Starts and Sits: Week 7

By Tommy Harvey and Joe Goodwin

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (1:00pm)

Start: Jacoby Brissett, Nick Chubb, Amari Cooper, David Njoku, Lamar Jackson, Kenyan Drake, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews

Sit: Kareem Hunt, Donovan Peoples-Jones, JK Dobbins, Devin Duvernay

This game has the opportunity to be a shootout in Baltimore, with both teams in the bottom half of the league in total yards allowed.  The Ravens are in the bottom 5 in pass defense, so Jacoby Brissett should have a nice little Sunday afternoon.  Amari Cooper and David Njoku could be the beneficiaries of the somewhat depleted Ravens secondary.  Nick Chubb is an obvious weekly start.  JK Dobbins will be out 4-6 weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery and Gus Edwards is not quite ready to return from injury yet.  That means another decent workload for Kenyan Drake.  Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews are obvious every week starts, but Rashod Bateman is also on track to play and should be heavily involved.  

Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati Bengals (1:00pm)

Start: Marcus Mariota, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Hayden Hurst

Sit: Tyler Algeier, Caleb Hunt, Tyler Boyd

The NFC South leading Atlanta Falcons (that feels weird to say) will attempt to keep pace with the explosive Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.  With that being said, Marcus Mariota, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts will need to be heavily relied upon to make this game interesting.  Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Mixon are definite weekly starts. The question is, will the Bengals be able to keep Burrow upright.  Since allowing 13 sacks in the 1st two weeks of the season, the OL has only allowed 8 in the 4 games since.  Hayden Hurst has been a very reliable fantasy TE so far this season, so I would continue to ride that wave for as long as possible

Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys (1:00pm)

Start: Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliot, Tony Pollard, DeAndre Swift, TJ Hockenson

Sit: Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown

With Dak returning to the starting lineup, we can get a better picture of the Dallas offense.  Cooper Rush did an adequate job of running the attack, but Dak is just built differently.  I think all systems are a “go” on the Dallas offense against this porous Detroit defense; that includes Lamb, Zeke, and Pollard.  As for Detroit, I’m concerned their offense will have a hard time keeping Goff upright.  Micah Parsons was held in check last week by the Eagles, and I can foresee a lot of pent up frustration taken out on the Lions offensive line.  Swift will get volume and Hockenson will be the release valve for Goff as he is evading this relentless pass rush.  I was hoping Amon-Ra would get a better match up to return to, but that is not the case this week.  Instead, be ready to roll out Amon-Ra against the Dolphins in week eight..

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (1:00pm)

Start: Matt Ryan, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr, Alec Pierce, Derrick Henry, Robert Woods

Sit: Deon Jackson, Nyheim Hines, Jelani Woods, Mo Alie-Cox, Ryan Tannehill, Austin Hooper

This is another game that could be a shootout.  The Titans have the worst pass defense in the NFL, so Matt Ryan, Michael Pittman Jr, and Alec Pierce should feast.  Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry are weekly starts.  However, Deon Jackson has been a pleasant surprise as of late.  With Taylor and Hines back, Jackson will probably take a backseat again.  You never know which TE to go with, so I will say to sit both Jelani Woods and Mo Alie-Cox until we get some type of clarification as to who will be the TE1 there.  I will never say Ryan Tannehill is a start candidate (because he is the worst starting QB in the league), but Robert Woods is the only real target in Tennessee.  

Green Bay Packers at Washington Commanders (1:00pm)

Start: Aaron Jones, Allen Lazard, Aaron Rodgers, Taylor Heinicke, Brian Robinson, Terry McLaurin

Sit: AJ Dillon, Randall Cobb, Robert Tonyan, Jahan Dotson

Surprisingly, the Packers defense has been solid even though the offense has let them down.  With the Commanders offense just getting started with Taylor Heinicke, I believe he will rely on the veteran Terry McLaurin, not on Jahan Dotson (too touchdown dependent right now).  And, if the Commanders have any chance to win, they will need to use the running game to control the pace of play and Brian Robinson will get plenty of work to make that happen.  With Green Bay, I think we are all awaiting for the breakout game for Aaron Rodgers.  I have a feeling this is the game and Allen Lazard will be the beneficiary this week.  The Commanders do a great job of bottling up tight ends, that is why I am fading Tonyan this week.

UPDATE: Randall Cobb has been placed on the IR

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (1:00pm)

Start: Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin,  Leonard Fournette 

Sit: EVERY PANTHER, Cameron Brate

This Pather’s team just traded away its only reasonable fantasy player in CMC.  And with PJ Walker at the helm, I don’t see a single player shining.  It doesn’t mean a player won’t, I’m saying there is no real way of knowing who may be relevant.  For now, I would hold on all Panthers to see if DJ Moore or D’Onta Foreman/Chubba Hubbard can be useful.  For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady, and the Bucs, will feast on a team that is in “tank” mode as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin will destroy a depleted defensive backfield and when the game is in hand, Fournette will just ground and pound to close out the game.

New York Giants at Jacksonville Jaguars (1:00pm)

Start: Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Wan’Dale Robinson, Daniel Bellinger, Travis Etienne, Evan Engram

Sit: Trevor Lawrence, James Robinson, Zay Jones, Christian Kirk

Yes…Yes, I have Daniel Jones listed as a start for this game.  Jacksonville’s pass defense is not any good, and Wan’Dale Robinson and Daniel Bellinger have emerged as viable weapons for the Giants.  Saquan Barkley has been awesome thus far this season, so he is a must start every week.  Travis Etienne has somewhat taken over the Jaguars backfield as of late and he is the most talented of the Jags RBs.  As Etienne continues to emerge, James Robinson will likely take more of a back-up role.  While Trevor Lawrence is a sit for me this week due to the Giants good pass defense, Evan Engram is a startable fantasy TE.  

New York Jets at Denver Broncos (4:05pm)

Start: Breece Hall, Melvin Gordon, Greg Dulcich

Sit: Zach Wilson, Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, Tyler Conklin, Russell Wilson, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton

This game is going to be gross.  I am a big fan of Zach Wilson and Garrett Wilson, but the Broncos don’t give up many points.  Elijah Moore has been non-existent and has requested a trade. Corey Davis leads the team in yards, but this is not a good matchup for the pass game.  Tyler Conklin has not been productive since Zach Wilson has come back from injury.  The only start for the Jets in this game is Breece Hall, who has been tremendous in his rookie season.   Melvin Gordon was kind of shut out of the Broncos game plan last week, which was a pretty big mistake on their part.  He should see more of a role this week against a middle of the pack Jets run defense.  Greg Dulcich returned off the IR last week and immediately impacted the Broncos offense more than what Albert Okwuegbunam had done in the first 5 games.  That’s where I draw the line when it comes to Denver’s pass offense.  Russell Wilson has been cooked all season and that severely hinders Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton …especially when they will matchup with DJ Reed and Sauce Gardner

Houston Texans at Las Vegas Raiders (4:05pm)

Start: Dameon Pierce, Derek Carr, Josh Jacobs, Devante Adams, Hunter Renfrow

Sit: Davis Mills, Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, Darren Waller

I have criticized Dameon Pierce ad nauseum since he was in college at Florida.  I didn’t think he was very good and I thought Houston was stupid for making him their RB1.  With that said…I will admit I have been wrong about him this season.  He leads all rookies in rushing yards and rushing TDs, so he is a must start right now.  However, Houston’s pass offense is rather putrid and I am staying away from anyone involved in it.  On the flip side, the Raiders have a plethora of startable options.  Derek Carr hasn’t been great, but the Texans pass defense is in the bottom half of the league.  That makes Carr a start this week.  Josh Jacobs has been great this season.  He is the NFL’s 3rd leading rusher, so he is a must start.  Davante Adams is Davante Adams.  Until he is punished by the league, he obviously has to be in your weekly lineup.  Hunter Renfrow has missed some time this season, but there is hope he will play this week.  With Darren Waller likely to sit, Renfrow becomes an interesting flex option this week.

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Chargers (4:25pm)

Start: Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III, DK Metcalf, Will Dissly, Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Josh Palmer, Gerald Everett

Sit: Tyler Lockett, Mike Williams

Both of these teams are awful against the run, so while Austin Ekeler is a must start every week, Kenneth Walker III is a start this week too.  Everybody knows Justin Herbert is an elite QB, but Geno Smith has been surprisingly good for the majority of this season as well.  With an elite WR in DK Metcalf, I’d be ok with firing up Smith in this matchup.  Will Dissly has been a solid fantasy TE in what has been a positional wasteland this season.  Speaking of solid TE options, Gerald Everett has been a big time target for Herbert…and the Seahawks are awful against opposing TEs.  With Keenan Allen injured, Josh Palmer has been a target monster lately, drawing 12 targets last weekend against Denver.  I’d put him in your lineup this week, as I’m not sold that Mike Williams is 100% healthy right now.

Update:  WR Josh Palmer (concussion) has been ruled out for this game.  WR Keenan Allen considered a game time decision.

Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers (4:25pm)

Start: Pat Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, CMC, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle

Sit: CEH, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Isaiah Pacheco, Brandon Aiyuk, Jimmy Garoppolo

The trade of CMC to the 49ers rocked the NFL and Fantasy Football World Friday morning.  The CMC trade will immediately solidify the backfield for the 49ers (until he gets hurt).  It will also push Deebo to his preferred role of being a receiver.  I don’t see CMC heavily involved in the running game.  However, I see those screens and dump offs being his jam this week.  Kansas City is coming off a tough loss to the Bills and will look to rebound against a team in transition.  Pat Mahomes is a magician and is a must start in all formats.  From week to week, the wide receiver of choice is hard to predict.  Since JuJu had a good week against the Bills, I feel like this is a MVS week.  

Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins (8:20pm)

Start: Kenny Pickett, Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Chase Claypool, Pat Freiermuth, Tua Tagovailoa, Raheem Mostert, Tyreek Hill, Jalen Waddle, Mike Gesicki

Sit: Chase Edmonds

This game is going to be fun!  Both young QBs have amazing weapons at their disposal.  Kenny Pickett finally took over for Mitchell Trubisky and is expected to be healthy enough to start this weekend.  Tua is back from his concussion issues this week as well.  Fire up all the weapons in this matchup without hesitation.

Chicago Bears at New England Patriots (Monday 8:15pm)

Start: Rhamondre Stevenson, Jakobi Meyers, 

Sit: Justin Fields, David Montgomery, Khalil Herbert, Darnell Mooney, Cole Kmet, Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Tyquon Thornton, DeVante Parker, Hunter Henry

This should prove to be one of the worst Fantasy games of the week and quite possibly the worst Monday Night Football game of the year. There's only two players I would start in this one, and that's Rhamondre Stevenson and Jakobi Meyers. Chicago has no one to get excited about, not even David Montgomery. The Patriots are tough against the run. In fact, they haven't allowed a rushing touchdown yet this season. If you are forced to use Montgomery, he is nothing more than a flex play this week. The only wide receiver that's consistent for New England is Jacoby Meyers. Nothing else to see here.