An interesting stat going around is that 2022 is the lowest-scoring opening six-week run in 13 years. Scoring is down 22% from 2021. That means there has been a lot of roster adversity. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 7 picks help you identify values to target and fades to avoid.
It is also crucial to know which waiver wire pick to make and to stay up-to-date on the injury report.
Here are our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 7 picks.
QUARTERBACKS
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Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) – Jimmy G is the perfect streaming option this week if you’re looking for a viable starter to replace Josh Allen or another quarterback on a bye. Garoppolo takes on the Chiefs who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to QBs. Despite San Francisco’s elite defense, the Chiefs can score at will forcing the 49ers to throw the ball.
Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) – Tagovailoais back and let’s not forget what he was doing before he got hurt. At the time of his injury, he was leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns. He has Tyreek Hill to throw to who is on pace to break Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving record. Jaylen Waddle isn’t far behind him. Tua has the ability, the weapons, and a great matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Steelers. Pittsburgh has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to QBs and the second-most passing yards in the league.
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Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) – You will see Rodgers ranked higher than usual this week because of the matchup with the Commanders. Don’t fall for this narrative. This offense has been horrible this season and not once has Rodgers finished the week as a QB1. Currently, he sits as the QB20 overall on the season. Unless he’s a desperation play, you can do better. This offense is broken and he should be benched regardless of the matchup until he shows otherwise.
Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos) – Wilson has been a disaster this season. Now he’s piling a hamstring injury on top of a shoulder injury. On Monday Night Football in the second half and overtime, he completed three passes for 15 yards. This week he plays the Jets who have been dominant on the defensive line and the Broncos can’t protect an apparently gimpy Wilson.
RUNNING BACKS
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Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys) – This season has been a roller coaster ride for Zeke owners with more downs than ups, but things are getting back on track. Over the past three weeks, he has touched the ball 54 times and already has over 100 opportunities on the season. The volume is there and his production has been climbing coming off four strong weeks in a row. This week he plays the Lions who have surrendered the most points to fantasy running backs this season.
Eno Benjamin (Arizona Cardinals) – Despite being underwhelming last week, the opportunity was there for Benjamin. He played 87 percent of the snaps, saw 15 of the 18 carries, and was the only running back targeted. The Cardinals’ offense was a disaster last week and hopefully, they can get that turned around against a middle-of-the-pack matchup with the Saints. Stick with the opportunity here and hope for a better week for this offense overall.
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Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) – It’s time to be done with Harris until further notice. He has combined low efficiency with inconsistent volume and is getting the targets he saw last week. This week Mitch Trubisky will likely be back at quarterback to make this offense even worse. Keep him on your bench.
Clyde Edwards Helaire (Kansas City Chiefs) – Everyone could see the collapse of CEH coming. There just wasn’t enough volume to sustain his incredible early-season output. This is a three-man committee and he has rushed for a total of 48 yards on 18 carries over the past two weeks. When he’s not scoring touchdowns he’s not useful. This week he takes on the 49ers who are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to RBs.
WIDE RECEIVERS
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DeAndre Hopkins (Arizona Cardinals) – A popular question as we head into Week 7 is what should be done with Hopkins on his first week back. A week ago the answer would have been to give him a week and see how he looks. That is no longer the case. With Hollywood Brown heading to IR, Hopkins should be in your lineups immediately. His WR1 upside combined with the need for his presence in this offense should be enough to make him a must-start.
Allen Lazard (Green Bay Packers) – Lazard has caught at least four passes and a TD in five of six games this season. This week he takes on the Commanders who are allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts and the Packers just lost a trusted target in Randall Cobb for a while. There is no need to complicate things here Lazard needs to be started.
Alec Pierce (Indianapolis Colts) – Pierce has quietly been great this season. Excluding Week 1 when he didn’t play much, he has seen 5 targets, and either topped 60 yards or scored a TD in every game. The Colts play the Titans this week who are allowing the most fantasy points to wide receivers.
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Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos) – This goes right along with the benching of Russell Wilson. Sutton is coming off a two-catch-for-14-yard performance matched up against Sauce Gardner who has been tough on WR1s. Sutton also is playing in an offense that averages less than one passing TD per game.
Curtis Samuel (Washington Commanders) – To go along with a tough matchup against the Packers who are allowing the eight-fewest fantasy points to receivers, Samuel also lost his starting quarterback Carson Wentz this week. Not that Wentz is a world-beater by any means, but backup Taylor Heinicke has familiarity with Terry McLaurin and hasn’t played with Samuel. Also, he’s terrible. Samuel may be okay moving forward but needs to be sat down this week.
Garrett Wilson (New York Jets) – Wilson and Elijah Moore have seen a significant drop-off with Zach Wilson under center. The team has been winning, but Wilson just isn’t overly productive and can’t get his top guys the ball. The duo combined last week totaled one catch for five yards. Both need to be on your bench this week against a tough Broncos defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to wideouts and has allowed just three passing TDs all season and only one to a wide receiver.
TIGHT ENDS
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Juwan Johnson (New Orleans Saints) – Johnson has a lot going for him this week coming off a game where he saw his highest target and yardage total since Week 2. We still don’t know who will be available for the Saints at pass-catcher this week, but it doesn’t look like they’ll be getting many players back for the short week. Jameis Winston also has a chance to play. Also, his opponent this week, the Cardinals, are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends.
Daniel Bellinger (New York Giants) – Bellinger is a high-floor guy if you are on the waiver wire and need a player who isn’t going to kill you. Believe it or not, Bellinger is a TE1. This is because he plays an integral role in the Giants’ offense and every week catches a few passes for a decent amount of yards and sometimes finds the end zone. The upside is limited, but he’s one of the safest streaming options you can find on waivers.
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Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons) – Pitts managers were elated last week that he finally found the end zone in his 19-yard performance, however, when you look a bit deeper the numbers are awful. Pitts played just 57 percent of the offensive snaps and ran a total of 14 routes in Week 6. To make matters worse, Marcus Mariota hasn’t completed 15 passes in a game since Week 2 when he completed 17. The volume just isn’t there and Pitts should be benched and can be dropped in shallow leagues.
T.J. Hockenson (Detroit Lions) – The vast majority of Hockenson’s fantasy value came two weeks ago against the Seahawks. In that game, all the other weapons in Detroit hurt against the team giving up the most fantasy points to tight ends. This week he gets a great Cowboys’ defense that is allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Plus, the Lions should be healthy coming off the bye week. Hockenson could be a desperation start, but you could also probably do better.
