Week 7 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Play or Bench Advice on Top Fantasy Football Stars

Believe it or not, Week 7 has already arrived. Things will kick off on Thursday night when the Denver Broncos visit the New Orleans Saints. In all, we'll have 15 games on the slate this week.

The Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys will be on bye.

For fantasy managers, there will be a few slam-dunk matchups on the Week 7 schedule. Ja'Marr Chase against the struggling Cleveland Browns? That's a must-start situation. Jayden Daniels against the bad Carolina Panthers defense? Ditto.

Of course, not every matchup will be as cut-and-dry. Here, you'll find a look at some of the murkier matchups of Week 7, along with a few start-sit recommendations. All picks are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Start: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 30: Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field on September 30, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

The Detroit Lions will battle the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in what should be one of the best games of the week. It's certainly one of the most pivotal. There's a tight race in the NFC North, as all four teams have at least four wins, with the 5-0 Vikings and 4-1 Lions trending at the top.

Expect Detroit to utilize every trick in its playbook to gain ground against a stiff Vikings defense. That should include plenty of passes to dual-threat running back Jahmyr Gibbs. While Gibbs didn't catch a pass in either Week 3 or Week 4, he has 14 receptions on the season.

The Lions should get him several more targets on Sunday to augment their ground game against a talented defensive front. Minnesota ranks third in yards per carry allowed and has surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

Gibbs, who has topped 70 scrimmage yards in every game this year, has a high enough floor to justify starting in a tough matchup.

Sit: Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Alika Jenner/Getty Images

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 06: Zach Charbonnet #26 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up before the game against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on October 06, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. The New York Giants won 29-20. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet also has a decent PPR floor. He's caught a pass in every game this season and has logged three or more receptions in four of six games.

However, Charbonnet's ceiling is far lower than Biggs'. Since Kenneth Walker III returned to the lineup in Week 4, Charbonnet has been significantly underutilized in the running game. He's carried the ball a mere nine times over his past three games, and he's topped 40 scrimmage yards only once in that span.

Charbonnet had a 54-yard outing against the Lions in Week 4.

While Charbonnet isn't facing as daunting of a matchup as Gibbs is, it's still not ideal. The Atlanta Falcons have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

Walker can probably be trusted in Week 7. Charbonnet cannot.

Start: Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 06: Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) catches a ball before the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 6, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs might not be a fantasy star in the traditional sense, but he's become one over the last three weeks. He's produced no fewer than seven catches and 60 receiving yards in a game over that span and has found the end zone twice.

However, Downs cannot be considered a must-start for a couple of reasons. For one, he's spent the last three weeks catching passes from Joe Flacco. It appears that Anthony Richardson will be back behind center for Indy this week.

Secondly, the Colts are hosting a Miami Dolphins team that has been good against the pass. The Dolphins have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers in 2024.

We're going to trust that Richardson knows that he needs to get the ball in Downs' hands this week. And with Jonathan Taylor still working his way back from an ankle injury, Indianapolis may need to take a pass-heavy approach against Miami.

Sit: Amari Cooper, WR, Buffalo Bills

Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 13: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns on October 13, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Buffalo Bills got themselves a new star this week when they traded for Cleveland Browns receiver Amari Cooper.

Cooper hasn't been the most reliable fantasy option in 2024, but pairing him with Josh Allen should raise his stock significantly. However, managers should expect to see a major jump right away.

The 30-year-old just joined the team, and it'll likely take time to incorporate him into the offense.

"We want to get him in here and get him up to speed on our terminology and our system and see how he fits in," head coach Sean McDermott told reporters on Tuesday.

Additionally, Buffalo will face a difficult defensive matchup against the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee's offense has been a slog, but the Titans have been terrific on the other side of the ball.

Only the Broncos have allowed fewer fantasy points to opposing receivers this season.

---

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.