Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Eagles’ DeVonta Smith aims to snap slump in Week 7

With the number of injuries and byes around the NFL this week, many are probably stuck deciding between some unappealing options to plug into their lineups. Here’s what to do about some players you may be on the fence about starting in Week 7:  

Quarterbacks

Start: Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Packers at Broncos  / 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday

After four phenomenal starts from a fantasy perspective to open the season, Love flopped in his last game, throwing for 182 yards and three interceptions while posting 4.98 fantasy points. Fortunately for Love, he and his weapons were able to rest up during Green Bay’s Week 6 bye and now have the opportunity to play against the league’s worst defense.

The Broncos have given up the most passing touchdowns this season (14) and allow the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks (20.8), paving the way for Love to deliver another stellar outing. 

Other starts: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers; Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sit: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions 

Lions at Ravens / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

While the former No. 1 overall pick is playing like an MVP candidate and has led the Lions on a four-game winning streak, he could hit a wall against Baltimore, a terrible matchup for quarterbacks this season. The Ravens have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to the position this season (57.44), and although Goff won’t be without any of his pass-catchers, starting RB David Montgomery won’t be available due to injury.

Running backs have been Baltimore’s biggest weakness through six games, and without having to game-plan for Montgomery, the Ravens will put a greater emphasis on keeping Goff in check.

Other sits: Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos; Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings 

Running backs

Start: Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

Browns at Colts / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

On the surface, Kareem Hunt’s usage and touchdown last week might imply that he’s unseating Ford as the Browns’ top backfield option, but snap counts suggest otherwise. Ford earned 10 more snaps and five more carries than Hunt in a game where Cleveland needed to rely on multiple running backs to compensate for not having QB Deshaun Watson in the lineup.

Watson may return this week, which would make life easier for Ford. However, if he doesn’t, the tailback should still have a productive game facing a defense allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to running backs (18.7). 

Other starts: Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders; Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

Sit: Keaontay Ingram, Arizona Cardinals 

Cardinals at Seahawks / 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday

Although many believed Emari Demercado would fill the injured James Conner’s role, Ingram emerged as Arizona’s lead back in last week’s loss to the Rams, racking up 51 total yards on 12 touches. Even so, Ingram has little fantasy value this week since the struggling Cardinals still use a running back-by-committee approach, and he is yet to show he’s an efficient runner, based on his 2.3 yards per carry career average. 

Other sits: Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts; Los Angeles Rams backfield 

Wide receivers

Start: DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

Dolphins at Eagles / 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday

Smith has been disappointing over the last month, averaging 8.2 PPR fantasy points per game, yet considering the draft capital he cost, you might not have a choice but to keep him in your lineup. Nevertheless, if you have enough depth and are contemplating benching him, it’d be wise to stick with him against Miami in a game with the highest implied point total of this week’s slate (51.5).

The Eagles clearly want to get the 24-year-old more involved, as evidenced by his 11 targets last game, and if that volume carries over into this game, Smith is bound to turn things around. 

Other starts: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs; Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

Sit: DJ Moore, Chicago Bears

Raiders at Bears / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Just as Moore was beginning to establish himself as a weekly top-12 fantasy wideout, the Bears lost QB Justin Fields to a finger injury that will sideline him until he gets his grip strength back. In Fields’ absence, Chicago will turn to undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent for his first NFL start, which isn’t ideal for Moore’s outlook. Even though Moore caught four passes from the former Division II star against the Vikings, Las Vegas is the 12th-most difficult opponent for wide receivers this season. 

Other sits: Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers; Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Tight ends

Start: Darren Waller, New York Giants

Commanders at Giants / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The Giants haven’t scored an offensive touchdown in their last 205 minutes of play, but they should find the end zone against the Commanders, who allow the third-most points per game (29.3). Despite the chance that QB Daniel Jones could miss Sunday’s game, Waller is the clear top option in New York’s passing game and is being utilized like an elite tight end. Waller ranks fifth at the position in targets (41) and should continue to build on his recent success this week. 

Other starts: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers; Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders 

Sit: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Bills at Patriots / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Not too long ago, Henry was the top tight end in fantasy football. Now, he’s virtually unstartable thanks to New England’s disastrous offense, a unit averaging 8.75 points over its last four games, and an ankle injury that has kept him out of practice. No matter if Henry plays, it’s going to be tough for the Patriots’ top red-zone target to make much of an impact, given that Buffalo allows a mere 3.3 fantasy points per game to tight ends. 

Other sits: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons; Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals