Starts/Sits For Fantasy Football Week 7

We are in the thick of the fantasy football season. The starts/sits are becoming more crucial in week 7.

Fantasy Football Starts/Sits for Week 7

This is a massive week for the bye week. The Panthers, Bengals, Cowboys, Texans, Jets, and Titans are all off this week leaving lots of holes in rosters. Injuries to key players like Justin Jefferson have left teams scrambling to fill spots. Starting the right person when your opponent is weak can be the difference between winning and losing. Onto the list!

Rams RB Zach Evans (21) – Tyler Schank/Getty Images

Start: RB Zach Evans (vs. Steelers)

Evans only got four carries last week against the Cardinals. While he did not look impressive, he did seem to be the preferred back behind Kyren Williams for Sean McVay. Williams is now sidelined with an injury meaning that Evans will likely be the back that gets the most work. The McVay offense is very running backfriendly. Looking at the list of running backs who have been successful in this offense makes me confident that Evans is a good start for the week.

Colts RB Zack Moss (21) and Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd (33) – Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union

Sit: Colts Running Backs (vs. Browns)

Jonathan Taylor is still working his way back but is one of the best backs in the league. Zack Moss has been a great addition to any fantasy football team this year. I know a lot of teams are on the bye week but do everything you can to sit these backs. The Cleveland Browns defense is having a historic season. Through five games (they already had their bye) they have only given up 1,002 yards of total offense which translates to just over 200 per game.

For historical context, the 2000 Ravens defense gave up 245 yards per game through the first five games. There will likely not be many points to be had in week 7 for anyone on the Colts offense.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin (17) – Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports

Start: WR Terry McLaurin (at Giants)

McLaurin hasn’t been on my starts list simply because of target share. He hasn’t been getting the ball enough for me to feel confident about starting him. Last week, the Commanders seemed to be trying to get the star receiver more involved. McLaurin saw 11 targets even though the team passed the ball just 23 times. That was against a Seahawks team that is stingy against the pass. This week, McLaurin and the Commanders get the Giants’ secondary who are top 12 in fantasy PPG allowed to WRs. It gives me great joy to put one of my favorite players on this list.

Lions WR Jameson Williams (9) and Buccaneers S Ryan Neal (23) – Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports

Sit: WR Jameson Williams (at Ravens)

I am cheering for this guy to be a bonafide star. It is great that he is back on the field and his touchdown catch last week was a highlight play. My caution to you? Be careful with the hype. Williams is not seeing the target share that makes him viable in fantasy football. He ran just nine routes last week and had three targets. While one of those targets was the 45-yard touchdown play, any time a player is that dependent on scoring it gives me pause. Stash him away on your roster. He might be a fantasy football league winner come playoff time but right now, keep him on the bench.

Raiders CB Tyler Hall (37) and Packers TE Luke Musgrave (88) – Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

Start: TE Luke Musgrave (at Broncos)

The Green Bay Packers offense has been less than stellar the past couple of weeks. However, they seem to be getting Musgrave more involved in the offense. He has hauled in 12 out of 15 targets in the past two games. On other occasions, he is open and has simply been missed by Jordan Love. The Broncos have become this year’s defense to look for when choosing who to start in fantasy football. While I don’t think that Musgrave is a slam dunk, the upside is great. Even if the Packers get up big, they likely will keep their offense on the field to get reps.

Texans LB Blake Cashman (53) and Falcons TE Kyle Pitts (8) – Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports

Sit: Kyle Pitts (at Buccaneers)

Don’t do it!! Don’t buy into the hype! I know, I know, Pitts has looked good the past couple of weeks. He was the TE 3 last week after catching his first touchdown. The Falcons are throwing it more as they try and give Desmond Ridder more reps. I’m not getting sucked back in especially this week. Tampa Bay is a tough matchup for tight ends in the league and I would expect his numbers to not be as good in this game. There is a good chance I am wrong here. Pitts is looking better after the knee injury but I just can’t get on the bandwagon quite yet.

49ers QB Brock Purdy (13) and G Aaron Banks (65) – Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports

Start: QB Brock Purdy (at Vikings)

Everyone loved to bash Purdy last week after the loss to the Browns. After losing Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey to injury, he looked like a pedestrian quarterback. Upon further review, I think that was more about the Browns’ defense (see my stats above) than about Purdy. It seems that McCaffrey avoided long-term injury and there is a chance he is back by Monday night. Even if he isn’t I feel comfortable starting Purdy against a Minnesota defense who has allowed the 10th-most passing yards and fantasy points per game to QBs. Start Purdy with confidence.

Broncos QB Russell Wilson (3) – William Purnell/USA TODAY Sports

Sit: QB Russell Wilson (vs. Packers)

After last Thursday’s performance, this may seem obvious but there may be people who think the Packers’ defense might be vulnerable. He puts Preston Smith on Davante Adams! There are yards to be had here! I can’t trust it. The offense looks broken and there is one part of the Packers’ defense that is Wilson’s kryptonite, the front four. I wrote a piece on this earlier in the week for Defiant Takes that one of the bright spots for the Packers has been the play of the front four. Wilson holds the ball too long and it will likely lead to sacks and mistakes. With so many players on the bye, it is tempting to try and zag on Wilson. Don’t do it.

That is my list of starts/sits for fantasy football in week 7. Good luck to all this week!