Week 7 is right around the corner, and fantasy football owners everywhere are trying to optimize their lineups. Deciding on who to start and sit isn’t easy, especially when a player like Devin Singletary returns from a long injury to face a favorable matchup. Let’s take a dive into all of the best start/sits matchups of the week to optimize the ideal lineup.
Wide Receiver Start/Sits
Quarterback Start/Sits
Devin Singletary, Sony Michel Highlight Fantasy Football Week 7 Start/Sits
Start: Devin Singletary
Devin Singletary is a relatively untested rookie coming back from an extended absence caused by a soft tissue injury. He has to split snaps with fellow running back Frank Gore and might not even earn the start. In most situations, you’d easily bench Singletary for one week to see how Buffalo intends to use their rookie.
However, you can throw out conventional decision making this one time. Singletary and the Bills face off against everyone’s favorite matchup, the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are the worst team in the league by just about every measure, and everyone is fantasy-relevant against this team. The Dolphins cannot stop the run or the pass and just allowed Adrian Peterson to run for over five yards-per-carry. Even if Singletary’s coming off the bench, this matchup allows him to be a solid flex play.
While we’re at it, start everyone on the Bills. Josh Allen, Cole Beasley, John Brown, and Frank Gore should all have starting-caliber games.
Sit: Sony Michel
2019 has not been kind to Sony Michel. The second-year running back hasn’t played up to expectation, and that probably won’t change against the New York Jets. The main reason for Michel’s decline in 2019 is that he’s only as good as the blocking in front of him. Last year, he picked up exactly what his blocking provided, but didn’t break many tackles or pick up that many large gains. That hasn’t changed this year, the only problem is that New England’s offensive line got considerably worse in 2019. Michel is strictly a volume-based play, and he shouldn’t have that much volume in Week 7.
Rex Burkhead was a game-time decision for Thursday Night Football’s Week 6 matchup, so it’s safe to assume that he’ll suit up for Week 7. Bill Belichick clearly wants this to be a committee approach, so Michel’s going to spend more time on the sideline than fantasy football owners would like. Additionally, the Patriots change their gameplan on a week-to-week basis more than just about any other team in the league. The New York Jets have one of the best run defenses in the league, but one of the worst passing defenses. New England is going to air it out in this matchup, and Michel isn’t a receiving threat when Burkhead and James White are both active.
Edit: Rex Burkhead isn’t going to play in Week 7. You can start Michel as a low-ceiling volume play.
Start: Josh Jacobs
After battling through an illness early in the season, running back Josh Jacobs is once again ready to be the heart and soul of Oakland’s offense. Head coach Jon Gruden believes in winning through the running game, and Oakland’s 3-2 record gives reason to justify that belief. The Raiders offensive line is one of the better units in the league and can create easy rushing lanes in the right matchup.
The Green Bay Packers improved their defense in the offseason, as this defense is the best in franchise history since at least 2010. Jaire Alexander took a huge step forward and the passing defense is one of the best in the league. However, the unit isn’t that great against the run. According to Football Outsiders, Green Bay currently has a +1.03% rush defense DVOA, making them slightly worse than league-average. Gruden is going to want to run the ball, and the Packers aren’t great at stopping the ground game. Don’t be surprised if Jacobs puts up a low-end RB1 performance in Week 7.
Sit: Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson turned the clock back to 2012 in Week 6’s action, recording 118 yards on 23 carries. Head coach Bill Callahan wants to establish the crap out of the run, so Peterson’s opportunities should remain. However, the success is going to take a major nosedive in Week 7.
Peterson probably has the most dramatic matchup change of any player in fantasy football. One week after taking advantage of Miami’s atrocious unit, Peterson has to face off against the San Francisco 49ers. There’s a strong case to be made that this is the best defense in the league, and Peterson won’t have any wide-open rushing lanes. Instead of being an effective runner on a 20-touch offense, he’s going to be getting under three yards-per-carry on an overmatched offense which will struggle to move the ball. Stay away at all costs.
Wide Receiver Start/Sits
Quarterback Start/Sits
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