2020 NFL Week 7 Start 'em & Sit 'em
We are entering the mid-point of your fantasy league and every victory is crucial. Heading into Week 7, that need to keep the pressure on makes getting those all important start ’em and sit ’em decisions as important as ever.
Quarterback
Automatic Starts: Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson
Start of the Week: Matt Ryan vs. Detroit Lions
Matt Ryan had a day. Ok so it was against the Minnesota Vikings’ hapless defense but Ryan orchestrated a huge fantasy day. Julio Jones finally came to the party with a monster outing himself and this bodes well for the matchup this week with the similarly bad defense of the Detroit Lions. With his whole arsenal of weapons available and a Falcons defense that will struggle to stop Matthew Stafford down the other end this game will turn into a shootout and multiple Ryan touchdown passes.
Other notable starts:
Matthew Stafford @ Atlanta Falcons
Much the same as my start of the week, this game will feature two good offenses and two bad defenses, which equals the recipe for some big QB fantasy days. Atlanta are giving up a league worst average of three passing TDs per game so Stafford will have a field day targeting the likes of Golladay, Jones & Hockenson in the red zone.
Justin Herbert vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Who would have thought it at the start of the season that Herbert would be a top fantasy QB this early into his NFL career? Averaging over 21 points a game, Herbert faces a Jaguars team allowing a league worst 73.4% completion percentage and two passing TDs a game. Keep rolling with the hot rookie.
Joe Burrow vs. Cleveland Browns
Despite now going two games without a TD pass, Joe Burrow is most definitely a great play this week. The Cleveland Browns are conceding over 31 points a game and rank 27th when it comes to allowing passing yards and passing TDs. A.J. Green came alive last week and the combination of Green, Boyd & Higgins going forward will help elevate Burrow’s game.
Sits – Jimmy Garoppolo, Drew Lock, Jared Goff
Running Back
Automatic Starts: Ezekiel Elliott, Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chris Carson, Josh Jacobs, Joe Mixon
Start of the Week: Ronald Jones @ Las Vegas Raiders
Ronald Jones has been my choice for a great start two out of the last three weeks and I’m carrying on rolling with the Buccaneers running back. Leonard Fournette has returned to practice and is in line to play this week so the ceiling may be a little lower, but there’s no mistaking it this is Ronald Jones’ backfield. Three 100+ yard games in a row, and now facing the Raiders who have given up the second most points to the RB position, yeah I really want Jones in my teams again this week.
Other notable starts:
Kareem Hunt @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Browns will no doubt look great again following their humiliating thrashing by the Steelers last week. Hunt couldn’t get anything going and they fell behind early so it was tough for Hunt owners. This week he faces the Bengals defense who are at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to the Steelers. Look for Hunt & the Browns to put up points.
Todd Gurley vs. Detroit Lions
Gurley’s down week against the Vikings certainly can’t be put down to lack of opportunity, he just didn’t produce. This week things are looking rosy again with the delicious matchup against the Detroit Lions, who rank 29th in opponents rush yards. Getting Jones back only opens up more room for Gurley who’s been great two out of the last three weeks and last week was only the second game where he failed to get into the end zone.
Antonio Gibson vs. Dallas Cowboys
Not only are Dallas bad defending the pass, they can’t stop the run either. The cowboys are giving up the second most rushing yards per game, the Cardinals racked up 261 on them. Washington will be able to score points on Dallas regardless of who plays at QB and Gibson has now had seen five targets in each of the last three weeks, which bodes well for a comeback game from the Memphis product.
Sits – Kenyan Drake, Any Patriot not named James White, Adrian Peterson
Wide Receiver
Automatic Starts: DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Calvin Ridley, Mike Evans, Stefon Diggs
Start of the Week: Christian Kirk vs. Seattle Seahawks
Don’t look now but my best dynasty buy before the season Christian Kirk has slowly started to put things together in 2020. Double digit fantasy points in each of his last three games and a big two-score game last week against Dallas, Kyler Murray is finally looking Kirk’s way. Will this nice streak end you may ask? Well it won’t this week against the worst pass defense in the NFL, as this divisional game is going to be a shootout folks.
Other notable starts:
Tyler Boyd vs. Cleveland Browns
Boyd has had two fairly disappointing weeks in a row now and some fantasy managers are concerned that the emergence of A.J. Green back onto this offense will affect Boyd going forward. Don’t be worried this week as there’s plenty of targets to be had! Cleveland are just bad at stopping the pass and luckily for the Bengals Joe Burrow loves to pass (only Dallas has more pass attempts per game). Look for Boyd to get back on track this week in what could be a high scoring affair.
Terry McLaurin vs. Dallas Cowboys
Terry McLaurin is a GREAT wide receiver, he’s just on a BAD team. McLaurin has only had one game where he did not produce double digit fantasy points this season, but he’s only managed to find the end zone once all season. The solution? … Facing the Cowboys! Dallas are the Christmas present that keeps on giving, and McLaurin will find success no matter who is throwing him the ball.
Jamison Crowder vs. Buffalo Bills
This one is linked to Sam Darnold returning. The fact is Crowder LOVES playing against the Bills. 115 yards and TD in Week 1, and two big fantasy games against the Bills in 2019. Crowder has been the only shining light in a mess of a football team. Josh Allen should put up big numbers so whoever is it QB for the Jets will have to throw the ball to try to keep up.
Sits – Michael Gallup, Cooper Kupp, Travis Fulgham
Tight End
Automatic Starts: Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Mark, Darren Waller
Start of the Week: Rob Gronkowski @ Las Vegas Raiders
Have we travelled back in time to 2017 or am I really saying that Gronkowski is my TE start of the week? Well 2020 is pretty wild and I am indeed predicting a big week for Gronkowski who’s production has been on the up over the last couple of weeks. The Raiders are in the bottom third in almost all defensive categories and Gronkowski will remain an integral part of the Buccaneers offense this week. Mike Evans & Chris Godwin are still not 100% and since the loss of O.J. Howard for the season, Gronkowski has really seen his opportunities increase. Gronkowski’s first TD in Week 6 against the Packers will certainly not be his last in a Buccaneers uniform.
Other notable starts:
T.J. Hockenson @ Atlanta Falcons
Two games and two TDs is the stat line for Hockenson over the past two weeks. Disappointingly he didn’t go on to produce a monster stat line but if you started him you were ok with it. Hockenson can easily score again this week against a weak Falcons defense. Stafford will need to keep up with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones & Calvin Ridley if the Lions want any chance to win this game.
Robert Tonyan @ Houston Texans
Is the streak over for the breakout Packer TE? Despite being limited in practice this week I still have Tonyan in my top 10 TEs this week against an easily beatable Texans team who just conceded 42 points to the Titans. Adams is back for the Packers and will be the No.1 target, but Aaron Rodgers will be on a revenge tour following his humiliation at the hands of the Buccaneers, meaning he shouldl look to put up a ton of points.
Hunter Henry vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Henry only has one week where he did not reach double digit fantasy points but yet only finds himself the TE14 in PPR formats. That’s because although the yardage is there the touchdowns haven’t been coming his way (just one on the year). Seven or more targets in four out of five games is a great stat and there’s plenty of reason to believe Henry can find the end zone for a second week running against the Jags who rank 26th against fantasy TEs.
Sits – Greg Olsen, Jared Cook, Eric Ebron
Alastair Cook
Fantasy Football Analyst
ALASTAIR, A DIE-HARD BUCCANEERS FAN FROM NORWICH AND UP AND COMING FANTASY CONTRIBUTOR CAN BE FOUND ON HIS TWITTER PAGE The Dynasty Grill (@FFDynastyGrill)