Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 7
Our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 7 article gives you plenty of significant and fun advice on how to handle your lineup. You are probably reading this article with a 6-0 record and scoffing at this. Or, you could be totally panicking at 0-6 and resigned to your fate. Maybe you’re 3-3 and just content. Regardless, my column gives you everything you need to decipher which player will go off and which player will run 13 times for 19 yards (I am looking at you, Antonio Gibson).
Let’s review what I got right last week because it’s essential to gloat. I was right about Caleb Williams in my Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em article, as he finished with 28.6 fantasy points. Also, D’Andre Swift went off again with 21.9 fantasy points. Zay Flowers also went off with 22.4 fantasy points. Likewise, Terry McLaurin killed it (and my fantasy team) with 23.3 fantasy points after two touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens. While Trevor Lawrence did not do awful, he still mustered 17.1 fantasy points. Meanwhile, Ladd McConkey finished with just 8.8 fantasy points. Isaiah Likely finished with just 4.7 fantasy points.
I whiffed on James Conner, but much of that was due to a horrible game script, as he finished with a paltry 6.6 fantasy points. Moreover, I was completely wrong about Tucker Kraft, as Jordan Love forgot he was on the field and focused on Romeo Doubs and the receivers instead. Alexander Mattison was on my sit column but salvaged his day with five catches while also getting into the end zone. Furthermore, Courtland Sutton proved me wrong by getting into the endzone.
I went 8 for 12 in my recommendations, and the ones I missed thrived because they reached the end zone. But enough of that. Getting 66 percent of my picks right is good, but I am a perfectionist, and I want to get them all right, and I want you to get them all right. So continue reading my Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 7 article and see what advice I can give you for your lineups.
You should probably check the fantasy football points team ranks to see how teams have done against certain positions. This is a good indicator of how they might do this weekend.
Our fantasy football recap tells you everything you need to know about what happened in Week 6. Of course, remember to optimize your lineups with our NFL Optimizer. It will help you a lot.
Week 7 Starts
*Start Stat Percentage, Via Yahoo
Baker Mayfield
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Baltimore Ravens (93% started)
Baker Mayfield is slowly turning into a “must-start” based on his last three performances. He has generated 20 or more points in three straight starts. Amazingly, his latest feat came at the hands to hands of the New Orleans Saints, as he generated 25.9 fantasy points after throwing 325 yards and four touchdowns. Yes, he tossed three interceptions. But he also showed how well he can bounce back by torching the Saints in the second half. Mayfield gets the Ravens this week, and they allow the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Fire him out of the cannon this week.
Tony Pollard
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills (93% started)
Tony Pollard just went off for 17 rushes for 93 yards and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts to finish with 17.8 fantasy points. It was his second straight week of 16 or more points. Pollard gets another shiny matchup as he goes up against the Buffalo Bills, who came into the weekend allowing the most fantasy points to running backs. The Titans might have trouble beating the Bills, but the game script will not change the fact that Pollard is a good play here.
Austin Ekeler
Washington Commanders vs. Carolina Panthers (79% started)
Austin Ekeler did not do so well against the Baltimore Ravens in the top role, as he rushed only nine times for 21 yards and caught four passes for 47 yards to finish with just 10.8 fantasy points. However, he has a great matchup this week, as he faces the Carolina Panthers, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs. If Brian Robinson returns from his knee injury, Ekeler’s value will take a small hit, but I would still recommend playing him against a team that simply cannot stop running backs.
Stefon Diggs
Houston Texans vs. Green Bay Packers (98% started)
Stefon Diggs had a good performance, catching six of seven targets for 77 yards and a touchdown while finishing with 19.7 fantasy points as the leading receiver in the absence of Nico Collins. This week, Diggs gets another good matchup as he will face the Packers, who are middle-of-the-road but have allowed an average of 45.05 fantasy points over the past two weeks. Diggs has become the top target for CJ Stroud and will be a force in this one.
Terry McLaurin
Washington Commanders vs. Carolina Panthers (95% started)
Terry McLaurin continues to amaze, as he caught six of seven targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns to finish with 23.3 fantasy points against the Ravens. Amazingly, he has 18 or more fantasy points in three of his past four games. Expect McLaurin to continue to stay hot against a team that just allowed Drake London to go off for six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Evan Engram
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots (76% started)
Evan Engram just returned with a vengeance, catching all 10 targets for 102 yards to finish with 18.2 fantasy points. Normally, I don’t advise chasing the points. However, Engram has chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is one of the few targets he completely trusts. Trust Engram to be your tight end this week, and he will at least hit his projections and maybe do more, especially across the pond where the Jaguars usually flourish.
Week 7 Sits
Aaron Rodgers
New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (41% started)
Aaron Rodgers has not looked good this season and has only gone over 20 fantasy points once this season. Don’t expect it to get much better as he leads the Jets into Acrisure Stadium to battle the Steelers, who allow the fourth-least fantasy points to quarterbacks. Things will be tough for Rodgers, and his poor offensive line does not help him in this match.
Rachaad White/Bucky Irving
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Baltimore Ravens (71% started)
Rachaad White did not play, and Bucky Irving benefitted from it, going off for 14 rushes on 81 yards with a touchdown and catching both his targets for 24 yards to finish with 18.5 fantasy points. But you should slam the breaks for two seasons. One, Irving did most of his damage in the second half when the Saints defense was already worn down. The second reason would be his opponent this week, the Baltimore Ravens, who allow the third-least fantasy points to running backs. I would fade Irving or White, regardless of who plays.
James Conner
Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Chargers (97% started)
James Conner was awful this week, running just seven times for 24 yards and even losing a fumble. Ultimately, he only finished with 6.6 fantasy points because he caught four passes for 22 yards. It will get even worse this week as he faces the Chargers, who allow the sixth-least fantasy points to running backs and just contained Javonte Williams to six rushes on 23 yards. They are more likely to allow the quarterback to run on them, as they let Bo Nix run all over them. Expect something similar, with Kyler Murray hogging the running lanes (and fantasy points) against the Chargers.
George Pickens
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets (93% started)
George Pickens had another quiet week, catching three of eight targets for just 53 yards while finishing with 8.3 fantasy points. It will get worse this week as he faces off with the Jets, who allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. Moreover, Pickens likely will have Sauce Gardner covering him, making it even more challenging.
Michael Pittman
Indianapolis Colts vs. Miami Dolphins (90% started)
Michael Pittman saved his fantasy week by scoring a touchdown. Otherwise, he had three catches on five targets for 35 yards, which would have given him 6.5 fantasy points. The Dolphins are only competing this season because of their stout defense, and their defense allows the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. Plus, Jalen Ramsey will be covering Pittman. Additionally, he has a back injury, which is very public and could force him out of the game at any moment. Fade Pittman this week.
Tucker Kraft
Green Bay Packers vs. Houston Texans (76% started)
Tyler Kraft finished with a thud, as he only managed two receptions on four targets for just 13 yards and a measly 3.2 fantasy points. It won’t get any easier this week as he faces the Texans, who allow the third-least amount of fantasy points to tight ends. Moreover, Jordan Love is spreading the football to his wide receivers more often, leaving Kraft in the cold.
