Sit em, Start em – Week Seven
Start em
Stefon Diggs – Vikings rookie Stefon Diggs had his coming out party this past weekend and may have made the case to be a PPr fantasy fixture for years to come. Operating as Minnesota’s slot man Diggs was found over and over again by Terry Bridgewater and watching the game led one to believe that this could become one of the most prolific duos going forward. The preseason start has clearly ascended the target totem pole now that he has made his way to the starting lineup. Expect Diggs to continue to shine this week against the Lions. Congratulations if you were able to nab Diggs, he may be your playoff ticket. Start Diggs in all PPR formats.
Christine Michael – Christine Michael is finally getting his opportunity and while Dez and Romo being out of the lineup hurts his chances to breakout this week, he should get starter snaps behind arguably the best offensive line in all of football. Michael has always been one of the most exciting talents in the league and he should get all the touches he can handle this week gameflow permitting. Look at Michael as an RB2 option this week against the Giants in a game the Cowboys are expected to fall behind in noting that the Giants gave up big games to every talented starting running back they ran into so far this season. Start Michael where possible.
Michael Crabtree – Crabtree leads the Raiders in targets and remains a solid start in all PPR formats. Crabtree is Carr’s third down target and chain mover and figures to remain in a high volume target role for the rest of the season as the Raiders are expected to be trailing in most games leading to more passing attempts. Fire Crabtree up as a flex option this week against the Chargers who are favoured by 3.5 points.
Darren McFadden – McFadden remains the Cowboys passing down back a role that the fantasy community knows can yield solid fantasy production with the Cowboys expected to be in gameflow trouble most contests leading to more snap opportunities. McFadden looks like a solid RB3 option this week against the Giants and should be started in most, if not all, PPR formats. McFadden could ostensibly emerge as the Cowboys new starter by the time the game is finished as is a solid start for week seven.
Matthew Stafford – Stafford looked horrendous earlier this season but showed some signs of life in an easier contest last week and he could be in line for another solid fantasy day against the divisional rival Vikings. Stafford is a solid streaming option this week and should be fired up in most formats as a QB1 option. Start Stafford with confidence against a Vikings team Stafford has been solid against for most of his career.
Sit em
Latavius Murray – If you haven’t noticed by now a common theme amongst some of the league’s most talented running backs is gameflow correlated opportunity mitigation. Murray plays for a below average Raiders team and will likely continue to see his team abandon the run when they fall behind limiting Murray’s fantasy value. His 67 yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry are nothing to get excited about but the Raiders have made a commitment to the ground game and we could see Murray get going sooner than later it just likely will not happen this week against the Chargers despite their struggles against the run this season. Shy away from Muray where possible.
Lamar Miller – Lamar Miller was on fire versus a bad Titans team in week six and prevailing wisdom suggests he should have another big day against a Texans team that has given up some surprisingly big games to opposing running backs this season. Miller may be able to break a big run but we expect this space back to find very little of it and have a low ypc aside from his potential long run of the day. By this point of the season you should have other starting options at running back and this may be a good week to fire one of them up despite the plus matchup. Sit Miller where and if possible.
Eric Decker – Decker is on a touchdown streak and looks to be the beneficiary of some garbage time production but we are betting on gameflow limiting Deckers touches in favour of Chris Ivory and Brandon Marshall. Decker may be primed for a solid fantasy day but his usual low floor makes him a risky option against a schematically strong Patriots defense.
Michael Floyd – Michael Floyd looked solid in week six but is still not a suggested start for week seven. Palmer knows who his top targets are and Floyd is no higher than third on a team that likely will not look to throw much this week at home against the Ravens. Floyd remains an upside play but his bottomless floor makes him to risky of a start in all but the deepest of leagues. Sit Floyd until he shows some consistency.
Brian Hoyer – Hoyer is being pumped as a solid streaming option this week but we disagree. The Dolphins are reinvigorated with Joe Philbin canned but between Arian Foster creeping back to full strength; a short leash and a Texans defense out to show and prove Hoyer may not be the most prudent start this week. Hoyer may indeed have borderline QB1 upside this week but possesses a bench to FA floor and should not be in many starting lineups at anytime this season.
