Fantasy Football Week 7: Trends To Avoid

We are approaching week 7 in the NFL season, and there have already been a number of surprises throughout this season.  

The fantasy season has been an interesting one, with many players we thought would perform well underachieving. Here are picks that everyone is making and players everyone is adding/sitting/starting that you can say "not so fast my friends..." to. 

There are people who the consensus would say to start, but it would probably be unwise this week.

If you have a top tier play, obviously you have to start them, but here are some trends that everyone have been following this week that you should avoid.

Without any further ado, here we go. 

Avoid Sitting Chad Ochocinco

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 10: Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals makes a reception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Chad Ochocinco has been overshadowed this year with the arrival of Terrell Owens. T.O. has caught 31 passes for 476 yards, and two touchdowns. Ochocinco has not been as productive as Terrell Owens this year, which is causing concern for many fantasy owners.

Many fantasy owners are burying Ochocinco in their bench, waiting for him to have a breakout game, so they can reinsert him into the starting lineup. Currently, Chad Ochocinco is only being started in 50% of yahoo fantasy leagues.

This is an alarming number. This means that Ochocinco is being sat by 50% of owners. 

This will be the week where Ochocinco breaks out, do not miss out by being in the half of owners who sit him.

In week seven, if you have Ochocinco, avoid sitting him.

Avoid Starting Donovan McNabb

Win McNamee/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 10: Donovan McNabb #5 of the Washington Redskins drops back to pass against the Green Bay Packers at FedExField on October 10, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Donovan McNabb has had a solid season, throwing for 1561 yards, and 5 touchdowns. McNabb has been started more over the course of the last few weeks. He is making connections with Chris Cooley, and Santanna Moss, as well as hitting Ryan Torrain out of the backfield.

As a result, starting McNabb has become a popular trend. Do not go with the flow this week.

McNabb is a horrible play this week, against the very stout Bears defense. McNabb will be pressured by the Bears defense, forcing him into bad throws.

He will more than likely throw bad passes, as a result of this pressure.

In week seven, if you have McNabb, avoid starting him.

Avoid Sitting Danny Woodhead

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Danny Woodhead #39 of the New England Patriots reacts to the cheers of fans after he into the endzone for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim

Raise your hand if you knew who Danny Woodhead was before last week. That's right, no one did. Even after his outstanding week last week, still probably half of the nation has no clue who he is. 

The Patriots have found an unlikely star in Danny Woodhead at running back. He was undrafted out of a Division II school,and a waiver pickup from the Jets in September.

Woodhead had 115 all purpose yards against the Ravens defense last week. The Ravens have a very solid defense, so Woodhead is a must start this week against the Chargers.

Many people are not starting him because he only had one good game. Avoid falling into this trap.

Woodhead will have a solid game in week seven.

Avoid sitting Danny Woodhead.

Avoid Starting Aaron Rodgers

Scott Boehm/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 17: Aaron Rogers #12 of the Green Bay Packers passes against the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field on October 17, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers was the number one fantasy quarterback a season ago. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Rodgers has thrown for 1546 yards and 10 touchdowns, which are solid numbers, but compared to a season ago, it pales in comparison.

Rodgers is not a good play this week against the Vikings on Sunday night. He is missing his number one target Jermichael Finley for the remainder of the season.  This week the Packers play the Vikings, and Rodgers will not have a solid game.

The Vikings relatively shut down Tony Romo last week, and I expect them to do the same to Rodgers.

Avoid the trend and do not start Aaron Rodgers in week seven. 

Avoid Starting Players In a Bye Week

Win McNamee/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on October 17, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Peyton Manning is arguably the best fantasy football player of all time, but even he cannot score you points on a bye week. This seems like the most obvious rule in fantasy football, yet every week, in each of my weeks, someone starts a player on a bye week.

Players on a bye do not score you points! If you are in India, you can still find an Internet cafe, and spend 30 seconds checking your lineup.

In week seven, do not fall into one of the most alarming trends in fantasy football and start a player on a bye.

I repeat, Peyton Manning is not playing this week, he cannot score you points.

Avoid falling into embarrassment in week seven, and actually start players who are playing.

Do not start a player on a bye.

For questions regarding the article, please comment or send me an e-mail.

Paul Ferguson is an intern at Bleacher Report.

Paul is the director of NFL Content at Premier Sports Talk

Follow him on twitter at: @paulwall5