Fantasy Football Week 7: 20 Start'em, Sit'em Locks To Win Your Matchup
It's Week 7 of the NFL and fantasy football seasons, so it's time for a little start 'em, sit 'em advice to help turn your season around.
If you're like me, you probably realize that this start 'em, sit 'em stuff can be a bit tricky because fantasy football is about two things: matchups and luck.
I can sit here going through stats all day before setting the perfect lineup, but that doesn't guarantee anything. I mean, I really didn't think Dwayne Bowe was going to go off and cost me a victory last week, but he did.
Still, just because you can't predict luck, that doesn't mean I'm not going to predict what should happen in Week 7.
So here's 20 start 'em, sit 'em locks that could help you win your matchup this week.
10. Sit 'Em: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers
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If you haven't already benched Jonathan Stewart, now's probably the time.
Stewart has not had more than eight rushing attempts in a game all season and has just two total touchdowns.
One of those touchdowns game on a 55-yard reception against the Saints, so unless Stewart busts a big play, he isn't going to do much.
10. Start 'Em: Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams
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If your usual starter has a bye, Sam Bradford would be a nice fill-in.
He's likely not going to have a 300-yard, three touchdown performance, but it wouldn't be shocking to see him throw for 200 yards and two touchdowns against the Buccaneers this week.
Tampa Bay gives up 367 yards per game, and the Bucs have the league's second worst run defense. If they stack the box to stop Steven Jackson, that should give Bradford plenty of opportunities to make some big plays in the passing game.
Aside from the Lions game, Bradford has thrown at least one touchdown in every start during his rookie year.
9. Sit 'Em: Ryan Torain, RB, Washington Redskins
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Yes, Ryan Torain ran for 100 yards and scored two touchdowns last week, but that came against the Colts 27th-ranked run defense.
In Week 7, Torain doesn't face one of the league's worst rush defenses. He faces one of the best.
Washington plays Chicago on the road, and the Bears run defense has been stout against the run all season, holding its opponents to just 84 yards per game. That's good for third best in the league.
And the Bears pass defense is mediocre, giving up 220 yards per game, so expect Donovan McNabb to air it out.
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9. Start 'Em: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks
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In his first game as a Seahawk, Marshawn Lynch only had 44 yards rushing, but that came against the No. 3 run defense of the Chicago Bears.
Lynch did carry the ball 17 times, and he got into the end zone for the first time all season.
After just one game, it's pretty clear that Lynch will be a big part of Seattle's offense, so he's worth a start.
8. Sit 'Em: Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, Minnesota Vikings
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Visanthe Shiancoe had 10 receptions for more than 160 yards in the Vikings first two games, but his production has fallen off significantly since then.
Shiancoe has just three catches for 35 yards in Minnesota's last three games, and he was not even targeted in the team's Week 6 win over Dallas.
With Randy Moss back in the fold, it appears Shiancoe won't get as many looks as he did early in the season.
8. Start 'Em: Heath Miller, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
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With Ben Roethlisberger back behind center for the Steelers, I think the person who will benefit from that the most is Heath Miller.
Miller and Big Ben have always seemed to have good chemistry, and in Roethlisberger's first game back, Miller had 50 yards and a touchdown.
As the season progresses, I'd expect Miller to emerge as Roethlisberger's favorite target (especially in the red zone) and take a nice chunk out of the stats of Mike Wallace and Hines Ward.
7. Sit 'Em: Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins
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Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have both been solid fantasy running backs when healthy the past few years, but the two-back system in Miami has killed their fantasy production in 2010.
Neither back has rushed for more than 80 yards in a game all season, and they have a combined three touchdowns so far.
I would' expect that to change this week either.
The Dolphins play the Steelers in Week 7, and Pittsburgh ranks first in the league in rushing defense at just 63.8 yards per game and first in points allowed at 12 per game.
7. Start 'Em: Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers
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Frank Gore has gotten off to a bit of a slow start that has disappointed those fantasy football owners who selected him in the first round.
He's scored just three touchdowns through six games and has four games with 77 rushing yards or fewer, but Gore broke out of his shell last week against the Raiders.
Gore rushed for 149 yards and 25 carries against Oakland, and he has a favorable matchup this week against Carolina, whose rush defense ranks 26th in the league after allowing 134.4 yards per game.
Gore should get 20-plus carries for at least 100 yards and a touchdown against a terrible Panthers team that ranks dead last in scoring.
6. Sit 'Em: Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints
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In PPR leagues, Marques Colston might be worth a shot--he has 12 catches in the Saints' last two games.
But Colston continues to disappoint his fantasy owners with his performance in 2010. Colston has just one game with more than 67 yards receiving and he has yet to score a touchdown.
On a team with so many other offensive weapons, he continues to get overlooked in the red zone.
6. Start 'Em: Deion Branch, WR, New England Patriots
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In his first game of his second stint with the Patriots, Deion Branch looked like he didn't miss a beat with Tom Brady.
Branch caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown, so it appears he'll get his fair share of receptions in New England.
Plus, the Patriots offense is ranked first in the league with 30.2 points per game, which means Branch will have plenty of opportunities to get into the end zone.
5. Sit 'Em: Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
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Jamaal Charles is another running back whose production has been limited by the two-back system.
He's been splitting carries with Thomas Jones, so he hasn't had more than 16 carries or 97 yards in a game all season despite having a ridiculous 6.3 yards per carry average.
When the Chiefs get in the red zone, it's usually Jones that gets the ball. Charles has just one touchdown all season, and that came in Week 1 on a 56 yard run.
5. Start 'Em: Chris Ivory, RB, New Orleans Saints
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Chris Ivory has had an up-and-down season with the Saints that has been marred by a couple of big fumbles.
But Ivory held onto the ball last week and exploded for 158 yards on just 15 carries in Week 6. Sure, that came against a bad Buccaneers run defense, but he has another favorable matchup in Week 7.
The Saints play the Browns at home this week, and Cleveland has the league's 23rd-ranked run defense.
You know the Browns can't stack the box with Drew Brees behind center for New Orleans, so ivory should have plenty of opportunities to bust big plays.
4. Sit 'Em: John Carlson, TE, Seattle Seahawks
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John Carlson started off the season hot--by his standards at least--with 13 receptions and a touchdown in the Seahawks' first three games.
But in the last two weeks, Carlson has just three receptions for 36 yards and has failed to get into the end zone.
I'd leave Carlson on the bench unless you lack another option at tight end or don't want to make any roster moves.
4. Start 'Em: Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers
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San Francisco's quarterback situation is a bit shaky, but tight end Vernon Davis has still produced.
Davis has at least four receptions and a touchdown in each of the team's last three games, and he also topped 100 yards against Philadelphia in Week 5.
Plus, the 49ers play the Panthers this week, so you have to like his chances for a big game.
3. Sit 'Em: Chad Ochocinco, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
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Chad Ochocinco recently said that we'll see the "Ochocinco of old" following the team's Week 6 bye. I'm not buying it.
In the first game of the season, Ochocinco had 12 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown. In the Bengals' four games since then, he has 16 catches for 157 yards and zero touchdowns.
Even though Cincinnati's Week 7 opponent--the Atlanta Falcons--got torched by the Eagles last week, you shouldn't start an under-performing Ochocinco unless you have to.
Terrell Owens looks like he'll be Carson Palmer's favorite target this year.
3. Start 'Em: Roy Williams, WR, Dallas Cowboys
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Miles Austin gets most of the publicity in Dallas, but Roy Williams has been getting most of the production this year, at least in the redzone.
Though Williams isn't going to get you a ton of catches (21 through five games) or yards (306)--both of which are still solid numbers I might add--he will get into the end zone.
Williams has five touchdowns in the Cowboys' last three games. Austin has just two all season.
The Cowboys' matchup against the Giants this week isn't a good one, but he scored twice in a less than favorable matchup against Minnesota.
2. Sit 'Em: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
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I'm probably going to get a lot of heat for this one, but Eli Manning should ride the pine this week.
Yeah, Manning has had a pretty good season, but he's got a tough matchup this week against a Cowboys defense that is actually good despite what some people think.
Dallas ranks fourth in passing yards and total yards allowed, and Manning is coming off a 177-yard performance against the Lions that saw the running game set the tone for the Giants offense.
Manning has five touchdowns in his last four games, which isn't bad, but isn't great either.
2. Start 'Em: QB, Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs
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Keep in mind that Mark Sanchez, Shaun Hill, Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub--all good or great fantasy quarterbacks in 2010--have byes in Week 7.
So if you're looking for a fill-in, Matt Cassel could be a nice one-week rental.
Though plenty of people are skeptical about jumping on the Cassel bandwagon, he actually has two games with three touchdown passes this season.
Plus, the Chiefs play the Jaguars 28th-ranked pass defense in Week 7. Jacksonville gives up 264.7 yards through the air.
1. Sit 'Em: Donald Driver, WR, Green Bay Packers
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Donal Driver has had the same problem as Colston: even without Jermichael Finley, the Packers just have too many weapons in the passing game.
Driver hasn't had a 100-yard receiving game all season and actually has three games with less than 40 yards.
He's also caught just one touchdown pass in the team's last four games and has four games with less than five receptions.
Green Bay also has a tough game this week against Minnesota. The Vikings defense ranks seventh in points allowed at just 17.6 per game and sixth in the league, allowing 192 passing yards per game.
1. Start 'Em: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
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With DeSean Jackson likely out in Week 7, Jeremy Maclin should be a lock in your starting lineup.
We already saw what Maclin could do on the field without Jackson in last week's game against Atlanta, when Maclin finished with seven receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
And he gets another favorable matchup in Week 7 against the No. 23 pass defense of Tennessee, which gives up 231 yards per game.
I wouldn't expect another 150-yard, two touchdown performance from Maclin, but 100 yards and a touchdown is certainly possible.
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