAC) Vs JAX
Herbert has looked like the potential rookie of the year. And I am eating my words from the preseason on him. But I’m kinda loving it now, and this week he gets Jacksonville who is in tank mode despite Gardner Minshew’s efforts.
Kyler Murray (ARI) Vs SEA
If you drafted Kyler you’re probably starting him anyway, but this week is going to be very interesting for him. Seattle’s D has been bad but their offense has been great. So this could be a huge shootout and Kyler is going to go off.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Jared Goff (LAR) Vs CHI
Goff is coming off a Week 6 performance where the boxscore looks reasonable, with 198 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT against the 49ers, however, he also had his struggles last week. Now he has to face a very tough Chicago Bears defense that has only allowed 4 passing TDs through their first 6 games of the season. It's going to be another tough task for Goff this week on MNF.
Derek Carr (LV) Vs TB
Carr has made a strong start to the season and is currently the QB19 despite having his bye week last week. Hopefully he feels refreshed though, as he is likely in for a long evening this week facing off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are a Top 5 defense against opposing QBs this season, allowing only an average of 17.1 FPPG to opposing QBs. I'd sit Carr this week if you are able to.
Baker Mayfield (CLE) @ CIN
Despite the Browns being 4-2, Mayfield has really struggled this season and currently sits as the QB26 in fantasy football right now. Many will think this could be a good chance to bounce back against the 1-4-1 Bengals, however, they are actually quite strong against the QB position and are only allowing 17.9 FPPG on average to opposing QBs. No matter if Baker wakes up feeling dangerous or not, I think he's in for another tough game this week.
Running Back
Starts
Start Of The Week
Ronald Jones (TB) @ LV
RoJo has 3 straight 100 yard games. Can he make it 4? I think so because Vegas sucks against the run. He has impressed me so far this year and even though Fournette has been hurt I don’t think RoJo will give the job up easily when he comes back especially with a 4th strong performance in a row this week.
D'Andre Swift (DET) @ ATL
Swift had a breakout last week and got stronger as the game went. FINALLY! Now Patricia get out of your own way and let him play. This is a good week for him to follow up on against Atlanta. It can be on the ground or in the pass game this week in a high scoring affair.
Latavius Murray (NO) Vs CAR
with bye weeks and injuries piling up some deeper options are necessary for starts and sits. Latavius Murray poached a couple of TDs weeks ago from Kamara and with Carolina’s week run defense it could happen again this week. Start Murray as a flex option who could give you some high upside with his matchup.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Josh Jacobs (LV) Vs TB
Jacobs has had his ups and downs this season, and last week he had his best performance since Week 1 but the 2 TDs he scored saved what would have only been an average game on the ground with only 77 rushing yards on 23 rushing attempts (3.3 YPC). This week he has to play a Buccaneers defense that limited star RB Aaron Jones to just 15 yards on the ground last week. Jacobs is likely your RB1 or RB2 so you may struggle to sit him, if so I would just temper expectations on his performance this week if you need to start him.
James Robinson (JAX) @ LAC
The UDFA James Robinson has been fantastic this season and is currently the RB7 in PPR leagues. However, like Jacobs, Robinsons day was salvaged by a late TD last week against the Detriot Lions, where he only rushed for 29 yards and had 24 receiving yards. Now, he has to face a strong Chargers run defense that will be fully prepared for this game coming off their bye week. This will be a tough one for Robinson and better days will be ahead.
James White (NE) Vs SF
James White is quickly becoming one of QB Cam Newton's favorite targets with the Patriots. He has had 17 targets in just the last 2 weeks and over 100 yards. This week though, he is playing against the best defense in the NFL against opposing RBs in the San Francisco 49ers. In PPR leagues, White could survive this tough matchup this week and be okay in your flex spot with the number of teams on their bye week, but I'd temper expectations and I definitely wouldn't risk playing him in non-PPR leagues.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Start Of The Week
Tee Higgins (CIN) Vs CLE
The rookie WRs are balling out this year. Tee Higgins wasn’t expected to until next year after AJ Green moved in, but it looks like Higgins may force him out. He has been good so far and has a good matchup against Cleveland to continue his performance this year.
Darius Slayton (NYG) @ PHI
The Eagles have not been very good this year and not very good against fantasy WRs. Slayton is the guy in this offense and has continually gotten targets. I expect him to have a heck of a game this week on TNF.
Chase Claypool (PIT) @ TEN
He’s still not a tight end. He’s still balling. Tennessee is in the bottom half against opposing fantasy WRs. Start him. I don’t care what other teammates are healthy or not he’s too good not to start.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Allen Robinson (CHI) @ LAR
We all know that Robinson sees plenty of targets each week with the Bears, but he will now be facing off against superstar CB Jalen Ramsey in what will be an awesome head-to-head to watch against the Rams, but not for Robinson owners. The Rams are only allowing an average of 24.4 FPPG to opposing WRs this season so this will be one of Robinson's toughest tests so far this season.
DJ Moore (CAR) @ NO
After a slow start to the season, DJ Moore has bounced back slightly in the last couple of weeks with back-to-back games with 93 yards. However, volume is still a concern with him not exceeding 5 receptions since Week 2 and now going up against a strong pass defense in the Saints, I struggle to have much faith in his outlook this week. Fellow WR Robby Anderson looks to be QB Teddy Bridgewater's favorite target and the WR1 with the Panthers.
Jerry Jeudy (DEN) Vs KC
While Jeudy has show flashes of his talent during his rookie season so far, he's yet to have that big blowup game like many of his fellow rookie WR have had this season and I struggle to see that changing this week. Now going up against the Chiefs who have been very strong against opposing WRs (Ranked 1st in points allowed to opposing WRs in fantasy) I'd look to sit Jeudy this week where possible.
Tight End
Starts
Start Of The Week
Evan Engram (NYG) @ PHI
TNF is gonna be a game of bad teams but a battle for the top of the division. Engram is super talented especially when he’s healthy. Start him this week against Phillys bad defense.
Robert Tonyan (GB) @ HOU
TONYAN IS BACK!! From bye. Well, that was two weeks ago but the Packers wet the bed last week so they need to bounce back. Luckily they play a bad Houston team. Rodgers trusts Tonyan in the red zone which is huge. Start him and reap the benefits of Rodgers throwing to him.
Hunter Henry (LAC) Vs JAX
Henry has a good matchup against the Jags. He has had decent success and stayed healthy this year so expect that to continue this week.
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Hayden Hurst (ATL) Vs DET
Hurst had one of his better games last week against the Vikings with 4 receptions for 57 yards and a TD. He now faces the Lions, who despite being poor against opposing WR, have been fairly strong against opposing TEs, and with him competing for targets alongside star WRs Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, he's never going to see the high volume that would give him a safe floor. He's a risky choice at TE this week.
Jared Cook (NO) Vs CAR
Many hoped Cook would see a good share of the vacated Michael Thomas targets when he went down injured after Week 1, but that sadly hasn't been the case with him only having 2 receptions each week in his last 3 games. Now with Thomas back and going up against a sneaky good pass defense in the Panthers, I'm not expecting much from Cook this week.
Rob Gronkowski (TB) Vs LV
GRONK IS BACK!! Going for 78 yards and a TD last week against the Packers. Well... I'm not sold on that one yet. He's been helped by fellow TE O.J Howard being out for the season but like the Panthers, the Raiders have been fairly strong against opposing TEs allowing an average of just 5.1 FPPG to the position. I can't put confidence in Gronk quite yet and especially not this week.
Defense
Starts
Start Of The Week
Buffalo Bills @ NYJ
Joe Flacco. Adam Gase. Old ass Frank Gore. Do I need to say more? Start the Bills defense who have had two tough games and need a bounce back.
L.A Chargers Vs JAX
Washington FT Vs DAL
Sits
Sit Of The Week
Arizona Cardinals Vs SEA
The Cardinals have been a fairly strong fantasy defense so far this season, but now they are going up against the high powered and high scoring Seattle Seahawks who have been letting QB Russell Wilson cook so far this season. This is likely to be a shootout with the game being one of the highest total points spread this week. There are plenty of other defenses I would take over the Cardinals this week.
Seattle Seahawks @ ARI
Denver Broncos Vs KC
Houston Texans Vs GB
Detriot Lions @ ATL
Thanks for reading. Be sure to keep an eye out every Wednesday for our weekly start/sit article with the @FF_Astronauts. Follow @FFShaneB and @MattFFDynasty on twitter for more Fantasy Football content throughout the season and hit us up with your Start/Sit questions.
