Hopefully, you found success with our picks last week and are back for week 7 of our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series for 2020. Week 6 was full of action, and I hope your season is off to the start that you needed!
- Baltimore Ravens
- Indianapolis Colts
- Miami Dolphins
- Minnesota Vikings
That makes some of our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2020: Week 7 selections a bit tougher, as there are some positions that are hit this week with reliable options (QB for example). However, we will try and do our best with what is available.
If you have a particular start/ sit question then you can always check out our weekly rankings page, or reach out to us on any of our social media channels. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I answered all of you that reached out last week, I will always try to get to every single one of you.
Our Week 7 Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em selections for 2020 are chosen deliberately for players that I’ve seen people questioning. Slam dunk starts (the likes of Patrick Mahomes) and sits aren’t going to be included. You should always be starting those guys.
Start ‘Em
Matthew Stafford @ATL
Stafford had a smash matchup last week, and kind of disappointed. The team moved the ball fine, but Stafford handed the ball off for the majority of the scores. Against Atlanta though, he will surely air the ball out- won’t he? Atlanta has given up an average of 29 points to the position- by far the largest total in the league.
Teddy Bridgewater @NO
Bridgewater had a great game against Atlanta, before struggling against Chicago last week. This week, a matchup against New Orleans should give him another chance to have a good game. The Saints could return and shock on defense, with some players returning from injury. However, on the whole, Bridgewater should be a good streamer, as noted by our guy Mizz identified this week.
Justin Herbert v JAX
A return to start the QB that faces Jacksonville. The team on the face of it have improved against the position, but it’s a little misleading. Last week, Detroit ran the ball into the endzone three times which artificially helps their score. I don’t think that will happen this week, instead I’m looking at his receivers to be scorers in this matchup.
Joe Burrow v CLE
Burrow started the season fantastically well, but struggled the past two week. However, if you didn’t realize he would struggle against Baltimore and Indianapolis, then I don’t know what to say. Cleveland offer him a great opportunity to get right, with their secondary being one of the worst in the league.
Ronald Jones @LV
Ronald Jones used to be a feature in the sits, but in recent weeks he deserves a start ’em place. Jones has taken the reigns of this backfield, with at least 20 touches in each of his past three games. The Raiders are one of the worst units in the league in defending the position, so this feels like a great start.
Todd Gurley v DET
Gurley being here really is so that I feel better about starting him. Gurley started out the season not meeting expectations but has now been a decent option for fantasy. At worst, he is an RB2 or flex option at the moment. Detroit has given up an average of over 25 points to the position. Let’s just hope it isn’t Brian Hill that gets the scoring opportunities.
Kareem Hunt @CIN
Hunt is still the lead back for Cleveland, and the team has really looked to establish the run this season. This week Cleveland face the Bengals, who have given up an average of 19.8 points on the ground this season. What is more positive is that they have given up 716 yards on the ground, which is also one of the worst in the league. Hunt could have a big game here.
David Johnson v GB
Johnson seems to be a divisive person for fantasy. Some think that he is awful, some think he is ok. I’m in the latter camp. He gets the volume that you want from your running back, he just isn’t that efficient. But you drafted him as an RB2 at best with where he was being taken. Regardless of where you are on him, he should be decent this week. Green Bay are the worst team at defending the position, and Johnson should get all the carries he wants in the game.
A.J. Green v CLE
Originally I put in Tyler Boyd because this matchup is a great one for receivers. But, I pivoted because I think Boyd might be an auto-start for teams anyway. Green has had 45 targets this season, but has struggled to do anything with them, and is yet to score. Against this Cleveland unit, he has a chance to get his season on track.
Christian Kirk @SEA
Kirk feels like he is becoming a start each week for me. The only reason I’ve included him again is that he is still available in a lot of leagues. Kirk has been involved in the Cardinals offense after his return from injury, and now faces the worst unit against the position. Start him if you can! And if he is available in your league, pick him up and start him!
Mike Williams v JAX
Williams is a fine start this week, but one that doesn’t seem obvious on paper. Jacksonville have been ok at defending the position this season, but I think this is a game that changes a little. Keenan Allen will do his job at moving the chains, and Williams will step up in the red zone. I like Williams as a solid WR3 this week.
Marvin Jones v ATL
Jefferson was a start for me last week, as an effective second-option receiver on his team and blew up. I’m expecting a similar situation for Jones this week. Jones has only had 14 receptions this season for 146 yards and a single TD. It feels like Jones is waiting for a boom game, and this might well be it.
Dalton Schultz @WAS
Gallup might be a sit, and I’m worried about the ability of the other receivers on the Dallas offense to have a big game. But, if there was somewhere that Washington are vulernable, it’s defending the TE. Washington have given up an average of 11.4 points to the position this season, and Schultz has performed well when given the opportunity.
T.J. Hockenson @ATL
Hockenson has continued his solid start to the season, with two scores in his last two games. With a matchup against Atlanta this week keep him in your starting lineup. Atlanta have given up an average of 14.3 points to position, but more crucially over a TD each game.
Hunter Henry v JAX
Henry comes off a bye week but scored a touchdown in a plus matchup against New Orleans Saints the week before. Henry has another good matchup against Jacksonville, who has given up an average of 11.2 points per game. I’m learning that Henry continues his scoring ways this week.
Younghoe Koo v DET
Koo has had a great season so far, missing one PAT and one FG this season. Atlanta’s offense has found a way to move the ball, and Koo has capitalized. With a matchup against Detroit that has an equally porous defense, Koo should have another great game.
Matt Prater @ATL
Let’s stay in the same game, for a similar reason. Detroit’s offense has found a way to move the ball, and they will need to against Atlanta’s offense. This game will be a shootout, meaning opportunities for the kickers.
Buffalo Bills @NYJ
You are likely starting the Bills if you drafted them anyway, but if you had even the smallest of doubts- don’t. The Jets are the lowest-scoring offense in the league and are unlikely to turn that round even if Sam Darnold returns under center.
Kansas City Chiefs @DEN
The Broncos have only scored 100 points this season in total, better than only the New York Jets. Sure, the return of Drew Lock should help the offense in the long run, the Chiefs are a solid unit on defense. If the Chiefs jump out to an early lead, they could force Denver to air the ball out- which is where they excel.
Sit ‘Em
Jared Goff v CHI
Goff is a no-brainer sit this week, due to the matchup. The Bears have allowed just under 12 points to the position on average this season and only allowed four TDs this season. There’s not much more that needs to be said!
Drew Brees v CAR
I’m always worried about selecting Brees as a sit- especially off a bye week. However, this version of Brees isn’t the one from previous seasons where he would carry the offense to a win. This version gives the ball to Alvin Kamara and lets him run the offense. Carolina have allowed an average of just 13.9 points to the position, try and get a fill-in if you can.
Ryan Tannehill v PIT
I like bringing some fire, so I’m going to bring up Tannehill’s name this week. Tannehill has been really good this season, and at the end of last season, but he now matches up against Pittsburgh this week. The Steelers unit have given up an average of 15.4 points to the position this season. You could get better from a few streaming options this week.
Damien Harris v SF
Harris might be a start for owners this week, due to bye weeks and injuries, but I wouldn’t aim to put him in my lineup. Harris isn’t going to get the receiving work- that will be James White. So that means that Harris is going to have to do something against a unit that has given up 3.44 yards per carry and a total of 403 yards on the season.
Josh Jacobs v TB
I get, you aren’t sitting Jacobs. You drafted him early, and he is fit. What I would say is don’t expect him to give you great numbers this week. Tampa Bay are a great defense, and one that put the brakes on the Packers offense this past week. The team have allowed 2.86 yards per carry on the ground, and an average of just 15.8 points to the position.
Jerick McKinnon @NE
McKinnon is an avoid for me this week. One reason is that the matchup against New England is a tough one for running backs, giving up just 14.8 points per game to the position. The second, and more important, is that I don’t trust that I know how this unit is going to split the workload between the backs it has. Wait for a better matchup before you try and plant a flag on someone from this team.
Robert Woods v CHI
This feels a little like I’m cheating, after saying that Jared Goff is a sit this week. However, a matchup against Chicago is a tough one for any receiver to overcome. They have only allowed an average of 17.4 points to the position this season, and a single touchdown.
D.J. Moore v NO
Moore performed decently against Chicago last week, which wasn’t something that I was really expecting. However, he did that with 11 targets, catching just five of them. It looked tough at times for the offense, they clearly want to involve Moore but the receiver looks to be off-script compared to Robby Anderson. I’d expect the team to look back towards Anderson this week.
Michael Gallup @WAS
Gallup at this point of the season is the clear WR3 on the team. Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb each had double the targets of Gallup. The matchup against Washington is rough for receivers too- giving up just 16.9 points per game. I would also put a bit of a dampener on a big haul of points from Cooper and Lamb for this matchup.
Hayden Hurst v DET
Hurst has been massively inconsistent this season. Every time I think he is going to break out he doesn’t, then when I feel done with him and want to move on he scores. This week I think I’ll get it right with a tough matchup against Detroit. Detroit has only allowed 96 yards and two TDs to the position this season, an average of 4.3 points.
Greg Olsen v ARI
Olsen isn’t being used by the offense, falling behind Chris Carson in targets for the season. Infact, he is only ahead of David Moore by five targets. Arizona used to be awful against the TE, but this season they seem to have turned it around. The team have now average just 6.3 points to the position this season, avoid Olsen and look elsewhere for a streaming option.
Eric Ebron @TEN
Ebron has a matchup against Tennessee that should be a target game, but I’m worried about him taking advantage. Ebron has struggled to really make a stamp on the offense and comes off a game where he has recorded just nine receiving yards. With Chase Claypool breaking out, I’d avoid Ebron if I could this week.
Stephen Gostkowski v PIT
It might seem strange to try to bench Gostkowski, after he is just two weeks removed from (most likely) almost single handily winning you your fantasy matchup. However, he hasn’t been overly accurate and missed two FGs his last time out. Pittsburgh are a good defense, leading to some stalled drives, but they are more likely to end in punts than FG attempts.
Brandon McManus v KC
McManus had a great game last week, but he is still on an offense that has scored just 100 points this season. That is only higher than one team in the league- the New York Jets. Another tough matchup against Kansas City this week, who are a decent defense.
Arizona Cardinals v SEA
Arizona put the dampeners on the Andy Dalton and Dallas last week, but I wouldn’t expect that to happen again this week. For starters, Russell Wilson is a much better QB that should be able to punish the lack of a pass rush without Chandler Jones.
San Fransisco 49ers @NE
The 49ers defense look like a shadow of themselves, after being a fantastic unit last season. New England’s offense isn’t the greatest in the league, but they are likely to score a few touchdowns in this game. I’d rather take a gamble on the Green Bay Packers to bounce back against the Houston Texans.
So that’s it for our 2020 Week 7 version of Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em. Remember, you can always reach out to us for help in setting your lineup. Check out our weekly rankings page, or reach out to us on any of our social media channels. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And, as always, if you want something more specific to your league- reach out!
Image Credit: Steven Bisig – USA TODAY Sports
