Fantasy Football: Start ‘em, sit ‘em for Week 7

Here we go again with another week of exciting Fantasy Football. All the following stats are in standard league format only.

Admittedly, I performed poorly for you guys last week. I underestimated Tevin Coleman (who’s now produced two straight weeks of good returns for owners) and I overestimated Jimmy Garoppolo (who scored a mediocre 13 points). Meanwhile, red-hot WR DJ Chark Jr. finally cooled off (5.80 points).

Around the league, Minnesota Vikings WR Stefon Diggs led all point-getters with 40.00 after a monster performance against Philadelphia. Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson turned in another 30-plus point performance, this time against Kansas City (31.40).

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan also turned in his second straight 30-point performance, scoring 30.94 points against Arizona. Also hitting the 30-point plateau last week was Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (who has now done that in three games), as he scored 30.64 points against Cincinnati.

Here’s who you should start and sit, along with their projected points.

Who to start

1) TE Evan Engram, New York Giants (vs. Arizona) | 11.92 points

The Arizona Cardinals are giving up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Meanwhile, Evan Engram gets a lot of targets (at least eight in four of his five games this season). Let’s also add in the fact that rookie QB Daniel Jones will enjoy using Engram as a safety valve (Jones threw his way 11 times in Engram’s last game).

It seems like a pretty safe bet that Engram, who appears optimistic he will return from a sprained MCL, is getting the ball this Sunday at MetLife.

2) WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Philadelphia) | 11.42 points

Michael Gallup previously missed two games this season with a meniscus issue, but when he was on the field he put up 19- and 20-point performances in Weeks 1 and 5. He’s never had less than seven targets in a game, which means Dak Prescott is looking his way.

Meanwhile, the Eagles have given up the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. So... you should probably start Gallup.

3) WR John Brown, Buffalo Bills (vs. Miami) | 10.60 points

You don’t need to be Einstein to see the value in this matchup. The Dolphins are awful. Brown is the Bills number one pass option. QB Josh Allen will be looking for him and he shouldn’t have any issues against a porous Miami secondary.

Who to sit

1) RB Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Tennessee) | 11.27 points

This is a weird one. We thought Melvin Gordon would get right back in the thick of things a little quicker, but it’s been a tough start for the star running back. In his first two games back he’s recorded a pedestrian 5.8 and 6.3 points. Austin Ekeler is also getting a lot of action in the passing game along with the running game.

The Titans have given up the eighth-least fantasy points to opposing running backs.

2) RB Aaron Jones and RB Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers (vs. Oakland) |

14.90 points (Jones), 6.99 points (Williams)

The Packers have a talented running back group. The problem is that Matt Lafleur is splitting carries between Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams and it’s difficult to predict who’s going to outperform who.

As well, the Raiders are sporting a pretty underrated run defense at the moment, giving up the seventh-least points to opposing running backs. It’s just not an attractive buy in my opinion.

I ate my words the last time I told you guys to sit Aaron Jones. But I think this time will be different.

3) WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Redskins (vs. San Franciso) | 9.05 points

Scary Terry McLaurin has been on an absolute tear in 2019. However, week 7 may not pay the dividends that fantasy owners are expecting. McLaurin is going up against Richard Sherman (who can still play) and a straight up dominant 49ers defense.

The 49ers give up the seventh-least points to opposing wide receivers.

Let’s see how my picks did last week (actual fantasy points):

Start

1) QB Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers (vs. LA Rams) | 13.12

2) WR DJ Chark Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. New Orleans) | 5.80

3) RB Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos (vs. Tennessee) | 14.50

Sit

1) WR Geronimo Allison, Green Bay Packers (vs. Detroit) | 5.50

2) TE O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4.50

3) WR Tevin Coleman, San Francisco 49ers (vs. LA Rams) | 13.10