Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em — Week 7 (2023)

Welcome to another edition of our weekly fantasy football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em. In this series, we’re here to help you set your lineups and put yourself in a position to win your fantasy football matchups each week. With three weeks in the books, it’s time to take a look at Week 7 of the 2023 NFL season.

These players will be those “less-obvious” players that you’re on the fence about starting as your WR3 or Flex type of options. Nobody needs to tell you to start Justin Jefferson or Christian McCaffrey.

Stay tuned for updates and more reasoning throughout the week.

Start ‘Em

Jordan Love (QB) – Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos

Jordan Love started the season strong, with six touchdowns in the first two games, but leveled off a bit. Since that initial start, Love has been averaging 18 fantasy points per game, and with a consistency score of 5.43 ranking him 14 in the league, he’s still a serviceable starter.

This week the Packers face a Broncos defensive squad giving up 20.85 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and a 12 highest D-PAC score of 4.96. Coming off the bye for this Green Bay team, I am expecting a strong performance from Jordan Love at Mile High.

Geno Smith (QB) – Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals

Geno Smith hasn’t had the best start to the season after his breakout 2022 campaign. He’s thrown just two touchdowns in the last three games but also for over 295 yards in three of his last four starts. Seattle has to get the air attack working more consistently if they’re going to compete in the division. Another silver lining in this week’s face-off is the opposing Cardinals. Last year, Smith threw for 275 yards and two scores against them in Week 9. This year, the Cardinals are allowing a completion percentage of 70.1 and 7.3 yards per attempt.

Two of the last three quarterbacks to face Arizona have scored multiple touchdowns. It’s been rough going for Smith and his fantasy managers this year, but we can look forward to a brighter day this weekend.

Kenneth Walker and or Zach Charbonnet (RB) – Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals

The Seahawks are facing the Cardinals who are giving up nearly 30 fantasy points per game to running backs. This means there will be plenty of touches going around for the Seahawks offense. Pete Carroll loves running the ball down the throats of the opposing teams and taking away their souls, especially when it’s a division rival.

Kenneth Walker has been a reliable starter every week averaging 17.2 fantasy points per game, however, Charbonnet has been hit or miss with his big-play ability. Walker will eat with his high usage, but Charbonnet is going to break a run or two off and get his points as well.

Jerome Ford (RB) – Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts

Many fantasy managers of Jerome Ford were worried when Kareem Hunt rejoined the Browns a few weeks ago. Still, Ford has been the more utilized back with 36 carries and nine receptions to Hunt’s 22 carries and five catches in those three games together. Plus, the upset win over San Francisco was led by key drives that involved powerful runs by Ford to get into field goal range. 

For this week’s matchup with the Colts, we’re likely to see DeShaun Watson return and force fewer stacked boxes as they’ll have to respect the pass. With the 9th best D-PAC rating for running backs (7.04), the Colts have allowed 16 receptions and five total touchdowns to the position across the last three weeks. I think we can be pretty excited about Ford in Week 7.

Rondale Moore (WR) – Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

I would have to say that the competitiveness of the Cardinals this season has been one of the biggest surprises. They haven’t won a ton, but it seems like they are in every game and Joshua Dobbs is dealing. In the last two weeks, Rondale Moore has seen increased usage with five and seven targets in those last two games. They are also facing the division rivals in Seattle who are giving up nearly 47 points per game to opposing wide receivers. Increasing usage and a defense giving up a ton of points is a good sign for fantasy production. I would start Moore this week.

K.J. Osborn (WR) – Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers

With the injury to Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn has seen his role predictably expand. He has caught nine passes in the last two games after catching eight in his first four games. The Vikings are still a pass-first team, meaning Osborn will continue to see significant targets while he plays the “Jefferson role” for the team. We’ve also seen him excel when called upon, scoring 12 total times in 2021 and 2022.

In this week’s contest, Minnesota will host San Francisco, who seems like a tough opponent. However, the 49ers currently have the most favorable D-PAC rating of 14.69 against wide receivers with five players at the position to surpass 75 receiving yards in a game over the last five contests. With a couple of noteworthy injuries popping up this past weekend, San Francisco may not be able to keep their defense off of the field, allowing more opportunities for Osborn and others to produce. Obviously, you’re still starting Jordan Addison every week while Jefferson is out. Now, you can throw Osborn into your lineup, confidently, as well.

Cade Otton (TE) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons

The tight end position is such a crap shoot, so hard to find the player who is going to pop each week. This week, with all the byes and injuries, I think Cade Otton has the opportunity to pop. He’s facing a Falcons defense that is giving up 14.25 points per game to opposing tight ends, so he’ll have some space to work. Cade’s usage is very up and down, but he’s due for an up week, so I do believe he’ll see four-plus targets. If you really need to find a starter at the position, Cade’s your guy for week 7.

Michael Mayer (TE) – Las Vegas Raiders @ Chicago Bears

The 2023 rookie tight end class was highly touted leading up to the NFL Draft. We’ve already seen Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid put up positive results while getting significant playing time. Now it’s Michael Mayer’s turn to shine. Since Week 2, Mayer’s snap percentage has gone up every week, reaching 81 percent in Week 6 when he more than doubled his year-to-date yardage total (39) with 75 yards against the Patriots.

A matchup with Chicago this week makes the possibility of a breakout even more likely. Tight ends have averaged seven receptions and 58.4 yards against the Bears in the last five weeks. Mayer is still available in the vast majority of leagues, so it’ll be quite easy to pick him up and start him in Week 7.

Sit ‘Em

Matthew Stafford (QB) – Los Angeles Rams vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

There are some obvious defenses you do not want to start a quarterback against in the NFL this season. Those teams would include the Browns, Ravens, 49ers, and the Bills who are all just destroying the opposing quarterback’s dreams. However, another team that has quietly been doing well against quarterbacks is the Pittsburgh Steelers (ahem TJ Watt, ahem). They are currently allowing only 15 points per game to opposing quarterbacks and a very low D-PAC score of 3.47. Matthew Stafford is also coming off a down performance last week throwing for 226 yards and one touchdown against the Cardinals. I’m expecting another down performance for Stafford this week against a much stronger Steelers squad.

Jared Goff (QB) – Detroit Lions @ Baltimore Ravens

Jared Goff has been proving haters wrong since he was traded to the Rams in 2021. He’s put up some stellar numbers this year and has been a fantasy darling. Road games are not his bread and butter, though. In 2022, he averaged 245.75 passing yards on the road with just six of 29 touchdowns in those eight road games. His first two road games of this season saw an average of 244.5 passing yards and one score per game. He usually gets one outlier per season like his 353 yards and two touchdowns against Tampa Bay. A lot like last season’s 355 yards and three scores against Carolina – his only multi-score road game of 2022.

If that wasn’t enough to convince you, they’re headed to Baltimore. The Ravens have the second toughest D-PAC rating (2.49) against quarterbacks this season. They’re also allowing the fewest yards per pass attempt (4.49) and fewest passing touchdowns (4) in the NFL. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown one pass score and four interceptions in the last three games against Baltimore. Goff has been very good this year, but it’s going to get ugly in Week 7.

Baltimore Ravens Running Backs vs. Detroit Lions

Gus Edwards and Justice Hill have been basically flip-flopping the lead-back role since week three. The Ravens also activated rookie Keaton Mitchell from IR last week, he didn’t see much usage, but I expect Mitchell to start seeing some touches this week. There is nobody in this backfield that I could trust week-to-week, especially this week. The Ravens face the Lions this week who are allowing a league-low 11.8 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. That does not leave enough on the bone for two running backs, let alone three. Stay away from the Ravens backfield. 

Rachaad White (RB) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons

For starters, this whole running back room is a trainwreck. The Buccaneers have the fewest rushing yards (394), the lowest yards per carry (2.96), the fewest rushing first downs (20) and they’re the only team that hasn’t produced a running play of at least 15 yards. Even after a season-low 11 touches, Rachaad White is “leading” this backfield with his 3.3 yards per carry and the team’s only rushing score.

Now they’ve got the Falcons on deck, who are allowing just 3.69 yards per carry and one rushing score on the season. Add to that the pace of play which Atlanta forces teams into with their run-heavy offense and you’ve got a recipe for fantasy mediocrity. The only reasons you’re not dropping White are volume and the lack of any threat to touches. You certainly shouldn’t start him this week.

Michael Pittman (WR) – Indianapolis Colts vs. Cleveland Browns

Did you see what the Browns did to the 49ers offense last week? They did something no one in the NFL has been able to do so far this season, in that they shut them down. All the talk last week was that Michael Pittman’s usage might actually increase with Gardner Minshew at quarterback, and that was correct. He turned 14 targets into nine receptions for 109 yards. Pittman might see a similar amount of targets this week, but it’s going to be much tougher sledding against this Browns defense. 

Jerry Jeudy (WR) – Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers

I’ll keep this sweet and simple. Rumors are flying that Jerry Jeudy could be finding a new place to call home. With the struggling offense and the inability to stop opposing offenses, Denver could start selling off assets to improve their future. All that and Jeudy’s injury history could be part of the reason he’s seeing less work – if he gets hurt, he’s not likely to be traded. I’ll wait for something to change before I consider starting Jeudy again. 

Hunter Henry or Mike Gesicki (TE) – New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills

Oh, how the mighty have fallen… Hard! The Patriots might have the worst team in the league. They went out of their way over the past few seasons to bolster their tight end group, maybe as an homage to their once-vaunted two tight end sets? The current duo is producing absolutely nothing, but that might have more to do with the quarterback play as well. The Bills, who are tough against quarterbacks, are also very tough against tight ends giving up only 7 points per game to tight ends. This is a recipe for disaster, and please stay away from any Patriot offensive player.

Tyler Higbee (TE) – Los Angeles Rams vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The return of Cooper Kupp has been very good for the Rams’ passing game unless your name is Tyler Higbee. The opportunities have mostly dried up for the tight end who caught just four balls, averaging 19 receiving yards per game. Before that, he had caught five passes in back-to-back games with an average of 67.5 yards in those two games.

Then you’ve got the Steelers coming to town. They haven’t been the most stout defense this season but only one tight end has reached 50 receiving yards in a game. The Steelers have only surrendered one touchdown to the position, as well. To those fantasy managers who have been riding with Higbee to this point, it’s time to move on. At least while Kupp and Puka Nacua are healthy.

Don’t forget to hit us up on Twitter with any of your lineup questions. You can find Benjamin @FFRabbitDad and Brendan @OBryanBren. If you have a question, we will give you some guidance. After all, we want you to win!

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