2022 NFL Fantasy Football Week 7: Start Em’ Or Sit Em’

Each week we’ll break down one player that should start in your fantasy lineup and one that would be better left on the bench per position. There are players like Josh Allen & Cooper Kupp who are matchup proof and should be in your starting lineups every week barring a major circumstance. Through 6 weeks, we’ve been correct on 25 +  of our 48 predictions in what’s been a wild start to the season. 

QB Start of the Week: Derek Carr – Las Vegas Raiders

The Houston Texans are giving up the 2nd most yards per game and they face a Raiders offense that has been looking better each week after a sluggish start. Despite Darren Waller being out, Renfrow should be back and Davante Adams is quietly having another productive year. This all adds up to a favorable matchup for Derek Carr to add into your fantasy lineup. 

QB Sit of the Week: Jared Goff – Detroit Lions

To put simply, we do not trust the Lions nor anyone on the Lions. One week they can go off to be one of the top players in the league and the next they’re dead silent. The Lions were shut down by the Patriots in their last game and now face an even tougher defense in the Cowboys. Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons have set themselves as the future of the Dallas Cowboys franchise and it’s going to make Jared Goff’s job very tough this weekend. We’re liking the Cowboys to win and keep Goff quiet in Dak’s return. 

RB Start of the Week: Kenneth Walker – Seattle Seahawks

Since Walker came in for the injured Rashaad Penny, he’s proven himself to be a solid starting running back. He’s a three down back and is not splitting the carries with DeeJay Dallas like we thought he would to start, but that clearly is not the case. Walker is worth a start moving forward unless a significantly tough matchup lies ahead, but this weekend is against the Saints who haven’t been as dominant as they usually are on defense. 

RB Sit of the Week: Kareem Hunt – Cleveland Browns

The dynamic fantasy duo of Nick Chubb & Kareem Hunt does not appear to repeat this year as Nick Chubb has separated himself from Hunt as the leading fantasy back this year. Hunt’s fell to the wayside and his value continues to slip. Hunt is not getting those goal line rushes as often and we’re not seeing him as a reliable RB2 or flex anymore. 

WR Start of the Week: Allen Lazard – Green Bay Packers

The Packers enter this game without both Randall Cobb & Christian Watson. If Sammy Watkins plays, he’ll be limited. This leaves Aaron Rodgers with his existing #1 target on the season in Allen Lazard who is going to get even more targets now. The Packers are on a 2 game losing streak and are going to use this game against Washington to turn their season around and this is Aaron Rodgers redemption game. Rodgers is going to connect with Lazard to give him a higher than projected outing. 

WR Sit of the Week: Curtis Samuel – Washington Commanders

Going to the opposing side of the game, we’re fading Washington players, but more specifically Curtis Samuel. Taylor Heinecke is set to start for the injured Carson Wentz and we saw with Heinecke as the starter last season that Curtis Samuel’s fantasy value was nowhere near the expectations we had for him. Samuel was a bust last year from a fantasy standpoint and after coming off a rough game last week, we are not trusting Samuel as a WR2 or flex. 

TE Start of the Week: David Njoku – Cleveland Browns

In PPR formats, Njoku has been quietly having a great season. He’s racked up a lot of receptions alongside Amari Cooper. His yardage hasn’t always been high which is largely due to the quarterback situation. Hopefully Njoku can be targeted more in the red zone to put him closer to the Travis Kelce & Mark Andrews territory, but for now he’s a quality starting tight end moving forward. 

TE Sit of the Week: Mike Gesicki – Miami Dolphins

Gesicki had his best game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings as he had 6 receptions for 69 yards to go with a pair of touchdowns. This was great for fantasy owners of Gesicki who have been waiting for this breakout game. However, Tua is back this week and if you’re hoping for Gesicki to repeat that performance, we’d recommend waiting a bit. Tua favors Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle more which limits Gesicki’s targets. Gesicki historically has not gone on runs of high scoring fantasy matchups in back to back weeks but rather scattered throughout the season.