Welcome to Week 7 of the 2023 season, and our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. This is where it all the hard work is done as we prepare for another week of hard hitting action and paper championships.
As always, if you are struggling with a decision you can checkout our rankings for each Week. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. All stats refer to 1/2 PPR, 6 point per passing touchdown leagues. The number in brackets next to an opponent is that teams rank against the position. Rank 1 is the best possible matchup, Rank 32 is the worst. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Start’Em
Jordan Love, Packers v Broncos (1)
Love has struggle mightily after getting off to a hot start. The book appears to be out on him and defenses are limiting his effectiveness. In week 7, he has a get right spot against the worst pass defense in the league, Denver. The Broncos are allowing 21.5 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and should serve to get him back on track in a big way.
Daniel Jones, Giants v WSH (2)
Much like Love, Jones has struggled lately, and much like Love he has a prime matchup in Week 7 to get his game back on track. He faces the Commanders who are allowing 21.0 fantasy points to quarterbacks and have a habit of making everyone look better than they are.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Raiders v CHI (3)
Garoppolo may not be in good health and has been struggling, but the Bears are yet another defense to aid a struggling quarterback. Jimmy G is by no means a must-start, but in this matchup he is a solid QB2.
Sit ‘Em
Mac Jones, Patriots v BUF (31)
Jones has been awful this season and is dangerously close to get replaced permanently. To make matters worse, he gets the second worst matchup for quarterbacks. The Buffalo Bills are holding quarterbacks to 10.7 fantasy points per game and could be the final nail in Mac Jones’ coffin.
Gardner Minshew, Colts v CLE (29)
Minshew had easily the worst game of his career in Week 6. Things get even worse in Week 7 as he faces a Browns defense that looks to be one of the best in the NFL. Minshew is in store for another poor outing and a handful of turnovers once again.
Russell Wilson, Broncos v GB (27)
Wilson has been saved this season by some garbage time production and some luck. This week that luck will dry up against a tough Packers pass defense and Russ will turn into a pumpkin just in time for Halloween.
Start ‘Em
Aaron Jones, Packers v DEN (1)
Jones has been nursing an injury over the past few weeks and it has limited his production. This week he looks to get healthy and he faces the Denver Broncos, who as we’ve documented are a must-start for all fantasy opponents. Jones should be a reliable RB2 this week as he gets back on track.
Ken Walker, Seahawks v ARI (3)
Walker has been a truly elite running back this season. In Week 7 he is gifted a matchup with the Cardinals that are allowing 25.6 fantasy points per game. Walker should continue his march to being a top-three back this week.
Josh Jacobs, Raiders v CHI (4)
Jacobs has been good but his offensive line has not. That offensive line will not matter this week in a matchup against one of the league’s worst defense. The bears are allowing 24.5 fantasy points to opposing running backs and are likely to allow another top-five finish to a running back.
Sit ‘Em
Gus Edwards, Ravens v DET (32)
Edwards has been part of a rotating committee that is producing almost nothing for fantasy. To make things worse, the Lions haven’t allowed a running back more than 43 rushing yards this season and have allowed only one rushing touchdown this season. Avoid the Raven’s backfield.
Rachaad White, Buccaneers v ATL (29)
White has been one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy to kick off the season and faces a Falcons team that has limited running backs to 13.0 fantasy points per game. If the Buccaneers had a good backup, it’s possible White would have lost his job by now.
Zack Moss, Colts, v CLE (26)
Moss has been a weekly must-start. That could be coming to an end. Everyone knows that eventually he is going to be phased out for Jonathan Taylor, it’s just a matter of time. This week matters are made worse by a meeting with the relentless Browns defense allowing only 14.0 fantasy points per game.
Start ’em
Marquise Brown, Cardinals v SEA (1)
Hollywood Brown has been consistent but not spectacular this season despite playing with a backup quarterback. This week he gets a Seahawks defense that is the best matchup for receivers, allowing 38.0 fantasy points per game. Brown should be a solid low-end WR2 in Week 7.
Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants v WSH (2)
After spending most of his first year and a half on the injury report, Robinson appears to finally be healthy. Since returning to the Giant’s lineup he has slowly emerged as the WR1. He faces the Commanders in Week 7 who are allowing 35.9 points per game to receivers and will be flex-worthy as a result.
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers v MIN (3)
Aiyuk has already exceeded any expectations managers had for him this season. In Week 7 not only does he get a prime matchup with a Vikings defense allowing 34.9 fantasy points per game to receivers, but he gets it with Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel both potential out with injuries. If they both play, he is a WR2. If they both sit, he could find himself a top-five producer this week.
Sit ’em
Josh Downs, IND v CLE (26)
Downs has come on as of late and seems to be close to a breakout. That momentum will come to a crashing halt in Week 7 with a backup quarterback against a light’s out Browns defense. Stay away from the hot-hand this week as it could be tough going.
Jerry Jeudy, Broncos v GB (29)
Jeudy has been a bust in 2023 as he has been outproduced in most games by teammate Courtland Sutton. This week he faces the Packers who have been a lockdown unit against receivers and are allowing only 20.7 fantasy points per game to the position.
George Pickens, Steelers v LAR (28)
Pickens has seen his fantasy stock skyrocket over the past month. The problem is that all his production came with Pat Freiermuth and Diontae Johnson out of the lineup. In Week 7 both teammates should return and Pickens will come crashing back down to earth. The sell-high window is still open, sell now.
Start ‘Em
Luke Musgrave, Packers v DEN (1)
Musgrave has been on the cusp of his rookie breakout on several occasions this season but has yet to get all the way there. This week the Bronco’s should aid in that breakout and give Musgrave all the opportunity he needs to make the next step.
Michael Mayer, Raiders v CHI (9)
Mayer has seen his playing time and production increase dramatically in back-to-back weeks. This week he gets a matchup with a Chicago team allowing 10.5 fantasy points to tight ends. This should be the catalyst for what could be the best of the 2023 rookie tight end class.
David Njoku, Browns v IND (10)
Njoku has been underwhelming and has dealt with a freak injury over the past few weeks. In Week 7 he faces the Colts who are a solid matchup for tight ends. If Njoku can’t find a way to be productive in this game, it may be time to send him to your bench permanently.
Sit ’em
Sam LaPorta, Lions v BAL (32)
LaPorta has been on fire to kick off his rookie campaign. Last week he battled injury and a bad matchup to put up his first disappointing performance of the season. Combine a poor Week 7 matchup with Jameson Williams’ return to the lineup and there could be a significant cooling off for LaPorta in the immediate future.
Noah Fant, Seahawks v ARI (31)
Fant has been largely unplayable this season, so benching him in a bad matchup should come as no surprise. In Week 7 he faces the Cardinals who are a terrible matchup for tight ends all of a sudden and we see a path to the waiver wire for Noah Fant. There is no fantasy value left here.
Hunter Henry, Patriots v BUF (30)
The end of the road is here for Hunter Henry. After a solid opening month that seen him carry many tight end needy managers, he has coming crashing back to earth. In week 7 he matches up with the Buffalo Bills. It will be a long week as Henry officially reaches the end of his usefulness.
Start ‘Em
Washington Commanders DST v NYG (1)
The Commanders have been better on defense than they have on offense, but that doesn’t mean much. This week they face a struggling Giants team that allows 16.2 fantasy points to D/STs, most in the league.
Buffalo Bills DST v NE (2)
The Bills are an elite defense despite the fact that they are fairly banged up. This week they face mac jones and a Patriot’s offense that are potentially the worst in the NFL. They struggle to score points with much success and are a turnover machine, especially if they give Mac Jones the hook mid-game.
Green Bay Packers DST v DEN (7)
The Packers defense has been strong, making up for a relatively weak offense. This week they face the Broncos who are a total mess. This isn’t necessarily a case of loving the D/St as much as it is loving their opponent. Start them with confidence.
Sit ‘Em
Minnesota Vikings DST v SF (32)
The Vikings defense hasn’t been able to stop anyone this season. This week they get one of the best offences in the leagues. The Vikings are a weekly must-avoid at D/ST, but this week they are possibly the last D/ST in my rankings.
Kansas City Chiefs DST v LAC (31)
The Chiefs defense has been much better than expected this season. Unfortunately, this matchup projects to be a high-scoring tilt. I don’t mind the Chiefs D/ST, but I’d prefer to avoid them this week wherever possible.
Baltimore Ravens DST v DET (28)
The Ravens have been an elite unit this season, but somehow the Detroit Lions might be the hottest team in the NFL. The Lions have become a consensus top-five team in the NFL and are now on the list of must-avoid opponents.
Start ‘Em
Tyler Bass, Bills v NE (2)
Bass is a weekly must-start. He has been one of the most reliable kickers all season long. He faces the Patriots who are a prime matchup for kickers and this makes him the PK1 on the week.
Dustin Hopkins, Browns v IND (3)
Hopkins has been hit and miss this season. In Week 7 he faces the Colts who are allowing 11.3 fantasy points to kickers. He is a low-end PK1 this week but can be started where needed.
Anders Carlson, Packers v DEN (5)
Carlson has been a reliable kicker this season and his talent and consistency are beginning to show through. He faces the broncos who bleed fantasy points to pretty much every position and kicker is no different.
Sit ‘Em
Cameron Dicker, Chargers v KC (31)
Dicker has struggled along with the Chargers this season and in Week 7 he faces a Chiefs team that is allowing only 5.0 fantasy points per game to kickers. This game should be a shootout and it’s possible neither team settles for a field goal at any point. He may have to live on extra points this week.
Blake Grupe, Saints v JAC (29)
Grupe has been consistent for the Saints this season but gets a terrible matchup in Week 7 that sees them face a Jaguars team that allows only 5.7 fantasy points to kickers. He is a must-sit this week and has to be avoided.
Matt Gay, Colts v CLE (28)
Gay has been mediocre all season and has been neither a target or avoid at kicker. This week he faces a brutal Browns defense that is a must-avoid for all positions at this point in the season. Sit him.
Well that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 7 of the 2023 season. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Image Credit: Ed Mulholland – USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
