Fantasy football is a cruel game, my friends. We’ve now lost the top quarterback, the top running back, and a top-three wide receiver. Chances are, between bye weeks and injuries, you’ve been forced to try to waiver wire your way to winning a few matchups. So let’s check in on some borderline players, to see whether they qualify as starts or sits for Week 7!
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Quarterbacks
Start
Jared Goff (LAR v. ARI): ECR of 17
Unless your name is Sammy Watkins, you’re probably super happy with Goff’s performance thus far this season. Yes, he struggles in tough matchups, such as against Seattle and Jacksonville. But other than that, he’s been utterly startable. He now gets to take on a Cardinals defense that is allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and just got torched by Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Cardinals secondary has one strength, and that’s Patrick Peterson, who is a) fighting through an injury and b) even if he does play, will be guarding Watkins, to whom Goff rarely throws anyway. The game has the third-highest over/under line of the week, so there will be points. Goff should do well in a solid matchup.
Brett Hundley (GB v. NO): ECR of 16
(Takes a minute to compose self after thinking about the Aaron Rodgers injury. Begins writing.) Hundley’s debut went poorly, with three interceptions against one touchdown (though he could have had a second had Ty Montgomery not momentarily turned into Stonehands). But as we saw from Case Keenum earlier this year, it’s one thing to be forced into a game because of an injury, and a whole different one when you have a week to prepare. Hundley has been in the Packers’ system for several years now, and has been excellent in his preseason work (10 touchdowns to just two interceptions). He should need points against the Saints on Sunday, has a ton of weapons, and has rushing ability that should provide him a weekly floor. I’ll be higher on him than the industry this week, and think he makes a borderline QB1. Even if you don’t start him, pick him up now, in case he goes big.
Sit
Jameis Winston (TB at BUF): ECR of 15
Signs point to Winston playing in this one despite a sprained shoulder, but it’s the matchup, not the injury, that gives me pause. The Bills have quietly been extremely tough on opposing quarterbacks, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to the position (an average of just nine per game) and only two touchdown passes. Winston has been a disappointment this year in any event and, given that Buffalo has had an extra week to prepare for the matchup and his likely limited practice this week, he’s not a great option in Week 7.
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT v. CIN): ECR of 13
Yes, I’m contractually obligated to mention Big Ben in this article every week. I’m inclined to believe that things will get better for Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense, and they’re at home this week, which historically means good things. But the Bengals allow the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and have held every quarterback not named Aaron Rodgers to 17 fantasy points or less. Own Roethlisberger, and even feel free to buy low. But I’d avoid starting him until he shows can produce consistently.
Running Backs
Start
Isaiah Crowell (CLE v. TEN): ECR of 33
(Ducks). Yes, I understand, Crowell has been terrible this year. But he’s averaged a passable 4.2 yards per carry over the last two weeks and has seen an average of 16 touches per week. The Titans are tough to run against, but the Browns should be able to move the ball through the air even with DeShone Kizer under center. The thing in Crowell’s favor is that Kizer is an absolute nightmare in the red zone and particularly around the goal line. I’m thinking Hue Jackson has seen the error of his ways (wishful thinking), and rather than letting Kizer throw the ball or running option reads, he’ll just hand it off to Crowell inside the five-yard-line. If so, then Crowell’s 70-80-yard day might turn into that plus a touchdown, which would make Crowell a useful option for perhaps the first time this season!
James White (NE v. ATL): ECR of 34
White saw just seven touches last week against the Jets, his lowest since Week 3, and he totaled just 45 yards. But he should be in a prime position to do damage against the Falcons this weekend. Atlanta gives up the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs but, critical to White’s success, the Falcons allow the fourth-most receptions to running backs per game. White is on pace for 88 catches this season, and regardless of whether Dion Lewis or Mike Gillislee is the primary rusher, White’s role in the passing game will remain constant. Obviously, White had a huge game against Atlanta in the Super Bowl, scoring three touchdowns and catching 14 passes for 110 yards. He should be a monster in PPR and a solid start in standard leagues.
Sit
Orleans Darkwa (NYG v. SEA): ECR of 25
No, this isn’t just because the Giants busted me in my survivor pool last week. Well, maybe it is. I have no explanation for Darkwa’s effectiveness against a Denver defense that has completely shut down opposing running backs this year. But, frankly, I’m throwing that game out entirely, because all of it defies reason. We’ve seen enough of Darkwa in his career to know he’s not an elite running back, and I can’t imagine that the Seahawks make the same mistake the Broncos did (i.e., not game plan or show up or have any desire to play football, apparently). The Seahawks allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, and they’ll surely try to key in on both Darkwa and Evan Engram. With an ECR of a borderline RB2, I can’t buy that.
Matt Forte (NYJ at MIA): ECR of 35
Forte had a huge return to the Jets lineup on Sunday against the Patriots, hauling in eight catches for 59 yards and adding 22 yards rushing. But he’s unlikely to find quite as much success against the Dolphins this week, as Miami allows the 10th fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and has allowed an average of just 36 receiving yards per game to the position. Miami shut down the Jets running backs in the teams’ first meeting, allowing an average of just three yards per carry and zero receptions. The Jets shouldn’t be trailing heavily this game, so expect a more conservative gameplan, which should mean a pedestrian output for Forte as he splits work with Elijah McGuire.
Wide Receivers
Start
Danny Amendola (NE v. ATL): ECR of 30
Amendola has gotten a bad rap during his time in New England, but that’s largely due to his injury history. While he’s been far from a world beater, he’s seen no fewer than five targets and totaled no less than 40 yards receiving in any game this season. He’ll now get a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl, during which he faced off against Falcons slot cornerback Brian Poole. Amendola thrived in the Super Bowl (hauling in eight of 11 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown), with most of his production coming against Poole. The Falcons have done well against opposing wide receivers generally, but Poole has struggled, as Atlanta has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing slot receivers. That should mean another high-floor performance from Amendola, with the possibility of an extremely high ceiling.
Terrelle Pryor (WAS at PHI): ECR of 27
To the extent you haven’t cut Pryor, traded him for cents on the dollar, or declared that he will remain on your bench until further notice, he actually makes a nice start here. To be clear, I’m not extolling the virtues of Pryor as a receiver, but rather focusing on the deficiencies in the Eagles secondary. The Eagles allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, as both Jalen Mills and Rasul Douglas have been terrible in coverage. Pryor had one of his “better” games in Week 1 against the Eagles, catching six of his 11 targets for 66 yards. If you own Pryor, this is perhaps the only week where he’s difficult to get away from.
Sit
Sammy Watkins (LAR v. ARI): ECR of 35
This feels like kicking a guy when he’s down, but fantasy football is an emotionless game. Watkins has seen six targets and has two catches for 28 yards over his last three games. That’s an incredible stat line. He’ll now draw a Cardinals defense that is very generous to opposing wide receivers, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to the position. In fact, the Arizona secondary has just one strength – Patrick Peterson, who is expected to play despite a quad injury. You know what else Peterson will probably do? Shadow Watkins. Peterson can shut down all comers, but especially Watkins, as Jared Goff seems to frantically avoid throwing against an opposing team’s No. 1 cornerback. I’m still not dropping Watkins in any league where I own him, but he’s nearly impossible to start here.
T.Y. Hilton (IND v. JAC): ECR of 25
Hilton’s long-term viability as a fantasy starter is in question with the recent discouraging news about Andrew Luck, but this week against Jacksonville is particularly troubling. The Jaguars have allowed just one touchdown to wide receivers all season, and give up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to the position. Regardless of whether Hilton draws A.J. Bouye or Jalen Ramsey, it’s going to be nearly impossible for him to find any room to do damage. There will still be decent weeks when the matchup is right – but this probably isn’t going to be one of them.
Tight Ends
Start
Austin Hooper (ATL at NE): ECR of 12
After seeing just six targets over his first three games, Hooper has seen 16 over his last two games, turning them into 12 receptions for 98 yards. He’s certainly established himself as a big piece of the Atlanta offense once Mohamed Sanu went down with an injury. He now gets a matchup against the dumpster fire that is otherwise known as the Patriots defense, which allows the third-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. There’s no reason to hesitate on this one. Invest with confidence in Week 7.
Sit
Jordan Reed (WAS at PHI): ECR of 10
You know what the Eagles do poorly? Defend against wide receivers. You know what Reed isn’t? A wide receiver. #analysis. The Eagles are fine against opposing tight ends, but this sit designation is really about two things. First, Philadelphia is awful against wide receivers, as mentioned above with Terrelle Pryor. But truly, Reed just hasn’t been good this season. He has no more than 48 yards receiving in any game and has yet to find the end zone. With plenty of other options, including backup tight end Vernon Davis, it’s hard to expect Kirk Cousins to make Reed his go-to option here.
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Dan Harris is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Dan, check out his archive or follow him on Twitter at @danharris80.
