NFL Fantasy Football: Who to start and sit in Week 7

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off their bye week, but you didn’t get the benefit of a week off in your fantasy league.

The injury news has hit quarterbacks fairly hard this past week with Aaron Rodgers likely being done for the season. Also, Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson will be on a bye this week.

This week has plenty of star players with great matchups, but there are still some studs you should temper your expectations with. Make sure you check out which of them you need to have in your lineup this week.

Must Starts

Leonard Fournette (Jaguars RB): The Jaguars are going up against the Colts who have been a doormat for running backs so far this year. Fournette has been very productive this season because the Jaguars have been committed to feeding him the rock as often as possible. He hasn’t practiced this week, but he is still expected to play against the Colts. He has to be in your lineup.

Julio Jones (Falcons WR): If you look at Julio Jones’ stats you’d probably be surprised. He has no touchdowns so far this season, and he has only gone over 100 yards once this season. This could be a breakout game for him though against the Patriots who just got torched by Josh McCown, despite winning the game last week.

Favorable matchups

Devonta Freeman (Falcons RB): Continuing off the last thought, the Patriots defense is bad this season. Freeman needs to be in your lineup. The Falcons will be in full revenge mode this week.

Packers receivers: Without Aaron Rodgers, the fantasy prospects for the Packers whole offense now becomes entirely match up based unless Brett Hundley proves he is just terrible. Luckily this week the Packers are playing the Saints, so your Packers’ receivers are still playable for now.

Delanie Walker (Titans TE): The Browns defense can’t cover tight ends, and with Marcus Mariota back in at quarterback you should expect Walker to get plenty of targets.

Titans defense: The Browns offense has been terrible all season. What they have been good at is turning the ball over, and the team is going back to rookie DeShone Kizer. If you have to stream a defense this week, this is probably the best available.

Good but not great matchups

Joe Mixon (Bengals RB): Mixon got his first touchdown in the Bengals last game. He has had some rough sledding due to blocking, but the Steelers have given up plenty of fantasy points to running backs. The Bengals may also look to run the ball more with few passing options outside of A.J. Green.

Zay Jones (Bills WR): The Bills are going up against the softest pass defense when they play the Buccaneers this week. Jones has been terrible in fantasy, but if you’re in a deep league, Jones will have the benefit of Tyrod Taylor having no other option if Jordan Matthews and Charles Clay both remain out for this game.

Brett Hundley (Packers QB): I don’t know about Hundley, but this week he may be able to keep this offense functioning against the Saints defense that is improved, but still struggling against the pass.

Unfavorable matchups

Melvin Gordon (Chargers RB): Gordon has had a good history against the Broncos defense, but there is still a chance that the Broncos defense shuts him down as they only have allowed one running back to go off on them this year.

A.J. Green (Bengals WR): Green has been on a tear his past three games, but the Steelers have the best pass defense this season. Green will probably have a decent game, but don’t expect him to go off like the past few weeks he has played.

Just sit them

Orleans Darkwa (Giants RB): Darkwa had a huge game against the Broncos in the surprise win for the Giants, but can you really expect him to have a repeat performance against the Seahawks. This may be a case of him sneaking up on a team that came in expecting the Giants to lay down.

T.Y. Hilton (Colts WR): Hilton has been the definition of a boom or bust player. It’s looking like Andrew Luck won’t be playing this season, so he will continue to be a huge risk. Personally, I think he isn’t worth the risk against the Jaguars who have shut down about every passing attack that has tried to take them on.