Week 7 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Final Review of Most Difficult Fantasy Matchups

Here we are on a Sunday morning in Week 7, and your fantasy football lineup isn’t set.

Sure, starting Aaron Rodgers or DeMarco Murray is a no-brainer, but you can’t figure out who to throw in that tricky flex slot. Or maybe you are deciding between two running backs and just don’t know which one has the most favorable matchup. 

Have no fear, because here you'll find some last-minute advice on some of your most difficult fantasy decisions heading into Week 7.   

Start ’Em: QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

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Let’s be honest, you drafted Cam Newton because of the extra fantasy dimension that his running ability brings to the table.

We finally saw that in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals when he finished with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. It was the first time this year that Newton ran for more than 19 yards in a game, although he has been consistent with his arm (at least 250 passing yards in four of five contests) and appears to be rounding into form after early health concerns.

Fantasy owners can take solace in Newton’s recent quotes that suggest he is more than willing to run if necessary, according to STATS LLC, via ESPN.com:

"When you keep getting numerous yards, you have to keep calling it. That's just the simplicity of football. Coming into this game, I didn't think I was going to run the ball as much. But like I said, that's my attitude—anything it takes to win, I'm willing to do."

Newton will take that attitude into a Week 7 game with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers have allowed multiple rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks already this season and are actually dead last in the league against the run (154.5 yards per game). Newton should have plenty of lanes. 

What’s more, Green Bay is dealing with injuries in the secondary to Sam Shields and Tramon Williams, so Newton will also rack up some impressive passing totals.

Sit ’Em: QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

The New Orleans Saints are the team from the NFC South with the reputation as being completely different at home than on the road, but Matt Ryan and his Atlanta Falcons fit the bill as well.

Ryan has thrown nine interceptions in his last six road contests and has a single victory in his last 11 road games. He travels to Baltimore on Sunday to face a Ravens team that has given up no more than one touchdown pass in each of its last four home games.

The Ravens kept potential MVP candidate Andrew Luck and Newton in relative check in two of the past three weeks as well, so their defense has plenty of momentum. 

I trust Ryan inside the friendly confines of the Georgia Dome, but this is not the week to start him.

Start ’Em: RB Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins

Michael Fabiano of NFL.com listed Lamar Miller as one of his starts for the week:

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With the news that Knowshon Moreno (knee) is on IR, Miller is now the top dog in Miami. That makes him a legit No. 2 fantasy runner across the board. It also helps that he has a good matchup versus the Bears up next. In their last seven home games, Chicago has allowed an average of 150 rushing yards with seven rushing scores.

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Yes, the Chicago Bears defense has struggled at home this year, but this is more about the opportunity for Miller. With Moreno done for the season, Miller has a chance to establish himself as fantasy football gold for the rest of the year, starting on Sunday. 

Miami will also likely try to keep Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall on the sidelines for as long as it can, and the best way to do that is with a consistent running game eating away at the clock. That means plenty of carries for Miller and plenty of fantasy points for your team.

Sit ’Em: RB Zac Stacy, St. Louis Rams 

Zac Stacy has done nothing but disappoint fantasy owners this season with 240 total rushing yards and a single touchdown, and that will not change in Week 7 against the mighty Seattle Seahawks defense.

The Seahawks are giving up 82.2 rushing yards per game this season, which is sixth in the league, and already shut down Alfred Morris, Eddie Lacy, Montee Ball and the San Diego Chargers rushing attack.

What’s more, it appeared in the St. Louis Rams’ last game that Jeff Fisher is leaning toward splitting carries between his running backs. Stacy ran the ball eight times (for a whopping 17 yards), while Benny Cunningham had seven carries and Tre Mason had five. It was Mason’s first game of the season, and he led the team with 40 rushing yards.

If Stacy is largely ineffective against Seattle’s stout run defense early, he may lose carries in the second half to Cunningham and Mason. Don’t let that happen to your fantasy team.

Start ’Em: WR Golden Tate, Detroit Lions

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Until Calvin Johnson is 100 percent, Golden Tate is a formidable fantasy play. After all, even when Johnson was on the field this season, he was largely used as a decoy because of health problems.

Tate was targeted 31 times the last three games, and that pattern is likely to continue against a New Orleans Saints team that has allowed 304.6 receiving yards and seven touchdown passes in the last three road games.

Over the course of the entire season, the Saints are giving up 267.6 passing yards a game, which is 25th in the league. Tate should have plenty of room to operate in the secondary. 

What’s more, Dan Schneier of Fox Sports and Pro Football Focus believes Tate will have a big day in Week 7:

Sit ’Em: WR Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints

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We will stay in that same game between the Saints and the Detroit Lions for the wide receiver to be wary of in Week 7.

Jamey Eisenberg of CBS Sports explained why fantasy owners should not have Marques Colston in their lineup:

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Colston only has one touchdown this season but no games with double digits in Fantasy points. In his past two games -- both indoors at Dallas and home against Tampa Bay -- he combined for eight catches for 113 yards and no touchdowns on 17 targets. The Lions have allowed just two touchdowns to opposing receivers, and Decker is the only opposing No. 1 option to reach double digits in Fantasy points. Otherwise, the Lions have held Victor Cruz, Benjamin, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb to five Fantasy points or less this season.

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Detroit’s defense has simply carried the team this season. It is second against the run and first against the pass, which is an incredible turnaround from the days of shootouts involving Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson against the other team’s offense. 

Colston has been inconsistent at best this season, and it is just impossible to trust him against arguably the league’s best defense. Detroit has shut down better wide receivers than Colston already, and it will do so again on Sunday.

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