2017 Fantasy Football: Week 7 Sit/Start

The Injuries and bye weeks just keep on coming. But you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.  So before you set your lineup make sure you check out my sit and starts to help make those crucial decisions before game time. Remember if you have any other sit start questions you can hit me up in my Facebook group Dynasty League Problems or on twitter @MikeKelleyDLP Good luck this week.

The LootCrate START of the Week:

QB Jared Goff (LA)

Ever since the Rams brought in a new coaching staff and with some of their off season additions, I have been pro Goff. I believe he is a top option for QB2 or superflex leagues, and spot starts in QB1 leagues. That said if your QB1 is on bye this week, you were unlucky enough to have Rodgers, or your regular starting quarterback has a tough match up, you might want to consider Goff this week. Goff is not tearing up the league, but averaging a near 250 yards a game and a little over one touchdown a game is decent. This week though he faces an Arizona team that is near the bottom in passing yards allowed, passing touchdowns allowed and fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. This could be a week that Goff throws for 280 yards with two touchdowns. In 2QB or superflex that makes him a must start, and in 1QB leagues it makes him a great option if you are not starting a stud.

The LootCrate SIT of the Week:

RB DeMarco Murray (TEN)

Murray is nursing a hamstring injury and that opens the door for Derrick Henry to take a little extra workload this coming week. So between the nagging injury, and very capable backup, and a pretty tough Cleveland front seven, the prospect of Murray having a good weekend is not very good. The only thing that could bail him out this week would be heavy use in the passing game, though I am not thinking that is very likely. The Browns should be able to limit Murray to less than 60 yards and keep him out of the end zone. He might find himself catching two passes for 15 yards, but I would not be expecting much more than that.

Quarterback

START Blake Bortles (JAC)

In his last four games against the Colts Bortles has thrown for 1056, yards seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. That is an average of 264 yards and almost two touchdowns per game. Those are some pretty solid numbers. While the Jags are certainly leaning much less on Bortles this year, which seems to be working, he is certainly capable of doing more to help his team. A week against the Colts could be the perfect time to go ahead and trot Bortles out there. Bortles might struggle to pass his average against the Colts, but he should at least come close. 250 yards and a couple of touchdowns is very reasonable to expect from him this weekend.

Other STARTS:

• Marcus Mariota (TEN) – 280/2
• DaK Prescott (DAL) – 265/2 and 40 rushing yards

SIT Andy Dalton (Team)

The Pittsburgh Steelers are first in passing yards allowed, second in passing touchdowns allowed, and second in fantasy points to quarterbacks. Yeah things are not looking good for Dalton this week. Plus over the years Dalton has had is issues playing against the Steelers. Anyone that is stuck starting Dalton can only hope for a no turnover day with a touchdown, because I think he might struggle to put up more than 225 yards, which he has already failed to do three time this year already. Dalton might get a slight bump if John Ross does in fact make back this week. It might give him an opportunity to stretch the field. Look else where if you can.

Other SITS:

• Drew Brees (NO) – 230/2
• Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) – 240/1

Running Back

START Mark Ingram (NO)

In his first game without Adrian Peterson, Ingram ran for 114 yards and added five receptions for 36 yards, and he found the end zone twice. I am sold that AP is the reason why he was struggling early on, but with him gone it certainly gives me more confidence to start him, knowing that he will get a large share of the work from now on. This week the Saints travel to Green Bay who is playing without Aaron Rodgers. With the Packers likely struggling to put points on the board, it opens the door for the Saints to control the game with lots of running. Ingram should go over the century mark again this week and should find the end zone at least one time. If you have been suffering with him early this year it is time to reward your patience and enjoy the results.

Other STARTS:

• Adrian Peterson (ARI) – 22/110/1 rushing
• James White (NE) – 3/12 rushing and 7/80/1 receiving

SIT Andre Ellington (ARI)

Ellington had been a PPR stud in recent weeks, but with arrival of Peterson he seems to have lost some of his value. The Cardinals are finding themselves in less 3rd and long situations resulting in less need of Ellington best attributes. As long as they are moving the ball on first and second down I just don’t see Ellington getting much work. I would be surprised if he gets more than two carries any given week and I think we are looking at less than five receptions most weeks, so until further notice, or an AP injury, I would not be using Ellington. I think we are looking at four receptions for 35 yards at best.

Other SITS:

• Doug Martin (TB) – 15/55/0 rushing
• Ty Montgomery (GB) – 12/36/0 rushing and 3/19/0 receiving

Wide Receiver

START Amari Cooper (OAK)

Maybe I am crazy, but I just have a feeling about Cooper this week. The Chiefs secondary is not very good and when you look at Cooper’s numbers last week 5/28 on six targets was not very good either. But if you look closely Cooper had two receptions one for 31 yards and one for 19 yards wiped out because of penalties. Also look at he have five receptions on six targets, which means he was catching balls thrown his way. Had it not been for the two penalties he would have been 7/78, still not great for what we expect from Cooper, but at least it is a step in the right direction. So this could be the week we finally get some production from Cooper. I am thinking he pulls in eight receptions and goes over 100 yards for the first time 16 games.

Other STARTS:

• Pierre Garcon (SF) – 8/90/1
• Allen Hurns (JAC) – 5/70/1

SIT T.Y. Hilton (IND)

Over the last five weeks Hilton’s production has been 4/49/0, 7/153/1, 3/30/0, 7/177/0, and 1/19/0. So he is due right? I don’t think so. A closer look will tell you the good weeks were against San Fran and Cleveland, with the poor weeks against Arizona, Seattle, and Tennessee. This week the Colts are hosting the Jaguars whose defense is a lot closer to the three teams that resulted in down weeks than the two the resulted in high weeks. End result I am avoiding T.Y. this week if I can. It will take a T.Y. breaking a short pass for a long gain for him to get any value this week. I am thinking he gets about three receptions for 45 yards this week.

Other SITS:

• Martavis Bryant (PIT) – 3/28/0
• Brandin Cooks (NE) – 4/50/0

Tight End

START Austin Seferian-Jenkins (NYJ)

Josh McCown loves his tight ends. In his four games this year ASJ has produced 23 receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns, oh I mean two. I know the yardage is pretty low but almost six receptions game is pretty solid for a tight end in PPR leagues. He should be able to maintain those numbers most weeks making him worth 10 points most weeks without even getting in the end zone. I would expect another six reception week this week but with closer to 50 yards and a good shot at a touchdown.

Other STARTS:

• Evan Engram (NYG) – 6/70/0
• Austin Hooper (ATL) – 8/60/1

SIT Coby Fleener (NO)

Going into the season I was really high on Fleener. I was convinced that the Saints were moving from a big play offense to more of a ball control game with more running and short passes. Which I though would help Fleener’s value, and in the first two week of the season it looked like that was happening. Well over the last thee games Fleener has three receptions for 42 yards and zero touchdowns on six targets. This is a trend that could continue for a while.

Other SITS:

• Tyler Kroft (CIN) – 3/25/0
• Martellus Bennett (GB) – 2/15/0

Defense

START Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are for real on defense. They lead the league in sacks, interceptions, and touchdowns. Oh yeah the are second in fumble recoveries too. This week they get to face off against a Colts offense that has been up and down all year without their start quarterback Andrew Luck.

Other STARTS:

• Tennessee Titans

SIT New England Patriots

In a Superbowl rematch I am not expecting either team to play much defense. Not touching either of these teams this week.

Other SITS:

• Atlanta Falcons

Michael Kelley is a member of the Going For 2 team. You can check out his website Dynasty League Problems for more writings or find him on Twitter @mikekelleydlp spreading fantasy knowledge for the masses.

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