Week 7 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Projections for Top 10 Players at Each Position

Fantasy football has been an exercise in patience for owners this season, but the major payoff is on the way.

As the midway point of the season approaches, things only get easier in the start 'em, sit 'em department. Injuries have unfortunately occurred and altered things, while busts have fallen flat and sleepers have revealed themselves—and more will continue to do so in the coming weeks.

With so much viable data from this year available, decisions are simplistic in nature once researched and paired with the good 'ole gut feeling.

Here is a look at how each position figures to stack up this week, along with players to spotlight and avoid.

Quarterback

Rank	Player	Opponent	Points Projection
1	Peyton Manning, DEN	vs. SF	28
2	Aaron Rodgers, GB	vs. CAR	26
3	Drew Brees, NO	at DET	26
4	Andrew Luck, IND	vs. CIN	22
5	Matt Ryan, ATL	at BAL	22
6	Philip Rivers, SD	vs. KC	21
7	Colin Kaepernick, SF	at DEN	20
8	Jay Cutler, CHI	vs. MIA	18
9	Matthew Stafford, DET	vs. NO	18
10	Cam Newton, CAR	at GB	17

Start 'Em: Cam Newton, CAR (at GB)

AJ Mast/Associated Press

It finally happened—Cam Newton used his legs and exploded for jaw-dropping fantasy production.

After tallying a season high of 18 points, Newton went out in Week 6 against a strong Cincinnati defense and rushed for 107 yards and a score, bringing his point total to 33 for owners who started him.

NFL.com's Chris Wesseling provides some perspective:

Green Bay ranks well against quarterbacks this year, but the Panthers need Newton to keep using his legs. The Packers are notorious for getting torched by quarterbacks on the ground, and owners should already trust Newton with his arm.

Sit 'Em: Austin Davis, STL (vs. SEA)

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

The joy ride is over for Austin Davis owners. 

Davis finished with just 11 points last week after two straight outbursts of 21 points or more. Things get no easier this week with the Seattle Seahawks in town, a team with inflated defensive rankings thanks to matchups with San Diego, Denver, Washington and Dallas.

Davis has had a great run, and some of the weapons around him are viable fantasy starts, but he cannot be trusted in this matchup.

Running Back

Rank	Player	Opponent	Points Projection
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL	vs. NYG	23
2	Matt Forte, CHI	vs. MIA	22
3	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	at STL	22
4	Arian Foster, HOU	at PIT	20
5	Jamaal Charles, KC	at SD	18
6	Giovani Bernard, CIN	at IND	18
7	Alfred Morris, WAS	vs. TEN	18
8	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	vs. HOU	18
9	Andre Ellington, ARI	at OAK	17
10	Branden Oliver, SD	vs. KC	16

Start 'Em: Joique Bell, DET (vs. NO)

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

With Reggie Bush on the sidelines, Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell posted a season-high 15 points last week in Minnesota after four weeks of single-digit production.

While owners cannot expect the same amount of touches for Bell this week, what they can expect is him to remain a quality contributor on those touches as he gets goal-line work and opportunities in the passing game.

Keep in mind this will come against a New Orleans defense that allows the 10th-most points to backs this season. Bell should be a lock to score against the soft unit as Detroit keeps things on the ground to avoid Drew Brees' offense.

Sit 'Em: Steven Jackson, ATL (at BAL)

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Owners must still believe in Steven Jackson because the veteran back remains owned in 99.1 percent of leagues.

Jackson has just two double-digit outings this year and turned in his worst performance to date last week against Chicago with just two points. Jackson only gets what is blocked and is rarely targeted in the passing game, so his getting phased out of the rotation seems likely.

Now Jackson heads to Baltimore to encounter a defense that surrenders the second-fewest points to backs on average, giving up double-digits to teams as a whole just twice this year.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Opponent	Points Projection
1	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	vs. SF	22
2	Dez Bryant, DAL	vs. NYG	22
3	Antonio Brown, PIT	vs. HOU	19
4	Jordy Nelson, GB	vs. CAR	18
5	Julio Jones, ATL	at BAL	17
6	Brandon Marshall, CHI	vs. MIA	15
7	T.Y. Hilton, IND	vs. CIN	15
8	Andre Johnson, HOU	at PIT	15
9	Steve Smith, BAL	vs. ATL	14
10	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	at GB	14

Start 'Em: Percy Harvin, SEA (at STL)

It is right to be wary of Seattle wideout Percy Harvin. After all, the big-play threat has scored just nine, eight, four, two and zero points this year for owners.

Even Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell muses that the team may not be getting him the ball enough.

"Well, we know he's got speed and we know he can go down the field with speed," Bevell said, per Tim Booth of The Associated Press. "He's got great quickness so we can use him in that. The test always is, is to make sure some of those guys get the ball in their hands."

But against a leaky St. Louis defense that allows the third-most points to wideouts this season? Harvin needs to be in all lineups because the propensity for him to explode speaks for itself when taking the matchup into account.

Sit 'Em: Michael Crabtree, SF (at DEN)

Michael Thomas/Getty Images

Michael Crabtree has been as erratic as it gets this season, as the numbers show: 

WK	OPP	REC	YDS	TD	PTS
1	@Dal	2	25	0	2
2	Chi	7	82	1	14
3	@Ari	10	80	1	14
4	Phi	5	43	0	4
5	KC	1	16	0	1
6	@StL	3	49	1	10

Part of this has been a result of Crabtree yet again battling nagging injuries. He cannot control that, just as he cannot control the fact the offense around him is absolutely loaded with weapons, enjoys the run-first approach and the aerial game sees the production spread around.

Now mix in the fact Crabtree must go against Aqib Talib and a Denver defense that surrenders the third-fewest points to wideouts. Crabtree owners are in for a bad time.

Tight End

Rank	Player	Opponent	Points Projection
1	Julius Thomas, DEN	vs. SF	16
2	Martellus Bennett, CHI	vs. MIA	14
3	Greg Olsen, CAR	at GB	14
4	Travis Kelce, KC	at SD	12
5	Delanie Walker, TEN	at WAS	12
6	Vernon Davis, SF	at DEN	12
7	Antonio Gates, SD	vs. KC	10
8	Jordan Cameron, CLE	at JAC	10
9	Dwayne Allen, IND	vs. CIN	8
10	Larry Donnell, NYG	at DAL	7

Start 'Em: Jared Cook, STL (vs. SEA)

Evan Habeeb/Getty Images

The stigma around the Rams is potent, but Jared Cook is one of Austin Davis' weapons owners should feel comfortable with this week.

Despite only being owned in 13.2 percent of leagues, Cook is a somewhat steady producer, having scored a minimum of four points in each game this season.

An encounter with the Seattle defense should scare most positions, but not tight ends, as the Seahawks allow the second-most points to the position this season. A young quarterback is going to lean on that weakness a lot come Sunday.

Sit 'Em: Owen Daniels, BAL (vs. ATL)

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Owen Daniels has been a nice surprise for his 24.1 percent of owners this season in Baltimore, especially thanks to a 14-point outburst in Week 2. 

That said, he went for just three points last week in a favorable matchup against Tampa Bay and now turns around and squares off against an Atlanta defense that surrenders the second-fewest points to the position, with the unit allowing a maximum of eight points to a team this year—which was New Orleans.

Daniels is a must-sit commodity this weekend.

D/ST

Rank	Team	Opponent	Points Projection
1	Seattle Seahawks	STL	15
2	Arizona Cardinals	OAK	15
3	Denver Broncos	SF	14
4	San Diego Chargers	KC	14
5	Cleveland Browns	JAC	12
6	San Francisco 49ers	DEN	12
7	Buffalo Bills	MIN	12
8	Cincinnati Bengals	IND	10
9	Green Bay Packers	CAR	10
10	Houston Texans	PIT	10

Start 'Em: Cleveland Browns (at JAC)

David Richard/Associated Press

While one of the NFL's top surprises so far this season, the Cleveland Browns defense has left something to be desired from a fantasy standpoint.

Joe Haden and the Browns have just seven sacks and a single interception this year. It is cause for concern, but not in Week 7 against Jacksonville, a team led by a rookie quarterback in Blake Bortles, who has been sacked 11 times and thrown seven picks.

The Jaguars surrender the most points in the league to defenses on average.

Sit 'Em: Houston Texans (at PIT)

Patric Schneider/Associated Press

One defense has breached double-digit production against Pittsburgh this season.

Houston will not be the second after Monday's encounter.

Pittsburgh rarely gives the ball away (seven turnovers in six games), nor does a Houston defense that has just 10 sacks stand a good chance of bringing down Ben Roethlisberger with any sort of frequency.

Kicker

Rank	Player	Opponent	Points Projection
1	Dan Bailey, DAL	vs. NYG	13
2	Justin Tucker, BAL	vs. ATL	12
3	Mason Crosby, GB	vs. CAR	12
4	Chandler Catanzaro, ARI	at OAK	11
5	Nick Novak, SD	vs. KC	11
6	Shaun Suisham, PIT	vs. HOU	10
7	Dan Carpenter, BUF	vs. MIN	9
8	Brandon McManus, DEN	vs. SF	8
9	Adam Vinatieri, IND	vs. CIN	6
10	Matt Prater, DET	vs. NO	6

Start 'Em: Billy Cundiff, CLE (at JAC)

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Those loveable Jaguars also surrender the most points to kickers on average.

Not that Billy Cundiff needs that to get in any and all lineups. He's had one dud of a performance this season but has scored a minimum of eight points in four contests.

That trend will continue Sunday as he benefits from a favorable matchup.

Sit 'Em: Matt Bryant, ATL (at BAL)

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Matt Bryant enters Week 7 after 11 points the week prior, with his only trip above 10 points otherwise coming in Week 1.

Bryant has been erratic at best, and he must now produce against a Baltimore defense that ranks among the top 10 teams that surrender the fewest points to the position.

The Ravens have allowed one kicker to score more than eight points this year—and Cincinnati's Mike Nugent needed six field-goal attempts to accomplish the feat.

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats. Statistics courtesy of ESPN. Philadelphia, Tampa Bay on bye.