Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 7: Final Review Before Thursday Night Football

Maximizing potential while minimizing risk. That's the credo of the fantasy player when making his or her lineup decisions each week. And that's the credo of this "Start 'Em, Sit 'Em" article. 

What factors suggest the maximum potential? Or on the flip side, what factors are indicating a maximum risk? I'll attempt to answer that question for eight players here, paying especially close attention to the Thursday Night Football matchup.

Let's get to the lineup decisions!

Start 'Em: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Well, I'm done doubting Tom Brady. 

The 50 total fantasy points in the past two weeks is a part of it. Rob Gronkowski returning to full health has been nice. Brandon LaFell emerging as at least a decent option in the passing game out wide is a plus. 

But more than anything else this week, you'll want to start Brady because the New York Jets are allowing 20.7 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per game, 31st in the NFL. They've given up 21 or more fantasy points to opposing passers in four of six games.

With a shoddy secondary and a blitz-happy approach, the Jets are easy pickings for Brady and the rejuvenated Patriots passing attack. Sit back and enjoy the fantasy points as they come flooding in.

Sit 'Em: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

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There are a few caveats to this selection. For starters, you really should only be starting Brees in 8- or 10-team leagues. I have him at No. 11 in my rankings this week. And there's a good chance that if you own Brees you don't actually have a better option behind him, so you may not have a choice but to start him.

Still, if you have Brees and a player like Brady or Jay Cutler also on your roster, I wouldn't mess about with the New Orleans quarterback this week.

For starters, he faces an excellent Detroit defense giving up just 197.2 passing yards per game, tops in the NFL, and a meager 9.7 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week, easily the best mark in the league. So the matchup alone limits his upside. 

But there's also the very strong possibility that Jimmy Graham won't play. Graham didn't practice on Wednesday, per the Saints official website, and reports have already emerged that he's set to miss more than one game, like this one from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:

That's a huge blow to this passing offense, obviously, as Graham is easily the team's most dangerous target. You may not have a choice but to start Brees this week, but just know that his upside is minimal at best.

Start 'Em: Justin Forsett, RB, Baltimore Ravens

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I love me some Justin Forsett this week.

For starters, Forsett has clearly established himself as the top option in this crowded backfield, leading the team in rushing attempts (64), rushing yards (408) and rushing touchdowns (three), while also nabbing 23 passes for 118 yards on 27 targets. 

Yes, Bernard Pierce had more carries last week (15 to 14), but Forsett was far more efficient with his rushing attempts, gaining 111 yards on the ground to a meager 32 for Pierce. 

Now, Forsett faces an Atlanta Falcons defense giving up 27.5 fantasy points per week to opposing running backs, easily the worst in the NFL. Forsett should feast this week and there might even be enough scraps for Bernard Pierce to be a decent lottery ticket at your flex in deeper leagues, too.

Sit 'Em: Chris Johnson, RB, New York Jets

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Like, permanently. 

According to Pro Football Focus, per Rotoworld, Johnson's "carry totals with New York, in chronological order from Weeks 1-6, are 13, 12, 10, 6, 7, and 3." Talk about being phased out of the offense. 

Chris Ivory hasn't been great himself in the past two weeks, with just 17 carries and five total fantasy points, but it's clear he's slowly taking over the reins of New York's backfield. The Patriots are giving up just 13 fantasy points per game to opposing backs, third in the NFL, so neither player is a particularly strong start this week.

But if you have to choose, Ivory is the no-brainer decision. Johnson doesn't even need to be rostered at this point.

Start 'Em: Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

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Julian Edelman is never going to have the upside of more dynamic, athletic receivers, but the one thing you'll get from him is relatively steady production. Edelman has four games of eight or more fantasy points and is averaging a healthy 9.3 targets per contest.

It pays to be Brady's security blanket.

Now he faces a Jets defense giving up 23.2 fantasy points to opposing receivers per week, 23rd in the NFL. LaFell probably has the bigger upside this week, sure, but Edelman is the safer bet and, quite frankly, is about as trustworthy as it gets this week as a WR2 or high-end flex play.

Sit 'Em: Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets

In Week 5, A.J. Green went against Darrelle Revis and caught four passes for 64 yards (he would score a touchdown in that game, but not while he was being covered by Revis). Last week, Revis faced dynamic rookie Sammy Watkins and held him to two receptions for 27 yards.

Now, Revis is likely to shadow New York's top option in the passing game, Eric Decker. So everyone can say goodbye to Decker's fantasy value in Week 7.

Decker has been decent from a fantasy perspective this season, with four games of seven or more fantasy points. Against Revis, you'll be lucky to get 50 receiving yards out of the Jets receiver. There are surely better options out there for you at wide receiver or flex this week.

Start 'Em: Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots

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Gronk is back, folks. While he continued to produce despite still obviously playing at less than 100 percent in the first two weeks, the elite tight end now has 13 receptions for 194 yards and a score in the past two weeks. 

Better yet, the Jets are terrible against the pass and are giving up 11 points per game to opposing tight ends, 28th in the NFL. Gronk owners will be showering in points this week.

Sit 'Em: Owen Daniels, TE, Baltimore Ravens

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More than a few folks scrambled to add Owen Daniels after Dennis Pitta was lost for the season, a logical move. But Daniels hasn't done much and hasn't scored a touchdown since he reached the end zone twice in Week 2.

Already a TE2 and bye-week fill-in, Daniels now faces an Atlanta defense that has actually been stingy to opposing tight ends—probably because they can't stop any of the other positions from scoring—giving up just 4.2 points to opposing tight ends per week, second best in the NFL. 

There are plenty of viable fantasy options from the Ravens this week. I don't consider Daniels one of them.

All point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN standard scoring leagues. Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes, too. It's more fun than math class with Jason Pierre-Paul.