Chalk another one up for me from last week with Germie Bernard. It was a mixed bag with Kirk Cousins and Dallas Goedert, but was spot on suggesting to sit Omarion Hampton. Where I totally whiffed was the claim to sit Kyle Pitts Sr. and Emeka Egbuka.
Here we go for Week 7!
A reminder that I judge my “start” or “sit” against a full-PPR format.
Start ‘Em
Jaylen Warren, RB – Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 7 Matchup: vs. New Orleans Saints (Paris, 9:30AM EST)
Back to back weeks with a Steeler as the featurette. Jaylen Warren is coming off a Week 6 in which he turned 14 carries for 50 yards, and two receptions on four targets for 28 yards. The reasoning for Week 7 is the matchup – at ‘home’ against the Saints in France. New Orleans has allowed the most fantasy points per game to running backs, an average of 31.7 points. Just last week, Giants’ Tyrone Tracy Jr. scored twice, once of the ground and another through the air; good for 18.5 points in PPR formats.
Prior to Week 6, Warren was averaging 26.3 points from Weeks 3-5, and I’d look for him to get right against the Saints in this spot. It’s worth nothing that even with Rico Dowdle back after lingering toe injury, Warren dominated the snap count 51 to 29 against Tampa Bay.
Tyler Higbee, TE – Los Angeles Rams
Week 7 Matchup: @ Las Vegas Raiders
Like Warren, another matchup-driven play in mention here for Tyler Higbee being a start this week. Pair the fact that Davante Adams is now out indefinitely with a ruptured hamstring, Higbee could be in a prime spot (alongside Colby Parkinson) for targets next to Puka Nacua, so long as the latter suits up, as he’s nursing a calf injury. For comparison’s sake, in the Week 6 loss to Arizona, Higbee out-snapped Parkinson 48-36, which was an 82.8% ownership compared to 62.1%; yet worth noting that Parkinson did hit pay dirt.
Vegas is allowing the seventh most fantasy points to TE’s this season, and would quicker side with Higbee as the Rams pass-catcher to see an uptick in production this week.
Braelon Allen, RB – New York Jets
Week 7 Matchup: vs. Miami Dolphins
Braelon Allen has looked the part in the absence of Breece Hall (quad), rushing for 194 yards and a touchdown in the last two games. He’s totaled 41 carries, and on tap this week is a Dolphins defense that is allowing the second most rushing yards to opposing RB’s this season. Hall is practicing as of Thursday, which will more than likely put him in line to return to action. Even if that’s the case, I would suspect the Jets will still lean on Allen, making him a worthy FLEX play against a bad Miami team.
Sit ‘Em
Michael Wilson, WR – Arizona Cardinals
Week 7 Matchup: vs Denver Broncos
The departure of Marvin Harrison Jr. has not been kind to Michael Wilson. Wilson has yet to truly seize WR1 duties since MHJ was traded to the Texans. He’s put together an almost identical stat line in the last two games, catching four of seven targets for 30 and 32 yards, respectively. It’s been Trey McBride who has seen 19 targets in that same span, and even Kendrick Bourne has 16 of his own. Until Wilson can show you he’s the better option than Bourne, he’s best left on your bench against a tough Broncos secondary. Denver is allowing the 25th most points to opposing WRs on the season.
FantasyData has Wilson pegged to finish as the WR20 this week.
Josh Downs, WR – Indianapolis Colts
Week 7 Matchup: @ Minnesota Vikings
The Colts appear to be headed toward a downward spiral, and Josh Downs has not been helping the cause. Over the last three games, he’s averaged just 5.3 points in PPR leagues, and on the year he has 24 receptions for 289 yards and zero touchdowns. It’s been Uncle Keenan Allen who has stepped up as the defacto Indy WR1 with Alec Pierce sidelined, and Downs is teetering on droppable status. Minnesota has allowed the fifth-fewest points to wideouts this season.
Emanuel Wilson, RB – Seattle Seahawks
Week 7 Matchup: vs Kansas City Chiefs
The few week run of Emanuel Wilson could be all but over. For starters, Zach Charbonnet logged a full-practice on Wednesday, suggesting he’s set to make his season debut after the ACL tear he suffered in January. Last week in the loss to Denver, Wilson turned 14 carries into 52 scoreless yards, good for just 5.2 points on the day. He’s a risky FLEX option at best this week, but the preference here is to keep him on your bench before he eventually hits the wire again.
– Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)