Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 7
SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our weekly rankings.
Start
Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks
at Rams
The Seahawks won't lose in back-to-back weeks and the offense won't look as flat as it did at home against the Cowboys. The Rams have the worst pass rush in the NFL and Wilson will make them pay for it. Look for Wilson to lead an angry 3-2 Seahawks team to a blowout victory. He, Marshawn Lynch and Percy Harvin are all must-starts. Doug Baldwin and perhaps even Jermaine Kearse deserve consideration in deeper leagues.
Fearless prediction: 298 yards passing, 3 TDs, 74 yards rushing
Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens
vs. Falcons
If Forsett were five years younger and didn't have a long history of being a backup, fantasy experts would be calling him the breakout player of the year. The diminutive 29-year-old has completely taken over the Ravens' backfield, averaging 6.4 yards per carry and adding significant value in the passing game, too. The Falcons present one of the most mouth-watering matchups for running backs, especially because we could see them focus their attention on shutting down a Ravens passing attack that produced five first-half touchdowns against the Buccaneers last week. Forsett is going to feast.
Fearless prediction: 91 yards rushing, TD, 67 yards receiving
Golden Tate, WR, Lions
vs. Saints
Calvin Johnson is expected to sit out again this week. Even if Megatron does play, he'll be little more than a decoy. Tate will be the focal point of the Lions' passing attack and shouldn't have too much trouble overcoming the resistance from an underwhelming Saints secondary. Don't expect flashy plays deep down the field, but count on at least five or six receptions (and the possibility of eight or more) and some solid YAC production.
Fearless prediction: 113 yards receiving, TD
Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns
at Jaguars
Cameron finally looked like the beastly 2013 version of himself last week, suggesting he's finally over the injuries that slowed him in the early portion of the season. Cameron cracked 100 yards and scored a touchdown against the Steelers, and should do it again against a Jaguars defense that's allowing the fourth-most points to tight ends this season. Cameron is a set-it-and-forget-it starter for the rest of the season.
Fearless prediction: 101 yards receiving, TD
Sit
Eli Manning, QB, Giants
at Cowboys
Those riding the Eli train were thrown from the wreckage in a nasty derailment that took place on national television versus the Eagles. Victor Cruz injured his knee and the Giants failed to score a single point. The G-Men are instantly back to being untrustworthy in fantasy, at least until we see how Manning looks throwing to Rueben Randle and rookie Odell Beckham Jr. as his top targets. Against a Cowboys defense that's riding as high as any unit in the league, you can't risk putting Manning into your starting lineup.
Zac Stacy, RB, Rams
vs. Seahawks
This might be the end of the line for Stacy as an RB2. He's lost his grip on the Rams' No. 1 running back job and now seems to be mired in a three-headed committee with Benny Cunningham and rookie Tre Mason. Stacy just doesn't look like a special player with the ball in his hands, so it's hard to blame Jeff Fisher for wanting to get his other tailbacks more carries in search of a spark. All three will remain sparkless against a Seahawks defense coming off a home loss.
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Bengals
at Colts
Sanu shined in his first game as the Bengals' clear No. 1 receiving option, catching 10 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in a tie with the Panthers. Don't expect him to match those numbers this week against a Colts defense that's the second-worst fantasy matchup for receivers statistically. The Colts can be run on and the Bengals will likely pound the ball with a one-two punch of Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill. Expect a quiet afternoon for Sanu.
Martellus Bennett, TE, Bears
vs. Dolphins
Bennett was among the hottest tight ends in September, but he's cooled off considerably since then. He averaged 74 yards receiving and caught four touchdowns in the season's first month, but his per-game average has since fallen to 35 yards and he doesn't have a touchdown in October. This isn't new for Bennett. He has a history of production that falls off a cliff as the season wears on.
Stash
Jonas Gray, RB, Patriots
It was Gray and not Brandon Bolden, as many assumed, who backed up Shane Vereen on Thursday in the Patriots' first game with Stevan Ridley out for the season. Gray carried the ball only twice for 12 yards, but that may have been the result of the Patriots going pass-heavy and the Jets being among the league's best rush defenses. Bill Belichick is the kind of coach who could do a 180 and give Bolden the bulk of the carries next week - or he could activate James White and feed him the ball - but Gray seems like the best bet for fantasy production behind Vereen right now. Add him to your roster if you have room.
Quit
Terrance West, RB, Browns
Things started so well for the popular fantasy sleeper. Starter Ben Tate was injured almost immediately, opening the door for West and fellow rookie Isaiah Crowell to pile up yardage running behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines. Somewhere along the way, the wheels fell off for West. When Tate returned to health, West found himself third on the depth chart. West hit rock bottom when, despite being the Browns' leading rusher on the year, he was a healthy scratch in Week 6. It's clear West is in the doghouse, which means he needs to hit the waiver wire in fantasy football.
Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Ravens
Like West, Taliaferro is another rookie runner who blew his chance. Early this season, after Ray Rice was released by the Ravens and Bernard Pierce was injured, it briefly appeared as though Taliaferro would ascend the depth chart and provide significant fantasy value to the savvy owners who scooped him up. It never quite materialized. Taliaferro had one good game, but his production quickly fell off and he slipped behind both Justin Forsett and Pierce on the depth chart. Maybe next year.